....... FYI if there is a lack of leadership it starts at the presidents office. They just don't care about athletics. At all. He doesn't put effort to it, support it, and they act like its a burden to the school vs a key component of the school. Nice to see this is finally coming out after I got blasted all week for stating such. Proven again LOL (tic)
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I agree that the problem on the administration side starts with the President since he (or the BOR who he works for) is in charge. But Peterson's position is very rational. I've been to three homecoming alumni presentations and they all emphasize everything but athletics; except to note our athletes academic ranking is improving. When I asked at different presentations about either a new major which didn't require calculus or allowing more leeway on the calculus in existing majors, the answer came back that academics are the first priority (of course) and we wouldn't do anything to compromise academics. And many of the alumni applauded.
Making it an all or nothing situation concerning compromising athletics is the mindset problem. That was the brilliance of the Total Person concept. It allowed for emphasis on athletics within a strict academic environment. But balanced.
That is the audience Peterson is playing to. And I think a sizable majority of GT alum just don't care or are openly hostile to athletics.
Think about the alumni you know. Today I'm going to a GT Student sendoff and the majority of alum who care enough to be involved and be at the send off just mostly don't care about athletics. Only one cares much about football (swam for GT) and another cares about baseball (had a son who played for GT). There is one alum who swam for GT and was openly hostile to any emphasis being placed on athletics.
We're the minority folks. But on the bright side, the search committee is as good as we could hope for. If they can't find and encourage the best possible candidate, it won't be because they don't care or tried. I wish them the best.
