Emails About Fowler Didn't Make A Difference

It’s not surprising that NC State University Chancellor Randy Woodson received emails about Wolfpack Athletics Director Lee Fowler before and shortly after Woodson took office. The faithful have been restless for several years, blaming the woes of the football and basketball programs on Fowler who hired both Sidney Lowe and Tom O’Brien.

What is surprising is the remote possibility that the opinions of 29 people who, according to a story in Sunday’s The News & Observer, emailed Woodson, former temporary Chancellor James Woodward and Fowler, had anything solid to do with Fowler’s dismissal.

From the newspaper’s article, written by Ken Tysiac: “The e-mails reveal a deep discontent among at least a faction of N.C. State fans who insisted on being heard by interim chancellor Woodward and then by Woodson as the university’s administration underwent changes at the top.”

Maybe Tysiac meant to say a small “fraction” instead of just a “faction” because if only 29 people wrote emails during that span there was not a lot of ground-swell to get rid of Fowler during the period of emails, Feb 1 through early May. And if decisions were made based on those emails only, then it’s time to either change administrations, again, or to fire several other people in the administration such as, for instance, Vice Chancellor of Advancement Nevin Kessler who is not doing his job in the more important role of chief fund-raiser for the University. His efforts pale in comparison to that of Fowler.

There was much more outrage when Kessler and his lackey Woodward fired then NCSU Alumni Association Executive Director Lennie Barton. I recall meeting Woodson at a reception in Reynolds Coliseum just after the UNC Board of Governors agreed with UNC President Erskine Bowles to hire Woodson. I extended my hand to his and introduced myself, “Chancellor Woodson, I’m Jim Pomeranz,” I said. Woodson, shaking my hand, looked me in the eye and said, “Very nice to meet you, and let me tell you I know of your concerns (about Kessler and Barton). And, there are many, many others who have your same concerns.”

Just based on that conversation, the outrage over Barton’s dismissal and Kessler’s inability was greater than the recent emailing about Fowler.

That said, the disappointment in Fowler, directly related to the results of the basketball and football teams as well as most all other sports, has been a sore subject for several years. In the past year, several regular Wolfpack followers have communicated that they refuse to buy season tickets to football and basketball or attend any Wolfpack sports event as long as Fowler is in charge. Now, they’ve changed their tune since the announcement of Fowler’s dismissal. They’re saying they’ve now applied for football tickets for the 2010 season and are looking forward to returning to the RBC Center for basketball games.

In reality, the idea of replacing Fowler has been stirring for several months, if not years. Chancellors prior to Woodward weren’t interested in replacing Fowler as much as they were interested in replacing head coaches. And, Fowler did himself no favors when Herb Sendek voluntarily left the Wolfpack basketball program and Fowler hop-scotched around the country looking for a head basketball coach before settling on Lowe who had no college coaching experience. And, when it was time to replace Chuck Amato as head football coach, Fowler settled on O’Brien who hasn’t done very well in that capacity.

So, when Woodward showed his true, weak colors and caved into the wishes of Kessler to fire Barton, it was obvious to several “high-rolling” supporters that Woodward could also make the decision to fire Fowler. One man’s lackey is another man’s salvation when it comes to decision-making. And, does anyone think that Woodson, who replaced Woodward, would reverse the decision? If so, there’s plenty of oil splattered beach front in the Gulf of Mexico for sale. Go get it.

Those emails from 29 people did nothing to continue or prevent the termination of Lee Fowler. Once Woodward made the decision to halt the contract of Fowler, it was a done deal. What would be interesting to know is who told Woodward to do it and when, possibly sometime last fall. I doubt Woodward made the decision on his own. Someone had his ear on this subject, and emails about that would be a lot more interesting to read than what was reported in Sunday’s newspaper.

Search Begins for Wolfpack Athletics Director

So the search begins for a replacement for Lee Fowler, NC State University Director of Athletics who was ousted from his job by former temporary NCSU chancellor James Woodward, the same guy who last fall fired Lennie Barton from his post as Executive Director of the school’s Alumni Association.

Woodward did in Barton after a brief discussion with Vice Chancellor of Advancement Nevin Kessler (yes, that’s his real name for those who think I’ve been making it up). One must wonder to whom Woodward listened before he gave the boot to Fowler.

Woodward had a lot of guts and gumption to remove two long-time University employees in such a brief time in his position. Usually, temporary hires just fill space until the permanent replacement arrives, but Woodward, with the blessing of UNC System President Erskine Bowles, took charge and did the nasty with Barton and Fowler.

If you haven’t heard (and for what it’s worth), I objected to the Barton firing. I have mixed reactions—breaking out in hives one moment and losing sleep in another—but not mixed emotions (none really) to the letting go of Fowler who seemed like a stand-up guy in some ways but who didn’t have a the wherewithal to make really tough decisions when it came to administering athletics, especially when dealing with coaches, hiring and firing. He was also too low-key with the fans.

One of those “I must admit he did a good job” thoughts though comes around when I think of his hiring of Kellie Harper as head basketball coach for the Wolfpack women, giving her the job instead of retaining loyalist Stephanie Glance. While I never met Stephanie, I think the hire of Harper was perfect for NC State. Harper brings to the program a fire and a determination that Glance, a long time assistant to Kay Yow, could not, at least in my humble opinion.

Having a nice program is not what it’s all about in college athletics. Having a nice, winning program with a positive approach and engaging attitude has been and remains the right idea. And, I believe this “change” in the women’s leadership was the right move. Give credit to Fowler for that, among many other things including to agree to improve facilities. (He messed up, though, when he didn’t want the golf course as an athletics department facility.)

But, someone got to Woodward, which stills remains an amazing mystery to me, because he would have never fired Barton if someone—Kessler—had not gotten to Woodward. I believe this confirms my suspicion that for all the firm things he did, Woodward was easily swayed to do other things, and without regret, even lying to some NCSU Alumni. Someone on the Board of Trustees or someone with deep, deep financial pockets must have gotten to Woodward and convinced him to fire Fowler. Come to think of it, Woodward wanted the 5% tax on donations for University Advancement, didn’t he? Money talks and those who disagree walk.

New Chancellor Randy Woodson, who told The News & Observer that Woodward gave Fowler the boot on March 23, has taken the next steps in finding Fowler’s replacement. According to The N&O, “Woodson said he has begun conversations with several (athletics head-hunter) firms and expects that the university could decide on one to hire in the next few days.”

From the Ripley Department: Believe it or not, one of those firms in the discussion might include former Wolfpack Athletics Director Todd Turner, who headed NC State athletics for six years (1990-96) and left NC State for Vanderbilt where he stayed until 2003. Then, when Vanderbilt dismantled the athletics program and put it under an academic department, Turner ended up as AD for the Washington Huskies from which he “resigned,” leaving the Seattle area school in February 2008.

Since August 2008, Todd, who I admittedly know and consider a friend (though after this he may not have a mutual feeling), joined Winston-Salem NC based ISP Sports, one of the nation’s top college sports marketing firms. ISP holds the radio broadcast rights to lots and lots of colleges for football and basketball, including Duke and Wake Forest. It also has television programming distribution. With its expansive contacts in college athletics, it is only natural for ISP to get into the intercollegiate “head-hunting” business. If ISP is the firm chosen by Woodson, Turner could be part of the search process, contacting possible candidates.

The process, though, formally began Wednesday when Chancellor Woodson appointed a 13-member search committee, naming former Raleigh Mayor Smedes York, who played basketball at State when Everett Case was coach, as chairman of the 13-person group which reportedly will submit names of three candidates to Woodson for his final selection.

In addition to York, the search panel includes, in alphabetical order:
—Steve Carlton, NCSU Crime Prevention Officer and chair of the NCSU Staff Senate;
—Derick Close, former NCSU trustee, currently member of the Board of Directors of the Wolfpack Club, and brother-in-law of UNC System President Erskine Bowles;
—Eileen Goldgeier, NCSU vice chancellor and general counsel, who just recently was named to that University position after serving in a similar capacity at UNC-Wilmington and who is a turtle sitter/watcher at Carolina Beach;
—Kellie Harper, NCSU women’s basketball coach;
—Kelly Hook, NCSU student body president;
—David Horning, NCSU senior associate athletics director who played football at NC State many, many years ago;
—Charles Leffler, NCSU vice chancellor finance and business;
—Dr. Margery Overton, NCSU professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering and chair of the NCSU faculty senate and who is also one of my many first cousins (her father, Jimmy Overton, a golf professional who taught me to play golf, and my mother, Annie Laurie Overton Pomeranz, are/were brother and sister (both deceased), and my father, Robert E. Pomeranz, NCSU ’43 (deceased) is/was Margery’s godfather);
—Dr. Sam Pardue, Head of the NCSU Poultry Science Department and NCSU faculty athletics representative;
—Ray Rouse, president, NCSU Student Aid Association (The Wolfpack Club);
—Steve Warren, member of the NCSU Board of Trustees and a member of the Board of Directors of the NCSU Alumni Association; and
—Cassius Williams, member of the NCSU Board of Trustees.

Woodson says he will meet with this group next Monday to actually begin the search and that maybe by that time he’ll have decided on a search firm to look far and wide for candidates. The goal is to have a new Athletics Director by the end of the summer or possibly by the end of July. Fowler’s last day is June 30th.

If necessary, Woodson will appoint an interim Athletics Director to fill the gap between June 30th and the hiring of a new AD. It’s doubtful that interim person will be Woodward, at least let’s hope not because there’s a chance someone in the Athletics Department would get Woodward’s ear and no telling whose job would be in jeopardy. Stay tuned.
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Woodward Tar Heel of the Week? Hah!

It seems as if every good leader has a Waterloo. Richard Nixon’s was Watergate. Bill Clinton’s was Monica Lewinsky. George W. Bush had George W. Bush. Recent The News & Observer Tar Heel of the Week and temporary NC State University Chancellor James Woodward has his, but it’s more complex than a simple name or phrase. He would be more like Bush, but Woodward had help.

Woodward, a retired elder of the University of North Carolina System, was called about nine months ago to fill a void on the System’s flagship campus in Raleigh. Chancellor James Oblinger hadn’t been completely honest to his boss, System President Erskine Bowles, about the hiring of Mary Easley, the wife of then Governor Mike Easley whose chief advisor has now been indicted on numerous counts of lots of stuff. Oblinger and the Chairman of the NCSU Board of Trustees were forced out. Ah, the tangled web that’s woven when it comes to education and politics.

If you read accounts of all of this in The News & Observer, you would think that NC State University was no better off than the Jews wondering the wilderness when Moses came to the rescue to lead them to the Promised Land. In The N&O’s account, Woodward has played the part of Moses. What a crock! Even without a Chancellor and with an interim Provost and a newly elected BOT chairman, NC State was not falling apart, and didn’t need anyone to save it from ruin. Yes, State needed a temporary Chancellor, one who would lead until a permanent replace was found. But it did not require a harsh administrator who made several rash and hurried decisions based on advice from at least one shady character on the executive staff who has the personality of, well, all the red brick on the State campus, with apologies to the red brick.

When the writer of the Tar Heel of the Week story that bestowed the paper’s highest honor on Woodward went looking for information for his lengthy 1B (page and section of the paper) article, the subject of which was not worthy of 1A, he obviously and under orders from his editors turned to a handful of people who praised Woodward and avoided those who have differences. Or maybe those with differences wouldn’t speak on the record and maybe the writer didn’t want to write more than a fluff piece which is what it was. If the former is true, with Woodward out of office in a matter of hours, those who differ with Woodward did right in keeping quiet, especially on the record. Woodward, it seems, has a knack for deciding off the cuff to take action and then following through, no if, ands or buts. That’s how he came to fire career NC State employee and loyalist Lennie Barton from his position as Associate Vice Chancellor for alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni Association.

Of course, it's doubtful Woodward would have not done that, would not have bothered himself with a change in that position if it had not been for Vice Chancellor for Advancement Nevin Kessler who, along with AA President Lynn Daniel, wanted to get rid of Barton but didn’t want to do it himself. Kessler, who wouldn’t have been able to withstand heat from Alumni, and Daniel, who regularly exchanged emails critical of Barton with Kessler, made sure that Barton was not represented in a good light to Woodward who, according to that Tar Heel of the Week article, says he fired Barton because the membership growth in the Alumni Association had slowed and that Barton “had done a poor job handling finances” of the alumni Association. The finances are referring to a plan devised by several prominent alumni who understand cash flow, especially when building and financing a new alumni facility.

It’s amazing that Woodward "discovered" this in a very short time after taking the job, especially when there were many other concerns surrounding his appointment. As many of Woodward's emails I've read recently, I cannot find any that outline specifically the poor job handling finances. Considering Kessler had dismissed other direct reportees prior to Woodward’s arrival, Woodward would have been wise to have studied the situation longer, even look into how Barton's direct boss, Kessler, handles finances which are obviously not very well (see next paragraph). But, Woodward's off the cuff technique took over.

But wait; there’s more. Woodward’s ears must reek of odor due to all the garbage he’s was hearing from Kessler who convinced Woodward that a 5% tax on all donations to NC State is appropriate with the money going to Kessler's discretion. It means taking much needed money from all departments and putting it into the operations of Kessler’s office, University Advancement. Kessler had push back from the College Deans and from the College-based Foundation executives who are in the trenches every day over this tax, but obviously Woodward didn’t want to listen to the Deans, a well-respected group, and Kessler wasn't about to tell Woodward the bad news. From this, one can only surmise Woodward cared more for Kessler than for the Deans and that Kessler cannot do his primary job of raising adequate funds to support his bad habits in fund-raising and administration of his office. Kessler delivered an olive branch offering to return 2% to the colleges and foundations. So, maybe he just wants 3% but he’ll go before the NCSU Board of Trustees to ask for 5%, saying he’ll return 2%. That comes up in mid-April at the BOT first meeting with new Chancellor, Randy Woodson.

It’s sad that Woodward, who according to the Tar Heel of the Week article, has saved NC State University from ruin (what bull), has listened to Kessler on so many subjects. Woodward came to NC State with assurance from Bowles that he (Woodward) would have total control. When he “walked into the room” he was forceful and definitive in his words and actions. Maybe the BOT members were looking for a leader instead of being leaders. Yes, Woodward does not work for the BOT, but a little resistance from those who represent the alumni of NC State would have been nice. On the other hand, part of the scandal that caused Oblinger to resign came directly from the Board of Trustees. NC State didn’t need anyone to “clean up a mess.” It just needed an honest person to sit in the Chancellor’s Chair until the permanent replacement for Oblinger was found.

But, Woodward would have none of that. He wanted uncontrollable control, and he got it. Maybe, Woodward, in some respects, was good for NC State University, but on several matters, he missed the mark, and while some will remember him for steadying a ship that was teetering a little, he’ll also be known as one who listened to bad advice and acted. He gets credit for down-sizing a new home for Chancellors to come. Big deal. He fired a very popular Alumni Director. Shame, shame. Why not tackle the leadership of the Department of Athletics. Or maybe he did. Lots of word on the street about that, even with a head-hunter involved. Maybe Woodward started something he wanted to do but just couldn’t finish it.

All of this makes one wonder the criteria for The N&O Tar Heel of the Week honor, if it indeed is an honor. One staff writer told me that overall the editors think Woodward was good for NC State. Maybe, but does that mean the bad parts of the story should go untold? I feel my University has been lied to, cheated on and has more than spots all over a blue dress. Tar Heel of the Week: just what are the criteria? It’s whatever serves the newspaper, and in this case, The N&O missed the mark for qualifications. On the other hand, wasn’t John Edwards once a recipient? Considering Edwards’ recent Waterloo, not bad company for Woodward.

Yes, Nixon had his Watergate, and Clinton had his Lewinsky. Woodward, well, it remains complicated. He has his Kessler, but then Woodward also has himself. Isn’t there a way for the two to leave together?