Been reading several OSU boards as well, I must say it is depressing. Been a long time since I have been so concerned about a program and the very unfortunate reaction to Boone and Holder.
I think the "threats" to pull support of the basketball program is real, support has been slowly dwindling, but a lot of people are saying they will not be renewing. The oddity of it all is how calm they are about talking about it, no emotion, just in a very matter of fact way. I might not be judging this right, but based on the reaction I have seen I am afraid GIA really is going to look bad next year.
Other common theme also seems to be Boone's tweet in regards to Ford, I think ALL OSU fans understand what Boone means to OSU and I also believe all OSU fans are very appreciative of what he has done for OSU. But that said, some feel why does Boone make it so very obvious he is running the Athletic Department by coming out with the tweet, followed by Holder's announcement. At the least he created the perception he runs things, even if it is not true. Common theme also seems to be, how come Ford gets a tweet like this and not Gundy who has done so far more? So, fairness comes in to play.
This has all been a bad dream, I think I may have been in denial to some degree this has all happened, but several business meetings I had today that just so happened to have a few OSU grads really brought the reality home based on the conversations.
We now have some supporters thinking Boone and Holder are not infallible, that Boone might have an ego so big he wields more power than the President and AD, and Holder is a figure head puppet that now appears to be in the middle of controversy more than you would expect an AD to be. Not so long ago, no one dare speak one negative thought about either.
Basketball ticket sales it appears will really get hit, if people were just angry and venting you might think the threat to pull tickets was not real, but people are very calm and calculated about it. I think most supporters will get over the unfortunate position in which Boone and Holder are being viewed by but I get a sense it blows over because everyone knows what they have meant to OSU, but opinions are changing.
The sense of infallibility appears to be waning for both Boone and Holder, but I think as we move forward fans are going to become more critical of their decisions and behavior. No one likes a man that thinks he can buy whatever he wants and chooses who he likes and dislikes, and manages the AD dept based on who he likes or dislikes, it appears like a misuse of power. Holder has been neutered by Boone just like Ford has, based on the timing of Boone's tweet and Holder's announcement, is there any doubt who is running things? Some might be ok with that as long as Boone continues to pour money in, but some think some things are not for sale and the University should belong to all of us and for the betterment of the University, not who is liked or disliked and who brings the most cash the table. If all of this is just a perception problem? It is still a problem when it comes to keeping the love and the trust of your brand high.
I did not expect the reaction and conversations I had today with a few people, they were also showing me texts (phones blowing up) from other OSU fans they knew reacting to what has happened this week, it was surprising to me. I expect when I come on this Board to see spirited debate, but this week is stirring up a conversation with some of the fan base that appears to be significant.
I am not certain the details of the past week matters to me anymore, when you get right down to it, it all completely sucks. Sucks for Ford and the basketball program, Boone, Holder, Gundy, students, players, the alums, fans, etc... Nobody came out a winner, and I have not met one person that believes the basketball program has a chance to build upon itself in the next few years.
If am Hargis, I call Boone, Holder, & Gundy and I tell them Football will be on deck soon and the season looks promising, and the University community needs for them to go on a PR campaign and they need come out in strong support of each other. If everything is hunky dory and it is just a perception problem? Well, perception is reality, so get on the PR bus and change the dang perception. It would be tremendously significant for this to happen before football season, is our University so desperate to sell our souls for money that we can not demand those who are entrusted to love and be care takers of our school, to do that in a benevolent manner? If Boone is going to be a dictator, can he please be a benevolent dictator? That is more or less what some I am hearing are discussing, the fact it is even being discussed is sad, how on earth can all these alums allow themselves to either create this perception or reality? At this point I don't care about the why or who is to blame, but just do something about it, does not seem that hard to fix.
This post was edited on 4/3 12:34 AM by OKSTATE1
I think the "threats" to pull support of the basketball program is real, support has been slowly dwindling, but a lot of people are saying they will not be renewing. The oddity of it all is how calm they are about talking about it, no emotion, just in a very matter of fact way. I might not be judging this right, but based on the reaction I have seen I am afraid GIA really is going to look bad next year.
Other common theme also seems to be Boone's tweet in regards to Ford, I think ALL OSU fans understand what Boone means to OSU and I also believe all OSU fans are very appreciative of what he has done for OSU. But that said, some feel why does Boone make it so very obvious he is running the Athletic Department by coming out with the tweet, followed by Holder's announcement. At the least he created the perception he runs things, even if it is not true. Common theme also seems to be, how come Ford gets a tweet like this and not Gundy who has done so far more? So, fairness comes in to play.
This has all been a bad dream, I think I may have been in denial to some degree this has all happened, but several business meetings I had today that just so happened to have a few OSU grads really brought the reality home based on the conversations.
We now have some supporters thinking Boone and Holder are not infallible, that Boone might have an ego so big he wields more power than the President and AD, and Holder is a figure head puppet that now appears to be in the middle of controversy more than you would expect an AD to be. Not so long ago, no one dare speak one negative thought about either.
Basketball ticket sales it appears will really get hit, if people were just angry and venting you might think the threat to pull tickets was not real, but people are very calm and calculated about it. I think most supporters will get over the unfortunate position in which Boone and Holder are being viewed by but I get a sense it blows over because everyone knows what they have meant to OSU, but opinions are changing.
The sense of infallibility appears to be waning for both Boone and Holder, but I think as we move forward fans are going to become more critical of their decisions and behavior. No one likes a man that thinks he can buy whatever he wants and chooses who he likes and dislikes, and manages the AD dept based on who he likes or dislikes, it appears like a misuse of power. Holder has been neutered by Boone just like Ford has, based on the timing of Boone's tweet and Holder's announcement, is there any doubt who is running things? Some might be ok with that as long as Boone continues to pour money in, but some think some things are not for sale and the University should belong to all of us and for the betterment of the University, not who is liked or disliked and who brings the most cash the table. If all of this is just a perception problem? It is still a problem when it comes to keeping the love and the trust of your brand high.
I did not expect the reaction and conversations I had today with a few people, they were also showing me texts (phones blowing up) from other OSU fans they knew reacting to what has happened this week, it was surprising to me. I expect when I come on this Board to see spirited debate, but this week is stirring up a conversation with some of the fan base that appears to be significant.
I am not certain the details of the past week matters to me anymore, when you get right down to it, it all completely sucks. Sucks for Ford and the basketball program, Boone, Holder, Gundy, students, players, the alums, fans, etc... Nobody came out a winner, and I have not met one person that believes the basketball program has a chance to build upon itself in the next few years.
If am Hargis, I call Boone, Holder, & Gundy and I tell them Football will be on deck soon and the season looks promising, and the University community needs for them to go on a PR campaign and they need come out in strong support of each other. If everything is hunky dory and it is just a perception problem? Well, perception is reality, so get on the PR bus and change the dang perception. It would be tremendously significant for this to happen before football season, is our University so desperate to sell our souls for money that we can not demand those who are entrusted to love and be care takers of our school, to do that in a benevolent manner? If Boone is going to be a dictator, can he please be a benevolent dictator? That is more or less what some I am hearing are discussing, the fact it is even being discussed is sad, how on earth can all these alums allow themselves to either create this perception or reality? At this point I don't care about the why or who is to blame, but just do something about it, does not seem that hard to fix.
This post was edited on 4/3 12:34 AM by OKSTATE1
