New U President Eric Kaler: Q & A

  • Article by: CHIP SCOGGINS and DENNIS BRACKIN , Star Tribune staff writers
  • Updated: August 24, 2011 - 6:42 AM

The University of Minnesota's new president offers his views on athletics, finances, Joel Maturi, student-athletes and other issues.

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  • Comments

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tpsmkemkAug. 23, 1111:10 PM

Make J Robinson the new AD. Hire Terry Brands as the new wrestling coach, fire Lucia and if Flip Saunders becomes available dump Tubby.

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tombanditAug. 23, 1111:24 PM

tpsmkemk Aug. 23, 11 11:10 PM Make J Robinson the new AD. Hire Terry Brands as the new wrestling coach, fire Lucia and if Flip Saunders becomes available dump Tubby-----J Robinson knows nothing other than wrestling, Firing Lucia will not be the answer to the hockey problems because our hockey players want to play 1 or 2 years and then turn pro. Flip has been a pro basketball coach for 16 years give or take, he's been away from the college program too long, and what would he gain going back to coaching college basketball? Absolutely nothing!!!

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dennismcanAug. 23, 1111:49 PM

Personally, I'm impressed by the new President. He has his own style, he is willing to investigate and observe before making rash decisions. He isn't going to yield information to the press that fuels speculation. That being said, talk is talk, walk is walk and walk the talk is what we want. I think he will.

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eyeintheskyAug. 24, 1112:55 AM

prexy k: if you screw up you will be on the front page. Don't screw up...ditch your ancient and over the hill ad NOW! joel maturi has a history of making horrible moves with the revenue sports programs. He has especially been fiscally incompetent with his fires, hires and management of the head football coaching position. He has wasted millions and millions of dollars firing coaches shortly after extending them. prexy k: YOU can not afford to have a wasteful spendthrift running your athletic department. prexy k: the heat is on YOU to bring in a new, competent athletic director. Ditch maturi now!

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carreratimAug. 24, 11 5:40 AM

Good job Scoggins and Brackin.

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BurntsideAug. 24, 11 6:27 AM

I really don't like what I'm hearing here. Open to paying athletes? Need-based compensation? Wrong direction. College sports should be scrubbed of the athlete-only, pro-aspiring non-student. Freshman should be ineligible. Players should be students first. If the pros want a development league, let them sponsor one off campus. Really disappointed in our new pres' comments.

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imcoupAug. 24, 11 6:51 AM

Good interview. I like the thoughtfulness and candor of the new president. He understands the importance of athletics and is going to give it the backing it needs to win, while balancing it with academics. Seems like the right approach for a university.

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wingophersAug. 24, 11 7:20 AM

Lets face it Joel Maturi's #1 job is to sweep all the athletics department dirt "under the rug". If President Kaler is wise he would just look at th Jimmy Williams fiasco under Tuby Smith, the Tim Brewster mess in football, paying the previous basketball coach to leave early and now the gymnastics folly in District Court. This coupled with Lucia firing and three years later needing to rehire Mike Guentzel. Maturi might have hired a good replacement for Mike Herbert in Vollyball but we won't know for over a year as he is not available unito 2012. How does that help stability ? Kaler should dump Maturi before Maturi yuks it up with more regents at games to save his job.

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DacotaAug. 24, 11 7:31 AM

" ... hold the student-athletes and boosters to high standards." >>> And just how do you hold boosters to high standards if they choose to do otherwise? Take away their premium seating? Kaler continually used the term "senior managers" so it appears as though he thinks of the "U" as a business. Good businesses have ALL of their employees read ALL of the rules of the "company," sign off that they have read them, understand them and understand the consequences for breaking any of them, which includes being immediately terminated. Bottom line ... BEWARE!!! Any nonsense and you're gone, whether you're the athletic director or a first year tiddly winks player. If all schools would adhere to this kind of policy, the vast majority of the problems would be fixed over night.

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justmorecrapAug. 24, 11 7:45 AM

Oh great, another Nero at the helm. More sports, sports, sports, and screw the affordable education. God, how I wish my offspring would choose a different school. This U is a farce when it comes to sincere goals in education.

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