Vowels offered top league post (SWAC)


B

Blu Panther

The name says it all
Reported by the Onnidan Site's Off The Drum

The Birmingham News is reporting that the SWAC Commissioner's job has been offered to Robert Vowels. Vowels is currently commissioner of the SIAC and is said to be "contemplating" the offer. When reached at his office in Atlanta, Vowels chose not to comment.
Link to Birmingham News story on al.com
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Sources: Vowels offered top league post

http://www.al.com/sports/birmingham...tandard.xsl?/base/sports/1030094112151400.xml

08/23/02
STEVE KIRK
News staff writer
Southwestern Athletic Conference presidents have offered the league's commissioner position to Robert Vowels, sources involved in the process confirmed Thursday.


Vowels, the commissioner of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, interviewed Monday at the SWAC office in Birmingham, along with two other finalists Jackson State Athletics Director Roy Culberson and former Sugar Bowl Executive Director Troy Mathieu.
Nine of the league's 10 presidents were in town for the interview session, with only Grambling State's Neari Warner absent.
Vowels, 43, was still considering whether to accept their offer, sources said. Contacted Thursday at the SIAC's Atlanta office, he declined to comment.
The SIAC, an NCAA Division II conference that includes state schools Miles and Tuskegee, hired Vowels in July 2000. He was previously an associate commissioner for the Big Ten.
Vowels was a linebacker at Duke University from 1976-79, lettering in his final season before graduation. He later attended North Carolina Central University law school and served as Vanderbilt University's compliance coordinator before joining the Big Ten.
Culberson, named JSU AD in April 2000, spent 1999-2000 as athletics director at the University of Montevallo. He was associate AD at the University of North Texas before that.
"I thought I interviewed well," Culberson said Thursday. "I felt I answered all pertaining questions very professionally. There are some great candidates that are interviewing. Hopefully, I will be selected."
Mathieu, currently assistant superintendent of the Dallas (Texas) Independent School District, is in charge of the athletic programs for all 44 schools in the district. Mathieu is also a Cotton Bowl Classic board member.
He joined the Sugar Bowl staff in 1987 and served as executive director from 1993-96 before moving to Dallas. He declined to comment, except to say he is not a candidate for the SWAC position.
James Frank has served as the SWAC's interim commissioner since the firing of Rudy Washington in June 2001 for alleged misuse of league funds.
A circuit judge ruled two months ago that the SWAC had just cause to terminate Washington's employment after Washington filed suit against the league.
The SWAC claimed Washington overpaid himself $78,750. It also said there was inadequate documentation for $99,566 in expenditures and that Washington gave raises to himself and other employees without approval from the SWAC's council of presidents.
Finally, the SWAC said Washington enrolled a non-SWAC employee on the company's health insurance plan.
"Mr. Washington did a tremendous disservice to the SWAC," Frank said.
The SWAC began taking applications for commissioner in April and had hoped to have someone in place by July 1. Alcorn State president Clinton Bristow Jr., is chair of the search committee.
 



Ok am I missing something here? GR is pissed, so I know something must be wrong. Is it because Culberson was not offered? Or is this Vowels guys all screwed up? I have no knowledge on any of these guys except Culberson and that is not much. So what is the scoop? Is Vowels not a good choice or what?
 
JR,

Get Ready and several of the JSU posters are not very happy with Roy Culberson as their athletic director. So they were hoping to pawn the guy off on the SWAC so the JSU would have to go into a different direction in replacing him as the athletic director.

I have been a supporter of Commissioner Vowels after he turn around the SIAC in about two or three years after the league was reported to be on "Life-Support" by many publications and media reports.

After reading some background of Mathieu I think he maybe as solid choice as well.

Roy Culberson is the least desirable in my humble opinion.
 
Thanks BP. I know the SIAC was doing good compared to what it used to be a few years ago. But I just did not know much about Vowels. So if that is the case then I am glad the Presidents offered him the job. Sounds like if he doesn't take it, then the guy from Dallas would be a good choice. Reading their resumes, they seem to be more experienced than Culberson anyway. I like the fact that Vowels is only 43 and not some old head ready to retire.
 
I thought he withdrew his name?

Wow!!!! I guess they really wanted him and possibly made him an offer he couldn't refuse. One of the things that is kinda' wild is that they have about 3-4 folks who were hired last year and 1 guy was just hired this summer, so he has a ready made staff. That can be both good and bad.

I wonder if he'll be given leeway re: personnel moves. You always want the option of bringing in your people. I'm sure this is a TOUGH decision for him.

I think they made a good choice though.
 
Originally posted by hulaw94
I thought he withdrew his name?

Wow!!!! I guess they really wanted him and possibly made him an offer he couldn't refuse. One of the things that is kinda' wild is that they have about 3-4 folks who were hired last year and 1 guy was just hired this summer, so he has a ready made staff. That can be both good and bad.

I wonder if he'll be given leeway re: personnel moves. You always want the option of bringing in your people. I'm sure this is a TOUGH decision for him.

I think they made a good choice though.
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We have been discussing how arse backwards the SWAC has been to hire a supporting staff before hiring a commishioner. That's like hiring an OC an a DC before hiring the Head coach. Stupid!!!

If I were offered a job under those conditions, I don't think I would take it.
 
hmmm.....43

Associate commish for the big ten

Compliance coordinator for vandy

Guess what guys...... outside the SWAC????

Could our presidents have been listening?
 
I'm suprised at this too, since he did withdraw his name. But you know how that goes, mo money....mo money....mo money.

Maybe a inside track to getting 2 other teams to leave their conferance and join the SWAC......guess which two...
 
Originally posted by Fiyah
I'm suprised at this too, since he did withdraw his name. But you know how that goes, mo money....mo money....mo money.

Maybe a inside track to getting 2 other teams to leave their conferance and join the SWAC......guess which two...
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You may be on to something Frat. I never thought about like that. Also he may have known that SWAC was hiring the other positions and he was okay with it. No need for the SWAC to bring a Commish who would fire everybody they just hired. I think the SWAC upped the ante on the money and he reconsidered. But Fiyah you may be on point with the 2 teams moving up deal. Tuskegee should move anyway. They should be tired of beating the hell out the SIAC. But who would be the other team? Mo Brown is already a 1-AA independent turned down by us. What othe SIAC school would be worth asking. I would love to see TnSU come to the SWAC along with Skegee.
 
Fiyah,

Your thoughts on the move give one more thoughts to ponder.

JR,

Mo Brown is already a 1-AA independent turned down by us.
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Morris Brown College was not turned down by the SWAC. The SWAC atheltic directors voted in favor of Morris Brown College to become an expansion member of the SWAC. The SWAC Council of Presidents never voted on the measure for Morris Brown College to become a member of the SWAC. The SWAC tabled the motion for expansion, because the Morris Brown College president did not support the move.

What othe SIAC school would be worth asking. I would love to see TnSU come to the SWAC along with Skegee.
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That is a good question. I agree with the Tuskegee and Tennessee State overtures. Although I would prefer a HBCU institution in the Southwestern region of the conference.
 
Yeah, Rudy was an outsider too. Remember?
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Unlike Rudy, his character is not an issue. Ruday came to the SWAC after getting bounced from the BCA (Black Coach's Association) for alledged financial irregularities.
 



Originally posted by Blu Panther
Fiyah,

Your thoughts on the move give one more thoughts to ponder.

JR,

Morris Brown College was not turned down by the SWAC. The SWAC sports information directors voted in favor of Morris Brown College to become an expansion member of the SWAC. The SWAC Council of Presidents never voted on the measure for Morris Brown College to become a member of the SWAC. The SWAC tabled the motion for expansion, because the Morris Brown College president did not support the move.



That is a good question. I agree with the Tuskegee and Tennessee State overtures. Although I would prefer a HBCU institution in the Southwestern region of the conference.
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Interesting, I thought for sure I read that the Bama State prez who is the head of the Presidents council rejected Mo Browns petition. Now I thought Mo Browns AD was a JSU alum as well. I heard that Mo Brown's money was funny and our Presidents knew about it and that the AD's were trying to slip ole Mo Brown in. The only school in the AU Center that has big money is Morehouse, but they are not interested in spending money on athletics. If they ever got serious, they could fund a full 1-AA program. They have benefactors like that. But hey it isn't what they care about.

BTW BP, who in the SW could or would be eligible to move up to SWAC play? Langston? Paul Quinn(isn't ole Archie Cooley over there) LOL. I just don't see a school that could make the transition. Especially to have to fund the other sports and such. I mean if we could add TnSt and Tuskegee, we would have to shift maybe Alcorn to the West. I wish their was a SW team to add. If their were a bigger HBCU in Dallas that would have been nice.
 
That was my thinking more of Tuskegee moving up to Iaa and getting TnSt to change conferances. Everyone keep talking about the SWAC attendance figures and moving the playofss back a week, I say screw their playoffs and lets keep ours....ours. There's nothing they could offer us and we need to get the Meac to see this. The way some of these games are sold out against these non-conferances foes we can play non-conferance games against the MEAC and sell out our own games and keep our money in our family........Don't let the kids from the other block get any, let your cousins from the other side of town get some.
 
JR,
Yes your statements are interesting.

Interesting, I thought for sure I read that the Bama State prez who is the head of the Presidents council rejected Mo Browns petition.
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I am not sure whom was the head of teh President Council then, but the current Head of the President Council is Alcorn State's president. But, I did not read any report that stated that Morris Brown application for the SWAC ever got rejected. At one time the SWAC President ask for some additional information from Morris Brown College then president Delores Cross. She never reported. It my understanding that she never was interested in joining the SWAC and always was interested in gaining membership into the MEAC.

Now I thought Mo Browns AD was a JSU alum as well.
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I am not sure if the then Athletic Director for Morris Brown College was an alum of JSU, but I am aware that he worked with JSU and later AA&MU and He a lot of interest in Morris Brown College gaining membership in the SWAC. In fact from all the information that I have aquired Commissioner Rudy Washington and the then Athletic Director of Morris Brown conspired to push the membership of Morris Brown as a member of the SWAC as quickly as possible by first gaining the support of the athletic directors and then by pushing it on the SWAC president and the Morris Brown President.

Later the SWAC president requested further information from Morris Brown College president and she never attend the winter meeting of 2000 when Tennessee State sent a representative to discuss some issues. During the Winter meeting the SWAC President stated that know institution add applied for membership into the SWAC and so the president had no reason to vote on expansion of the SWAC conference.

I heard that Mo Brown's money was funny and our Presidents knew about it and that the AD's were trying to slip ole Mo Brown in.
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I think this is Internet rumor talk from the admitted financial woes of Morris Brown College from over ten years ago. I am not sure the SWAC president would request Morris Brown College financial records. That is not the norm. I could understand the SWAC presidents requesting any potential member school to provide the conference with past, current, and propose future athletic budgets as well as plan on what any potential member insitutions goals and strategic plan.

The only school in the AU Center that has big money is Morehouse, but they are not interested in spending money on athletics. If they ever got serious, they could fund a full 1-AA program. They have benefactors like that. But hey it isn't what they care about.
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I would not argue these statements. But, I am not sure who this relates to the topic of the SWAC president voting down Morris Brown College's membership.

BTW BP, who in the SW could or would be eligible to move up to SWAC play? Langston? Paul Quinn(isn't ole Archie Cooley over there) LOL. I just don't see a school that could make the transition. Especially to have to fund the other sports and such.
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I would like to add Langston University because of their past membership and history within the SWAC. They are building a new football stadium and renovating their gym. I agree I am not sure that their president and/or athletic director has considered such a move, but if University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff a school that was also NAIA and is of similar size, could make such a move and transition then I think Langston University could make a similar positive transition if they so desired.

I mean if we could add TnSt and Tuskegee, we would have to shift maybe Alcorn to the West. I wish their was a SW team to add. If their were a bigger HBCU in Dallas that would have been nice.
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I agree it would be nice to have a program larger HBCU in Dallas. But, it would interesting to view what the SWAC presidents would decide on whether to ship Alcorn State or Mississippi Valley State to the Western Division.
 
Originally posted by Get Ready
Yeah

Rudy was an outsider too. Remember?
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<font color=blue><font size=14>SO????</font>
don't player hate because he's not affiliated with J-State:bawling: :bawling: :bawling:
 
I would rather see a person who attended a SWAC school get this position. We should hire one of our own before we go outside of the SWAC. It just doesn't make good sense to me. I know AAMU has not been in the SWAC for a long period of time, but I have to believe that Alums from the SWAC are just as good as those who were trained at PWCs.

Tenn St and FAMU are the teams that will be sought to apply for membership in the SWAC.
 
From what I know about Vowels he's an excellent choice. As a matter of fact, I made that suggeestion to someone a while back. He has a great track record, he's young, he has experience outside the SWAC. I hope he accepts the job.

While I think Culberson would've been a good choice as well, you canot discount what Vowels has done and is doing for the SIAC.
 
FYI...
The AD for Mo Brown was former AAMU AD Gene Bright. He retired from AAMU and went to Mo Brown. After he was not able to get Mo Brown in the SWAC he came back to the H'ville. I saw him about a month ago teaching Golf apparently to summer school students.
 
SWAC ready to fill commissioner post

http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0208/28/sbriefs.html

August 28, 2002

SWAC ready to fill commissioner post


The Southwestern Athletic Conference has been without a full-time commissioner for the past 16 months. That could change soon.

The job has been offered to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference commissioner Robert Vowels. The league is awaiting Vowels' response before an official announcement is made.

Jackson State athletic director Roy Culberson was one of three finalists. He interviewed last Monday along with Troy Matthieu, assistant superintendent of the Dallas (Texas) Independent School District, and Vowels.

"They called me to let me know they had decided to go with somebody else," Culberson said. "I was pleased to have the opportunity. Whoever they hire, I'm looking forward to working under his leadership in the SWAC. I've got plenty of work to do here at Jackson State. I'm looking forward to an exciting year."

The SWAC is looking for a replacement for Rudy Washington, who was placed on leave last year and later fired. He was terminated for mishandling league finances. Retired Commissioner James Frank resumed his duties after Washington's firing and has been running the league since then.
 
Has Vowels excepted the SWAC job yet or is he just using us to get more money, power, ... out of the SIAC.
 
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