Insider: Herbst in over her head

[TRest]

Re. Warde..the scuttlebutt I'm hearing from people on campus is that while he is a big man with gravitas (Susan's words not mine), the emperor may have no clothes and appears to be a bit paralyzed by all of this.

Is Warde the emperor or Suzie? Paralyzed seems to fit both.

 

[amory]

I keep hearing from credible people that this isn't true. I just don't think she has the right help to guide the institution through this.

The AD didn't even know if he was big enough to make a presentation to the ACC. His words, not mine.

I mean really!? Jurich drank his milkshake.

I can assure you if Warde Manuel had a milkshake, no one got within 10 feet of it.

 

[J187Money]

So if she adds hundreds of millions to the endowment and somehow can't convince people that have some cockeyed grudge against us to let them in their conference she somehow fails?

Ok.

I know you guys would be happy if we got a B1G bid by promising to take 0 revenue for 20 years. And I know this sucks. But I'm still of the mindset that this will be worked out in time.

 

[huskymedic]

So if she adds hundreds of millions to the endowment and somehow can't convince people that have some cockeyed grudge against us to let them in their conference she somehow fails?

Ok.

I know you guys would be happy if we got a B1G bid by promising to take 0 revenue for 20 years. And I know this sucks. But I'm still of the mindset that this will be worked out in time.

jaltavilla 7:08pm via TweetDeck
Manuel says #UConn focus must remain on the premise that the school will end up in a "good position." #WTIC #BigEast

 

[upstater]

From what I've gathered, she did understand that the ACC would be a better home than the Big East, but ultimately undervalued the difference. Apparently she was under the impression that, though the ACC would lead to greater overall revenues, the next Big East deal would be lucrative to the university as we are a "leader of the Big East".

I've also heard the same about Herbst preferring an "Ivy League" style. In fact, apparently the reason that Ollie hasn't received an extension yet is because they're waiting to receive the players' grades to ensure that "something like the APR fiasco never happens again."

As a college president, it's great that she has such a passion for improving academics, but it seems as though she's seriously undervaluing the importance of athletics.

This is nearly impossible for me to believe. For one she criticized the APR as a tool for evaluation because it actually lead to anti-academic results (i.e. it took emphasis off graduation and proceeding toward a degree, and toward remaining eligible). Then she instituted 3 mandatory intersession courses in August, and 1 in the Winter. This is not about looking after academics. It's the opposite. I'm not saying I blame her for it since the NCAA demands it. I am saying that Ivy-League level, this is not.

In fact, Harvard basketball didn't make its APR last year. And we know why. There aren't any bogus APR classes at Harvard. Now that is Ivy League.

 

[upstater]

jaltavilla 7:08pm via TweetDeck
Manuel says #UConn focus must remain on the premise that the school will end up in a "good position." #WTIC #BigEast

For once, I totally agree with him. Do not settle for second best in a glorified A10.

 

[J187Money]

Prove it. Win. Then cry.

 

[jfuchs91]

This is nearly impossible for me to believe. For one she criticized the APR as a tool for evaluation because it actually lead to anti-academic results (i.e. it took emphasis off graduation and proceeding toward a degree, and toward remaining eligible). Then she instituted 3 mandatory intersession courses in August, and 1 in the Winter. This is not about looking after academics. It's the opposite. I'm not saying I blame her for it since the NCAA demands it. I am saying that Ivy-League level, this is not.

In fact, Harvard basketball didn't make its APR last year. And we know why. There aren't any bogus APR classes at Harvard. Now that is Ivy League.

I'm just passing along what I've been told by someone in the know. And it's certainly possible to criticize the APR and still want to make marked improvements in academics for the team. Being banned from the postseason based on academics is certainly a black eye for the program, no matter how misguided the APR metric is as an academic measurement tool.

 

[upstater]

I'm just passing along what I've been told by someone in the know. And it's certainly possible to criticize the APR and still want to make marked improvements in academics for the team. Being banned from the postseason based on academics is certainly a black eye for the program, no matter how misguided the APR metric is as an academic measurement tool.

I'm not sure how I could be any clearer. Her "improvements" were not improvements. She criticized APR, but then she went along with it because she had to. If she were truly being principled about the whole thing, she wouldn't have instituted policies that maximized APR scores at the expense of education.

That right there told me she was putting basketball first, ahead of even what previous administrators at UConn had done, because none of them had ever instituted mandatory short courses like a great many other universities had.

 

[jfuchs91]

I'm not sure how I could be any clearer. Her "improvements" were not improvements. She criticized APR, but then she went along with it because she had to. If she were truly being principled about the whole thing, she wouldn't have instituted policies that maximized APR scores at the expense of education.

That right there told me she was putting basketball first, ahead of even what previous administrators at UConn had done, because none of them had ever instituted mandatory short courses like a great many other universities had.

Perception is oftentimes viewed as reality. Herbst didn't like the negative press that came along with the postseason ban for low APR scores. It reflects poorly on UConn's academics and thus she instituted the changes to ensure that this doesn't happen again.

Once again, I'm just passing this information along. Unless Herbst/Manuel are forced to be hush-hush about potentially joining a conference and therefore must be intentionally misleading to the people they interact with, my connection is a pretty reliable source.

 

[upstater]

Perception is oftentimes viewed as reality. Herbst didn't like the negative press that came along with the postseason ban for low APR scores. It reflects poorly on UConn's academics and thus she instituted the changes to ensure that this doesn't happen again.

Once again, I'm just passing this information along. Unless Herbst/Manuel are forced to be hush-hush about potentially joining a conference and therefore must be intentionally misleading to the people they interact with, my connection is a pretty reliable source.

I agree with this, but then you can't say she is instituting Ivy League policies when she is the most aggressive UConn President in terms of downgrading the curriculum for athletes. I mean, she did the exact opposite of what Ivy League schools do. So how is that Ivy League? There's a reason the team's APR scores were jacked up the last few years, despite the fact that so many from those classes never finished their degrees. We'll likely end up with a GSR in the high 75% range from that class, with only Beverly, Okwandu and Kemba graduating. Meanwhile, Oriakhi, Smith, Lamb, Bradley, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, all gone. And none of them will count against UConn.

 

[kemba]

Perception is oftentimes viewed as reality. Herbst didn't like the negative press that came along with the postseason ban for low APR scores. It reflects poorly on UConn's academics and thus she instituted the changes to ensure that this doesn't happen again.

Couldn't it be that she didn't like the negative affect that getting banned from the postseason has on a sports program and athletic department? Maybe she wants to make sure that the mass exodus that happened never happens again

 

[jfuchs91]

I agree with this, but then you can't say she is instituting Ivy League policies when she is the most aggressive UConn President in terms of downgrading the curriculum for athletes. I mean, she did the exact opposite of what Ivy League schools do. So how is that Ivy League? There's a reason the team's APR scores were jacked up the last few years, despite the fact that so many from those classes never finished their degrees. We'll likely end up with a GSR in the high 75% range from that class, with only Beverly, Okwandu and Kemba graduating. Meanwhile, Oriakhi, Smith, Lamb, Bradley, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, all gone. And none of them will count against UConn.

I never said she was implementing Ivy League styles at UConn, but that apparently she would prefer college athletics to be more like the Ivy League in her ideal world. In other words, where most of the chatter about universities was about what they were doing academically, and not about their athletic programs.

 

[jfuchs91]

Couldn't it be that she didn't like the negative affect that getting banned from the postseason has on a sports program and athletic department? Maybe she wants to make sure that the mass exodus that happened never happens again

I mean..... yes. The postseason ban didn't do the school any good in any area. It would be beneficial to the university in all aspects if we never had anything like this happen again.

 

[UC990411]

From what I've gathered, she did understand that the ACC would be a better home than the Big East, but ultimately undervalued the difference. Apparently she was under the impression that, though the ACC would lead to greater overall revenues, the next Big East deal would be lucrative to the university as we are a "leader of the Big East".

I've also heard the same about Herbst preferring an "Ivy League" style. In fact, apparently the reason that Ollie hasn't received an extension yet is because they're waiting to receive the players' grades to ensure that "something like the APR fiasco never happens again."

As a college president, it's great that she has such a passion for improving academics, but it seems as though she's seriously undervaluing the importance of athletics.

I think each of your points is spot on

 

[ElGuapo]

I just tweeted at him that I'm canceling my subscription because of this tweet. Even if true, it's unbecoming to uconn and to the paper. I think the courant forgets where their bread is buttered.

Don't cancel your subscription.
That would be silly.

But as a public service announcement to all of you, do what I do with the Hartford Courant and needle them down on your rate until you get what you want.

I have paid a $1.50 a week (7 days) since 1999.
Never once accepting a rate increase.

I don't know what I would read during my morning poop without it.

 

[upstater]

I never said she was implementing Ivy League styles at UConn, but that apparently she would prefer college athletics to be more like the Ivy League in her ideal world. In other words, where most of the chatter about universities was about what they were doing academically, and not about their athletic programs.

I'm not trying to be contentious but I'd imagine 99% of the BCS Presidents would want the same thing. I really don't see any evidence that she is an outlier in terms of her attitude toward athletics.

 

[jfuchs91]

I'm not trying to be contentious but I'd imagine 99% of the BCS Presidents would want the same thing. I really don't see any evidence that she is an outlier in terms of her attitude toward athletics.

I don't disagree with the bolded sentiment. However, just based on what I've been told, supposedly Herbst does not fully realize the implications of conference realignment. It's Warde Manuel's job to inform her of this, but it doesn't seem as though he quite understands it fully himself.

 

[Dooley]

Christopher Keating ‏@chrispkeating
Insider on UConn in Big East w/ teams bailing out: "Susan Herbst is over her head. This is a total mess. She don't know what's going on.''

Well this can't be great news..

PROFOUNDLY disagree with this poorly written opinion. Herbst is aggressively positioning UConn for acceptance into the AAU in the near future while improving its academic profile. The B1G is the prize in all of this CR and we can't get there until we can get to the AAU.

 

[Chief00]

Granted Warde is in over his head inept, but it is really about Susan - she is not liked by her peers - the Univeristy Presidents are a club - they are the ones who vote on conference admissions - and UC has been losing that vote to lesser schools.

 

[UC990411]

I don't know what I would read during my morning poop without it.

Do yourself a favor, get an ipad

 

[pj]

Granted Warde is in over his head inept, but it is really about Susan - she is not liked by her peers - the Univeristy Presidents are a club - they are the ones who vote on conference admissions - and UC has been losing that vote to lesser schools.

Do you have any evidence for this, or are you just guessing? I figure the latter, since nobody makes multimillion dollar decisions based on personal feelings about someone who lives and works 500 miles away that they might see once a year.

 

[Chief00]

Do you have any evidence for this, or are you just guessing? I figure the latter, since nobody makes multimillion dollar decisions based on personal feelings about someone who lives and works 500 miles away that they might see once a year.

its the truth - evidence is all around you.....but also spoken by those in the club
the problem is if you have real legit sources like me you can't say who they are......but just remember I said early on the NCAA penalties would be really bad and they were - this source is as good as that one.

 

[UConnNick]

I've heard the same thing. I posted after the Louisville debacle that I didn't think she got it, and probably doesn't much care what conference we're in, or at least doesn't care that much. In fact I heard one person say his impression is that if she had her way UConn would play Ivy League style athletics. Now I took that as a comment from someone who was frustrated and exaggerated to make a point, bu tI think the basic point, that she doesn't get the importance of this, is totally accurate.

It it's true that she prefers Ivy League athletics, then she's the second coming of former UCONN prez Homer Babbidge. That was his and John Toner's view of the athletic program in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Toner came to us from Columbia.

 

[specialisthusky]

Do you have any evidence for this, or are you just guessing? I figure the latter, since nobody makes multimillion dollar decisions based on personal feelings about someone who lives and works 500 miles away that they might see once a year.

I have been told the same. She is not well liked among peers and a large portion of her employees.

 

[John]

[quote="UConn9604, post: 436366, member: 1316"
Finally, I'm starting to wonder whose side the Courant is really on. Can you imagine the Courier-Journal undermining Louisville, or the Star-Ledger throwing Rutgers under the bus, through this whole process? Of course not. Those papers have been the biggest cheerleaders of their schools' efforts to jump to new leagues so far. At the Courant, however, they can't denigrate us enough. Given a choice between Susan Herbst as my school's President, or Christopher Keating running my local paper's political bureau, I pick Herbst six days a week and twice on Sundays. He can go take a hike.[/quote]

The lack of support for UConn is a huge reason I canceled my 7-day subscription years ago.

 

[pinotbear]

Do yourself a favor, get an ipad

Not a bad idea, but, when yer on the pot and find yer outta TP, having the Courant in yer hand has certain advantages..

 

[ruskin]

I'd like to know who the 'insider' is . . . . probably someone who thought PP was an excellent hire and Hathaway was doing a fantastic job. Or someone in the Horde. This is classic case of a non-sports reporter pretending to be Mike Lupica for a couple of hours who couldn't tell you Utah and Colorado are in the Pac 12. Probably the same person spreading that s***t she was "begging" to say.

That said, I'm not happy she seemingly signed off on the decision to keep PP because it sent a "business as usual" message in a time where just the opposite was required - and if she wasn't involved in any way in the decision I'd be more aghast. I'm pretty sure she's aware how this ends is going to define her presidency, whether she likes it or not. I don't think she's getting much sleep in the past few days. With that salary, she shouldn't be.

 

[Rumrunner]

chief, not doubting you. so you say that she is disliked among university presidents. which university presidents are you speaking of? surely revealing the identities of these presidents wouldn't compromise your sources. so tell us? because to be quite frank with you, if you come here and assasinate someone's character, and use such inflammatory language, be prepared to back it up.

its the truth - evidence is all around you.....but also spoken by those in the club
the problem is if you have real legit sources like me you can't say who they are......but just remember I said early on the NCAA penalties would be really bad and they were - this source is as good as that one.

 

[NEforceUConn]

You can not put the ACC decision on SH, and to say she is not well liked is total garbage. I'm very sure Susan was told by the old line ACC bb schools that UConn was in, just play it cool

Here is what then happened with the ACC - UConn was the school of choice by Tobacco Road (UNC, Duke, Wake, and UVA). Normally that means NC State, GT, and VT support. FSU and Clemson always get hosed and no one cares what BCU and Miami have to say. However this time, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, FSU and Clemson got GT, VT, and Miami on board. With the vote 5 to 4 the ACC fb schools trumped the ACC bb schools. This was the first decision EVER that UNC was outvoted on. The power now lies with the fb schools, but it will be fleeting because at some point the NCAA shuts Miami down with a 7 year bowl ban, etc, and SyraPitt and UL will side with bb schools.

So Susan played it the only way she could. Now WM is a different story and I believe the old saying, "tits on a bull" describes him to a T.