It's official: Phillips is gone
- Thread starter lou v
- Start date
Incredible AD for us. Basically helped put together and execute on plans to give us best-in-class facilities for sports across the the whole department.
I can understand why he would have been looking around at this juncture. He'd built everything he reasonably could achieve here in the near future.
The big two near term decisions for the next AD will concern 1) Ryan Field renovation and 2) basketball team performance.
Due to Covid, the football stadium renovations are likely on the backburner as there's all sorts of revenue questions and questions about what the future of sports viewership looks like.
And on basketball performance, it probably helps to have somebody else rather than the guy that hired CCC.
So it actually is a pretty sensible point for Phillips to end his tenure here given the department is in perfect shape for a handoff.
I can understand why he would have been looking around at this juncture. He'd built everything he reasonably could achieve here in the near future.
The big two near term decisions for the next AD will concern 1) Ryan Field renovation and 2) basketball team performance.
Due to Covid, the football stadium renovations are likely on the backburner as there's all sorts of revenue questions and questions about what the future of sports viewership looks like.
And on basketball performance, it probably helps to have somebody else rather than the guy that hired CCC.
So it actually is a pretty sensible point for Phillips to end his tenure here given the department is in perfect shape for a handoff.
The Athletic reports that Clemson's President was a "legitimate frontrunner" who decided to stay put last week. Too bad -- it would have been nice to hold on to Dr. Jim just a little longer, but it's inevitable that he would look for greener pastures after the B1G botched the Warren hire. The Duke (Kevin White) and ND (2 kids there) connections must have been a key factor too.
I so wish the BT would have tapped Dr. Jim instead of KW. Most true BT advocates know how good he is and respect all he has done at NU.
No love lost. My opinion may be unpopular but he commericalized and adulterated the program imho.
Listen, I am a big giver and so I made sure I got the best seats in W/R but the only thing that mattered to Mr Phillips was $$$. Granted, not a damn thing wrong with that, but that wasn't NU. NU = Shon Morris and good honest Nu blood. What he did to the athletic program was root out all of the NU peeps. Brought in young sales peeps and polluted the culture. Listen, again, nothing wrong with going for the green but when he redid the W/R, he totally pissed all over longtime fans who weren't in the financial position as me to flip the bill. At the MINIMUM, he should have alllowed them toe be first in line. For instance, I had courtside. I could have flipped the bill for the same courtside seats I had for 15 years. But I didn't have the opportunity. I'm sure I"m not the only one.
To be sure, I'm not complaining, he and NU had the full right to do it however they want, and I still have SOLID seats, but there was zero consideration for grandfather rights. Thankfully, he didn't hammer the football peeps as well.
That doesn't mean that the next AD will bring things back to former cultures, I'm just mentioning that it all came down to $$$, even for Fitz. My one knock with Fitz was that he expected $$$ contributions and is alot more commercial than people think. That said, he still has purple blood so he is still solid and awesome, but he is most definite tipped moreso corporate.
And he can go screw himself how he handled the parking lots and gave the boot to long time fans. Completely destroyed tailgates and now the west lot is plum empty.
Sorry, but this isn't how you fill Ryan field. Not happening!
Regarding any criticism for Jim Phillips - I get it. Some financial moves made that don't sit well with the base. I can remember sending him an email years ago - he replied and copied Shon Morris, and Shon replied with a breakdown of my donations (not realizing I was also copied on the reply) - definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. Also realize some decisions/modifications are made without realizing their full/negative impact. But I will also say this on his behalf:
1. As a guy who knew how to raise money and get stuff done, I think he balanced fundraising priorities with the unique fan base we have here at Northwestern as well as anyone possibly could. As someone who doesn't have deep pockets, I personally never felt bullied or squeezed to give more than I could, even with the Fieldhouse, which would have been a perfectly easy, justifiable way to raise prices through the roof.
2. Talk about access. I've emailed the man 2-3 times and he's personally responded each time, once I recall was at 5:30 in the morning. I just sent him a congratulatory/thank you note and I bet I will have a personal reply in 24 hours. I'm nobody special, as Shon Morris was able to affirm in that email, and as a peon fan had access to a Big Ten athletic director. I'd like to know how many fans of other P5 programs get something like that.
Very sorry to see him go, and definitely our loss. I will say, for him missing out on the Big Ten gig, may have been the best thing to possibly happen for his career - Kevin Warren is an easy target for all the COVID criticism this year....impossible task to handle this one well (and no, I don't think the ACC or SEC has handled it well).
1. As a guy who knew how to raise money and get stuff done, I think he balanced fundraising priorities with the unique fan base we have here at Northwestern as well as anyone possibly could. As someone who doesn't have deep pockets, I personally never felt bullied or squeezed to give more than I could, even with the Fieldhouse, which would have been a perfectly easy, justifiable way to raise prices through the roof.
2. Talk about access. I've emailed the man 2-3 times and he's personally responded each time, once I recall was at 5:30 in the morning. I just sent him a congratulatory/thank you note and I bet I will have a personal reply in 24 hours. I'm nobody special, as Shon Morris was able to affirm in that email, and as a peon fan had access to a Big Ten athletic director. I'd like to know how many fans of other P5 programs get something like that.
Very sorry to see him go, and definitely our loss. I will say, for him missing out on the Big Ten gig, may have been the best thing to possibly happen for his career - Kevin Warren is an easy target for all the COVID criticism this year....impossible task to handle this one well (and no, I don't think the ACC or SEC has handled it well).
Congrats Jim. All the best. You will be missed. All the dealings I had with Jim and there were a few, he handled well. As Sheffielder said, every time I e-mailed Jim, I had a personal reply quickly, one time as he and Fitz were coming back from an away game. He also did some very nice things for a dear friend, who was a longtime Football STH who had cancer. Enthusiastic, Energetic, Accessible. Class act.
I will always remember his graciousness. After sending him some photos I took at The Holiday Bowl he had his assistant call me to ask what size I wore? She added that Jim wanted to send me some Northwestern swag,
When the box arrived it had enough apparel to almost match what my NU Athlete son used to get from the University athletic program.
When the box arrived it had enough apparel to almost match what my NU Athlete son used to get from the University athletic program.
He also lied by changing the point system based on a yearly bar first. Fans like me gave enough so it never affects me but many longtime fans got hosed under Mr Jim. He was personal. A really super guy. But he was a businessman and relentless about blowing up the fan loyalty. Since he came, fan loyalty no doubt sank.
To his credit he commercialized the product and dressed it up like a Christmas tree, but our basketball team has sunk to new lows, and our football team hasn't won a BTC since 2000. Same ole.
To his credit he commercialized the product and dressed it up like a Christmas tree, but our basketball team has sunk to new lows, and our football team hasn't won a BTC since 2000. Same ole.
"Same ole with the football team" is a completely absurd comment. Look at the talent and depth all over the field.
Yeah, a charter member of this Big Ten is going to bolt because their AD took a bigger job
16 team super league with ND joining the ACC full time. Jim Phillips will be known as the greatest commissioner of all time. Who says no?Yeah, a charter member of this Big Ten is going to bolt because their AD took a bigger job
Latest
-
01
Wildcat Report
Wildcats' unbeaten start deflates in listless 67-47 loss to DePaul
-
02
Wildcat Report
Fearless Forecast: Northwestern vs. No. 20 Ohio State
-
03
Wildcat Report
Notebook: Collins readies Wildcats for 'really high-level' game with rival DePaul
-
04
Wildcat Report
Behind Enemy Lines: No. 20 Ohio State
-
05
Wildcat Report
Northwestern lands three-star Calif. safety Chase Young after official visit