Selecting the next TULANE AD

Anyone can read this board. However, to post messages, you must register.
User avatar
GreenWave80
Breaker Level
Posts: 289
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2022 2:10 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by GreenWave80 »

We've talked extensively over the years that its not about hiring a good coach at Tulane. Its always been about hiring a good coach to FOLLOW a good coach. So the ability to hire quality coaches should be an important skill for an AD to have, correct? So we've just hired an AD that hasn't hired a SINGLE COACH in a major sport. Anywhere. FB, MBB, WBB all were there when Dannen was there. Not a single new hire. So there's NO track record of whether this guy can hire a good coach or not. To me, that's a major problem.
tjtlja
Regent's Circle
Posts: 9234
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:07 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by tjtlja »

That is why we use these crappy national firms who have their agenda. Cannot believe there weren’t better candidates. That is the hardest thing to swallow.
LawGreenie
Coach Level
Posts: 2014
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:50 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by LawGreenie »

QuarterbackU wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:50 pm I guarantee the “Tulane Fans” whining the most on social media about the hire are absolutely doing so for selfish reasons.

They liked their level of inside access and clout with the program and are insecure that an “outsider” may actually value them differently.

These aren’t Boosters who earned that access by five-figure+ annual donations. These are mostly the same “Tulane Fans” that liked when there were just 4,500 people watching in the Dome so they could have their rears’ kissed and appreciated for just being there with a pulse.

Anyone being rash and up in arms about the hire without having a chance to listen to his introductory Press Conference and hearing President Fitts’ opening remarks about why he was the right candidate is really not a person that we need supporting us any more.

We had 30,000 fans show up to the Cotton Bowl. Your threat of cutting your $500 annual donation because your guy got you a few extra tailgate wristbands a season means nothing. Bunch of clowns.
+1.
User avatar
waverider
Cornerstone
Posts: 34543
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: North Kenner

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by waverider »

GreenWave80 wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:11 pm We've talked extensively over the years that its not about hiring a good coach at Tulane. Its always been about hiring a good coach to FOLLOW a good coach. So the ability to hire quality coaches should be an important skill for an AD to have, correct? So we've just hired an AD that hasn't hired a SINGLE COACH in a major sport. Anywhere. FB, MBB, WBB all were there when Dannen was there. Not a single new hire. So there's NO track record of whether this guy can hire a good coach or not. To me, that's a major problem.
Ironically he is replacing an AD who’s first major hire was Tulane’s current football coach. Dannen did hire a wrestling coach at UNI if that counts.
Tulane Greenbackers

"If you want to win you have to have good players." Vince Gibson
User avatar
Roller
Cornerstone
Posts: 37435
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:30 pm
Location: 9½° due east of The Tulane University of Louisiana

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by Roller »

randymc wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:45 pm so, what Ed seems to be saying is there is only one man on the face of the Earth who Willie Fritz would see fit to be his boss. So, Coach Fritz, who has 40 years of experience at every level and has worked with dozens of fellow coaches, administrators and staff through the years is gonna get his back up in anger and head off into the sunset because the school went another direction and Coach doesn't feel like he can work with anyone but Kortne Gosha. Seems to me Coach Fritz has been way more flexible than that throughout his career and has the ability to get along with just about anyone. Makes no sense to me that hiring David Harris sends Coach Fritz racing for the exits without meeting the man, getting to know him, negotiating with him, etc. So, what else seems to be the case from reading our vitriolic message boards is that: We had a horrible AD in Troy Dannen, before him we had a horrible AD in Rick Dickson and we had a horrible choice of Kortne Gosha in front of us who the angry ones amongst us say didn't have the chops or integrity to lead the Tulane Athletic program. And what else? Well, from what I read very often on here we have a lousy men's basketball coach, a lousy baseball program, a lousy women's hoops coach and Willie Fritz is running away from Willow Street as soon as possible (never mind that he has been at Tulane longer than any other coach for a continuous stretch except for one guy -- and he (Scelfo) was universally labeled trash on here as well, a political hire that mired Tulane in mediocrity that some seem to think the school so richly deserves. On top of that we love to quote anonymous posters from other half-mad, little-read and little-used message boards as gospel on the state of affairs at Northern Iowa. Please spare me.
+1.
You are right, Randy. Tulane fans have lost their collective mind. We cannot seem to live with success. Every time we get the train set on the tracks, our fans search out something new to moan about.
atxwave
Breaker Level
Posts: 256
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2022 3:30 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by atxwave »

Name a school whose fans loves their AD. Take your time. I'll sit here and wait. There's no such thing. At every school, whether they are P5, G5, D1AA, D11, etc...there are a group who think their AD hung the moon, but a more vocal group who think that person should be taken to the train station.
User avatar
waverider
Cornerstone
Posts: 34543
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: North Kenner

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by waverider »

Another thing I forgot to mention, but a lot of people are hung up on the no baseball at UNI. Unlike Dannen, this guy grew up in Baton Rouge and went to Ole Miss. He’s aware of what college baseball means in the region and certainly has to be aware of our history in the sport.
Tulane Greenbackers

"If you want to win you have to have good players." Vince Gibson
User avatar
waverider
Cornerstone
Posts: 34543
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: North Kenner

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by waverider »

atxwave wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:47 am Name a school whose fans loves their AD. Take your time. I'll sit here and wait. There's no such thing. At every school, whether they are P5, G5, D1AA, D11, etc...there are a group who think their AD hung the moon, but a more vocal group who think that person should be taken to the train station.
I’m sure the posts are here, but I remember most people not liking Dannen too much when he was hired.
Tulane Greenbackers

"If you want to win you have to have good players." Vince Gibson
User avatar
long green
Cornerstone
Posts: 29238
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:34 am
Location: New Orleans

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by long green »

atxwave wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:47 am Name a school whose fans loves their AD. Take your time. I'll sit here and wait. There's no such thing. At every school, whether they are P5, G5, D1AA, D11, etc...there are a group who think their AD hung the moon, but a more vocal group who think that person should be taken to the train station.
Being an AD means alienating people over time. You start off with a lot of well-wishers and you lose them over time. Scott Woodward at LSU came in as close as an AD can get to being The Man On A White Horse. He’s hired two coaches that have won national titles at LSU and he has some fans who hate him because of what’s going on in their men’s basketball program. Over time other people will start to dislike him for other reasons. Eventually the fuel light starts to blink and the AD looks for a new job or his employer looks for a new AD.
And may our enemies, if they exist, be unconscious of our purpose. - From The Lady Vanishes
User avatar
long green
Cornerstone
Posts: 29238
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:34 am
Location: New Orleans

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by long green »

waverider wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:47 am Another thing I forgot to mention, but a lot of people are hung up on the no baseball at UNI. Unlike Dannen, this guy grew up in Baton Rouge and went to Ole Miss. He’s aware of what college baseball means in the region and certainly has to be aware of our history in the sport.
What morons are hung up on baseball? Are there people on these forums who haven’t yet had it beaten into their heads that BASEBALL DOESNT MATTER AT ALL? I want to win on the diamond too but as a factor in this search baseball doesn’t and didn’t matter at all, not even as a tiebreaker among good candidates.

We’ve had some superb reactions to this apparent hire but the winner was a guy who tweeted that we should have hired Scott Sidwell. There’s your Tulane Baseball fan.
And may our enemies, if they exist, be unconscious of our purpose. - From The Lady Vanishes
User avatar
waverider
Cornerstone
Posts: 34543
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: North Kenner

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by waverider »

Not so much on this site but I have seen that mentioned in other places.
Tulane Greenbackers

"If you want to win you have to have good players." Vince Gibson
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 13203
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by Baywave1 »

GreenWave80 wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:11 pm We've talked extensively over the years that its not about hiring a good coach at Tulane. Its always been about hiring a good coach to FOLLOW a good coach. So the ability to hire quality coaches should be an important skill for an AD to have, correct? So we've just hired an AD that hasn't hired a SINGLE COACH in a major sport. Anywhere. FB, MBB, WBB all were there when Dannen was there. Not a single new hire. So there's NO track record of whether this guy can hire a good coach or not. To me, that's a major problem.
Many of us would have made that successful HC hiring experience a necessary requirement for Tulane AD.


The PTBs thought otherwise. Dannen made a bad baseball hire because he apparently used as a tiebreaker between two candidates with similar resumes the one without connections to Tulane. The guy failed.

I would hope when Harris crosses that bridge in whatever sport, he doesn’t view that potential alum linkage and involvement as a threat to his control but rather a positive
User avatar
WaveProf
Cornerstone
Posts: 26233
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:45 pm
Location: Irish Channel, New Orleans

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by WaveProf »

A lot of people know in their heart of hearts Fritz was likely to leave but have told themselves and others it wouldn’t happen. One booster I met outside the rice game comes to mind, talked about how the GT deal was never serious at all just a ploy to get a salary bump.

Those people are now overreacting to this because if it even elevates his chance of leaving by even one percent, they have an “out” with themselves and others to explain it without having been wrong before.
User avatar
long green
Cornerstone
Posts: 29238
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:34 am
Location: New Orleans

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by long green »

waverider wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:14 am Not so much on this site but I have seen that mentioned in other places.
So we have to hear about it? It’s only relevant as an indicator of who not to listen to. I know some people here think the baseball program should matter when it comes to selecting an AD but by God they didn’t post that opinion while the search was going on.
And may our enemies, if they exist, be unconscious of our purpose. - From The Lady Vanishes
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 13203
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by Baywave1 »

+1

I don’t view it as a big deal that UNI doesn’t have a baseball. I do view it as important for the Tulane AD to value baseball
Baywave1
Emerald Circle
Posts: 13203
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:48 am

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by Baywave1 »

WaveProf wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:41 am A lot of people know in their heart of hearts Fritz was likely to leave but have told themselves and others it wouldn’t happen. One booster I met outside the rice game comes to mind, talked about how the GT deal was never serious at all just a ploy to get a salary bump.

Those people are now overreacting to this because if it even elevates his chance of leaving by even one percent, they have an “out” with themselves and others to explain it without having been wrong before.
Prof, I’m open minded on this. The issue is ageism. I just don’t know how many rebuilding programs will incorrectly dismiss Wilie as too old when in fact he remains hungry to succeed.

He would be perfect for aTm which needs to be unstuck more than rebuilt. However the fan base would not accept a guy who succeeded wildly at Blinn and SHSU. “We are SEC not JC.”

Traylor would do great there too but odds are against him as well because his resume is HS (and that’s how many Aggies view UTSA) and not “sexy” enough.


I guess Willie leaving now as perhaps 1-in-3.


May he stay and keep Tulane lucky
User avatar
tulaneoutlaw
Regent's Circle
Posts: 9391
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:49 pm
Location: Greeneville, TN

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by tulaneoutlaw »

Has anybody brought up the fact that Harris played football at Ole Miss and was part of 3 bowl teams int he 90s? I'm guessing football will be a top priority for him and that he'll have the background and connections to make a hire if the time comes.

I'll be honest, I'm pretty impressed at his track record. Time in the SEC, Big 10, and B12 with steady promotions all along the way. He should have a strong idea of what it might take to get us into a P5. Pretty hard to label this hire a disaster already. Even if he doesn't work out, it's not like he doesn't have serious qualifications.
nolasilver
Coach Level
Posts: 2189
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2022 9:49 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by nolasilver »

tulaneoutlaw wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 10:25 am Has anybody brought up the fact that Harris played football at Ole Miss and was part of 3 bowl teams int he 90s? I'm guessing football will be a top priority for him and that he'll have the background and connections to make a hire if the time comes.

I'll be honest, I'm pretty impressed at his track record. Time in the SEC, Big 10, and B12 with steady promotions all along the way. He should have a strong idea of what it might take to get us into a P5. Pretty hard to label this hire a disaster already. Even if he doesn't work out, it's not like he doesn't have serious qualifications.
Excellent point outlaw. That would require research and reasonable thought on the part of some of these fans. The toxic doody from certain posters and ed bot doesn’t help. Everyone is scared of Fritz leaving. This is why you don’t have fans or popularity contests choosing ad’s and coaches.

Lord knows we needed someone with limited experience, limited network, who is only 36 years old, who had a scandal that led to hide firing be the leader of our department.
nolasilver
Coach Level
Posts: 2189
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2022 9:49 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by nolasilver »

atxwave wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:47 am Name a school whose fans loves their AD. Take your time. I'll sit here and wait. There's no such thing. At every school, whether they are P5, G5, D1AA, D11, etc...there are a group who think their AD hung the moon, but a more vocal group who think that person should be taken to the train station.
Good point. People absolutly despised TD (I didn’t love him bu any means) and by the time he left, when objectively he clearly was a major win for Tulane.
User avatar
LSU Law Greenie
Coach Level
Posts: 2028
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:03 am
Location: Garyville, Louisiana

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by LSU Law Greenie »

The other thing people need to understand is that although someone looks good on paper, that can totally change during an interview. I was on the search committee years ago for a UNO men's basketball search. I remember one of the candidates was an assistant from UCONN who wanted the job. He obviously checked all the boxes. Unfortunately, the longer you sat in a room with him the more you disliked him. Before his interview he was #1 or 2 on everyone's list. After his interview he was last.

It's easy for us to chime in on who we think should be the new AD and who is most qualified but we don't know how anyone did in their interview. We also don't know to what extent Willie was consulted in the process. Just keep all that in mind.

Roll Wave!
My name is T. J. Acosta and I approve this message!
ml wave
Emerald Circle
Posts: 14774
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:19 pm

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by ml wave »

long green wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:12 am
waverider wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:47 am Another thing I forgot to mention, but a lot of people are hung up on the no baseball at UNI. Unlike Dannen, this guy grew up in Baton Rouge and went to Ole Miss. He’s aware of what college baseball means in the region and certainly has to be aware of our history in the sport.
What morons are hung up on baseball? Are there people on these forums who haven’t yet had it beaten into their heads that BASEBALL DOESNT MATTER AT ALL? I want to win on the diamond too but as a factor in this search baseball doesn’t and didn’t matter at all, not even as a tiebreaker among good candidates.

We’ve had some superb reactions to this apparent hire but the winner was a guy who tweeted that we should have hired Scott Sidwell. There’s your Tulane Baseball fan.
The baseball morons, lg.
User avatar
QuarterbackU
Emerald Circle
Posts: 10103
Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:50 am
Location: West

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by QuarterbackU »

With all respect, Northern Iowa has to be an absolute grind of a gig and I would wager our new AD is going to come in very much appreciating every resource that he has now at his reach + all of the momentum from football and wanting to maximize it to start for some quick wins.

I say this as someone who had to spend an extended amount of time in the Cedar Rapids area for work before.

Iowa is a state smaller (population) than Louisiana and you are not only fighting with Iowa/Iowa State for people’s wallets and attention but the western part of the state is filled with mostly Nebraska fans. You then sprinkle in Drake (Des Moines) that has been to two NCAA men’s basketball tournaments in past three years.

In my opinion, he has a good mix of big Athletic Department experience and the time served at a “challenger brand” of sorts.

Harris’ salary (public info) was $225k at UNI. If you give him $500k, that shifts another $500k from what we were paying Troy to give to Coach Fritz as a bump for 2023.
Tulane Alum | T-Club Member | Season Ticket Holder
DrHullabaloo
Navigator Level
Posts: 1154
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 6:56 am
Location: Bestbank
Contact:

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by DrHullabaloo »

The decision was made for better or for worse. Hopefully we can still support the team this coming Friday. Here's my opinions:

1) I suspect the allegations about what Harris did or didn't do at UNI likely have several versions around them. If UNI did take away the fundraising from his responsibility and still kept Harris at the helm, then why? Is their board or President completely incompetent? Did Harris have a monster impenetrable contract? Why would you keep an underperforming person (looking at you Tulsa!). We unfortunately had an incompetent narcissist in Cowen who was adept at manipulating the public narrative and brainwashing the board, plus so many distractions following Katrina, so that's our excuse. The on campus stadium made it plain to everyone with eyeballs that the trajectory we were on could not continue.

2) I hope that we find out quickly what kind of AD Harris actually is and if there is indeed any foolishness, that our donors and boosters get ahead of it. President Fitts has seen how much upside there is to having a successful program with admissions and support pouring in. So I don't see any reason why we'd have a Cowen+Dickson marriage 2.0 last any longer than it would have to.

3) Dannen is a mixed bag, he improved some things, he was weak and egregious in other things, but winning cures all ills and all parties got mileage out of the Cotton Bowl, thank goodness. His stupid press conference remarks at UW are his own karma now.

4) I was hoping for someone like Barbara Burke/Sandy Barbour. I had heard Burke was responsible for the hiring of Pierce.
User avatar
PeteRasche
Cornerstone
Posts: 31610
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:52 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by PeteRasche »

DrHullabaloo wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:55 amHopefully we can still support the team this coming Friday.
Good Lord, I hope nobody is thinking about not supporting our football team because of the (still rumored) AD hire.
washwave
Navigator Level
Posts: 507
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:27 pm
Location: DC

Re: Selecting the next TULANE AD

Unread post by washwave »

DrHullabaloo wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:55 am The decision was made for better or for worse. Hopefully we can still support the team this coming Friday. Here's my opinions:

1) I suspect the allegations about what Harris did or didn't do at UNI likely have several versions around them.
What kind of allegations are there against him? I know that some UNI fan posted some negative stuff but are there real allegations against him?
Post Reply