(03-16-2019 10:08 AM)wmmii Wrote: (03-16-2019 09:49 AM)Tribe2011 Wrote: Lastly - I find it amazing that many on here are now arguing that we SHOULDN'T be supporting our sports programs -- the exact opposite of the position of nearly everyone before this past week -- solely out of spite for Huge. I disagree completely with the Shaver decision, but I think it's revealing that many seem to be much more driven by their hate for Huge than support for WM. To be clear, if this moves works out (a big IF), that would be a GREAT thing for our school. I too would be sad that it wasn't Shaver that took us to the tourney and the next level, but the goal is that we get there. Yet you have many people now practically acting like they WANT WM to fail just so they can say they were right and continue to hold a grudge. Don't be like this.
Well stated. I feel all of us think Shaver not being retained could have been handled better but the reaction is over the top. We do not even know who the new coach will be at this time for MBB yet! Also we all seem to have forgotten that we have not heard what the report from the study about a new or rehab BB arena started last fall...
From my perspective only, I do not speak for anyone else, this is not a Shaver thing for me. If nothing else had happened and simply Shaver was let go, I would have disliked it but wouldn't be nearly as frustrated -
not angry - as I am. I give a little bit to the basketball program but substantially more to other areas of athletics.
For me it has been building over the last year or so. I have liked some of Huge's decisions. I like the effort to have an athletic department wide deal with UA. I personally prefer Nike, but I realize my personal preference means zilch and Nike either does not or would not do a school-wide deal for a school of our size. That was great. I like that we were able to secure a game at Stanford due to her personal relationship with the AD there.
But I also am frustrated with many other decisions - many of which have already been hashed out here in probably other threads that are too numerous to rehash. If I recall from when Huge was first introduced, she made some comments about listening and observing for the first year, and by all accounts she appeared to do that - kudos to her. However, the last year or so has brought about (again my opinion) too much rapid and financially costly change. As someone who donates a decent amount of money - at least I think so - I don't like how the current leadership appears to be spending money. I have had the opportunity to meet her on one occasion and felt indifferent after meeting her - not inspired nor disillusioned.
Do I "hate" Samantha Huge? I absolutely do not.
Do I think she has shown in the last year or so that she may be in over her head or has a background where athletic recognition at any cost is ok? Possibly - hence all the outside consultants and changes.
Do I think (with hindsight) we made a mistake in hiring her? Yes, I do but unless there is something egregious in this process I don't anticipate her going anywhere.
Do I wish the search committee that hired her spoke to alums/donors at other schools she worked? Yep. (And maybe they did but I can't imagine they spoke to people who I have had contact with about her time at Delaware)
Do I feel that my donations have been used not as intended? No, I absolutely believe in and have the utmost respect for Bobby Dwyer and his team, but I also feel that I need to take a long pause before I decide if I want to continue to support this path that we have been on. I don't want to hurt any of our student athletes by not contributing but I also have a tough time continuing to support a path that I can't buy into.