ESPN: Southern California hires Lynn Swann to be new AD

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BleedGopher

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per ESPN:

Swann, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, played for the Trojans and was selected with the 21st overall pick of the NFL draft in 1974. He graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in public relations.

He won a national championship at USC while playing for John McKay in 1972, when the Trojans went 12-0. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

"I am very pleased to announce that Lynn Swann has accepted by offer to become USC's next athletic director," USC president Max Nikias said in a statement. "To his new role, Mr. Swann will bring the heart and soul of a Trojan. ...

"I am confident he will bring charismatic, dynamic leadership to this exceptionally consequential role at USC."

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...athletic-director-southern-california-trojans

Go Gophers!!
 

Chris Long chimes in:

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Go Gophers!!
 

Carl Eller would be a great AD.
 

Trivia question:

Lynn Swann had a college roommate also named Lynn. They were both elected to the College Hall of Fame.

Can you name him?
 



Unregistered User said:
Trivia question:

Lynn Swann had a college roommate also named Lynn. They were both elected to the College Hall of Fame.

Can you name him?
Click to expand...

Fred-Lynn-1.jpg


Go Gophers!!
 



The Trojans love them some ex-Trojan heroes with no prior administrative experience to run their athletic department. But I suppose if the job description was "charismatic, dynamic leadership," then prior administrative experience really wasn't that important anyway.
 



Yes, all were correct with Fred Lynn.

Now...without using the Google (or Yahoo, or Bing, etc)...we all know that Fred Lynn hit the first grand-slam in All-Star game history. But who was the pitcher?
 

Pitcher from the Giants.........
 






I guess USC doesn't care about advancement, or relationships with equipment staff.
 


Section2 said:
I guess USC doesn't care about advancement, or relationships with equipment staff.
Click to expand...

In the last 5 years, they had a mens basketball coach suspended from the conference tournament for fighting with another team's booster. Two years later, that coach went 1-17 in the conference and fired midseason the next year.

They fired a football coach at an airport.

They hired a football coach despite warning signs that he had a drinking problem. That coach texted the AD during a game and the AD came down to the field and confronted the officials. That coach was subsequently fired midseason because of his drinking problem.

Both of those football coaches were members of the coaching staff that landed the program on probation.

They hired a new baseball coach and fired him two seasons later for "knowingly violating" NCAA rules.

Maybe they need to reevaluate what they care about.
 

Maximus said:
In the last 5 years, they had a mens basketball coach suspended from the conference tournament for fighting with another team's booster. Two years later, that coach went 1-17 in the conference and fired midseason the next year.

They fired a football coach at an airport.

They hired a football coach despite warning signs that he had a drinking problem. That coach texted the AD during a game and the AD came down to the field and confronted the officials. That coach was subsequently fired midseason because of his drinking problem.

Both of those football coaches were members of the coaching staff that landed the program on probation.

They hired a new baseball coach and fired him two seasons later for "knowingly violating" NCAA rules.

Maybe they need to reevaluate what they care about.
Click to expand...

Yeah, hiring coaches is important, but you've left writing budgets out of your analysis.
 

Unregistered User said:
Yes, all were correct with Fred Lynn.

Now...without using the Google (or Yahoo, or Bing, etc)...we all know that Fred Lynn hit the first grand-slam in All-Star game history. But who was the pitcher?
Click to expand...

Atlee Hammaker (not sure if spelling is correct). I believe the final score was 13-3, in 1983? This was back when I was a young pup, when seeing players for the NL was novel (or only happened once or twice a week). I remember feeling so sorry for Hammaker and I believe he was pretty nondescript the rest of his baseball career.
 

Section2 said:
I guess USC doesn't care about advancement, or relationships with equipment staff.
Click to expand...

Since you're so smart and clever, I'm sure you're already aware that USC is being almost universally panned for hiring someone so thoroughly unqualified for the job.

Also, when and where did anyone type these hilarious "equipment staff" and "writing budgets" quips you're dishing out?
 

Lynn Swann? Sid hadn't even endorsed him for our AD job. WTF USC?
 

dpodoll68 said:
Since you're so smart and clever, I'm sure you're already aware that USC is being almost universally panned for hiring someone so thoroughly unqualified for the job.

Also, when and where did anyone type these hilarious "equipment staff" and "writing budgets" quips you're dishing out?
Click to expand...

One might call it a Pitino-type hire. Except Swann has had some success in sports. So there's that difference.

This hire is about as California as it gets. All show, no go. This state is full of 30k "millionaires" leasing a german car. He'll be a flashy figurehead the boosters will love to be around and the fans will be excited about. The nuts and bolts will be OTJ or delegated.
 

Swann is very accomplished and diverse in his career after football. He is very qualified to run the Trojan athletic dep't.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Since you're so smart and clever, I'm sure you're already aware that USC is being almost universally panned for hiring someone so thoroughly unqualified for the job.

Also, when and where did anyone type these hilarious "equipment staff" and "writing budgets" quips you're dishing out?
Click to expand...

I don't recall who wrote it, wasn't you. Someone thought those were very important qualifications for AD. I don't really know much about Swann besides his broadcasting to judge whether he's a good hire or not. I just don't think the three I listed are that important.
 

coolhandgopher said:
Atlee Hammaker (not sure if spelling is correct). I believe the final score was 13-3, in 1983? This was back when I was a young pup, when seeing players for the NL was novel (or only happened once or twice a week). I remember feeling so sorry for Hammaker and I believe he was pretty nondescript the rest of his baseball career.
Click to expand...

Well done.
 

A cautionary tale for everyone who wants the Gophers to hire an "M Man" for AD. USC tried that approach with Mike Garrett and Pat Haden, and wound up with NCAA violations and a coaching carousel. I want the Gophers to hire a competent AD. I don't care where he (or she) went to college as long as they can do the job.
 

Section2 said:
I don't recall who wrote it, wasn't you. Someone thought those were very important qualifications for AD. I don't really know much about Swann besides his broadcasting to judge whether he's a good hire or not. I just don't think the three I listed are that important.
Click to expand...

Advancement doesn't belong with the other two, and of course you don't think it's important, because you don't know what you're talking about.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Advancement doesn't belong with the other two, and of course you don't think it's important, because you don't know what you're talking about.
Click to expand...

Sure, it's important to be a good fundraiser. I just don't think you can tell who will be a good fundraiser based purely on experience in advancement. The skills to lead, make sound decisions, and focus on what's important and create positive change are what I want in an AD. I don't think I'm qualified to decide who would be the best at those things, but that's what makes a good CEO/leader.
 


short ornery norwegian said:
A cautionary tale for everyone who wants the Gophers to hire an "M Man" for AD. USC tried that approach with Mike Garrett and Pat Haden, and wound up with NCAA violations and a coaching carousel. I want the Gophers to hire a competent AD. I don't care where he (or she) went to college as long as they can do the job.
Click to expand...

Well, there are worse things...

"In 2009, USC was named "Team of the Decade" by both CBSSports.com and Football.com, as well as the "Program of the Decade" by SI.com, plus was No. 1 in CollegeFootballNews.com's "5-Year Program Rankings" and was ranked No. 2 in ESPN.com's "Prestige Rankings" among all schools since 1936 (behind Oklahoma)"

Garrett was the AD that saw something in Pete Carroll and the rest is history:
-Seven PAC-12 titles in the 2000s
-Two national championships
One NCAA public caning that ravaged the program, just now recovering. I bet UNC, Miami, etc wish they had gotten off so easy.

He also hired Lane Kiffen...the less said about that the better.
 

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