KO - Victim of discrimination and denied due process?

[Chief00]

First, I would like to start with saying Glen Miller’s hearsay payoff testimony was a low blow and demonstrates poor character in Chief’s view. The University never should have released it.

Having said that, few have ever received such preferential treatment as a job applicant than Kevin Ollie. In truth, there were not even other applicants allowed to go through the process. He was handpicked by Calhoun and moved to the front of what would have been a long and prestigious line. There was no level playing field competition, it was an insiders deal.

Given all that, when I hear Kevin’s lawyer whining about discrimination and denial of due process, I think this wouldn’t have happened in the first place if those things hadn’t taken place in KO’s favor when he was hired.

And now they are attacking the man, who gave him such preferential treatment. Please stop!

Chief is just keeping it real!

 

[Mokum]

KO got the deal of a lifetime, and he blew it. Plain and simple. He blew it, and has only himself to blame. Now he wants to take everyone down with him. Totally ungrateful for the opportunity presented to him on a silver plater. This is getting very ugly.

 

[Paesano]

You are so dead on Chief! If the university was so racist, why did they hire a black coach in the first place? Why did they allow him to transform his staff into an entirely black staff? He benefitted from a lack of due process and a lack of racism and now he is whining about due process and claiming racism. Dead.to.me.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Get in the gym

 

[superjohn]

Are Ollie and his lawyer claiming racism?

 

[Danzz]

I don't think KO is ungrateful nor do I think he is a bad guy. He is a good guy who was a bad coach the last few years. This is just posturing by KO's lawyers in an attempt to get him as much of the money remaining on his contract as they can. It is all about money and the rest is white noise.
Once the lawyers are stop posturing this situation will be settled and UConn will pay too much in their opinion and KO won't get enough in his opinion similar to alimony agreements.

 

[DMIL]

First, I would like to start with saying Glen Miller’s heresy payoff testimony was a low blow and demonstrates poor character in Chief’s view. The University never should have released it.

Having said that, few have ever received such preferential treatment as a job applicant than Kevin Ollie. In truth, there were not even other applicants allowed to go through the process. He was handpicked by Calhoun and moved to the front of what would have been a long and prestigious line. There was no level playing field competition, it was an insiders deal.

Given all that, when I hear Kevin’s lawyer whining about discrimination and denial of due process, I think this wouldn’t have happened in the first place if those things hadn’t taken place in KO’s favor when he was hired.

And now they are attacking the man, who gave him such preferential treatment. Please stop!

Chief is just keeping it real!

Firing him for “Cause” is the issue. I agree with your sentiment. At this point it’s all legal maneuvering, it’s a card on the table. At the end of the day there is either a case for it or their isn’t. Some Reasonable people would think that if this were JC the outcome would be different. I think some case can be made but it shouldn’t have gotten to this point in the first place. Betrayal can conjour up some real dark feelings man and there is a cost for it. Once that happens “Grateful” and “Loyalty” gets tossed out the window. It’s all self preservation now. I’m sure he’s looked back at everything and put all the pieces together of what he feels rightly or wrongly as betrayal. This is a hurt man.

 

[DMIL]

You are so dead on Chief! If the university was so racist, why did they hire a black coach in the first place? Why did they allow him to transform his staff into an entirely black staff? He benefitted from a lack of due process and a lack of racism and now he is whining about due process and claiming racism. Dead.to.me.

It’s not about racism per say but more about stacking K.O. and J.C. next to each other and assessing if all things are considered equal would there a difference period. Maybe there are facts out there that support more aggregious violations under J.C. with a record of a completely different approach with that situation. Sure, the politics of it is different when you’re winning and been credited with building a program. Betrayal hurts and he is just deciding not to just shut up, hide in a corner and be grateful until he gets a number he can live with and it looks like he is prepared to take it to the brink.

 

[jibsey]

How about the fact that KO has no ability to look at what happened with the transfers the blowouts and the program turning to crap and even think that anything was amiss. I get that it’s a legal contract dispute but how long did he think that this could go on?

 

[superjohn]

It’s not about racism per say but more about stacking K.O. and J.C. next to each other and assessing if all things are considered equal would there a difference period. Maybe there are facts out there that support more aggregious violations under J.C. with a record of a completely different approach with that situation. Sure, the politics of it is different when you’re winning and been credited with building a program. Betrayal hurts and he is just deciding not to just shut up, hide in a corner and be grateful until he gets a number he can live with and it looks like he is prepared to take it to the brink.

What don't you understand about his contract?

 

[August_West]

First, I would like to start with saying Glen Miller’s heresy payoff testimony was a low blow and demonstrates poor character in Chief’s view. The University never should have released it.

Having said that, few have ever received such preferential treatment as a job applicant than Kevin Ollie. In truth, there were not even other applicants allowed to go through the process. He was handpicked by Calhoun and moved to the front of what would have been a long and prestigious line. There was no level playing field competition, it was an insiders deal.

Given all that, when I hear Kevin’s lawyer whining about discrimination and denial of due process, I think this wouldn’t have happened in the first place if those things hadn’t taken place in KO’s favor when he was hired.

And now they are attacking the man, who gave him such preferential treatment. Please stop!

Chief is just keeping it real!

He was hired as an interim coach.

Yes Calhoun strong armed him in.

Yes there was really no choice to but to go with him that 1st year.

But he was still an interim coach. He had to prove himself for a contract. And won 20 games in the big east with a team not tournament eligible and then won a NC the next season.

Preferential treatment got his foot in the door. But he EARNED the permanent position and contracts.

 

[Travelman6]

As far as I understand Uconn had no interest in releasing those, or any, documents until Ollie and his lawyers made a FOI request soooo.... Not really Uconns fault in that sense.

 

[DMIL]

What don't you understand about his contract?

I understand the contract. If this contract and related circumstances were so bullet clad then why offer any settlement? Why go through the process at all? Why is there a process in the first place? Clearly this is not black and white and K.O. team has some legitimate defenses and strategies. Certainly not in their favor however legitimate. This is why there is a process.

 

[dwalks93]

I understand the contract. If this contract and related circumstances were so bullet clad then why offer any settlement? Why go through the process at all? Why is there a process in the first place? Clearly this is not black and white and K.O. team has some legitimate defenses and strategies. Certainly not in their favor however legitimate. This is why there is a process.

Really??? You can't actually think this??? Clearly there is "contractual" money owed and then there is the cost of bad "public opinion."

It seems to me UConn holds the better legal cards and if this case goes forward UConn will likely prevail based on the terms of the contract. That said, it does not mean it comes without a cost to UConn. A public dispute with a former beloved member of the UConn family and National Championship winning coach is never good. Broadcasting whatever potential violations may have occurred is never good. Publicly re-living and documenting the worst period of UConn basketball in the past 30 years while the program is trying to move on with an exciting new coach is never good. Dividing the fan base and distracting the attention from what should be an exciting new period under Coach Hurley is never good. All the above cost something which is why UConn would offer a settlement.

At some point KO needs to decide whether he wants a maximize his potential payout or stick it to the program. He likely can't do both and the longer this goes on the less likely the administration is to settle. You can't re-bury the dirt once it comes out which is KO's primary leverage. Those "bad publicity" cards can only be played once and KO has already played a lot of them.

 

[Jaker]

just stop

 

[AZHuskiePop]

First, I would like to start with saying Glen Miller’s heresy payoff testimony was a low blow and demonstrates poor character in Chief’s view. The University never should have released it.

Having said that, few have ever received such preferential treatment as a job applicant than Kevin Ollie. In truth, there were not even other applicants allowed to go through the process. He was handpicked by Calhoun and moved to the front of what would have been a long and prestigious line. There was no level playing field competition, it was an insiders deal.

Given all that, when I hear Kevin’s lawyer whining about discrimination and denial of due process, I think this wouldn’t have happened in the first place if those things hadn’t taken place in KO’s favor when he was hired.

And now they are attacking the man, who gave him such preferential treatment. Please stop!

Chief is just keeping it real!

These are the facts Chief
KO only got a one year deal as interim. Actually the way things went down there was little opportunity to sign anything other than an interim . Yes he got his foot in the door but no more. If the the 2012-13 team proved to be a disaster like it was predicted than he would have never got a 3 year seal.
My personal opinion is Ward Manual never wanted him as I believe he wanted no one from the Calhoun era.
Ollie’s success got him the gig
He was so unexpectedly successful that George Blaney who retired after the 12-13 season said “I could retire with the knowledge the program is in good hands, Kevin Ollie is a superstar”
Please don’t attack me personally
ad hominems sre the refuge of the weak minded and a dialogue ender .
However please feel free to dispute my facts. I’m a historian by nature and I abore revisionism. I also stated my opinion on the AD’s preference , I don’t know for sure what the AD was thinking but he certainly dragged his feet in hiring KO.

 

[kemba]

KO got the deal of a lifetime, and he blew it. Plain and simple. He blew it, and has only himself to blame. Now he wants to take everyone down with him. Totally ungrateful for the opportunity presented to him on a silver plater. This is getting very ugly.

He's trying to get the money that he feels he's owed. That's it. Whether you agree or disagree that he's owed that money, that's what he's trying to do. It's not about being ungrateful, its not about taking anyone down. I don't even know where you get that.

 

[CL82]

First, I would like to start with saying Glen Miller’s heresy payoff testimony was a low blow and demonstrates poor character in Chief’s view. The University never should have released it.

As far as I understand Uconn had no interest in releasing those, or any, documents until Ollie and his lawyers made a FOI request soooo.... Not really Uconns fault in that sense.

Keep in mind that the disclosure was caused by KO's attorneys making a FOIA request instead of discovery. They also made their letter known to the media. It was entirely foreseeable at the point that the press would FOIA the same information. At that point UConn had no choice but to release it all parties.

I think KO has a good attorney, but he has egg on his face on this one.

(Also Chief, did we need another thread on this, not that I'm not here participating mind you, but did we?)

 

[whaler11]

Chief’s slip of heresy in place of hearsay is a interesting use of the term.

 

[CL82]

Chief’s slip of heresy in place of hearsay is a interesting use of the term.

He's just keeping it real.

 

[husky8273]

Are Ollie and his lawyer claiming racism?

No.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Chief’s slip of heresy in place of hearsay is a interesting use of the term.

I can’t think of one person more heterodox than Chief.

 

[donyell34]

Just asking how long can this all go on is there a end date, court date or what. The positive news is how good Hurley is doing with all this background noise going on and how good he's going to do when all this goes away.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

He was hired as an interim coach.

Yes Calhoun strong armed him in.

Yes there was really no choice to but to go with him that 1st year.

But he was still an interim coach. He had to prove himself for a contract. And won 20 games in the big east with a team not tournament eligible and then won a NC the next season.

Preferential treatment got his foot in the door. But he EARNED the permanent position and contracts.

...after the second of which he performed poorly on many fronts to the expectation of some, surprise to many, reluctant acceptance of folks like you & me...and left himself exposed by way of contract provisions and a legal process that could and predictably would be invoked to meet identifiable financial interests of the University and fiduciary responsibilities of its Board and Administration.

The case for settlement has already been laid out, both above and elsewhere. Again, I don't know who has been the more difficult party in this regard, but there's still time and space for both parties to find that place where both feel enough relieved, justified, and unhappy to close up the matter and move forward.

PS - Whether it was autocorrect or not, I loved Chief's use of the term "heresy" testimony.

 

[Stinger92860]

First, I would like to start with saying Glen Miller’s heresy payoff testimony was a low blow and demonstrates poor character in Chief’s view. The University never should have released it.

You do understand it was an FOIA request made by KOs legal team, yes? You may have missed the 40+ posts which discussed this. The testimony by Miller was made to an NCAA investigator. What should Glen and the university have done instead? Say no to the FOIA and lied? What would you have done?

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Keep in that the disclosure was not only caused by KO's attorneys making a FOIA request instead of discovery. They also made their letter known to the media. It was entirely foreseeable at the point that the press would FOIA the same information. At that point UConn had no choice but to release it all parties.

I think KO has a good attorney, but he has egg on his face on this one.

(Also Chief, did we need another thread on this, not that I'm not here participating mind you, but did we?)

That’s actual kind of scary if true.
According to UConn the Miller testimony had zero to do with their case. It was dismissed by UConn as here say. So even if it’s not credible it’s legal to make public in response to a FOIR on a specific case any and all information ever gathered on that person whether it lacked credibility or not. Wow That’s pretty frightening if true.

 

[CL82]

That’s actual kind of scary if true.
According to UConn the Miller testimony had zero to do with their case. It was dismissed by UConn as here say. So even if it’s not credible it’s legal to make public in response to a FOIR on a specific case any and all information ever gathered on that person whether it lacked credibility or not. Wow That’s pretty frightening if true.

I believe Ollie's attorneys made a very broad request information regarding NCAA violations. The release was responsive to that request. Had they requested only the basis for dismissal, then that's the information that they would have gotten.

Open ended questions are typically avoided by attorneys for just that reason. But discovery, which may or may not admissible, are by its nature very broad, to see what is out there. The FOIA request was made as if it were discovery.

 

[Chief00]

You do understand it was an FOIA request made by KOs legal team, yes? You may have missed the 40+ posts which discussed this. The testimony by Miller was made to an NCAA investigator. What should Glen and the university have done instead? Say no to the FOIA and lied? What would you have done?

Let’s see who initiated the seed of the NCAA fruit? You have GM being dragged to an interview. The press reports indicate the NCAA investigation was initiated by a third party. Not UConn, Not the NCAA. UConn did self report some violations.

 

[Chief00]

Chief’s slip of heresy in place of hearsay is a interesting use of the term.

Chief has big hands and fingers - making it tough to type on a phone - add in autocorrect or whatever.

 

[Waquoit]

Chief’s slip of heresy in place of hearsay is a interesting use of the term.

It usually happens when he's talking about JC.