Yet Another Rutgers Bombshell.

[Icebear]

Jim Delany.

 

[VAMike23]

Jim Delany.

Btw, he's been there for what seems like forever --

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Thursday

The Newark Star Ledger and the New York Post are still pursuing the Rutgers/Hermann debacle but without any significant news. Columnists from both papers voiced displeasure with the form and length of the so-called press conference.

Reading between the lines, there were two potential problems for the University

• 
  [ ]Jim Delan, the Big-10 commish noted (if not exactly criticizing) that the recent spate of bad news had dampened any good feelings and excitement that would normally occur in such an important move. His statement was restrained but covered his organization's behind if anything further goes amiss.
  [ ] It was noted that Ms Julie meets this very evening with a group of University heavy hitters. If for some reason the evening does not go well, it would not be surprising for support for her appointment to evaporate.

''What we focused on and continue to focus on is the quality of the institution,'' Delany said. ''It's membership in AAU. It's resilience. It's tradition. We believe then, and now, that (Rutgers) will be a great member of the Big Ten conference, notwithstanding the fact that they had a number of high-profile situations that have received a lot of coverage.
''I won't be coming in to provide advice. I'll be coming in to provide support.''

And the problem with Delaney's remarks are?????

 

[Fishy]

What can Delaney say?

"Holy crap, this place is a tire fire...I cannot believe we invited this train wreck into the Big Ten. I need a drink."

I am sure he's thinking that, but he can't say it.

 

[DobbsRover2]

What can Delaney say?

"Holy crap, this place is a tire fire...I cannot believe we invited this train wreck into the Big Ten. I need a drink."

I am sure he's thinking that, but he can't say it.

Well, he could have said, "Rutgers is joining the B10 at a great time for our conference and we're unreservedly excited about that." Um, but wait a minute, no I guess somehow he couldn't.

What he did say about Rutgers' entrance, like "But there should be, in my view, far more momentum than there is. But I understand why there’s not. Now all we can do is keeping pushing forward through the fog," is one of the most damning displays of faint praise that you'll ever see. Yup, no problem there. All is well in the state of Rutmark.

And Hermann's meeting with the Rutgers booster where all the incidents of her past were ignored and she just tried to spin out positive vibrations about future meeting with donors was a wonderful act of whistling into the dark ill-smelling clouds rolling in from the south. Her newfound Rutgers faithful are claiming a media hatchet job by services like ESPN for reporting about all the crap in her past that she thought she had buried and are saying the attacks are all motivated by ...... oops, can't go there because there's no saying "boo" about you know what.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Well, he could have said, "Rutgers is joining the B10 at a great time for our conference and we're unreservedly excited about that." Um, but wait a minute, no I guess somehow he couldn't.

What he did say about Rutgers' entrance, like "But there should be, in my view, far more momentum than there is. But I understand why there’s not. Now all we can do is keeping pushing forward through the fog," is one of the most damning displays of faint praise that you'll ever see. Yup, no problem there. All is well in the state of Rutmark.

And Hermann's meeting with the Rutgers booster where all the incidents of her past were ignored and she just tried to spin out positive vibrations about future meeting with donors was a wonderful act of whistling into the dark ill-smelling clouds rolling in from the south. Her newfound Rutgers faithful are claiming a media hatchet job by services like ESPN for reporting about all the crap in her past that she thought she had buried and are saying the attacks are all motivated by ...... oops, can't go there because there's no saying "boo" about you know what.

We all get it - its a bad hire. I am embarrased for my uniuversity and the stinko job they did hiring an AD. All is not rosy in NJ - doners ARE pissed and I suspect her ability to do the job has been compromised. And I give to RU and yes, I am reconsidering how much I give.

That said - no one has mentioned her acceptance of blame for making the experience of the Tennessee Volleyball team miserable - which she did do. And claiming to have grown from the experience. All in her press conference the other day. Why I am disappointed is she didn't do it when she should have, and lied when the issue was originally raised.

Sorry, the media DO have agendas - part is to sell papers (? what do you call it on the internet?) - and bringing up justifiable concerns about the hire was just media doing their job. Continuing to follow the story when it is pretty much a non-story crosses the line IMHO.

And no one from outside would understand about the Star Ledger - the state newspaper that has consistently taken as its mission to present every failing - real in this case, imagined in some - at Rutgers as major news. This is the paper that published how much the fan base hated Vivian on the day that RU first hosted the BET. She got a standing o, her first, that day, when she walked into the arena. Same author, IIRC.

And

 

[UcMiami]

We all get it - its a bad hire. I am embarrased for my uniuversity and the stinko job they did hiring an AD. All is not rosy in NJ - doners ARE pissed and I suspect her ability to do the job has been compromised. And I give to RU and yes, I am reconsidering how much I give.

That said - no one has mentioned her acceptance of blame for making the experience of the Tennessee Volleyball team miserable - which she did do. And claiming to have grown from the experience. All in her press conference the other day. Why I am disappointed is she didn't do it when she should have, and lied when the issue was originally raised.

Sorry, the media DO have agendas - part is to sell papers (? what do you call it on the internet?) - and bringing up justifiable concerns about the hire was just media doing their job. Continuing to follow the story when it is pretty much a non-story crosses the line IMHO.

And no one from outside would understand about the Star Ledger - the state newspaper that has consistently taken as its mission to present every failing - real in this case, imagined in some - at Rutgers as major news. This is the paper that published how much the fan base hated Vivian on the day that RU first hosted the BET. She got a standing o, her first, that day, when she walked into the arena. Same author, IIRC.

And

Nice post. But ...
I think this would have died pretty quickly if Hermann had shown a modicum of honesty when the story first came up. Her denials and loss of memory are just not believable - when you get 'fired' as a coach, you remember all the details involved. And unless you have spent years in court, you remember everything about the few instances you are there. So, with her reaction to the first stories it is like blood in the water for the sharks of the media.
On top of that 'story' you then have to look at the process involved in the hire that left EVERYONE at Rutgers so completely unprepared to deal with these issues. Either they knew about these issues but decided no one else would do any research so they could just ignore them, or they did such a slipshod job in the hiring process that they had no idea about any of this. Neither option is good for their reputation.
From reports, it sounds like the answer is they did know about some of this, but they still didn't recognize the need to prepare themselves and their hire to deal with it.
While the Star Ledger may have it in for Rutgers, Rutgers has made it very easy for them in this instance by displaying incredible incompetence initially and in their ham handed responses.

 

[cabbie191]

KnightBridge - To start, I want to express my appreciation for your contributions to the Boneyard. You write well, bring great insight into Rutger's women's basketball, and in the current instance, the University/New Jersey as a whole. I'm sorry that as an avid RU fan, you are having to experience what must be a really miserable post-season.

We all know that eventually these controversies will be done and over with, and that life at RU will go on, so perhaps the following is either/or moot or silly. But I'm wondering if you could address Rutger's incoming membership in the Big Ten. Is this something that in your opinion RU fans in general welcomed with open arms (did you?), and if so, are there any regrets? And any sense that some fans think that the university should withdraw its membership acceptance?

Because I live in Wisconsin and am a Badger fan as well as a Husky fan, Rutger's membership is of particular interest to me.

 

[ScarlettB]

KnightBridge - To start, I want to express my appreciation for your contributions to the Boneyard. You write well, bring great insight into Rutger's women's basketball, and in the current instance, the University/New Jersey as a whole. I'm sorry that as an avid RU fan, you are having to experience what must be a really miserable post-season.

We all know that eventually these controversies will be done and over with, and that life at RU will go on, so perhaps the following is either/or moot or silly. But I'm wondering if you could address Rutger's incoming membership in the Big Ten. Is this something that in your opinion RU fans in general welcomed with open arms (did you?), and if so, are there any regrets? And any sense that some fans think that the university should withdraw its membership acceptance?

Because I live in Wisconsin and am a Badger fan as well as a Husky fan, Rutger's membership is of particular interest to me.

I'm not KnightBridgeAZ, but I am an RU fan, so I hope you don't mind if I share my opinion. I think most fans were very happy to be invited to join the B1G. Personally I would have preferred the ACC, but only because it would have been easier for me to travel to games. The B1G is a more prestigious conference (at least in football and that is where the money is). I do not think RU should consider withdrawing its membership acceptance. Did Penn State get kicked out or withdraw after a much more serious situation? How about Ohio State, whose president just resigned because of major gaffes and whose football team was banned from the post season last year (and whose's former head coach Tressel was forced out) for NCAA violations? There is no reason RU should be treated any differently than other institutions in the conference.

 

[cabbie191]

I'm not KnightBridgeAZ, but I am an RU fan, so I hope you don't mind if I share my opinion. I think most fans were very happy to be invited to join the B1G. Personally I would have preferred the ACC, but only because it would have been easier for me to travel to games. The B1G is a more prestigious conference (at least in football and that is where the money is). I do not think RU should consider withdrawing its membership acceptance. Did Penn State get kicked out or withdraw after a much more serious situation? How about Ohio State, whose president just resigned because of major gaffes and whose football team was banned from the post season last year (and whose's former head coach Tressel was forced out) for NCAA violations? There is no reason RU should be treated any differently than other institutions in the conference.

Scarlett - thanks for your response. I've also appreciated your contributions here! I absolutely expect that Rutger's membership status will be unchanged, and you're right - RU ought not be treated any differently than anyone else. All schools have their warts from time to time - witness the ban on our men's basketball team participating in last year's tournaments.

The one difference in this situation that seems to me to be somewhat unique is that these incidents have come to light just as a school is getting ready to join a conference, not while already a member. I was just curious how fans felt it in general about this.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

KnightBridge - To start, I want to express my appreciation for your contributions to the Boneyard. You write well, bring great insight into Rutger's women's basketball, and in the current instance, the University/New Jersey as a whole. I'm sorry that as an avid RU fan, you are having to experience what must be a really miserable post-season.

We all know that eventually these controversies will be done and over with, and that life at RU will go on, so perhaps the following is either/or moot or silly. But I'm wondering if you could address Rutger's incoming membership in the Big Ten. Is this something that in your opinion RU fans in general welcomed with open arms (did you?), and if so, are there any regrets? And any sense that some fans think that the university should withdraw its membership acceptance?

Because I live in Wisconsin and am a Badger fan as well as a Husky fan, Rutger's membership is of particular interest to me.

Isn't there a Rutger's Fan Board where this is discussed?

 

[cabbie191]

Isn't there a Rutger's Fan Board where this is discussed?

The only RU board I've seen is Scarlett Nation.com. The discussion there is very scant.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

The only RU board I've seen is Scarlett Nation.com. The discussion there is very scant.

On the women's board, scant. I assume not on the others (FB, MBB) but I don't read them. Where the serious discussion was apparently conducted was the pay board which my wife reads and reported to me blow by blow.

 

[msf22b]

Sunday

The Newark Inquirer wraps up the week and seemingly indicates that their interest in pursuing the story is waning.
Despite the title, not much really new…except for the unflattering picture of Ms. Hermann that heads the piece
Two tidbits:

The administration felt that the story of her coaching mis-adventure is more nuanced, implies that some of her students were "severally troubled."

Although this sniffs of 'blame the victim,' the absence of UTenn's administrative acknowledgement of the reported incident gives Rutgers lots of space to equivocate.

Also mentioned was the concern that a job offer at the U would be understood as something less than that if Ms. Julie was jettisoned.

A final tidbit was that the new AD's early week cancellations had to do only with the important domestic considerations of selling her house... and had no ulterior motives.

My impression is that the Star-Ledger is through.

There are potential loose ends that would take a lot of research. Is the UTenn admin lying about their selective amnesia and could a source be uncovered who would own up to that? And what is their motivation for doing that?

I think it's over and we'll never know.

 

[NickyNewark]

Geez if I'd have known it was gonna be that easy, I'd have applied for the job.

If you think your THAT qualified UConn might be interested in looking at your resume!!!I think Rutger's will be fine!!

 

[NickyNewark]

Isn't there a Rutger's Fan Board where this is discussed?

@Are you SERIOUS?Would you consider withdrawing your membership?Mr.MAGOO!

 

[NickyNewark]

Thursday

The Newark Star Ledger and the New York Post are still pursuing the Rutgers/Hermann debacle but without any significant news. Columnists from both papers voiced displeasure with the form and length of the so-called press conference.

Reading between the lines, there were two potential problems for the University

• 
  [ ]Jim Delan, the Big-10 commish noted (if not exactly criticizing) that the recent spate of bad news had dampened any good feelings and excitement that would normally occur in such an important move. His statement was restrained but covered his organization's behind if anything further goes amiss.
  [ ] It was noted that Ms Julie meets this very evening with a group of University heavy hitters. If for some reason the evening does not go well, it would not be surprising for support for her appointment to evaporate.

Length?And why does JH or RU owe time to those gossip mongering rag's?What's next?Some RU official once got caught in dirty underwear?I mean really Delany know's whose really pushing this "we lost the NY media market campaign"(ESPIN) and assured everyone there's no going back!These news rags "reporter's" are now getting paid by the hit's on their stories and realize no one want's to hear feel good stories!Wake up and think...who w/o an agenda cares?

 

[NickyNewark]

Scarlett - thanks for your response. I've also appreciated your contributions here! I absolutely expect that Rutger's membership status will be unchanged, and you're right - RU ought not be treated any differently than anyone else. All schools have their warts from time to time - witness the ban on our men's basketball team participating in last year's tournaments.

The one difference in this situation that seems to me to be somewhat unique is that these incidents have come to light just as a school is getting ready to join a conference, not while already a member. I was just curious how fans felt it in general about this.

@Cabbie,I hope my comment's on this thread don't sound rude as that's not my intention but the tone comes from what many RU fans think is a SL and ESPIN driven agenda for either in Newhouses (own SLer) case jealousy and loss of the NYC area market to the BTN by the other!

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

@Are you SERIOUS?Would you consider withdrawing your membership?Mr.MAGOO!

You need a nap.

 

[NickyNewark]

You need a nap.

Ozzie Nelson,did you know Ozzie was from NJ AND went to RU or aren't you the REAL Ozzie from Ozzie and Harriet?If you are welcome home and thanks for your original question's!Its nice to think my response touched a chord in Badger land!Now pardon me whilst I take a nap!

 

[meyers7]

Nicky, nicky, nicky.

If you think your THAT qualified UConn might be interested in looking at your resume!!!

Prolly not, I've heard they actually vet their candidates. (which would definitely disqualify me)

I think Rutger's will be fine!!

I'm sure they will. They are doing so well now. And with supporters like you.....what could go wrong.

 

[OneTrickPony]

No Nick Danger reference should go unappreciated...!

 

[msf22b]

Lenn Robbins of the Post (the other interested newspaper) puts this fascinating take on its end-piece.

She must always be watched because she has shown herself not to be trustworthy. And Rutgers must be watched because it has proven itself not to be transparent. Sadly, that’s how a lot of big-time athletic programs do business, big business, successful business.
Maybe Julie Hermann can bring an edge to Rutgers it has lacked. Maybe she’s the right person at the right time for the wrong reasons and wrong process.
Maybe.

 

[Icebear]

My biggest concern if I was hiring her would be her lack of honesty and tendency to stage her history.

 

[arty155]

...Wake up and think...who w/o an agenda cares?

- I care.
- My agenda is that of a NJ taxpayer: I want to support a state university system (Kean Univ, Rutgers...) that ensures strong graduate and undergraduate education is affordable for state residents. I want fellow voters and donors to continue to have a system worthy of their support.
- Incompetency in this contract award for $2.25M ($450K/5 years) undermines that.
- When the co-chairs of this process appear to deny timely access of vetting info to the search advisory committee and/or all the voting members, and when the co-chairs further appear to fail to provide time for adequate study and discussion of such background material... the effort of remaining conscientious staff is circumvented and wasted.
- What is far worse - it's not just co-chairs bungling the selection process, its then trying to sell (even to that same committee!) that the process was just fine.
- Yeah, I canceled my subscription to that that particular newspaper and its sensationalism a long time ago. But I doubt ESPN or any newspaper created Rutgers' internal email responding to the Co-chairs, which pointed to the heart of this problem:

"Please, let us not at this late date attempt to convince ourselves and the public that there was sufficient time to delve deeply into either candidates's documents ...
"With 13-15 committee members present at the interviews, and with each member needing to be given the opportunity to ask their own questions, and with Julie's interview starting more than 15 minutes late, there was little or no time to ask follow-up questions, or probe deeply ...
"Please let's not present this as any kind of exemplary process. Subsequent events have proven otherwise." [Ronald Garutti - member of the committee and the school's board of trustees]

- Its not the end of the world, or unique to Rutgers. When you improperly make a selection for competative contract award/competitive personel contract award, you simply stop and fix it. Lawyers are very good at pointing the best way in each particualr circumstance.
-If you do not, you have simply institutionalized incompetence. And everybody knows it.
- Until then, papers, TV, even sports websites will continue to point, to laugh, to resolve it is intollerable, to resolve it must not happen to them . They should.
-ESPN did not torpedo the school's reputation this time. It was an inside job.

 

[NickyNewark]

Good well thought out and researched post but growing up in Belleville and being born in Newark I used to love the SLer(even worked there AND the Newark News) before it fell by the wayside but Dr Barchi has no business trying to merge the med and dental school AND do a job he's unqualified for (Pres RU) too!Why couldn't they Christie let Barchi do what he's really there for AND put a permenant Pres in place?With all the waste in the political fiefdom's that N.J, has been as long as I can remember can't they afford too?A lot of people and fan's have been waiting for NJ and RU too return pride within the state and return to past prominence!But sir I enjoyed you post and obvious love and concern for your home State and mine!Thank you for taking the time and making my day!NJ needs more citizen's who care enough!...I agree also with your last sentence but they certainly fan the flame's!!

 

[NickyNewark]

Nicky, nicky, nicky.


Prolly not, I've heard they actually vet their candidates. (which would definitely disqualify me)


I'm sure they will. They are doing so well now. And with supporters like you.....what could go wrong.

@OH, maybe CVS could manage to go another year underperforming?I certainly hope not because I really like her but you asked!!

 

[NickyNewark]

- I care.
- My agenda is that of a NJ taxpayer: I want to support a state university system (Kean Univ, Rutgers...) that ensures strong graduate and undergraduate education is affordable for state residents. I want fellow voters and donors to continue to have a system worthy of their support.
- Incompetency in this contract award for $2.25M ($450K/5 years) undermines that.
- When the co-chairs of this process appear to deny timely access of vetting info to the search advisory committee and/or all the voting members, and when the co-chairs further appear to fail to provide time for adequate study and discussion of such background material... the effort of remaining conscientious staff is circumvented and wasted.
- What is far worse - it's not just co-chairs bungling the selection process, its then trying to sell (even to that same committee!) that the process was just fine.
- Yeah, I canceled my subscription to that that particular newspaper and its sensationalism a long time ago. But I doubt ESPN or any newspaper created Rutgers' internal email responding to the Co-chairs, which pointed to the heart of this problem:

"Please, let us not at this late date attempt to convince ourselves and the public that there was sufficient time to delve deeply into either candidates's documents ...
"With 13-15 committee members present at the interviews, and with each member needing to be given the opportunity to ask their own questions, and with Julie's interview starting more than 15 minutes late, there was little or no time to ask follow-up questions, or probe deeply ...
"Please let's not present this as any kind of exemplary process. Subsequent events have proven otherwise." [Ronald Garutti - member of the committee and the school's board of trustees]

- Its not the end of the world, or unique to Rutgers. When you improperly make a selection for competative contract award/competitive personel contract award, you simply stop and fix it. Lawyers are very good at pointing the best way in each particualr circumstance.
-If you do not, you have simply institutionalized incompetence. And everybody knows it.
- Until then, papers, TV, even sports websites will continue to point, to laugh, to resolve it is intollerable, to resolve it must not happen to them . They should.
-ESPN did not torpedo the school's reputation this time. It was an inside job.

@FWIW,I'd really hoped they'd hit a home run and examine SB's Priore closer or take a flyer on Delany's recommendation Frazier!

 

[arty155]

Dr Barchi has no business trying to merge the med and dental school AND do a job he's unqualified for (Pres RU) too!...

-I should clarify I'm actually a UConn grad raised in CT, stationed at Picatinny in 95 and retired here. So I cheer for UConn in everything first, but otherwise pull for the local schools & home teams... sometimes even the Devils, may Heaven forgive me.
- Thanks much for highlighting Dr Barchi's extraordinary scope of work possibly impacting his decision here. That entire perspective simply never occurred to me, nor would it have. Have always particularly enjoyed KB's RU insight from AZ, and now hope to see you both again on a happier thread. Thanks again.

 

[NickyNewark]

-I should clarify I'm actually a UConn grad raised in CT, stationed at Picatinny in 95 and retired here. So I cheer for UConn in everything first, but otherwise pull for the local schools & home teams... sometimes even the Devils, may Heaven forgive me.
- Thanks much for highlighting Dr Barchi's extraordinary scope of work possibly impacting his decision here. That entire perspective simply never occurred to me, nor would it have. Have always particularly enjoyed KB's RU insight from AZ, and now hope to see you both again on a happier thread. Thanks again.

It seem's living in NJ/NY for some reason no one is ever happy lol but when I moved to S.Calif I started to realize I liked the rain and change of seasons etc etc so sometimes you don't realize what you like until it isn't there anymore!! btw I loved California just growing up in the NE I realized home was where your heart is and I preferred snow every now and again to sand Ha ha!!