Unfortunately, it's a significant challenge. Due to the currently bylaws, the BoT must approve of the chief academic officer, the chief financial officer, and the athletic director. Since B-Lo controls the Board, the AD position is a puppet. Sort of like a puppet dictator, right?
Good comments from the AU folks.. Just please stay away from Jimbo... I would rather him be at MOO State vs. being at Auburn. Also, Finebalm reported just then that they are checking airplane records of Auburn officials in Louisville. The Courier Journal in Louisville is doing a report on it tomorrow. Sounds similar to the same situation last year when bama was lookin for their coach. I also was told that a similar plane load of folks were in Baton Rouge. Let's hope not.
"I think Auburn may have mishandled this" think?!?!? . .good lord . there is no QUESTION this was mishandled . . sometimes we can't stand success . ..of course . 7-5 is hardly success . . whether CTT should be gone or not is no longer even the issue . .I feel as bad for him as I can someone who is about to cash a $3.8 Mil check . .
Chuck, you're right, it is no longer about whether CTT you go/stay.....it's about the questionable behavior of university leadership during a time when it is most needed. Crisis management is a practiced skill, and these clowns don't seem to be getting any better at it. See the latest article regarding Petrino at www.courierjournal.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By PAT FORDE The Courier-Journal He's yours, University of Louisville fans. If you still want him. In one of the strangest, sorriest, shabbiest recent stories to wade out of the cesspool that is College Sports Inc., Jetgate ended just a few hours after it really began. The Auburn president, athletic director and trustees have come and gone — and finally admitted it, under duress. And they're not taking Bobby Petrino back home to the Craziest Little Village on the Plain with them. A repentant Petrino told The Courier-Journal last night that he's no longer a candidate for the job that isn't even open at Auburn. He said he's sorry for deceiving his boss, Tom Jurich, about his visit Thursday from the duplicitous hierarchy at Auburn, who are unfit to administer a reputable preschool. He also apologized, post-backstab, to Tommy Tuberville, his former boss at Auburn and the current coach there. Believe him at your own risk. Petrino is coming off a lying streak that would embarrass George O'Leary. Petrino had denied contact with Auburn officials, who pretended right through a tension-filled Iron Bowl game against Alabama — which came after the Thursday meeting — that they were still seriously considering keeping Tuberville. Now they should beg Tuberville to stay. Or at least not to sue. Let us review the cast of characters in this seamy one-week drama: Tuberville — Last Monday word erupted that Auburn was poised to buy him out after he committed the mortal sin of going 7-5 when some fans were expecting 12-0. He has a winning record, has won or shared the Southeastern Conference Western Division title three times, has whipped bitter rival Alabama three of the last four meetings and has rehabbed the program's shady image. Naturally, he had to go. Even if it would take $4 million to make it happen. But before the season could end, Auburn officials went behind a good man's back by flying here. Then they left that good man pathetically twisting as the situation spun out of control. As The Courier-Journal prepared a story for publication last night, Auburn President William Walker was forced to 'fess up. He issued a statement saying that he, athletic director David Housel and two trustees flew here to see Petrino last Thursday. They arrived on a jet belonging to the company headed by ... Bobby Lowder — Dude, where's your plane? According to flight records, a jet licensed to Colonial Bank in Montgomery, Ala., spent some quality time at Clark County Airport, discreetly located in Sellersburg, Ind., 12 miles north of Louisville. Lowder is the No. 1 power broker/king maker/king breaker in Auburn athletics. The release/confession from Walker says that Lowder was not on his company's plane. Maybe not, but I'll make a wild assumption that Big Bobby knew this trip was a recruiting visit to ... Pinocchio, uh, Petrino — He'd been so deep in the bunker these days, he was rumored to be having tea with Eva Braun. He finally came out last night to tell the truth. After his hand was forced by the Auburn release. He couldn't handle the truth earlier last night at the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium football offices. First, Petrino again denied he'd been contacted about the job, through football sports information director Rocco Gasparro. Then, when this newspaper asked specifically through Gasparro about the visit by the Colonial Bank plane, a 32-minute meeting ensued between Gasparro and Petrino. The result: No comment. After that, we had a visit from a special guest star ... Rick Pitino — The U of L basketball coach weighed in with 10-megaton force on his radio show last night, attempting to shame Petrino out of pursuing the Auburn job/non-job. Petrino is out of the pursuit now. And should be ashamed. And should feel fortunate he still has a job here.
If you watch Auburn football on TV, their "commercial" that they play during the games has students reciting the Auburn Creed. One of the lines is,"I believe in honesty and truthfullness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellowmen" As Scarbinsky said in his article in the Bham Fishwrapper today, Auburn President Walker has made a mockery of these words in how he has handled Tubbs and the Auburn faithful are outraged. Phone calls are ringing off the hook in both the admin and athletic offices. It was also confirmed from Louisville that Petrino was interviewed (which I spoke about last week only to get chastised by Auburn posters) by Walker, David Housel, and board members Earlon McWhorter and Byron Franklin. And oh by the way they flew up on "fat cats" plane. Walker even said he had hired a search firm to help him in this process. He said it is part of his considerations regarding the football coaching situation. I look for more fireworks to light the skys on the loveliest village on the plains today. Can they be so stupid that somebody isnt going to trace an airplane for gosh sakes? Very appropriate on Thanksgiving day that a bunch of turkeys are screwing things up in Auburn.
I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually feel sorry for Auburn fans. You know this has to be a difficult thing to endure for someone that loves their school.
Can't the rank-and-file Auburn fans get together, go to the legislature and change this??? We had a similar fight this past year as our own TAF tried to take over control of Tiger Stadium and LSU Athletics. Our legislature was bombarded with calls MAKING CERTAIN that it didn't happen. We also had a member on the Board of Supervisors who tried to exert a little more influence than he should have. Charlie Cusimano has since been put in his place. Notice the RESULTS!
Yes, it would be the requisite action. Unfortunately, I'm sure you recognize that most people are apathetic with regards to bureaucratic processes like these. It's a significant challenge. The more likely outcome will be for BoT to limit their own exposure by replacing the President and AD.
