- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
1960's era football coach. Probably would have been a better AD in...the '60's. I don't remember all the specifics, but I always felt he got the AD job because he was a big name in football around the state of Florida. Maybe more figurehead than administrator, but to be fair, this was probably more the prototype back in those days. I might be mis-remembering, but hiring Don Devoe as an interim hoops coach was a disaster. The Pell years are a matter of record and have been spun in several directions and I personally think that Hall was set adrift (if I have my data correct). Wasn't overly impressed back then, but somebody with a say obviously liked him.
I agree completely with your assessment and I will go a little deeper.
I felt like Arnsparger allowed cheating in football to occur under his watch and then left Galen twisting when a violation surfaced a few years later. Although I am not defending Norm Sloan's actions, I could not believe how Arnsparger went beyond leaving Norm hanging and actually seemed to execute the NCAA's agenda for them by strong arming Norm into resigning. It is one thing to take the highroad when things happen, it is yet another thing to go out of your way to undermine a coach under your employ.
I always thought the guy was a phony figurehead that seemed more concerned about his reputation and his legacy than anything involving UF. I was very happy to see him go.
Now that I have said this, I can't wait to have everyone explain to me what was soooo bad about Foley. He was always loyal to the program, something that cannot be said about his predecessor.