Tammi's World

Fall From Grace

This article broke my heart. University of South Carolina admits to 10 NCAA violations - 5 of them major.

Until recently the head coach at South Carolina was Lou Holtz. He also used to be the head coach at Notre Dame. Being an Irish fan, and because, no matter what you say Holtz did have a winning football team, I liked him. I ignored the rumors that abounded both during and after his reign because I chose to believe that it was just petty jealousy.

Holtz has been the speaker at many business meetings I've attended. The man can talk. Let me tell you. It's not hard to see why he is such an effective coach - the team would follow him anywhere.

But damn. Just damn.

Seems that Holtz ran his football team a little on the shady side. He had complete control but little "knowledge". "Do what you gotta do, I just don't need to know the details". Many companies run like that and as Bernard Ebbers - former CEO of WorldCom - just found out (being sentenced to 25 years in jail), that excuse just don't cut it anymore. The old saying The Buck Stops Here is in full force.

And it's time. It's time that those folks at the top of the ladder realize that they are paid the big money for several reasons - but most importantly accountability. It's like good investing. Your best payoffs come with the biggest risks. If it's your program, you are responsible for EVERYTHING!!

To me it just make sense. If I am the "team leader". I delegate but I also monitor. If someone screws up, however they screw up, it's MY ASS. I better correct the situation or take the consequences. Plain and simple.

Well - Holtz screwed up. And if you believe The State, it's because he's a con man and a criminal. Maybe it's me and the whole loyalty thing, but I can't believe he's a criminal. But this should fall on his lap. The blackeye on USC is his fault, his responsibility.

Damn - this makes me sad. I wanted to think he was a great man. A great leader. But I can't. Not anymore.

Posted by Tammi at July 14, 2005 05:32 AM