Steve Patterson - Athletics Director

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[bcherry168]

Thank you, Etex and bcherry.

I realize that in professional athletics the GM must keep the owner and a few others happy, such as valued coaches, sponsors, and VIPs. College athletics is a whole 'nother animal, particularly at a beast like Texas. We have what we have due to the loyalty of the fans and some very influential and generous alums. No employee of The University is more important than those who have contributed to the success and history of the program, including athletes, coaches, faculty, and former students.

I'm not certain that a professional sports background prepares an individual for the AD at Texas. The job requirements are unique, and it takes a unique person, not a bean counter. I'm concerned that Steve is just a bean counter. He's alienated more people in less time than John Mackovic-that is some heavy lifting. He has burned all of his goodwill without downsizing. What is the encore?

Hook 'em!

Java, I have been around the program for over 70 years. Not everybody gets training to be an AD. In all of my time, Dodds has been the best, though DKR was fine as well. Bible saw the literal destruction of the football program because he was very penurious. One of his first acts after retiring as coach was to reduce the number of football scholarships. But he also let the athletics facilities get completely run down. In my last conversation with him in 2010, DKR was still griping about that condition of the fields and facilities when he arrived in 1957.

DKR got us back on track, and Dodds made us the Joneses.

One thing all three of those guys was able to do was to handle the very complex egos of the major donors to the University. That is one of the very most important things that an AD must do. The AD just can't try to be a more arrogant asshole than they are. But apparently, that is what he is trying to do.

Plus, he is making the same mistake Bible did by being penny wise and pound foolish. DX had at least the excuse that there was little or no TV money back then. Patterson does not have that excuse.

I am not saying we should fire him, but somebody needs to start doing some big time damage control before it gets out of hand. I don't want to see another 1-9 season like we had in 1956. (Not saying it was all the AD's fault back then. There were other factors as well.)

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Plus, he is making the same mistake Bible did by being penny wise and pound foolish. DX had at least the excuse that there was little or no TV money back then. Patterson does not have that excuse.

The biggest problem I have with Patter$on - outside of his new ticket and parking policies - is why did he feel compelled to add 40 people to an already bloated athletic department payroll? What, exactly, do all of these new people do? Why do we need two ADs (Plonsky), too?

He doesn't appear to be a visionary leader or positive "change agent", IMO. Every major decision requires a committee - like the new SID hire. Why?

 

[primal defense]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[bcherry168]

The biggest problem I have with Patter$on - outside of his new ticket and parking policies - is why did he feel compelled to add 40 people to an already bloated athletic department payroll? What, exactly, do all of these new people do? Why do we need two ADs (Plonsky), too?

He doesn't appear to be a visionary leader or positive "change agent", IMO. Every major decision requires a committee - like the new SID hire. Why?

Yeah. I though he was hired to get rid of the dead wood.

 

[primal defense]

The biggest problem I have with Patter$on - outside of his new ticket and parking policies - is why did he feel compelled to add 40 people to an already bloated athletic department payroll? What, exactly, do all of these new people do? Why do we need two ADs (Plonsky), too?

He doesn't appear to be a visionary leader or positive "change agent", IMO. Every major decision requires a committee - like the new SID hire. Why?

I read somewhere they had to hire more people to raise money since Patterson's way of doing things is causing a drop in donations. I don't understand how you can piss fans off with ticket prices and then turn around and ask them for money.

Cable companies and NFL teams gauge their customers, but then they don't have to ask their pissed off customers to donate money to them.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I read somewhere they had to hire more people to raise money since Patterson's way of doing things is causing a drop in donations. I don't understand how you can piss fans off with ticket prices and then turn around and ask them for money.

Cable companies and NFL teams gauge their customers, but then they don't have to ask their pissed off customers to donate money to them.

What nonsense.

Does Patter$on think a team of telemarketers asking small-timers (like myself) for donations is going to make up for the BMDs he's alienated? He's supposed to nurture and cultivate those relationships. It's probably the most important role he has - period.

 

[streettopeschel]

What nonsense.

Does Patter$on think a team of telemarketers asking small-timers (like myself) for donations is going to make up for the BMDs he's alienated? He's supposed to nurture and cultivate those relationships. It's probably the most important role he has - period.

this is something the Steveanistas fail to grasp. They laud him as a change agent and screw how he does it.
You can be a change agent and not be a tool. AND if you can't schmooze you'll not get the money you need.

ALL the reports from various outlets about him alienating folks can't be false.

 

[primal defense]

I remember the weeks before we hired a new AD, Oliver Luck was considered the favorite. Patterson was a surprise pick at the end. The story has been he got the job because he was willing to fire Mack Brown.

I'm beginning to believe he got the job because he promised to bring a certain figure of money and building the brand that blew the hiring people away. Now he has to come through on his promise even if it means cutting the coaches meals and gauging the fans on ticket prices and parking. He wasn't like this at Arizona State. He was on a radio show ever week in Phoenix where he would joke around and have fun. I guess he had to rehabilitate his image after his failure at Portland.

Mr. Sunshine at ASU

 

[Randolph Duke]

As unpopular as it will be, I will cross-post this.

Here is my frustration with Patterson's idiocy. Who hasn't been to McDonald's or Burger King when they beg you to super size your meal for $0.20 more?

The food costs are f##king immaterial. The cost of running the dining hall is in hiring the workers, buying the equipment and the capital/labor expenses. One incremental meal or fifteen incremental meals cost jack squat.

Boneless/skinless chicken breasts cost about $1.60/lb wholesale. Pork is about the same. Ribeye steak at wholesale prices runs about $8.00/lb. The protein is the most expensive part of the meal. Veggies and carbs are going to cost about $1 if the person eats a full pound of them. How much does each incremental meal cost the university? $4 max?

How the hell does a program that was once proud and at one time boasted of being a first-tier program end up having to cut back over expenses that cost less than $5? What the F@#K has happened to UT athletics under Steve Patterson that $5 makes a difference and $150 total for the year is all the university can afford for coaches making well into six-figures (or more) to be able to spend additional time with their athletes?

And, might I add, UT is paying the cocksucker-in-charge $1.4 million base salary and paying for stupidity like sending his wife to f##king Dubai on a boondoggle at a cost that greatly exceeded any "savings" he is trying to create by f##king over the coaches on meals. UT has money to send Patterson's wife on Goddamned boondoggles to places that will never support UT athletics, but he doesn't have money to support UT athletics. F@#K THAT.

What the F@#K is going on and why is Greg Fenves supporting this insanity?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I'm betting $20 you can't say that again with no F bombs.

 

[Randolph Duke]

I'm betting $20 you can't say that again with no F bombs.

I owe you $20. I'm so fed up over the embarrassment this guy has brought to the program that I just can't do it without the f-bombs.

Seriously. He can send his wife to Dubai with an entourage on a boondoggle, but he can't find the money to actually support UT athletics or the coaches. How could Dubai possibly be a place of importance for UT athletics?

The level of insanity that evidently Fenves is condoning is beyond comprehension.

 

[HornNdriftwood]

It's strange how these same sports writers just a little over a year ago ( Apr. '14) were shocked when Shabazz Napier said he went to bed hungry. (paraphrasing)We have starving student/athletes and coaches making $5mm per year - the horror!(paraphrasing)

Now dining halls are preparing to feed our athletes unlimited meals around the clock and some of the coaches will have to buy their own - and that's terrible!

Outrage is hard. Sometimes I get confused at where to direct it. Good thing I have SBNation & CBSSports.com to keep me straight.

 

[streettopeschel]

It's strange how these same sports writers just a little over a year ago ( Apr. '14) were shocked when Shabazz Napier said he went to bed hungry. (paraphrasing)We have starving student/athletes and coaches making $5mm per year - the horror!(paraphrasing)

Now dining halls are preparing to feed our athletes unlimited meals around the clock and some of the coaches will have to buy their own - and that's terrible!

Outrage is hard. Sometimes I get confused at where to direct it. Good thing I have SBNation & CBSSports.com to keep me straight.

if 'The Joneses' are having to scrape change from couch cushions for players to have bedtime snacks there's a helluva problem.
Or put another way, I don't think the coach/meal thing, whatever it is, has squat to do with player meals.

 

[HornNdriftwood]

if 'The Joneses' are having to scrape change from couch cushions for players to have bedtime snacks there's a helluva problem.

Or put another way, I don't think the coach/meal thing, whatever it is, has squat to do with player meals.

Did you read the email in the article or do you think the CFO for UT Athletics is lying?

Dave Marmion, "The savings from this initiative will also be used to help fund the additional student-athlete meals we are now allowed to provide under new NCAA rules."

In case people haven't been paying attention, the old ways of doing things are rapidly going by the wayside. Previous, the NCAA was ruled by the little guys in Div. 1A. One school-one vote gave the power to the low budget schools that wanted low scholarship limits, limited coaching staffs and a ceiling on cost of attendance.

With the P5's autonomy, all costs will be going up. Some way up. If you want to play with the big boys, you're going to have to pony up. On the other hand, it's probable but not certain that the players will unionize. One of the by products of that will be greater transparency. Sloppy bookkeeping or expenses/profits under the table, like under Deloss, will be a thing of the past.

Everything about the way the AD did business in the past is now under the microscope. Things going forward will have to pass scrutiny from a court of law. You never know when a walk-on or 3rd string scholarship athlete will try to drag you into court.

Patterson took on a mess and it not only coincided with a time of rebuilding (literally) at the University but at a time of great upheaval in college athletics. His $1.4MM salary may prove to be a bargain. On the other hand, he may crash and burn. Way too early to judge.

Hook 'em.

 

[java]

Possibly coaches meals were justified, possibly not.  However, I do think some of the belt tightening is justified, some of it is people with an axe to grind, and some of it is Patterson not meeting expectations.  

I do believe that 40 new hires is quite a few, if he was hired to trim fat.  There should be some serious return from each of those fund raisers, and that each person's performance should be evaluated.  If they aren't fulfilling the purpose for which they were hired, then that should be it.  I don't know how many fundraisers Belmont previously employed, but an increase of 40 appears substantial.  My wildly uninformed guess is we more than doubled, and probably tripled the number of fundraisers.

Get those phones and emails working, people. 

 

[streettopeschel]

Did you read the email in the article or do you think the CFO for UT Athletics is lying?

Dave Marmion, "The savings from this initiative will also be used to help fund the additional student-athlete meals we are now allowed to provide under new NCAA rules."

In case people haven't been paying attention, the old ways of doing things are rapidly going by the wayside. Previous, the NCAA was ruled by the little guys in Div. 1A. One school-one vote gave the power to the low budget schools that wanted low scholarship limits, limited coaching staffs and a ceiling on cost of attendance.

With the P5's autonomy, all costs will be going up. Some way up. If you want to play with the big boys, you're going to have to pony up. On the other hand, it's probable but not certain that the players will unionize. One of the by products of that will be greater transparency. Sloppy bookkeeping or expenses/profits under the table, like under Deloss, will be a thing of the past.

Everything about the way the AD did business in the past is now under the microscope. Things going forward will have to pass scrutiny from a court of law. You never know when a walk-on or 3rd string scholarship athlete will try to drag you into court.

Patterson took on a mess and it not only coincided with a time of rebuilding (literally) at the University but at a time of great upheaval in college athletics. His $1.4MM salary may prove to be a bargain. On the other hand, he may crash and burn. Way too early to judge.

Hook 'em.

I don't think he's lying. I'm sure they could say 'we're no longer buying Coca-cola but now we're buying the HEB brand and the savings from this initiative will be used to fund additional student-athlete meals... Blah blah blah' and it would be the truth. Doesn't mean it was necessary.
My point remains the same. If the top grossing ath dept is clipping coupons something's wrong.

And I know numbers and spreadsheets can be manipulated to tell whatever story you want to tell.

Sorry but I find Patterson to be disingenuous. I don't care about the coaches free lunch program but implying it was necessary to feed jocks is BS IMO.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Did you read the email in the article or do you think the CFO for UT Athletics is lying?

.....

Nice post driftwood. Rationale & well-reasoned.

 

[primal defense]

I don't think he's lying. I'm sure they could say 'we're no longer buying Coca-cola but now we're buying the HEB brand and the savings from this initiative will be used to fund additional student-athlete meals... Blah blah blah' and it would be the truth. Doesn't mean it was necessary.

My point remains the same. If the top grossing ath dept is clipping coupons something's wrong.

And I know numbers and spreadsheets can be manipulated to tell whatever story you want to tell.

Sorry but I find Patterson to be disingenuous. I don't care about the coaches free lunch program but implying it was necessary to feed jocks is BS IMO.

 

[java]

Everyone is reading $300,000 in cost savings.  I have been working on several projects and read it quickly, but thought it said the program cost Texas #300,000.  Raising the number of meals to $30/staff member and eliminating distinctions doesn't sound as if it will save that much in costs, if any.  I also believe that $17.50/meal is inflated, by a large margin.  Exactly how did Steve arrive at $17.50/meal?  That's $52.50/day for 3 meals, and one of them is breakfast, for crying out loud.

Sorry, guys.  These numbers look suspicious to me.

Thank goodness, it's almost football season.