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fallsdog Online
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Post: #21
RE: Jeff Kurtz
What some people see as trivial was once a large part of what made Kent State Basketball home games a halfway decent draw. Staying in our lane and making the most of the MAC Center atmosphere was sold down the river for some really obnoxious and idiotic changes to the game day experience.
02-01-2022 03:23 PM
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Muskrat Offline
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Post: #22
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-01-2022 03:23 PM)fallsdog Wrote:  What some people see as trivial was once a large part of what made Kent State Basketball home games a halfway decent draw. Staying in our lane and making the most of the MAC Center atmosphere was sold down the river for some really obnoxious and idiotic changes to the game day experience.

Man, ain't that the truth!
02-01-2022 03:38 PM
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Post: #23
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(01-31-2022 11:33 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  Guys, they don't give a rip about Jeff Kurtz. He's a freaking PA announcer. I don't discount the fact that a lot of people liked him as a PA announcer or as a person, but in the grand scheme of things, who is announcing the games is of trivial concern to the administration.

The larger concern for me is why they seem to be ignoring fans and donors. It's funny how even though the morale of the department may be better, we may have ended up with a dud AD. Nobody that I have seen has had a good word to say about RR since he has returned. What of significance has he done? If you read this Mr. Richmond, it might be time to reach out to the KSU faithful.

The two are connected. You want to impress donors, get someone person-centered and enjoys mixing up a crowd. This guy treated everyone the same from the rich donors to the poor freshman trumpet player. You want donors and fans, put Jeff front-and-center.

As far as Jeff's "job" (I think he enjoyed is so much he'd do it for free) there is something more to it. I'd imagine there's BS politics and beaurocracy stringing from an administration with plenty of both. If it where a matter of his job to be a PA announcer his resume stands for him: graduations, NCAA Final Four games, every Kent State team's home game, high school games. He enjoys doing it.

I admit I had some reservations about hiring an AD that gained experience, although not all experience, under the regime that was non-renewed. Seems like a bad recipe to me.
02-01-2022 03:44 PM
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dannyb73 Offline
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Post: #24
RE: Jeff Kurtz
I don't get to a lot of games anymore, but I will agree with one part of your statement and disagree with another. There have absolutely been obnoxious and idiotic changes to the game day experience. That said, nobody went to the MAC Center to see Jeff Kurtz.
02-01-2022 03:45 PM
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fallsdog Online
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Post: #25
RE: Jeff Kurtz
Perhaps.

But I know plenty of young kids who shoot in the driveway and yell….

THREE POINT GOAL….(insert their name).

I know a few grown men who would get goosebumps when the clock would click down and Jeff would say “Good evening once again ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Kent State University’s Memorial, Athletic and Convocation Center for tonight’s Mid….”

There is a 30 for 30 that helps my argument about what a voice behind a microphone can do to enhance a game. Jeff was/is among the best. Maybe people did not go to see him…but we sure as hell went to hear him.
02-01-2022 06:12 PM
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FlashPan Offline
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Post: #26
RE: Jeff Kurtz
I saw the changing of BB announcer happening a long time ago. It was just a matter of time. Kurtz is the best in the business, no argument. Here is the issue. Kurtz is old school. If you watch BB on TV, listen to the PA announcers in the background. A huge amount of HYPE and they all do the THREEEEEEEEEE big time. The guy that does the Akron BB games is a good example. No old school. So some THREEEEEE people with some influence approached the AD and Kurtz is gone. And fans, you got ur new AD. Be careful what you wish for.03-hissyfit03-hissyfit[/quote]
02-03-2022 05:30 PM
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Muskrat Offline
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Post: #27
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-03-2022 05:30 PM)FlashPan Wrote:  I saw the changing of BB announcer happening a long time ago. It was just a matter of time. Kurtz is the best in the business, no argument. Here is the issue. Kurtz is old school. If you watch BB on TV, listen to the PA announcers in the background. A huge amount of HYPE and they all do the THREEEEEEEEEE big time. The guy that does the Akron BB games is a good example. No old school. So some THREEEEEE people with some influence approached the AD and Kurtz is gone. And fans, you got ur new AD. Be careful what you wish for.03-hissyfit03-hissyfit
[/quote]

Agree.
02-03-2022 06:02 PM
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burden Online
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Post: #28
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-03-2022 05:30 PM)FlashPan Wrote:  I saw the changing of BB announcer happening a long time ago. It was just a matter of time. Kurtz is the best in the business, no argument. Here is the issue. Kurtz is old school. If you watch BB on TV, listen to the PA announcers in the background. A huge amount of HYPE and they all do the THREEEEEEEEEE big time. The guy that does the Akron BB games is a good example. No old school. So some THREEEEEE people with some influence approached the AD and Kurtz is gone. And fans, you got ur new AD. Be careful what you wish for.03-hissyfit03-hissyfit
[/quote]

I agree. I used to sit with some of the THREEEEE people and they criticized Jeff for being old school. The way I look at it is marketing people don’t give a hoot about baby boomers anymore. Our day has passed on stuff like this.
02-03-2022 06:32 PM
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Post: #29
RE: Jeff Kurtz
As someone who gets 100% of my info about our ADs from people's opinions on this blog, I wanted to make one observation about the "Why isn't Dave complaining now?" question. It seemed like it took him several years to start publicly speaking out about Nielsen and it seemed like it centered around a toxic working environment as the heart of all problems. It seems like the complaints against Richmond are that he doesn't pay enough attention to donors. From the outside looking in, I think the answer is these two things are not the same.

Also, we probably want to be careful about trying to drive this guy out so early. Wouldn't want to develop the reputation of being a place AD candidates want to avoid. It's like the Browns HC job. Constant turnover, and the fan base constantly wanting the guy fired doesn't make it an attractive job.
02-03-2022 07:39 PM
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Older and Older Offline
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Post: #30
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-03-2022 07:39 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  As someone who gets 100% of my info about our ADs from people's opinions on this blog, I wanted to make one observation about the "Why isn't Dave complaining now?" question. It seemed like it took him several years to start publicly speaking out about Nielsen and it seemed like it centered around a toxic working environment as the heart of all problems. It seems like the complaints against Richmond are that he doesn't pay enough attention to donors. From the outside looking in, I think the answer is these two things are not the same.

Also, we probably want to be careful about trying to drive this guy out so early. Wouldn't want to develop the reputation of being a place AD candidates want to avoid. It's like the Browns HC job. Constant turnover, and the fan base constantly wanting the guy fired doesn't make it an attractive job.


Agree , Certainly no thoughts at all of changing AD.
He’s unfortunately learning on the job day by day. Not ideal .

Easiest part of job should be interacting with fans and alumni.
He needs to make the time and effort. I’ve watched AD’s at much bigger
Schools interacting in the stands at minor and major sports. It’s really effective. I just don’t get the impression from many at Kent that securing donations from donors is a priority. Something has changed.
Perhaps it starts with Presidential leadership.
02-03-2022 08:48 PM
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Post: #31
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-03-2022 08:48 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  Easiest part of job should be interacting with fans and alumni.
He needs to make the time and effort. I’ve watched AD’s at much bigger
Schools interacting in the stands at minor and major sports. It’s really effective. I just don’t get the impression from many at Kent that securing donations from donors is a priority. Something has changed.
Perhaps it starts with Presidential leadership.
So true, showing support is being in the house for games and events, not tweeting from home on the couch when somebody does something notable. You want students and fans to show up and be enthused about our direction but you don’t show up yourself? Ironic that RR has this tweet pinned:

02-04-2022 08:04 AM
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Post: #32
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-04-2022 08:04 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  
(02-03-2022 08:48 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  Easiest part of job should be interacting with fans and alumni.
He needs to make the time and effort. I’ve watched AD’s at much bigger
Schools interacting in the stands at minor and major sports. It’s really effective. I just don’t get the impression from many at Kent that securing donations from donors is a priority. Something has changed.
Perhaps it starts with Presidential leadership.
So true, showing support is being in the house for games and events, not tweeting from home on the couch when somebody does something notable. You want students and fans to show up and be enthused about our direction but you don’t show up yourself? Ironic that RR has this tweet pinned:



Wow !!
02-04-2022 12:58 PM
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Post: #33
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-04-2022 08:04 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  
(02-03-2022 08:48 PM)Older and Older Wrote:  Easiest part of job should be interacting with fans and alumni.
He needs to make the time and effort. I’ve watched AD’s at much bigger
Schools interacting in the stands at minor and major sports. It’s really effective. I just don’t get the impression from many at Kent that securing donations from donors is a priority. Something has changed.
Perhaps it starts with Presidential leadership.
So true, showing support is being in the house for games and events, not tweeting from home on the couch when somebody does something notable. You want students and fans to show up and be enthused about our direction but you don’t show up yourself? Ironic that RR has this tweet pinned:



Wow !!
02-04-2022 12:58 PM
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Polish Hammer Offline
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Post: #34
RE: Jeff Kurtz
I wonder if he got that motto from Joel as it seems like something he would convince himself of, not a guy new to his job and still in the honeymoon phase.
02-04-2022 02:39 PM
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Post: #35
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-01-2022 10:54 AM)ksu315 Wrote:  Where's Dave at to weigh in on RR and all this as he was the main driver on getting Joel out???

Yes Joel may have had arrogance and wasn't beloved by coaches or some donors. But maybe just maybe he was trying to make his team accountable and sometimes elevating a team people are uncomfortable and don't like it. But all leaders aren't going to be loved.

So you have a comfortable happy staff now allegedly but does that put dollars in the coffers and elevate the dept?? In the process you lose donors and season ticket holders??? My brief and very brief discussions with RR it feels like he has zero interest in you and its just awkward and ehh.

Hi ksu315,

Unfortunately, I've had no time for anything outside of work and trying to deal with some family health issues.

I have watched only one men's basketball game this year, and I only had a chance to see a couple of football games. This is the first time I have visited the message board in months. I jumped on to see what people thought about the men's basketball team stringing together a few wins (hopefully they have turned a corner), and saw Jeff Kurtz's name. Jeff is a friend, so I clicked.

Anyway, I haven't spoken with Randale or anyone else at Kent State since the hire, so I don't know enough to have a worthwhile comment on the current state of the department. I am very much out of the loop.

Regarding Joel, while I might have been the most vocal person about him on this board, I doubt that I had any real impact on Kent State's decision to not renew his contract. Just like Danny said about Jeff Kurtz, Kent State also could care less about me or my opinion. While I have loved KSU since I was a little kid and I once held a very minor position within the athletic department for a short time, I have no real juice that would allow me to impact change.

The people who did have an impact on getting Diacon and the board of trustees to finally listen were the coaches, former coaches, former student athletes and donors who were able to get face time with those decision makers. A few of them put their money where their mouth was. There was at least one offer to pay off Joel's salary to help Kent State end Joel's contract early. While Kent State did not accept the offer, it did listen to the reasons as to why the offer was being made.

I hope Randale can right the ship with the donors and fans who feel alienated. My past experiences with Randale have been nothing but positive. I think he is a genuinely good person, and hopefully he will also be a good athletic director. But, he is also a young AD with very little experience at this level, so he will have a learning curve.

Like many of the people on this board, I am also bothered by what happened to Jeff Kurtz and Ty Linder. I think the world of Jeff and Ty as people and professionals. Joel treated both poorly long before he forced them out. Randale had (and still has) the opportunity to do the right thing and bring both back into the fold. Nobody cares more about Kent State than Jeff and Ty. When I finally can get to a game, I know it will seem hollow to walk into Dix Stadium or the M.A.C. Center and not hear Jeff's voice and see Ty behind the mic. It's very sad.
(This post was last modified: 02-04-2022 09:04 PM by DavidCarducci.)
02-04-2022 08:59 PM
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Post: #36
RE: Jeff Kurtz
Just my two cents worth, but one would think that any university in Ohio not so immodestly referring to itself as THE Ohio State University, would bend over backwards to keep pleasing those relatively few who love Kent State. Things have varied depending upon who was president and who was AD, but overall, there always seemed to be a certain aloofness emanating from the university. A friend and fellow alumnus used to talk about just that decades ago.
02-04-2022 09:44 PM
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Post: #37
RE: Jeff Kurtz
(02-04-2022 09:44 PM)Muskrat Wrote:  Just my two cents worth, but one would think that any university in Ohio not so immodestly referring to itself as THE Ohio State University, would bend over backwards to keep pleasing those relatively few who love Kent State. Things have varied depending upon who was president and who was AD, but overall, there always seemed to be a certain aloofness emanating from the university. A friend and fellow alumnus used to talk about just that decades ago.

Muskrat and Dave.

Really like your comments. Dave we don’t need the explanation for your absence but appreciate your willingness to share
Always enjoy what you have to say and agree 110% on Jeff and Ty.

Muskrat the arrogance you speak about I believe Starts with this President and trickles down. I’ve had several conversations with Diacon and always walk away regretting the experience. He’s very arrogant and aloof. Too much time admiring his big office and nice desk .Other donors we know are also totally repulsed.

Randale could be the AD we all desire but it just hasn’t happened so far.
This donor is VERY Disappointed, and we have stayed away as it’s just so disheartening to watch KSU continue to fall . They just don’t get it when it comes to fans, donors, and alumni. Don’t get me started on alumni Assoc. Perhaps the worst in USA.

Until we see some positive interactions we are staying away. No attendance, no more giving. Love our coaches and Athletes that’s what makes it so painful. Athletic Dept a big downer for us.
02-05-2022 06:45 AM
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