#10: Central Michigan AD Folan sits down with former Chippewas Track & Field HC White (who also happens to be the former Duke/Notre Dame/Arizona State/Tulane/Maine AD) to get his perspective on several issues. White: "I'm just worried about a massive irreconcilable divorce between athletics and the academy. We're becoming so commercialized at this point I think we're putting ourselves, athletically speaking, at risk." Regarding the economics of modern college athletics, White notes that a "lot of these schools are outspending what they're able to generate in revenue" and contends there is a wide array of universities, public, private, small, large, faith-based, etc., all trying to do the same thing despite having different resource pools and institutional aims. White adds: "NIL without guardrails is a pay-for-play system. I have real disdain for where we ended up there without guardrails. And the whole transfer portal is a joke. We're going to see graduation rates negatively impacted at some point the way kids are jumping around." Lots more. (link)
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#9: Notable author & Michigan supporter Bacon swiftly walked back his comments concerning Wolverines AD Manuel's relationship with FB HC Harbaugh, plus Manuel's performance review process under former UM President Schlissel. "...to clarify, official business is handled through intermediaries. Jim's guy calls Warde's guy, and that's how they do it. They have engaged in occasional small talk along the way. [...] In fairness to Warde Manuel, worth pointing out UM won 13 Big Ten titles in 27 sports, which I think is a record. I've seen him do many things for which he gets no credit, including keeping athletes with mental health issues on scholarship for as long as they need. Very rare. [...] Just talked with a UM athletic department official, who told me most years Manuel would visit with Schlissel in his office, and discuss the year in review, and preview the next." (link)
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#8: Get out your readers to see this, but SkullSparks has put together a list of the top 150 college athletic departments ranked by interactions generated on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook from the last four years. USC led the way in 2022 with 7,010,406 total interactions, an increase of 45% YOY. Kansas was second with 5,974,134 but saw the largest jump, improving 523% from 2021. Looks like the leader in 2021 was Texas with 5,488,918 and the Longhorns claimed the top spot in 2020, as well, with 4,942,019 total interactions. The Trojans took the top spot in 2019 with 5,680,652. (link)
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#7: Notre Dame taps Delaware Deputy AD/SWA Vining-Smith to take over as Senior Assoc. AD tasked with leadership of the GLD (Grow, Lead, Do) Center. (link) |
#6: Dallas Baptist AD Smith is headed to North Texas to become the Mean Green's new Assoc. VP/COO. UNT AD Mosley: "Connor brings a wealth of leadership experience that will serve our student-athletes, coaches and staff well as we transition into the American Athletic Conference and continue to build on the momentum we have within our programs. He is highly respected across the industry and will be a great resource for us here at UNT." (link)
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#5: Notable best-selling author & Michigan insider Bacon: "As I reported on @michiganinsider with @SamWebb77 this morning on WTKA: Former UM Pres. Schlissel never conducted a review of AD Warde Manuel in his six years on the job. Manuel and Harbaugh have not spoken directly since May. Guessing new UM pres. @SantaJOno changes both." (link)
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#4: Louisiana-Monroe names former Utah State/Troy AD Hartwell as its next AD, with a press conference scheduled for Monday. ULM President Berry: "ULM was fortunate to attract an athletic leader of John's caliber through our national search... He brings a significant level of successful leadership and passion for the ULM Warhawk community." (link)
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#3: Green Bay has parted ways with MBB HC Ryan, per Stadium's Goodman. (link) |
#2: Charlotte Deputy AD for External Affairs Fuller will step down, effective July 30. (link) |
#1: Wednesday night's Loyola Chicago-Duquesne MBB matchup was stopped because, and this is true, an Uber Eats delivery guy walked onto the court with a bag of McDonald's while the game was going on. Yes, we also have questions... unreal. (link)
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