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Talked to Todd Stewart

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FiveStarBBN

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Nov 9, 2015
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As many of you know I am in the Sport Management department at WKU and talked to the Athletics Director at WKU who is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I was able to get his thoughts on what it takes to make good football hires which he has done the last 3 times at WKU to build quite an impressive program at WKU.
The main thing that stood to me when I asked what it took to make a good hire is he said "sometimes you have to take calculated risks" (Bobby Petrino) and that he believes your background will help you find good candidates. In his case he worked in the NFL for 15 years which lead to him being around very intelligent football people for a long time which has lead to him knowing what it takes to hire a good football coach that's a great fit for each individual program.
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.
 
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B

BigBlueFanGA

Heisman
Jun 14, 2005
26,435
23,455
0
FiveStarBBN said:
As many of you know I am in the Sport Management department at WKU and talked to the Athletics Director at WKU who is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I was able to get his thoughts on what it takes to make good football hires which he has done the last 3 times at WKU to build quite an impressive program at WKU.
The main thing that stood to me when I asked what it took to make a good hire is he said "sometimes you have to take calculated risks" (Bobby Petrino) and that he believes your background will help you find good candidates. In his case he worked in the NFL for 15 years which lead to him being around very intelligent football people for a long time which has lead to him knowing what it takes to hire a good football coach that's a great fit for each individual program.
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.
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Thanks, but one question. Has he ever wanted to be the AD at an SEC school? I have an idea for him.
 
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MrLair

All-Conference
Jan 26, 2005
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Ask him if he wants to be our AD? I'll hire the U-Haul 's and help Mitch the ***** pack.
 
F

FiveStarBBN

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Nov 9, 2015
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I didn't ask him if he was interested in UK but a buddy of mine that's from Tennessee asked him if he'd be interested in that job since Todd worked at UT and he said that he would entertain the phone call but is happy at western. I tend to think he would be interested in the UK job because he knew all of the specifics regarding Stoop's buyout and contracts and told me that was WAY too much money for even a high profile job especially for someone unproven. Todd just gets it. Would love to see him at UK.

I will also say that he told me that he has had 3 SEC schools call him to ask about becoming AD but did NOT receive an offer. Also an interesting tidbit.
 
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E

EliteBlue

Heisman
Mar 27, 2009
16,751
20,269
0
FiveStarBBN said:
I didn't ask him if he was interested in UK but a buddy of mine that's from Tennessee asked him if he'd be interested in that job since Todd worked at UT and he said that he would entertain the phone call but is happy at western. I tend to think he would be interested in the UK job because he knew all of the specifics regarding Stoop's buyout and contracts and told me that was WAY too much money for even a high profile job especially for someone unproven. Todd just gets it. Would love to see him at UK.

I will also say that he told me that he has had 3 SEC schools call him to ask about becoming AD but did NOT receive an offer. Also an interesting tidbit.
Click to expand...
Plant the see, my friend. Plant the seed.

Tell him to start making phone calls and expressing interest in AD or at a minimum "head of football operations"
 
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T

theoledog

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2008
4,306
1,444
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For my two cents people can talk about coaches all they want but leaving the next hire to the current AD is just plain folly...... Nice guy and a very good man but the guy can't pick coaches... Don't get me wrong, he can and will find someone willing to come in and load their wallet.... But he's only added to the belief that UK is the graveyard of coaching.... He needs to move along to the next stage of his life... He's done all the good he can here.
 
O

olblue

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2011
3,129
1,383
113
FiveStarBBN said:
As many of you know I am in the Sport Management department at WKU and talked to the Athletics Director at WKU who is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I was able to get his thoughts on what it takes to make good football hires which he has done the last 3 times at WKU to build quite an impressive program at WKU.
The main thing that stood to me when I asked what it took to make a good hire is he said "sometimes you have to take calculated risks" (Bobby Petrino) and that he believes your background will help you find good candidates. In his case he worked in the NFL for 15 years which lead to him being around very intelligent football people for a long time which has lead to him knowing what it takes to hire a good football coach that's a great fit for each individual program.
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.
Click to expand...

First of all, Stewart didn't hire Taggert. And he had NO competition for Petrino. Brohm fell in his lap. But knowing Stewart, he's enough of a narcissist to think he single handedly turned Western's football program around.

Despite their success, there are still thousands of empty seats at their home games. When he figures out how to fix that, get back to me. Until then, I don't want to hear about what a great athletic director he is.
 
O

olblue

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2011
3,129
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FiveStarBBN said:
I didn't ask him if he was interested in UK but a buddy of mine that's from Tennessee asked him if he'd be interested in that job since Todd worked at UT and he said that he would entertain the phone call but is happy at western. I tend to think he would be interested in the UK job because he knew all of the specifics regarding Stoop's buyout and contracts and told me that was WAY too much money for even a high profile job especially for someone unproven. Todd just gets it. Would love to see him at UK.

I will also say that he told me that he has had 3 SEC schools call him to ask about becoming AD but did NOT receive an offer. Also an interesting tidbit.
Click to expand...

So the 3 didn't call back? Must have been his charming personality.
 
L

LordEgg_rivals16573

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2003
66,315
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UK is one giant whiff on coach hiring since Claiborne ( and some would say, though he is well loved, there were others better for the job).
 
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ukalum1988

ukalum1988

Heisman
Dec 21, 2014
12,159
31,406
113
bluebayou01 said:
Seriously, what do we have to do, to get rid of Mitch? Start a petition? Bombard the President with demands?
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Persuade the heavy hitters that are considering $10MM+ donations to UK to let Eli know that replacing Mitch with a new AD would go a long way towards making those donations possible. Similar networking could be done with members of the UK BOT. You and I can write letters to Eli expressing our dis-satisfaction that might allow us to vent, but that probably won't move the needle very much. Sadly, the only other thing I can think of is to boycott attending the games. I don't explicitly advocate that approach; I'll just respect what each person individually decides to do regarding game attendance.
 
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olblue

All-Conference
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FieldstoneWarrior said:
Todd Stewart might be the best AD in the country. Consistent great hires and significant upgrades in facilities are routine for WKU. As an alumni, I'm thankful to have him.
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What facility upgrade did Stewart manage start to finish?
 
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Mojocat_rivals48469

Heisman
Jan 29, 2003
18,120
12,185
0
cobbpacker said:
First of all, Stewart didn't hire Taggert. And he had NO competition for Petrino. Brohm fell in his lap. But knowing Stewart, he's enough of a narcissist to think he single handedly turned Western's football program around.

Despite their success, there are still thousands of empty seats at their home games. When he figures out how to fix that, get back to me. Until then, I don't want to hear about what a great athletic director he is.
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please don't do that - you're interrupting this fantasy. WE MUST HIRE TODD STEWART (even though most people even in this thread couldn't have named the WKU AD half an hour ago). Then, when he fails, when UK is no better in football after he gets here than it's been in the last century, we can pick right back up where we left off with Barnhart.
 
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U

UKUGA

Heisman
Jan 26, 2007
18,505
26,810
0
FiveStarBBN said:
I find this interesting because I don't believe Mitch has the right connections or background to make a great football hired at UK simply because he isn't a "football" guy. Just thought I would share this with you guys for some discussion.
Click to expand...

There is a pretty strong contingent of fans who don't believe that Mitch is the "problem." I get that, as he's got a pretty good track record in other sports.

That said, a pretty strong argument can be made that he's not the "solution" to our football problems.

I don't want to be naïve and pretend that anyone can simply come in here, fix football, and allow the other programs to run on auto-pilot. However, I do think that given the state of our athletics, along with the poor state of our football program, that a "football first" approach is now long overdue.

So yes, I'm all for a "football guy" as AD. It starts at the top. Cliff Hagan was a basketball guy. As was C.M. Newton. Larry Ivy was, well, Larry Ivy. (Pretty sure his background was in running dormitories).

Mitch has done some good things across the spectrum. Football is roughly where it was when he got here. (And roughly where it's been for decades).
 
Blueaz

Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
27,971
30,105
113
cobbpacker said:
Let's just say if and when his next move occurs, the peter principle will be in full effect.
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I had to look that up...it is very true.
Not sure with this guy; I know zero about him.
But, I see that in my employees. and the last few UK coaches (except Brooks)
 
F

FiveStarBBN

Senior
Nov 9, 2015
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cobbpacker said:
First of all, Stewart didn't hire Taggert. And he had NO competition for Petrino. Brohm fell in his lap. But knowing Stewart, he's enough of a narcissist to think he single handedly turned Western's football program around.

Despite their success, there are still thousands of empty seats at their home games. When he figures out how to fix that, get back to me. Until then, I don't want to hear about what a great athletic director he is.
Click to expand...
You're right he didn't hire Taggart but did hire Petrino and there was competition because he told me so. He said the reason WKU hired him so fast was because Bobby had several interviews lined up which is why WKU hired him the Monday following Taggarts departure. As far as Brohm goes, he made the call on him as well and said that part of the reason he hired Petrino is because he knew he would hire elite coaches around him and knew Petrino wouldn't be at WKU long so maybe he could have a very good coach to take Bobby's place that was IN HOUSE. That my friend is thinking ahead and making smart moves. Todd is one HELL of an AD. WKU is leading the nation in total wins and win percentage of Football, Men's & Women's basketball, Volleyball the last 3 years.

Regarding the empty seats, WKU is what it is, a former DI-AA school that has recently made the jump and expanded its football program but there are still many more UK and UL fans here in BG along with UT and Vandy. WKU will always have that problem with filling seats because of that reason. However, filling seats has nothing to do with the quality of football program he has built at WKU.
 
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Mojocat_rivals48469

Heisman
Jan 29, 2003
18,120
12,185
0
UKUGA said:
There is a pretty strong contingent of fans who don't believe that Mitch is the "problem." I get that, as he's got a pretty good track record in other sports.

That said, a pretty strong argument can be made that he's not the "solution" to our football problems.
Click to expand...
hold on, that's far too reasonable a position to take, you'll not get far around here with those kind of words mister.....
 
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Mojocat_rivals48469

Heisman
Jan 29, 2003
18,120
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FiveStarBBN said:
You're right he didn't hire Taggart but did hire Petrino and there was competition because he told me so. He said the reason WKU hired him so fast was because Bobby had several interviews lined up which is why WKU hired him the Monday following Taggarts departure.
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that may be true, I don't know enough to argue the point. but it's certainly not the conventional thinking. Paul Finebaum was on espn radio just yesterday talking about the "redemption" of Petrino (as though you can redeem moral failings by winning football games, I suppose). and he said he was DOA after Arkansas, couldn't get an interview. specifically mentioned Auburn (but not UK) as a school that Petrino tried to interview with, and they had no interest. So he may have had several interviews lined up, but maybe it was Idaho, Weber State, etc. Dig?
 
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Soupbean

All-American
Jan 19, 2007
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cobbpacker said:
First of all, Stewart didn't hire Taggert. And he had NO competition for Petrino. Brohm fell in his lap. But knowing Stewart, he's enough of a narcissist to think he single handedly turned Western's football program around.

Despite their success, there are still thousands of empty seats at their home games. When he figures out how to fix that, get back to me. Until then, I don't want to hear about what a great athletic director he is.
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't want to pour water on the OP's post but it wasn't a huge hire to get Petrino to come back there. He was blackballed from most higher places and Western was close to home so easy get if Western wanted him. And unlike most Big 5 teams there wasn't much down side for Western to take a PR hit on Bobby and it was really an easy call for them, so not going to put this one down as a brilliant get for the AD.
 
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FiveStarBBN

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Nov 9, 2015
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Soupbean said:
Yeah I don't want to pour water on the OP's post but it wasn't a huge hire to get Petrino to come back there. He was blackballed from most higher places and Western was close to home so easy get if Western wanted him. And unlike most Big 5 teams there wasn't much down side for Western to take a PR hit on Bobby and it was really an easy call for them, so not going to put this one down as a brilliant get for the AD.
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At least Todd Stewart had the balls to hire a proven winner. To downplay what he has done at WKU is ignorance. Also, It's well noted that I don't even like Bobby Petrino as a person however he is one hell of a football coach and goes to show that schools and AD's sometimes must make risky hires to build a football program. Mitch will never do that because he is a morals guy. Morals guys don't win football games in the SEC.
 
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olblue

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2011
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Smashcat said:
Did he hire Ken McDonald and Ray Harper?
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No. Those two gems where on Bjork's watch. As for Stansbury, it was clear from the moment that Harper was let go, that he would be a fit. Stewart didn't figure that out until later.
 
O

olblue

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2011
3,129
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FiveStarBBN said:
You're right he didn't hire Taggart but did hire Petrino and there was competition because he told me so. He said the reason WKU hired him so fast was because Bobby had several interviews lined up which is why WKU hired him the Monday following Taggarts departure. As far as Brohm goes, he made the call on him as well and said that part of the reason he hired Petrino is because he knew he would hire elite coaches around him and knew Petrino wouldn't be at WKU long so maybe he could have a very good coach to take Bobby's place that was IN HOUSE. That my friend is thinking ahead and making smart moves. Todd is one HELL of an AD. WKU is leading the nation in total wins and win percentage of Football, Men's & Women's basketball, Volleyball the last 3 years.

Regarding the empty seats, WKU is what it is, a former DI-AA school that has recently made the jump and expanded its football program but there are still many more UK and UL fans here in BG along with UT and Vandy. WKU will always have that problem with filling seats because of that reason. However, filling seats has nothing to do with the quality of football program he has built at WKU.
Click to expand...

You do realize that it's very easy for him to tell you those things given that hindsight is 20-20. A word of advice. Don't believe everything you hear from a snake oil salesman.
 
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FiveStarBBN

Senior
Nov 9, 2015
388
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cobbpacker said:
No. Those two gems where on Bjork's watch. As for Stansbury, it was clear from the moment that Harper was let go, that he would be a fit. Stewart didn't figure that out until later.
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How did Stewart figure that out until later when he is the one who contacted Stansbury personally immediately after Haper resigned?

Do you have any factual basis for your claims or are you just spitballing because you don't like the guy? If you don't like him that's fine but to disclaim any successes he's had and point out negatives while he's been at WKU is ridiculous.
 
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O

olblue

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2011
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FiveStarBBN said:
The football stadium expansion, baseball renovations and more. He came to WKU 9 years ago.. He was promoted to AD 5 years ago. He came to help with football initiatally without intentions of becoming an AD.
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He came to WKU in 2008 as a media relations guy a year after construction of the west side expansion began. So other than conducting tours of the shiny new facilities, he really didn't have much to do with that project.

Other than the clubhouse renovation, the baseball complex was finished long before his arrival.

These are easily accessible facts.
 
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FiveStarBBN

Senior
Nov 9, 2015
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They
cobbpacker said:
He came to WKU in 2008 as a media relations guy a year after construction of the west side expansion began. So other than conducting tours of the shiny new facilities, he really didn't have much to do with that project.

Other than the clubhouse renovation, the baseball complex was finished long before his arrival.

These are easily accessible facts.
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just installed new field turf and are going to build a new indoor football facility as well. This was within the last few months.
 
K

KY1WING

Senior
Sep 15, 2005
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Soupbean said:
Yeah I don't want to pour water on the OP's post but it wasn't a huge hire to get Petrino to come back there. He was blackballed from most higher places and Western was close to home so easy get if Western wanted him. And unlike most Big 5 teams there wasn't much down side for Western to take a PR hit on Bobby and it was really an easy call for them, so not going to put this one down as a brilliant get for the AD.
Click to expand...

It may not be a brilliant get but it took some nads to do it and structure things the way he did.

How many programs do you know that makes money on hiring a HC who also brings a quality successor with him?
 
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