Big 12 in 2016

[coach]

Greg Fluguar is discontinuing expansion talk on his account and sticking to Minn. Sports. Apparently he's being threatened by "The Dude" Unfortunate development.

It makes no difference. None of these guys has any real credible info. That is the one thing that is certain.

[bobestes]

That is the most West Virginia thing ever.

Greg Fluguar is discontinuing expansion talk on his account and sticking to Minn. Sports. Apparently he's being threatened by "The Dude" Unfortunate development.

[red_n_black_attack]

Is "The Dude" a Mountaineer?

[Lobot]

Is "The Dude" a Mountaineer?

Why yes! Yes , he is

[Lobot]

Btw, in case you haven't seen the rumors. It's likely that Santa Ono is leaving UC for the University of British Columbia. UBC is expected to name a new president tomorrow. It's likely to be Ono. Just wanted to give a heads up in case it does in fact happen. If it doesn't good for us. If it does, we'll live.

[bobestes]

Btw, in case you haven't seen the rumors. It's likely that Santa Ono is leaving UC for the University of British Columbia. UBC is expected to name a new president tomorrow. It's likely to be Ono. Just wanted to give a heads up in case it does in fact happen. If it doesn't good for us. If it does, we'll live.

We'll live?

I don't know about you, but I take this as a pretty strong indicator that we're not getting into the Big12 or similar conference any time soon. He essentially staked his presidency on it. The timing is pretty coincidental, don't you think?

Here's what he's leaving us. A football program that we can't afford and a basketball program that has been lapped by Xavier. Students being asked to subsidize the athletic department via their student loan debt.

(By the way, we still don't know why Greg Williams left or was fired)

I'm telling you, something stinks up there. All the hashtags and social media in the world can't convince me otherwise.

[nolte50uc]

i'm surprised i haven;t seen this rumor picked up from any of the bigger media outlets. regardless, if he does leave, he did everything we all wanted him to do re: conference affiliation. i would take his proactive approach over the previous presidents' inaction any day. he was the perfect president for UC. he'll leave some huge shoes to fill.

and i don't think conference affiliation is a deciding factor for him. he understood the alumni's interest in getting to a P5 conference (as well as the $$$ that goes along with it) but i don't think he was linking his success with what conference the football team played in. he did much bigger things for the university regardless of what conference we end up in.

[coach]

He was born in Vancouver and from what i understand has quite a few ties up there. I would rather he stays, but these things happen. I don't think there has ever been any "indicators" we are getting into the b12. I don't think the b12 even knows what it's doing so to think we have any type of commitment is just rumor and hearsay.

[Lobot]

(By the way, we still don't know why Greg Williams left or was fired).

My understanding was that is was a combination of us going down with the ship in the Big East which helped put us in the financial mess the Athletic Dept. is currently in and his refusal to move the law school downtown, something that Ono accomplished.

[red_n_black_attack]

My understanding was that is was a combination of us going down with the ship in the Big East which helped put us in the financial mess the Athletic Dept. is currently in and his refusal to move the law school downtown, something that Ono accomplished.

The law school moved, boy o boy I haven't been on that part of campus in many ages. No need to reply - just stating this was not widely known (or I was out of the loop). Please, let's keep discussion on Ono leaving and impact to Big 12 expansion or non-expansion in this thread.

[Lobot]

Announcement on Ono from UBC is apparently happening in few minutes.

[Lobot]

UC will have a press conference at 2:00

[Lobot]

UBC has officially announced Santa Ono as President and Vice-Chancellor.

[Lobot]

Statement I just received in email.

June 13, 2016



Dear UC Community and Cincinnati Friends:

It is with very mixed emotions that I write to tell you that I have accepted an offer from the Board of Governors of The University of British Columbia to serve UBC as its 15th President and Vice-Chancellor.

I am available to serve UC until mid-July and will transition to The University of British Columbia in August.

This decision was by far the most difficult I have ever made. My six years at UC as your Provost and now President have been simply extraordinary and I am proud of what we have accomplished here together. UC has never been stronger and is positioned to continue to move from strength to strength.

We have achieved so much at the University of Cincinnati – the largest enrollment in UC history with more than 44,261 students – three straight years of record-breaking enrollment with another record expected this August. In addition, we restructured the UC Foundation, created UC Health, invested in hundreds of new faculty hires with focused hiring initiatives to position UC’s faculty for a bright future, invested in increasing study abroad and honors programs for students, achieved membership in the CASE-50, were invited to become an institutional affiliate of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, were named the Public University of the Year by The Washington Center, set strategic priorities for the next comprehensive campaign, improved student athletes’ academic performance, pursued construction and renovation on key academic and athletic facilities, and reached the $1 billion fundraising goal on what was then the largest campaign in history five months ahead of schedule. All of this was completed with the great leadership team at UC and the entire UC community. UC is a stunning institution filled with inspirational people. Because of that, the best is yet to come.

And beyond campus, living in Cincinnati has enriched my family's life immeasurably. We will never forget how we have been so warmly embraced by so many in Cincinnati and indeed throughout the region. We will always root for the Bearcats, Reds, Bengals and FC Cincinnati. We will follow with great pride the future successes of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, CCM and the countless other cultural organizations we have been blessed to experience.

I thank God for every minute of my time at UC and in Cincinnati. Our work together here is unquestionably the highlight of my career. Elevating UC has been a passion and a labor of love. So many of you have become close personal friends; friends I shall cherish forever.

There are only a few institutions whose invitation to serve would pull me away from UC. University of British Columbia is one such university. My father served on the UBC faculty when I was born in Vancouver almost 54 years ago. It was UBC that gave our immigrant family a chance to settle in North America. And some of our family and friends remain in Vancouver. This is that unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to my birthplace in Canada – for my life to come full circle.

Please accept my thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve the University of Cincinnati as your 28th President. UC will always have a special place in my heart. It has been an honor and privilege to serve you.

I will miss you Cincinnati. Go Bearcats!

[Lobot]

BOT statement:

TO: UC Community and Extended UC Family
FROM: Robert E. Richardson Jr.
Chair, University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees
DATE: June 13, 2016
RE: Presidential Transition












The Board of Trustees congratulates Santa Ono on his appointment as the new President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of British Columbia. We want to extend our admiration and appreciation to Dr. Ono for his tremendous leadership and service to the University of Cincinnati since becoming its 28th president in October 2012. Please join us in wishing Santa, Wendy and their family the very best with this next chapter in their lives.

Dr. Ono joins a distinguished list of past presidents who have boldly positioned UC for sustained success. Since 2000, we have completely transformed the campus experience with award-winning facilities; grown student enrollment by 33 percent; achieved historic gains in graduation and retention rates; accelerated investments in teaching, research, innovation and inclusion; completed a record-breaking $1 billion fundraising campaign; positioned athletics to compete at the highest level; and propelled the revitalization of the Uptown area. The list goes on. Even so, as Dr. Ono reminded us throughout his tenure, we truly believe the best is yet to come.

The Board remains firmly committed to advancing UC’s upward trajectory during this transitional period. Accordingly, we are pleased to announce that Beverly Davenport, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, will serve as Interim President. The Board looks forward to working closely with Dr. Davenport and the senior leadership team to advance our current set of strategic priorities and to build on our historic momentum.

In the coming weeks, the Board will engage a professional search firm and appoint a Presidential Search Committee, per University Rule 3361:10-6-01, to assist us with a comprehensive national search for our next president. More details on the search process and timeline—as well as on opportunities for you to provide input and monitor progress—will be forthcoming. In the days ahead, we will also share plans for celebrating Dr. Ono’s tenure and accomplishments.

With the University’s Bicentennial on the horizon in 2019, we look forward to partnering with you to welcome a visionary leader who will help propel the University of Cincinnati into our third century of excellence.



Go Bearcats!
Rob E. Richardson