Originally posted by Frog81:
Give me a break. TCU came out completely uninspired in a completely meaningless game, and SMU played as well as they have all season. And TCU still won. If you can't see the large disparity between the two teams, you're delusional. And if Hyman really wanted the job in Georgia, he could have had it. Just like he could have had the Kansas job, which he turned down, and just like he could have had the Tennessee job, which he turned down. [/QUOTE]
Look, it's very common for a candidate to "withdraw from consideration" for a position upon learning that the job is going to be offered elsewhere. I'm not slamming Hyman at all - he's done some good things at TCU, especially on the financial side of things, raising the capital for Amon Carter renovations, building the baseball field that I gather is pretty first-rate, the new gym that's on the way for the basketball team. However ....
"If you can't see the large disparity between the two teams, you're delusional."
Huh? If there's any delusion going on, it's affecting those who can't see how close the teams were in talent. Yes, TCU has more talent -- nobody has argued that. And yes, the lizards had an exceptional record this year. And yes, we had an awful year -- one of those years in which anything that could go wrong, from injuries, funny bounces, the sun rising on the wrong side of the earth on game day -- did. But the fact remains that they slithered out of Ford by the scaly skin of their teeth, just like they did in all those other "meaningless" games: Arizona, South Florida, etc. Was Cincinnati the only "meaningful game" on TCU's schedule this year?
"And if Hyman really wanted the job in Georgia, he could have had it. Just like he could have had the Kansas job, which he turned down, and just like he could have had the Tennessee job, which he turned down."
Stop before you make yourself look even sillier. Hyman has done a very good job for you at TCU. Enjoy that, and be glad you're keeping him. But don't ever overlook the fact that no matter how much someone loves a place, most folks have their price. Georgia, Tennessee and Kansas operate on SEC and Big 12 budgets. Their bowl money and TV revenue dwarfs the dollars handed out to Conference USA schools (which in turn is more than what's handed out to teams in the WAC, hence our move.) If any of those schools wanted Hyman, they'd have him now. How hard do you really think it would be to go to the legions of big-money alums at one of those schools and sell them on the idea that for a slight bump in their donations, Good Ol' Alma Mater could have the best AD in the country who's going to accomplish great things at their school? Hell, Tennessee could raise the money to meet his asking price in a single afternoon at Neyland Stadium. I'm sure Hyman is very happy at TCU, and he should be. Nice gig, I guess. And Frogland seems happy with him. But don't insult everyone -- Ponies or Frogs -- by suggesting that Hyman withdrew from the chance to oversee a top-shelf athletic department like Georgia (or Teneesee or Kansas .... or Notre Dame or Nebraska or USC or Miami or LSU or Michigan or any other place he "could have had the job") because he likes to wear purple, enjoys spending his afternoons at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, or because he likes eating each Friday at Joe T. Garcia's. Nobody in either camp is dumb enough to believe that. And deep down, I bet you don't believe that, either.
If you want to, send Hyman a card telling him how thrilled you are that he's staying. That should add to the warm, fuzzy "TCU is my home" thoughts that governed his decision, don't you think? Look, Hyman clearly is a very savvy AD who runs a good athletic program and knows how to get things done, including raising money. Whether he's one of the last two or the last 10 for a job like the Georgia post, take it as a compliment. He's a very good AD. If that's something to brag about, go nuts. Nobody's arguing with you.
<small>[ 12-18-2003, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: Horseshoe ]</small>
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:05 pm