GreenGiant
Active member
Do we even care that Rountree has left for a deputy AD job, there doesn't seem to have been any kind of nation wide search. I wonder if this is a sign.
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New AD
- Thread starter GreenGiant
- Start date
PSU is going to have a new President soon. We have no idea what ideas she/he might have about intercollegiate athletics. I suspect Rountree knows more about the state of the Viking athletic program and its prospects than anyone else at PSU. Maybe he believed it was best to leave before he was charged with overseeing a downsizing. Yes, I think it could be a sign.
No; it is NOT a "sign"... Mark's from the south; he has ill family members there. Valerie was strongly considered for the position before Mark took the job; it is my understanding that she self-selected out as she didn't believe that she was quite ready to take on the full blown role of the AD without additional experience. Well, she got that at Willamette.
You continue to denigrate the entire program. Are you a shill for Montana, placing rumors and innuendo to dissuade recruits?
You continue to denigrate the entire program. Are you a shill for Montana, placing rumors and innuendo to dissuade recruits?
No DavidKeys, I am not a shill for Montana. I'm a Viking fan but of the glass half empty variety. Over the years that point of view has been more than justified. My message was addressing GreenGiants question. My response was yes, I think it could be (get that could be) a sign. However, I do believe our programs are in trouble due to a poor records, terrible attendance and the subsequent lack of revenue. I hope our new President and AD can find a way to turn the ship around. I am not hopeful.
bigskyconf
Active member
Alan said:
I for one, am hopeful. I accept Rountree's leaving as a move up to better pastures. I will say that I suspect very few sports people would say their absolute dream job is being the Portland State AD and, if one has a chance to take a deputy AD job in the ACC (when your family and friends are there), that person would be a fool NOT to take it. Just as if McElwein were to take the Ducks job (I have no idea if he is even considered, but am using this hypothetically) and turns around and offers his good friend Barnum the OC job there, one would have to think Barnum would be crazy NOT to take it.
Cleary was right in realizing that she was not qualified at the time to lead a DI school's athletic department, and that is why she went to a DIII school. Spending some time there getting her feet wet and being acclimated with the duties of an AD made her ready in case a DI school came calling. I'll admit I am not too enamored with this hiring, but I think she is more ready now for a DI AD job than she was back then (and I do think we could have done worse).
I think you make some good points about the conditions of the various athletic programs, but I find it sad that you are not hopeful. We currently are seeing a resurgence in the athletic programs at Oregon State. Us oldtimers here saw the Ducks go from fighting the Beavers for last place to national contenders in both football and basketball. Myself, I can recall from my native Montana, a time when Montana State had the strong athletic programs in the state and Montana was just trying to catch up. I think Barnum has the football program heading in the right direction. I think the basketball programs, both mens and womens, need to have a look see to figure out how they can be successful. I understand the need for home games, but PSU won't make the national stage playing the SIU-Edwardsville's and the Texas-Pan American's out there.
A successful athletic department can be a boost for the university as a whole. Practically everyone knows who Duke's head of the basketball team is, yet very few can name who the head of the Duke Medical Center is. I've seen recent articles about the success of many athletes in our minor sports. I really don't think we are that far away from our own resurgence in the athletic department and I hope Cleary can continue the upward march first initiated by Rountree. Good for our athletes, good for the university, good for the city. Win, win, win all around.
Viktorious
Active member
bigskyconf said:
At least it's not David Hersh :rofl: :?
bigskyconf
Active member
Viktorious said:
That is true. :lol:
If that happened, I'd have to go back to being a closet Griz fan (and I am not arrogant enough to be a Griz fan).
Should the football program fall, membership in the Big Sky Conference goes bye bye. Correct?
The WAC seems to be preparing to lose Chicago State... a school that looks like it could completely shutter, not just lose athletics. Obviously, it's a conference from which everyone is trying to get out... but probably won't since the Big 12 put the stop sign on expansion. Remaining members:
Cal State Bakersfield
Grand Canyon
Missouri-Kansas City
New Mexico State
Seattle U
Texas-Rio Grande Valley
Utah Valley
A school a bus ride from LA, a school IN Phoenix, a school IN Kansas City, a Land Grant with a D-1 history that's a short bus ride from El Paso (or longer from Albuquerque), a school IN Seattle, a school not far from South Padre Island, and a school a short bus ride from Salt Lake City.
So a possible Portland-Seattle rivalry. Several urban schools. Even a sort-of Southern California visit. I can think of worse outcomes in amongst the not-a-chance-in-the-world outcomes.
It's the instability one fears, naturally. Only problem being the realistic alternative is the GNAC.
The WAC seems to be preparing to lose Chicago State... a school that looks like it could completely shutter, not just lose athletics. Obviously, it's a conference from which everyone is trying to get out... but probably won't since the Big 12 put the stop sign on expansion. Remaining members:
Cal State Bakersfield
Grand Canyon
Missouri-Kansas City
New Mexico State
Seattle U
Texas-Rio Grande Valley
Utah Valley
A school a bus ride from LA, a school IN Phoenix, a school IN Kansas City, a Land Grant with a D-1 history that's a short bus ride from El Paso (or longer from Albuquerque), a school IN Seattle, a school not far from South Padre Island, and a school a short bus ride from Salt Lake City.
So a possible Portland-Seattle rivalry. Several urban schools. Even a sort-of Southern California visit. I can think of worse outcomes in amongst the not-a-chance-in-the-world outcomes.
It's the instability one fears, naturally. Only problem being the realistic alternative is the GNAC.
bigskyconf
Active member
Pounder said:
I highly doubt football is going to cave anytime soon. It doesn't sound like that is on Cleary's list. By that time, this scenario could be non-existent. Every one of those members are currently rumored to be looking to go elsewhere. (Bakersfield and Grand Canyon to the Big West, KC to the Summit, NMSU and UVU to the Big Sky actually, NMSU also possibly to the Southland or Mountain West, Seattle to the WCC and Rio Grande to the Southland). I would say there is more instability in the WAC itself than in the PSU football program.
I'd say football is good for this year and next. Depending on the preferences of the new president, maybe more. However, program income (read attendance) had better improve if we expect to be a Division I program for the long haul. That means back to back to back great seasons like 2015, an exciting brand of play (read fill the air with footballs) and a much improved fan experience. Sitting in Providence Park with a maybe a thousand fellow fans provides little in the way of a college football atmosphere. It's just not fun. This year was an unmitigated disaster. A couple more of those and it will all be over.
bigskyconf
Active member
Alan said:
I agree here. Next year needs to be similar to 2015. I like two home games in Sept. when the weather is really nice here. Having the Montana game that month is an added bonus. Good weather for a ton of Griz fans and curious Portlanders eager to check out this year's team.
Any word if Cleary will continue the pregame Tailgate? Probably too soon to know for sure.
And Griz fans are good sports. They will take Barnum up on the free beer at the Kingston after they lose. :thumb: We all will have to get there early. :lol:
