Miami Football: The Beast Unleashed- Make It Blake ( James )
If there is one thing I’ve learned over the course of my two decades covering sports, it’s that stability plays a huge roll in the success of a program, organization or team. I can’t imagine it’s any different in your line of work. When things are stable at the top, that tends to trickle down and keep everyone else in check.
It’s been three months since Hit-The-Exit-Eichorst left for Lincoln. Under normal conditions I would advise the powers to be at Miami to take their time and make sure they get the right guy or gal to run the Athletics Department. These are not normal times. The U is under attack. Why take any more time than you need to, to make a decision on who the next AD will be, when he’s sitting in the office already. As I’ve been tweeting for months now: #MAKEITBLAKE . And do it Now!
I think waiting till after the NOA and, later, the sanctions come down to name a new AD is disingenuous. Why not step up, and make the position Blake’s now, regardless of what may come our way? He’s been an AD before. He’s been through probation at Miami before. He can fund raise like no one I’ve ever seen. He has a willingness to be transparent and open with the public. The coaches love dealing with him. He’s a ‘Cane through and through. His family loves it here. Let me repeat. His family loves it here. That’s as big as any of the other things I’ve stated after the last two ADs faced an uphill battle at home. The Hocutts and Eichorsts were the right fit for South Florida like I’m the right fit for a Smart Car.
I ran into Blake and his wife, Kelly, at the Orange Bowl game on Tuesday night. Blake was taking pictures of how the teams’ helmets and jerseys were displayed throughout the stadium. He’s always working, trying to improve what we do. Kelly was as gracious as ever, and was rocking a nice tan from their time in Hawaii. Wow, an AD’s wife who likes the sun? Couldn’t be.
I’m guessing with in the next few weeks, the proverbial feces will hit the fan. After that, it’s going to be pretty dark around here for months as The U takes 90 days to respond to the Notice of Allegations and then the Committee on Infractions takes their sweet old time trying to hand down a punishment. We’re realistically not going to be done with all of this until the summer. Do we really want to wait until June or July to start looking for a new AD? This department, while facing a harsh reality from the NCAA, is also on the verge of growing leaps and bounds with the nearby completion of the Schwartz Center.
Take a tour of the Schwartz Center Here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhig2uRaQgE
This is one of the most important times in the recent history of our great program. This is not the time to have an interim leader. This is not the time to have question marks about the future of leadership in the Athletics Department. Give me stability and I’ll give you success. Give me question marks and I’ll give you a possible road to failure. I know I’m supposed to be objective, and I believe I am, but in this case, I urge all of you to let President Shalala and the Board of Trustees know that we need to #MAKEITBLAKE. I have a feeling that if we can get Blake the gig on the permanent basis, some of the things that have disappeared from the way we do things could return. Remember, if you don’t know your past, you don’t know your future.
To contact President Shalala’s office, go HERE.
To contact the Board of Trustees office, go HERE.
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Great article.
Thanks!