The Turner article has made its way to the Big 12 forums and doesn't exactly make folks excited for you all. If you actually read the article, it's not that bad - his summary is he doesn't think the Big 12 will take anybody, not that UConn isn't as or more qualified that anybody else. But all people are going to see is "Even the former UConn AD doesn't believe his old school can make the grade!!!" Believe me, that's all anybody in Big 12 land will see.
While Big 12 presidents aren't going to be swayed by random article...it's kind of odd that your local paper would put out essentially a negatively titled piece against the best interests of the university at this time that, in this environment, would be sure to get picked up and re-tweeted and posted to death right as UConn is about to make their final push.
Altavilla is a rank embarrassment to the news reporter corp. He uses a source, who claims to like UConn, but trashes it with 26 year old information.
It's like asking Dom Perno about UConn BB.
Did Altavilla ask Turner if he had been to UConn lately?
Has Turner seen the growth and improvement that has occurred? When was the last time Turner was on campus?
Re: travel - did Altavilla ask Turner if the I-291 connector made travel to UConn from our airport easier? Turner left UConn before I-291 was even opened.
Did Altavilla check on Turner's job experience and reviews since he left UConn and find out that he was reviled at NC State? Turner has had a checkered and controversial past with his job history in general.
Nobody seems to have thought much of him as an AD, so now he's a consultant. We all know what that means - no one wants to hire you full time.
I love people who say they're rooting for you and then MF you at every turn.
(Oh and BTW - who was Turner close to? Mark Emmert, who hired him at Washington.)