Late yesterday afternoon, I could still something important was going on, judging by the number of times by phone vibrated with text messages.
Yes, there was much rejoicing in the Land of the Bulldog Nation with the news that as of June 2013, Michael F. Adams (we’ll let you all come up with guesses of what the F stands for) will no longer preside as President of the University of Georgia.
As far as how President Adams will be remembered, it depends on what perspective you approach it from.
From the standpoint of a University Alumnus, there’s no denying that under Adams’ tenure, significant growth and generation of raised funds has undergone. As the one presiding over UGA during that time, Adams by default receives at least some credit.
His legacy was also shaped by fate. He came to UGA in a time when Universities and athletic departments became more run like businesses than ever before. And when President Adams decided that its the job of a president to meddle in the business of the Athletic Department, his legacy was forever shaped in the minds of Georgia fans, and not for the better.
Look, I’m not going to be an Adams apologist here. But one of the more head-scratching comments I have always heard is that he doesn’t care about winning football games. Yea, I’m sure he doesn’t love the millions of dollars in bowl revenue and all of the money that flows into Athens six Saturdays per year.
Adams is a sports fan. Its when he decided to be more of a fan when he earned treatment from Georgia fans comparable to the bad guy at WCW Wrestling matches.
Obviously, the main thing coming to mind is the ousting of Coach Dooley. Judging by the state of the Athletic Department programs with mediocre programs in the sports of baseball and men’s and women’s basketball, a change was long overdue at the head of the University’s Athletic Department. The blunder for Adams, however, was how that change was made.
Oh yes, and then there’s basketball. President Adams offered up Georgia student-athletes at the sacrificial altar of personal gain so he wouldn’t invoke the wrath of the NCAA on himself, with no regard for the student-athletes whose dreams of playing in the NCAA tournament he personally snatched away.
Now, let’s all hope that the Board of Regents gives The University of Georgia a president it deserves, not one worse than Adams.
Lugnut Dawg
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