Patterson out as Texas AD

[Yogi'sBicep 1,048]

The world of "should" and the world of "is" are very different. How much do you know about Harvey Mudd? It's the #1 engineering school in the country, so people "should" know a lot. But go do a survey on the street today. Ask them what they know about Harvey Mudd. (most will say "who's he?") Then ask the same people about Duke. If I'm wrong, you "should" get similar responses. If I'm right, far more people will be able to tell you more about Duke. I'm not making an argument based on what "should" be. All I'm saying is when an AD says his athletic department is a door to the university, I think he's wrong. The door is academics. But....the front window? How millions of people see in and learn about your institution? Absolutely.

okay, I can agree with the front window. I thought you were saying that the universities were solely made because of Athletics. I agree, but academics needs to be far above athletics, & it isn't. That is our problem in America, it's why we're falling behind other countries.

[Old Friend 8,389]

okay, I can agree with the front window. I thought you were saying that the universities were solely made because of Athletics. I agree, but academics needs to be far above athletics, & it isn't. That is our problem in America, it's why we're falling behind other countries.

Good gravy..no!   I'm simply saying that an AD has to understand (and administration has to understand) that athletics provide a portal for the world to see in.  They're the representation most of the world sees, and therefore athletics play a huge role in the finances of many universities like Indiana.   And...like Duke, even if Duke is an elite academic institution.   My sister teaches there....I don't need to hear any more about how elite Duke is!!!!!    

 

To your other point, college sports is now a huge business.  Alums pay huge dollars to watch or listen to their teams play... witness, Mark Cuban and broadcast.com.  Created solely for purposes of Cuban's being able to listen to IU Basketball games on a computer somewhere he couldn't get the TV feed.   That ship's sailed.  Can't put toothpaste back in the tube.  Name your cliche'.   And academics isn't "far above" athletics specifically because nobody pays multi-billion dollar TV contracts to watch Dr. Droste teach geology.  

 

Education is still valued, but we're a country of supply and demand.  Of raw capitalism.  Producers make the money.  Athletics produces the revenue, and it gets on TV and it produces more revenue.  And it gets the exposure.  Thus....it's the window through which most of the world views any university.    All I'm saying.

[Yogi'sBicep 1,048]

Good gravy..no! I'm simply saying that an AD has to understand (and administration has to understand) that athletics provide a portal for the world to see in. They're the representation most of the world sees, and therefore athletics play a huge role in the finances of many universities like Indiana. And...like Duke, even if Duke is an elite academic institution. My sister teaches there....I don't need to hear any more about how elite Duke is!!!!!

To your other point, college sports is now a huge business. Alums pay huge dollars to watch or listen to their teams play... witness, Mark Cuban and broadcast.com. Created solely for purposes of Cuban's being able to listen to IU Basketball games on a computer somewhere he couldn't get the TV feed. That ship's sailed. Can't put toothpaste back in the tube. Name your cliche'. And academics isn't "far above" athletics specifically because nobody pays multi-billion dollar TV contracts to watch Dr. Droste teach geology.

Education is still valued, but we're a country of supply and demand. Of raw capitalism. Producers make the money. Athletics produces the revenue, and it gets on TV and it produces more revenue. And it gets the exposure. Thus....it's the window through which most of the world views any university. All I'm saying.

The young generations, my generation cares more for sports than they do about getting an education or studying. Sports, to a person should be valued below academics. Ball ISNT LIFE!!

To be a prosperous, informed, & perennial Nation going forward -we need to step up the value of academics!!

[Yogi'sBicep 1,048]

What I just posted is completely irrelevant to a job of an AD, sure. But, all coaches should enforce their players to be leaders in the classroom & always put the schoolwork first.

[Old Friend 8,389]

What I just posted is completely irrelevant to a job of an AD, sure. But, all coaches should enforce their players to be leaders in the classroom & always put the schoolwork first.

The problem here is coaches and players' priorities aren't always aligned.   Coaches don't keep their jobs because players do well in the classroom.  Coaches don't get million dollar contracts because players are community leaders.   I don't disagree with one word you said.   Doesn't change the way of today's world.  

[Alford Bailey 12,356]

It really is a whole different ballgame with these big football schools in the south. Peoples lives revolve around football.