Gragg background
- Thread starter Medill '03
- Start date
Agreed 100%
It's also telling that the reason we are in this mess is because Dr. Jim gave Collins a crazy extension that looks worse every day. Hindsight is 20/20, but Gragg's hands are really tied given the circumstances he inherited from Dr. Jim.
That being said, I still wish he would move on from Collins, but some historical context is needed for why he hasn't.
That's a worthwhile question, and it deserves far more discussion that either of us can give it on a college football message board, but it has to do with how Black people are seen in this country and the current power structure inside college sports and out. If some rando on a message board speculates that TechTim got his job in part because he is white, it will likely be no threat to his status as the rest of the message board chuckles a bit. If, on the other hand, people refer to Dr. Gragg as a reflexive diversity hire following the Polisky fiasco, that calls into question his credibility as the first Black AD (Vice President of Athletics and Recreation) in Northwestern history.
There's just too much fraught history here to pretend that we will all be on equal footing any time soon.
Meh, I don't know anything about the new AD. I didn't know he was black and it doesn't matter.
I'm interested in results, and I'm willing to give the guy the year to put some out there.
Perhaps if the team hits the portal, or some other tragedy strikes, the AD will make a statement inre Collins, otherwise I think his silence in his statement.
I'm interested in results, and I'm willing to give the guy the year to put some out there.
Perhaps if the team hits the portal, or some other tragedy strikes, the AD will make a statement inre Collins, otherwise I think his silence in his statement.
Agreed, why should he say anything? We have a coach under contract for 3 more years, and Gragg's under no pressure to make the change - yet. Not enough people are going to scream about Collins coming back, and, although most of us are pretty sure we are not going to improve, it's unlikely that Collins will do irreparable damage. He's probably thinking - let the new Prez get her feet under her, if Collins makes an unlikely recovery - great. If not: "If he falls, fine, if not, the sword"
We're all anxious to see NU get competitive in football and men's hoops and Gragg is at the wheel. This hiatus of getting to know everybody is over. But it sure looks like we'll be waiting at least one more season before NU addresses its big problems in football and mens' hoops, so we'll stay anxious. Could easily turn into two more seasons.
Good observation that his hands are tied with Fitz' status as demigod and CC's extended contract. After CC took the team to the tournament, he looked like a savior and I can understand why he got the lavish extension.
His hands were not tied in baseball, though. The kind of guy I hoped for would have been on that first thing... make a statement with some dynamic leadership. Wonder why nothing happened.
I wish Gragg well. If he does well, NU will be competitive again. He's got one of the toughest AD gigs anywhere.
Good observation that his hands are tied with Fitz' status as demigod and CC's extended contract. After CC took the team to the tournament, he looked like a savior and I can understand why he got the lavish extension.
His hands were not tied in baseball, though. The kind of guy I hoped for would have been on that first thing... make a statement with some dynamic leadership. Wonder why nothing happened.
I wish Gragg well. If he does well, NU will be competitive again. He's got one of the toughest AD gigs anywhere.
I really don’t follow baseball but it’s odd the head coach is still under an interim title. Not sure what to make of that.
I don’t think many care about his skin color. I think many care about his ability to do the job. I have no idea if he will be good or below average. He deserves an opportunity to implement his stamp on the program. The reason a lot of people are questioning him ( at least according to some) is because he is VERY low profile. He might be moving mountains, but it is difficult to tell. I believe the wheels were already in motion in the RYAN Field rebuild before Cragg got here. It would be nice is there was a few public updates on the department each year. JP was on sports radio or in media print Fairly often. That just seemed reassuring as a fan. As a fan, I wish he put himself out there more.
In the absence of direct communication folks will turn to other information sources such as the Tulsa board or a secondary sources. I think folks just want to get to know him and understand his vision for the athletic department. I don't expect him to call me directly but any communication would be a a great way to introduce himself and what he wants to accomplish at NU. NU holds a special place in may peoples hearts and they want to know how he will continue to build this department.
Also had to navigate a steep buyout situation with that firing. Athletic department at Mizzou isn’t flush with cash but somehow was able to get it done…
The opportunity cost of not firing Collins for one year is likely much greater than one year of his buyout cost. Too bad NU doesn’t have a top bschool to help the administration understand that concept. After all, the NU administration under Morty managed to completely screw up its budget despite having $60k tuition and one of the largest endowments in the country.
I did not say that being white is the *reason* that techtim got his job — I simply stated that being white made his path easier. It’s, in general, easier to be white.
I wrote that techtim should ‘eff himself’ because any person writing that someone got a job strictly due to his skin color is in fact, an ***.
I would surmise that techtim has never dealt with anybody assuming he got his job because he’s white.
Gragg, a Division One athletic director for 15 years, deals with comments like that every day. It’s simply not right.
Gragg was not NU’s first choice. He might be a terrible hire.
NU had interest in and interest from numerous candidates with better records of achievement at bigger programs, but chose to disrespect those candidates — making known their diversity bona fides over the course of months before hiring the white guy that was identified as the top candidate all along, despite his obvious negatives (the lawsuit, an empty W-R, a non-academic background). NU botched everything about Dr. Jim’s succession.
But Gragg is qualified for the job, and should be judged on his merits. He’s earned his seat at the table.
It’s a shame that some assh*les believe he’s a charity case.
(The only good thing here is that techtim, who I can surmise is a jerk, has not chosen to defend himself.)
Actually, he might have been. He told NU he wasn't interested when first approached, before the Polisky hiring. He certainly was on the "short list" of candidates.
My 40 years in a less than progressive city and a slow to adapt profession paints a much different picture. Same thing with the schools and employers I and my 4 adult children have attended and worked for. Since the early 80s to the present I have witnessed a consistent practice of hiring, retention and promotion heavily geared toward the following hierarchy:
1.Black Women.
2.Black Men.
3.Brown Women.
4.Brown Men.
5.Asian Women
6.White Women
7.Asian Males
8.White Males
Demand has far exceeded supply for even minimally "paper" qualified black men and women. The top 6 in the hierarchy all have it much easier in today's workforce than the bottom 2.
My youngest son hit the white male promotion ceiling at P&G after just 6 years. Moved his family to Pittsburgh and then Chicago to move up at Kraft Heinz, only to hit another, newly installed white male ceiling. And is now working for a family owned business with less rigid ceilings for white males. Hardly the "easier" path you describe.
GOUNUII
It is, of course, deeper than the "promotion path". I'm an OWG and I'm the first to admit that there were certain advantages that I have. For one thing, even though I grew up in the rural south, my primary/secondary education was tremendously better than the laughable attempts that big cities give to educating kids. Housing, healthcare, public safety, all better for me than if I'd been in a disadvantaged group. More generally, I can walk down the street with a friend and not appear threatening to passers-by.
The remaining problem is that these Diversity initiatives, while addressing a specific concern, do nothing to address the endemic problems in disadvantaged communities today - education, health, housing, crime, nutrition. Put it this way - I made a trip to Cuba 5 years ago. Cuba is as backward a country as there is in the Western Hemisphere, and US citizens love to talk about how much better our system is. It generally is - except for those in disadvantaged US communities. In Cuba, nearly everyone is poor; however, their level of education, health care, nutrition and public safety are all better than in US inner cities. And for every individual that somehow "gets out" of that community, there are probably 50 that dont.
If I were younger, very poor and forced to choose between Cuba vs East or West Baltimore? Gimme Cuba
I see 13 of 34 white males here.
I see 12 total females here.
I see 2 black males, 5 Asian males, and 4 Hispanic males. (I’ve double counted here.)
Moreover, your son — born to a highly-intelligent lawyer, given access to the best public or private schools, with limited post collegiate debt — had countless advantages to his upbringing. Unlike someone like Derrick Gragg, he didn’t need athletics as an escape hatch, he doesn’t need to change who he is at work, he’s never had someone whisper behind his back that he’s only in his job because of his skin color, and his success in life was significantly achieved because of his upbringing and community, and not in spite of those things.
Corporations are in the business of maximizing shareholder value. They’ve got DEI goals, of course, because data has shown that diverse companies maximize value better than more homogenous ones.
Is it possible that he simply wasn’t as good as those who were promoted ahead of him? Is it possible didn’t build relationships with influential people? I don’t know. I wonder if he changed his approach between companies. As
Coach Walker said, I hope he arrived at Heinz a thumb-pointer and not a finger-pointer.
It is probable, based on his upbringing, that people find his sense of entitlement, arrogance, humorlessness and victim complex off-putting.
(I know. I miss it, too.)
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I too, hope he can mustard the energy to ketchup with the rest of society, and kraft a strategy to become an A-1 employee.
Carry on.
I don't think I've heard this phrase before and I really really like it, thanks to you and Coach Walker.
You are taking your limited anecodotal view and projecting it to the rest of the country.
"According to Fortune in 2020: "Nearly 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs are white men, a staggering figure. Only one is a Black woman (though there will be a second when Thasunda Brown Duckett becomes CEO of TIAA on May 1). Globally, women occupy a mere one in five seats in the boardroom."
Link is here: Fortune
With 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs being white males, I hardly see a "ceiling"
I haven't commented up until now because first it would be pointless given the anger and second I don't feel a need. However, just this one exception. I didn't say Gragg was selected because he was black or suggest that he was unqualified. I did suggest that the pool of candidates was drastically reduced after Polisky (spl?) was let go due to what I believe, and likely what much of the NU community believed, was a decision by NU to hire on an "equity" basis. My understanding is this reduced pool in today's world could include any number of groups - different races other than Caucasian, females, gays, transgenders, etc. I believe, given that decision, NU selected what they believe is the best candidate they could find. NU elected to reduce the pool so they have to live with the consequences - good or bad. Whether Gragg succeeds or not, who knows. I wish him success because first it is good for the community and second because it is a great personal story of overcoming difficult circumstances.
My own circumstance involved growing up in a very large lower middle class family, single parent, who's "ancestral" home is now either abandoned or a drug den in a very rough part of town. I was blessed to have a parent that valued education plus receiving a full ride to NU. My early career was of a type and time when minority and female competition for all practical purposes was non-existent. Much later in my career, when I was a senior executive in a very large corporation - a time when equity concepts were only just beginning in the corporate world - promotions were very much predicated on giving preferences to groups other than mine. It never affected me, however, as I moved on for unrelated reasons. All of my career jobs - other than the first one which involved making application at an employment window - came about because I knew someone and the needs were very specific to my experience.
My own circumstance involved growing up in a very large lower middle class family, single parent, who's "ancestral" home is now either abandoned or a drug den in a very rough part of town. I was blessed to have a parent that valued education plus receiving a full ride to NU. My early career was of a type and time when minority and female competition for all practical purposes was non-existent. Much later in my career, when I was a senior executive in a very large corporation - a time when equity concepts were only just beginning in the corporate world - promotions were very much predicated on giving preferences to groups other than mine. It never affected me, however, as I moved on for unrelated reasons. All of my career jobs - other than the first one which involved making application at an employment window - came about because I knew someone and the needs were very specific to my experience.
I have seen too many cases of children failing under the many burdens of growing up in a family with educated, professionally successful parents and financial means. It is a double edged sword to be sure. Conversely, I have seen many examples of the best, most successful parenting in families with significant life challenges. Indeed, it is often those challenges that spur the greatest success stories. For all you know Mr. Bragg is grateful for his upbringing because of the role it played on his journey to a highly coveted and financially lucrative leadership position. I know I am. And our upbringings had similarities.
My son didn't take just any job recently. He was hired at the age of 35 to replace the current, soon-to-retire CFO of a privately held company with revenues in the billions, worldwide operations and thousands of employees. His primary charge is to help change the culture of the company. No small task requiring a rare skill set in addition to the skills necessary to do the nuts and bolts of the job. Let me share with you why I am certain he was chosen from among a "best and the brightest" international field. It may help you in your own parenting.
1. He knew from a young age what it meant to have his own skin in the game. Started his own business at the age of 12, on his own initiative, and did it all himself so he had more skin to put in the games that were important to him.
2.Learned at an early age that life isn't fair when he was diagnosed with an incurable disease and suffered recurring complications requiring extended hospitalizations and daily self care. He missed a lot of school. So much so that his HS recommended taking a leave of absence and graduating a year late. He said screw that. No self pity. No victimhood. He dug in and painfully climbed the mountain, graduating on time.
3.He and his family have lived in 3 homes. He built all 3 from the ground up. With no background in construction. Just figured it out on the fly.
4.He's a sponge for learning and very grateful for the first class mentoring he received at P&G and KH. He still gets together and otherwise communicates with those mentors. Totally understands it's more important to get it right than to be right, and to give credit where credit is due.
5. He gives and engenders loyalty. Was flooded with "will you hire or otherwise help me" requests from his team of people at KH when he left. So much so that KH HR contacted him with the request that he begin declining those requests. He declined KH's request.
6. The CFO he is replacing previously worked at P&G and KH. His contacts at both places enthusiastically endorsed my son for this unique job.
7. The family owner made the ultimate decision to hire. Last question of the interview. " If you take this job what will you want to be known for." Answer. " Being a great father and a great husband."
GOUNUII
Yep. Still some catching up to do at the top of the food chain. But the ceilings are in place to accelerate that process from the ground up. Some companies have been impatient and taken illegal shortcuts by firing high performing white males and replacing them with women or men of color. But that usually doesn't turn out well. The settlement figures can be staggering.
GOUNUII
After next year's seasons, if FB and MBB suck, then I am rooting for a thorough spring cleaning. Wipe out all of the coaches, the AD and any part of his staff involved in the revenue sports and start fresh across the board. And before someone asys how that will set the athletic department back, this would be another crappy FB season, yet another crappy MBB season. It would imply more MBB portal losses without any gains of substance - kinda like we are seeing w FB. Would mean another year of recruiting. It would mean the revenue teams have in fact returned to the Dark Ages - so who cares. Burn it all down and start from scratch as it's only going to get worse.
The fact you have been so personally attacked reflects our modern society. Folks can no longer debate. You are either with me, or you are a terrible person, because my righteous opinion is the only correct one. I look forward to these disagreements becoming more in person than the current pvssy hiding behind a computer thing. I cannot wait for folks to start calling people racists, dicks, ******** in a public forum where the *** kickings can begin. They are sooooooooooooo overdue.
I love this reply because it does show what an impressive man your son is and the target of your response will probably totally miss the subtle dig
For me the first eval point coming is the duration of the transfer portal and who we lose, and who we gain. If the team all stay, I feel better about the team. If they all go, I'm a lot less interested in retaining Collins.
We've gone from 6 wins to 3 wins to 4 wins to 6 wins to 7 wins. Given my low expectations of NU's competitiveness in the B1G generally, I see 7 wins as a minimum bar for the rest of Collins' current contract. I want more, but I probably won't call for his head if we get 7 wins and a win in the tourney as well.
I don't follow the football team, so I don't have an opinion about that.
Not sure what the subtle dig is, but I hope this is pun intended: "He knew from a young age what it meant to have his own skin in the game"I love this reply because it does show what an impressive man your son is and the target of your response will probably totally miss the subtle dig
I have no problems with Diversity initiatives, and have experienced, to a far lesser extent than GOUNUII's kid has, being passed over twice for promotions in favor of Diversity candidates/hires. Whatever. That was the playing field, and, (again to a lesser extent than GOUNUII's kid) I used it to jump-start my career at another organization. I got a 60% raise and 2-level promotion. On the downside, I had to move to Iowa...
Helping individuals from disadvantaged groups succeed; however, these Diversity initiatives are often helping those that, to some extent, are already "rescued". They tend to be already college grads and in career positions. As I posted above, how about we focus on the grease fires in our disadvantaged communities at large? How about decent housing, schools that aren't a joke, accessible health care, public safety? Crime and grime, so to speak.
I lived across the street from what was supposed to be a tech magnet high school in Baltimore City. When I was there, they published stats as to how many of the kids could pass the state basic Math test. Any guesses? ONE PERCENT. But they weren't alone, there were another 5 high schools in the city that were at one percent. And they weren't the worst. Another 6 high schools scored zero percent. Fix this and you solve a lot of other issues. Right now, these "graduates" have a choice between dead-end, low-wage jobs and crime. Guess what a lot of them choose...
How to fix it? I don't know. One radical idea that I've had is to consolidate metro areas into a single government entities. Imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth of Chicago/suburbs were forced into one entity.