I know many of you are dumbfounded by USM's signing of the football recruit/felon.  But, as the media report, the kid passed a Thames job search interview, and their decision to sign off on him was based on solid grounds.  I understand that Dr. Thames' expertise is in the field of bootyology, but he can read people.  Besides, every decision he makes is for the benefit of the students.  I believe this decision is just a case in point.

Thames has to have autonomy --- an academic freedom of sorts --- to make decisions such as these.  Now that he's done so, student acceptances are up a small percent.  That's good news.  To say much more about the specifics of this incident here could possibly be a violation of the Buckley Ammendment.  Not to say anything, however, is merely a bogus charade, and I won't be party to that.  In any event, Bower can't talk about it because it's against NCAA rules.  And Mr. G, he's vacationing in Texas I hear.

My guess is that more of the facts will come out at Tuesdays with Thames.  As with most issues, there is a third side here as well, and you don't need a J.D. from Thomas Cooley Law School to figure it out.  That is, Thames and Company simply have Stevie Wonder-like vision and they are in desperate need of a truly good, competent risk manager.  Until they get one, you can expect more sanitizing of websites in order to preserve the integrity, credibility and stability of the institution we all so dearly are sick and tired of being sick and tired of. 

What does everyone do now?  Well, Marcus Raines should pick up a copy of Exit 13 if he's really coming here, just to see what kind of red-blooded American male he just made a deal with.  Mr G., he's just pumping the resume until something better comes along.  You can bet the media will stay on this one till there's no stone left unturned on Hardy Street.  Somehow I can help but think that Ken Malone's job snowball will grow because of all this.         

Me?  I think the whole decision was human error.  Somehow, someway, either Susan Siltanen or Tim Hudson is to blame.  But, I might just be making a Kleinpeter of myself.  If that, then I'm just reading straight out of Klumb's playbook. 

One final thing before this matter is concluded.   Our turtle President stuck his neck out on this one.  I know many on Eagle Talk view the place as a well-oiled machine, and him as the Marcus Aurelius of athletics.  We know the walking, talking blithering idiot better than that.  And we know USM's image/brand was harmed this week. 

very truly yours,

webster