UTC's David Blackburn says no official contact with UT on job

#76
#76
LOL when I saw this thread at the main page it read "UTC's David Blackburn says no." I was absolutely prepared to open this thread, thinking he turned down the job!
 
#77
#77
orangeluvr said:
Question: Why in the hell was Blackburn NOT promoted fallowing hamilton's firing.(?) :blink:
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Cause there was a lot of heavy lifting (financials to get straight, possible hiring football coach, basketball coach, etc) that had to be done. Blackburn wasn't ready for that but 4 years at Chattanooga has corrected all of that. Im not opposed to Blackburn IF he is the best they can get but this "hes the only one they should consider" attitude is beyond stupid. There are a lot of potential successful ADs who's resume blows Blackburn's away....that's no offense to DB just facts.
 
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#78
#78
wmcovol said:
Cause there was a lot of heavy lifting (financials to get straight, possible hiring football coach, basketball coach, etc) that had to be done. Blackburn wasn't ready for that but 4 years at Chattanooga has corrected all of that. Im not opposed to Blackburn IF he is the best they can get but this "hes the only one they should consider" attitude is beyond stupid. There are a lot of potential successful ADs who's resume blows Blackburn's away....that's no offense to DB just facts.
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In response to the blue font, how long would be long enough in your opinion?
 
#79
#79
Behr said:
In response to the blue font, how long would be long enough in your opinion?
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This reminds me of a quote from Ross Perot on Bill Clinton's experience as Arkansas' governor as qualification as a presidential candidate...

"Just because you can run a mom and pop store doesn't mean you can run Wal Mart." LOL!
 
#80
#80
Behr said:
I don't pretend to know anything about this whole situation, but the bold part is kinda scary. Imo.
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Behr, maybe Blackburn goes to UTK and Gilbert goes to UTC? Would seem a natural progression for Gilbert to get experience at a smaller program. Which is what Blackburn did.
 
#81
#81
One of my Concerns is, I read a article where the new Chancellor said she would not want anyone in the new AD that was here or had anything to do when the Title 9 was going on and/or during or after the CPF era. That which would include David Blackburn coming in as UTAD. I wish I could find it again, I would post it.
 
#82
#82
wmcovol said:
Cause there was a lot of heavy lifting (financials to get straight, possible hiring football coach, basketball coach, etc) that had to be done. Blackburn wasn't ready for that but 4 years at Chattanooga has corrected all of that. Im not opposed to Blackburn IF he is the best they can get but this "hes the only one they should consider" attitude is beyond stupid. There are a lot of potential successful ADs who's resume blows Blackburn's away....that's no offense to DB just facts.
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My position is not nor has it ever been it's Blackburn and no one else. That said my perspective is and always has been someone qualified and WITH prior connections to the institution should be given significant preference over those without. Why? IMO a significant portion of the AD's job is about personal relationships. Those connected previously at this level already have those relationships and trust factors in place and can hit the ground running in a competitive environment. Those unconnected and blank slates have to take time to develop them, time we do not have. Blackburn is qualified and connected therefore he should be considered. Should he be the only one? No IMO.
 
#83
#83
Poppa T said:
Behr, maybe Blackburn goes to UTK and Gilbert goes to UTC? Would seem a natural progression for Gilbert to get experience at a smaller program. Which is what Blackburn did.
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We'll, this absolutely makes it 0-2.

I'm not seeing what this has to do with my comment. Maybe going to lunch will help my reading comprehension issues I've experienced in this thread today.
 
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#84
#84
GAVol said:
This line of thinking drives me insane.
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Well, you live in GA, and still think Al Jazerra is a viable news agency.

Our last 3 ADs have been from Florida, Clemson, and Alabama. And anytime either of them made a decision that people agree with, it was a no brainer a Tennessee alum would have made.

And when the slightest dissenting opinion to their actions arises, their alma mater is brought up in the first three sentences. If Blackburn gets it, at least the breakfast diner critics have to moan about Tennessee screwing up Tennessee instead of someone else. And maybe, just maybe, having an AD that understands and respects what it means to be from Tennessee will avoid controversy. And that could be the least insane move made in Knoxville in a long time.
 
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#85
#85
Behr said:
We'll, this absolutely makes it 0-2.

I'm not seeing what this has to do with my comment. Maybe going to lunch will help my reading comprehension issues I've experienced in this thread today.
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Behr, most of the time it is writer's comprehension. Not like anyone here is being considered for a pulitzer prize.
 
#86
#86
jos3ywales said:
One of my Concerns is, I read a article where the new Chancellor said she would not want anyone in the new AD that was here or had anything to do when the Title 9 was going on and/or during or after the CPF era. That which would include David Blackburn coming in as UTAD. I wish I could find it again, I would post it.
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Well she needs to get over it. The title 9 crap got settled, and without a direct connection to Blackburn and those incidents, she is unfairly assuming guilt by association.

Figures. She hasn't even moved into Knoxville yet, and is already putting her foot in her mouth in an interview. She ought to fit right in.
 
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#87
#87
TNnative said:
Well, you live in GA, and still think Al Jazerra is a viable news agency.

Our last 3 ADs have been from Florida, Clemson, and Alabama. And anytime either of them made a decision that people agree with, it was a no brainer a Tennessee alum would have made.

And when the slightest dissenting opinion to their actions arises, their alma mater is brought up in the first three sentences. If Blackburn gets it, at least the breakfast diner critics have to moan about Tennessee screwing up Tennessee instead of someone else. And maybe, just maybe, having an AD that understands and respects what it means to be from Tennessee will avoid controversy. And that could the least insane move made in Knoxville in a long time.
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Great business acumen and leadership skills has nothing to do with where you went to college.
 
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#88
#88
jos3ywales said:
One of my Concerns is, I read a article where the new Chancellor said she would not want anyone in the new AD that was here or had anything to do when the Title 9 was going on and/or during or after the CPF era. That which would include David Blackburn coming in as UTAD. I wish I could find it again, I would post it.
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I remember that as well. It will be interesting to see if she stands her ground or allows others to twist her arm.

That would rule out both Blackburn and Gilbert.
 
#89
#89
TNnative said:
Well she needs to get over it. The title 9 crap got settled, and without a direct connection to Blackburn and those incidents, she is unfairly assuming guilt by association.

Figures. She hasn't even moved into Knoxville yet, and is already putting her foot in her mouth in an interview. She ought to fit right in.
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She needs to absolutely make sure that situation does not happen again.
 
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#90
#90
Behr said:
We'll, this absolutely makes it 0-2.

I'm not seeing what this has to do with my comment. Maybe going to lunch will help my reading comprehension issues I've experienced in this thread today.
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It is highly possible that I misunderstood your concern re: the "bolded portion" and it is I who is 0-1.
 
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#91
#91
LWS thank you so much for your info. Do you know if Davenport is on board with Blackburn or is that something that still has to be ironed out?
 
#92
#92
Behr said:
In response to the blue font, how long would be long enough in your opinion?
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I know you didn't ask me - but I would think at the end of the day, experience is one factor that is used to compare two or more candidates that are equal.

Contrary to what some may think, the AD at UT is in a better financial place than it was when Hart took over - so that lends itself to maybe giving someone with limited experience the job.

Obviously the stakes are higher in Knoxville than they are in Chattanooga. The pressure and scrutiny is not the same - local verses statewide / national.

I know Blackburn has all those previous years at UTK, but it is very different operating under the direction of someone than being the "boss". His time at UTC has definitely shown he has the skill set - the question is does he have the experience to run a program as visible as UTK with all the crazy media and fans. With UTC he only has to deal primarily with the Chattanooga folks - with UTK it will increase 100 times over and be across the state and on an national level.

It is ironic though that many complain about UT settling on a coach from a non P5 school who has needed time to grow into a good SEC coach, but have no problem settling on an AD from an FCS school who will need to run the AD in a P5 university.

I hope whomever they end up with is ready - because the media and fan base around Tennessee is brutal.
 
#93
#93
You could bring somebody in here with a "blow away" resume that still didn't understand the Tennessee culture and what it means to win here. They may not understand the importance of certain games. Things like that along with prior connections to the institution hold a lot of weight. We need to get away from the attitude that you always have to go out of state to get anyone qualified. Of course you wouldn't want to hire a dummy with no resume.
 
#94
#94
orangeluvr said:
Question: Why in the hell was Blackburn NOT promoted fallowing hamilton's firing.(?) :blink:
Click to expand...

Two factors. First, after nearly three decades of the Doug Dickey tree, some felt that they needed to go outside the family to bring a different perspective to the program. And after promoting Hamilton didn't work out, there was strong support for hiring someone with experience as a D1 athletics director.

Second, and it ties into the first, there were some very difficult decisions and changes that needed to be made an implemented and it might have been more difficult for someone with strong relationships inside the department to make those decisions.
 
#95
#95
jos3ywales said:
One of my Concerns is, I read a article where the new Chancellor said she would not want anyone in the new AD that was here or had anything to do when the Title 9 was going on and/or during or after the CPF era. That which would include David Blackburn coming in as UTAD. I wish I could find it again, I would post it.
Click to expand...

Do you have a link for that article, because I have not seen or heard anything like that.
 
#96
#96
DeerPark12 said:
Two factors. First, after nearly three decades of the Doug Dickey tree, some felt that they needed to go outside the family to bring a different perspective to the program. And after promoting Hamilton didn't work out, there was strong support for hiring someone with experience as a D1 athletics director.

Second, and it ties into the first, there were some very difficult decisions and changes that needed to be made an implemented and it might have been more difficult for someone with strong relationships inside the department to make those decisions.
Click to expand...

So in summary, UT needed to hire a hit man.
 
#98
#98
Lovesomebigorange said:
LWS thank you so much for your info. Do you know if Davenport is on board with Blackburn or is that something that still has to be ironed out?
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I'm guessing. She has likely already gotten looped in on it. I would guess she and DB have a conversation prior to any AD announcement but be post the BOT approving her so sometime in the next few days..
 
#99
#99
DeerPark12 said:
Do you have a link for that article, because I have not seen or heard anything like that.
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this is the only quote I'm aware of that Davenport has made and it was in a release by UC, Maybe I missed something but not aware of any other statements she has made

I’m so very grateful for the privilege of serving as the University of Cincinnati’s interim president and provost. I have grown to love this institution, this city, and the many colleagues and friends I have come to know,” said Davenport. “Because of my experience here, I have the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as the next chancellor of the University of Tennessee's flagship campus. I am inspired by their confidence in my abilities to help them reach their goal of becoming a top-tier public research university. I also look forward to the chance to be closer to family.”
 
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