Shawn-O

Absolutely, keep the name. At the end of the day, it's the PC idiots that have oversight over the scheduling of athletic events that I see as the biggest risk.

I agree with this. I don't claim to have an understanding of the bureaucracy involved in running a university, but was it really necessary to announce to the world, "EVERYONE? Mr. Buning will be reporting to Mr. Harmeson effective immediately!". It could have been done more quietly. Maybe it was necessary from a legal standpoint to formalize the organization that way, I'm not an expert in employment law.

In hindsight, I think the negative P.R could have reduced somewhat, but we'll never know. Your right, same outcome.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/opinion o

I'm not big on guarantees, just opinions. Whether it's in aligmnent with your's or not, that does not make it any more or less valid.

We wouldn't have this lingering "leave of absence" saga to deal with.

As in life, there is no black and white on a message board, only gray.

Pull the trigger in July, Harmeson becomes the interim, same outcome. Not complicated.

As I clearly stated, the, let's call it a demotion, was a red flag. Inserting Harmeson was not a direct way to handle the issue, IMO. Inserting another layer of management rarely works.

The athletic program was impeded with the Division I delay (I'm certainly not insinuating that Kupchella intended harm, that would be ridiculous). And delegation is fine, but what's happened here with Buning and Harmeson is the corporate equivalent of having the VP of Marketing reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer...it just doesn't make any sense, and it was a red flag from the word go. The athletic director should report directly to the president's office, anything else is a receipe for trouble.

off-topic, but did I just hear an ad for a doctor, sung to the tune of "Saturday in the Park" by Chicago? Weird.

GOOD GRIEF, I GO UPSTAIRS FOR A BEER AND THEY TAKE THE LEAD!!! LET'S GO D!!!

Let's not pull the pin on it just yet. Sioux knocking on the door.

Let's have a Fighting Sioux Club hold 'em tournament there as a fund raiser.

And how did Kupchella address those concerns? By shoving Harmeson in the middle effective July 1. That was the equivalent of pulling the plug if you ask me, at least that's how it typically plays out in the corporate world. The whole thing screamed "I don't want to deal with this".

Stu Bickel? Why....he could be the next JAKE TAYLOR!!!

I took "Please?" to mean "sounds great! When can he start?"...which would be my sentiments if I was in viewing range.

I agree 100%. Very exciting times ahead!

Having him report to the President's office was an obvious mistake. Another Kupchella organizational blunder. Where is ol' Hal Holbrook, anyway?

Yes, no, and yes.

Wasn't Harmeson one of the head cheerleaders for Buning in the hiring process, or is my middle-aged memory failing me?

This caught my attention:

If it's W's and L's you're talking about, let's sign Buning to an extension, post haste!!

Eight years of leadership under someone who sees minimal to no value in athletics.....has come home to roost.

UND will not attract the best candidates if this reporting structure continues, which I don't expect it to once a new president is selected. I believe Taylor reports directly to Gampy Joe.