Dr Sander (Note - Expansion of the SoCon)

• The retirement of the Southern Conference Commissioner, scheduled for the end of May, and the formation of a search committee to fill the post.
• Expansion of the Southern Conference, which both Dr. Sander and Dr. Noland favor.
• A continued focus on our identity at ETSU, a continuing commitment to creating a great experience for our student-athletes, and the importance of preparing our student-athletes to become productive and happy contributors to society after ETSU.
• The need to continue to “get the right people on the bus” within the athletic department at ETSU. As an example, Dr. Sander pointed to the recent successful season in women’s basketball and the academic support personnel in the department.
• ETSU recently placed 251 student-athletes on the Southern Conference Honor Roll.
• Staff professional development, evaluation, improvement in budgeting, and improvement in approval processes are all on the department’s agenda.
• Dr. Sander discussed the challenges of the transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) issues, and conference realignments that are taking place across the country.
• He concluded by stressing the need for sustainability within the department through a strategic plan that covers facilities, funding, community engagement, priorities, Title IX, and allocation of resources.

The SoCon named a new commissioner today.

(05-30-2023 03:13 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  The SoCon named a new commissioner today.

No mention of more MONEY for the member schools or SoCon EXPANSION. I’m for more emphasis on the education part of the student-athlete equation, but that went out of style years ago. Hasn’t the Knight Commission been highly critical of college athletics for a number of years?

https://www.etsubucs.com/football/news/2...missioner/

(05-30-2023 05:13 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(05-30-2023 03:13 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  The SoCon named a new commissioner today.

No mention of more MONEY for the member schools or SoCon EXPANSION. I’m for more emphasis on the education part of the student-athlete equation, but that went out of style years ago. Hasn’t the Knight Commission been highly critical of college athletics for a number of years?

https://www.etsubucs.com/football/news/2...missioner/

1. Seems very premature to address expansion in an announcement of a hire. Heck - his job doesn't even begin until July 1. Not to mention............that would be somewhat dilutive (and thus in a way a bit disrespectful) to the main point of this release.
2. Also would seem to be out of place to address bringing in more money in such a release. HOWEVER.................his background reads as tho he understands the financial challenges of this environment -- AND has experience in that realm. Reads to me like said background in those things likely helped his selection. Maybe no *explicit* mention of "MONEY", but they sure indirectly allude to it.

(05-30-2023 08:01 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(05-30-2023 05:13 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(05-30-2023 03:13 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  The SoCon named a new commissioner today.

No mention of more MONEY for the member schools or SoCon EXPANSION. I’m for more emphasis on the education part of the student-athlete equation, but that went out of style years ago. Hasn’t the Knight Commission been highly critical of college athletics for a number of years?

https://www.etsubucs.com/football/news/2...missioner/

1. Seems very premature to address expansion in an announcement of a hire. Heck - his job doesn't even begin until July 1. Not to mention............that would be somewhat dilutive (and thus in a way a bit disrespectful) to the main point of this release.
2. Also would seem to be out of place to address bringing in more money in such a release. HOWEVER.................his background reads as tho he understands the financial challenges of this environment -- AND has experience in that realm. Reads to me like said background in those things likely helped his selection. Maybe no *explicit* mention of "MONEY", but they sure indirectly allude to it.

Perhaps a little more specifics from him of his aspirations for the Southern Conference would not have been premature — along the lines of what he told the search committee during his interviews. Surely the search committee had to talk extensively about the future of the SoCon during the interviews - and how could they not have gotten rather deep into finances and the issues of membership both now and in the future if they were doing their job?

(05-31-2023 07:30 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(05-30-2023 08:01 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(05-30-2023 05:13 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  

(05-30-2023 03:13 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  The SoCon named a new commissioner today.

No mention of more MONEY for the member schools or SoCon EXPANSION. I’m for more emphasis on the education part of the student-athlete equation, but that went out of style years ago. Hasn’t the Knight Commission been highly critical of college athletics for a number of years?

https://www.etsubucs.com/football/news/2...missioner/

1. Seems very premature to address expansion in an announcement of a hire. Heck - his job doesn't even begin until July 1. Not to mention............that would be somewhat dilutive (and thus in a way a bit disrespectful) to the main point of this release.
2. Also would seem to be out of place to address bringing in more money in such a release. HOWEVER.................his background reads as tho he understands the financial challenges of this environment -- AND has experience in that realm. Reads to me like said background in those things likely helped his selection. Maybe no *explicit* mention of "MONEY", but they sure indirectly allude to it.

Perhaps a little more specifics from him of his aspirations for the Southern Conference would not have been premature — along the lines of what he told the search committee during his interviews. Surely the search committee had to talk extensively about the future of the SoCon during the interviews - and how could they not have gotten rather deep into finances and the issues of membership both now and in the future if they were doing their job?

I think we can be quite sure all that stuff was discussed in exquisite detail. But.........imo it's still premature to discuss all that in such a hiring news release. Not to mention................they're likely not ready to reveal what cards they're holding or possibly ready to play. Some of those things by their very nature need to be kept under wraps until the proper time. Let's say, purely hypothetically...........that the SoCon is desiring to lure away certain teams from the CAA, or Big 12 (), or wherever. Would it be appropriate to announce such a plan before all the contingencies are in place - which would almost certainly thwart it? No, it would not. And since this guy doesn't even *fully* know the lay of the land yet, such a plan would surely be not even half-baked yet. I just don't think it would have been appropriate AT ALL for such things to be revealed in such a release. I wouldn't be opposed to a tad more from him about "aspirations", in a general, vague sense..........but likely that will come as he gets to know more of the relevant issues in detail. But it's crystal clear (to me, at least), that just from his background that financial bona fides was part of his allure.