tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post1033358163146971415..comments2023-11-03T04:07:19.586-05:00Comments on Vanderbilt Sports Line: Why David Climer's Column About Vanderbilt's Need to Hire an Athletic Director is MisguidedSeamus O'Toolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811017078765515449noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-82894379056100874772010-08-05T16:13:48.025-05:002010-08-05T16:13:48.025-05:00My main problem with David Williams is that he ope...My main problem with David Williams is that he operates a losing program in the red. Most college programs do not have a total budget of $17 million. Yet with $17 million coming from the SEC alone, DW manages to run the program into the red. <br /><br />Possibly, it is because DW himself made over $1 million last year.Big Papanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-61316344371576399542010-08-01T14:35:33.963-05:002010-08-01T14:35:33.963-05:00I agree with the guys who says we need an AD and I...I agree with the guys who says we need an AD and I still think american idol sucks. Whether we get an AD or not, american idol will continue to suck. That part is not up for debate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-778664160121419812010-07-31T03:15:55.055-05:002010-07-31T03:15:55.055-05:00Gentleman, I believe it may be a little more compl...Gentleman, I believe it may be a little more complicated than all of that. I believe it was actually rather prescient. In late 2006, Congress challenged the NCAA’s tax-exempt status, questioning the organization’s lucrative commercial contracts and alleged lack of emphasis on higher education. Some pointed out that Division I football and basketball are looking more like minor leagues for the pros that benefit only a tiny portion of a university’s student body and may actually be more detrimental to the overall education of the athlete. <br /><br />SEE: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2006-10-05-congress-ncaa-tax-letter_x.htm<br /><br />I believe David Williams has a background in tax law, and would have been especially aware of this. The folding in of the Athletic Department into student activities is a proactive and savvy move meant to protect Vanderbilt from the loss of their tax exempt status, which would appear more likely to occur as a member of the SEC (probably the conference that as a whole walks the thinnest line). <br /><br />In the past Gordon Gee, at a gathering of Alumni, has acknowledged that the tax exempt status issue played a large part in the decision. <br /><br />Of course this is probably way above Climer's head. It is much easier to write an article critical of Vanderbilt's lack of success than actually do some home work.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16705341383091151811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-19242001045832861892010-07-30T18:36:11.402-05:002010-07-30T18:36:11.402-05:00Anchor of Gold --
AMEN. I am right with you here...Anchor of Gold --<br /><br />AMEN. I am right with you here. Where does Climer come off saying that "[i]n private moments, members of Vanderbilt's athletics staff will tell you that the absence of an athletics director is a serious issue"? Let's unpack this a sec: They "will" tell (the general, catch-call) "you", or THEY (more than one coach or assistant?) DID (recently?) tell YOU (David Climer)? If the former, that line is complete garbage and shameful. If the latter, then you've got a reporting obligation: man up and say (at least) that "[a] Vanderbilt coach[es]" said X, AND (at least) explain what you mean by "serious issue." That sentence right there is either a reflection of laziness, disingenuous reporting, malice, or some combination of the three. I for one believe he is now under an obligation to either clarify or retract that statement. Either way just get it out of my face. <br /><br />Time for dinner.Seamus O'Toolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11811017078765515449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-891394593678799842010-07-30T17:06:35.114-05:002010-07-30T17:06:35.114-05:00Anonymous makes the same mistake as Climer, which ...Anonymous makes the same mistake as Climer, which Bobby plainly identified in his post. What evidence is there that DW has too much on his plate? What decision or outcome have you observed that would have been different had we had a full-time A.D.? This is the same sort of comment that promted (DW's wife to tell) DW to call into 104.5 this week and clarify things. He does have people dedicated solely to athletics, just like he has people dedicated solely to legal work and every other component of his responsibilities. Even if Anonymous is correct, his or her comment isn't helpful. It doesn't contribute anything, and the only evidence it provides is support for the notion that Anonymous didn't read Bobby's post.<br /><br />I'm reminded of a short article SI ran, maybe in 2007?, when VU made the switch away from the common athletic department structure. The author praised the move at a very early point and cited success of various teams (then the Price-led baseball squad, I think) as evidence that this was such a good idea. It was nice to read positive press, but that article is no different than the current critics, who point to a 2-10 football season as evidence that the administrative structure is a failure and should be abandoned.<br /><br />Yes, DW is busy, but as he told the 104.5 folks, he doesn't play golf, and doesn't do much more than work and spend time with his family, during which time he remains "on-call." <br /><br />He's a working man with a lot of experience (AD at tOSU, then the largest athletic dept. in the country, for example, not to mention his legal experience), and he hasn't provided any indication that he cannot do his job as vice chancellor. To the contrary, as Bobby touched on, he has done nothing but suggest the opposite.ADhttp://questionspresented.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-10691139080114029802010-07-30T12:03:06.722-05:002010-07-30T12:03:06.722-05:00He has too much on his plate. We need a full-time...He has too much on his plate. We need a full-time A D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-12383859022373660282010-07-30T10:04:50.907-05:002010-07-30T10:04:50.907-05:00I absolutely agree with your article and the comme...I absolutely agree with your article and the comments here. The Tennessean has to have the most pathetic sports columnists and editor. Note that I didn't say reporter, that young man is fine. That stupid Biondi article from Orlando is STILL linked to the vandy section. I remember before last years LSU game, the paper had an article that was nice, however the headline made it sound like our player was insulting LSU players. One of their blogs was starting to get angry when finally one commentor noticed that the headline didnt match the story. Personally, I think our biggest problem is the Tennessean. Hope potential recruits don't read it. P.s. Thanks for the time you spend on this website. You do a great job.Vandygal78noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-67173118707932049712010-07-30T08:58:56.264-05:002010-07-30T08:58:56.264-05:00The line that pissed me off the most from Climer w...The line that pissed me off the most from Climer was the one about a few coaches "in their private moments" feeling the need for an AD.<br /><br />This is a very damaging statement and Climer knows it. And it's completely unverifiable.<br /><br />That Climer would attempt to knowingly damage the harmony on Vandy's campus with a throwaway, unverifiable claim like that is extremely appalling.<br /><br />I say it's time for the Tennessean to fire David Climer and Joe Biddle. What awards have they brought home to the Tennessean lately? What accolades have they EVER received? Time for the Tennessean to look for improvement.Anchor of Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13225491314573582031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-62620191885151185792010-07-30T08:32:01.697-05:002010-07-30T08:32:01.697-05:00Douglas, I was listening to 104.5 that night, and ...Douglas, I was listening to 104.5 that night, and I thought DW brought it in a good and thorough way. We got to hear the radio personalities doing some backpedaling, which was instructive (and something not easy to replicate in print). Not sure why DW is taking it so hard all of a sudden. He hasn't messed up yet in the new structure, and I agree with Bobby both that he is really busy and doing a complete job of it, and that this coaching decision is an important test. I too took a class with him and like him. I think he's good for Vanderbilt.ADhttp://questionspresented.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-63347928497203807752010-07-30T08:10:27.923-05:002010-07-30T08:10:27.923-05:00I totally agree Bobby. I was reading on Vandyspor...I totally agree Bobby. I was reading on Vandysports.com the other day about David Williams calling in (on his own, not a set up interview) to 104.5. And lots of people were commenting about how Vanderbilt DOES have an athletic department!!!! Of course we have an athletic department, just unlike every other NCAA school it is not separate from the rest of the University. BUT it still has athletic only employees, still has its own budget, as well as budgets for each individual sport, and basically is run almost identically to EVERY OTHER AD in college sports. And I have to believe that as evidenced by being able to retain CTC, CKS, going to the first bowl game is 26 years, having top recruiting classes in baseball, excellent ones in basketball and much improved ones it football. Also the huge improvements in our facilities wouldn't be possible if we somehow "didn't" have an AD. It simply is that the AD at Vanderbilt is more intergrated with the rest of the University. And I for one am proud of that fact.Douglas Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239502832772753923noreply@blogger.com