Hunkering down at A&T
I've written often about A&T's seeming institutional inability to be forthcoming about some of its decisions that spark controversy.
The chancellor releases a vague announcement. The football coach refers questions to a vice chancellor who doesn't return calls. Eventually they will take aim at the messenger.
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for tax-supported agencies to think that they are private businesses. When you use public funds, you have a responsibility to be open. When you have a large constituency of students, alumni, employees and citizens interested in the health of the institution, you have an obligation to explain your actions.
Update: More good discussion brewing at Debatables.
Comments (3)
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Dear A&T Alumni:
I would like to personally take this opportunity to thank Charlie Davis for initiating the downfall of Aggie Football. It all started there. Coach Hayes was the face of NC A&T. He deserved to be treated better than he was during that process. I do not know what Charlie was thinking when he fired the winningnest football coach at two prestigious universities in the area. The man was a winner in all areas of life. Now, he is a successful Athletic Director at North Carolina Central University, how ironic!The football program has never been the same. Until they get the RIGHT person in there to re-establish the Aggie Football Tradition, it will be a mediocore program at best. This is not a knock to the current football staff at A&T, but 0-22, something needs to change.
Sincerely,
Chad L. Mann
Aggie Alumni Class of 2000
Aggie Football 1995-2000
Posted on November 30, 2007 11:35 AM
Charlie Davis was told to fire Hayes by Rednick and when Charlie tried to make changes he was fired. Then you put someone that never worked in Athletics as the AD until Todd was hired. We don't have a people problem but a university problem. Look at the facts since 2000. You are telling me that 6 people sitting in the AD's seat in 7 years in a good thing? There is no respect for the postion of AD at any HBCU's. If you get a strong person like Todd that knows the other way, we don't like it. Until major money is put into the program at A&T, we might as well start to fix up the basement because we will be there for a while!
Posted on December 3, 2007 1:36 AM
Before defending herself Ms. Todd ought to look in the mirror. The firing of Hayes a year before his retirement was definitely a mistake. The subsequent firing of Small was certainly the cause of the instability that has rocked the program since. Yes, the lack of a substantial recruiting budget is a concern. But to fire someone and put all recruiting on hold until you make a new hire was program suicide. Now Ms. Scott recognizes the need to stick with one contractor? Where was that attitude when Small was fired? A lesson learned too late at the expense of the program's reputation and sucess. I wish her better success in her new position, wherever that may be.
Posted on December 13, 2007 3:08 PM