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• The problem of this message board is that even when a rational anti-Frank post is made, it is invariably followed by a number of less rational posts with a fair amount of personal abuse thrown in. Thus, the value of the first post becomes diluted, as it becomes associated with the rest of the dicussion. As a result, posting a message here, even a thoughtful one, isn't the way to make the case against Frank. Can we just leave it at that? (NT) -- WordsofWisdom, Tue April 12, 2005 02:25:07
  • You are correct in that if a case is to be made for replacing the AD, it should be made directly to Fr. McShane and the Board. And it should be done rationally and with tact. There have been some very eloquent arguments on this board that favor a new AD, but this won't result in a change. Only true activism on the part of alums and students will do that. (NT) -- Rambacker, Tue April 12, 2005 05:55:49
    • I'm a freshman at Rose Hill and very involved in the athletic program ie. 6th Man Club and work study job in the athletic department. There are rumblings around campus, as most students are definitly looking for a positive change in the Athletic Department. Furthermore, most of these students recognize that this change must come at the highest level of the Athletic Department and not from lower "band-aid" type solutions. Fortunately, these rumblings are growing. What types of actions would you suggest for students to show their dissaproval for the current athletic administration and to voice our opinion that dramatic change is necessary? Any thoughts would be appreciated (NT) -- BronxRam, Tue April 12, 2005 13:00:37
      • A massive letter writing or petition drive to Fr. McShane urging him to: 1. properly fund and staff the athletic department; and 2. to elevate the AD's position to VP and create a direct reporting line to the President's office. The current structure where the AD reports to the VP for Student Affairs is too bureaucratic. (NT) -- bfg, Tue April 12, 2005 13:37:55
        • Great suggestions. Also, get the United Student Government involved. The administration will take your efforts more seriously if your elected student leaders are behind this. They are supposed to function as the student's voice to the administration. This will give you more credibility. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Tue April 12, 2005 14:15:31
          • And avoid personal attacks on the AD. The administrators like the AD. He is well regarded by many administrators and benefactors. It's not about the AD. It's about improving our current system. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Tue April 12, 2005 14:17:57
            • Joe, Frank is despised by many benefactors and adminsirators that I know personally. Also, he has run programs that consistently lose and consistently come in at the bottom or near the bottom of the A-10 across the board. In spite of very competitive budgets. His arrogance and his attitude towards many is why he gets attacked personally. He is responsible for two ( 2 ) of the worst university decisions in the school's history ( Patriot League, Bob Hill ) and he goes on public radio complaining that their are enemies within his own organization preventing him from performing. There are valid reasons he gets personally attacked. Let's get a little bit realistic here. (NT) -- '85, Tue April 12, 2005 15:23:19
              • " there are " (NT) -- '85, Tue April 12, 2005 15:25:05
                • How do you account for Frank's astonishing longevity, given the lackluster results under his watch? Frank has been a part of Fordham for nearly forty years, and he has built his fair share of goodwill. Attacking Frank, as a strategy for change, has limited upside. An overall positive message and vision is more important. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Tue April 12, 2005 19:09:03
                  • BronxRam, suggestions enclosed. Click on message. -- JoltinJoe, Tue April 12, 2005 21:37:19
                  • One disturbing but logical conclusion: Frank has pleased his bosses over the years. I've always believed that what you see is what was wanted. How else do you explain so many years of losing records? (NT) -- Rambow, Wed April 13, 2005 15:03:47
                    • Frank doesn't make waves and goes with the flow. He also let's Jeff Gray do his Woody Hayes act without a peep. Any real AD would have been gone years ago with that dark cloud hanging over his head. We will never get a top flight AD if the position reports to Gray or any VP. The new AD must be a VP reporting to the President. (NT) -- Rambacker, Wed April 13, 2005 15:13:20
      • Gather as many students as possible(hundreds would be preferable) and ask for a meeting with Fr. McShane, and Fr. McShane only. Closed door is preferable so there is no intimidation by athletic staff, Jeff Gray, etc. and air your grievances in an organized, intelligent and tactful fashion. Be prepared with a list of reasons why you think the change is needed. And I would suggest that you arrive with a petition from as many students as possible(over 1000 names would be preferable to illustrate the extent to which students are dissatisfied). Then ask for a similar meeting with the Board of Trustees. (NT) -- Rambacker, Tue April 12, 2005 13:39:58

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• Frank has become a political institution at this point and serves as the designated javeline-catcher on all matters pertaining to athletics, even the things he has no control over (such as facilities investment decisions). Fordham's Administration moves slowly but they're not stupid. Since they haven't fired Frank for performance then it's clear that it's not as important to them as some other perceived benefit of keeping him on. I think any argument for his removal should be made based on the vision for the future and how we need new leadership to take us to that next level, instead of impugning his character and focusing on the past. Let's keep it professional and future-focused. (NT) -- DamnRam, Tue April 12, 2005 11:00:00
  • Frank may have no control over decisions like those on upgrading facilities. Nonetheless, his role should be that of an ADVOCATE for his department and for the part athletics can play in helping Fordham establish the kind of profile that supports its aspirations to become a true national university. While he is a nice guy, Frank tends to be REACTIVE rather than PROACTIVE. His comments (e.g "I'll do that if a check for a hundred million dollars comes in....") tell it all. Rather than building a broad constituency among alums, students, and friends of Fordham, he just waits for things to happen. More.... (NT) -- JCC, Tue April 12, 2005 14:32:42
  • ....Frank has never aggressively marketed our programs in the metropolitan area, and he does little to turn our athletic contests into real "events" (though he occasionally responds to specific suggestions on this board on minor things like concessions). He resisted mightily our move from the Patriot League to the A-10, and still shows no interest in exploring possibilities for moving football to a higher league/level (let alone selling such an idea to the administration). He seems content with things as they are, and is happy to always be the voice of why we CAN'T do this or that. We need a CAN-DO guy at the helm, not a CAN'T-DO guy who endlessly makes excuses and accepts the staus quo as an inevitability. I agree that our focus should be on the future, but our current AD has a record which is deplorable (and I'm not just talking about wins & losses). His record is one which certainly doesn't bode well for a brighter future. It's time for a change. (NT) -- JCC, Tue April 12, 2005 14:52:39
    • JC the man got on public radio and stated that there were enemies within his own organization that wanted him to fail. Need anyone say anything more? Imagine going on the radio and taking pot shots at your own board of directors? You would be out the door in 1 minute. (NT) -- '85, Tue April 12, 2005 15:27:09
    • You make some good points, but I think that Frank's defeatism may be the result of dealing with an Administration that has long been indifferent or at least ambiguous towards athletics (as well as his management style limitations). He may have even been told to work within certain constraints and don't expect more than that given the higher priorities the University had to deal with. I'm not defending him or the AD's poor performance over two decades, just trying to reconcile how we could be so bad for so long and the person in charge of all that could still have a job. Frank may think he has enemies but if I were him I'd be thanking my friends for protecting me all this time, especially given the poor results, petty politics, and constant complaints. (NT) -- DamnRam, Tue April 12, 2005 21:32:59