Tuesday night is BC's annual Wall Street Council Tribute Dinner. It is one of BC biggest fundraising events and the most concentrated collection of big donors outside of reunions and a big football game. Father Leahy will be there. Among this crowd are a lot of passionate BC fans. Many of them have given large amounts of money to the school. While that doesn't buy you a say in BC's decision making (see Gregory Barber), it does get you the the opportunity to talk to Father Leahy. What I hope those fans do tonight is let him know that we still care and we want great Athletics. We also want someone who understands BC and is given the tools and support to succeed. At this late hour, it probably won't change Father Leahy's decision, but it still needs to be said. BC's current and future leadership need to know that we support the school but we also expect the school to strive for excellence. BC cannot be a Stanford, Duke or Notre Dame if we don't make the commitment with all the school's resources.
It will be also interesting to hear how the crowd reacts. In general, these folks are loyal, but I also sense discontentment. Maybe Father Leahy will sense it too.
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If the big, heavy-hitter donors don't speak up, we don't stand a chance. I hope that there are plenty of angry BC sports fans among them tonight, and that they give Fr. Leahy an earful.
dixieagle- OMG - That is the only way to change the process - Imagine if you gave $500,000 every couple of years. You could say to Father Leahy - take the steps to Make BC a viable sports entity or I may reconsider my philanthropic efforts.
ND #2?
http://www.und.com/genrel/bodensteiner_jill00.html
The poor performance of the athletic teams is not lost on Leahy. If that was the case BC would have renewed Bates' contract. Clearly Bates was not the hire that the school expected. While Bates pushed forward some improvements in facilities, he was the one hired Daz and Christian to revive the football and basketball programs and inexplicably extended both coaches.
Leahy could certainly show more passion towards athletics but the architect of the recent decline is Bates. Now that BC has raised its endowment and significantly expanded the campus with the Brighton acquisition it is well positioned to support a new AD to move things in the right direction. This will be a big hire and the AD will ultimately have more impact on athletics than Leahy.
Bates doesn't tie his shoes without permission from Fr. Leahy. If you think that the current state of the Athletic Department reflects the decision making of Brad Bates and not the malignant ambivalence of Fr. Leahy...you're wrong. Leahy wants BC to take the ACC money; spend as little of it as possible; and no off-court/field incidents, which he thinks increase with competitive athletic teams. We have accomplished each goal, which is not an accident. Leahy takes the silence of the vast majority of BC grads (and donors) in the face of these priorities as our assent to them.
I hope you are wrong but I am afraid you are correct at least in part. My sense is that the majority of alums aren't terribly interested or engaged re athletics. The high profile donor group, however, is a much smaller group and I'm not sure where they stand. Leahy will do what he wants (whatever that may be) until either the BOT's or the "money" instructs him to do otherwise. All we are doing is preaching to the choir, cutting back on our small share of donations and banging our heads against the wall while Father Leahy continues to enjoy the applause.
Father Leahy is the Jeffrey Loria of College Sports.
Take as much as you can from those unwittingly willing to give it to you (revenue sharing), and re-invest as little of it as possible in the product on the field, fans be damned.
The Marlins owner is the perfect analogy.
Hopefully Fr. Leahy is gone soon, just as Jeffrey Loria is on his way out.
Totally agree with the comments of The Five. Nothing major will change as long as Father Leahy is in charge . Sad , but true !!!! Get a big name AD , but all things will be the status quo.!!!!
per SI's Thamel, Martin Jarmond is a leading candidate
https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/04/19/martin-jarmond-boston-college-athletic-director-ohio-state)
Jarmound's OSU bio (http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/genrel/martin_jarmond_841651.html)
but ATL says NO (on twitter) "Turnkey [rival recruitment firm to Parker, BC's firm] tweets this and then suddenly Jarmond is floated for BC. Not happening. Parker not going to let rival firm influence process."
I heard it is Jarmond.
interesting possibility.
bit young. a proven fundraiser from big time programs (tOSU and MSU).
great experience.
knows football and was an NCAA basketball player. gotta be a big plus in evaluating coaching talent.
But, tOSU sports is run by Urban Meyer.... is this helpful to Daz? nah.. should be a non-issue
I would be thrilled at a possible Jarmond hire. Seems like a bit outside the box/high risk hire with a little bit of experience and youth to be a high reward. Has been at Michigan state and ohio state (two big time football programs) and played D1 basketball.
Def not a safe choice but why be safe at this low juncture in BC sports.
Seems like he would be a really strong hire. Young and experienced (though not at the top level); has seen Urban Meyer, Thad Matta, Mark Dantonio, and Tom Izzo coach; focused on fundraising, scheduling, among others; former bball player who would add extra emphasis to that program. Added benefit that he would bring added diversity to the athletic department.
But ATL also tweeted a reply to one person saying, in his opinion, there are stronger candidates that were turned down or didn't even pursue. We may have a difference of opinion, but I can only imagine that means he believes there are established ADs with track records of strong coaching hires. No idea where they might be coming from given all the rumors that have popped up and then quashed out.
I don't see the Turnkey series as "influencing" process. It has been part of an ongoing series by the firm if you check out the website. Strikes me more as a coincidence.
I understand not wanting to make a bold prediction and get burned as has happened in the past, but with all of ATL's clandestine wording, I hope we get a lengthy post after this is all over about some of what has happened behind the scenes.
Another leaked name.
He is a fundraiser. No hiring track record.
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