Can UCLA Find a Leader Like Univ. of Florida President J. Bernard Machen?

by Go Bruins on Feb 7, 2012 5:42 PM PST

I was doing some research and ran across this quote from University of Florida president J. Bernard Machen:

"If we are going to compete in something, we want to win at it - whether it is in pediatrics or women's gymnastics," said J. Bernard Machen, the University of Florida president. "It is important to our supporters, both financial and among our community. It is part of our culture. We want people to know that Florida is a place for winners."

Machen gets it! I couldn't help but think how motivated I would be to drastically increase my donations to UCLA if we had a leader who would make the same statement and acted on it with the same conviction. I'm convinced that whatever athletic success comes UCLA's way, it's in spite of Guerrero, and not because of him. I'm thankful for BN and the front pagers for your hard work and dedication to shining a light on the pathetic state of the Block/Guerrero's athletic department. We all agree that UCLA deserves better leaders. Machen's gives me a vision for what that leader would look like.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Comments

That is a great find

Well done.

by Nestor on Feb 7, 2012 5:55 PM PST reply actions

Maybe we ought to check out the Harvard AD

by kevb75 on Feb 7, 2012 6:35 PM PST reply actions

ehhhhhh

Grass is always greener

In my 3 years living in Gainesville, 2 as a UF grad student, Machen wasn’t the most popular guy. In fact, most of the students and alums despised his cracking down on fun surrounding athletic events (http://www.sbnation.com/2009/7/6/1644139/florida-president-fights-brave) and fun in general. (http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/essays/article781506.ece)

Now of course, while the desire to cut down on unnecessary injuries and deaths of students is a noble mission, it’s still going to be wildly unpopular (See the crackdown on Rose Bowl drinking last year)

But back to Athletics…Florida’s most recent surge to the top of the athletic world didn’t happen under Bernie’s watch…but under my fellow Bruin-Gator Chuck Young. He was UF president from 1999-2003 which is when Florida’s non-revenue sports really made the jump. Machen just kept going where Chuck left off.

At the end of the day, sure maybe Bernie is a decent representative and will give a good quote here and there, but it’s not like he’s got a 100% approval rating in Gainesville, let alone 50%.

Jeremy Foley, on the other hand, deserves all the credit in the world for building that program. He’s a superstar AD who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with a few times. Absolutely rock-solid character and competitive drive that has led to results on the field.

And I’m very happy that their women’s softball, tennis, & gymnastics teams keeps losing to us! Just wish the same could be said about men’s basketball.

by TheTJCummingsEra on Feb 7, 2012 8:43 PM PST reply actions

Who hired in Foley? Was it Young?

by Nestor on Feb 7, 2012 8:52 PM PST up reply actions

Foley's been working in UF Athletics since 1976

He just worked his way up from an intern with the ticket office. Got named AD in 1992, just when things were taking off for UF football. Looks like it was the president before Young who made the hire. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_University_of_Florida + http://www.gatorzone.com/foley/

Check this http://www.gatorzone.com/overview/ to see how the nonrevenue sports have finished since Foley took over. SO i guess I can’t put it all on Young

by TheTJCummingsEra on Feb 8, 2012 6:48 AM PST up reply actions