Earlier this week, Syracuse hired former ESPN executive John Wildhack as their new Athletic Director. From an ACC and BC perspective, this is good news. Now as we design and negotiate new TV deals, we have a level of expertise unmatched by any other major conference. Wildhack understands ESPN in a way that few could. Hopefully, he also leads the charge in the every evolving ACC Network.
While hiring someone without any previous Athletic Department experience comes with risk, I applaud Syracuse for trying something new. Although non-traditional names were floated after GDF, Brad Bates was a safe and traditional candidate. The jury is still out on his success, but it seems pretty clear he is not going to make any major changes while in charge nor take any big risk. I hope that BC soon reaches a level of stability, so that when it comes time to replace Bates, BC can look beyond the traditional and make a hire like Syracuse just did.
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16 comments:
Not sure that the "jury is still out" on BB.
The avg. tenure for a D1 AD is 6.78 years*. Brad Bates was hired 4 years ago this fall. If he's 60% through his time at the Heights, the next 3 years can't happen soon enough. Brighton Campus varsity facilities? Nope. Indoor practice facility? Nope. A return to the NCAA tournament in basketball in the foreseeable future? Nope. Turnaround of football attendance with enhanced scheduling and game day experience? Nope.
Whenever he leaves the Heights all of these projects will likely remain uncompleted as well. Keep in mind that Miami of Ohio has raised the money and actually built an indoor practice facility since BB has been at BC. That's right a football doormat in the MAC has an indoor facility. If BB couldn't do it in Oxford, not likely he's going to do it in the ACC. I'd love to be wrong, but at some point you are what the back of your baseball card says you are. * source = http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/nacda/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/oct2014.pdf
He's been nothing short of an abject failure on so many levels.
I'm just appalled our football and basketball programs have been allowed to sink to these levels. Where is the mass out cry for wholesale change?
Hiring a manatee would be an improvement. BB is the epitome of atrocious.
Brad Bates is a joke and an insult to our institution. To say he's out of his league is an accurate pun and an understatement.
(Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarippa: In Memoriam) It is all a game to BB. I found that out from a visit to campus in March of 2015. Julie Hegarty runs the department while he is out "playing golf". She is the former director of football operations and her brother or husband has the same role in the hockey program. Since John Fish, chair of trustees, is such a great fiscal success with Suffolk Construction, the throwing around of money to the Dazzler just does not make sense. BB is a charmer and like something out of Tom Sawyer in his ability to have others do his work for him.
October 9, 2017, is end of Brad Bates 5 year contract.
Got another year of this guy.
I Don't see Syracuse's hire for AD having any impact +/-on BC. Who cares who Syracuse hires?
If you haven't grasped the concept that most of this is bigger than Bates, then you're just not paying attention. Leahy is the one who needs to retire, it's not fair to blame anyone working under him with his de emphasis of athletics
The scheduling comments are fair, although that has seen a slight uptick of late (Stanford/Purdue), but the facilities issue is 100% steered by other interests at BC
Joe - with all due respect - if Leahy is de-emphasizing athletics , then who put the final blessing on the extension and outrageous amount being paid to Addazio ?? Leahy could have blocked that very expensive and undeserved action very easily. He is the main man - correct ??
Has JBQ become a paid spokesperson for Suffolk Construction?
Did JBQ visit campus? Who knew?
Guido, since when is Addazio's pay outrageous ? Its completely average within the conference.
The compensation issue is also deeper than your perceived Addazio valuation. BC has a responsibility as a program to show (at least pretend to show) that they are committed to football (even tho based on what they have done with facilities would suggest otherwise) and much of that is in the perception that they are not cheap, or are willing to pay at least a market price for coaches and staff now and going forward
Joe
W/ you on Leahy. If Bates goes Leahy will just hire another stooge.
is Kash now pretending that Daz is not paid too much and his term not too long ...?
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