This could potentially be tremendous, if the BOT actually wants competitive sports programs. Opportunity to make a hire that would translate into success in all sports. I don't really expect that to happen, and I can't really blame people for wanting someone who will work hard on what is really the bigger priority, but I can dream.
Yes I'm sure the first thing the BOT will look for is a president who wants to make the football team better.
THIS.
People here are SERIOUSLY setting themselves up for a MAJOR disappointment.
I HIGHLY doubt UM is going to be recruiting a President from some big state football school. UM is going to be looking to NE and higher level academic schools. UM is not going to be hiring the Athletic Director of Alabama as its President.
That's not to say a new President wont care about Football, or that they wont care MORE than Shalala, but be careful what you wish for. Tad Foote HATED UM football and couldn't have cared less about making the program better. With the way UM does things, I expect they will be looking at academic type schools, like Duke, UMass, NorthWestern, for someone to move up to President.
Im going to say right now that the odds are the next UM president will NOT care about football more than Shalala does/did. I hope they do, but its just not the way UM operates.