UGA’s Michael Adams as NCAA president? Could happen
Michael Adams keeps denying, sort of, that he’s interested in being the NCAA president. Funny thing, though. More than a few folks believe otherwise.
To the Associated Press back in September, Adams said this: “I’d never talk publicly about two things, jobs or money. I love the University of Georgia. My plan is to be here until retirement.”
To the AP during the NCAA convention here last week: “We’re Georgians. We love it here. My family is happy here, and if the Regents will let me stay, I expect to be here. Is that clear enough?”
Uh, not really. Neither time did Adams say, “If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.” He has left the door ajar just enough that nobody is counting him out.
Here, from Steve Wieberg of USA Today — I should note that Mr. Wieberg knows the inner workings of the NCAA better than any outsider — is this breakdown:
“Penn State president Graham Spanier, who once led the Division I board of directors and remains active in the NCAA, also has support as a prospective candidate, say several people within the NCAA who talked on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the search. Georgia president Michael Adams is another widely speculated but less certain prospect, according to those same people.
“Another name submitted to the search firm is Donna Shalala, who spent eight years as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton and has been president at Miami (Fla.) since 2001.
“Shalala … said via e-mail: ‘I am not a candidate and really have no interest. I am sure there are good candidates.’ “
See? That’s a denial.
If Adams is interested — and he was a close associate of the late NCAA president Myles Brand, who died in September — it makes sense to soft-pedal it. He has overplayed his hand before: During the messy back-and-forth with Vince Dooley, whom Adams shoved aside as athletics director, and again when he advocated in January 2008 that the BCS be junked in favor of a playoff system. (The proposal, for which Adams believed there was broad support, never came to a vote.)
And it’s unclear how many allies Adams truly has. He’s an indefatigable networker, but many in collegiate circles recall that he recommended Dooley interview Jim Harrick for the Georgia basketball job back in 1999, and many also recall that Adams overruled his AD in 2000 and fired Jim Donnan, who had won 67 percent of his games.
But there’s also this to consider: Parker Executive Search of Atlanta is doing the NCAA’s headhunting, and that firm who ran the search when Adams was hired by UGA in the first place. Georgia has continued to throw business Dan Parker’s way: The searches for the AD to replace Dooley (turned out to be Damon Evans, who was working down the hall) and the basketball coach to replace Dennis Felton (turned out to be Mark Fox) were also Parker productions.
Wieberg reports the NCAA wants to have a new president by summer. Could UGA be about to bid adieu to its Prez? Despite Adams’ protestations, there’s a good chance he’ll be headed to Indianapolis. And if he does, you folks out there would feel … how?
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88 comments Add your comment
the toip dog
January 19th, 2010
12:21 am
it would be great!!!!
the top dog
January 19th, 2010
12:26 am
I have never been a big fan of Adams. He always rubbed me the wrong way.
Kind of reminded me of Fred Davidson who was president when i attended in the early 80’s. How he could have recommended Harrick and not be blamed for the mess left behind is amazing. Georgia can do better. Much better. And no Michael I do not consider you a Georgian.
Mark Bradley
January 19th, 2010
12:26 am
Kudos on the first, Toip Dog.
the top dog
January 19th, 2010
12:27 am
It must be a slow night.
Worm
January 19th, 2010
12:43 am
Michael, PLEASE don’t let the door hit you on the way OUT!
shane#1
January 19th, 2010
12:55 am
the top dog, How could Adams skate on naming Harrick? That’s small potatoes! Adams got by with buying a Buckhead condo and a vacation spot in Costa Rica with our money. That’s all of us that pay taxes in Georgia. IMO, Adams should be in jail for misuse of funds. Please take the NCAA job, Dr Adams, please! The only thing worse than Donna Shalala slopping at the public trough in any fashion is Adams staying at UGA! Both of the aforementioned are a waste of the air they breathe and human kind would be much better off without them. I am all for Adams ramrodding the NCAA. It’s a win-win situation. Adams is out of Georgia and Donna Shalala can dry up and blow away in Miami.
Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
1:25 am
Top ten?
Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
1:31 am
I’m the Boise St. of this blog; always ranked, but a mid-major champion at best, and playing on an odd field to begin with…
That said, I’ve never really agreed with Georgia fans who disliked Michael Adams. He’s the university president, and doesn’t have to yield to the athletic whims of the school. His job description goes beyond the importance of selecting the next dog with a roman numeral… not to say he hasn’t made some bad decisions or choices that could be looked at differently in retrospect, but there are too many people who believe the University of Georgia is just a football team and not a school. And that’s common elsewhere, too.
If he goes, he goes. I, frankly, could care less either way.
Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
1:36 am
Also, to Adams’s credit in terms of the athletic stuff: he’s served his time in an era where the baseball program was restored and presided over the selections of Richt and the campus’s newest light, Coach Fox.
Honestly, much as I like sports/this blog, none of that matters in my opinion when it comes to whether he’s a credit or discredit to the university itself. A university’s president has a reach that goes far beyond the playing fields and the courts, regardless of where the money is coming from.
JB
January 19th, 2010
1:38 am
Good riddance and good bye Mr. Adams! Coach Dooley, I hope you’ll enjoy this discussion.
UGA75
January 19th, 2010
2:31 am
Adams is a complete narcissist, he makes decisions like the house in S. America, firing Dooley, etc…. without second thoughts. He has cost the University millions of dollars in contributions. He would be good for the NCAA simply because he could do little harm in that position. I will help load the moving van free if that will help getting him out of town.
Adams is a damn sorry Dawg.
DirtyDawg
January 19th, 2010
3:59 am
As much as I’d like to see Adams gone from UGA, I’m not sure he wouldn’t eff the NCAA up to the point of non-recognition. On the other hand, I doubt he’ll be able to run ‘rough-shod’ over the members the way he did the ’schools’ at the University…to summarily dismiss, long-standing, accomplished, Department Heads just so he could replace them with ‘butt-kissers’ obligated to him alone. Well, he finally got Vince to complete his purge, but as a result the man cannot show his face, or have his name mentioned at a Georgia public event, without getting booed.
He’s no Georgian, unless it happened to be part of Lookout Mountain that lops over into Georgia…and we’d trade it for that section along the Tennessee River some miles to the east with all the water…So go Michael. Feed your monumental ego and take the NCAA job, because, since you won’t be able to load the board up with your ‘boys’, they’ll figure you out in no-time and send you packing…but by then it won’t be back to UGA.
Vince for (at least, interim) University President! Now that would be the ultimate irony.
Chief Nocahoma
January 19th, 2010
4:08 am
If he could get the BCS to change the bowls into a playoff system, he would be a hero to all. However, there are few good old boy networks as strong as the college bowl system. Heck, the photos the keepers of the bowls have on the NCAA university presidents must be the best in the land if those guys can keep up the justification for the current bowl system in the face of such overwhelming fan support for playoffs.
Conyers Yellow Jacket
January 19th, 2010
4:38 am
Being a GT fan, I would rather Dr, Adams stay at UGA. Enough said.
17 of 20
January 19th, 2010
5:02 am
Adams needs to stay with Georgia.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 19th, 2010
5:20 am
Buh bye Dr. Adams and we’ll put YOUR statue in Bogart.
Go to Hell Tech
January 19th, 2010
6:20 am
Georgia’s most unpopular president ever. Please take the job and get out of our lives.
JesupDawg
January 19th, 2010
6:20 am
Hopefuly when he hits the road we can get the name changed to Sanford-Dooley now!
puff
January 19th, 2010
6:24 am
As a J School grad, I have despised Adams ever since he ran off Dean Tom Russell and tried to do a mash-up of journalism and speech. Reportedly it was his wife’s idea, she had a speech background. His true colors were evident when he tried to pay for his son’s graduation shindig with Foundation funds, got caught and had to reimburse. Wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw Jeff Owens.
JPDawg
January 19th, 2010
6:38 am
Adams is not now, has never been and will never be a true Dawg. Just another arrogant, pillow-biting Californian. Good riddance Adams….ya jerk!
Spike
January 19th, 2010
6:38 am
Good riddance to this prima donna. Anybody who wants to ban the term “Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” is not getting any more of my alumni money while he is there. The NCAA and Adams deserve each other. I nominate Vince Dooley as UGA president.
Big time?? Not
January 19th, 2010
6:44 am
Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out!
working dawg
January 19th, 2010
7:21 am
I’m a faculty member at UGA and a REAL Georgian. Lived here all my life and earned my degrees here. As a REAL Georgian, I say to the NCAA, “Take my President, please!”
While Mr. Adams may be competent in some ways, he is arrogant and without honor. I would not hire him for any job, but since he is also “in” with the most crooked GA gov. (Sonny) we’ve ever had, this is the fastest way for us to be rid of him. Good luck in your new job Mr. Adams. Please, don’t feel you need to come back and visit us.
F-105 Thunderchief
January 19th, 2010
7:44 am
Please God, yes. Get him the heck out of Athens and slap Dooley’s name on the dang stadium while he’s still with us.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
January 19th, 2010
7:45 am
Good riddance! And take the Gubbernor, too!
willie martinez
January 19th, 2010
7:45 am
i would not at all be disappointed if my former friend Mike left UGA. He’s been the president longer than than anyone I can recall other than Fred Davison. Time to go.
Balderdash
January 19th, 2010
7:46 am
Oh, and Adams is from Chattanooga, which last I checked is not in California.
Bubba
January 19th, 2010
7:50 am
How about some analysis here, Mark? It’s one thing to “report” on speculation and innuendo, and another thing entirely to apply a cohesive analysis. First: Is Adams qualified to do the job? What would he add? Detract? The “Dooley Affair” is a “local” issue, and it should be stated that he “won” the argument, personal feelings notwithstanding. Does that “winning” add to or detract from his ability to lead the NCAA? Harrick is a black mark, yes, but he’s not going to be hiring an NCAA coach.
Substance, Mark. Give us something besides chatter and scuttlebutt.
NXS
January 19th, 2010
7:50 am
This would be almost too good to be true. Adams is as arrogant as they come and runs his administration as his own little fiefdom, paying little to no attention to faculty concerns and adding layers of administrators between him and the people he oversees. Good riddance! It can’t come too soon for most of us who have seen this guy in action at the UGA.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
January 19th, 2010
7:52 am
Adams defenders should get a copy of “Behind the Hedges”, to get the scoop on Adams and all his friends. Sadly, academic interests seem to be his last concern. That’s if you can find a copy that hasn’t been bought up and burned by those in power. I seriously doubt it’s at your local library.
You can read a few intro chapters at Google books, here: http://books.google.com/books?id=wl9DwjdLfrYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Behind+the+hedges&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
F-105 Thunderchief
January 19th, 2010
7:53 am
Adams will probably stay just to tick everyone off. He really is a world class (rhymes with class).
Rosedale
January 19th, 2010
7:58 am
Michael Adams is the worst UGA president of the modern era. Despite his failings, he has been so politically entrenched that shaking him loose from this job hasn’t been possible. So for him to leave for perceived greener pastures would be the best thing to happen to my alma mater.
Rosedale
January 19th, 2010
7:59 am
The NCAA may not hire him, though, until he gets those braces off his teeth.
UGADawg83
January 19th, 2010
8:00 am
Go Mikey and take Damon and his concern for the bottom line over on-field performance with you.
Coach Saban
January 19th, 2010
8:02 am
Here we go again, all the good college presidents around the country are going to get raises.
The Grinch
January 19th, 2010
8:03 am
If Adams truly has “bigger” things than concerning himself with athletics, then tell me why he has been so involved with athletics. You overrule your AD and make a coaching change, then you shove the AD (a UGA legend) out from his job. Perhaps someone needs to tell him he has better things to do than immerse himself in the highly profitable athletic department. The fact that the football program IS so profitable may explain why Adams likes to get so involved.
RGP
January 19th, 2010
8:05 am
Well, I know it was painful for a substantial segment of the population in the State, but Charles Knapp slugged it out and turned UGA in a better direction, academically speaking. Though the bar is pretty low among the SEC institutions (if you ain’t Vanderbilt or Florida, just look it up), there is little doubt that UGA has, over the past twenty years, climbed to a respected position among public universities. If it is ever to even begin to compete with the best of the latter (i.e., UVA, UNC, Michigan, Berkeley, etal), however, it helps to have a President who understands what it takes (a legislature with some brain cells helps as well). If Adams departs, maybe there is a shot that this can happen.
Iron Dawg
January 19th, 2010
8:08 am
When M. Adams wouldn’t talk face to face with some of the basketball team after he’d ended their season early some years ago (a knee jerk, incorrect response I might add), he lost me. I didn’t care for him during the other issues and the fact that he thinks he’s better than most others. The fact that he calls himself a Georgian kind of makes my skin crawl. The NCAA needs someone good and while MA isn’t what I’d put in that class it would be nice for him to GO.
Good Riddance
January 19th, 2010
8:12 am
Michael Adams is one sneaky conniving power hungry ruthless man! I can just imagine how he’d pillage the NCAA. On the other hand he’d be gone from UGA.
It was Michael Adams that was responsible for Jim Harrick. Adams made Dooley hire Harrick. Adams waived UGA’s nepotism rule so that Harrick could hire his son. It was Harrick Jr. that came up with that ridiculous test in that silly class for coaching basketball. It was Adams that overruled the committee that denied Tony Cole entrance into UGA. Tony Cole being the player that got IGA’s basketball team into NCAA trouble. He was originally denied admission for not meeting the minimum academic requirements and the ethical standards by the entrance committee. Harrick then asked Adams to overrule the committee so that he could get Cole on the team. Adams, who was a close friend of Harrick’s since their days at Pepperdine was eager to do so.
Michael Adams IS responsible for UGA’s NCAA probation in basketball from the early 2000’s!!!!
richtfan
January 19th, 2010
8:14 am
please get this turd out of georgia. he is a cancer. and then the new governor needs to replace the board of regents.
vtfalcon
January 19th, 2010
8:14 am
Adams sucks, UGA should ditch him, and the NCAA should shy away.
RE: Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
8:16 am
Benjamin,
You obviously lnow nothing about Michael Adams and UGA. It was Michael Adams that hired Jim Harrick to coach basketball at UGA. They were close friends from their years at Pepperdine. Adams waived the UGA’s nepotism rule so that Harrick could hire Harrick, Jr. Remember Jr’s basketball test. Adams overruled the entrance committee that denied Tony Cole admission to school (upon Harrick’s request) based on his failure to meet the minimum academic requirements. Cole is the sole player involved in UGA’s NCAA probation.
Truth
January 19th, 2010
8:19 am
Michael Adams is the person MOST responsible for Georgia’s basketball team going ob NCAA probation in the early 2000s. How could the NCAA consider such a power hungry unscrupulous man for their top job?
ICMIII
January 19th, 2010
8:20 am
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Mikey.
TZ
January 19th, 2010
8:21 am
As a UGA employee (I’ll just leave it at that) we have had a number of challenges regarding Mr. Adams. I can say in all honesty that UGA is worse, not better, with Mr. Adams than before he arrived. He wants to take credit for academics at UGA when he had nothing to do with the HOPE scholarship and has even supported the reduced allocation in the steering committee. And, although the average SAT score has increased for entering freshman because of the HOPE (not his efforts) it doesn’t mean that our students are receiving a better education. In fact, his dismissal or forced retirement of significant, long-standing, tenured department heads is unconscionable. It is faculty that defines the academic reputation of a university, not the football team or the average ACT/SAT of the student. His recent furlough program further erodes availability of professors, reduces student participation, motivates the best professors to leave, reduces the attractiveness of the university to prospective professors, and is forecasted to reduce the number of research grants received! So, instead of improving UGA’s academic reputation Mr. Adams has done nothing but erode it! And then, you have the less important but still significant debacle with a UGA icon, Vince Dooley. No, Mr. Adams is NOT a DGD! Good riddance indeed!
Biff
January 19th, 2010
8:21 am
Benjamin: Vince Dooley hired David Perno and Mark Richt.
Mark Bradley
January 19th, 2010
8:21 am
By the way, I’ve never been convinced that Adams made Vince Dooley hire Jim Harrick. But Dooley’s first choice — Mike Brey, then of Delaware — was waiting to see if he’d get the Notre Dame job. (He didn’t that year but did a year later when Matt Doherty left after one season to go to North Carolina.) I’ve asked Dooley point-blank if Harrick was Adams’ hire, and Dooley said it wasn’t — the final decision was Dooley’s.
ICMIII
January 19th, 2010
8:21 am
Crap!! I won’t be able to use Adams as an excuse for not contributing to the Georgia Fund anymore.
UGA Alumni
January 19th, 2010
8:23 am
Charles Knapp was the president that built up UGA’s excellent academic rating. It was already in place when Michael Adams arrived. All that Adams has done was create the mess that led to UGA’s NCAA probation in basketball a few years back!!!! Adams has also lost the support of the academic community with his conniving ways!
SimpleDawg
January 19th, 2010
8:27 am
I think the NCAA is the perfect place for an over-blown, self-promoting piece of $#!+ like Michael Adams. How could he f=<% up that mess any worse than it is now? At least he'd be outta our hair….
As for Shalala, are you kidding me? That little gnome needs to stay in Miami where she can blend in with the populace. From which carnival did she escape, anyway?
UGA Alumni
January 19th, 2010
8:27 am
I am sure that Dooley made the final hire of Harrick but not without strong influence from Adams, who was a longtime friend of Harrick’s. I do absolutely blame Adams and Harrick equally for the events that led to the NCAA probation. And Adams not being man enough to face the basketball team players is proof of his lack of character.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 19th, 2010
8:29 am
I will be glad to see him go if its true ,
on a lighter note we better bring Vince Dooley back in some form before he ends up as coach in waiting at UT ! (thats a joke or is it ? )
Ryan
January 19th, 2010
8:46 am
I’d imagine the people who want Adams gone are NOT actually UGA grads.
Look at what the guy has done for UGA’s academic reputation.
Remember when everyone used to think it was easy to get into UGA? It isn’t easy anymore.
As alumni, your school’s academic reputation should always be more important than your football team’s conference standing.
Why? Because, nobody has ever been given a job because their alma mater won the BCS.
46 & 39
January 19th, 2010
8:48 am
Georgia owns Florida, 46 to 39.
Be nice to have a Georgia guy running the NCAA, despite the multiple personalities of the Florida poster here.
We need some pro-Georgia political representation. Might get us into a playoff system where we’d win more Natl Champs outright. Might make sure the ref bias against Georgia is gone. Be pretty cool.
jimmy
January 19th, 2010
8:55 am
lord please bless someone else with mr.adams
DuluthDawg
January 19th, 2010
9:01 am
TZ – thanks for the insider info. We always knew that Adams was bad for UGA athletics, most of us didn’t know that he was harming the school in academics. Just another reason to see this clown move on. Hopefully he will be harmless at the NCAA.
Old Dawg
January 19th, 2010
9:06 am
Darth Adams and his Sith practices need to leave UGA. The Force is obviously not with him!
UGASlobberknocker
January 19th, 2010
9:12 am
Mikey, Please , Just Go. And dont let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 19th, 2010
9:19 am
Michael Adams had an a$$ painting incident occur on his watch. That alone should dispel any notion of NCAA leadership. A$$ painting a little dog just ain’t right. I am still waiting on somebody at the AJC to ask some questions about the a$$ painting. What did Coach Richt know? When did he know it?
frank james
January 19th, 2010
9:21 am
Michael Adams and Jim Harrick deserve each other. They need to be together. I don’t know where that is but Adams needs to go. ( And I mean from UGA and the NCAA).
Otto
January 19th, 2010
9:24 am
Ugh… As much as I’d like to see Adam’s out of UGA I don’t want a pro CFB playoff NCAA Pres.
just the truth
January 19th, 2010
9:32 am
Might as well. He runs the athletic department now. I’ve never seen a college where an AD can’t make a decision without the president having his name attached to it. While I’m aware of the behind the scenes that go on …… this guy is right up there. Damon is only a puppet in front of the person calling all the shots. Unable to make a decision on his own. That’s why he wouldn’t let Dooley stay to the end. He had more cloudt in this state and wouldn’t accept anything less.
123456789
January 19th, 2010
9:38 am
SEC fans of all stripes should be…AFRAID…VERY AFRAID.
Adams as NCAA President would the Kennesaw Mountain Landis of college sports.
Adams has made it RESOUNDINGLY CLEAR for years that he has SERIOUS CONTEMPT
for the way college athletics are handled in general, and the way UGA and the SEC conduct themselves specifically.
If Adams becomes NCAA President, there will be MASSIVE & PUNITIVE changes
in how student-athletes are handled.
The academic requirements for D1 would be significanlty raised ACROSS THE BOARD so that the functionally illiterate type “student-athletes” will no longer be able to make it on to campus.
It will also mean the PERMANENT END of the so-called “Special Admissions” programs at UGA and other places.
FACT: 77% of UGA’s CURRENT FOOTBALL ROSTER is a “Special Admission.”
That means that 77% of the CURRENT UGA FOOTBALL ROSTER is so academically deficient that they fail to meet the MINIMUM academic requirements to be admitted. It requires a SPECIAL ADMISSION REVIEW BY THE PRESIDENT to approve the enrollment.
If Adams becomes NCAA President, the manner in which D1 College Football and the SEC in particular currently conducts itself will be Gone With The Wind.
The ultimate outcome of the Decory Bryant case might even accelerate the process of Adams becoming NCAA President.
Wouldnt surprise me…AT ALL…if a new Adams regime started off…by making an example of UGA.
Adams HATES UGA fans. As NCAA President, he will make UGA and the entire SEC a target of his NEW MANDATE.
Ogeechee Dawg
January 19th, 2010
9:39 am
The cold hard facts are this – UGA Prsident Michael Adams has been an incredibly excellent asset for UGA.
Under Adams tenure:
– UGA’s reputation as a national research university has excelled.
– Is NOW considered a top 25 public university.
– The campus has undergone much needed renovations and beautification projects.
– Athletic spending has incresed exponentially – and recent approved projects will enusre that facilities in Athens are as good as it gets in college athletics.
– Overall athletic success -as a program – at an all time high.
– Besides Mens basketball – overall – UGA is very competitive in alomost all of it’s sports.
– Speaking of mens basketball – massive investment made in practice facility – Stegman is being renovated – and a new coach has been put in place.
– While he gets the blame – and maybe rightfully so – for Jim Harrick – he should get the praise for MARK RICHT. Coach Dooley wanted to keep DONNAN. Adams overruled – Donnan was fired – RICHT was hired.
At the end of the day – not all of his decisions prove popular – but in the long run – look at how much better the university is academically, athletically – and physically – than what it was before he took over.
Adams gets things done – and because of this – there are people out there that will always second guess or be upset.
Dawg Fud
January 19th, 2010
9:41 am
Mark,
you might want to be careful with the term “shoved aside.” Technically, Dooley’s contract ended and he was given a one year extension. Then the extension ended and Adams brought in Evans.
Not saying that I agree with how the situation was handled or taking sides but the fact remains that Dooley’s contract was complete and after given a one year extension was not renewed.
Mark Bradley
January 19th, 2010
9:45 am
Ask Coach Dooley if he felt shoved aside, Dawg Fud. I know what he’d say.
Technophobia
January 19th, 2010
9:51 am
Does he favor a playoff over the BCS?
Mark Bradley
January 19th, 2010
9:57 am
Yes he does, Technophobia. So he’s got that going.
123456789
January 19th, 2010
10:02 am
BTW, according to the publised stats by the Board of Regents,
why does UGA have a 65% Female and 35% Male enrollment profile ??
Shouldnt this look more 50/50 ??
Not aware of another major state-funded University that has an enrollment profile so heavily skewed like this. Or, is there some politically-correct bias to UGA’s admissions process?
Kind of makes you go…Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Bradley, why dont you have the AJC check that for us.
Unless of course, the AJC doesnt want to explore that.
Ogeechee Dawg
January 19th, 2010
10:05 am
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR – Alot of hate going on about ADAMS – here is the other side of the coin:
Under Adams Leadership:
– UGA has heavily invested into research and is now considered a TOP 25 Public University.
– Safety on campus is at it’s best – lower crime rate – beefed up law enforcement that is serious about it’s job and the protection of the students.
– UGA has heavily invested in it’s physical campus – updating and beautifying the entire campus with a short term – mid term and long term plans – which is ongoing.
– Athletic investment – has increased significantly under Adams – again – short term – mid term and long term strategy. UGA practice and training facilites are recognized as some of the best in the country. Still ongoing investments being made.
– UGA athletic department is overall – as successfull as it has ever been in it’s history under ADAMS. More overall national titles during his tenure than any other.
– MENS BASKETBALL is the exception – but NEW STATE OF THE ART facility underscores the investment UGA is making – and STEGMAN is now undergoing renovations – plus – NEW COACH brought on board to make UGA nationally competitive.
– ADAMS – and rightfully so – is part to blame for Harrick and son – but if we go down this road – we need to recognize that HE is responsible for RICHT. Dooley wanted to keep DONNAN.
Overall – UGA is in much better shape financially, physically, academically and athletically under ADAMS. The campus is much more beautiful and safe.
Adams is a mover and a shaker – which pisses people off – and he understands and plays the game of politics – which every GOOD universtiy president better be able to do – or wind up being a puppet for special interest. He holds people accountable – and drives the university with vision and goals.
Again – it takes an arrogant and very stong willed person to cut through the politics – special interest groups – arrogant professors and educators that do not like being reminded that they are government employees and demand tenure – to get things done.
Arrogant?- Yes! – Is UGA better today than when he arrived? YES!
Now I ask you – what is the beef with ADAMS?
Technophobia
January 19th, 2010
10:08 am
Well, if he wants a playoff system and he wants to improve the academic requirements for all NCAA athletes then I’m all for it. Seeing athletes having to work harder in high school to learn and make grades can only be a good thing. Anything to improve education and academic motivation of high school students would be a good thing. As a nation we are falling behind.
Dr. Phil
January 19th, 2010
10:10 am
Adams was not the top candidate for President of UGA. He was railroaded in by the former Chancellor, who tried to remake the University System like that of Great Britain. Mr. Portch replaced every president in the system. Adams, indeed, gave us Harrick and personally admitted the felon, Tony Coles, who is now in a federal prison. Adams should have been fired and prosecuted for using the Foundation as his personal income, including putting his wife on the payroll. He has been protected by Sonny Perdue and the hand-picked Board of Regents. When Sonny goes, Adams will likely go too. Hopefully a new governor will reorganize the Board, which Sonny has fought against over the last two years. Adams has already damaged UGA, and he knows that his days are counted. He has been campaigning like crazy for the NCAA job, and he would love to get his litttle fingers in the NCAA treasury. Adams will likely claim that he has been offered the NCAA post whether he has or not and use that to extort more money from the State like he did with the job at Ohio State, which he was never offered. If you like the NCAA now, you will love it under Adams.
Ogeechee Dawg
January 19th, 2010
10:15 am
Dawg Fud – good comment – Dooley was given an extension – and when his contract ended – Adams wanted to go in a different direction.
AS Univeristy President – that is Adam’s call to make – and personally – I thought Dooley did a great job – but it was time to move on as he became entitled – much like Bobby Bowden at FSU.
No one person is bigger than the institution – and Dooley was becoing UGA athletics – not a servent to athletics.
My point is – I remember money being raised to replace Dooleys roof at his house – and Dooley glad to accept the money. Dooley is worth milllions – which he earned – yet feels that he is entitled to take money to replace his frgging roof? I would have rather seen that money spent on scholarships.
Adams did us a favor by going in another direction – however, Adams did and has kept Dooley in the picture at UGA.
Technophobia
January 19th, 2010
10:21 am
Hey Mark, I’m off subject here but is the AJC going to report on Duke kicking 3 players off it’s football team for “conduct unbecoming”?
Adams Must Go!
January 19th, 2010
10:44 am
If he becomes NCAA president, hopefully he leaves UGa and doesn’t come back! I’m sick of Adams. He ran off Vince Dooley, who will now be supporting Tennesseee with his son getting the coaching job. Hit the road mike and don’t come back!
Dr. Phil
January 19th, 2010
10:54 am
Adams has made it clear that no one is bigger than the institution–except Adams himself.
DaWg
January 19th, 2010
11:52 am
If Adams becomes president, does that = playoffs in college football?
Jimmy Taylor
January 19th, 2010
1:37 pm
I hope Adams leaves and takes the job. He has always put himself first ahead of UGA. Although I have respect for the office of the President of UGA, I have almost zero respect for Adams. He is self-serving, arrogant, and egotisical. Read the book “Behind the Hedges”. It reveals all the poor decisions he has made as President and exposed his lack of leadership.
UGA's Michael Adams as NCAA president? Could happen | Mark Bradley Blog
January 19th, 2010
1:39 pm
[...] UGA's Michael Adams as NCAA president? Could happen | Mark Bradley Tags: ajc, boston-legal, bradley, ceo, georgia, grey, his-protestations, michael, michael-adams, ncaa, role, spirited, the-hard, the-spirited Concurring Opinions » The “It Will Never Happen to Me” MentalityJo's Cafe » Disasters Happen Overnight – Not the HelpWhat Will Happen To Lehman Brothers Stocks? | financial stocks answersDestructoid – Captain Obvious: God of War IV will happenCaptain Obvious: God of War IV will happen| The Game Blog | Daily …Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, Takes Part in a Q&A “Interview” Lecture …Live from Tech-Duke: Something big MIGHT happen | Mark BradleyWhat would happen… « Amy Wrote It TodayThe Lulu Bird: what would happen…Serious Materials' CEO Kevin Surace to Speak at Issues Conference … View the Contact Powered by Blog [...]
Cuz
January 19th, 2010
1:54 pm
Did Buffalo use Parker Executive Search to hire Chan Gailey? Those guys are brilliant.
Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
2:31 pm
RE: RE: Benjamin
See above, and MB’s post. If Vince Dooley still takes the blame for hiring Harrick, even after they had their nasty split, is it Adams’s fault Harrick was hired?
I rest my case.
The point I was trying to make is this, regardless: university presidents have a lot more on their respective plates than handling the athletic department, yet most of the people in here responding to this are doing so out of a clear sports bias; which, I suppose, is fair considering this IS a sports blog/sports discussion. I just wanted to make the delineation that Michael Adams has a lot more to do with his presidential duties than worry about the football program or the basketball program.
The journalism student who posted above — I admit I don’t know anything about that situation, and if you happen to read through on this further, please do let me know what specifically you speak of, as you’ve piqued my curiosity.
- Benjamin
Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
2:35 pm
And, for the record, I grew up bleeding red and black. Love Vince Dooley. Don’t care for Michael Adams for my own reasons…
I just find it odd that so many people judge him solely because of the sports programs that were ran under him. The man’s done a lot for the university.
Benjamin
January 19th, 2010
2:44 pm
Well said, btw, Ogeechee…
Dr Richard Handler
January 19th, 2010
4:44 pm
I said Adams would be the NCAA chief the day Miles Brand passed.
Tampa Dawg
January 21st, 2010
12:37 pm
Ogeechee Dawg and Benjamin:
Have you ever bothered to read Between the Hedges? That book more than anything spells out the numerous financial improprieties and failure of fiduciary duty of Adams.
The very few supporters that Adams has continually throw up the same old smoke screen that he used when the financial audit was first published; it is academics vs. athletics. While there is a small contingent that is just ticked off about his meddling in athletic affairs, I believe the majority of people who have done even a cursory amount of research on the subject disapprove of Adams for non-athletic reasons. Namely his using UGA funds as his own private piggy bank (unless he gets caught and is forced to pay it back) and his mistreatment of UGA faculty.
Once that cancer is removed from UGA I will do cartwheels in the street. While I am concerned about what havoc he might wreak on the NCAA, if that’s what it take to finally pry Megalo Mike out of UGA then I am all for it.
Dr. Seymour Hiney
January 22nd, 2010
12:40 am
Hell, as a Distinguished Prof. of Bootieology at the U. of Georgia, I don’t give a $hit where Adams is or who his replacement may be. As long as the athletic dept. and the admissions office keeps letting all those young, hot gymnasts in…man, those vertically challenged hotties are always a distraction during my lectures..heck, I’d like to roll around with them on the gymnastics mat any time…
UGA's Michael Adams as NCAA president? Could happen | Drakz Free Online Service
January 24th, 2010
1:23 pm
[...] more: UGA's Michael Adams as NCAA president? Could happen Share and [...]
Attention: The anti-Michael Adams crowd will love this one | Mark Bradley
March 29th, 2010
1:43 pm
[...] here we note — as has been noted before in this space – that the firm in question is Parker Executive Search of Atlanta. And here I must also point [...]