OP is not true. Shalala, while not initiating a termination of Al, would not have objected to it had it been put in motion. She had concerns during the season that she didn't want to reside over the hiring/firing of 3 failed coaches during her tenure.
But even she has tired of the lame duck that is Al and pretty much has washed her claws of the mess by passing it off to the next president. But, like I said, if a proposal to fire Al came across her desk, it would have her blessing.
Ferman said it was Shalala's decision .The board did not want to intervene. One had to assume there were numerous board members who did not agree with this. If you have inside info who is your source?
Lulz at Ferman being accurate about anything.
Vinn I know you're connected, but I think you're either off or have some bad information.
Shalala may not have exactly championed Golden's cause, but she sure as **** has not been very receptive to the notion of firing Al THIS summer. If the part you mentioned about her not wanting a 3 "failed coach" under her regime is true (that's the first I hear of that) then that's just about the MOST SELFISH and IDIOTIC thing she could have said.
News flash....Golden is on HER ledger. Whether he's fired this offseason or next offseason is simply semantics. It's a fact that she is ALREADY responsible for THREE failed coaching hires. Nothing can change that now. We're talking past tense here.
We all agree that she is responsible, no matter how she may try to step away from the decision. But yes, she intimated that she was reluctant to have the burden of firing a 3rd failed coach in her tenure. Take a look at her record and it is littered with selfish and idiotic behavior in regards to the football program and more importantly the hiring/firing/continuing to pay for bad coaches that surrounds her time here. She is worn out by having to constantly defend him and herself for his performance. This year she took many hits from all sides. She is not the same. The energy and optimism just isn't there anymore.
Since the PSU incident there has been a somewhat frosty relationship with Golden and Shalala. Publicly they all say the right things, as evidenced by Blake James and his denial tour of media appearances, plus Al's selective sit downs with the fluffer's. But behind the scenes it is vastly different.
I'd be willing to wager anything that if the board pushed for the firing of Al tomorrow, Donna would stand aside and let it happen without so much as a mild protest.