Barry Jackson -update on the UM/Diaz situation later today.

[No_Fly_Zone]

There are other alums who feel differently, and it’s hard to blame them when the Miami herald runs an article talking about the lack of interest on the part of the president of the school and most of its trustees.

If they don’t care about the embarrassment of getting blown out at home games, and they dont, why should the banner guys worry about the embarrassment of flying one above those very blowouts?

I haven’t been in favor of the banners btw, I saw them in the same light you do. Now I don’t really care either way.

I can respect that some alumni see this issue differently. And don't get me wrong, you are certainly entitled to your opinion and, frankly, have paid for it (which is more than most).

But I keep seeing a logical disconnect. There is an acknowledgment that the President and vast majority of the BoT don't care about the football program. The response is to fly a banner regarding the inarguable ineptitude of the HC and AD. The idea being, the fanbase embarrasses these uncaring trustees into action. Even assuming that works, what will the result be? These same, uncaring individuals are the ones who are hiring the next HC and AD. If the real problem is an uncaring BoT, how have we addressed that problem with banners? And Heaven help us if we agree the BoT is the actual problem, because we'll need to bring more than the price of a few banners (think multi-millions) to solve that problem.

I tend to believe the majority of people in favor of Banners (whom I'd wager, for the most part, aren't paying for them, don't donate money to the University, and aren't otherwise affiliated with the university except for their fandom) are simply acting on their anger and frustration. If it helps you sleep at night, go ahead, I guess. I'm certainly not out their paying banner pilots to fly counter-banners or stay grounded. But I won't be joining in. I'm not one to **** in the wind or cut off my nose to spite my face.

I can certainly acknowledge the chance that we get incredibly lucky and a cumbersome board of people who do not give a **** about UM football happen upon an excellent AD (for cheap, because remember, they do not care about UM football) and a value-bin HC (because, again, they do not care) who happens to be worth a d@mn. For me, the chance for juice isn't worth the squeeze.

 

[Fluffhead]

I think they’ve got bigger priorities, IMO, with the deteriorating academics or perception of it which goes to the school’s primary purpose, unlike sports.

Agreed 100% ... but they are also letting Frenk trudge right along like everything is fine. I get they had to push things back because of Covid, and even understand the argument that having a public health guy in charge was beneficial, but they need to be working on this next chapter. It all comes back to the same issue with the board and this school. Nothing is ever done proactively. It always reaches the point of people having to say wtf is going on in Coral Gables.

With regards to the academics, this school year should have started with Frenk sending out some canned message about how happy he is to have things returning back to a semblance of normal, and saying this will be my last year, and the current chair of the board saying they are in the process of interviewing candidates for the next president and look forward to introducing that best candidate later this school year.

Same with the AD. This is why people reach these points. They let things fester and boil over with no communication and zero proactive measures.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

I think they’ve got bigger priorities, IMO, with the deteriorating academics or perception of it which goes to the school’s primary purpose, unlike sports. That said, a thriving athletics program, led by football, helps the school as I see it but people have priorities and where they value the various components.

Completely agree.

I would also point out, the fix for the academic side is going to take a long, sustained effort to reverse the slide. It's probably going to take at least a decade to get our US News ranking back to where it was in Donna's best year.

On a brighter note, though, the Athletics issues could (potentially) be quickly addressed by firing 2 guys and hiring 2 good replacements. It won't take a decade to get back to 10-12 wins if you make a good choice. And, worst case scenario, it certainly buys the BOT another 3-4 years of banner-free silence.

In spite of everything, I'm trying to stay optimistic, but somebody needs to budget 5 minutes in a BOT meeting to formally vote to fire Blake and Manny.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

Agreed 100% ... but they are also letting Frenk trudge right along like everything is fine. I get they had to push things back because of Covid, and even understand the argument that having a public health guy in charge was beneficial, but they need to be working on this next chapter. It all comes back to the same issue with the board and this school. Nothing is ever done proactively. It always reaches the point of people having to say wtf is going on in Coral Gables.

With regards to the academics, this school year should have started with Frenk sending out some canned message about how happy he is to have things returning back to a semblance of normal, and saying this will be my last year, and the current chair of the board saying they are in the process of interviewing candidates for the next president and look forward to introducing that best candidate later this school year.

Same with the AD. This is why people reach these points. They let things fester and boil over with no communication and zero proactive measures.

UM usually "finds" a spot for deposed deans to stay with the university. Even the law school dean that Frenk publicly humiliated is free to stay at UM if he chooses.

We need to give Frenk a cushy job at the Med School.

 

[Fluffhead]

UM usually "finds" a spot for deposed deans to stay with the university. Even the law school dean that Frenk publicly humiliated is free to stay at UM if he chooses.

We need to give Frenk a cushy job at the Med School.

That is fine too, though preferably not as dean of the med school. They were just recovering from Goldschmidt's illustrious time in charge. If they want to put him behind the counter at the on campus Starbucks, that works for me as well. Just get him out of any position where he can do more damage.

 

[RVACane]

Agreed 100% ... but they are also letting Frenk trudge right along like everything is fine. I get they had to push things back because of Covid, and even understand the argument that having a public health guy in charge was beneficial, but they need to be working on this next chapter. It all comes back to the same issue with the board and this school. Nothing is ever done proactively. It always reaches the point of people having to say wtf is going on in Coral Gables.

With regards to the academics, this school year should have started with Frenk sending out some canned message about how happy he is to have things returning back to a semblance of normal, and saying this will be my last year, and the current chair of the board saying they are in the process of interviewing candidates for the next president and look forward to introducing that best candidate later this school year.

Same with the AD. This is why people reach these points. They let things fester and boil over with no communication and zero proactive measures.

Completely agree.

I would also point out, the fix for the academic side is going to take a long, sustained effort to reverse the slide. It's probably going to take at least a decade to get our US News ranking back to where it was in Donna's best year.

On a brighter note, though, the Athletics issues could (potentially) be quickly addressed by firing 2 guys and hiring 2 good replacements. It won't take a decade to get back to 10-12 wins if you make a good choice. And, worst case scenario, it certainly buys the BOT another 3-4 years of banner-free silence.

In spite of everything, I'm trying to stay optimistic, but somebody needs to budget 5 minutes in a BOT meeting to formally vote to fire Blake and Manny.

As a person who did not graduate from UM, but whose parents and multiple family members did, and some of whom you each personally know have been greatly supportive of the school - I care about the quality of UM as an institution given all this and it’s place in the history of my home city which I love.

I am most troubled at the moment on the President level and what has happened to academic standing. I would take the days of Shalala over this. This has to be troubling as **** for the big guys/girls. Athletics is another fail but they have to stabilize themselves as an academic institution.

 

[Insanecane]

People, don’t go to Miami because it is some academic meca. They go because people like living in Miami. Having a good football team to root for is a huge plus as well, as it helps bring in boosters and tie former grads back to their school.

 

[SCarolina Ibis]

So 50 million to buyout Mario, buyout Manny, and then pay Mario 7 million per year?

Naw thats what I thought when I first read it in that 247 article. But the article uses a hypothetical 7 million per year over 5 years, which equals 35. They just added that 35 to the buyouts. But obviously contracts aren't paid up front in full. So 50 million was just a way to shoot Mario to UM down.

Even at their hypothetical 7 million in year one, plus the 8 and 9 million buyouts they listed, it would still come in at less than half of the 50 million they came up with.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

Naw thats what I thought when I first read it in that 247 article. But the article uses a hypothetical 7 million per year over 5 years, which equals 35. They just added that 35 to the buyouts. But obviously contracts aren't paid up front in full. So 50 million was just a way to shoot Mario to UM down.

Even at their hypothetical 7 million in year one, plus the 8 and 9 million buyouts they listed, would still come in less than half of the 50 million they came up with.

Not to mention, we were planning to pay Richt $5M per year...three years ago.

So IF we paid Mario $7M per year...that is very much within the range of what we were going to pay Richt (or might have paid Richt if he had taken us to a couple more ACC-CGs).

Yes, Barry Jacks-off is trying to scare us with a big number. The only thing that really matters, the only part that is "new/unbudgeted money" is the $15M for buyouts.

 

[Fluffhead]

As a person who did not graduate from UM, but whose parents and multiple family members did, and some of whom you each personally know have been greatly supportive of the school - I care about the quality of UM as an institution given all this and it’s place in the history of my home city which I love.

I am most troubled at the moment on the President level and what has happened to academic standing. I would take the days of Shalala over this. This has to be troubling as **** for the big guys/girls. Athletics is another fail but they have to stabilize themselves as an academic institution.

I said this to you in a message, but it is actually incredible that they need to replace the president, AD, and head football coach (and basketball coach if being honest), simultaneously. I have no idea how that even happens in a logical manner. Ideally you would want to go president, then AD, then coaches, but they do not have the luxury of logic because of their being reactive instead of proactive.

I was not a fan of Shalala, but can respect what she did. This guy is an unmitigated disaster. There is not a single facet of the school excelling... undergrad, med, law, business, athletics. Every single one of them are down, and yet, Frenk is still there and no one knows if they are interviewing others. It is incredible.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

As a person who did not graduate from UM, but whose parents and multiple family members did, and some of whom you each personally know have been greatly supportive of the school - I care about the quality of UM as an institution given all this and it’s place in the history of my home city which I love.

I am most troubled at the moment on the President level and what has happened to academic standing. I would take the days of Shalala over this. This has to be troubling as **** for the big guys/girls. Athletics is another fail but they have to stabilize themselves as an academic institution.

Don't discount the synergy angle.

If UM starts to market the new dorms, the "tuition doesn't go up while you are in school" policy, and the increased commitment to find applicants ALL the financial aid for which they qualify...

...AND we were to beat Texas A&M next season and storm the ACC...

...applications will increase...and the rankings will feel the impact...faster than just about any other thing that the BOT can do to address the US News problem.

Yes, we still need to do a lot of substantive stuff to address the underlying academic concerns...

By the way, what was the FIRST thing that Tad Foote did that kick-started Miami's rise in US News?

HE SLASHED ENROLLMENT.

I've had debates with people, since UM used to have a full-time undergrad enrollment of 8,500...and, yes, it does seem like that number has climbed in the last 10 years...

So it's probably pretty unavoidable at this point...the first thing that President Not-Frenk needs to do is to slash enrollment again.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

I said this to you in a message, but it is actually incredible that they need to replace the president, AD, and head football coach (and basketball coach if being honest), simultaneously. I have no idea how that even happens in a logical manner. Ideally you would want to go president, then AD, then coaches, but they do not have the luxury of logic because of their being reactive instead of proactive.

I was not a fan of Shalala, but can respect what she did. This guy is an unmitigated disaster. There is not a single facet of the school excelling... undergrad, med, law, business, athletics. Every single one of them are down, and yet, Frenk is still there and no one knows if they are interviewing others. It is incredible.

The only bright spot is that if Frenk was going to get another 5-year contract on MERIT basis, it would already be done. As of today, he's about 13 months overdue, and it wouldn't have taken a big effort for the General Counsel to draft the new contract while working from home IF IF IF that was an eventuality.

I understand Frenk getting a sixth year of eligibility due to COVID, but next year we need to be down on our roster numbers and he needs to enter the Portal and transfer to Med School U, where he'll have a chance to make a contribution.

 

[theibisrules]

So basically no one in siuth Florida cares if the football program is trash

 

[TheOriginalCane]

So basically no one in siuth Florida cares if the football program is trash

I don't think that's true.

But it also takes a while to turn the Titanic. Sometimes you smash right into that iceberg, and not because people don't care.

 

[RVACane]

So basically no one in siuth Florida cares if the football program is trash

I think people care. Not everyone prioritizes it the same as the majority of CiS.

 

[423Hurricane]

Like many others, I became a fan of Miami because of the football team and well before we became the U. It was my dream to go there and study oceanography but life took me in a different direction.

I have undergrad and grad degrees from another university but that hasn’t reduced my love for Miami. I also understand the importance of the academic side of Miami or any university for that matter. Fact of the matter is that’s the primary purpose of any institution of higher learning - teaching skills to students.

That being said, there’s no reason that sports and academics can’t be of similar importance. In today’s landscape, it’s almost imperative that both are successful for many reasons.

Hopefully, sooner rather than later, the powers that be come to this realization as well.

 

[Handsome Squidbum]

I made this point before (in a different thread?), but it is really a bit of a misunderstood issue. The Hurricane Club does not NEED to pay a coaching salary at UM, because UM (as a private school) has no need to evade any state law that could limit the amount paid to a state employee (football/basketball coach).

That is not an argument FOR OR AGAINST the Hurricane Club doing more. But whether we make our donations to UM directly or the Hurricane Club indirectly, it's pretty much going to be US paying more for a coach. And I have no problems if some/most are in favor of it, I'm just pointing out that we don't NEED to do it for legally evasive reasons.

If UM wants to budget $10M per year for the head football coach, that is allowable. Given the fact that we do not need to pay for annual maintenance for an on-campus stadium, I certainly think that we SHOULD devote a bigger percentage of our Athletic budget to coaches.

But if HC gets involved...then the HC will be expecting bigger checks from all of us. Personally, I'd rather have a transparent process where UM pays full-freight for the coaches, but I also understand that people look around at what other schools do and then wonder why we are not doing it.

Thanks for the clarification but I think the current structure is limiting. For example, the crimson tide foundation paid several million for Sabans house. It isn't a question of transparency, since the announced they were doing it. Is it a sad indictment of society that people are starving but some rich people bought a multi million dollar house for a football coach? Of course it is, but that's the way it works in big time cfb. Would UM using its budget buy a house for Mario Cristobal? Not a f#cking chance in the world. Are there a lot fans of UM that don't give 2 ****s about girls volleyball and won't donate to anything but football? Yes, I think there are.

Put it this way, if UM athletic fundraising called and asked for a donation, most of us would hang up the phone before they could finish saying hello or spend 10 minutes yelling at the poor work study student on the other end about how much you hate Blake James and you know he would just waste your donation. If let's say, Butch Davis (or any prominent person associated with UM football, same as Bryant Jr running the Bama booster club) retired from FIU and formed the "Friends of UM football" booster club and served as the chair, and you got a call from the club saying it was raising funds to try and hire the biggest fish in the waters for HC, some posters would take out a second mortgage to donate.

 

[Umbra]

I think the banners embarrass the fanbase too and targeting people for embarrassment who give millions to the school is not a part of my personal value system. These people have their own areas of interest - medicine, law…etc.

It takes a BOT member who wants to properly champion and fund Athletics to step up. Ideally, one of the psychos on CIS who is or becomes a zillionaire can fill that void.

We got any potential billionaire posters? Maybe NYSOM & Ken own a stock brokerage somewhere or someone made it big with the money I lost to Gamestop this year.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

Thanks for the clarification but I think the current structure is limiting. For example, the crimson tide foundation paid several million for Sabans house. It isn't a question of transparency, since the announced they were doing it. Is it a sad indictment of society that people are starving but some rich people bought a multi million dollar house for a football coach? Of course it is, but that's the way it works in big time cfb. Would UM using its budget buy a house for Mario Cristobal? Not a f#cking chance in the world. Are there a lot fans of UM that don't give 2 ****s about girls volleyball and won't donate to anything but football? Yes, I think there are.

Put it this way, if UM athletic fundraising called and asked for a donation, most of us would hang up the phone before they could finish saying hello or spend 10 minutes yelling at the poor work study student on the other end about how much you hate Blake James and you know he would just waste your donation. If let's say, Butch Davis retired from FIU and formed the "Friends of UM football" booster club and served as the chair, and you got a call from the club saying it was raising funds to try and hire the biggest fish in the waters for HC, some posters would take out a second mortgage to donate.

Very fair points.

By the way, I wasn't using the term "transparency" maybe as well as I should have, I was just referring to the fact that if UM wants to pay the coach X, I'd rather see it on UM's financials than for it to be spread out over multiple organizations. But you are right, the Crimson Tide Foundation is not doing anything super-secretive.

And you may have a very good point about whether donors would trust a Butch-related fund-raising call over a Beta-Blake-related fund-raising call. Although some people SWEEEEEAAAARRRR that Beta Blake is a good fund-raiser...

 

[Brains]

I made this comment off CIS, and now will say it here: I'm also no Donna fan. That said, she was hyper-visible university Prez. Frenk is totally invisible.

While I believe the proper approach is more balanced between the two, I still struggle to understand what Frenk is doing here.

Does he know anyone? Has he delivered anything?