Good article on Swarbrick in the NY Times this Morning

[Aerosmith777]

Notre Dame Athletic Director Welcomes the Glare

I particularly liked this passage:

Swarbrick said that Notre Dame’s competing for national titles and Bowl Championship Series berths is important for both college football and college sports. He said he hoped to honor his friend Brand, who died of cancer earlier this year, by showing that a football program can be at the top of the N.C.A.A.’s Graduation Success Rate, in which Notre Dame finished tied for first this year, and also compete for the national title.

“The day I conclude that’s not possible is the day that I leave this job,” Swarbrick said. “Because that’s why I’m in this job. Proving that thesis is what excites me, because the opposite for me is too painful to contemplate. That means that the American scholastic sport model is dead. And I won’t accept that.”

 

[BGIF]

ND AD's have long been portrayed as puppets of the boosters and trustees?

Really?

I never thought of either Moose or Rosenthal as anybody's puppet.



Now Wadsworth and White had their strings pulled by Monk and his henchmen Beauchamp but the President and his right hand man aren't the boosters and trustees cabal that exist at Auburn or Alabama.

 

[Aerosmith777]

I really don't remember much past Kevin White so I can't talk about how ND ADs have been in the past, but I have to admit, it did look at times like he (White) was a figurehead to me. Not just to the boosters, but special interest groups as well. Especially with Ty. It really didn't seem to me that it was White's decision to hire or fire Willingham to be honest.

 

[BGIF]

I really don't remember much past Kevin White so I can't talk about how ND ADs have been in the past, but I have to admit, it did look at times like he (White) was a figurehead to me. Not just to the boosters, but special interest groups as well. Especially with Ty. It really didn't seem to me that it was White's decision to hire or fire Willingham to be honest.

White publicly stated (complained) it wasn't his decision to fire Ty as did Monk (and his bald secretary). Father Jenkins was the incoming President and told Monk ND needed to move NOW.

Moose Krause spent 6 decades at ND. He played for Rockne, was an All-American basketball player, coached under Leahy, hired Parshegian, and influenced the Holtz hire. He was AD for 32 years.

Gene Corrigan was in between Krause and Rosenthal. A Duke grad he was AD at UVA before coming to ND. He also was a college coach I believe at UVA. He left ND to become Commissioner of the ACC.

Dick Rosenthal was a ND basketball player, played in the NBA, had a successful banking career and as AD negotiated the NBC contract. He and Holtz had a very close working relationship.

Wadsworth was an ND grad. He was Canadian if I recall correctly and an Ambassador. He took marching orders.

White followed Wadsworth and also walked to Monk's beat.

 

[JefMaj]

It's still my personal belief that Jack's going to be the next president of the NCAA. I'm sure he wouldn't want to be the guy who fires Charlie, hires the next coach, and then goes back to Indianapolis.