R. Gerald Turner: Friend or Enemy?

[couch 'em]

Let's look at his background:

Turner received an A.A. from Lubbock Christian College, and graduated from Abilene Christian University with a B.S. in Psychology in 1968.

While he later went to UT for grad school, undergrad is where athletics has by far the strongest influence on campus culture and college experience. Neither of these schools has a DIA football program.

From 1975 to 1979, he was a Professor at Pepperdine University.

Again, no DIA football.

He was the Vice-President of the University of Oklahoma from 1979 to 1984

Excellent football in this time frame at OU, but it was the Switzer era. Did Turner learn to associate winning football with cheating, rape, shooting, drugs, and the other crazy events under Switzer at OU? Did the recent academic troubles bring these fears to the surface?

Chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1984 to 1995.

7 losing seasons, 4/5 winning seasons. Fired long-time football coach for NCAA violations.

Since 1995, he has served as the President of Southern Methodist University.

From 1995-2008 he did nothing but allow football to fail miserably. Instituted no changes required by coaches to get on even footing in recruiting. Only hired a big-name coach 2008-2010 when it was paid for by donors.

He and his wife, Gail, a native of Graham, Texas, have two married daughters. Angela, a professional opera singer; Jessica, an SMU alumna and professional actress

Daughters are an opera singer and an actress. Two professions full of people who historically are very anti-football.

NO stops where big-time football is present without recruiting violations and cheating. Quite likely he cannot separate winning DIA football from cheating and corruption.

Also head of the Knight Commission - an organization dedicated to reversing trends in major college football. He could be trying to walk-the-walk in addition to talking-the-talk on the commission.

Is Turner really a friend to football?

[SMU89]

Dr Turner has done a lot for SMU. In fact, fairly sure he was instrumental in getting Mr Ford to donate for a new stadium.

We don't know all the facts.

[PlanoStang]

I've heard he was about to get run out of Ole Miss for neglecting football , and athletics which may be more important than academics for a SEC school. That's why he accepted an offer to come to SMU.

[Ikus]

SMU89 is right — we don't know all the facts. I expect we barely know a fraction of the relevant facts.

And please tell me you're not holding against him the fact that he encouraged his daughters to pursue whatever chosen professions.

[Mexmustang]

I know this is below the belt, but I wonder had he been a football player how many credit hours would have transferred to SMU from his two stellar alma maters?

[leopold]

About 6 or 7 years ago I was still an undergrad and had an opportunity to sit down with a Professor and talk about a few things outside of class. According to this professor, when the football stadium was first proposed it was President Turner who essentially funded the stadium.
During the huge fundraiser that took place 10-15 years ago there was established a fund where the President had the power to distribute what was in it - let's call it the President's Fund. At some point there was in excess of $30M in it. Now, even though it was President Turner's call to make as far as uses went, everybody else in the faculty had an opinion on it - naturally. He took all but 1 million and paid for the stadium, apparently gaining the wrath of over half the school who knew about it.
I don't know how absolutely true that is. If there is any shred of truth to it, however, you can be absolutely sure he is a friend.

[Stallion]

I don't think that is accurate at all. Look who donated the funds-these were all strong athletic supporters who made a dedicated donation to the university and publically stated so.

[SMU89]

We all know, or at least should, that Dr Turner is a great fundraiser.
He personally requested funds from Mr Ford to build a football stadium.

[Sic_em]

Frenemy.

[mr. pony]

We all know, or at least should, that Dr Turner is a great fundraiser.
He personally requested funds from Mr Ford to build a football stadium.

Is that all it takes to be a good fundraiser? The stones to ask?

[Roach]

Hell, I need some money.
Can I have $20 million?
Hmmm ... it's not working.

[Samurai Stang]

We all know, or at least should, that Dr Turner is a great fundraiser.
He personally requested funds from Mr Ford to build a football stadium.

Even if that were true, would that not represent a lack of confidence in the AD Copeland? If that were the case, then this is evidence that Turner kept an employ that he believed could not carry out his job. If Turner felt Copeland was incapable of performing his job, yet continued to keep him as AD, then that is the ultimate proof that he does not care about the success of SMU athletics.

Copeland was a moron, and Turner's understanding of that is made evident by his own actions. He simply did not consider athletics important enough to make a change, choosing to let it rot instead.

[RGV Pony]

We all know, or at least should, that Dr Turner is a great fundraiser.

and that is why he's a university President. It's the bare minimum expectation for the job.

[ponyscott]

Do we know if Turner is or can be involved with things like this?...or is it just admissions policies that are ironclad and non- reversible?.....

[Samurai Stang]

Do we know if Turner is or can be involved with things like this?...or is it just admissions policies that are ironclad and non- reversible?.....

He can. I know him to have done so before.