Pres. Leath Comments on Rhoads

[norcalcy]

“I’d like to get our football program where it needs to be, which is representative of a first-class university. We’re not there. The last two seasons were clearly disappointing,” Leath says. “As to Paul’s future, I can’t predict that. He knows, (ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard) knows that we want a first-class, winning program and that’s where we’ve got to be and hopefully he’s the guy to get us there, but either way, we’ve got to get there.”

The more I read this statement, the more I like it. I can't think of another time where I have seen an ISU President be so clear about the need for winning football.

 

[DuckDynastyCy]

Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

Yeah, pretty much these. To those wailing and gnashing teeth over this and recruits....this wasn't about recruits...it's about keeping the checkbooks of donors handy. JP went out and supported Rhoads, and while that will help with recruits, I'm sure that wasn't sitting well with some donors. Leath put this out in a less covered forum to keep the big donors happy. If Leath has to pick donors or recruits...he's picking donors first.

Fine. Put the "Big Donors" in a room and tell them in private, don't publicize any of it! Some of you do not get it. If this was a case study in an MBA course in Management, and a CEO made this kind of statement, after his VP's had made other statements to the contrary two weeks prior, it would show the company is in big trouble.

 

[DuckDynastyCy]

“I’d like to get our football program where it needs to be, which is representative of a first-class university. We’re not there. The last two seasons were clearly disappointing,” Leath says. “As to Paul’s future, I can’t predict that. He knows, (ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard) knows that we want a first-class, winning program and that’s where we’ve got to be and hopefully he’s the guy to get us there, but either way, we’ve got to get there.”

The more I read this statement, the more I like it. I can't think of another time where I have seen an ISU President be so clear about the need for winning football.

But it needs to be said by JP, not him, IMO.

 

[00clone]

Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

Fine. Put the "Big Donors" in a room and tell them in private, don't publicize any of it! Some of you do not get it. If this was a case study in an MBA course in Management, and a CEO made this kind of statement, after his VP's had made other statements to the contrary two weeks prior, it would show the company is in big trouble.

Just keep ranting, then. You've put forth a theory, others have put forth an alternate one. But, I'm sure you're smarter than a university president (and I expect the predictable "I think this one, I am" response).

Put it this way...you're agreeing with clonedude...that right there ought to tell you whether you're right or wrong.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Can recruiting get much worse?

Even with our recent recruiting coups, we're still just BARELY ahead of Kansas in the ratings.

But of course rankings mean nothing - other then the fact our on-field experience seems to correlate fairly well with our last or nearly last recruit rankings.

 

[scyclonekid]

But it needs to be said by JP, not him, IMO.

. JP can't say that about his buddy and neighbor. Leath is telling it like it is and yes people will be ticked off.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Even with our recent recruiting coups, we're still just BARELY ahead of Kansas in the ratings.

But of course rankings mean nothing - other then the fact our on-field experience seems to correlate fairly well with our last or nearly last recruit rankings.

I don't think you understand, Jake Knott wasn't ranked high and he was good. Recruiting rankings are completely irrelevant due to that fact!

 

[SpokaneCY]

I would say this if I was a supporter of the staff or if I wasnt. I am a supporter of ISU. The timing and depth of his comments were not well thought out, and I now question Leaths Leadership ability much more than CPR and JP's. That scares me as an Alum when the Captain has poor judgement.

Find me 1 recruit that even knows the name of the president and I'll kiss your ***. And find me 1 recruit that saw the comments or read of the comments outside of some stupid chat board I'll let you film it.

 

[SpokaneCY]

I am not a Cyclone and all of you already know that. I can give you a view of this situation as an outsider. Recruits are not stupid. They also need a good strong bit of guidance. They should never attend a particular school because of the coach. Coaches are hired guns and come and go. A great recruiter sells the school and not any one individual. After all, why did any of you choose to attend ISU?

I wanted to be close to my Mom and I personally think I look bad in black faded polyester.

 

[clonedude]

“I’d like to get our football program where it needs to be, which is representative of a first-class university. We’re not there. The last two seasons were clearly disappointing,” Leath says. “As to Paul’s future, I can’t predict that. He knows, (ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard) knows that we want a first-class, winning program and that’s where we’ve got to be and hopefully he’s the guy to get us there, but either way, we’ve got to get there.”

The more I read this statement, the more I like it. I can't think of another time where I have seen an ISU President be so clear about the need for winning football.

I would have been fine if Leath just said his first sentence and stopped right there. There was no need to say anything more.

If you're going to give Rhoads another year to prove he's the right man for the job, then shut your trap and let him do his job. Don't announce it to the world and tie both of Rhoads' hands behind his back like that. That is not fair at all. VERY unprofessional at best.

Would the CEO of a company announce to the world that his VP had one year to turn the company around or he's gone? No. He might be told that in a private meeting, but that's it.

Leath has shown time and time again that he is way in over his head at his job IMO.

We have a president and an AD who both can't seem to keep their mouth's shut when needed. I like JP and think he's done a great job, but I don't like a lot of the things he comes out and says when he shouldn't. Same with Leath. I have no idea if he's been a good president for ISU when it comes to academics or not, but the way he's handled some of the athletic issues has been terrible.

 

[CTTB78]

Yes. I think Leath wants to distance himself from the "all is well, buckle up your seatbelts" crap that he has had to listen to JP and CPR say during the Tailgate Tour stops the last two years. Our president is saying to fans, "I know you're not stupid - the current product is crap." It's refreshing, and to me, serves as a jump-start to a more urgent off-season for the football program.

Exactly. Someone has to lay out the expectations.

 

[Cyched]

“I’d like to get our football program where it needs to be, which is representative of a first-class university. We’re not there. The last two seasons were clearly disappointing,” Leath says. “As to Paul’s future, I can’t predict that. He knows, (ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard) knows that we want a first-class, winning program and that’s where we’ve got to be and hopefully he’s the guy to get us there, but either way, we’ve got to get there.”

The more I read this statement, the more I like it. I can't think of another time where I have seen an ISU President be so clear about the need for winning football.

Pretty much this. Wasn't lack of administrative support a big reason for our utter futility in the 80s and 90s?

 

[Cy$]

I personally think you are giving Leath too much credit. If he seriously had big intentions with public comments, he wouldn't have only made them on some obscure radio show. I don't think that was him "getting involved".

These days it doesn't matter where he made the comments, word will get through and posted on here. I believe he did this on purpose and planned it out knowing it will get out.

 

[SpokaneCY]

ESPN seems to have forgotten to cover this enormous blunder. There must be another sports site where athletes can find out the questions asked over the course of a long interview of a sitting university president.

Anyone know where i can find a Leath jersey?

Do you suppose Cam Newton tuned to public TV before committing? I mean nothing informs you of the health of an athletics program than a PTA meeting, am I right?

Oh - and how come I had to hear we were a 2 win team from a friggin Iowa Public TV show!?!? SOMEONE should lose their job!

 

[SpokaneCY]

I would have been fine if Leath just said his first sentence and stopped right there. There was no need to say anything more.

If you're going to give Rhoads another year to prove he's the right man for the job, then shut your trap and let him do his job. Don't announce it to the world and tie both of Rhoads' hands behind his back like that. That is not fair at all. VERY unprofessional at best.

Would the CEO of a company announce to the world that his VP had one year to turn the company around or he's gone? No. He might be told that in a private meeting, but that's it.

Leath has shown time and time again that he is way in over his head at his job IMO.

We have a president and an AD who both can't seem to keep their mouth's shut when needed. I like JP and think he's done a great job, but I don't like a lot of the things he comes out and says when he shouldn't. Same with Leath. I have no idea if he's been a good president for ISU when it comes to academics or not, but the way he's handled some of the athletic issues has been terrible.

Every CEO would have a clear vision of what is expected and communicate it to the Board, the shareholders, management, the employees and the consumers...

 

[SpokaneCY]

These days it doesn't matter where he made the comments, word will get through and posted on here. I believe he did this on purpose and planned it out knowing it will get out.

Nefarious bastard! Leath can take the title of "The Architect" from Karl Rove with that brilliant spin...

 

[BoxsterCy]

If some of the posters in this thread could channel their self-righteous indignation they might have career opportunities as phony self-righteous politicians.

Here, for practice, "I AM OUTRAGED THAT (insert your knee-jerk rant of the hour here)!"

 

[clonedude]

Every CEO would have a clear vision of what is expected and communicate it to the Board, the shareholders, management, the employees and the consumers...

I really doubt the CEO of the company I work for would announce to the whole company that his VP is getting put on notice and had one year to fix things or he would be shown the door.

In private, yes, but not announced to everyone. If you're going to throw someone under the bus like that, you might as well just fire him on the spot IMO. Why put it off and humiliate them even further? Just classless and amateurish.

 

[Wesley]

Seems really odd, as I've heard CPR was already told by his boss that it's bowling next year or out. Obviously Leath would know about that conversation, so why come out now and make public comments to the same effect?

Well, Leath has now put the word out. One more year to accomplish a miracle or else.

 

[Spam]

If this were a company, PR would have been fired by now.