That's really becoming a trend, and a good one, with people within Ath. Dept.'s who have been around a program for several years. Alabama just recently did the same with a few within the Ath. Dept. and selected them to monitor and continue the fund-raising campaign started a few years back. IMO, as an outsider, that is an incredibly smart move by the LSU Admin. Would you consider the last minute flight Bertman and Miles took to the Cotton Bowl in '05 an example of an AD not having his "ducks in a row" when it came to a bowl bid? No offense intended '99, but that post-season confused me.
It sounded to me like he had every contingency covered. He was trying to get the best possible bowl for LSU, which happens to be his job.
I agree that was mine also. But whoever posted he was an average AD probably hasnt been on campus in the last 6 years or very informed with his work. Bertman was afraid that Smoke and his family would hate him and maybe that is why he got another year. But I know for a fact that Smoke hates his guts and Skip and his family were devestated after tempers flarred after Smoke didnt take the firing like a man.
What would you call spectacular? Who has been a better AD for LSU? Or anyone else for that matter? I think you are wrong, sir.
I don't follow that. If it was the case, why the last minute flight? Over the years, with every AD I've seen, there has always been a group that was against everything he did. (at Bama, mind you) The only time I agreed with that was with Bockrath...and the only thing he did I felt was a good move was hiring Gottfried for the basketball team. Granted, I don't know the in's and out's of what has transpired with every facet at LSU, but from my vantage point he (Bertman) sure seems to have been a very stable hire. IF there is anything needed in the role of AD, it's stability. By that, I don't mean longevity, but the ability to maintain the course. Make sense? According to this report and with what I'm hearing around the Capstone it appears we'll both be looking for someone to take over the reigns of the Ath. Dept. about the same time...maybe a year or two removed from each other.
I'm happy for Bertman. When it became known he would become AD, I feared the position would cost him all the good will he had built up with baseball. An AD is often a lightning rod, and the position can make some leave bitter and worn out. Now, Skip can transition out on a clear timeframe, in a positive way. Good move by LSU, too. Have the former AD work the relationships built up over time, allow the new AD to get in and learn the new position. Fundraising takes so much time, this could be too much for one person coming in as an outsider. This also allows us to go out and get a true talent, not necessarily an insider, local candidate.
How is the timing significant? I have no idea what schedules they were juggling. Quite so. Skip has been the best AD in terms of bettering the entire LSU athletic program since Carl Maddox 50 years ago. Joe Dean's prime focus was on the bottom line. Make the most money, spend the least money. Skips main focus has been the enhancement of the program. Fortunately LSU has been winning very well in all major sports so the money has been coming in too. Dan expected Skip to retire a couple of years ago and when it didn't happen, he moved on. I expect that Georgia Tech reached an understanding with him about not returning to LSU when Skip retires. But you never know. He's the kind of athletic management professional that we need, plus he's been around here long enough to get past the "has to be an LSU guy" mystery requirement.
