Thoughts on this interview with TB?

[PokeOLoco]

http://kfbcradio.com/wyoming-ad-on-evaluating-hoops-college-unions-and-pay-for-play/

 

[Bryoming]

As I posted in another thread:

Great interview about the overall state of the athletic programs. It was encouraging to hear that the athletic department review that our short lived president ordered has started good dialogue on what we need to do to be successful in Division I athletics.

I know that a lot of people on here don't think that Burman should still have his job (I've questioned his actions myself), but I can appreciate someone who strives for success while still keeping himself grounded. We can't make big sweeping changes with any program in this state, but the small steps that the athletic department has been taking over the past decade or so are starting to add up to success. The trick now is to keep moving up the ladder and build for prolonged, sustainable success. I feel like we're on the right track.

 

[WyoBrandX]

My opinion differs slightly from WYO1016.

I am hearing alot of excuses from Tom Burman. This guy really needs to quit suffering from "little man syndrome" and start supplying solutions. I mostly hear him complain of problems and the inability to get things done. I doubt Wyoming is as tough to do "X" at as he preaches it is.

We at least need an AD who can stand up and say "We will do it. I'm not sure how - but I will make it happen. And if we can't, we will get right back on the horse and keep on trying." He sounds defeated. It is probably time for a new AD.

 

[HiCountryCowboy]

Won't listen to the interview because I can't stand his record the last 7-8 years. We've heard his woe-is-us drivel before.

My opinion - we can't afford to take a slow & steady approach when the Jones' (even in our own conference) are pulling away from us double time. Wyoming is the richest state in the conference and maybe the country and has only one AD to support yet Tom won't go out and get his. F him, he's had his chances and look where it's got us - still hoping next year is better. I want NDSU's AD!

 

[ragtimejoe1]

In all my experiences, the people I've had the utmost respect for are those that get the job done and you don't hear about it. It just gets done. They don't tell you how hard it is and don't say a lot when they get it done. They just do.

My other thought is, and I'm not calling TB incompetent, but any job is hard if you aren't good at it.

 

[McPeachy]

Everyone here knows where I stand...

A twat's a twat and that's that - George Carlin

 

[WyoExpat]

Won't listen to the interview because I can't stand his record the last 7-8 years. We've heard his woe-is-us drivel before.

My opinion - we can't afford to take a slow & steady approach when the Jones' (even in our own conference) are pulling away from us double time. Wyoming is the richest state in the conference and maybe the country and has only one AD to support yet Tom won't go out and get his. F him, he's had his chances and look where it's got us - still hoping next year is better. I want NDSU's AD!

How do you figure that Wyoming is the richest state? We might be on a per-capita basis, but that is not the same think as total dollars of output produced in total.

Also, I am not sure that buying college sports championships is the most important use of money that has been extracted from Wyoming's taxpayers by force of law.

I would much rather build a program the right way and not be merely a flash in the pan.

 

[HiCountryCowboy]

Won't listen to the interview because I can't stand his record the last 7-8 years. We've heard his woe-is-us drivel before.

My opinion - we can't afford to take a slow & steady approach when the Jones' (even in our own conference) are pulling away from us double time. Wyoming is the richest state in the conference and maybe the country and has only one AD to support yet Tom won't go out and get his. F him, he's had his chances and look where it's got us - still hoping next year is better. I want NDSU's AD!

How do you figure that Wyoming is the richest state? We might be on a per-capita basis, but that is not the same think as total dollars of output produced in total.

Also, I am not sure that buying college sports championships is the most important use of money that has been extracted from Wyoming's taxpayers by force of law.

I would much rather build a program the right way and not be merely a flash in the pan.

Well, Wyoming is one of only 8 states that has a surplus and it's not because it collects too much personal income or sales tax.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...aska-Mississippi-budget-surplus-revealed.html

I am not implying that you buy a championship - in fact, I am not sure how you would actually just do that. What I am suggesting is that ADTB determine what it is going to take to overcome this poor me state of mind and go out and get it done. The money is there - go find a way to get it

If what we've seen is the right way, it ain't working!

 

[WYCowboy]

Won't listen to the interview because I can't stand his record the last 7-8 years. We've heard his woe-is-us drivel before.

My opinion - we can't afford to take a slow & steady approach when the Jones' (even in our own conference) are pulling away from us double time. Wyoming is the richest state in the conference and maybe the country and has only one AD to support yet Tom won't go out and get his. F him, he's had his chances and look where it's got us - still hoping next year is better. I want NDSU's AD!

How do you figure that Wyoming is the richest state? We might be on a per-capita basis, but that is not the same think as total dollars of output produced in total.

Also, I am not sure that buying college sports championships is the most important use of money that has been extracted from Wyoming's taxpayers by force of law.

I would much rather build a program the right way and not be merely a flash in the pan.

Well, Wyoming is one of only 8 states that has a surplus and it's not because it collects too much personal income or sales tax.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...aska-Mississippi-budget-surplus-revealed.html

I am not implying that you buy a championship - in fact, I am not sure how you would actually just do that. What I am suggesting is that ADTB determine what it is going to take to overcome this poor me state of mind and go out and get it done. The money is there - go find a way to get it

If what we've seen is the right way, it ain't working!

Good post HCC. :thumb:

 

[SnowyRange]

I am not implying that you buy a championship - in fact, I am not sure how you would actually just do that. What I am suggesting is that ADTB determine what it is going to take to overcome this poor me state of mind and go out and get it done. The money is there - go find a way to get it

Easy to say. Not to do.

First, there is an entire team out there trying constantly to extract money both from the legislature and private sources...the upper adminstration, the Foundation, everyone. The AD helps that team, but he doesn't drive that train.

Second, and far more importantly, UW has vastly higher priorities right now than trying to send money to athletics in the hope of winning a few more football or basketball games. The university has endured significant across the board budget cuts over the last few years, they've had to let staff go by attrition, some good faculty are leaving, they're raising tuition, and nobody's had a raise in 5 years.

The most inexcusable thing is the state is swimming in money, but the legislature doesn't want to fund -- in fact it wants to cut -- money spent on people at the university. They like building projects, but the notion that you need to hire and retain good people to maintain and teach in those buildings eludes them.

And, so, in a sense, athletics is right now even better off than the the rest of the university: good facilities, but with the addition of highly-paid and (by all appearances) good coaches. But, no matter if that's true, the "entertainment" side of the university -- the two or three flagship sports -- has basically been taken care of, and at least for a while we're just largely going to have to hope that these facilities and these coaches can do better than has been the norm for the last decade or two.

 

[WYCowboy]

I am not implying that you buy a championship - in fact, I am not sure how you would actually just do that. What I am suggesting is that ADTB determine what it is going to take to overcome this poor me state of mind and go out and get it done. The money is there - go find a way to get it

Easy to say. Not to do.

First, there is an entire team out there trying constantly to extract money both from the legislature and private sources...the upper adminstration, the Foundation, everyone. The AD helps that team, but he doesn't drive that train.

Second, and far more importantly, UW has vastly higher priorities right now than trying to send money to athletics in the hope of winning a few more football or basketball games. The university has endured significant across the board budget cuts over the last few years, they've had to let staff go by attrition, some good faculty are leaving, they're raising tuition, and nobody's had a raise in 5 years.

The most inexcusable thing is the state is swimming in money, but the legislature doesn't want to fund -- in fact it wants to cut -- money spent on people at the university. They like building projects, but the notion that you need to hire and retain good people to maintain and teach in those buildings eludes them.

And, so, in a sense, athletics is right now even better off than the the rest of the university: good facilities, but with the addition of highly-paid and (by all appearances) good coaches. But, no matter if that's true, the "entertainment" side of the university -- the two or three flagship sports -- has basically been taken care of, and at least for a while we're just largely going to have to hope that these facilities and these coaches can do better than has been the norm for the last decade or two.

Maybe it's just terminology, but I disagree with this statement by a wide margin.
I don't agree that athletics are there for just "entertainment". People don't understand what the "buy-in, morale, advertisement, and pride" value of a good, competitive athletic program (especially since UW is the only 4 year university in the State of Wyoming) means to the student body, residents, former residents of Wyoming, and alumni of UW. How much money does this generate for the university both directly and indirectly? I don't know how many athletes (men & women) are on scholarship at UW, but many of them could not or would not be there if not for an athletic scholarship - most and maybe all of which are paid for by private funding. This affects the total enrollment of the university in a large way. I get the feeling that our legislature wouldn't mind if UW just faded away to the point that it didn't need any funding at all. I feel the University of Wyoming is as important as the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, or Devil's Tower to the people of this state, and that athletics are as important as academics are to the university.
I will not support any legislator, governor, or BOT member who does not agree with this.

 

[hithere]

Easy to say. Not to do.

First, there is an entire team out there trying constantly to extract money both from the legislature and private sources...the upper adminstration, the Foundation, everyone. The AD helps that team, but he doesn't drive that train.

Second, and far more importantly, UW has vastly higher priorities right now than trying to send money to athletics in the hope of winning a few more football or basketball games. The university has endured significant across the board budget cuts over the last few years, they've had to let staff go by attrition, some good faculty are leaving, they're raising tuition, and nobody's had a raise in 5 years.

The most inexcusable thing is the state is swimming in money, but the legislature doesn't want to fund -- in fact it wants to cut -- money spent on people at the university. They like building projects, but the notion that you need to hire and retain good people to maintain and teach in those buildings eludes them.

Maybe a despot is needed. A Chancellor position that could lead, set a vision and advocate for, University of Wyoming priorities. Or at the very least, stronger ex-officio members on the BOT that would guide policy in a more broader sense than just "guard the fiscal integrity of the institution". The current structure doesn't seem to be achieving what the University clearly needs in most facets. The present state of affairs with education in Wyoming politics shows, to me, that the current system isn't working.

I agree with your choice of words regarding how well off the state is vs. how UW gets funded. Inexcusable, pathetic and extremely frustrating could define how the legislature chooses to fund the state's flagship institute of higher learning. But I would also assert that if there was more visionary, proactive leadership in athletics as well as in the President's office, the reactionary mindset of the current regime would be looked at as what it is. An "oh well, that's just how it is-no use to try and fight it-good enough is good enough" mentality that is just as inexcusable and pathetic.

An Athletics Plan. I would hope that Intercollegiate Athletics is drafting a new plan for the next five to ten years that looks at issues relating to where the NCAA is headed in terms of what a student-athlete is, how these athletes are represented, the role of the NCAA itself and how UW can excel in their place at the table. Not to just exist, or be a passenger on the train, but to set goals and drive the train to be an inspired and innovative department that doesn't sit around and wait for a flawed system to change the way it has been doing business for decades. Everyone knows that this would be really hard to do and different than what is currently being done.

But a real jerkstore of a President was just shit canned for thinking this way and Tom Burman is still the AD so I'm not holding my breath.