Brad Edwards Named New Athletic Director

[gmujim92]

Granted Merton didn't raise that much in endowment but that seems to be unrelated to making decisions that were "different" and not in a good way. It will be interesting to see if Cabrera can be more successful in that regard. We can all hope so.

Cabrera took over a much different university than Merten inherited, in just about every way imaginable.

Merten didn't have the luxury of worrying about the endowment. He had a campus to build and arms to twist in Richmond. He did a great job on both counts.

He frustrated me after the FF because he treated it like a fluke instead of really trying to capitalize on it and always treated athletics like a red-headed stepchild, but the Mason we know now wouldn't exist without Merten.

I hope Cabrera can build on Merten's accomplishments and take Mason to the next level as a well-respected residential university. He's off to a good start.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Before we celebrate too soon (while dancing on the grave of the previous administration), why don't we see how this pans out? Don't get me wrong-I think the hire appears to be a good one, but we don't know that right now.

And what particular hires did Merton make or programs that he initiated that fit your description of "different" in a bad way?

I concur with your assessment. However, I would say that Mertens constant obsession with being "different" and he was that way - always came across Odd - Intellectual and academic yes - but odd. It was like taking style cues from an old English guy smoking a pipe - wearing a tweed jacket driving around in an old Citroen three wheeler.

In contrast - Cabrera comes across as the guy from the "most interesting man in the world Dos Equis commercials driving a Corvette C7 targa smoking a cigar with a hot pile of bikini meat sitting with no top sitting next to him wearing expensive shades. It's alpha male, its straightforward and it feels right.

 

[GMUgemini]

I concur with your assessment. However, I would say that Mertens constant obsession with being "different" and he was that way - always came across Odd - Intellectual and academic yes - but odd. It was like taking style cues from an old English guy smoking a pipe - wearing a tweed jacket driving around in an old Citroen three wheeler.

In contrast - Cabrera comes across as the guy from the "most interesting man in the world Dos Equis commercials driving a Corvette C7 targa smoking a cigar with a hot pile of bikini meat sitting with no top sitting next to him wearing expensive shades. It's alpha male, its straightforward and it feels right.

I could see Cabrera going after someone he can just "put in charge" and let him loose to do his thing. Edwards seems that type.

 

[Pablo]

In Brad Edwards, I see a man who learned team building from one of the best - Joe Gibbs. And, a leader who won't accept mediocrity.

 

[EXpatriot13]

In Brad Edwards we trust.

 

[GSII]

Compare and Contrast personalities of Hewitt and Edwards. Anyone?

 

[psyclone]

Compare and Contrast personalities of Hewitt and Edwards. Anyone?

Has anyone actually heard Edwards speak? Maybe we should at least wait until after the press conference before describing him. Right now I think many of those on these boards are projecting their "hopes" onto Edwards. We have precious little information about his interactional/leadership style to make judgments about him.

 

[GMUgemini]

Has anyone actually heard Edwards speak? Maybe we should at least wait until after the press conference before describing him. Right now I think many of those on these boards are projecting their "hopes" onto Edwards. We have precious little information about his interactional/leadership style to make judgments about him.

I think anyone who increased giving at JU by 92% is doing something right when it comes to personal communication and leadership style.

 

[GSII]

I have and I think your inner Gladiator will come out the more you listen to him. I can see him going crazy at a women's soccer game.

 

[Pablo]

Has anyone actually heard Edwards speak? Maybe we should at least wait until after the press conference before describing him. Right now I think many of those on these boards are projecting their "hopes" onto Edwards. We have precious little information about his interactional/leadership style to make judgments about him.

http://www.1010xl.com/common/more.php?m=49&post_id=9271

"Cliff Warren probably will work his last home game as JU’s head basketball coach Saturday night when the Dolphins play host to South Carolina-Upstate in Swisher Gym. All the signs are there that the end is near for the school’s all-time leader in victories.

Little attention will be made of this and therein lays the biggest problem. Little attention is paid to the once proud and mighty basketball Dolphins, period. Crowds of barely 1,000 generally show up for games, most played in the spacious Jacksonville Arena. Maybe 100 people showed up for a New Year’s Day game at Swisher. Trust me, that doesn’t help with the budget or in recruiting.

There are other issues, of course. JU is winding up its third straight losing season and athletic director Brad Edwards already has established a track record of cleaning house in just 18 months on the job."

 

[KAOriginal]

In contrast - Cabrera comes across as the guy from the "most interesting man in the world Dos Equis commercials driving a Corvette C7 targa smoking a cigar with a hot pile of bikini meat sitting with no top sitting next to him wearing expensive shades. It's alpha male, its straightforward and it feels right.

I always thought of Cabrera as the love child of Steve Jobs and Pablo Escobar.....

 

[A.-Siegfried]

11:30 press conference to introduce Brad Edwards on Monday.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Once I am on the road managing some field implementations to train some been project managers in my program. Please running details and updates via the boards. It will give me something to warm up the lonely hotel suite.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[GSII]

Will it be streamed?

 

[p8triotfan4life]

most of you will want to hear answers about how Brad Edwards intends to increase basketball attendance, football aspirations, etc.

I want to know his plan in targeting corporate donors and his plan of capital improvements to current facilities instead of talking about it like his predecessor did. I would like to see his plan in targeting government contractors, etc., selling naming rights, adding luxury suites in the Patriot Center (like vcu), actually build a baseball stadium, renovate the Field House and then make a play for football. I think his success will be determined by the amount of dollars he adds. By adding the dollars, the capital improvements will be seen, and top tier athletes will want to play at top-notch facilities. The rest sells itself.

 

[Walter]

most of you will want to hear answers about how Brad Edwards intends to increase basketball attendance, football aspirations, etc.

I want to know his plan in targeting corporate donors and his plan of capital improvements to current facilities instead of talking about it like his predecessor did. I would like to see his plan in targeting government contractors, etc., selling naming rights, adding luxury suites in the Patriot Center (like vcu), actually build a baseball stadium, renovate the Field House and then make a play for football. I think his success will be determined by the amount of dollars he adds. By adding the dollars, the capital improvements will be seen, and top tier athletes will want to play at top-notch facilities. The rest sells itself.

All important but the single most important factor in having winning programs is to have the right coaches in place. There are plenty of cash flush BCS programs with amazing facilities who are still knocking at the NCAA tourney door because they haven't been able to hire the right coach.

 

[masonjoe]

most of you will want to hear answers about how Brad Edwards intends to increase basketball attendance, football aspirations, etc.

I want to know his plan in targeting corporate donors and his plan of capital improvements to current facilities instead of talking about it like his predecessor did. I would like to see his plan in targeting government contractors, etc., selling naming rights, adding luxury suites in the Patriot Center (like vcu), actually build a baseball stadium, renovate the Field House and then make a play for football. I think his success will be determined by the amount of dollars he adds. By adding the dollars, the capital improvements will be seen, and top tier athletes will want to play at top-notch facilities. The rest sells itself.

The corp sponsors is a huge issue if you ask me, crazy how few if any this program has

 

[GSII]

Imagine if someone like Brad worked at Mason AD during our 2006 final four. Well maybe they did and were kept in a dark room.

 

[Washingtonian]

Will it be streamed?

Mason Athletics ‏@MasonAthletics 3m
Today's press conference with new Athletic Director Brad Edwards will be streamed live at 11:20 am. Link will be available shortly.

 

[The Great PATSby]

Mason Athletics ‏@MasonAthletics 3m
Today's press conference with new Athletic Director Brad Edwards will be streamed live at 11:20 am. Link will be available shortly.

Here's the link...
http://www.gomason.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25200&KEY=&id=1147475&catid=0