Mr. Burton

[CL82]

Let's not make Burton a hero here. Was he right that P wasn't up to the job -- sure he was, but so was I and so were many others here. The truth is that Burton's entitled temper tantrum may very well have caused hathaway to feel like he had to hire P or be ceding control of the program.

Burton didn't have a temper tantrum. He didn't publicize that letter; Hathaway did. Just another way JH screwed us.

 

[FDNY99]

Anywhere else in the country where people really care about college football the media would have been flocking to talk to him at the end of last season and after Town-son. Here in Connecticut, not so much.

That would require the Horde (again otherwise nown as the UCFBPM: UCONN Football Propaganda Machine) to take a stand and speak out about the job being done coaching this program. And we all know that won't happen...I can't wait for the day one of these guys makes a statement about what a poor coaching job this staff did after they are gone and the fanbase take them to task.

 

[ruskin]

God knows what SH had to do to get Burton back on board.

The Hofstra AD can probably tell you one thing she did.

 

[FDNY99]

The Hofstra AD can probably tell you one thing she did.

No way Ruskin...I'll bet when she contacted Burton to set up a meeting he told her to "leave that a_s_shole AD of yours on campus"..LOL

 

[UCHuskies08]

The fact that he was right doesn't preclude him from being an obnoxious blowhard.

The post you quoted in no way suggested it didn't....

 

[EJHarrington]

He still should have shut up.

That's BS. He has every right to express his displeasure in any way he likes. He donated millions and got the shaft in return. Hopefully the powers that be get their heads out their arses and listen to him next time they consider hiring an inept HC.

 

[huskysupporter]

That's BS. He has every right to express his displeasure in any way he likes. He donated millions and got the shaft in return. Hopefully the powers that be get their heads out their arses and listen to him next time they consider hiring an inept HC.

He absolutely has every right to express his displeasure in any way he likes (as we all do). He chose to do that, and came off looking like a spoiled, whining, crybaby. I don't think the fact that the Coach P tenure has been a failure changes that.

He should have zero input on who a new coach is.

 

[EJHarrington]

He absolutely has every right to express his displeasure in any way he likes (as we all do). He chose to do that, and came off looking like a spoiled, whining, crybaby. I don't think the fact that the Coach P tenure has been a failure changes that.

He should have zero input on who a new coach is.

He should be consulted and at least be given the courtesy of input. His boy played for PP and obviously he had some very strong unfavorable feelings and knowledge about him that has turned out to be justified. The fact that the administration did that to our number 1 donor shows they are clueless.

 

[huskysupporter]

He should be consulted and at least be given the courtesy of input. His boy played for PP and obviously he had some very strong unfavorable feelings and knowledge about him that has turned out to be justified. The fact that the administration did that to our number 1 donor shows they are clueless.

He is owed no such "courtesy". A donor should have zero input on a coaching hire. What was this knowledge of Coach P that Burton had?

 

[Fishy]

First, you have to be plain crazy not to think that man whose name is on our football complex should not have received a return call when he wanted to offer his thoughts. You don't have to hire his guy, but you gotta listen. You can be sure OSU is calling T. Boone the next time they have an opening - you listen to money.

I know Hathaway didn't call him because he didn't want to deal with dissent - the fastest way to end a conversation with Jeff Hathaway was to ask him a question he didn't have a good answer to. So he ignored a huge donor and it blew back on him. Lots of s--- blew back on Jeff - that's why he got fired.

I was never crazy about the idea that the athletic department's scan of the letter was the one released to the press - that seemed designed to embarrass Burton. That might have been more petty than anything in the letter.

The letter was too long, too emotional and quite frankly, just poorly written - but Burton was entitled to write it. And, f---, he was 100% right.

 

[upstater]

There are a number of parents of former GHS players that swear that, while friendly and outgoing, Burton was never obnoxious or even self-important. He was comfortable being just another football parent; in this case, the parent that donated the turf field and, maybe, the lights. He put three or four players through the GHS program. It is pretty well known that Burton discreetly, quietly donates a ton of money to many charities; many of which have nothing to do with football.

Palatine is correct. The famous letter was not intended for public distribution. It should have stayed between Burton and Hathaway. By going to the press, Hathaway showed he was fighting out of his weight class and really jeopardized UCONN's relationship with a primary donor. God knows what SH had to do to get Burton back on board.

It was a FOIA request that released the letter publicly. How anyone knew about the letter is another mystery.

 

[CTMike]

Very simple. You let Burton talk, and you listen. What the administration chooses to do is a different thing. What you do not do is ignore him and throw him under the bus.

 

[Fishy]

It was a FOIA request that released the letter publicly. How anyone knew about the letter is another mystery.

The letter was written on Wednesday, January 19th.

It was marked 'received' by the athletic department on Thursday, January 20th.

By Tuesday, January 25th, even Deadspin was printing the AD's scan of it.

FOIA? Bulls---.

 

[EJHarrington]

He is owed no such "courtesy". A donor should have zero input on a coaching hire. What was this knowledge of Coach P that Burton had?

He coached his son.

 

[upstater]

The letter was written on Wednesday, January 19th.

It was marked 'received' by the athletic department on Thursday, January 20th.

By Tuesday, January 25th, even Deadspin was printing the AD's scan of it.

FOIA? Bulls---.

I thought that's what they reported in the papers. Wow... he released it? Heh

 

[Sea Goat]

Many posts regarding Burton correctly point out his ego-centric view of the world. In my first post regarding this, I said his message was "destroyed" by its delivery.

However, I don't think we can quibble with his right (or anybody's right) to express his views regarding something he feels passionate about. End of story...

That he was "dead balls on" is why we are in this mess to begin with. Don't kill the messenger(s)!

 

[FAIRTIDES]

The Hofstra AD can probably tell you one thing she did.

For sure!

Answer me this, anyone. How does an AD that goes out of his way to alienate (weak word, "alienate") a substantial booster, goes farther out of his way to play bus toss with a popular Hall of Fame, National Championship (x 3) Coach, all-the-while stripping his department's academic and compliance support, thus contributing to the APR and Miles fiascoes, get another AD job........anywhere?

 

[UconnFamily]

Letter revisited : http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-robert-burton-html,0,6324103.htmlpage (sue me)

Yeah, a lot of it was selfish, but, in hindsight, I would've preferred he had a say in who we hired instead of the way JH did it.

Mr. Burton wanted this program, especially football, to be big time and he knew hiring Paul Pasqualoni was not going to cut it. Mr. Burton had the right to be upset as he had a vision of big time football, and JFH ignored it.

"I was also a scout for the Minnesota Vikings while in grad school. I am fully qualified to assess coaches and their ability to match up with the university's needs, and I have done so for football programs from Vanderbilt to New Haven, as well as several schools in the Ohio Valley Conference and Big Ten." Sounds to me like Burton was passionate about this team and he knew a lot more about football than most people thinks. I also can't believe the he donated more than 7 million dollars and he was not included in anything... smh! Mr. Burton comeback!

 

[huskysupporter]

Mr. Burton wanted this program, especially football, to be big time and he knew hiring Paul Pasqualoni was not going to cut it. Mr. Burton had the right to be upset as he had a vision of big time football, and JFH ignored it.

"I was also a scout for the Minnesota Vikings while in grad school. I am fully qualified to assess coaches and their ability to match up with the university's needs, and I have done so for football programs from Vanderbilt to New Haven, as well as several schools in the Ohio Valley Conference and Big Ten." Sounds to me like Burton was passionate about this team and he knew a lot more about football than most people thinks. I also can't believe the he donated more than 7 million dollars and he was not included in anything... smh! Mr. Burton comeback!

So why doesn't UCONN hire Mr. Burton as athletic director? Or give him the ability to pick the next coach? The only courtesy he deserved was being told the coaching selection before the general public. That is it.

The first thing I would do if I hit the powerball is offer to pay Mr. Burton the money he spent on UCONN athletics back so that his name could disappear from the facilities.

 

[CTMike]

He's one of the most prominent donors at UConn, particularly athletics. You take his call, invite him to lunch. You listen. You nod, you smile, you say that you appreciate his input and you'll take it under consideration. That's it. Make him feel appreciated and valued for all the time and money he has given. No one is suggesting that making the leap to letting him effectively run the AD is appropriate.

 

[uconnell]

Isn't he a donor at Cuse'?

He was right after the hiring of PP but I don't know if he still is.

 

[UconnFamily]

He's one of the most prominent donors at UConn, particularly athletics. You take his call, invite him to lunch. You listen. You nod, you smile, you say that you appreciate his input and you'll take it under consideration. That's it. Make him feel appreciated and valued for all the time and money he has given. No one is suggesting that making the leap to letting him effectively run the AD is appropriate.

Well said

 

[huskysupporter]

He's one of the most prominent donors at UConn, particularly athletics. You take his call, invite him to lunch. You listen. You nod, you smile, you say that you appreciate his input and you'll take it under consideration. That's it. Make him feel appreciated and valued for all the time and money he has given. No one is suggesting that making the leap to letting him effectively run the AD is appropriate.

I don't think we disagree on the keeping him updated. But from the tenor of his letter, do you think he would be satisfied with JH saying, " Thank you for your input, we are going with Paul Pasquoloni anyway"?

 

[ruskin]

For sure!

Answer me this, anyone. How does an AD that goes out of his way to alienate (weak word, "alienate") a substantial booster, goes farther out of his way to play bus toss with a popular Hall of Fame, National Championship (x 3) Coach, all-the-while stripping his department's academic and compliance support, thus contributing to the APR and Miles fiascoes, get another AD job........anywhere?

The same way George "Triple Digits" DeLeone does. "He's had a job for 40 years. Why is that?"

 

[CTMike]

I don't think we disagree on the keeping him updated. But from the tenor of his letter, do you think he would be satisfied with JH saying, " Thank you for your input, we are going with Paul Pasquoloni anyway"?

Essentially, say exactly that... but with more finesse. A Pasqualoni hire would have disappointed him no matter what. So then you gotta think strategically about how to maintain as positive a relationship as possible with your top donor. You could go the JH route, dodge his calls, disrespect him and jeopardize the relationship.... or... you could say "Hey, tell me about this guy's time at Syracuse. I know your kids played for him... what did they think?" Sure, Burton could trash the guy, he could quite possibly make it personal... but you let him off easy, not ignore him. "Mr. Burton, I really appreciate your time and feedback - we've vetted X candidates through the search firm, and we feel Paul is the best option at this time because 1/2/3." He might still be pissed, but you've handled it professionally and treated a top donor with respect.