Please disregard thread

BillyClone

Well-Known Member
Mar 20, 2006
760
950
93
Ankeny IA
I was extremely disappointed in Jamie saying that the 4 1/2 hours watching the Cyclones wrestle was time he can't get back. Basically saying he isn't interested. I think it is a slap in the face to our wrestling student athletes and coaches.

It just doesn't look good to have your Athlete leader make a comment like that.

I do realize that there may be more important topics on his mind this past weekend. I applaud him for being there. I saw him there.

I think John Walter was trying to cover up his comment with talk about all the activities that Jamie was watching and supporting this past weekend.

I trust buf on this one (I didn't hear the show). I agree - those comments are disappointing coming from the AD and are disrespectful to the wrestlers and staff.

That said, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes I say inappropriate things and my wife hasn't divorced me yet. I don't think one screw up is enough to make me want to burn Jamie at the stake. I know he cares for each and every athlete under his watch and the last thing he would want to do is make any of them feel second-class. Maybe he tried to be funny and it flopped. I simply hope he apologizes to the wrestlers and coaches and I hope that they are open and forgiving enough to move on without holding a grudge. I think JP has made a good effort to build a strong wrestling program by wooing Dresser to be the coach and making the investment in the program to give us a chance to become great again. I realize wrestling is his favorite, but I do feel he wants to see the wrestlers and the program have success.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: HouClone

jkbuff98

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2017
2,909
4,129
113
Just watched the clip - honestly was worse than I thought it was going to be. First he mentions all of the other sports that went on over the weekend and Walters prompts him that there was wrestling and that is when he says 4 1/2 hours of his Sat he can’t get back and then adds he didn’t go Sun one day was enough . I’ll be composing an email - he owes our coaches athletes and fans an apology.
 

CyCloneRastlinG

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2017
3,973
5,131
113
Iowa
So people only come to the wrestling forums to b*tch back and forth about JP? Still some tickets to the dual Sunday against hawks if you guys want to come support.
 

Cyched

CF Influencer
May 8, 2009
38,369
66,341
113
Colorado
Just watched the clip. Seemed like he was trying to be funny, but it didn’t land.

I understand it was probably a busy/stressful weekend for him, but when you’re the AD you need to be more professional when talking about your school’s sports, joking or not.

I’m not really a wrestling fan, but I would expect him to apologize to Dresser and the team.
 

Lamoni

Active Member
Jan 11, 2017
125
128
43
39
I appreciate Pollard's candor even if I don't agree with his statements a lot of times. I didn't care for his comments on wrestling at all. Although they are not surprising, it is always a punch in the gut when you realize how little Jamie cares about wrestling. I thought a lot of his comments on the radio show came across as arrogant but he is fun to listen to.
 

isucy86

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2006
9,134
7,734
113
Dubuque
Here's my take on Jamie's comments. Having worked in college athletics over 20 years ago as a peon.

It's one thing to be a fan and attend or watch on TV your school's athletic events. Some weekends that might be 2 or 3 contests over a couple days. But watching your favorite team is entirely entertainment, passion, suspense, joy, disappointment.

But as much as JP loves ISU and his job is to promote ISU sports- there can be a half dozen or more ISU teams competing over a weekend. In some cases he isn't just at the event, but might be there many, many hours before or after the 2-3 hour contest itself. It is his job, so he is working. It isn't just about enjoying a sporting event.

Conjecture on my part (based on experience), but by Sunday afternoon, Jamie might have worked 25+ hours over the prior 2 days. So going and watching 4.5 hours of ANY sporting event would have been draining. I realize that is the job he signed up for, but he is also human. I think he was trying to be funny/flippant by saying that is "4.5 hours he'll never get back".

The fact that HE STAYED the entire 4.5 hours shows me something. He could have easily made an appearance for a couple hours and ducked out.
 

CyDawg23

Well-Known Member
Nov 13, 2017
383
833
93
I think we may be reading too much into JP's <30 seconds of comments. Just my opinion, but as a primarily Cyclone wrestling fan (FB and MBB are secondary/tertiary to me), I think context matters. 1) this was taped presumably after the USC job was taken [and JP and CMC talked about CA taxes etc.]. 2) maybe JP heard the ND job was open for FB prior to this interview? 3) this was taped after we trounced #9 Memphis in MBB following a 2 win season last year. 4) objectively speaking, this weekend's wrestling schedule was akin to Iowa MBB's season up to last eveingin (prior to UVA last night) where nobody is paying any attention because it was subpar. My point is I don't think JP is bearish on ISU wrestling; I just think ISU wrestling was low on the big picture of ISU athletics this weekend. I think we should give him some grace. Though I 100% agree he should have kept his thoughts to himself.
 

AppleCornCy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 13, 2020
1,261
1,802
112
My guess just from reading the comments without having heard the clip is that JP was being a bit candid after a stressful few days with all the CMC stuff. The wrestling comment and the comment about liberals in California are things somebody in his position doesn’t normally say for fear of pissing people off, but when you’re under a lot of pressure sometimes things come out.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: CyDawg23

Stormin

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
45,473
14,346
113
I get the hard feelings on Cael somewhat. We created a position for Cael so he could train for the Olympics. He became an Assistant to Bobby Douglas. We then pushed Douglas out and elevated Cael to Coach. Cael was paid $123,000 per year. For perspective Tom Brands was making $150,000 at that time. We elevated an inexperienced Cael because we did not want another Dan Gable situation of leaving because he could not be Head Coach. Cael had great success. Penn State offered $500,000 per year. Committed to huge facilities upgrades. Pennsylvania is a hotbed for wrestling. Cael took the job. And has had tremendous success. But Cael’s leaving led to the Kevin Jackson era which decimated Cyclone Wrestling. JP probably feels a bit used by Cael. Cael did not show loyalty or consideration for ISU in the way he left us. Cyclone Wrestling suffered as a result. Understandable hard feelings.
 

WhoISthis

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2010
5,620
3,569
113
My guess just from reading the comments without having heard the clip is that JP was being a bit candid after a stressful few days with all the CMC stuff. The wrestling comment and the comment about liberals in California are things somebody in his position doesn’t normally say for fear of pissing people off, but when you’re under a lot of pressure sometimes things come out.
Is he a new AD?
 

Lamoni

Active Member
Jan 11, 2017
125
128
43
39
Here's my take on Jamie's comments. Having worked in college athletics over 20 years ago as a peon.

It's one thing to be a fan and attend or watch on TV your school's athletic events. Some weekends that might be 2 or 3 contests over a couple days. But watching your favorite team is entirely entertainment, passion, suspense, joy, disappointment.

But as much as JP loves ISU and his job is to promote ISU sports- there can be a half dozen or more ISU teams competing over a weekend. In some cases he isn't just at the event, but might be there many, many hours before or after the 2-3 hour contest itself. It is his job, so he is working. It isn't just about enjoying a sporting event.

Conjecture on my part (based on experience), but by Sunday afternoon, Jamie might have worked 25+ hours over the prior 2 days. So going and watching 4.5 hours of ANY sporting event would have been draining. I realize that is the job he signed up for, but he is also human. I think he was trying to be funny/flippant by saying that is "4.5 hours he'll never get back".

The fact that HE STAYED the entire 4.5 hours shows me something. He could have easily made an appearance for a couple hours and ducked out.

I disagree with this sentiment. Of course, Pollard gets bored having to sit in the stands and watch teams he doesn't really want to be at BUT it is literally his job to run the athletics department and he should at least pretend to appreciate and support all of those programs. It is his job. Could you imagine the morale of a department at work if the CEO came in to spend a few hours with you and then went on the radio and publicly talked about how little he enjoyed the experience? Those employees would quit.

I said this earlier: I appreciate Pollard's candor but I disagree with some of the things he says and I think he comes across as arrogant at times.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: jkbuff98

crablegs

Well-Known Member
Mar 28, 2016
4,268
7,856
113
I just received an email from Pollard. I thought he was going to apologize for these comments, but turns out he has testicular cancer. Terrible. Hoping for the best.

I don’t like his comments here, but I think his actions speak louder. Hiring dresser and getting the money needed to build that staff tells me all I need to know.
 

buf87

Well-Known Member
Dec 15, 2010
12,071
12,422
113
Iowa
I also just read the email. My wife always reminds me, that you never know what the other person is dealing with, so be cautious casting stones.

Jamie has been a positive for Iowa State athletics and I wish him a healthy recovery!