Interesting Article on Lubick Firing ~
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:59 am
Article published Dec 9, 2007
CSU fans urged AD to fire Lubick
Athletic director received stream of negative e-mails
BY TREVOR HUGHES
TrevorHughes@coloradoan.com
As Colorado State University Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk this fall considered what to do about the football team's flagging fortunes, a steady stream of e-mails headed in his direction carried the same message: Fire Sonny Lubick.
The e-mails, obtained by the Coloradoan under state open-records laws, suggest that many die-hard CSU football fans were fed up with the Rams' losing ways. And they stand in stark contrast to the hundreds of negative e-mails CSU President Larry Penley received as word spread of Lubick's departure.
"We should have beat CU by 20," wrote Joe Bingham on Sept. 1, signing himself "A sad alumni." "Sonny is wonderful, but his time has come."
Added Rick Schubert: "I could not even get my daughter to go to CSU because she wanted to go to a school that had a decent football team and the potential of a bowl game. She chose Nebraska even though both of her parents graduated from CSU. We need to find respectful way for Sonny to retire/leave and get the energy back in our recruiting."
The Coloradoan requested the Penley and Kowalczyk e-mails Nov. 26. Penley's office turned over its hundred pages Nov. 30. It took until Dec. 5 for Kowalczyk's office to produce about 30 pages of e-mails.
Most of the e-mails to Penley came in response to an e-mail the president himself sent to alumni and "friends of the university." The e-mails to Kowalczyk were unsolicited.
Many of the writers to Kowalczyk said they hold season tickets and were considering giving up on CSU football unless he made a change.
Attendance has been steadily slipping during the past five years, from 183,786 in 2003 to 122,916 last year, according to CSU records.
"With all due respect, as an alumni and a season ticket holder, I am embarrassed to be a CSU Ram," wrote Kevin Gedeon on Oct. 6. "If I could, I would demand a refund. We have sunk to the bottom. What bold steps are you going to take? I will not spend one more dime, spend one more minute or drive one more yard for this team, and trust me, I speak for approximately two dozen wealthy CSU fans in Lone Tree."
Kowalczyk said he removed Lubick because the football program needed to improve after four consecutive nonwinning seasons. Kowalczyk said after Lubick's firing he initially hoped to "ride out" the last few years of Lubick's contract.
However, under the gun from the CSU Board of Governors, Penley and his own charge as AD to improve the football program, Kowalczyk said he had to act. He responded personally to many of the e-mails that came in as Lubick's departure became clear, thanking writers for their support.
Kowalczyk said thousands of fans have been voting with their dollars, evidenced by dwindling season ticket sales and football attendance and flat alumni donations to the program. He told the Coloradoan after letting Lubick go that he had been "hired to run a successful athletic program" and that it "would have been easy to do nothing."
The football fans who wrote in demanded nothing less.
"I wanted to let you know that I cannot continue to go to the CSU games and will probably discontinue my season tickets," wrote Ed Seiler, a 1979 graduate, Oct. 10. "I delayed sending an e-mail, as I thought my feelings would pass, but each day the burden has grown, so I send it to you. I just will have more fun not contemplating CSU athletics than following at this current time."
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... RSERVICE02
CSU fans urged AD to fire Lubick
Athletic director received stream of negative e-mails
BY TREVOR HUGHES
TrevorHughes@coloradoan.com
As Colorado State University Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk this fall considered what to do about the football team's flagging fortunes, a steady stream of e-mails headed in his direction carried the same message: Fire Sonny Lubick.
The e-mails, obtained by the Coloradoan under state open-records laws, suggest that many die-hard CSU football fans were fed up with the Rams' losing ways. And they stand in stark contrast to the hundreds of negative e-mails CSU President Larry Penley received as word spread of Lubick's departure.
"We should have beat CU by 20," wrote Joe Bingham on Sept. 1, signing himself "A sad alumni." "Sonny is wonderful, but his time has come."
Added Rick Schubert: "I could not even get my daughter to go to CSU because she wanted to go to a school that had a decent football team and the potential of a bowl game. She chose Nebraska even though both of her parents graduated from CSU. We need to find respectful way for Sonny to retire/leave and get the energy back in our recruiting."
The Coloradoan requested the Penley and Kowalczyk e-mails Nov. 26. Penley's office turned over its hundred pages Nov. 30. It took until Dec. 5 for Kowalczyk's office to produce about 30 pages of e-mails.
Most of the e-mails to Penley came in response to an e-mail the president himself sent to alumni and "friends of the university." The e-mails to Kowalczyk were unsolicited.
Many of the writers to Kowalczyk said they hold season tickets and were considering giving up on CSU football unless he made a change.
Attendance has been steadily slipping during the past five years, from 183,786 in 2003 to 122,916 last year, according to CSU records.
"With all due respect, as an alumni and a season ticket holder, I am embarrassed to be a CSU Ram," wrote Kevin Gedeon on Oct. 6. "If I could, I would demand a refund. We have sunk to the bottom. What bold steps are you going to take? I will not spend one more dime, spend one more minute or drive one more yard for this team, and trust me, I speak for approximately two dozen wealthy CSU fans in Lone Tree."
Kowalczyk said he removed Lubick because the football program needed to improve after four consecutive nonwinning seasons. Kowalczyk said after Lubick's firing he initially hoped to "ride out" the last few years of Lubick's contract.
However, under the gun from the CSU Board of Governors, Penley and his own charge as AD to improve the football program, Kowalczyk said he had to act. He responded personally to many of the e-mails that came in as Lubick's departure became clear, thanking writers for their support.
Kowalczyk said thousands of fans have been voting with their dollars, evidenced by dwindling season ticket sales and football attendance and flat alumni donations to the program. He told the Coloradoan after letting Lubick go that he had been "hired to run a successful athletic program" and that it "would have been easy to do nothing."
The football fans who wrote in demanded nothing less.
"I wanted to let you know that I cannot continue to go to the CSU games and will probably discontinue my season tickets," wrote Ed Seiler, a 1979 graduate, Oct. 10. "I delayed sending an e-mail, as I thought my feelings would pass, but each day the burden has grown, so I send it to you. I just will have more fun not contemplating CSU athletics than following at this current time."
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... RSERVICE02
