There goes all hope for a resurgence of excellence... --- Jeff Todd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> CECIL HURT: Witt proposes new contract, raise for > Moore > > June 19, 2005 > > > Among the many discussion topics that can prompt > debate > in the University of Alabama's fan base, the tenure > of > Mal Moore as the Crimson Tide's director of > athletics > ranks near the top of the list. > > There is universal agreement that Moore, who became > the > director of athletics at UA in November 1999, has > faced > challenges that no other Alabama athletics director > has > ever faced, from whirlwind football coaching > transitions > to a harrowing NCAA probation to a massive upgrade > of > the bricks-and-mortar of the UA facilities. The > unanimity breaks down, though, when different > factions > evaluate Moore's success rate at handling those > challenges. His staunchest supporters think that no > other person could have navigated the rough waters; > his > most fervent detractors think that he could have > steered > clear of the troubles, had he followed a different > course. > > But no matter how many parties enter the debate, > they > can all be drowned out by a single voice. And that > voice > has spoken. > > University of Alabama President Robert Witt has > recommended to the University's Board of Trustees > that > Moore be given a five-year contract extension and a > raise, a recommendation that the board accepted when > it > met in Tuscaloosa earlier this week. Moore has yet > to > sign the extension, but that seems to be a mere > formality. When it is signed, Moore's contract, > which > was to expire at the end of this month, will extend > to > June of 2010. > > Witt said Saturday morning that the lengthy > extension > was his idea. > > "I was actually the one who recommended it," he > said. > > "I have the utmost respect for the job that Mal > Moore > has done. His work with the Crimson Tradition fund > has > been extraordinary. The initial goal of Crimson > Tradition was to raise $50 million and that goal has > > been met and exceeded. > > "He has provided steady leadership through a very > difficult period, particularly in the transition > from > Coach [Dennis] Franchione to Coach [Mike] Price to > Coach > [Mike] Shula. > > "The academic performance of our athletes in that > times > has been, in my opinion, exemplary. He has focused > very > intently on strengthening Jon Dever's academic > support > group. You can look at other campuses around the > country > and you will frequently see stories about academic > difficulties that we have not had here. > > "When you look at the performance of our teams from > basketball to baseball to gymnastics to softball, it > has > been excellent. And I believe he has served as a > very > effective mentor to Mike Shula. > > "When I added everything up -- Mal's performance, > his > dedication to the University and his love for the > University -- I wanted to be sure he would be here > for > the foreseeable future." > > Moore, reached just before he departed for a cruise > with > Crimson Tide coaches and fans on Saturday, said that > he > was "flattered and appreciative." > > "President Witt called me yesterday to tell me it > had > been approved," Moore said. "We had actually first > talked about it six or eight months ago, when he > brought > it up to me. All I can say now is that I'll do my > best > to keep things moving in the right direction." > > For the most part, Witt, who became president of UA > in > March 2003, has allowed Moore to run the athletic > department in his own way. When Witt has had to make > > decisions, they have been firm, and in the two most > important instances, correct. The first was his > decision > to fire Price. The second has been his decision to > find > grounds for productive existence within the NCAA, > even > when some boosters have urged a more belligerent, > perhaps even litigious, approach. > > There are many possible ways to interpret Witt's > strong > stand in support of Moore. Some will see it as an > endorsement of the status quo. Others might see it > as > empowering Moore to make changes in the athletics > department beyond the renovation of the Tide's > facilities. It will at least serve to deflect rumors > > that Moore's departure or retirement is imminent. > > One ting is certain, though. Dr. Robert Witt has > made > clear that his vision for "the foreseeable future" > of UA > athletics will be implemented by Mal Moore. > > Cecil Hurt is sports editor of The Tuscaloosa News. > Reach him at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or at > (205) > 722-0225. > > > > _______________________________________________ > RTF mailing list > RTF@rolltidefan.net > http://rolltidefan.net/mailman/listinfo/rtf_rolltidefan.net > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ RTF mailing list RTF@rolltidefan.net http://rolltidefan.net/mailman/listinfo/rtf_rolltidefan.net
