Daryl Gross needed to go, many of us have been saying this for a long time. While Gross ushered in a much-needed era of modernization and branding after the Jake Crouthamel years, his overall effectiveness was always in question. I still believe the removal of Coach P was the correct decision. His replacement, however, was the worst decision in Syracuse sports history (no hyperbole). While Gross definitely helped find new revenue sources (how much Tops signage could he squeeze into the Dome?), he also came off as a modern day huckster. And in the wake of the latest NCAA sanctions, Gross had to go.
So Syracuse.com’s piece yesterday about just how roiling the waters are in the athletic department right now is either cause for celebration or concern. Let’s start with associate athletics director for marketing Marc Donabella, who’s on leave:¬†According to a report by the Onondaga County sheriff’s department, Donabella was arrested March 1 after driving off a bridge on I-81 North and down an embankment near Brewerton Road. He was transported to SUNY-Upstate hospital and declined to take a blood-alcohol test. He was charged with driving while intoxicated.
Oh, well that’s fantastic. Seems like a good decision-maker.
Not surprisngly, Gross’ wife, Lael, is leaving. She was¬†an assistant athletics director for trademarks and licensing. She appeared well-qualified for the job, since she had run corporate sponsorships at USC. But there were always skeptics¬†grumbling¬†of nepotism with her hiring, fair or unfair.
Meantime, Terry Donovan has been removed as chief financial officer of the athletic department. He was there since ’11.¬†Joe Giansante¬†was placed on administrative leave as soon as Gross stepped down. On top of that, SU’s two deputy athletic directors, Herm Frazier and Renee Baumgartner, and the school’s compliance director, Erlease Wagner, all were present at the now infamous “Fab Melo Meetings.” Are they going to survive the new AD?
The Gross era will largely be remembered poorly by SU fans. He always dripped of saleman, instead of earnestly connecting with the SU fans. And once you hire Groobers, many things cannot be unseen. You’re rep is mud forever. And if Scott Shafer has a short shelf-life at SU, Gross will be blamed for that too. But there appears to be massive turnover in the athletic department now that Gross is gone. And that either means there’s finally some sunlight shining in, where too many unqualified employees ran the place. Or it’s more turmoil that will have to be solved by the new AD.
Posted: D.A.
One response to “Are These The Final Dark Days of the Daryl Gross Era in Syracuse?”
Great article DA,great article. I believe that the school officals knew what what happening with the NCAA investigation and knew what the penalities were going to be before they were released. Rumors was floating around that the new chancellor was in the process of weeding out all of the employees hired by Dr Gross and from what your reporting they must have been true.
After making the statement “On top of that, SU‚Äôs two deputy athletic directors, Herm Frazier and Renee Baumgartner, and the school‚Äôs compliance director, Erlease Wagner, all were present at the now infamous ‚ÄúFab Melo Meetings.‚Äù Are they going to survive the new AD?” I didn’t see Jim Boeheims name mentioned at all attending those meetings. So how in sam hell did the NCAA come to the conclusion that he ran an out-of-control program,was given a 9 game league suspension to start the 2015/2016 season and have 200 victories removed from his resume?
According to Gross “I still believe the removal of Coach P was the correct decision”. We not only lost a guy who gave 150% and bled orange 24/7 and lost a great recruiting class led by Ray Rice in the process and he still thinks he made the correct decision. That should say it all about the character of the man Nancy Cantor hired as our AD.
I’m glad that this is finally coming to an end,getting rid of Dr.Gross and all of his buddies was the right thing to do. Getting rid of Scott Shafer would only compound the issues and make the misery index rise high enough to break the thermometer.