Why wait?

[Vent]

I think there will be more than 1,500 at the UIC game. However I don't expect us to have crowds above 5,000 (actual) for any game but Wichita and Illinois State. I was expecting BU to finish around 5th this year in the Valley. I don't see them finishing above 7th place this season, and once again in the play-in round at the MVC tournament. This team is lost, has no heart and doesn't execute the basic fundamentals. It is the direct result of bad coaching.

[AZ BU Fan]

Priorities

For better or worse, I suggest the priority right now for BU is a Board of Trustees and a President who can reverse the apparent decline in BU being a growing, financially sound, respected, academic university.

Much more imaginative leadership needed to attract more students and keep alumni involved in the whole university, including the athletic dept.

With the headwinds of a small private university, in a (apparently) struggling smaller upper mid western city in the middle of no where, in a declining underdeveloped neighborhood, the need to be creative and way far in front of the game has never been more important. Business as usual is not getting it done.

Having a large multi national industry leader in town should give BU a major boost in developing business, engineering and computer programs and in recruiting many more students.

No organization is successful just cutting budgets.

IF BU goes down the tube, doesn't really matter if BU has a HOF MBB Coach and National Champion MBB program.

[tornado]

Vent - his contract was extended just no word on one year or two years and barring another lawsuit with the testimony being made public record - there's no way we're going to ever know.
- so he's under contract 'til 2017 or 2018.

If you fire Geno now, you go maybe $1.5 to 2.2 mil more in debt... and still have to shell out plenty to hire a new guy..
If you fire JG, MC, and Geno you have to buy out probably >$5 mil in contracts..

Personally my confidence that the Prez or the Board will get anything right at this stage is 0.0%
Remember - the new Chairman of the Board is sending out letters to everyone who writes - saying BU has no problems,
that we are doing better than any time in the past 30 years, and that finishing the MVC Soccer race with only ONE win and in next to last place was "competing for the championship",
he used injuries as excuses, then said no further action would be taken ..and "It is on our radar and we will assess its progress at the end of the season."

In other words - the Chairman of the Board also has absolutely zero clue what's going on, and that thinks everything's hunky dory, and that they're checking out 'til the end of the season....

I say throw $1 million at someone like Jim DeRose, Chuck Buescher, Eddie Mathews, or even Marcus Pollard or Joe B McDade to come in and clean up this mess...
but please keep any future decisions out of the hands of Shaheen, JG, Stewart or any current yes-man member of this board..they have all steered us so far down the river that we might never get back ...


If I did this badly at my profession, I'd have expected to have been canned long ago - and even sued for every cent...

[Buesch N Chips]

Do presidents of universities regularly get fired due to lack of success in the athletic programs?

[Da Coach]

Vent - his contract was extended just no word on one year or two years and barring another lawsuit with the testimony being made public record - there's no way we're going to ever know.
- so he's under contract 'til 2017 or 2018.

If you fire Geno now, you go maybe $1.5 to 2.2 mil more in debt..
If you fire JG, MC, and Geno you have to buy out probably $5 mil in contracts..

They will continue to lose $4-6 million per year on lost ticket revenues, lost maintenance fees, and lost donations if they do not change course immediately.
It seems like a no-brainer to just bit the bullet and buy out those that have to go. At least then, the revenue would start to trend back up immediately.

And a good young coach like Jerrance Howard would take the job for less than 1/3 what we are paying now.

[tornado]

Do presidents of universities regularly get fired due to lack of success in the athletic programs?

no but if they run the university into millions of dollars of debt with poor management and then present false info to the board ..maybe it could happen...

[Chico]

T, I agree with you on bringing the guys you mentioned except for the last one. Don't forget if he doesn't get his choice of coaches he isn't happy.

[Vent]

I would be surprised if there is much of a contract buyout with Glasser or Cross. Generally there are loopholes that enable both parties to get out of contracts without the full amount being paid. There is no question the heat is on. The only question is who is the heat on. My guess is that Glasser will throw Cross under the bus in the very near future. That very same bus may back up and get Glasser, it just depends who is driving the bus. This would be a good year to fire Ford. With all of the juniors on the team, it would be difficult for many of them to transfer for one year. In addition, there aren't many D-1 schools they could play for. It would leave a new coach with multiple scholarships for his first real recruiting class. Jerrance Howard would be an excellent choice. I agree with Da Coach on the money end. If they don't make a change, the additional financial loss may outweigh the loss of money due to buyouts. One thing can not be denied. It is time the Board of Trustees steps to the forefront and addresses the situation. That academic/faculty is in disarray and has not faith in the president. The community has no faith in the president. That athletic director has failed to produce winning teams while revenue has dropped. The men's basketball coach, whom is the most visible coach at BU, has failed miserably, with the only light at the end of the tunnel being another train.

[lightsout]

There is absolutely 0% chance Jerrance Howard would accept the head coaching job at Bradley....

[Da Coach]

There is absolutely 0% chance Jerrance Howard would accept the head coaching job at Bradley....

If you mean that there is no chance the current AD and Pres. would hire him, then I agree 100%.

But if you are suggesting that there is no chance he would be interested in the job or accept it if he was offered (if the AD and Pres. were gone), then I would like to know why you would say that? What assistant coach wouldn't want to get a head coaching job?

Because, I have word from a 100% reliable source that he would jump at the chance to become head coach at Bradley. And he would take the job for less than half what we are paying our current coach.
In fact he tried to get an interview and wanted to apply for the job in 2011, but was told Bradley was not interested in him.

[Vent]

I have been told also, that Jerrance Howard would take the head position at Bradley. I also am convinced the current president and athletic director would not hire him. I am also convinced he would not work for the current president and athletic director. The Bradley basketball job is by no means, the opportunity it once was. It is still a good job, but there are many coaching jobs equal to BU, that weren't before. We have declined badly and the MVC is a mere shadow of what it once was. The problem still lies at the top with the president. Until a change is made things will remain the same.

[Rick LeHew]

Prediction:
Cross does not have his contract renewed (Not sure when that is up and no payout needed).
Glasser retires from Bradley (payout from BofT undisclosed).
Ford fired end of the season (payout comes from $160M that JG took credit for raising - but over $100M was already raised before she stepped foot on campus).

And for those that went to Vegas - I hope you did well on the tables last night.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all !!

[BuB]

Do presidents of universities regularly get fired due to lack of success in the athletic programs?

Great question. Don't know the answer but I'm sure the presidents who micro manage every department and have a history of hiring/firing multiple athletic directors deserve special consideration.

[BuB]

I would be surprised if there is much of a contract buyout with Glasser or Cross. Generally there are loopholes that enable both parties to get out of contracts without the full amount being paid. There is no question the heat is on. The only question is who is the heat on. My guess is that Glasser will throw Cross under the bus in the very near future. That very same bus may back up and get Glasser, it just depends who is driving the bus. This would be a good year to fire Ford. With all of the juniors on the team, it would be difficult for many of them to transfer for one year. In addition, there aren't many D-1 schools they could play for. It would leave a new coach with multiple scholarships for his first real recruiting class. Jerrance Howard would be an excellent choice. I agree with Da Coach on the money end. If they don't make a change, the additional financial loss may outweigh the loss of money due to buyouts. One thing can not be denied. It is time the Board of Trustees steps to the forefront and addresses the situation. That academic/faculty is in disarray and has not faith in the president. The community has no faith in the president. That athletic director has failed to produce winning teams while revenue has dropped. The men's basketball coach, whom is the most visible coach at BU, has failed miserably, with the only light at the end of the tunnel being another train.

I said it 4-5 years ago and it is still even more true today. This president came in and made multiple changes in multiple departments at Bradley. Changes in housing dept, security, admissions, fundraising dept., HOF committee, professors, multiple changes in the athletic department, secretaries, etc, etc, etc. She was personally responsible for firing/running off many good people at Bradley or causing them to resign on their own. This affected many people with long, long ties to Bradley. The very same people who helped create the positive reputation Bradley had here in Peoria and the Midwest. Because of Glasser's changes, and the results of them, many local people and their families and their friends have ill feelings towards her. The ones who are still there speak of a bad work environment. It is no secret that the president is an overbearing micro manager. I think this has negatively affected moral, donations, enrollment, and season ticket sales. Now toss in the MBB problems and those problems are even worse. This has changed the reputation of Bradley especially here in Illinois.

[Vent]

Prediction:
Cross does not have his contract renewed (Not sure when that is up and no payout needed).
Glasser retires from Bradley (payout from BofT undisclosed).
Ford fired end of the season (payout comes from $160M that JG took credit for raising - but over $100M was already raised before she stepped foot on campus).

And for those that went to Vegas - I hope you did well on the tables last night.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all !!

I think you may be right Rick. If part of that prediction (Glasser & Cross) came true prior to the second semester, it would help us get through the rest of the season. I would say, after yesterday's result in Las Vegas, this team will just play out the season. Losing on the road, winning a few games at home, finishing 7th in the MVC and playing in the play-in round of Valley Tournament. There is no way after working 6 months with this team, Ford can turn the season around. It's a replay of before. Poor fundamentals, no discipline, poor strategy and an absolutely dismal record. The Board of Trustees has no right to have a capital fund drive, when they allow good money to be thrown away at this basketball and entire athletic program. You think Washington D.C. throws money away, look at BU (although it's not taxpayers money). It is repulsive!!!!!