a 10 rating
a 9 rating
an 8 rating
a 7 rating
a 6 rating
a 5 rating
a 4 rating
a 3 rating
a 2 rating
a 1 rating
I gave him an 8. Here's what I see.
Facilities 7
He initiated an ambitious Master Plan and has followed through with it so far. By this time next year phase one will be complete. We'll have a new Athletic Performance Center, a Cajun Field seating Expansion, and a new football scoreboard. He doesn't get a 10 because it took a little more time than it should have to get the ball rolling, and I do not agree with expanding our football stadium when there is no demand for it. I believe this expansion shows he has a fundamental misunderstanding of the economics behind stadium capacity and how to build stadiums to maximize revenue.
Fundraising 7
He helped start the RCAF which is a huge accomplishment for our university. The RCAF seems to have grown by at least 20% every year, which is respectable growth. Minor issues with the RCAF and the lack of a replacement for Ken Winstead keeps him from getting a 10.
Conference Realignment Readiness 8
I disagree with a few people here in two areas. One, I won't blame Scott Farmer for decisions that were made by other people. And two, I don't think our terrible facilities, terrible budget, terrible market, and terrible winning tradition in 2012 should fall on the shoulders of a guy who was hired in late 2011. It is his job to make our athletic programs attractive enough that better conferences will want to invite us. 3 years ago, our university wasn't able to do this. Today, I don't think there's any question we're on C-USA's short list now. Our budget, facilities, fan support, and winning have all improved. And there is a plan on paper to improve them further. That's why he gets an 8.
Coaches 9
He is directly responsible for making the greatest hire in Cajun history. He doesn't deserve credit for the wins Hud has amassed, but he deserves all the credit for finding the very best person for the job and keeping him there for three years. He also had the foresight to give Coach Marlin the raise he had been promised at a time when it was very unpopular to do so. Had he broken that promise I doubt Marlin would have stuck around to turn this program around. He doesn't get a 10 because of the brief episode with Coach Lotief. Not keeping a coach like him happy is a mortal sin in my book. But to his credit he was able to work things out.
Winning 10
Since he took over, our 4 main sports have been on fire. I'm not about to say it was all Farmer's doing. Of course it wasn't. However the guy has evidently done what he needed to do to let the high performers working under him perform at a high level. Take that for what it's worth. I'll just say this. Our next AD could be a chicken. As long as we continue to win like we have been these past few years, I'd rather have that chicken as AD than Billy Beane, Dell Demps, and Nick Saban put together. JUST WIN BABY!
your score for 3 is way off rebel.
your score for 2 should come down slightly. although funds are up and the renovations have started, we still havent had a capital campaign drive to really have RCAF to take off.
I think some of these scores are a bit high, but still a lot closer than the people who think we should be big time with the snap of a finger. The lack of support from the state and even our own university is a bigger issue than anyone thinks. Look across the country, schools are cutting programs. School employees are being laid off. We are constructing building after building on campus and work is progressing on our $115mil master plan. You can watch it live now that someone fixed that damn fiber This isn't a sprint. We are picking up speed and will be blowing and going before you know it.
From when he took over in late 2011, I think he has put us in a much better position to move to a better conference. Farmer or no Farmer, we really had no chance to get in in 2012.
And I agree with your concerns about the capital campaigns, but I'm happy to see clear and consistent growth from the RCAF.
I gave him a 7. Yes he does not coach any teams but he oversees this activity at the same time keep the academic side in order. It's not easy as everyone thinks. For all that I gave him 5.
The additional 2 points are for not being a "bubba". For an AD we do not need an LSU boy or someone from within. As much as I don't like some things, Farmer is the closest thing to an AD we've had since Terry Don Phillips.
He did hire Hud and Marlin, so there's that. He almost blew the Lotief situation. Success of our programs in terms of winning this year in my mind has nothing to do with Farmer. Hell it even feels like Hud is the one who conceived the UL athletic rennovation idea and drove it forward. May not be true but that's what it seems like. But I guess farmer can always say "yeah I hired him".
What happens when Hud is gone and Farmer has to take over as our ambassador? We will see soon, I would have to imagine.
For those that are giving Farmer low votes, please name a prior AD at UL that is better and their accomplishments. Just curious, that's all.
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