APP: Jeff Towers: Rutgers boosters firmly behind Kyle Flood

[bori_blanco]

Honest Question, what would a buyout of Flood & staff cost?

Buyout of Hermann?

How much $$ would be needed to bring in a new Coach, staff & A.D. (Which many feel she & Flood are a package deal)

We're talking significant amount of $$$$ which is why I believe he stays!

 

[DHajekRC84]

I wouldn't mind the program being "set back four years". That would make it 2011, Gary still coaching when we went 9-4 (but lost that brutal game to UConn) but beat Iowa St. in Pinstripe.

 

[superfan01]

I too would support flood if I was the one who had to personally pay his buyout like mr towers does.

 

[KJ_RU]

Either get a worthy replacement or keep the ship afloat. Pretty simple....change for its own sake is suicide.

If we keep Flood we do neither. If you haven't noticed, the ship is sinking.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

I don't read this as Towers at acting at the behest of the AD.

I read it totally differently.

I read it as Towers, the current President of the HCKF fan club, managing the narrative around his boy's job. Towers might not know football, but I'm sure those in his circle know PR. We are notoriously slow footed. If he beats the administration to the punch in the media and defines a "change for change's sake" is bad narrative, they have seized the high ground in the conversation.

They know that HCKF's job security will be fodder in a bye week.

Control the media for these next 10 days, before actual MSU game coverage begins.

 

[Jackson206:)]

Either get a worthy replacement or keep the ship afloat. Pretty simple....change for its own sake is suicide.

And this is the dilemma Nicky, the ship is not afloat with the current captain at the helm. It is taking on water.

 

[RU2055]

I'm not really sure what this post means and I'm certain that your last sentence isn't actually a thing.

Regardless, if you want to generalize and then point fingers, here's one for ya...

The thing the "Fire Flood" people refuse to understand is that the administration has no actual interest in either listening to your opinion or caring about the logic behind it.

This interview with Towers isn't random. His comments weren't made in a vacuum. You don't need x-ray vision to read between the lines.

Barchi isn't spending a dime on a coaching staff.

Arguing about who wants Flood fired and who doesn't is a completely pointless waste of time. PLEASE get that through your head. At this point it's an utter strawman debate. Whether you want Flood fired or I want Flood fired or NUTS wants Flood fired or nobody wants Flood fired is 100%. absolutely, guaranteed, positively irrelevant.

Barchi isn't spending a dime on a coaching staff.

All true. I for one said, odds for Flood to be back despite what the record is, is pretty high for the reasons you enumerated.

Barchi isn't looking at the football program as a source of pride. He sees it as money pit. The concept of spending money to make more money isn't on this supposedly highly intelligent man's radar. Barchi wants Rutgers to become more like Princeton than Michigan. That's a major part of the problem.

This is why Towers has been able to take advantage of the situation. It's perfect for him.

 

[RU4Real]

I don't read this as Towers at acting at the behest of the AD.

I read it totally differently.

I read it as Towers, the current President of the HCKF fan club, is managing the narrative around his boy's job. Towers might not know football, but I'm sure those in his circle know PR. We are notoriously slow footed. If he beats the administration to the punch in the media and defines a "change for change's sake" is bad narrative, they have seized the high ground in the conversation.

They know that HCKF's job security will be fodder in a bye week.

Control the media for these next 10 days, before actual MSU game coverage begins.

I don't think Towers is acting at the behest of the AD because I think that if Julie could find the money she'd fire Flood last week.

I think what this is, is Towers protecting his investment (like you said) because it's the only way he gets to run with the Big Dogs.

He's not the guy who is going to pony up the bucks for a high-caliber replacement. He's on the hook for some percentage of Flood's buyout, but once that check is written, he's got no stain.

Anybody who's spent 5 minutes rummaging through this guy's Twitter account knows that he's built mostly of ego. He's trying to do everything in his power to ensure that his ego remains fed.

 

[MidwestKnights]

Pretty strong support of Flood, says other boosters on board as well. Not sure how true or not that is but he's firmly behind Flood for sure.

I thought his influence might buy Flood a last ditch effort to save himself with results through the end of the season but this sounds like much more than that. How much influence he and others have is the question. Tough balancing act as we've said before, especially with such outspoken boosters.

http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...utgers-football-boosters-kyle-flood/72955866/

The reality is APR has been declining since Flood took over the program. In 2013, Rutgers fell out of the top ten for the first time in six years.

NB was the first RU football player ineligible in something like a decade?

Here are the year over year APR results since 2010

Year Score Rank
2015 980 12
2014 980 10
2013 978 12
2012 982 9
2011 988 2
2010 992 1

Strategic leaders and decision-makers also account for trends and early warning signals.

They also account for reputational risk.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

I don't think Towers is acting at the behest of the AD because I think that if Julie could find the money she'd fire Flood last week.

I think what this is, is Towers protecting his investment (like you said) because it's the only way he gets to run with the Big Dogs.

He's not the guy who is going to pony up the bucks for a high-caliber replacement. He's on the hook for some percentage of Flood's buyout, but once that check is written, he's got no stain.

Anybody who's spent 5 minutes rummaging through this guy's Twitter account knows that he's built mostly of ego. He's trying to do everything in his power to ensure that his ego remains fed.

Got it. I think I took your initial post in a direction it wasn't intended. Where is numbers with a dissertation on imply and infer?

 

[NickyNewark51]

If we keep Flood we do neither. If you haven't noticed, the ship is sinking.

Agreed but believe it or not getting a rent a coach could make it worse...we need a solid well paid HC or wait until we can...i'd do it if i could but I'm not footing the bill. What a wreck our so called Pres Barchi and the resulting AD is at a time we really can't afford it...geeezz. I wish he was as creative with running a university all around as he is at assimilating the med school. Christie...thanks for that.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Honest Question, what would a buyout of Flood & staff cost?

Buyout of Hermann?

How much $$ would be needed to bring in a new Coach, staff & A.D. (Which many feel she & Flood are a package deal)

We're talking significant amount of $$$$ which is why I b
elieve he stays!

Can we please stop throwing JH into the "Flood equation"?

 

[S.B. Crumb]

To Towers, being Flood's friend and the feeling of self-importance that comes with pulling the puppet strings is more important than anything that has to do with RU.

Also, like a previous poster said, he is protecting his investment. I'd be embarrassed too if I set fire to a pile of cash.

He is not one of us and does not care about RU. Other than lining a garbage coach's pockets and trying to weasel into a job on the staff, he's done jack **** to help. He can take a hike.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Wonder how Towers is going to feel about HIS investment if/when the beatdowns begin. The next 2 months - and I pray to God I'm wrong - could be reminiscent of an era we'd all like to forget.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

To Towers, being Flood's friend and the feeling of self-importance that comes with pulling the puppet strings is more important than anything that has to do with RU.

Also, like a previous poster said, he is protecting his investment. I'd be embarrassed too if I set fire to a pile of cash.

He is not one of us and does not care about RU. Other than lining a garbage coach's pockets and trying to weasel into a job on the staff, he's done jack **** to help. He can take a hike.

While I wouldn't go so far as your last comments, I think the sentiment is one that has been kicked back and forth between several of us over the last 2-3 weeks.

What is the role of high profile boosters that are not alums? What are their priorities and are they in synch with the university as a whole?

 

[RUskoolie]

I don't read this as Towers at acting at the behest of the AD.

I read it totally differently.

I read it as Towers, the current President of the HCKF fan club, managing the narrative around his boy's job. Towers might not know football, but I'm sure those in his circle know PR. We are notoriously slow footed. If he beats the administration to the punch in the media and defines a "change for change's sake" is bad narrative, they have seized the high ground in the conversation.

They know that HCKF's job security will be fodder in a bye week.

Control the media for these next 10 days, before actual MSU game coverage begins.

I am willing to bet he was nudged to create an article like that from KF himself.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

Wonder how Towers is going to feel about HIS investment if/when the beatdowns begin. The next 2 months - and I pray to God I'm wrong - could be reminiscent of an era we'd all like to forget.

Regardless of the massaging of the "nice guy" narrative and the ignoring of the APR rate actually falling, Towers won't be able to define the narrative if the team quits on the field.

I think most observant fans can predict how the rest of the season goes, with some debate about the winnability of Indiana and Maryland. But nobody will be able to "nice guy" away how troubling it will be if the team rolls over.

If we get spirited play in blow out losses against MSU, OSU and Wisky, i could probably live with that.

If Michigan and Nebraska are games in the 4th quarter, I could probably even live with that.

If we get punked by Indiana and Maryland, I'll be pretty pissed off--not that that matters, but lol

 

[ruhudsonfan]

I am willing to bet he was nudged to create an article like that from KF himself.

As am I...

Otherwise, why wait? As fans, we've been dying for SOMETHING from SOMEONE, either a booster or an admin, to provide some look into the program, for several weeks.

Why now?

For money, it's to get ahead of the job security stories that will abound during the bye week

 

[RU2055]

To Towers, being Flood's friend and the feeling of self-importance that comes with pulling the puppet strings is more important than anything that has to do with RU.

Also, like a previous poster said, he is protecting his investment. I'd be embarrassed too if I set fire to a pile of cash.

He is not one of us and does not care about RU. Other than lining a garbage coach's pockets and trying to weasel into a job on the staff, he's done jack **** to help. He can take a hike.

DING DING DING ...... winner winner chicken dinner.

More questions: Was Towers a booster before 2012? The day Flood is ever let go, will Towers remain a booster?

Questions are rhetorical BTW, for those whose elevator doesn't go all the way to the top. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

 

[BoogieKnight]

I am willing to bet he was nudged to create an article like that from KF himself.

And there's probably an email to verify it.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

And there's probably an email to verify it.

I think they met in person...in a Starbucks on the outskirts of Drew University...at night

 

[MidwestKnights]

It's kinda ironic that a guy talking about "leadership" an executive success boasts his biggest claim to fame as marrying well.

The only big name booster that matters is Greg Brown. The rest of the handful of "big name boosters" are white noise.

The guy is protecting his access to the coach's office.

Good point.

BTW, does Rutgers have a CEOs council with folks like Brown, Rodkin, Field and others like them on it for athletics and/or u? Seems university-wide issues? That to me that would be a good way to tap into some strategic advice from some folks who have demonstrated leadership and strategic skills. Instead of getting into a game of boosters who support this guy, but not that gal, this gal but not that guy, and so on.

Now that would be a group of supporters to listen to.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

Good point.

BTW, does Rutgers have a CEOs council with folks like Brown, Rodkin, Field and others like them on it for athletics and/or u? Seems university-wide issues? That to me that would be a good way to tap into some strategic advice from some folks who have demonstrated leadership and strategic skills. Instead of getting into a game of boosters who support this guy, but not that gal, this gal but not that guy, and so on.

Now that would be a group of supporters to listen to.

The business school does. I don't know about university wide.

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

We need those non alum boosters, even Towers. But there's a push/pull, give/take, soft touch necessary and there's only so far you can go. The more zeroes on your check the more leeway you may have. As far as I can see, we don't have many if any boosters, who should be so influential as to big foot our AD whoever it is.

It doesn't mean, I don't want these people involved if possible but there's only so far you can bend over backwards. How far you want to go is probably a function of how big a check. If they want to cut ties eventually, well then so be it what can you do. We move on and try to find others hopefully little less outspoken.

But I never rule out getting boosters who aren't alums. Disinterested alums along with local non alums/businesses have been a key in my mind to expanding the pool of donors and that to me is very necessary to really attain new levels of fundraising. I've always said I don't know how much more blood can be ground out of the current stone if it hasn't already materialized after all these decades. To me it has to be from new sources.

From a fundraising article about a year or two ago, weren't about 40% of our donors to the university as a whole, non-alums.? So it's not anything particularly new. Keep on expanding the pool and hopefully you snag a few bigger whales in the process. Like I've repeated about Louisville they tried to do that with attracting influential local women and in turn their husbands to women's basketball games and they weren't fans. They had a non alum but local donor give 5M for a soccer field and he wasn't even a fan of soccer at first. So just got to keep shaking those trees, alum or not, and hopefully some bigger boosters fall out. We know there's tons of money in this area, tapping just a fraction of it is something we have to keep trying to do regardless of where it comes from.

 

[OldManRiver1]

I'd suggest your circle of friends in Yellow should stick to grilling steaks and pairing their wine and cheese.

If they don't follow the program outside of Saturday afternoon, perhaps they aren't qualified to speak definitively on it?

Next time you pass the Grey Poupon over there, ask them if they think the recruiting of the past 3 seasons has been at a level that will make this year a "cyclical" blip. If they answer anything other than NO, we have our answer...

What qualifies you to speak definitively to the contrary?
Not being a wiseass...just curious to know what your qualifications are.

 

[wheezer]

did not wade through everything here, but:

we are better off right now with reports of Floods job being supported by donors and the university than those two segments saying his job is at risk.

He is not going to be fired during the season

so, which way would you rather have it?.....open talk by donors and administration that he is in trouble, our verballed recruits more
worried about his status, players worrying about their coach and their own future here?

or should we not have what appears to be a stable situation by declarations of support?.....

the haters can hope that it is all a smokescreen if they wish....but we, as a program, are better off this way, right now....

 

[MidwestKnights]

The business school does. I don't know about university wide.

Interesting.

 

[wheezer]

Duplicate post.... Nt

 

[ruhudsonfan]

What qualifies you to speak definitively to the contrary?
Not being a wiseass...just curious to know what your qualifications are.

I was all City for my Pop Warner team

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

So he doesn't want to hire someone who would view Rutgers as a stepping stone; prefers to stick with a coach who would never ever be offered another D1 HC position.

Sound logic there. Guy sounds like a real deep thinker.

 

[RU2055]

Something to consider (the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel).

When the losses starts piling up and the beat downs start getting worse, I can totally see Delaney having a talk with Barchi.

Towers isn't the only one with an investment in Rutgers.

 

[RU in IM]

Barchi will get what he pays for

Why choose a photo of halftime during a game where it was pouring rain, and not post a picture of the student section during the Penn State and Michigan games? I guess you felt the need to take the same slanted approach as the Star Ledger.

 

[OldManRiver1]

I was all City for my Pop Warner team

Good we're on even footing...I was waterboy for the JV HS team.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Why choose a photo of halftime during a game where it was pouring rain, and not post a picture of the student section during the Penn State and Michigan games? I guess you felt the need to take the same slanted approach as the Star Ledger.

Or show a photo of the student section this past weekend, half-empty, on an absolutely beautiful Homecoming Saturday.

 

[WhiteBus]

Jeff Towers is firmly behind keeping Flood so he wont have to pay for the buyout. When they say it not about the money, ITS ABOUT THE MONEY!

 

[ruhudsonfan]

The culture surrounding the program is just not developed to the point that the student section will be filled, regardless of on field performance and/or opponent.

Hopefully, many of us live long enough to see the day that changes.

 

[OldManRiver1]

Or show a photo of the student section this past weekend, half-empty, on an absolutely beautiful Homecoming Saturday.

Maybe because there was $100k in it for them :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
I was at PS last week with a friend and his kid that goes to RU...I told him look at PS student section and look at this weeks RU student section...pathetic was his answer...albeit, Kansas doesn't get a rise out me either....but still pathetic.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

Jeff Towers is firmly behind keeping Flood so he wont have to pay for the buyout. When they say it not about the money, ITS ABOUT THE MONEY!

While I would never say it's not all about the money, for Towers I also think it's largely about the access and ego.

For me, it's a bird in the hand position. He knows he has access now. He doesn't know if he'll have the same access with the next guy.

 

[RUBOB72]

I'd say you're right: the attitude of this board hasn't properly reflected that of the "full fan base." Most people I know have wanted Flood gone since early 2013. As a matter of fact, OFF of these boards, I'd say maybe 10% of the fans I know actually like Flood.

Also, re: the rest of your post, IF you really think this is just a "down year," then I guess you believe we have 3 classes FILLED with "diamonds in the rough" and aren't paying attention to the serious lack of quality depth out there right now, and if so - great, that's your opinion, you have the right - but I wanna talk to you about my new offshore betting line.

You really are something else NUTS..."Most people I know wanted Flood gone since early 2013...as a matter of fact , OFF of these boards, I'd say maybe 10% of the fans actually like Flood." ...this board is made up off armchair , Monday morning QB's who love self flagellation...the fact is simple ...the same complainers now were the same complainers back in early Greg Schiano...those folks wanted a B1Gtime coach...since we had no $$$$ then and still don't they wish to assume Flood will be gone after the season even if we win only 3 games... in the famous words of Mr. Corso" , just wait a minute there"...there is a very good chance Flood will be here in 2016 unless there are more issues going forward...

 

[WhiteBus]

While I would never say it's not all about the money, for Towers I also think it's largely about the access and ego.

For me, it's a bird in the hand position. He knows he has access now. He doesn't know if he'll have the same access with the next guy.

I'm pretty sure writing a check for $1.4 million is more on his mind than access to a crappy program.