President Michael Adams tenure has been a divisive one to say the very least. Photo: ESPN
I like to be up front and honest on my site so I’ll go ahead and say that I’m not now, nor have I ever been, a Michael Adams fan. While I wholly respect the progress he’s made in building the academic reputation of my alma mater, I hate that he’s done it on the back of the athletic department (i.e. Georgia Football) whilst simultaneously crapping all over the role they’ve played in advancing his efforts.
So, when I heard he was on his way out at the end of the fiscal year, I can’t exactly say I was shedding tears of sadness at the thought. He’s had a good run, made lots of fans mad along the way, and now he can go do…whatever it is he plans to do.
However, until said time comes, he isn’t done flapping his gums. Nope, he’s still throwing words into the wind and seeing who’s listening; aren’t you just dying to hear what he has to say?
…“(The university’s athletic interests) are increasingly dominated nationally by media and entertainment organizations and their values. We have worked hard to improve the balance, but it is a constant battle,” said Adams, who steps down as UGA president June 30.
“The academic establishment has to control the athletic establishment, not the other way around [emphasis added]. Last year’s troubling news out of Penn State made that quite clear.”
While he was on athletics, Adams also argued against making Sanford Stadium into a bowl in any future expansions. “I believe the west end should remain open. The visible interconnection with and view of the central campus is more than just a pretty scene. It is a powerful statement about the appropriate place of athletics at a great public university,” [emphasis added] he told a crowd of students, UGA workers and townspeople gathered in the UGA Chapel.
“I will come back and haunt the president and athletic director who close the west end of the stadium.”
Again, I will give Adams his due for what he did to advance academia, but as a west coast guy, he clearly didn’t appreciate the role football plays at the University of Georgia—particularly as an SEC school. As a result, he often ended up disrespecting the very fan base that made much of his success possible; I cannot tell you the sheer number of alumni I’ve had the pleasure of knowing who stopped contributing after one of Adams’ questionable moves (the force-out of Vince Dooley, the force-in of Jim Harrick, the circumvention of a large chunk of athletic department funds in order to serve his own purpose, and don’t even get me started on the tailgating changes).
I wish him well but, as my grandmother used to say (and pardon my french), ‘don’t let the door hit yo’ ass on the way out’.
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As a “born & raised” Ga. boy” I appreciate the straight-
fowardness of your comments. Let’s hope the next Pres.
has both an understanding and committment to a staunch
athletic program. And as a closing note, I am still pissed
about the S. Carolina game ! Be well and keep those cards and letters coming……. Respectfully,
– “Well, your mom’s got some tampons in the bathroom, if you want to try those too…”
“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in
abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor,
comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.” ~Rudolph
Giuliani