I watch the university from afar (though hopefully close-up tonight at NIU). Everything I'm reading makes me think that our AD is not really pushing the right buttons. How would you score him on the following:

--Overall hires in the Athletic Department

--Gameday experience

--Public relations

--Scheduling

--Athletic Projects

--Anything else athletics-related

I'd suggest you also put this post in the basketball thread.

B.

Get rid of Saul and bring in a 20-10 coach and I'll make it a B+.

Why a B or B+?

I'd give him a C-, and that's only because football has been consistent and they've allowed for a solid tailgating experience to develop in Athens.

Ohio's AD did not hire Coach Solich. McDavis made the hire as Schaus wasn't in Athens yet. He made a great hire with Boldon, but struck out with Semeka. His overall hires have been ok, but not worth an A or B.

This is accurate; Solich was hired by McDavis. In fact, Solich at the time made it clear that if had not had assurance that he had support at the very top he would not have taken the job. It was the strong support from McDavis that convinced Frank that this was the place he could build a program. It was interesting that TB tried later to take credit for the hire, but at the time there were stories he was backing another candidate, until it was clear who McDavis favored. TB had one foot out the door at the time. Rumor has it that Alan Swank kicked the other foot out of the door and slammed it shut! ;-)

If the above is true, I owe Alan a drink. TB was a DB.

I give him a B

What about infrastructure??

What about it? Most all upgrades were done because we went 40 years without any maintain end or upgrades. If you really want to talk infrastructure then Tom Boeh is the greatest AD in modern Ohio history. Renovation of Peden with lowering of the field, field turf, replacement of Convo floor, Bob Wren, Softball field, soccer field, Pruitt Field, Football practice fields and new track.

Which AD was best able to keep the financial house in order? That ranks right up there with improvements, and with winning.

Good point. This has become a moving target, however, as attendance across most sports has declined, recessions come and go, and overall costs like full cost of attendance and coaching salaries escalate. It’s not easy being a AD, but that’s what they get paid for.

Schaus is a solid A-. C'mon, let's be reasonable. He's trying to polish a turd on a shoestring budget with a lot of opinionated assholes (that don't donate) in his ear all the time. He deserves a purple heart or medal of honor for most of the crap he deals with (shuttle demands, bathroom dryers, pretzels - what a group).

"Dear Jim, I have a lot of problems with how you run the department. I'd like to request a meeting to discuss all my bitches and complaints with you. Please advise of your upcoming schedule."

(Jim checks donation logs. This person gave $50 last year. Manually sends Outlook Out of Office Notification)

"It's a great day to be a Bobcat. I'm out of the office for the next 32 weeks with no access to email and voicemail. I will return all messages upon my return. Sincerely, Jim Schaus"

He tries to put a professional face on an Animal House and like the rest of us in corporate life, he's hit (Groce and Boldon) and missed (Christian, Ryan White, Saul) on his hires. He kept a few people around too long (Cooley/Carbone) but overall - he's kept things on a positive trajectory. Only one scandal that I can recall.

Everything in college athletics revolves around football anyways, and that's been well above marginal for his tenure. He sat on the NCAA Selection Board until Jackass Nellis told him to step down (great foresight from the genius from Texas Tech / New Mexico SMH). He's got the IPF, Sook, and some other stuff done and he's done enough to keep the Trustees and McDavis off his back.

Scheduling sucks, but again - this donor base really doesn't deserve better scheduling (or any nice things for that matter). Nobody ponies up, so why should Schaus go further into the red for the donors? It's all a moot point anyways, we are a small fish in a big pond and nobody wants to put up the cash or their cajones to make it better.

I don't agree with much that he (or anyone in life) does, but Schaus is fine in my book. Guy is just trying to go to work, get his work done, and keep his wife and kids happy. Can't ding him for being a human being.

Also, in regards to Bob Wren - wrecking Trautwein Field at the corner of Richland and S. Green was an offense that should have someone extradited back to Athens to face the stockades. What a disgrace of a move. If I were President, I would immediately move to take a wrecking ball to Walter Hall and put Trautwein Field back in it's rightful place. Just a dumbass move from the jump by someone.