Pollard announces his retirement

Having to sell alcohol at athletic events was the final straw. Way to go everyone! ;) Sad to see this day has come.. will be nearly impossible to fill those shoes.
 
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He wasn't exactly fired, although at the time I recall that kind of being a chicken/egg thing between him and Geoffroy.
Bruce was on double secret probation (i.e. fired) with Geoffrey due to a variety of reasons (paranoid behavior with donors/coworkers, inability to fund raise, message board BS). JP was the designated replacement by Geoffrey until Barry Alvarez retired as Wisconsin FB HC so that he could focus full time as the AD and JP was then released to become ISU AD. When that happened, Bruce "resigned".
 
Congratulations to Jamie Pollard on his retirement!! Well deserved!

One issue that has not been mentioned for several years, is the cancer recurrences & treatment of the Pollard’s son James. James was born with a 6.5 lb cancerous tumor and had numerous recurrences during his young life. Jamie performed at his very high level despite having his son’s health in constant danger. This article from the ISU Daily has some background info
https://iowastatedaily.com/142890/sports/a-cyclone-fight-pollard-family-battles-cancer/

I think I had read the cancer care & treatments James received in the Ames/Des Moines area , was instrumental in keeping Jamie at Iowa State.

About 5 years ago, I had a childhood friend get cancer. She is a great Cyclone fan, despite the rest of her family being huge Hawkeye fans. Her father was heavily involved in the WHO broadcast of the Iowa FB games. I wrote Jamie and explained her cancer diagnosis. Within days he sent her a card wishing her well with her treatment and a Cyclone stocking cap for post chemo hair loss. She was very appreciative.
 
Does this mean that Fennelly is winning this game of chicken between him and Pollard?... or has David Cook let him know he's not being retained also?
JP could have extended Bill if he really wanted to and if Bill agreed to it. Based on what I was told, JP thought Bill would retire after last season.

There is no game of chicken going on with Bill and JP. JP's departure actually seals the deal that next season is Bill's last IMO and the new AD will be involved with hiring Bill's replacement.
 
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BVDV was hired to get the AD budget out of the red and find ways to pay off the facilities built by the previous AD. He did that; that's his "memorable" accomplishment. Granted, the way he did it was certainly not popular with many people. The AD actually had a nice reserve when he left, which was helpful to attract candidates. He wasn't exactly fired, although at the time I recall that kind of being a chicken/egg thing between him and Geoffroy.

I also said he wasn't great in the personality/communications areas, which you are essentially agreeing with. I'm sorry your friends had an unpleasant interaction with him; I'd venture that they probably weren't alone in that regard.

Not to defend Bruce, but I highly doubt he had training to address a beloved head basketball coach who, at best was caught canoodling with coeds on the road. Who knows what really happened. At that time, Larry was kind of untouchable with our fan base.

Bruce was in a no win situation.
 

Hopefully the new AD looks at JTS capacity. I am no fan of contraction but the people in my row just keep getting fatter (myself included). I spent most of the past two years of games either finding a different seat or sitting in the aisle seat with literally half of my ass unsupported out in the aisle. It is time to reduce the number of seats in a row so people can actually sit in their seats. Eliminating two seats in each full section row would have a measurable effect on total capacity but it would contribute greatly to fan comfort.
 
Not to defend Bruce, but I highly doubt he had training to address a beloved head basketball coach who, at best was caught canoodling with coeds on the road. Who knows what really happened. At that time, Larry was kind of untouchable with our fan base.

Bruce was in a no win situation.
"Training" or lack thereof wasn't Bruce's issue with LE. It was a total lack of interpersonal skills and paranoia on Bruce's end and those issues got Bruce run out of ISU by Geoffrey.
 
Hopefully the new AD looks at JTS capacity. I am no fan of contraction but the people in my row just keep getting fatter (myself included). I spent most of the past two years of games either finding a different seat or sitting in the aisle seat with literally half of my ass unsupported out in the aisle. It is time to reduce the number of seats in a row so people can actually sit in their seats. Eliminating two seats in each full section row would have a measurable effect on total capacity but it would contribute greatly to fan comfort.
This is why I pay the extra $100 to get the seat backs. Not to get my ass off the metal bleachers, but to define where my seat is so nobody encroaches into me.
 
Shortly after I retired from Iowa State a few years ago, Jamie asked me what was the biggest difference in my life so far. I told him the biggest difference so far was that I showered in the afternoon regularly instead of first thing in the morning because I was getting regular exercise now instead of sitting behind a desk all day.

He laughed, but I could tell he was beginning to contemplate the idea of retirement, but not just yet. Then later I heard him say he's part of a men's group of similar age guys that meet regularly and all they do is discuss preparing for retirement (financially, psychology, emotionally, etc), so I knew it was on the horizon for him.

We should all be as prepared for retirement as Jamie. Of course, it's a lot easier when your base salary is $800k+!

Not many folks get to go out completely on their own terms, especially in the world of collegiate athletics. Iowa State needs to do something very significant to memorialize his enormous contribution.
 
He’s a legend. Love or dislike some decisions, of course, but the man made us what we are today. Absolutely on ISU Mt Rushmore.

Great timing for him with the shitification of college athletics, which I know bugged him. Also an interesting time for ISU as we’re hitting a fork in the road in the next few years and fresh blood and ideas can’t hurt.

Will miss JP.
 
I don't blame him. Combining past health scares with a current college athletics landscape that he didn't sign up for it makes sense.

Thank you Jaime.
 
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