CSU fires AD

[J-Rod]

http://www.news.colostate.edu/release.aspx?id=7393" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have a hard time believing the stadium issue isn't involved here.

 

[Bryoming]

Pulled this off of the sheep board:

Ram Club Members, Athletics Donors and Rams Season Ticket
Holders,

As you may have heard, I have removed Jack Graham as the
Director of Athletics and issued the following statement:

"I have elected to terminate Jack Graham’s employment as athletic
director. While I am grateful to Jack for the energy he’s brought to
CSU in establishing a culture that expects excellence within Ram
Athletics and his actions in hiring great coaches and staff, there
have come to exist some substantial differences in our views.
Based on our differences, I have chosen to exercise the termination
for convenience clause within Jack's contract to allow the university
and the athletic department to move forward, building on the
successes that Jack brought to our program. As a personnel issue,
this will be the University’s only comment on this personnel action.

As our most loyal Rams supporters, I want to let you know that,
even with this change, our commitment to excellence in CSU
Athletics has not and will not change. And your continued passion
and support for the green and gold will help keep that momentum
strong.

In addition, this decision is in no way connected to the on-campus
stadium project. Our commitment to our student-athletes and to
excellence across the university drives our decisions about Rams
athletics and always has. The stadium project is separate from this
personnel action and will continue to move forward as planned,
with me providing a recommendation to the Board of Governors in
October. We appreciate all of the support CSU has received for this
initiative through your donations and commitment.

A national search will begin immediately for Jack’s replacement. I
have named Deputy Athletic Director John Morris as the Interim
Director of Athletics to lead the department during the search. John
is an experienced and respected administrator who I am confident
will continue the progress that has been made in recent years.

Above all, I want to reinforce our shared, strong commitment to CSU
Athletics and to providing a climate that inspires and supports the
success of our student-athletes. Our institutional commitment to
excellence in Rams athletics has never been stronger. We’re
confident in the future and looking forward to a great year – thanks
for your support.

Sincerely,

-tony

President Tony Frank

 

[PokeOLoco]

Something is rotten besides the stinky sheep.

 

[BJC]

Did anyone see this coming? :shock:

 

[BeaverPoke]

Bad for CSU, good for Wyo.

That AD had drive and a vision. It looks like he may have Sternberged himself though.

Don't have too much drive and passion when your bosses want to just sit there and be content doing the bare minimum.

 

[Hayduke]

Did NOT see that coming.

Nothing to do with the stadium issue, my ass!

 

[kdwrightuwyo]

Too forward/out-of-the-box thinking for the Rammies. He wouldn't last long at Wyo, either.

 

[McPeachy]

Holy shit.

I bet his penis was involved.

I think Tom would fit perfectly at CSewe by the way...

 

[BJC]

sheep + penis.....................oh my :rofl:

 

[Wyo2dal]

TBH I actually feel bad for them, Jack Graham is everything we wish Tom Burman was. Think about it, He Helped hire both Football and Basketball Coaches that you can't deny have shown quick promise. He has been an outside of the box thinker. Maybe the Stadium was pushing it but he was motivated and he only wish ours was.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Wow! That makes no sense to me. In his short time, CSU athletics have been improving greatly. He actually had the vision to push CSU into the Big 12.

This is bad news for Wyoming too. This means the "arms race" with CSU is likely officially over and that we will not be substantially increasing funding for athletics, coaching and facilities.

 

[POKE FAN]

Wow.....poor sheep. This is a huge surprise.

The more hysterical fans on Ramnation are already predicting that coach Mac will be gone next year. opcorn:

 

[Larawie]

Wow! That makes no sense to me. In his short time, CSU athletics have been improving greatly. He actually had the vision to push CSU into the Big 12.

This is bad news for Wyoming too. This means the "arms race" with CSU is likely officially over and that we will not be substantially increasing funding for athletics, coaching and facilities.

I don 't think it's bad news, I think it's GREAT news. WY has the opportunity, imo, to be the BIG guy in the MW on the Front Range.

 

[J-Rod]

I don 't think it's bad news, I think it's GREAT news. WY has the opportunity, imo, to be the BIG guy in the MW on the Front Range.

All because the Rams might fail to follow through on their optimistic project? Sorry, but reaching the top only because others fail is weak and not something UW should root for. CSU getting this project done would have only forced Wyoming's administration to pull their heads out of their asses, or prove once and for all that they are fools.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I don 't think it's bad news, I think it's GREAT news. WY has the opportunity, imo, to be the BIG guy in the MW on the Front Range.

All because the Rams might fail to follow through on their optimistic project? Sorry, but reaching the top only because others fail is weak.

It is weak, but that's the only way we get to the top with Burman.

We had our shot when TCU, Utah, and BYU left. We haven't done shit with it. Instead Utah State is looking mighty impressive.
And I know that you don't think they are going to be all that they are hyped up to be, they still have caught attention by others.
We didn't rise when we could, so what we need is for everyone else to be "down" for us to look good.
It sucks, but that's Wyo athletics.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

I don 't think it's bad news, I think it's GREAT news. WY has the opportunity, imo, to be the BIG guy in the MW on the Front Range.

All because the Rams might fail to follow through on their optimistic project? Sorry, but reaching the top only because others fail is weak and not something UW should root for. CSU getting this project done would have only forced Wyoming's administration to pull their heads out of their asses, or prove once and for all that they are fools.

Agree J-Rod.

Competition breeds competition. Being the top of a conference of sun belt caliber teams isn't exactly much to brag about.

 

[Wyokie]

Sadly....I'm not surprised.

Also, I agree with J-Rod's comments. Had CSU had the balls to get a bigger and better stadium, it would've forced UW to do something instead of sitting on their butts all day.

 

[Hayduke]

CSU should upgrade Hughes Stadium AND Moby...push for the Big 12.

But, it won't happen. Fort Collins, CSU Alumni, Dept of Higher Ed, etc...do not have the guts to put out the big $$$ in Tony Frank's vision of using athletics to market CSU to an enrollment of 40,000+.

As a Pokes fan, I hate to see CSU move out of reach for a true rivalry. But, for CSU, this is probably a bad thing.

I know the Big 12 is probably the push. But, why not CSU and BYU added to the Pac 12? If that is what they are thinking..either conference, I would guess that the new AD, who should be in place quickly, will let the public know.

 

[wyopig]

Anyone who believes CSU should make a move to the Big XII is not a visionary. He is a moron. Once they get more than 700 people to show up and watch a competitive football and basketball team, maybe they can start dreaming.

This is the CSU vs. Nevada game in 2012

 

[Larawie]

I don 't think it's bad news, I think it's GREAT news. WY has the opportunity, imo, to be the BIG guy in the MW on the Front Range.

All because the Rams might fail to follow through on their optimistic project? Sorry, but reaching the top only because others fail is weak and not something UW should root for. CSU getting this project done would have only forced Wyoming's administration to pull their heads out of their asses, or prove once and for all that they are fools.

You misunderstood my point, or maybe it was my fault. My idea was that when a program begins to show internal strife and administrators or coaches are fired, players recognize that and tend to look around more. If a Front Range kid is considerin' CSU cuz he'd like to play closer to home, he may start lookin' more closely at WY. jmo.