duqkurt wrote:

S
The negatives now. The person I talked to said that the priorities of the department seem to change daily. For example, last year when Harper took office he wanted to establish connections with fans. This was done with Duquesne posting interviews with coaches, players, etc on the website. The interviews were done by DU journalism students.

The contact said this was just dropped this year. No reason but as you can see there aren't any. The priority this year Is this so called "Strategic Plan" which the contact is not a part of and has no clue what the announcement will entail. But he/she said everything else had been put on a back burner now because all day is spent with the big dogs in strategic meeting plans. They also said they have no reason to be involved with the strategic plan and they don't feel slighted by being in the dark.
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From my very lengthy and in-depth conversation with Harper last year I got the idea that he really, really believed Jim Ferry had the abliity to be at least a competent coach and get the program back on track.  He genuinely believed that the team was on the upswing last year and he could work on this great "strategic plan" of making the Palumbo a "Happening Place" One thing that stuck with me during our talk was that his comment that "Duquesne actually has a home court disadvantage. 

That has now been revealed as complete hogwash. He is stuck with Ferry and can only talk in vague terms about "long term growth of the program" and other PR speak.  He painted himself into a corner and is trapped. The crowds are easily counted in dozens, the team is unexciting and he has a coach that needs to be fired at the end of this year, but the budget won't bear that out!

I am glad I won't be around to watch the heartbreak next year.
 

duqkurt wrote:

So I had a conversation with a DU athletic department employee this month that happens to be an acquaintance. I asked the person the state of the athletic department and she/he is always forthcoming. 

(You can all take this with a grain of salt, since I read other posts like this and some I believe and some I don't.  If you don't believe me, fine.)

The person said Harper has a much better relationship with the student athletes than Amodio ever did.  He speaks to them regularly and the student athletes appreciate that.   One former student athlete commented to this person that the first time Amodio ever spoke to them was when he shook their hand on senior night.  And this person was all conference on the team they played on. 

The negatives now.  The person I talked to said that the priorities of the department seem to change daily.  For example, last year when Harper took office he wanted to establish connections with fans.  This was done with Duquesne posting interviews with coaches, players, etc on the website.  The interviews were done by DU journalism students.   

The contact said this was just dropped this year.  No reason but as you can see there aren't any.  The priority this year Is this so called "Strategic Plan" which the contact is not a part of and has no clue what the announcement will entail.  But he/she said everything else had been put on a back burner now because all day is spent with the big dogs in strategic meeting plans.   They also said they have no reason to be involved with the strategic plan and they don't feel slighted by being in the dark.

The contact stated they have seen this before at DU.  A plan will be worked out for months and approved.  And then that plan never be implemented because there is a new plan that needs to be worked on.  He/she stated the social media presence and interviews as something that was approved, started, and then just dropped.

I asked them about the perception that there is a lot of dead weight in the athletic department and that most fans believe the AD staff have jobs for life.   He/she commented that they have seen the comments on this board.  And he/she says that just like in big companies there are people there that you can count on.  And people there that you shake your head at stating wondering how they got their job.   He/she stated that an under performer was parted with either this year.  They believed the person wasn't l let go but told to find something else, but that was just their opinion and they didn't know the story.  But there was no sadness amongst the staff when this person left.   (You can read between the lines and look at the open positions to discover the person)

I asked about morale and he said it really isn't any different.   The teams try to do the best they can. Sone teams Complain about the way things are at DU and some teams just put their heads down and try to make the best of what they have. 

He/she says that most in the department know that they don't have the commitment from the University that other A10 schools have and it is just an accepted fact.  And this person doesn't equate money to commitment.   

Take this all for what it is worth.

For what it is worth here are some other things that I left out. 

1.  The contact likes Harper.  But they liked Amodio as well.   They believe Amodio was his own worst enemy with his failure to even try to contact with fans. 

2. This is old news but the contact whole heartedly believes that Amodio never leaked that email.  But was leaked to a source in Cincy to make it appear that he did.

duqkurt wrote:

For what it is worth here are some other things that I left out. 

1.  The contact likes Harper.  But they liked Amodio as well.   They believe Amodio was his own worst enemy with his failure to even try to contact with fans. 

2. This is old news but the contact whole heartedly believes that Amodio never leaked that email.  But was leaked to a source in Cincy to make it appear that he did.

 
REALLY? As to your contact was it Ron Everhart or a board member? Complete BS. I love the fact that your contact remains critical of the Quinipiac Clown & can also guarantee that he was a critic of Colleary. Dave my friend do you see a pattern? Duqkurt please continue with your discussions involving  your contact. I need a good laugh after all it's cold overcast & winter.

duqkurt wrote:

Ironduke81 wrote:

duqkurt wrote:

For what it is worth here are some other things that I left out. 

1.  The contact likes Harper.  But they liked Amodio as well.   They believe Amodio was his own worst enemy with his failure to even try to contact with fans. 

2. This is old news but the contact whole heartedly believes that Amodio never leaked that email.  But was leaked to a source in Cincy to make it appear that he did.

 


REALLY? As to your contact was it Ron Everhart or a board member? Complete BS. I love the fact that your contact remains critical of the Quinipiac Clown & can also guarantee that he was a critic of Colleary. Dave my friend do you see a pattern? Duqkurt please continue with your discussions involving  your contact. I need a good laugh after all it's cold overcast & winter.

As usual I have no idea what you are saying.  Who said anything about Colleary?

Yes I am friends with the person. And it is isn't my job to tell them not to like their boss either Harper or Amodio.   They dont believe Amodio leaked the email based on their personal interaction with the man. 

There were two critical things said.  Amodio wasn't a friendly person and the athletic department has constantly changing "plans".  Neither are exactly earth shattering revelations.

And i have repeatedly said the person likes Harper.  I lead off with the positives but people chose to overlook that. 

Learn to read.

Last edited by duqkurt (1/29/2017 3:57 pm)