per Sid:
Smith’s transition
In my column last Friday, I quoted Pat Smith saying he was removed of his duties as the Gophers football team’s doctor after 31 years by University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler, but that was ultimately not accurate.
Brad Nelson, an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Minnesota, wrote in an e-mail that the University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP), a multi-specialty group practice within the medical school, have served as team doctors for all Gophers sports teams for several years except for the football and wrestling teams.
The UMP will now oversee the football team. Smith had a chance to oversee the transition for a year and work with the new doctor, Joel Boyd, but declined. Nelson said the decision to get rid of Smith was his, though Kaler supports it.
Nelson said Smith wasn’t let go because of anything he did wrong but rather because of the planned transition.
To me, it still makes no sense, because Smith will still be the physician for the wrestling team, although that arrangement, according to Nelson, is being discussed.
Having watched Smith serve Gophers teams for 31 years, I think he will be tough — maybe impossible — to replace.
http://www.startribune.com/united-fc-pushes-on-while-waiting-for-tax-deal/387886112/
Go Gophers!!