🏈 Odd hire to me ...Lynn Swann hired as new AD at USC

[TerryP]

USC tabs Hall of Famer Swann to be new AD

 

[planomateo]

Had no idea Lynn Swann did all that stuff after the NFL.

Interesting point below...

 

[OldPlayer]

Their last several ADs include Haden, Mike Garrett and now Lynn Swann. All former USC football players.

 

[UAgrad93]

Got to keep status quo!

 

[bradenob]

USC tabs Hall of Famer Swann to be new AD

Obviously, while we look at football, Haden did well overall. Arguably, however, most ADs are judged by the school's football record no matter what, with a few exceptions (Villanova? Kansas?).

I am not really sure WHAT it takes to be a successful AD. I DO know one thing - if the school could get Nick Saban to be the AD for just a COUPLE of years after he does retire because he's tired of recruiting, he would be the BEST AD any school has EVER had! No gumping - just fact!

 

[OldPlayer]

Obviously, while we look at football, Haden did well overall. Arguably, however, most ADs are judged by the school's football record no matter what, with a few exceptions (Villanova? Kansas?).

I am not really sure WHAT it takes to be a successful AD. I DO know one thing - if the school could get Nick Saban to be the AD for just a COUPLE of years after he does retire because he's tired of recruiting, he would be the BEST AD any school has EVER had! No gumping - just fact!

$$$$ makes a successful AD. Can the AD produce money-making programs for ticket sales, sponsorships, apparel deals, fund raising, media rights, etc? An athletic program that is self-sustaining and doesn't require financial support from the university is a successful program.

 

[TerryP]

Obviously, while we look at football, Haden did well overall.

Did he?

While he didn't hire Kiff, the way he terminated him was far from professional. His handling of the Sark situation demonstrated he was over his head when it came to employee/staff management. Telling Sark to take a leave of absence was a good move—two months late. And again, the manner in which he handled Sark's termination wasn't any better than the way he handled Kiff's.

Then, Sark calling Hayden down from his box during the Stanford game? A lot of that is on Sark (whom Hayden hired) but for an AD to try to address officials during a ball game? That was just a stupid decision.

Now, we're looking at a USC program that is a lot like Bama's was ... looking to recapture the past by hiring "USC men."

Perhaps you recall Hayden saying "sometimes leaders have to make decisions that aren't popular" in the wake of the Sark drama. I'd argue a lot of his decisions weren't popular because those very decisions were handled so poorly.

 

[planomateo]

LA Rams opted to wait and USC opted to announce a new AD. Sounds about like USC to me...

 

[OldPlayer]

LA Rams opted to wait and USC opted to announce a new AD. Sounds about like USC to me...

They're battling for fans. With the Rams moving into the market, it's a tough battle among USC, UCLA, LA Rams, LA Dodgers, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, LA Angels, and a whole bunch of UC-fill-in-the-blanks.

 

[bradenob]

Did he?

While he didn't hire Kiff, the way he terminated him was far from professional. His handling of the Sark situation demonstrated he was over his head when it came to employee/staff management. Telling Sark to take a leave of absence was a good move—two months late. And again, the manner in which he handled Sark's termination wasn't any better than the way he handled Kiff's.

Then, Sark calling Hayden down from his box during the Stanford game? A lot of that is on Sark (whom Hayden hired) but for an AD to try to address officials during a ball game? That was just a stupid decision.

Now, we're looking at a USC program that is a lot like Bama's was ... looking to recapture the past by hiring "USC men."

Perhaps you recall Hayden saying "sometimes leaders have to make decisions that aren't popular" in the wake of the Sark drama. I'd argue a lot of his decisions weren't popular because those very decisions were handled so poorly.

Yeah, I should have clarified, TP- what I was saying by overall was that, in spite of his failures with respect to the football program, other sports were obviously successful. I meant that considering the W-L records, championships OVERALL, he LED or HEADED a successful athletics dept, DESPITE not doing well in leading the football program with the head football coach. And again, football IS the face of the USC program. I completely agree that he handled Kiffin poorly, and that he COMPLETELY blew the whole thing with Sark. Two different perspectives in evaluating his performance.

 

[bamachine]

I do know that I want a particular Bama guy if Battle leaves any time in the next decade, that would be one Ozzie Newsome. He actually has done a pretty damned good job as the GM for an expansion NFL team.

 

[OldPlayer]

I do know that I want a particular Bama guy if Battle leaves any time in the next decade, that would be one Ozzie Newsome. He actually has done a pretty damned good job as the GM for an expansion NFL team.

It would require a serious downgrade in pay.

 

[TerryP]

It would require a serious downgrade in pay.

I've never seen Ozzie's salary released publicly. You?

 

[OldPlayer]

I've never seen Ozzie's salary released publicly. You?

I looked to find it but couldn't. It has to be $1 million+. Battle only makes $600-700k.

 

[UAgrad93]

Ozzie's net worth is estimated at $10 million. I couldn't find any other numbers than that. It is believed that GMs make between $1-$3 million a year.

 

[Bamabww]

if Battle leaves any time in the next decade, .

Isn't this the last year of his contract? I'll have to look and see if I can find where I read that.....

 

[bamachine]

Don't get me wrong, I do not dislike Battle as Bama's AD. He has done a good job. My only real gripe has been The Battle Plan emails, minor annoyances. Just that if he retires anytime in the next decade, especially before Saban hangs it up, Ozzie would be the logical replacement. Ozzie loves him some Bama, has experience running a major organization plus he is quite familiar with Saban, as they spent several years with Saban as the DC for the Browns and Ozzie in the front office. Ozzie has also expressed interest in the job.

 

[OldPlayer]

Don't get me wrong, I do not dislike Battle as Bama's AD. He has done a good job. My only real gripe has been The Battle Plan emails, minor annoyances. Just that if he retires anytime in the next decade, especially before Saban hangs it up, Ozzie would be the logical replacement. Ozzie loves him some Bama, has experience running a major organization plus he is quite familiar with Saban, as they spent several years with Saban as the DC for the Browns and Ozzie in the front office. Ozzie has also expressed interest in the job.

I like Ozzie too. But we need to avoid the "Bama man" syndrome. A GM in the pros has very different responsibilities from an AD. If Ozzie is the best man for the job, great! But let's not be blinded to other candidates (no, I don't have a list).

 

[TerryP]

Ozzie's net worth is estimated at $10 million. I couldn't find any other numbers than that. It is believed that GMs make between $1-$3 million a year.

I looked to find it but couldn't. It has to be $1 million+. Battle only makes $600-700k.

I found the same before I posed the question.

I'm not "advocating" a move to Ozzie but I have to wonder if a pay cut would even be in play IF he wanted the position in the first place. I caught something that said his net worth was in the eight figure range. I recall people in TN saying the Battle rumors (before Dr. Bonner announced his hire) were in no way close to being true due to the amount of money he was worth.

 

[bamachine]

Yeah, Battle took a pay cut. He still gets dividends from CLC but no longer gets salary from them. I think Ozzie would do the same. He just wants to be part of the program again. As for Old Player's question, yes it is quite a bit different but Ozzie has the organizational skills to do the job, he is also a very personable guy, so should be able to schmooze with all the right people. The main learning curve for him would be the NCAA rulebook. I must admit, I am just a huge Ozzie fan, so that may cloud my judgement a little.