ND looking for another AD

[03Mustang]

I agree, he's gone if ND wants him. Hopefully that doesn't happen, but let's all look at the bright side here (in the event he does leave)...For once (in the last 20 years), someone thought enough of a major figure within our athletic department to hire them away! As bad as it would hurt to lose SO, the fact is he has done very well here and added significantly to our athletic department since he arrived.

I hope we don't lose him, but it feels good to have a valuable commodity for a change.

That being said, I already hate Notre Dame...I really hope they don't give me another reason to with this.

[mrydel]

I wonder what the Circle of Champions would say if he were to leave right now?

[ponyte]

Why did White leave the prime AD job at ND to go to Duke????? IS there something amiss here?

[RGV Pony]

Why did White leave the prime AD job at ND to go to Duke????? IS there something amiss here?

I think White took a golden parachute when he could. His greatest accomplishment was the 10 year contract given to Charlie Weiss after one season. If Weiss continues to be in the tank this year, and ND continued to be stuck with Weiss until that contract ran out, the blue and gold faithful would need a scapegoat: White.

In defense of White, Weiss was the culprit of a brilliant heist of ND funds, IMO. He got what was called his "dream job." He benefitted from a perfect storm of luck, matchups and Brady Quinn. After one year, Saints owner calls up Weiss and has basic discussions. Weiss goes to White and says well you know this is my dream job and all...but just how much can you come up with to keep me from going to a (then) impossible situation in NOLA right after Katrina and after the Saints spent a year playing in front of 30k in Baton Rouge? Somehow this snowed White, and he responded with that ridiculous 10 year contract. Saints hired Payton, and were in the NFC Championship a year later. As for Weiss, downhill ever since.

[EP Pony Fan]

Why did White leave the prime AD job at ND to go to Duke????? IS there something amiss here?

NDame isn't what it was. It's a non-factor in the all-important world of football, and while they like to talk as if they invented football, they haven't won a title since before today's recruits were born. Their national titles since Kevin White has been AD are in women's basketball and combined (men's and women's) fencing - woo-freakin'-hoo. Meanwhile, Duke's basketball teams outclasses anything ND has rolled out there in years.

I think White took a golden parachute when he could. His greatest accomplishment was the 10 year contract given to Charlie Weiss after one season. If Weiss continues to be in the tank this year, and ND continued to be stuck with Weiss until that contract ran out, the blue and gold faithful would need a scapegoat: White.

That's true, but if ND does continue to suck (and if there's any justice in the world, they will), that contract will be look as the biggest misjudgement in the recent history of college athletics, not a great accomplishmen (except from Weis's point of view, of course).

[SMU89]

I wonder what the Circle of Champions would say if he were to leave right now?

Steve did a great job for SMU. We are better off now than when he arrived. He has raised the bar. Now it is our job to continue that trend with our next hire.

Of course before any of the above, there would most likely be a discussion of making his current contract look a little better. Assuming the Champions / School like Steve, this situation could really be beneficial for him -- a few donations could become a nice reward for his accomplishments so far.

[Pony4Life]

True - if he left, the job would be much more appealing to potential replacements.

Found a blog that suggests Steve-O as a Notre Dame candidate:

"Steve Orsini, ND '78. Moved up the ladder, with stops at UCF and now SMU. Certainly outreached his grasp when he hired June Jones to coach football there. And Notre Dame would be the next step in a progression upward. Definitely worth the phone call."

http://www.ndnation.com/geetar/2008/05/ ... rymen.html

[Bergermeister]

We can't

Certainly glad this is not the prevailing attitude. We need more "we cans" to turn this thing. Just glad people like GJF, Crum, Miller, Hunt, etc. don't have the "we can't" philosophy.

[Vitale]

We can't

I realize it goes against everything you believe and enjoy, but your statement should read "we haven't yet ... but will..."

[ALEX LIFESON]

It would be a lie, if I said that I wasn't VERY concerned about this. The ND job, would have been the only one, that I worried about.

[Pony4Life]

That the ND job is open doesn't bother me at all. I'm only concerned if Steve-O takes it, and if his replacement is not as good. A lot of us are very happy with his results - so far - at SMU, but if someone better is out there (and rest assured, this job is a lot more appealing now than it was two years ago), then Steve-O's departure wouldn't be as bad as we fear. With that said, of course, DON'T GO, STEVE-O!

[MrMustang1965]

Steve O's comments when he was named SMU AD in March 2006:

"I am here because SMU has a very successful program and has all of the ingredients to build upon that success into greater success. That is very important me, to Dr. Turner and the whole community of SMU that athletics does their part toward achieving excellence like academics has done. You can be the best AD in the world, but if the President doesn't understand how athletics can help their higher educational institution, then athletics isn't going anywhere. I am here because of Dr. Turner and his commitment to athletics. That is evident in the facilities going up - not only academically but athletically at SMU. He has knowledge of athletics and he has his opinion and I listen."

"The fact that SMU is nationally competitive in admissions and academic services for student-athletes is very critical. We can be successful - we can compete in the nation. The athletic department here at SMU would not be here without the financial support of this university. I feel that the broad experience I have is a great fit for SMU. It all starts with my experience as a student-athlete. I wouldn't be here today if I wasn't a student-athlete. I want to return that opportunity to the student-athletes here at SMU."

"Every move I have made in my career - all moves were made for me to do a great job at SMU today, and I look forward to that."

"My goals for SMU athletics are all about the student-athlete. My focus is on the student-athlete. At Notre Dame, I was able to say that those were the best four years of my life at that time. I want them to leave here with a degree from SMU and say `I just had the best four years of my life'. My philosophy on how to have fun in athletics is spelled W-I-N. I want the student-athletes to be good role models representing SMU in the community. Our goals are to be top 25 in the nation - some already are, so I want them to be in the top 10."

"It is also important that intercollegiate athletics fulfill the role they play at SMU - to help build the community of SMU through athletics. It provides a great, quality gathering place. Athletics can help the whole community and rally around, build school spirit and really provide a sense of community."

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/genrel/032406aad.html

[EastStang]

I read in the Washington Post that the assistant AD was promoted at ND. The article I read didn't use the word "interim".

[Lotus]

Per today's South Bend Tribune:

"ND president Rev. John I. Jenkins did name an interim AD Saturday — deputy athletic director Missy Conboy."

[Lotus]

Another article in the South Bend Tribune details a list of ADs with Notre Dame ties. Check out the description of Steve-O:

"Steve Orsini: Athletic director at SMU since June of 2006. ... At SMU hired former Irish basketball coach Matt Doherty. ... While AD at Central Florida, Orsini hired George O'Leary, whose reign at Notre Dame lasted five days but who elevated the UCF program. ... Orsini had administrative stints with Georgia Tech, Navy and the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. ... After graduating from ND in 1978, Orsini became a certified public accountant. ... He was a fullback and captain on Notre Dame's 1977 national championship football team."

NO MENTION of June Jones? Maybe they're pissed because they're stuck with Weis!
But they managed to squeeze in a mention of Irish-ex Doherty and even Irish-embarrassment O-Leary. Nice work, homers.