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My form letter from DiStefano

dio

Admin
Club Member
Junta Member
Dear ,

Thank you for writing me regarding CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn’s decision to honor the contract of CU head coach Dan Hawkins next year. I support this decision because I believe it is in the best interests of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and because I believe making a coaching change now would take us further from, not closer to, our goals for CU football. I want you to know I have heard your perspective clearly and have considered it alongside other factors in supporting Mike’s decision. I also want you to know we have communicated our expectations to coach Hawkins, and informed him we expect more immediate progress in CU’s return to excellence on the field. Now we are asking both critics and supporters of this decision to unite to support the University, the Buffs and coach Hawkins, as we work together to get CU football on track. CU’s own history shows that when are united in this manner, great things happen on and off the field. Thank you again for writing me.

Sincerely,

Philip P. DiStefano, chancellor
University of Colorado at Boulder


For reference, here is my original letter

Good Afternoon Phil -

I've heard some rumors that you are over-riding our AD's decision to
fire Dan Hawkins. I hope this isn't the case. There isn't much more I
can say that you haven't already heard. What I can say is that the
little discretionary cash I have won't be spent on CU if Dan Hawkins is
the CU coach next season. I won't be donating to the College of Arts
and Sciences or the Alumni Association, I won't be purchasing items
from the bookstore, and I won't be purchasing tickets to any CU event,
athletic or otherwise.

Decisions by school leaders to continually treat football as a leper is
going to have a huge negative effect on the school down the line.


Get it together and find a place in reality.


Regards,


This was from a while ago... I was kind of pissed off that day :lol:
 
Two interesting things:

1. Your letter (lol), and

2. His comment, 'regarding CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn’s decision'. (was it really?)
 
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A question occured to me last night. With all the emphasis they're placing on Hawkins' "success" at recruiting kids who stay out of trouble and get good grades, etc., who has similar responsibilities for the student body at large? If a non-athlete gets into trouble on campus or flunks out, does it show up on somebody's performance evaluation at the end of the year? The Chancellor of the Boulder campus, perhaps??

Or is this whole emphasis something that's only being applied to the football program, out of some misplaced fear that they are somehow more likely to create trouble than the student body at large??
 
A question occured to me last night. With all the emphasis they're placing on Hawkins' "success" at recruiting kids who stay out of trouble and get good grades, etc., who has similar responsibilities for the student body at large? If a non-athlete gets into trouble on campus or flunks out, does it show up on somebody's performance evaluation at the end of the year? The Chancellor of the Boulder campus, perhaps??

Or is this whole emphasis something that's only being applied to the football program, out of some misplaced fear that they are somehow more likely to create trouble than the student body at large??

On the first point, I'm not sure, probably Mick Ronson or some of the others can best address that.

On the 2nd, the NCAA has the obligation to "further the academic mission" of its members as part of their non-profit status that the US Government granted to them, so there has to be minimum standards that the athletic departments must maintain. If this isn't done, then they will not be exempt from anti-trust provisions.
 
On the first point, I'm not sure, probably Mick Ronson or some of the others can best address that.

On the 2nd, the NCAA has the obligation to "further the academic mission" of its members as part of their non-profit status that the US Government granted to them, so there has to be minimum standards that the athletic departments must maintain. If this isn't done, then they will not be exempt from anti-trust provisions.

Oh, I understand that when it comes to the second part. There are a lot of reasons for the NCAA and the schools to have academic standards. Without them, college football basically becomes semi-pro football that doesn't have to pay the players.

But the current CU administration seems to have taken a unique view that somehow accomplishing that mission at what seems to be a fairly average level is somehow cause for the head coach to keep his job. My question is, is there an administrator somewhere on campus who is being evaluated on whether or not non-athletes can maintain a 2.6 GPA and avoid arrest for the most part?? Or in the University community at large is that behavior expected to be the responsibility of the student and not something that any administrator should be held responsible for or rewarded for if it occurs?

It just seems to me that the administration is making a fairly big deal out of the football coach being able to make the football team maintain standards other students are pretty much expected to meet on their own, and I'm wondering why that is... :huh:
 
There is def. someone who is reviewing grades and behavior of normal students. But I don't know if they're held accountable for those results. I think they just issue suspensions/expulsions/probations
 
Oh, I understand that when it comes to the second part. There are a lot of reasons for the NCAA and the schools to have academic standards. Without them, college football basically becomes semi-pro football that doesn't have to pay the players.

But the current CU administration seems to have taken a unique view that somehow accomplishing that mission at what seems to be a fairly average level is somehow cause for the head coach to keep his job. My question is, is there an administrator somewhere on campus who is being evaluated on whether or not non-athletes can maintain a 2.6 GPA and avoid arrest for the most part?? Or in the University community at large is that behavior expected to be the responsibility of the student and not something that any administrator should be held responsible for or rewarded for if it occurs?

It just seems to me that the administration is making a fairly big deal out of the football coach being able to make the football team maintain standards other students are pretty much expected to meet on their own, and I'm wondering why that is... :huh:

Gotcha. I would think the emphasis on the football team being "good citizens" should be fairly obvious.

Of course, this should be the expectation of being the HC, not a feather to stick in his cap. Benson seems to have the clearest concern with avoiding more scandals even if it means the performance suffers, so I think this one is on him. DiStefano seems content with just improvement in GPA's etc, not that the level is some kind of awe-inspiring GPA, just that it is improving.

As for other students, if they are paying their own way then I think they have to follow whatever University standards are in place. If they are on scholarship, grants, etc there most certainly are academic conditions that have to be met. All of these things are monitored by the university. Not sure if any of them involve personal issues like getting into a fight, I would doubt it though, except for housing assistance.
 
Two interesting things:

1. Your letter (lol), and

2. His comment, 'regarding CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn’s decision'. (was it really?)

If your on a first name basis with the Chancellor why the hell didn't you just call him up? :lol:
 
I understand the motivation to vent, but Phil Di Stefano is not even seeing these letters.
 
Come on, Dio. I don't care if you are a critic or a supporter. Let's unite in support of DiStephano's wise judgement.
 
Come on, Dio. I don't care if you are a critic or a supporter. Let's unite in support of DiStephano's wise judgement.

You're right - Let me get my shovel and my checkbook. I will call Bohn right now to see where I can help!
 
I looooooove this part of the letter:

...Mike Bohn’s decision to honor the contract of CU head coach Dan Hawkins...


That reads like this decision was some sort of honorable move that we should all applaud because it makes the school look altruistic and pure. Gag.
 
Two interesting things:

1. Your letter (lol), and

2. His comment, 'regarding CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn’s decision'. (was it really?)

I think the reply letter from DiStefano should be sent to Bohn asking Bohn to comment on "his decision" to retain Hawkins, since Bohn avoided answering this line of questioning from Alfred on 104.3 today.
 
I think the reply letter from DiStefano should be sent to Bohn asking Bohn to comment on "his decision" to retain Hawkins, since Bohn avoided answering this line of questioning from Alfred on 104.3 today.

:yeahthat:


Everybody is running for cover on who made the decision on Talkins.. :lol:
 
I got the exact same response. My response to the response:

Dear DiStefano's Email Reader,

Thanks for sending me the exact same form letter that you sent to
everyone else who emailed you about this disgrace. The response does
nothing to address anything I wrote in my email. You guys will feel it
in the pocketbook in a big way next year from all of the upset fans.
But beyond that, you are killing the image of CU nationally. It is
really just sad and extremely short-sighted.
 
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