Not sure if there is a perfect person for this job. You hire someone like Bovee and make a lot of avid Cache Valley Aggie fans happy. He is an alumni. He talks like they talk, he is if the same religion and knows got to talk that talk. He genuinely cares about Utah State.

Being all of these things is also a negative for a lot of people. Not the right education, doesn’t know the right people, doesn’t know how big conferences work, doesn’t know how to bring in the big fish. Basically too small time.

I have heard first hand how people in the athletic department don’t like the new AD. She doesn’t understand how things work in Cache Valley, thinks she is smarter than everyone else. Is too big time.

I know this is not realistic but I think Utah State is a very unique situation. I would actually like to see a two headed AD with equal levels of power. One focuses on the Valley and one focuses outside the valley. I don’t know if there is a perfect hybrid that can be successful in both areas. There is a ton of money in the valley that is not headed towards Utah State. We need to have someone that knows the valley, has roots in the valley, can talk the Cache Valley talk. Anyone from out of the state and not part of the religion will be viewed as an outsider and someone that can’t be trusted because they don’t understand us.

Again, I know this is not happening and as a result we are losing out on a lot of money in the valley.

I also understand the importance of money outside the valley. This cannot be discounted. In my opinion this requires a different skill set.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You just made people in the valley seem very ignorant

Here’s your daily thought about the Roman Empire

Couple things......
Our fan base=baby birds. CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP
Lived here 30 years. Wish I knew how things worked in the valley
I am skeptical that tons of money is out there anywhere (in valley or out) that hasn't already been tapped

We hired the right person. Bovee has done some good things, but was not the right person. People don't like change. Too damn bad.

I will leave it at that.

I would love to see change in the ad. Like changing our budget from bottom of the conference to the top.

flying_scotsman2.0 wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 1:11 pm

I would love to see change in the ad. Like changing our budget from bottom of the conference to the top.

Dogecoin went up by 5% today. Maybe you shouldn't have pulled out.

The valley needs to get in gear and get shaken up a bit and look in the mirror a little IMO. So I love to hear this. Go get 'em Sabau.

The valley has such a collective disdain for any outsiders that this is hardly surprising to me

Aggie formerly in Hawaii wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 1:15 pm

flying_scotsman2.0 wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 1:11 pm

I would love to see change in the ad. Like changing our budget from bottom of the conference to the top.

Dogecoin went up by 5% today. Maybe you shouldn't have pulled out.

lol, thanks for remembering. I still have a few of them. I’ve been investing in safer things lately- mainly land in obscure places with hopes of finding either oil or gold.

FeartheFro wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 12:43 pm

I have heard first hand how people in the athletic department don’t like the new AD. She doesn’t understand how things work in Cache Valley, thinks she is smarter than everyone else. Is too big time.

This is the first time I've seen it posted anywhere, but FWIW I've heard the exact same thing from multiple close acquaintances who work in different departments within our AD. The common sentiment seems to be that she's charging forward and trying to do things exactly as they were done at Ohio State, but for obvious reasons that's not always possible or what's best.

I think an outside perspective is good, and things shouldn't be done a certain way just because they've always been done that way. But I do worry that she may not understand some of the realities of being at a mid-major school with low-mid-major resources.

AggieFBObsession wrote:You just made people in the valley seem very ignorant

If by ignorant you mean not exactly open to outsiders than you are correct sir.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I honestly believe that Sabau is the right person for the job, and I honestly believe that we'll all look back fondly on her time as the AD when it's all said and done.

I love the valley big time, but I want to share something that totally shocked me last time I was there.

I went to breakfast at Old Grist Mill one morning. I got a breakfast bagel sandwich (eggs, cheese, meat, bagel), a fountain diet coke, a cinnamon roll, three cookies, and three scones for my family for breakfast. The total came out to $15. I almost had a heart attack, as I was honestly expecting the bill to come out to $35+. This is a part of the charm (and challenge) of the valley. It's largely very beautiful, humble, friendly, kind, hard-working, encouraging, etc. - but it can sometimes sell itself a bit short.

We need someone who can try to work within that truth, and I believe that Sabau is just that kind of person. Time will tell.

It is her job to change culture while also connecting with the local fans. It is a challenge, but that is the job.

This is also why she needs to bring some of her own people in.

We won't really know for a few years if she is the right person, but I'm excited about her tenure. Ohio State is arguably the best athletic department in the country with 36 fully funded varsity sports and more than 1,000 student-athletes and they win and win a lot. She has seen firsthand what it takes to win at the highest level and if she is a good people person she'll figure out the rest.

The Cache Valley old guard was difficult 20 years ago when I had to work with them. Sad that it hasn't changed. They had very repressive and small minded ideas.

I want to be very clear, I am in no way saying she is not the right person for the job. I have never met her. I was just repeating what I heard from someone with first hand knowledge. It’s a tough job and one that requires the ability to resonate with many different types of individuals.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There IS a solution. Find a "Jerry Bovee" that is from Utah (CV, preferably) but that (gasp!) left the valley ("bubble") to gain experience at OSU (or TAMU or UF, or similar) and then came back. Maybe a unicorn, but maybe not.

open rant (but somewhat related): Utah would be a WAAY better place to live if there was some kind of requirement like they have in Israel and elsewhere regarding military service. Except that in Utah's case, the requirement is not that you enlist in the armed forces for two years, but rather that you (and your family) have to move out of the state and live for at least 3 years before you come back. make it happen, Spence... /rant

ShowMeAggie wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:32 pm

There IS a solution. Find a "Jerry Bovee" that is from Utah (CV, preferably) but that (gasp!) left the valley ("bubble") to gain experience at OSU (or TAMU or UF, or similar) and then came back. Maybe a unicorn, but maybe not.

open rant (but somewhat related): Utah would be a WAAY better place to live if there was some kind of requirement like they have in Israel and elsewhere regarding military service. Except that in Utah's case, the requirement is not that you enlist in the armed forces for two years, but rather that you (and your family) have to move out of the state and live for at least 3 years before you come back. make it happen, Spence... /rant

They basically have that only it is 2 instead of 3.

Aggie formerly in Hawaii wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:42 pm

ShowMeAggie wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:32 pm

There IS a solution. Find a "Jerry Bovee" that is from Utah (CV, preferably) but that (gasp!) left the valley ("bubble") to gain experience at OSU (or TAMU or UF, or similar) and then came back. Maybe a unicorn, but maybe not.

open rant (but somewhat related): Utah would be a WAAY better place to live if there was some kind of requirement like they have in Israel and elsewhere regarding military service. Except that in Utah's case, the requirement is not that you enlist in the armed forces for two years, but rather that you (and your family) have to move out of the state and live for at least 3 years before you come back. make it happen, Spence... /rant

They basically have that only it is 2 instead of 3.

haha true. hence the call for 3, because a mission doesn't count. you're still in the bubble on a mission.

ShowMeAggie wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:44 pm

Aggie formerly in Hawaii wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:42 pm

ShowMeAggie wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:32 pm

There IS a solution. Find a "Jerry Bovee" that is from Utah (CV, preferably) but that (gasp!) left the valley ("bubble") to gain experience at OSU (or TAMU or UF, or similar) and then came back. Maybe a unicorn, but maybe not.

open rant (but somewhat related): Utah would be a WAAY better place to live if there was some kind of requirement like they have in Israel and elsewhere regarding military service. Except that in Utah's case, the requirement is not that you enlist in the armed forces for two years, but rather that you (and your family) have to move out of the state and live for at least 3 years before you come back. make it happen, Spence... /rant

They basically have that only it is 2 instead of 3.

haha true. hence the call for 3, because a mission doesn't count. you're still in the bubble on a mission.

At the risk of being sandboxy, a mission is very much carrying Utah to the world, rather than bringing back the world to Utah.

But I agree with the original rant, though I have no plans to be one of those who moves back.

Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JonnyCienPesos wrote:Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agreed

JonnyCienPesos wrote:Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean…it sort of has…

shoresy wrote:

JonnyCienPesos wrote:Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean…it sort of has…

Yeah. We are rolling in cash.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

shoresy wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 2:31 pm

FeartheFro wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 12:43 pm

I have heard first hand how people in the athletic department don’t like the new AD. She doesn’t understand how things work in Cache Valley, thinks she is smarter than everyone else. Is too big time.

This is the first time I've seen it posted anywhere, but FWIW I've heard the exact same thing from multiple close acquaintances who work in different departments within our AD. The common sentiment seems to be that she's charging forward and trying to do things exactly as they were done at Ohio State, but for obvious reasons that's not always possible or what's best.

I think an outside perspective is good, and things shouldn't be done a certain way just because they've always been done that way. But I do worry that she may not understand some of the realities of being at a mid-major school with low-mid-major resources.

I have heard people in the department compare her to Jana Doggett.

JonnyCienPesos wrote:

shoresy wrote:

JonnyCienPesos wrote:Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean…it sort of has…

Yeah. We are rolling in cash.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And yet, we’re in one of the best stretches in Utah State history in terms of on court/field success.

I’m just saying, fundraising and budget management is important, but it’s just a part of the AD’s job. I hope some of the other things that have made us so successful in the past don't go by the wayside just for the sake of "change"

shoresy wrote: ↑

November 18th, 2023, 10:27 am

JonnyCienPesos wrote:

shoresy wrote:

JonnyCienPesos wrote:Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean…it sort of has…

Yeah. We are rolling in cash.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And yet, we’re in one of the best stretches in Utah State history in terms of on court/field success.

I’m just saying, fundraising and budget management is important, but it’s just a part of the AD’s job. I hope some of the other things that have made us so successful in the past don't go by the wayside just for the sake of "change"

Why have we been successful? Because Hartwell knew how to hire coaches (except Ard). All those coaches that have success were his hires. Craig Smith, Ryan Odom, Manny Martins, Rob, and even though a few don’t like Blake, we are on the verge of going to three straight bowls and have a MW champ to go with it. Hartwell was good at hiring coaches and budgeting, but he was not good at raising money. Bovee comes in and does some things like retiring Jaycee’s number and we think he has a good hire in Sprinkle…. But don’t know yet. He says he is going to raise some and then doesn’t.

But things have changed. Hartwell wasn’t able to keep Smith or Odom around… and NLI. Both Hartwell and and Bovee had no clue and I mean no clue how to manage this. How many time me has Danny Sprinkle said we had no money with NLI money and he lost numerous recruits because of this. We have some now, but still need more. You don’t get to Dianna’s status in the Big Ten and Ohio State by being terrible.

Oh no, the good ol boy status quo is changing.
College sports has changed a lot the last two years and we keep doing the same thing

Since we're sharing anecdotes, I've interacted with both of them and am tied to a large funding source that has consistently supported Utah State. I like Sabau over Bovee. Sabau approached me and expressed gratitude for a project I was involved in that supported the AD. In an alternative setting (MWC basketball tournament), Bovee seemed to be trying to assess who I was, decided I wasn't worth his time, and basically shrugged me off. But I really haven't interacted with either a lot, so I'll give both the benefit of the doubt. I'm also confident in Brian Steed and the process he took to fill this role. I did share a suite at a Jazz game with Hartwell, and he was a lot of fun to talk with over a beer.

travelingagg wrote: ↑

November 18th, 2023, 1:43 pm

Since we're sharing anecdotes, I've interacted with both of them and am tied to a large funding source that has consistently supported Utah State. I like Sabau over Bovee. Sabau approached me and expressed gratitude for a project I was involved in that supported the AD. In an alternative setting (MWC basketball tournament), Bovee seemed to be trying to assess who I was, decided I wasn't worth his time, and basically shrugged me off. But I really haven't interacted with either a lot, so I'll give both the benefit of the doubt. I'm also confident in Brian Steed and the process he took to fill this role. I did share a suite at a Jazz game with Hartwell, and he was a lot of fun to talk with over a beer.

You’re into off-color jokes, huh?

But in all seriousness, thanks for the insight.

I wonder how many of the people in the department who don’t like her know they’re about to be fired in the next 6 months because they haven’t been doing a good enough job?

Intermeddler wrote: ↑

November 18th, 2023, 9:21 pm

I wonder how many of the people in the department who don’t like her know they’re about to be fired in the next 6 months because they haven’t been doing a good enough job?

I assure you none of the three I've talked to who feel that way will be fired anytime soon.

JonnyCienPesos wrote: ↑

November 18th, 2023, 9:38 am

shoresy wrote:

JonnyCienPesos wrote:Let’s just keep doing everything the same way! It’s been working tremendously! Resist change!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean…it sort of has…

Yeah. We are rolling in cash.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I sense sarcasm here.

SeattleAg wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 6:36 pm

ShowMeAggie wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:44 pm

Aggie formerly in Hawaii wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:42 pm

ShowMeAggie wrote: ↑

November 17th, 2023, 4:32 pm

There IS a solution. Find a "Jerry Bovee" that is from Utah (CV, preferably) but that (gasp!) left the valley ("bubble") to gain experience at OSU (or TAMU or UF, or similar) and then came back. Maybe a unicorn, but maybe not.

open rant (but somewhat related): Utah would be a WAAY better place to live if there was some kind of requirement like they have in Israel and elsewhere regarding military service. Except that in Utah's case, the requirement is not that you enlist in the armed forces for two years, but rather that you (and your family) have to move out of the state and live for at least 3 years before you come back. make it happen, Spence... /rant

They basically have that only it is 2 instead of 3.

haha true. hence the call for 3, because a mission doesn't count. you're still in the bubble on a mission.

At the risk of being sandboxy, a mission is very much carrying Utah to the world, rather than bringing back the world to Utah.

But I agree with the original rant, though I have no plans to be one of those who moves back.

I don't envy other places and want to bring what they have to Utah.
Only problem I see with Utah is that many people in Utah are naive. They are too trusting and believe others will treat them well. This nature allows the greedy, and selfish to take advantage of their neighbors.

Outside Utah, people are more wise. You can't pay someone less than six figures for a white-collar job other places. Happens all the time here. And it's not like the cost of living is cheaper here. Maybe that will be a positive that comes from the massive increase in property valuations in Utah - people will refuse to be paid like crap.