Ace Barker wrote:I don’t think they have enough money for the Bower Center. The previous AD was more interested in leadership camping trips and writing mission statements to even try to gather funding for that project much less anything else. As stated he did get a good deal on some used pressure washers. His major contribution to the university. What a joke. It must be that time of year.
Ace...
Gilbert wanted/needed a new job and accepted USM because we said yes and paid well for the AD position. He spent his first year observing and then decided his skill set would never be successful at a place like USM so he immediately stepped back and starting thinking of his next move. He used the student athletes as his cover while planning his exit.
Moving on from the past is what we all need to do. What is the biggest priority for USM outside of winning games. Is it the Bower Center or is it PTP field and RGC upgrades? Biggest task for Jeremy IMO is doing something soon to rally the troops. His immediate focus should be on baseball today since we are a fringe tourney squad. He needs to have a cup of coffee with whoever he needs to and make sure we get in as an at large in the event we don't win regular or post season crowns. Promote the hell out of our history and recent resume so that we get in as a 3 somewhere we can travel to and sell tickets.
Second, he needs to focus on football scheduling and get two or three teams on the schedule that he can announce before fall ball so the base is excited again. He needs to rebrand our identity to USM alumni and supporters. He needs to state the goal that CUSA as it stands today is not our vision and that either they or us will make a change to improve our status within the next four years. If I were him, I would schedule a meeting with Craig Thompson and Michael Aresco just to create a perception change even if the meeting is nothing more than a introduction. Leak it to a real journalist and have Paddy copy the story as his own and publish it.
Third, fire Joye within the next 30 days. Thank her and wish her well but send the message that below average isnt going to work here.
"There was a great deal of character on that field today. They are for real, no doubt about it. This was no fluke." - Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant