Hey McPhaul can you please let me know your thoughts on the below that was posted on another board? I know, I know but most of the information seems to directly contradict information I've heard and what you post and I want a sanity check.
Athletic Department Update
1) Texas has swung and missed on their first choices for AD. Big 12 commissioner Bowlsby, OU athletic director Castiglione and ND athletic director all either said no to an offer or no to even interviewing. The no thank yous continued with at least one other AD. So that everyone is aware, it wasn't a money issue or opportunity issue, Texas is viewed as an out of control circus right now. Political attacks against Bill Powers, regents contacting potential coaching candidates, pending law suits all add up to an environment that most first tier ADs want no part of.
2) So who is going to interview? The AD from ASU, WVU, Maryland and or Michigan St look to be the good bets at this point. The internet has anointed Oliver Luck fro WVU as the heir apparent. Keep in mind that none of these guys have interviewed yet and it could easily go in a different direction.
3) Deloss isn't as involved on a day to day basis anymore. There are systemic problems in the AD department right now largely because of a lack of leadership. Plonsky is effectively running things on a day to day basis and it is a disaster. Coaches are squabbling over facility times, pay, academic resources, media resources and more. If Plonsky is well regarded for her skills in media and marketing, she is viewed as a terrible manager of people.
4) Whoever the new AD is, there are lots of problems to deal with immediately as well as some big potential hires over the next couple of years. Almost all of the ADs that Texas has spoken with want control of the AD department. Having a mens and womens department isn't a structure that they are comfortable with. Add in the Kearney lawsuit and I would guess that womens AD Plonsky is not long for her job in Austin.
5) Entrenched bureaucracy needs to change. The Texas AD has too many long time employees with comfortable relationships. At this point many of them are there to justify and defend their own inflated positions. The new athletic director is going to need to make sweeping changes throughout the department in order to change the culture.
6) If Mack Brown wins or shares the Big 12 championship, the decision to stay or go will be his. I have heard Bill Powers talk about his admiration for Brown on more then one occasion. If Texas wins 10 games and shows improvement 4 years in a row, Brown will not be pressured by the Administration to leave.
7) So Brown retires (hypothetical). Look back at point number 1. There is a fear that many coaches that would normally be candidates for the Texas job may not want to put their name up for consideration. People like Wallace Hall are really hurting our chances because of the instability that they are creating. Even if the money is right, would a coach like Saban or Meyers really consider Texas if they weren't comfortable with direction of the program?
8) Kearney lawsuit - it will be filed before the end of the year. It will allege inappropriate relationship among athletic department employees and subordinates or student athletes. It will also allege that these relationships are handled differently or not at all. Kearney is seeking a $3mm settlement to go away. Any settlement above $1mm has to be approved by the regents and their initial response was no. If her allegations are true, their could be serious consequences in two mens sports and four womens sports.
