Odd Encounter w/ AD Hart Today

[GHammond]

Bumped into AD Rick Hart at Snider Plaza today and when I realized who it was, I gave him an enthusiastic “HELLO!”, but he sort of mumbled hello and quickly brushed past me…as he “ran” to his car, I said, “BIg, big game on Sunday!!” He responded with an unenthusiastic, “Right…big game”….I was wearing an SMU T and SMU hat….no, “are you going?, make some noise, should be fun”, etc, etc…I was under the impression the AD was the quasi program PR dude and salesman??!? Guy had zero rap, zero game…real odd, real disappointing.

[Arkpony]

But not surprising?

[GHammond]

Confirming?

[BUS]

Wow.
I would have thought he would slap you on the back and say "see you at the game!"

[mustangxc]

I'm not surprised.

[Charleston Pony]

I met Rick at an away game in Tampa during a pregame tailgate years ago when he was relatively new to SMU. Came across as soft spoken and not very dynamic but he was cordial and I'm sure he was being careful around all SMU supporters as he continued to learn who the "money" people were. My guess is that those folks are greeted with more enthusiasm.

[MDJenkins]

ItΓÇÖs widely known he is a pompous a-hole. I also had a couple encounters with him at away games and I could not initially tell if he was awkwardly anti-social or just a tiny guy with a Napoleon complex. HeΓÇÖs probably a mix of all three. CanΓÇÖt wait to see him leave for another job.

[Bergermeister]

Not much substance. He just goes along to get along. Not a bad gig if you just want a paycheck. Pretty milquetoast existence.

[mrydel]

My meetings with him have been brief, but very well received. From a distance, only seeing him on the Blvd with some of my more influential friends, he was pretty outgoing.

[Silk]

Not to interrupt, but in my interactions with him, he has never been anything but nice and funny and welcoming. Ran into him at a game before the pandemic, and when I said hello, he went out of his way to talk to my family, too.
Great win today.

[LA_Mustang]

Again, the guy defended Sonny until the minute he cleared out his office. Took Sonny's side against loyal SMU fans. Then Sonny tried to gut the staff and roster. Rick Hart has no allegiance to SMU other than collecting a check.

[originaloverthehilltop1]

in fairness, his job is to support the staff he's got (dykes) as long as they are on the staff. and not everybody can be sally sunshine all the time. now if we want to talk about the decislions and hires he has made....would like to hear more about that.

and include what support you have detected for our usually good tennis and swim programs.

[SoCal_Pony]

in fairness, his job is to support the staff he's got (dykes) as long as they are on the staff.

Not when someone is actively subverting your employer, which the overwhelming preponderance of evidence pointed to. Among other things, have you already forgotten how all the top recruits de-committed together?

according to Lifeson, maybe Hart has more important things on his mind, like his next job.

[Casey]

in fairness, his job is to support the staff he's got (dykes) as long as they are on the staff.

Not when someone is actively subverting your employer, which the overwhelming preponderance of evidence pointed to. Among other things, have you already forgotten how all the top recruits de-committed together?

according to Lifeson, maybe Hart has more important things on his mind, like his next job.

If you know your employee is subverting the company, you fire him. But as long as someone is on staff, you support him/her .. at least publicly. Who knows what was said behind closed doors?

[SoCal_Pony]

No, you donΓÇÖt fire him if there is buyout money involved.

But you also donΓÇÖt kiss his [deleted] either.

Of course if you donΓÇÖt care about SMU or think you wonΓÇÖt be here long, weΓÇÖll thatΓÇÖs another story.