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#10: Georgetown Soccer will host 'Millenial Day,' where the Hoyas will hand out participation trophies & ask that fans "ONLY use their cell phones," a move ESPN's Rovell calls "awesome." (link)
#9: SNL comedian Thompson's impersonation of LaVar Ball during the "Weekend Update" segment of the show is pretty hilarious. (link)
#8: The AD search at UT Chattanooga is down to four: Georgia Executive Assoc. AD Booz, Duke Senior Assoc. AD for Internal Affairs Harrison, Marshall Assoc. AD/Chief of Staff O'Malley & Penn State Assoc. AD for Athletic Development Wharton. All will be on campus next week for meetings with constituents. A decision on the next Mocs boss is expected by the end of the month. Parker is the search firm of record. (link)
#7: The Washington FB squad got its first look at the new $1M locker room inside Husky Stadium. The new digs, created by design firm Gallagher, features 1.1 miles of LED lighting, three 20-foot tall graphic light boxes that include flat panel televisions, more than 500 feet of graphic prints, and several other highlights. Student-athlete Gaines: "It’s like a spaceship in there. It’s definitely the coolest locker room I’ve ever been in. Coach Pete said he’s always been about having a championship locker room, so he wanted to put his money where his mouth was and build us a championship locker room." (link)
#6: Oklahoma opens the public doors to show off its new Barry Switzer Center as another FB program now has upgraded, sparkling digs. Sooners AD Castiglione says a number of former OU student-athletes have remarked how badly they wish the new facility would have been in place during their time in Norman. A scroll through the pictures shows a waterfall in the cold plunge tub, an expansive fueling station, all sorts of sharp new graphic treatments, lots of fresh meeting rooms, the necessary barber's chair & more. (link)
#5: Former New Mexico AD Krebs in an email back in July to former Deputy AD & current Interim boss Ruggiero on issues in the Lobo Club, "I am thru taking undeserved hits. I had repeated conversations [...] multiple emails [...] concerted effort to collect on bad debt. Those guys need to own up to this and to be held accountable. This should not be laid at my feet and I am asking you two to see that UNM responds appropriately." (link)
#4: Lots more pictures of Notre Dame Stadium's refresh, including outdoor terrace space, a two-level ballroom that looks pretty much like you'd expect from the Fighting Irish. There's also a shot from the 50-yard line looking up to the new video board, and a view from the exterior of the venue & new internal way signage & branding pieces. (link, link)
#3: Sports Illustrated's Feldman queried 15 media peers & 10 ADs to determine who is the best AD in the nation & what skills are most important for premier leaders in college athletics today. Top 3 in the best AD category as voted by the media contingent: Oklahoma's Castiglione, Michigan State's Hollis & Alabama's Byrne. Top 3 as voted by the 10 ADs: Castiglione, TCU's Del Conte & Duke's White. Skill set keys from the media: Hiring/retaining coaches/staff, fundraising, accessibility/communication skills, crisis management, culture building & innovation/creativity. Skill set keys from ADs: Culture building, hiring/retaining coaches/staff, fundraising, crisis management. I suppose it shouldn't be that big of a surprise that those in the media don't quite understand the importance & difficulty of building a dynamic organizational culture. Lots here. Interesting, though not comprehensive. (link)
#2: Incarnate Word introduced former Louisiana Monroe & UC Riverside AD Wickstrom as its new AD Wednesday morning in San Antonio. UIW VP for Enrollment Management & Student Services Jurenovich: "Brian's vision and fundraising ability will, no doubt, help catapult the UIW program and brand to a level of national prominence." Wickstrom: "It is an unbelievable opportunity to work side by side with administrators who believe in the role of Division I intercollegiate athletics on a top-rated academic campus. […] My personal core values align well with the overall mission of Incarnate Word, and as we deliver a first-class student-athlete experience, those students will give back to the global community after graduation and the brand of UIW will spread throughout the community, state and nation." Wickstrom also says he'll have an acute focus on facility upgrades for the Cardinals to better serve student-athletes & sport programs. (link, link)
#1: Tuesday evening came from news Berkeley as Cal AD Williams will not seek a new contract when his current deal expires in May of next year. Williams indicates he'll stick around until a new leader is hired or the end of his contract, "I made a three- or four-year commitment. It shouldn’t be a shock that I’m marking the end of my commitment to the campus." Chancellor Christ applauds Williams for "an unwavering commitment to their [student-athletes] welfare, and to the quality of their experiences in the classroom and their competitive arenas. I deeply appreciate his service." Financial acumen will be crucial for the next AD. (link, link)
