Greg McElroy believes Michael Alford proves AD responsibilities have shifted

For better or worse, the roles and responsibilities throughout college sports are changing, especially in college football. The athletic director’s role has changed dramatically over a 10-year span. And college football expert Greg McElroy believes Florida State athletic director Michael Alford is a perfect example of how their responsibilities have shifted.

“These ADs, you have to go out,” said McElroy. “And a lot of this round of realignment, it’s not like 2012 when the discussion point was: well, cool. You’re the AD at Missouri. How many households you got? Those were the conversations back in the day. It used to be, how many households came with your school? Perfect, sounds good; you’re a good candidate. Come and join us.

“Now you look at what Michael Alford, who’s the AD at Florida State, what he’s been doing? He’s out basically showcasing the brand that is Florida State. And who else is going to bang the drum? Look, the football program, the basketball program, those things are going to speak for themselves. But right now, if you’re going to align in the future with a more profitable situation, it’s going to be because of how strong your brand is. And the one person that can bang the drum on behalf of your brand unapologetically is your AD.”

With all the talk of conference realignment, Alford has been front and center, highlighting the strengths of Florida State’s athletic department. Not because he wants to leave the ACC, but if the conference begins to fall apart, he wants his institution to be one of the ones with multiple options on the table and not just holding their breath in search of a new home.

“Now your coaches will try to do the same. But your AD is going to be front and center of the conversation. So I think gone are the days where we hire one of the good old boys to come be our AD and just serve as a figurehead; those days are gone. We are moving into an era in which you have to be more nimble, you have to be more strategic, you have to be a salesperson, and you also have to be ready to make difficult decisions. Because how many times in this last recruiting cycle did we see coaches get fired or let go? They really weren’t even that bad. But the AD constantly has to be striving for more. And it’s really, really interesting to see how important that position has become without occupying a whole lot of the conversation.”

With the evolution of college sports taking on more of a business model structure, it is more important for universities to hire individuals to help them navigate the new lay of the land. Gone are the days when the mindset is solely about the overall impression and the region of the country. Now athletic directors must play the game on many different levels, ensuring that not only will their programs be competitive but profitable too. And Florida states Alford is a prime example of what athletic directors now must endure in the new era of college sports.