The Illinois AD Search
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Great question -- but you missed the answer. It was an embedded link in the Klee article. Here it is . . . From 8.5.2013. . . .
http://gazette.com/klee-heres-the-past-now-rick-george-is-the-answer-for-cus-future/article/1504386
He is connected to the right people. That's the story here.
Option two should really be the only option. It keeps doors open, and allows you the opportunity for more money if you choose to stay at your current gig
I fear this is too good to be true
I fear this is too good to be true
I know, right?
If the Illinois donor glitterati is capable of swinging this kind of coup behind everyone's backs, why didn't it happen years ago?
Do we know any of the larger donors? and i am completely uninformed but is George a Khan favorite? I don't believe Mr. Khan has been heavily involved with donating has he? I'll hang up and listen to your answers.
You want to know who the big Illini donors are? Look at the names on all of the DIA's stuff. And one of those things is the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex. Khan has been very involved with the DIA, but he definitely has the net worth and the sports interest and experience to become even more prominent.
I don't know about the relationship between Khan and George, but there is definitely chatter that there is a mutual admiration society there.
You also have to consider that when someone says they haven't been contacted, or haven't spoken to a school about the job, what they are really saying is they haven't talked to anyone in an official capacity. There is usually a lot of behind the scenes testing the waters before the whole process officially begins.
From a source within the CU athletic department and close family friend of George: "it's sadly poor timing because Rick is in the middle of a multimillion dollar project here and extremely good things are happening. Everyone here loves him and he feels very strongly connected to this school and this department. Plus his family us just getting settled and is so happy here (his daughter and son in law just bought a house 3 blocks away from him and they're about to have another baby). Although Illinois is his dream job, I can't see him leaving CU anytime within the next 2 years."
Now that I would be inclined to believe, simply because Illinois. Timing is everything and for that to be the case would be very us.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
That would be the Colorado argument but the flip side would be that our job doesn't open every day (or does it?) and you have to grab the opportunity when it presents itself. It won't be there when the timing is perfect. That's the internal debate I would suspect George is having. Which side wins??
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Totally legit and makes sense. If he released a statement to this effect tomorrow I don't think anyone on the Illinois side would begrudge him a split second.
It all depends on how he views the challenge. The inverse of the argument above is that he's got the ball rolling and great things are happening. That's a situation you'd feel okay handing off to the right person.
Illinois needs the cavalry to ride in right now - is that especially appealing because he thinks he can succeed where others have failed? Or is it too all-consuming to take on at a point where you'd like to enjoy some of the non-work things in your life (like the family mentioned above)?
PaytonHighstep
- Downers Grove, IL
Last I checked, if his daughter and son in law are happy in Colorado they can stay. There is an invention called an airplane that can have people to and from Colorado in a couple of hours. I'm sure with the money being discussed this would be a minor cost for someone in their position.
Hey I love Colorado as much as the next person (I would love to live there), but I enjoy my job in the Chicago suburbs too much to risk the move. If this is the job he wants/covets, Colorado will always be there to visit and enjoy after a 3 hour plane ride. Well, unless the super volcano erupts, then it won't be there... but we'll all be scrambling at that point.
Hey I love Colorado as much as the next person (I would love to live there), but I enjoy my job in the Chicago suburbs too much to risk the move. If this is the job he wants/covets, Colorado will always be there to visit and enjoy after a 3 hour plane ride. Well, unless the super volcano erupts, then it won't be there... but we'll all be scrambling at that point.
frankfortillini
- Frankfort, IL
Makes complete sense to me, especially as I bet his wife would make a move very tough if they have their daughter there. I love Champaign, but Boulder is Boulder.
But "I can't see him leaving CU anytime within the next 2 years." makes no sense to me - if he's willing to leave in 2 years, he'd be willing to leave now.
My thoughts exactly. The apparent time restriction there makes no sense.
I see your point. But to me, that seems like a hedged bet more than anything. Like "if the program doesn't take off like he expected he might want to get out of dodge eventually"
Thanks for the info, but all the same, let me translate:
Rick George loves black people?
OrwellsIllini
O
Guest
I may be giving our interim chancellor, and the BOT WAY too much credit here...but could it be that the dismissal of MT was because they already had some info about interest in the job?
I know the answer is most likely no, but they had to know which way the wind was blowing on this report, and that letting MT go would be in the best interest of the UofI in the near future.
If those things are true (albeit questionable) then maybe they feel they have a go to replacement, and possibly a backup.
I'm trying to be VERY positive, and I am sure I am overlooking many realities...I just like this one better.
I know the answer is most likely no, but they had to know which way the wind was blowing on this report, and that letting MT go would be in the best interest of the UofI in the near future.
If those things are true (albeit questionable) then maybe they feel they have a go to replacement, and possibly a backup.
I'm trying to be VERY positive, and I am sure I am overlooking many realities...I just like this one better.
coffee --> keyboard
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