Whit Babcock and VT opening

[Rational Cat]

People are afraid of change because they overvalue that they have, and undervalue what could be. Whit did a nice job here. He has positioned us to get into a bigger conference. i do not blame him for the collapse of the BE even though it happened on his watch and the AAC was the only life raft he could get us on. However, there is no way to tell what the next person will bring to the table. We could be hiring the next Einstein of the AD world. When Dantonio left, we were all devastated, then Kelly ushered in the next 3 years of football heaven at UC granted with Dantonio players. I have confidence Santa can bring us a good gift.

How can we be afraid of change?

All we've had is change.

I am weary of change, hoping for the dude or two who will stay and not step on our heads on the way up the ladder.

Is that asking for too much?

God love Mick for his loyalty.

[GoCats1994]

Any known candidates?

I think the next person has a tough job. Fund raising will be critical, yet it seems like many of our loyal fans have a bad taste in their mouths right now.

Who is out there that will excite the fans/alum?

Local hero?
Native son come home?
Up-and-comer?
Tested veteran?

Unfortunately, I am light on names or suggestions...

[Lobot]

Considering we were the worst paying job in the old BE, I would say up and comer but we might find the money if the right veteran candidate is out there.

You're probably not going to hear anything on a names front. It wouldn't surprise me if a search firm is used to keep it quiet. We might get a leaked short list if we're lucky.

[Bearcat-in-Italy]

How can we be afraid of change?

All we've had is change.

I am weary of change, hoping for the dude or two who will stay and not step on our heads on the way up the ladder.

Is that asking for too much?

God love Mick for his loyalty.

Until things change significantly in the funds coming into the program and the salary level that we pay our AD then we can expect a revolving door. Very few people will do the same job for significantly less money and why would we expect anything else. That is the rational answer unfortunately for us.

[Rational Cat]

Until things change significantly in the funds coming into the program and the salary level that we pay our AD then we can expect a revolving door. Very few people will do the same job for significantly less money and why would we expect anything else. That is the rational answer unfortunately for us.

And with the constant change, and no conference (I'm not counting the AAC), the fan base will never get any larger or give any more funds. And coaches and AD personnel will always see this as a stepping stone to a larger payday.

I'm not the only one here who is paying and donating way more than we did when we were in CUSA. We're paying Big East-plus prices for AAC product. How much longer am I or others going to be willing to do that? Plus, the product will continue to deteriorate, what kids would want to go to an AAC school instead of play in the ACC, Big 10 or 12, or I'll say it, the new Big East?

I'm just frustrated, and mildly venting. I know others here feel the same. UC won (or tied for) 4 of the last 5 Big East football championships, raised the endowment to over a billion dollars, and for that got relegated to the AAC, and the coaches and directors who were here all got to take a step up- but we all got left behind.

I feel a bit like Charlie Brown, just hoping that Lucy is not going to pull away that football again, but knowing that she will and I'll wind up on my back again.

I can never blame any person for bettering their job and moving on to a more prestigious and better paying position. There is no money for UC, apparently, and that means this situation will not improve. I've tried to remain optimistic and yes, rational, but the future for UC athletics looks bleak. In a world awash with easy TV money, we can't seem to get any of it here.

[kennh]

And with the constant change, and no conference (I'm not counting the AAC), the fan base will never get any larger or give any more funds. And coaches and AD personnel will always see this as a stepping stone to a larger payday.

I'm not the only one here who is paying and donating way more than we did when we were in CUSA. We're paying Big East-plus prices for AAC product. How much longer am I or others going to be willing to do that? Plus, the product will continue to deteriorate, what kids would want to go to an AAC school instead of play in the ACC, Big 10 or 12, or I'll say it, the new Big East?

I'm just frustrated, and mildly venting. I know others here feel the same. UC won (or tied for) 4 of the last 5 Big East football championships, raised the endowment to over a billion dollars, and for that got relegated to the AAC, and the coaches and directors who were here all got to take a step up- but we all got left behind.

I feel a bit like Charlie Brown, just hoping that Lucy is not going to pull away that football again, but knowing that she will and I'll wind up on my back again.

I can never blame any person for bettering their job and moving on to a more prestigious and better paying position. There is no money for UC, apparently, and that means this situation will not improve. I've tried to remain optimistic and yes, rational, but the future for UC athletics looks bleak. In a world awash with easy TV money, we can't seem to get any of it here.

Sadly, I think you are correct. I think this is very bad news for the future of our athletic program.

[kennh]

Money may have been part of the reason Babcock left us so soon but it can't be the only reason. The guy he is replacing was making $621,600 from what I can find. I know that is more than the $400,000+ Babcock was making but is that enough to jump ship (unless you have other reasons)? I think it sends a message to UC and its fans "you ain't worth it". And that is sad to hear.

[oldcat48]

And with the constant change, and no conference (I'm not counting the AAC), the fan base will never get any larger or give any more funds. And coaches and AD personnel will always see this as a stepping stone to a larger payday.

I'm not the only one here who is paying and donating way more than we did when we were in CUSA. We're paying Big East-plus prices for AAC product. How much longer am I or others going to be willing to do that? Plus, the product will continue to deteriorate, what kids would want to go to an AAC school instead of play in the ACC, Big 10 or 12, or I'll say it, the new Big East?

I'm just frustrated, and mildly venting. I know others here feel the same. UC won (or tied for) 4 of the last 5 Big East football championships, raised the endowment to over a billion dollars, and for that got relegated to the AAC, and the coaches and directors who were here all got to take a step up- but we all got left behind.

I feel a bit like Charlie Brown, just hoping that Lucy is not going to pull away that football again, but knowing that she will and I'll wind up on my back again.

I can never blame any person for bettering their job and moving on to a more prestigious and better paying position. There is no money for UC, apparently, and that means this situation will not improve. I've tried to remain optimistic and yes, rational, but the future for UC athletics looks bleak. In a world awash with easy TV money, we can't seem to get any of it here.

We're in a pickle. Whit was here two years. TWO YEARS. What can you really get done in two years? He had to have had one foot out the door the whole time.

The stadium project I credit Ono - that thing was coming no matter who was in the AD chair. And I'm just not sold on Tuberville. We're a retirement job for him. Anytime you hire a guy his age who was about to be fired, that's usually not a good outcome.

Fact is we don't have the fan base to support a BCS-type program. Want to know why UC got passed up during realignment? We don't have the dollars, don't have the butts in seats. Period. Even Bob Goin couldn't have fixed that issue (and as much as I credit him for getting us into the Big East, no way could he have fixed it: he's the numb-nut who boxed in the stadium so it can't be expanded, thus limiting our possible conference affiliation in a BIG way).

[Rational Cat]

We're in a pickle. Whit was here two years. TWO YEARS. What can you really get done in two years? He had to have had one foot out the door the whole time.

The stadium project I credit Ono - that thing was coming no matter who was in the AD chair. And I'm just not sold on Tuberville. We're a retirement job for him. Anytime you hire a guy his age who was about to be fired, that's usually not a good outcome.

Fact is we don't have the fan base to support a BCS-type program. Want to know why UC got passed up during realignment? We don't have the dollars, don't have the butts in seats. Period. Even Bob Goin couldn't have fixed that issue (and as much as I credit him for getting us into the Big East, no way could he have fixed it: he's the numb-nut who boxed in the stadium so it can't be expanded, thus limiting our possible conference affiliation in a BIG way).

Good post, sir, I agree with you.

UC needs a Bob Goin type right now: a guy who has been there, done that, maybe in the Big 10 or SEC, with tons of experience and networking, probably on the downside of his career, who can help bring us into a P5 conference. Just like Goin helped UC into the BE.

If we can't get into a P5 conference, then it's over for football. Basketball will survive, but football will go back to pre Rick Minter days.

[Lobot]

Money may have been part of the reason Babcock left us so soon but it can't be the only reason.

It's not. He went home. He's from Virginia. He even stated that this morning that going home was part of the draw of the job. This is a Mark Dantonio, Bob Huggins at Kansas State heading to WVU after a year, going home sort of thing. If the VT job (or UVA) hadn't opened up I sincerely think he'd still be here at least for a little longer. I think we would have eventually lost him to a larger program any way but it wasn't that he wanted a new job. He found THE job.

[longtimefan]

Money may have been part of the reason Babcock left us so soon but it can't be the only reason. The guy he is replacing was making $621,600 from what I can find. I know that is more than the $400,000+ Babcock was making but is that enough to jump ship (unless you have other reasons)? I think it sends a message to UC and its fans "you ain't worth it". And that is sad to hear.

Well, I wish he would have stayed, but I am not going to lose any sleep over it. Right now you have a president in Santa Ono who realizes you have to spend and even lose some money upfront to improve the standing of UC athletics. Dr. Williams was the chief proponent of holding the Big East together, and I think that was his initial charge to Whit Babcock; but I think Santa Ono knows better. I really believe we will not only get an adequate replacement but with the support of the President we may end up with someone better. We wrung our hands when Mike Thomas left, but would anybody like to see him return now? I wouldn't for sure.

[Binturong05]

Two years isn't long enough for me to be happy for him. Zim spent 6 years here. Whit didn't even stay the "usual" (for UC) 3 years.

In fact, he let some senior folks go in the Department and UCATS, and now the cupboard is kind of bare. Hardly a thing to engender good will with me.

Santa has an important job to do now.

I really hope we can keep Dr. Ono around girl a few more years.

The folks I talk to that are affiliated with osu are quite smitten with Dr. Ono. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they tried to pry him away from UC. After all, they must stomp out any and all competition in the state.

[bobestes]

The folks I talk to that are affiliated with osu are quite smitten with Dr. Ono. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they tried to pry him away from UC. After all, they must stomp out any and all competition in the state.

Maybe letting some senior folks go was not a bad thing to do. That is not exactly an athletic department that set the world on fire prior to his arrival.

[bobestes]

Did it ever come out WHY Williams left? Was it really conference realignment?

[blackattack]

The folks I talk to that are affiliated with osu are quite smitten with Dr. Ono. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they tried to pry him away from UC. After all, they must stomp out any and all competition in the state.

Yep, I've heard the same thing.