New AD Search to commence.

[Ram 91]

Given recent posts regarding the search and its presumed leader, I can already see the movie version:



OK, not the correct spelling of "Gray", but you get the idea.  One by one Fordham's sports and fans are lost to an inhospitable environment, ravenous beasts and the occasional self-inflicted bout of idiocy.

To be part of a double feature with "The Social Network 2: The IP-Oh No".

[Ram 91]

I'd find it hard to believe that a University would replace/pasture-ize an Athletic Director, particularly one who'd held the job for 27 years, without some discussion/input from the Board of Trustees.

But I can see them pasteurizing and homogenizing him.  They just forgot the "good until" date.

[85]

Joe B just called me to tell me that there is a rumor on Twitter that Pecora was extended to 2017?  Any truth to this?  Sounds a wee bit far fetched to me.

[Rich93]

Joe B just called me to tell me that there is a rumor on Twitter that Pecora was extended to 2017?  Any truth to this?  Sounds a wee bit far fetched to me.

I find this hard to believe since the person who would make this decision has not been hired yet. 

[B2Bomber]

It may be assinine but there are schools that have a similar structure.  I think there are very few if any schools in I-A that have that kind of structure but it's more common in I-AA (where we are) and the lower divisions although most schools have use a direct reporting structure from the AD to the president.

I know Division II schools where the AD reports to the President.    Don't want to belabor the point, but I have not seen "that structure" anywhere but Fordham.

[xtey92a]

If that is true we are in REAL trouble.  And I mean it.   He can't even get the ham sandwiches right in the deli and the reslife scandals this past year.    

He isnt qualified, in my opinion, to hire a gopher hunter for Ground Hog Day.  And yes, that analogy is appropriate here in more ways than one!  

Caddy Shack AND Groundhog day!

McShane will be blamed if this becomes a hot mess. I'm stunned if anyone in authority beleives this is a small matter.

[xtey92a]

can someone post the twitter feed?

Many thanks.

[ace93]

can someone post the twitter feed?

Many thanks.

Which twitter feed?

[joeb]

so now it seems the new AD reports to Frank who reports to Jeff Gray. I wont go to a game next year. The students should organize a boycott. They keep doing the same thing with the same results. Either they are stupid or they don't care. Since the University is otherwise successful, I would have to conclude its the latter. We shouldn't support their incompetence. They're are looking to hire the least powerful voice in the A10, what person with any pride would sign on for that job? McShane should be drug tested.

[85]

The crackhead who ate the other crackhead's face in Miami had more sense than these clowns.   

[JoltinJoe]

Joe B just called me to tell me that there is a rumor on Twitter that Pecora was extended to 2017?  Any truth to this?  Sounds a wee bit far fetched to me.

This is true.

[B2Bomber]

Rodney Dangerfield (Frank) is still in his office and apparently has full authority to do what he wants.   Its simply incredulous.   

Its yet another reason Fordham has NO RESPECT WITHIN THE NCAA.   

[85]

So what do we now re-name Grank in this interim period?  :

    Grulio
    GRA
    Grimio
    McGra
    Grellwood
    Grambacker
    Julianne McGraywood
    JulianneMcGranklewood, Emeritus

[John]

So what do we now re-name Grank in this interim period?  :

 

Grinterim
Gresume'
McShay

[Ram 91]

Lame Grank (redundant)

[JohnG92]

so now it seems the new AD reports to Frank who reports to Jeff Gray.

Where did you hear or read this?

Jubilee this weekend should be interesting.

[An Old Coach]

DamnRam and John.  Who is more well known, the AD of Notre Dame or its President.  How about Duke?  UNC?  Stanford?  In reality the coaches of marquee sports are more well known than botht he President and the AD combined.   As for McShane not wanting the AD to report him, that is tough luck.  Sometimes you have deal with things you would prefer others could handle.  He has permitted a department to woefully underperform that gets more publicity than any other department in the University.  It is time he dedicate some time to it and get Jeff Gray out of the way.  What has Jeff Gray done to prove that he is in any way competent enough to be in a position to make decisions on athletics?  In fact, his job performance over the last 14 yeas proves the opposite, he is not qualified for this job and should be relieved of these duties so he can focus on being vice president of student affairs. 

For years Fordham has held itself as this great academic institution that does not want to be over run by athletics.  It is a cop out, there are schools that make our academics look like a community college whose ADs report to the President and are more well known than the President.  The academic reputation of those schools has not suffered because of this and the alumni/students have the benefit of national sports programs that provide a source of pride and comradery for the community. 

I agree with virtually everything you're saying.  We're all overlooking one thing.  He's the president.  He makes the rules.  He doesn't want to be hands on with athletics as I guess he doesn't see the need.  I don't think it's a huge deal if you get the right guy in here, give him a mandate and tell him to bring back a plan.  Then give him the ability to execute it.   It doesn't appear that new facilities are in the offing so that is one thing he won't need to worry about.  Still more than enough to do.  The important thing is that when he's hired, keep Gray and Frank out of his way except to sign his time sheet.

Other than that, there's nothing anyone can do about it.  

[dadas2002]

Interesting article on Gray written back in 2010 that sheds some light.

http://law.fordham.edu/newsroom/20511.htm

[ace93]

I agree with virtually everything you're saying.  We're all overlooking one thing.  He's the president.  He makes the rules.  He doesn't want to be hands on with athletics as I guess he doesn't see the need.  I don't think it's a huge deal if you get the right guy in here, give him a mandate and tell him to bring back a plan.  Then give him the ability to execute it.   It doesn't appear that new facilities are in the offing so that is one thing he won't need to worry about.  Still more than enough to do.  The important thing is that when he's hired, keep Gray and Frank out of his way except to sign his time sheet.

Other than that, there's nothing anyone can do about it.  

Who does the new AD report to if Gray and Frank are kept out of the way?

[B2Bomber]

Who does the new AD report to if Gray and Frank are kept out of the way?

It wont be McShane.   Likely the CFO.

[JohnG92]

Interesting article on Gray written back in 2010 that sheds some light.

http://law.fordham.edu/newsroom/20511.htm

That lengthy blog post that is referenced in this article is brutal to read. Absolutely brutal.

[RamRunner12]

Lame Grank (redundant)

(Trey Blue)

[85 Emeritus (closed)]

I have changed my moniker ( X2 now ).  I too will retire from the board since I realize that the definition of emeritus has apparently changed. 

[dadas2002]

That lengthy blog post that is referenced in this article is brutal to read. Absolutely brutal.

Wow, I overlooked that article.

[FUCoP69]

So what do we now re-name Grank in this interim period?

Grin-The-Know ?   

[An Old Coach]

That lengthy blog post that is referenced in this article is brutal to read. Absolutely brutal.

Didn't realize he coached football at Syracuse.  I guess he got the most out of Jim Brown...

[FUCoP69]

That lengthy blog post that is referenced in this article is brutal to read. Absolutely brutal.

I just finished reading that blog post and it only reinforces my oft-stated belief that Fordham athletics should not be in Division I. Any changes that may have occurred since that post was written have largely been, as B2B has said, "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

Alumni who dream of sustained DI success are seriously deluded.

[71]

I just finished reading that blog post and it only reinforces my oft-stated belief that Fordham athletics should not be in Division I. Any changes that may have occurred since that post was written have largely been, as B2B has said, "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

Alumni who dream of sustained DI success are seriously deluded.

Skimmed it quickly, and will go back to it, but the one thing I came away wondering was: "wow, they put a link to that in a puff piece on the Fordham website!?  Freedom of thought triumphs!"

[Bronx Boy]

Interesting article on Gray written back in 2010 that sheds some light.
http://law.fordham.edu/newsroom/20511.htm

Yeah,... it shows how a D-III mind can affect a D-i sports program.

Gray is, and has been, over his head, on Rose Hill since Jump Street, and that goes fer Francis X as well, and that is why we have a D - III sports program at Fordham. 

[Ram69]

That lengthy blog post that is referenced in this article is brutal to read. Absolutely brutal.

Brutal, but well worth reading.  For those who have the time (and the masochism) to deal with an in-depth account of attitudes regarding athletics held by the decision-makers at Fordham, here’s the link: http://lifeatthebottom.wordpress.com/

For those not so inclined, I’ll provide an overview and some revealing quotes.  While it did appear as a blog post, the article was written three years ago as a lengthy (18 pages) investigative report by Jake Sherman, apparently as part of his course work at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.  Entitled: “Life At the Bottom: Fordham University’s Struggle between Basketball Prominence and Academic Success,” it captures the ambivalence, indifference, and sheer craziness that came to pervade decision-making about basketball at Fordham. 

The piece starts by focusing on Derrick Whittenburg, who in the spring of 2009 was decompressing from a 3-25 season, one that had left him bitter and frustrated (and, as we now realize, approaching an emotional melt-down).  Looking back on better days when it seemed that the program was on the move, Whittenburg said:  “Fordham was the laughing stock of the country and in four years, look at what we’ve done.  I thought I’m the guy now, they believe in me and we are going to build a new arena and add more money.”  But that was not to be.  Whittenburg remarked in the article that he never got so much as “a pat on the back” from Jeff Gray or Frank McLaughlin, even when things had gone unexpectedly well, as in an earlier upset victory over UVa.  The university administration, he contended, wanted him to win, but was unwilling to commit the needed resources or to be flexible with academic standards in such as way as to allow him to succeed.  “The commitment for basketball speaks for itself.  What they didn’t understand is what they want to be.”

Jeff Gray is quoted pointing out the difficulty of trying to achieve both academic integrity and athletic success: “We’re trying to sell an experience that includes an academic component.  It’s not easy to sell.”  In the article, Gray ponders why the team kept losing despite a budget of “almost $3 million.”  “It’s killing me,” the article quotes Gray as saying.  “It’s killin’ us.  It’s killin’ us all.”  Yet, while he complained about the poor return on the university's investment in the program, Gray later hinted that maybe the investment wasn't adequate: “I think, in a lot of ways, we’re getting what we pay for.”

As the author described Frank McLaughlin, our AD didn’t appear to be terribly upset over the 25 losses that season, and waxed philosophical when asked whether winning was not all that important at Rose Hill.  Sounding more like a detached observer than the Athletic Department’s top administrator and advocate, Frank replied: “I think that’s a question that’s being asked right now at the institution.  I think it’s the season, I think this season brings it more to light.  You sort of say to yourself, ‘What’s the problem?”  And I think that’s good.  Sometimes you go through a crisis and you have to address the issue.”  Later he said: “Xavier, Dayton—there’s a real priority there.  I’m not sure we have the same commitment as an institution.  Everybody wants to win.  Some do it by design, some do it by mistake.”  The author commented:  “Perhaps the most jarring thing about McLaughlin is his nonchalant attitude about wins,” and he cited how Frank said to the New York Times back in 1985, his move from Harvard to Fordham was his “last move.”  (I guess he was true to his word on that!)   “It is difficult to discern,” the author goes on, “whether McLaughlin is frustrated by his failure in making the basketball team remotely successful.  On several occasions, when asked about the state of the program, he sat, arms linked at the top of his head, trying to explain the constraints that kept Fordham from making even the slightest jump to sustained success.”  Summing up, the writer said:  “McLaughlin seems resigned.  The frustrated Fordham alumnus who took his job almost two decades ago seems completely defeated.”

While right on target in many respects, not everything in the article rang true.  The writer seemed a bit naive in uncritically accepting the “academics first” excuses from Gray and McLaughlin, and he failed to explore the question of how Boston College and Georgetown (both of which he mentioned in the article) manage to have first-rate basketball and first-rate academics.  All in all, though, it’s a fascinating piece.  It gives an “up close and personal” account of many of the things we have discussed and speculated about on this board, while bringing an outsider’s perspective to the crazy world of Fordham athletics.