Just a few thoughts on the AD hire...

[amavol2]

Forget any committee, the only one that matters is Jimmy Haslam,he is pulling all the strings. Money is all that matters everyone else be damned. Jimmy Hyams and Hubbs agreed that some of the people on the committee did not know about the hire until it was released. This may be a homerun hire but it is clear only one voice mattered and that voice has ruined the Cleveland Browns.

 

[forgiven]

he is mad because Manning turned down offer to manage the Browns. he did not care if Fulmer had not been a AD be for. he hired this loser to get even. him and his brother should stick to selling watered down gas or keeping poor people from receiving health insurance. leave the football program alone. Jimmy can not run his own .. they are the worst team in the NFL.

 

[CAVPUT]

Been watching the Dems bellyache for the past few days about Trump and why he is only 'words' and little 'action' at this time. Helloooo? He has been in office 42 days.

Currie is our man. I am going to back him anyway I can as a VFL. How he got here is totally meaningless (including any far left, right or center conspiracies) as is his past with the UTAD and any former staff.

Knoxville needs unity. Currie and our new Chancellor have a completely clean slate and I for one am anxious to see them succeed. We all want and, need this to happen.

Exactly. It's done. He's the AD so folks need to stop the divisive rhetoric and get behind him. Right now we need everyone on the same page and pulling in the same direction if UT is to get beyond the middle of the pack in the SEC. I've read the complaints folks have had about him and found them to be suspect. It's clear he considers himself the alpha and doesn't let the coaches dictate. Tail won't wag the dog now and I'm sure that won't sit well with some. He was hired to be their boss not their best friend. Respect and work together but at the end of the day, he's the boss....period. If Butch, Barnes, or Fulmer don't like it, no one is forcing them to remain. Move on if this hire doesn't suit them. No one is irreplaceable.

 

[VolForLife83]

Forget any committee, the only one that matters is Jimmy Haslam,he is pulling all the strings. Money is all that matters everyone else be damned. Jimmy Hyams and Hubbs agreed that some of the people on the committee did not know about the hire until it was released. This may be a homerun hire but it is clear only one voice mattered and that voice has ruined the Cleveland Browns.

Yeah, I just read that the "committee" was not even fully present. Also that the new AD was instrumental in the firing of Fulmer and not many people like him. Seems the new chancellor ha's already bowed to Haslam

 

[Orange_Vol1321]

Been watching the Dems bellyache for the past few days about Trump and why he is only 'words' and little 'action' at this time. Helloooo? He has been in office 42 days.

Currie is our man. I am going to back him anyway I can as a VFL. How he got here is totally meaningless (including any far left, right or center conspiracies) as is his past with the UTAD and any former staff.

Knoxville needs unity. Currie and our new Chancellor have a completely clean slate and I for one am anxious to see them succeed. We all want and, need this to happen.

I know for a fact Hyams would never write his story without triple checking sources. No conspiracy theorys, plain ole facts.

 

[savannahfan]

One key problem with your attempted sunshine pump. Saban had a national championship under his belt when he was hired. Currie has a solid record of mediocrity.

Mediocrity?? If I read correctly, when he took the job at K State, their finances were poor. Their sports programs were really mediocre. He has put them on a strong financial footing, up graded facilities and has in general seemed to do a really good job. Now, financially we have just gone through a tough time, mainly because our cash cow (football) went through a lower end cycle of mediocrity. All our sports suffered as did the amount of money turned over to academics. Sounds like he may be the very thing we need long term.

 

[vegasvolfan]

If Davenport got to put some stipulations on the hire and those were that the candidate should have experience as a power 5 AD, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If what Hyams said about Jimmy Haslam wanting Currie is accurate, then Currie was likely going to be the guy one way or another.

I don't see how anyone on the committee could not have known about the situation between Fulmer and Currie, unless that committee member wasn't around the program until after 2008. And even then, I just find it hard to believe it wouldn't have come up in conversation.

Sounds like the only way to have avoided division would have been to name Blackburn the AD before the start of the year. Yet the fact that it didn't happen, says that even then, it wouldn't have been unanimous.

So they say Currie seems like an a$$hole. Well, Nick Saban seems like an a$$hole too, but he's pretty good at his job.

There are a few folks out there that are in an uproar about this hire because of some legitimate insight to the program. However, the majority of folks are in an uproar because they'd hopped on either the Blackburn or Fulmer bandwagons based on what they read in the media and/or on message boards. Yes, it sounds like this whole process could have been conducted better, but I'm not going to pretend to have enough first hand knowledge of the situation to be in an uproar over it.

Hopefully some of these burned bridges can be rebuilt, but one thing's for sure, it'll take time. All we can do is let it play out.

What I am concerned about is the lunacy within our fans. Neither Fulmer or Blackburn come anywhere near close to having the track record Currie brings to the table. Again it's not even CLOSE. He was AD of the YEAR for crying out loud. I am starting to believe people don't read. So, here it is...

Currie, who was hired in 2009 by Kansas State, has guided the athletics department through an eight-year period of unprecedented success with athletic, academic and fundraising excellence. K-State is the only university in Kansas and one of just two dozen in the country to operate in the black without any state tax or university tuition dollars or subsidies. Under Currie, K-State Athletics eliminated approximately $3 million in annual state and direct university funding of intercollegiate athletics.

When Currie took the reins at K-State, he and his staff were faced with a major financial deficit, but they turned KSU into one of the NCAA’s most financially solvent programs. Under his leadership K-State has completed $210 million comprehensive facility improvements, all privately funded with zero state tax or university tuition dollars, including the Vanier Family Football Complex, West Stadium Center, Basketball Training Facility, Intercollegiate Rowing Facility, Mike Goss Tennis Stadium and soccer competition/football practice fields.

Currie’s tenure at K-State has been highlighted by academic excellence with all Wildcat programs boasting multi-year APR marks of at least .944, with football, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s cross country and women’s cross country sporting Big 12-leading scores. Approximately, one-half of all 450-plus Wildcat student-athletes achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher this past academic year.

The 45-year-old Currie’s eight-year tenure with K-State has included seven straight bowl games for the football program, Big 12 Championships in football (2012), men’s basketball (2013) and baseball (2013), 47 individual Big 12 and eight NCAA titles in track and field, five men’s basketball NCAA Tournament appearances, three in women’s basketball, four in volleyball and three in baseball. In the past seven years, 137 student-athletes have earned All-American distinction, while Wildcats have won nine NCAA individual titles and 50 Big 12 titles.

The 2012-13 campaign was also one of the most successful in school history as the Wildcats became just the fourth BCS school since 1998 to win league titles in football, men’s basketball and baseball in the same year.

K-State’s fundraising efforts have been completely overhauled under Currie’s leadership, with more than $200 million in cash contributions raised for athletics, more money over that period than it had in the previous 48 years combined. K-State donors stepped up with 27 private gifts in excess of $1 million since fall 2009, while grassroots Ahearn Fund membership reached all 50 states. The department operated with a budget surplus in each of the last seven years, allowing for annual investments and budget growth from $44 million to $73 million. K-State’s $46 million in cash contributions raised in the 2014 fiscal year almost quadrupled the annual total prior to his arrival and was the third-highest nationally that year behind only Texas A&M and Michigan.

Currie and his staff worked closely with then-President Kirk Schulz and the KSU Foundation to secure the largest individual donation in university history, a $60 million gift benefitting various academic and athletic initiatives, while the department reached its $50 million private gifts goal for the new Vanier Family Football Complex in just 13 months.

With the tag line of “Welcome to K-State” symbolizing the goal of providing The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12, K-State’s marketing and fundraising efforts were completely overhauled during Currie’s tenure. K-State supporters have pushed attendance to new heights, while $200 million in total gifts have been raised for K-State Athletics since Currie’s arrival.

New ticket initiatives have led to 42 sellout crowds since 2009 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, including a current streak of 33 straight. The Wildcats have also set new season total and average attendance records in baseball, sold a record number of season tickets for volleyball and baseball and rank among the top 35 nationally in attendance in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball and baseball.

The recipient of the 2013 Bobby Dodd AD Award and a 2013 Under Armour AD of the Year, Currie served as chair of the Big 12 ADs in 2013-14 and is a member of the NCAA Division I Administrative Cabinet. He was one of only two intercollegiate ADs named to Sports Business Journal’s 2011 prestigious Forty Under 40 list of national sports leaders.

 

[savannahfan]

Okay I'll be the guy. What qualifications does Phil Fulmer have to be athletic director other than being a head football coach that has won a national championship? Does he have any experience in overseeing a complete athletic department and managing it? Yes he's always had a passion for Tennessee but that's not a qualification to oversee a complete athletic department.

Good post!! Many of us on here are "passionate" for Tennessee. Me for one. But I am not qualified for anything else as it relates to UT. As are most of us posting and giving sage advice here bouts.

 

[savannahfan]

Exactly. It's done. He's the AD so folks need to stop the divisive rhetoric and get behind him. Right now we need everyone on the same page and pulling in the same direction if UT is to get beyond the middle of the pack in the SEC. I've read the complaints folks have had about him and found them to be suspect. It's clear he considers himself the alpha and doesn't let the coaches dictate. Tail won't wag the dog now and I'm sure that won't sit well with some. He was hired to be their boss not their best friend. Respect and work together but at the end of the day, he's the boss....period. If Butch, Barnes, or Fulmer don't like it, no one is forcing them to remain. Move on if this hire doesn't suit them. No one is irreplaceable.

Had to "like", said the same thing in a post yesterday. The tail can't wag the dog. If the tails don't like it, tough s---.
A long time ago I heard a boss tell an employee that thought they were too good at a job to be replaced; "put your finger in a bucket of water, then take it out, the hole you leave is how bad you are going to be missed".

 

[CAVPUT]

Forget any committee, the only one that matters is Jimmy Haslam,he is pulling all the strings. Money is all that matters everyone else be damned. Jimmy Hyams and Hubbs agreed that some of the people on the committee did not know about the hire until it was released. This may be a homerun hire but it is clear only one voice mattered and that voice has ruined the Cleveland Browns.

Guess I'm still trying to get a feel for all this booster business, but on the one hand, he's resented for the influence he has due to the money he contributes. On the other hand, when we do need to make a hire, folks complain about UT being cheap and they demand the big money folks open up the check book. So it's clear...he needs to write the big checks and stay out of UTs business?

 

[Poppa T]

Had to "like", said the same thing in a post yesterday. The tail can't wag the dog. If the tails don't like it, tough s---.
A long time ago I heard a boss tell an employee that thought they were too good at a job to be replaced; "put your finger in a bucket of water, then take it out, the hole you leave is how bad you are going to be missed".

SMH @ some of y'all. I was Executive Mgr in major corporation for long time. Successful leaders don't lead by fear and intimidation. Postive and participatory leadership is what we need. Currie appears to be Hamilton 2.0. $$$ and new buildings don't win sports championships. According to those close to K State, Currie does not play well with others.

As a long time donor, my experience with him when he was over Development was not something to write home about. Time will tell if he has learned anything.

 

[feathersax]

Forget any committee, the only one that matters is Jimmy Haslam,he is pulling all the strings. Money is all that matters everyone else be damned. Jimmy Hyams and Hubbs agreed that some of the people on the committee did not know about the hire until it was released. This may be a homerun hire but it is clear only one voice mattered and that voice has ruined the Cleveland Browns.

Ruined the Browns? That ship has been on the bottom for decades! lol:

 

[photovol]

One man... you go high enough you always come to one man... who?

JC:shhh:

 

[JohnD13]

Clowns just can't leave it alone can you? Rip football, basketball, hell you guys rip tiddly winks if you could. Sometimes it's best to put difference aside and give a guy a chance before bashing and saying what a crappy hire it was. Some of you need to move out of your parents basement and get a real life.... We don't need ESPN to hate us, we are our own worst enemy and I swear some of you people get off on it.

 

[butchna]

The family runs a gas station, and the worst NFL team in professional football.
This automatically makes them qualified to destroy Tennessee athletics.

How did they do that? Not hire THE one and only guy that could do the job? Really hope we're not that fragile. :scare:

 

[Chilmonty]

Clearly the Russians hacked the AD Search!! :blink::blink:

.

 

[Behr]

Exactly. It's done. He's the AD so folks need to stop the divisive rhetoric and get behind him. Right now we need everyone on the same page and pulling in the same direction if UT is to get beyond the middle of the pack in the SEC. I've read the complaints folks have had about him and found them to be suspect. It's clear he considers himself the alpha and doesn't let the coaches dictate. Tail won't wag the dog now and I'm sure that won't sit well with some. He was hired to be their boss not their best friend. Respect and work together but at the end of the day, he's the boss....period. If Butch, Barnes, or Fulmer don't like it, no one is forcing them to remain. Move on if this hire doesn't suit them. No one is irreplaceable.

Yea, little too soon for that. Give it at least a week and 20-30 new threads on the same subject first. Lol.

And yes, I'll be right in the middle of it.

 

[Doberman]

Yea, little too soon for that. Give it at least a week and 20-30 new threads on the same subject first. Lol.

And yes, I'll be right in the middle of it.

Fahr Currie!!!


Too soon?

 

[Behr]

Fahr Currie!!!


Too soon?

Haha.

Seriously, I ain't sure that's how I feel. Yet.

 

[KBVol]

Can't

Even?

 

[deezvols]

I'll preface this by saying this seems to be a good hire. He's a UT guy who has P5 experience, and seems to be a good fund raiser.

That being said. After we were told that Blackburn and Fulmer were the front runners, and that Blackburn would hire Fulmer instantly, it's kind of odd that we didn't get at least one of these guys. The fan base, although torn between the two, was generally excited about these guys coming back to UT, and had the rug yanked out from underneath us. Seems like hiring one or the other would've let down half of the fan base, now both sides seem to be at least slightly disappointed.

 

[greenbacknative]

Forget any committee, the only one that matters is Jimmy Haslam,he is pulling all the strings. Money is all that matters everyone else be damned. Jimmy Hyams and Hubbs agreed that some of the people on the committee did not know about the hire until it was released. This may be a homerun hire but it is clear only one voice mattered and that voice has ruined the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns had been ruined LONG before Haslam took the reins..:thumbsup:

 

[forgiven]

I think Jimmy H. Might be on to something.if it's the truth I was floored that Blackburn did not interview with the TN search party.i was under the impression both fulmer, Blackburn were going to talk to Bev,n the TN ppl.its sounds pretty shady if she dismissed interviewing them.i see Haslem pushed them on the new Guy (IMO he is just the new guy right now).The vote wasn't unanimous.haslem needs to move to Cleveland with his team,I don't want AD , or Bev that is already in someone pocketbook.just too many new questions ,not enough answers. It's beginning to smell like everthing was preplanned.the fans deserve better than just dismissing their ideas without a sit down interview with blackburn.Hartless and his crew lied enough.According to Kansas State they wanted him gone, if we were lied to then it's cheeks n Hartless all over again running the program.heck I need answers. We can't afford to have them still destroying TN from inside out.what about Peytons input? Omg we really are in a deep hole

The Haslem brothers should stick to selling watered down gas,cheating trucking firms, and keeping the poor from getting health care. leave the Tennessee program alone. they can not even run there own team, the Browns are the worst team in the NFL let Jimmy go back and play in the Dog pound if he needs some thing to do