As he exits UGA, Adams should rename stadium for Dooley
Vince D. and Mike A., good buddies of long standing, share a hearty laugh. (AP photo)
Michael Adams is set to leave the University of Georgia in June 2013, which would mean he’ll have outlasted Vince Dooley by nine years. In the overheated summer of 2003, it wasn’t clear who would lose (or win, depending on your slant) the race to be last out the door.
At an institution of higher education, there was little edifying about their bitter struggle. Dooley, the athletic director, wanted to stay a little longer. Adams, who could never give a compelling reason as to why Georgia needed a new AD, wanted this one gone. Two smart and powerful men were reduced to bickering over half-years.
Dooley loyalists rallied, and such was their outrage that it seemed possible the president would be forced out before Dooley. But Adams managed to hold his job, mostly because he was, as a college president, delivering the goods. Dooley left quietly on June 30, 2004, to be succeeded by Damon Evans, and the bizarre saga reached its end.
Dooley lost his job but claimed overwhelming victory in the court of public opinion. He stamped himself as the wronged party, and when he gave the nod for his supporters to cool it — the 2003 summer convocation of the Bulldog Club of Greater Atlanta had been an embarrassment of pro-Vince overkill — he came away as statesmanlike. In the years since, Dooley has taken solace in having weakened his nemesis on campus and off. (If not for the memory of the Dooley feud, Adams might have received greater consideration to succeed Myles Brand as NCAA president.)
To say that the two men hated one another would not be overstating. Dooley considered Adams a meddler and a hothead, and Adams resented Dooley for trying to use a moment of presidential weakness — the AD asked for a contract extension not long after Adams had run off football coach Jim Donnan — as personal leverage. To suggest that either man has forgotten, much less forgiven, is a stretch.
Asked by colleague Chip Towers for a reaction to Adams’ announced departure, Dooley offered this beautifully meager kiss-off: “First of all, I commend President Adams on his retirement, his service and his contributions to the University of Georgia. I do believe it is time for a change and I look forward to the Bulldog Nation uniting under new leadership in the near future.”
Note that commendation for Adams’ “retirement” came two spots ahead of any note of his “contributions.” Note also that “time for a change” came in Sentence No. 2.
Dooley has always taken pains to note that Adams’ doctorate is in political communication, as if the only game the president had ever mastered was one that valued style over substance. But here’s where Dr. Adams can spring the ultimate bit of political jiu-jitsu: As a parting gift, he can name the football stadium after his adversary.
There were those of us who believed that should have happened a decade ago, but there was no way Adams would grant that favor at a time when Dooley’s forces were trying to get him fired. But now it’s 2012, and there could be no gesture more statesmanlike that this.
The school did affix Dooley’s name to the facilities on the southwest corner of campus in 2008, but that was thin gruel: It involved little more than transporting a statue someone had already made and holding a dedication ceremony on the morning Georgia played Tech. (Further indignity: Tech won the game.) Asked back then about naming the stadium for Dooley, Adams sniffed that the stadium “already has a name.”
But few Bulldogs fans would recoil at the notion of Sanford Stadium becoming Sanford-Dooley Stadium. (I’m of the opinion that “Dooley-Sanford Stadium” would sound funny. But maybe that’s just me.) It would be the right way to honor the greatest figure in the school’s athletic history, and it would be the right political move for a president who hasn’t always been seen as presidential.
Honoring his enemy would be a way for Adams to show that, this once if not always, he’s capable of being the bigger man. It would enhance Dooley’s legacy, but it would burnish Adams’ more. If this president left today, he’d be known as the guy who was right on academics but wrong in his handling of a popular AD. If he leaves after renaming the stadium for that AD, he’d become the guy who, in his final act, was wise enough to admit he’d gotten one big thing wrong.
That would, as even Dooley would be forced to admit, be one heck of an exit line.
By Mark Bradley
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529 comments Add your comment
James
May 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
It was all about power!! Adams wanted it and Dooley had it.
Vince The Prince
May 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
Let’s take it up a notch and diversify the name and show the rest of the world that Athens is really not that red. Let’s go with Sanford-Lindsey Scott, or Sanford-Walker or maybe even Sanford-Caleb King Stadium…..yeal I really like that last one.
Thomas
May 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Why name it Sanford-Dooley, I personally like having it stay as Sanford Stadium. Why do we want to follow in the footsteps of Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, etc. by having a double named stadium. Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium is good.
a country boy can survive
May 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Outstanding post ee.
Vince The Prince
May 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Jusst drop the Sanford part and rename it “Cell Block C” or “Recreational Yard 23.”
Taylor Wooten
May 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
I think i would call it….Sanford Stadium at Dooley Field in between the Richt hedges with the Herschel Walker Scoreboard.
All this naming stuff….is a ridiculous. Just leave it alone!
Charliedawg
May 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
It would make him the bigger man, but it will not happen. His ego is too big which has been his main issue all along.
Game Changer
May 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
Why do people have to name anything after themselves or someone else, to me it just shows a sign of weaknesses and lack of reality that once a person dies, no one gives a damn except immediate family members. Why not name the stadium UGA 5, 6, 7, 8 for all the mascots Richts gave heartattacks. How about: Athens Clarke County Pen Field, Illiterate Field.
Joel Eaves meant more to the University of Georgia than any other individual since the 1960’s. Russell meant the second most to the University of Georgia since the 1960’s. Mark Bradley, you are trying to cause trouble where no trouble exist and your lack of knowledge about UGA jumps out at long time UGA alums. Poor choice for an article, try something else.
a country boy can survive
May 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
I like the rec yard 23 idea.
bob from smyrna
May 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
Tech man here who will ignore the dawg fans that measure life by wins, especially over tech. Have great respect for Coach Dooley and his family, and think naming the stadium after him would be very nice. I especially like Mr Dooley’s support of the academics at UGA and his continuing PR work for the school. E.g. meetings with fans, donation of signed footballs to charities, etc. Especially like that his family was very much interested in improving lives through education: e.g his degree in English, his son Derek’s law degree, yet, looking at his dad’s example, going into coaching. But again, that is just my two cents worth: being a Tech fan and thinking that wins are not everything, is probably beyond the comprehension of many posting negative comments about Dooley here.
I dropped my fried twinkie
May 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
Herschel Walker Field @ Sanford Stadium make more sense.
Vampire Bill
May 4th, 2012
1:07 pm
On second thought ADAMS-SANFORD
cantondawg
May 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
What about Erk Russell. To alot of UGA fans, Dooley would have been nothing without Erk. Erk proved that he could win NC without Dooley. After HW left, Dooley proved he couldn’t do anything but be average with HW or Erk. Erk was there 17 years and at least deserves a statue.
Flo- Ri- Duh
May 4th, 2012
1:09 pm
The stadium already has a name. Find something else if you have to name something after Dooley. Maybe a street on campus.
Twin D
May 4th, 2012
1:10 pm
Obviously you’re preaching to a home crowd on a sports blog, but Michael Adams did more for UGA than Vince Dooley ever thought of doing. I take pride in my UGA degrees because of the commitment to academics fostered by great leaders such as President Adams. Ask yourself this, would you trade your UGA degree for an Alabama or Kentucky degree? They are the reigning champions on the field but not in the classroom. Remember which one is MOST important.
bitter dontavouis cesar H. WALKER
May 4th, 2012
1:10 pm
the greatest coach in my time——vince the only SEC coach with winning record against??
——————————— “the–BEAR”
James
May 4th, 2012
1:11 pm
Evil empire<
Guess your a tech fan, Please remember UNDEFEATED AND UNTIED!…By the way a tie is when you do not win!
bitter dontavouis cesar H. WALKER
May 4th, 2012
1:11 pm
DR. fat a_$$—-VS——the ex marine—————–no contest
bamdog
May 4th, 2012
1:14 pm
You’ve got to be an idiot, not to recognize that no other person, living or dead, has exceeded Dooley’s overall contribution to the UGA legacy. In addition to being one of America’s best college coaches for 25 years, he could not have possibly represented The University with any more class, character, and dignity.
Yet, nearly all other sec stadiums carry the name of a former coach, most of whom’s contributions can’t match Dooley’s to UGA.
Simply put, he was not only a great coach, but was and remains a great man.
It is a horrific injustice, if not a crime, that his name is not on the Stadium, simply because we had the misfortion of having Adams as school president.
Vince The Prince
May 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
I like Sanford Stadium, and Spurrier field, since the Ole Ball Coach always dominates between the hedges.
a country boy can survive
May 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
The interrogation room at Clarke County Sherrif’s Office probably could be named after a former (or present) dawg, since yall are so fired up about naming something. Lord knows there have been plenty visits by UGA athletes there.
Dacula Dawg
May 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
I will not missing seeing M Adams ugly, Donald Trump like haircut once he is out of the limelight. (and as a guy who has accepted his baldness gracefully, I am allowed to make that comment)
AP
May 4th, 2012
1:16 pm
One thousand yes votes for Vince Dooley’s name being added to the stadium or field.
evil empire
May 4th, 2012
1:17 pm
hey james…sounds like the crown fits…you wear it well my loser friend…
I dropped my fried twinkie
May 4th, 2012
1:18 pm
It took an AUBURN MAN to get UGa a MNC. Call it War Dooley Field
a country boy can survive
May 4th, 2012
1:19 pm
Why not name it after Fred and Lamont?
James
May 4th, 2012
1:21 pm
Evil Empire>>
TRUTH HURTS
FLA DAWG
May 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
Mark,
Is this solely your idea or is there some real talk of this in Athens?
If so, any feel for which way it would go?
May I add that it is high time Adams left. As far as I am concerned we’ll have three down (Martinez, Evans and Adams) and two to go (Bobo and Richt). Of course this is just my opinion.
JB
May 4th, 2012
1:25 pm
Dooley will always have the heart of us living because he OWNED Florida.
Tom
May 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
Well Vince didn’t do himself any favors with his quip, but I guess getting in a zinger is worth the price of admission.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
May 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
Hell to the NO !
To Ozzfest
May 4th, 2012
1:28 pm
UCLA came to Athens, and got beat, then proceeded to buy their way out of the return trip to LA the next year. You made it sound like the Bruins had a one year deal to come to Georgia, and no return trip.
jarvis
May 4th, 2012
1:31 pm
RIP MCA
I feel old.
Al
May 4th, 2012
1:31 pm
Why should Dooley’s name be considered? How about Field of Dreams. Thats all UGA does is dream
gdawginkalamazoo
May 4th, 2012
1:32 pm
I dropped my fried twinkie
May 4th, 2012
1:18 pm
It took an AUBURN MAN to get UGa a MNC. Call it War Dooley Field
AND your Auburn field is named after a BULLDOG!!!!!!
To Evil Empire
May 4th, 2012
1:32 pm
I have gone back and looked at your posts.
How sad, you are just a provoker with a keyboard!!
Al
May 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Mickey Mouse Stadium. For all of the Disney Dawgs. Ears up!!
evil empire
May 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
how can i redeem myself in your eyes?
Mighty low standards
May 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
The man wins one national title in 25 years of coaching and gets a stadium named after him. And his only title was in a season of playing only 3 teams that had winning records and a not so great ND team in a bowl game. You gotta be kidding?
Mash
May 4th, 2012
1:36 pm
No. Renaming Sanford stadium after Dooley would be a terrible idea. He acted like a child by changing his mind about his retirement date after Dr. Adams had already lined up the first black AD in the SEC. Dooley could have acted gracefully like an adult, but instead opted to make a mountain out of a mole hill by taking his “fued” with Adams public. His actions did nothing but tarnish both men and bring shame to UGA.
Besides that, he simply wasn’t a good enough coach to rename the stadium after him. In his decades of coaching, he managed 1 championship and that came when he happened to have the best RB college football has ever seen. He had Hershel for 3 years but only won 1 title and zero titles in the 40+ years without Hershel.
Rickster
May 4th, 2012
1:37 pm
Can’t you see the thought bubble over Vince’s head? “One of these days I’m gonna take this fist and….”
Douglas
May 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
I agree with Lowcountry Dawg — Munson was bigger than Dooley…hell, Erk Russell was bigger than Dooley!
legacy
May 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
I agree, stadium already has a name, keep the tradition.
However, Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium is a great idea!
In addition to, Walker End-Zone and Richt Sideline.
JB
May 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
Mighty. Times change. New history is always being created. Florida sucked for 50 years before Spurrier went on a run. Recent history has Florida NOW a football power. Wasn’t always that way. Look at Tech and Bobby Dodd. Every Tech man over 50 holds him dear. My point, for Dooley’s time, Georgia was a pretty good football program.
Hugh Howard
May 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium is something I have wanted since Coach Dooley retired as coach. I remember speaking with Coach Hartman once about this. It is a great idea to honor a great coach and an even better man
kathie
May 4th, 2012
1:41 pm
Dooley saw what Adams was right off – an egotistical sociopath and Dooley then did the “not retire now but later” thing in the hopes it would be the ouster of Adams – Dooley was not dumb but took a calculated risk to get rid of Adams for the betterment of UGA.
In long run, Dooley has won out – handled the entire situation like the gentleman Adams could never nor would be.
yall cray
May 4th, 2012
1:42 pm
I like the field naming idea, but would rather wait until Richt wins his 1st NC here in the next couple years, then reel off a few more years of dominance and name the field after him. When its all said and done, Richt will have the best record of any of the former coaches and will have done more on the field as well. Richt Field @ Sanford Stadium.
JB
May 4th, 2012
1:43 pm
I have also heard the stories of how Dooley was an A$$hole and tough. Working pretty good for a guy at Bama now also. Most successful coach’s are.
JB
May 4th, 2012
1:44 pm
yall cray. You’ll be waiting awhile. 11 years and ain’t sniffed one.
Elvis
May 4th, 2012
1:46 pm
The one thing Adams got right was to Get Dooley OUT, and keep his conies at bay. And “Dooley” and “statesmanlike” are oxymoron! Vince Dooley and Jimmy Carter are brothers separated at birth. They are the two most self promoting people you will ever meet. Check that, they will fight it out for 2nd place after Dooley wife! And as for Dooley ending the “convocation of the Bulldog Club of Greater Atlanta,” I believe that was done only AFTER Joe Frank Harris told them they would no longer have anything else to do with the University. THEN, and ONLY THEN, did you see this “statesmanlike” move by Dooley. It was his ONLY move! Adams may be an a$$, but the fact he got Dooley out, we own him a great deal for this!!!