INSTANT REACTION: Jamie Pollard set to retire within the next year

[Aiden Wyatt]

Jake Brend and Levi Stevenson react to the news of Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announcing his retirement for June 30, 2027. Brend and Stevenson are then joined by Chris Williams and Rob Gray to discuss Pollard’s legacy and what he’ll be remembered for at Iowa State.

INSTANT REACTION: Jamie Pollard set to retire within the next year - Cyclone Fanatic

Jake Brend and Levi Stevenson react to the news of Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announcing his retirement for June 30, 2027. Brend and Stevenson are then joined by Chris Williams and Rob Gray to discuss Pollard’s legacy and what he’ll be remembered for at Iowa State.

cyclonefanatic.com

 

[Kettes]

The lack of comments in this leads me to believe that others are as conflicted as I am. It's like a Dickens book; he was the best of AD's, he was the worst of AD's.

 

[Cyched]

The lack of comments in this leads me to believe that others are as conflicted as I am. It's like a Dickens book; he was the best of AD's, he was the worst of AD's.

Wut

 

[Kettes]

Wut

We all know the great things Pollard did for ISU, but I can list 3 off the top of my head that were not so good for ISU:
1) He was very reluctant and slow to implement funding of athletes, monetarily.
2) He put off allowing alcohol sales in the stadium until he was pushed to do it.
3) He said some pretty bad things about the fans of ISU; basically insinuating that the fans were slobs.

 

[Marcelason78]

Generally like Jake’s comments but what is up with saying something to effect of ISU was a ‘MAC school in everything’ in the past?

 

[Cyched]

We all know the great things Pollard did for ISU, but I can list 3 off the top of my head that were not so good for ISU:
1) He was very reluctant and slow to implement funding of athletes, monetarily.
2) He put off allowing alcohol sales in the stadium until he was pushed to do it.
3) He said some pretty bad things about the fans of ISU; basically insinuating that the fans were slobs.

Didn't agree with any of that either. But when you're in one place for 21 years, you're going to have a few missteps.

Looking at the whole body of work, he was a great AD for ISU, and I'm certainly not "conflicted" on it. It was probably time for him to hang it up, and that's fine; we'll all reach that point in our careers.

 

[Kettes]

It was probably time for him to hang it up, and that's fine; we'll all reach that point in our careers.

Amen to that, brother! Within 6 years for me!

 

[nfrine]

We all know the great things Pollard did for ISU, but I can list 3 off the top of my head that were not so good for ISU:
1) He was very reluctant and slow to implement funding of athletes, monetarily.
2) He put off allowing alcohol sales in the stadium until he was pushed to do it.
3) He said some pretty bad things about the fans of ISU; basically insinuating that the fans were slobs.

Probably doesn't like puppies either...

 

[BCClone]

We all know the great things Pollard did for ISU, but I can list 3 off the top of my head that were not so good for ISU:
1) He was very reluctant and slow to implement funding of athletes, monetarily.
2) He put off allowing alcohol sales in the stadium until he was pushed to do it.
3) He said some pretty bad things about the fans of ISU; basically insinuating that the fans were slobs.

If not selling alcohol is 1 of the 3 Worst things he did, that list is pretty weak.

 

[KnappShack]

He had some unforced errors. The "slobs" comment was indicative of that.

But JP was in the seat during some  really ugly Big 12 conference eras.

None of us can agree with every decision, but JP did a wonderful job (even if his soft ass blocked me on Twitter....and I'm a JP supporter!)

 

[SolarGarlic]

If not selling alcohol is 1 of the 3 Worst things he did, that list is pretty weak.

It's not a coincidence that all of those issues are extremely recent. The anti JP movement wouldn't have existed 10 years ago, even if those issues happened then. It's all social media driven.

 

[Cloneon]

One thing we'll be assured of is that people will 'speculate'; most of which will be irrational, foolish, childish, and every other words one can dig up to belittle things that he's done. And, just as foolishly, people will differ; threatening threads of never-ending length.

Well, I have just one thing to say about that: I wouldn't be the person I am today without the mistakes I've made. And, given the chance to go back in time to correct those mistakes, there's no way I would want to.

That leaves me to remember Jaimie based on only his 'total' body of work. Which by every measure is probably the best body of work any AD at ANY university has done given the limitations and obstacles he has faced during his tenure. It is nothing short of a miracle, what he's accomplished.

 

[NWICY]

Generally like Jake’s comments but what is up with saying something to effect of ISU was a ‘MAC school in everything’ in the past?

Youth makes comments like that, I was in the 80s ok not great FB and Johnny Orr MBB which was win at home and lose on the road and we were just happy to have a exciting BB team to watch.
It was long before the overt semiprofessional take over of collegiate sports.

Times change shinier, brighter, better now than ever before , also way more expensive to attend, it's fine it's the way things change but most of the people reporting on ISU currently were either born in the 1990s or 2000s. There are a couple of generation of ISU sports that they only know about through second hand knowledge. I'm not sure if the average fan is more critical now or not, but a forum like this certainly brings out the most passionate/opinionated.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

The lack of comments in this leads me to believe that others are as conflicted as I am. It's like a Dickens book; he was the best of AD's, he was the worst of AD's.

It probably has more to do with the 10+ other threads on JP's retirement

 

[cykadelic2]

He had some unforced errors. The "slobs" comment was indicative of that.

None of us can agree with every decision, but JP did a wonderful job (even if his soft ass blocked me on Twitter....and I'm a JP supporter!)

In the history of things being taken out of context relative to ISU, the "slobs" comment is #1 or close to it. And the prevailing thought here and elsewhere (e.g. Chris Hassel) that JP was primarily responsible for no alcohol sales is also BS (WW was)

Here is the full context from the ISD. The "slobs" as referenced here are clearly the drunken folks whose behavior triggered Police Dept action towards them and those who can't manage themselves when alcohol is served.:

Iowa State Police Department Chief Michael Newton spoke in the same series on Feb. 4 about underage drinking violations and their population around campus, including big events like tailgating and football games.

“My second reason is behavioral issues. I get to see what our police department deals with post-game,” Pollard said. “People are slobs. People are flat-out slobs, and that’s without selling alcohol.”

The athletics department listens to Iowa State fans’ feedback but questions if the recommendation of alcohol sales is truly fans’ feedback or just students.

“Number three is I’m not convinced the people that buy our seats in the stadium actually really want it,” Pollard said. “They don’t want the drunk slob behind them spilling beer on them because they haven’t had their first beer ever.”

Ultimately, the athletics department cannot wholly control whether Iowa State sells alcoholic beverages in its stadiums.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what Jamie Pollard thinks; it’s not my call. It’s the president’s call and the police chief’s call,” Pollard said. “If you can’t refrain from drinking for three and a half hours from the game, then don’t come to the game. I don’t care.”

 

[CloneFan65]

If not selling alcohol is 1 of the 3 Worst things he did, that list is pretty weak.

And a second one was making a remark about the fans that came off in a negative light. Considering how many public comments, press conferences, and interviews he has done, he’s been very upfront and professional.

 

[FilthyShadow]

Predicted he was done when I saw the media days helmet. Told wife, "Jamie is done now with alcohol sales and the loss of the I-State logo on the helmets."

 

[CloneFan65]

In 2005 the fundraising for the athletic department was around $9 million dollars. It was $53 million last year. Also, if you look at the facilities now as compared to when he started as AD, it’s night and day. And he’s leaving after both the football and basketball programs just performed at all time highs for the Cyclones. We have been lucky to have Pollard as our AD the past two decades.

 

[Messi]

We all know the great things Pollard did for ISU, but I can list 3 off the top of my head that were not so good for ISU:
1) He was very reluctant and slow to implement funding of athletes, monetarily.
2) He put off allowing alcohol sales in the stadium until he was pushed to do it.
3) He said some pretty bad things about the fans of ISU; basically insinuating that the fans were slobs.

Top 5 Jamie decisions
1. Hiring Campbell
2. Hiring TJ
3. Hiring Fred
4. Getting the SEZ completed
5. Navigating the big 12 missle crisis


Bottom 5 Jamie decisions
1. Letting Cael walk
2. Hiring Prohm and extending him
3. Holier than thou finger wagging at fans (alcohol sales)
4. His YouTube videos from office or hospital bed
5. Announcing Jimmy before Matt was even out the building

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

The lack of comments in this leads me to believe that others are as conflicted as I am. It's like a Dickens book; he was the best of AD's, he was the worst of AD's.

Why was he the worst?