my BIG concern with Smitheran is this

the program has just got a $8.5 Mil (if I'm correct) donation.

my experience in industry is leaders/managers get funding and then 'game' the use of it maybe with no ill intent but to their performance benefit

so.....Is Smitheran spending a lot of the $8.5 mil he now has upfront, for things like this GM?

will the $8.5 M be spent in 3 years for Smitherin's job performance, so we get a 3 year 'spurt' hopefully translated to performance in all sports, but at the end of 3-5 years, that money infusion is gone, while there are 5 or so years left on the LBFCU donation. at that time SMitheran has balanced his budget maybe some increases in preformance, etc. and then funding has kicked the can down the road ....always happens!

before hiring this guy, was there critical thought to what this guy can actually do. i.e. what is this GM actually going to do so that spending $250 k ayear on this guy translates to $500k increase in funding????

given what we've seen from Smitheran it's easy to surmise he is just trying to spend money for some likely marginal improvement in MBB.

maybe not!

does Apfel not care so long as SMithean balances his own budget.

it goes back to what purpose does Apfel have in terms of overall performance of the sports, or just a bean counter.

we get all these great pronouncements: ANchor Fund, now this, etc.

just it's so hard to assess what is happening with teh athletic department. Smitheran & Apfel I guess no.

not sure who else does? we're just fans in the dark, lol