When it comes to following Texas Tech football, normally I am not too bothered about the Chancellor's role in determining the outcome of games, recruiting, who ought to start, or much else frankly.
But since Chancellor Hance has decided that he seems to know something about running a football program that the rest of us fail to grasp, I see no reason why we can't subject him to the same sort of debates we spend endless hours considering among ourselves.
Ignoring all the other achievements of the football program over the past 10 years, Chancellor Hance commented that we should be able to win more than 20% of our games against the University of Texas.
I wonder how the former and current players feel about that statement?
Is this 'Hance Standard' the one by which we are also expected to judge Coach Tuberville's performance?
Still, I think Chancellor Hance might be on to something.
As a general principal, we should be more successful against Texas.
And clearly Hance believes that if anyone can make that happen, he seems to believe it is him - no matter what it takes apparantly.
So what qualifies Hance to make that judgement? What qualifies Chancellor Hance to make any judgement whatsoever?
Since I don't seem to be able to find any record of Hance's experience in organized sports (or any other sports-related achievements), unfortunately I am left to compare his qualifications as an administrator to those of some of the other esteemed Chancellors in Texas.
As we would normally compare quarterback ratings, yards after catch and other such pressing matters, let's see how our own Chancellor measures up.
He seems like a sporting kind of guy. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.
University Systems in Texas
|
|
Texas Tech |
University of Texas |
Texas A&M |
University of Houston |
|
Chancellor |
Kent Hance, JD |
Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa |
Dr. Michael D. McKinney |
Dr. Rhenu Kator, PhD |
|
Age |
67 |
51 |
57 |
55 |
|
Appointment Date |
Dec-06 |
Feb-09 |
2007 |
Jan-08 |
|
Number of Institutions |
3 |
15 |
11 |
4 |
|
Enrollment (2009) |
37,000 |
195,000 |
103,000 |
61,000 |
|
Operating Budget |
$1.1 billion (2008) |
$11.9 billion (2010) |
$2.5 billion (2006) |
$1.3 billion (2009) |
|
Endowment (2008)* |
$0.8 billion |
$16.1 billion |
$6.7 billion |
$0.7 billion |
|
Years of Prior Senior Administrative Experience in Academia |
0 |
9 |
5 |
22 |
|
Years of Political Experience |
15** |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
Prior Role |
Partner in a legal firm |
President,U.T. Health Science Center in San Antonio |
Senior EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Texas Health Science Center at Houston |
Provost and Senior VP, University of South Florida |
|
Profession |
Lawyer |
Physician |
Physician |
Professor |
|
Education |
BBA, Texas Tech; JD, University of Texas |
BA, Yale; MD, UT Southwestern; Residency, Harvard; Fellowship, Johns Hopkins |
|
BA, University of Kanpur (India); MA, MPA, PhD, Purdue |
|
Salary (not including other benefits) |
$412,000 |
$750,000 |
$500,000 |
$415,000 |
|
*Harvard: $36 billion, Yale $22 billion. But their football teams aren't very good. ** US Congressman 1975-1985; Texas Rail Road Commissioner 1986-1990. Note: North Texas University System and the Texas State University System are not included in this comparison. |
||||
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It is clear that Hance thought Coach Leach was not the best man for the job of Texas Tech football head coach.
I wonder, though, whether Hance is the best man for Texas Tech.
What Hance lacks in management experience, he certainly seems to compensate with political skills.
Having gone through this little gem of an experience, however, I think I'm ready for a Chancellor who can spend more time managing our University up rather than politicking it down.
Strive for Honor.