The Dave Hart Saga
Posted by NoleCC
By Bill Kristoph
It’s Deathmatch Time!!!
vs. 
By now I’m sure Seminole fans everywhere have heard about the ongoing saga between Athletic Director Dave Hart and University President T.K. Wetherell. Hart has a contract that runs through 2009. President Wetherell has already informed Hart that he has no intention of renewing a contract with Hart. Basically T.K. just told Hart to take a hike. And now, Dave Hart has just turned into the biggest lame duck athletic director in Division I sports. With over a year on his contract, he’s lost all power, thanks to FSU’s President. What exactly did T.K. prove by doing this? How can Dave Hart continue to do his job? And what really is driving this decision by T.K.?
*** The following is purely speculation ***
In my opinion, this isn’t a bad move by FSU. Hart appears to have enjoyed being in the right place at the right time. The late 90’s and early 00’s saw a huge influx of dollars to the University that was long overdue. I watched it happen in person when I was a student from 1997 to 2001. The campus in 1997, in 2001 and now is completely different and rivals all top-notch universities in the United States. Think of it as a perfect storm, where FSU merchandising + Donations from alumni that were happy to have a powerhouse football team + numerous grants and donations to improve the school + an exploding student population = success for a lot of people.
Fast forward to the mid and late 00’s when everything wasn’t going so well, and a mediocre A.D. rears it’s ugly head. Sure, there have been improvements in the soccer program and tennis program, but the Men’s Basketball team is still in disarray, the baseball team continues to sink and it took three years too long to start saving the football program for a post-Bowden era. Even the softball team appears to have peaked a couple of years ago.
It seems to me that the A.D. was all too willing to listen to entrenched coaches and boosters that say everything is okay, when in reality he needed to be stepping up and pushing for change. It’s a lot of status quo, because that’s what got Dave Hart to his current situation. Now Dave Hart is voicing how he wishes to retire a Seminole. T.K. doesn’t want him. Dave is voicing the fact that he intends to stay through his contract if it’s not possible for him to end his career as a Seminole. My question is why?
Dave, you need to step down. Immediately. For the good of FSU Athletics. Regardless of whether anyone out there thinks you’re doing a good job, your boss just told you you’re not. He also told you there is no hope of changing his mind, by sending a letter to your house establishing that he’s not renewing your contract in 2009. If you really do love the Noles, FSU and the fans, then you’ll allow the change to happen now.
Heck, Jeff Bowden got a nice severance package, maybe you can get in on some of that concession money too?
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I don’t think you’re giving Hart enough credit for the successes especially if you’re going to blame him for all of the ‘failures’.
I think Hart’s statement was pretty classy. I know I probably wouldn’t have responded in the same manner.
Kevin,
I really only blamed him for his lack of leadership within the basketball program and the lack of handling the football team. If anything I accused him of being lucky and in a perfect storm of success, regardless of whether he did anything or not.
And yes, his statement is classy, but it’s self-promoting. Dave is good at promoting Dave. Give me some specific examples of where you think I’m wrong, I’d love to discuss it.
I think there is more to leadership than just firing people. Hart is one of the reasons that FSU saw a huge influx of dollars and was able to re-do nearly every sport facility on campus.
Football had it’s worst season since Hart was here this past year, baseball went into the post-season as a National Top 8 seed, and basketball just missed the Dance with it’s best record since ‘92-’93 and yet FSU had what may have been it’s best showing ever in the Directors Cup (15). Unless we add more sports (other than bowling), we will never be able to compete with Stanford and UNC who have several more sports than we do.
Not to butt in, but…
As an outsider looking in, I have to say that in regards to the football program; Hart’s hands are/were largely bound by Wetherell…
There is no secret in Wetherell’s relationship and admiration for Bowden and the entire Jeff mess, IMHO, was a direct result of the relationship of TK and Bobby…
I have no doubt that Hart knew it was a bad idea and without a doubt probed at rearranging the structure of Jeff’s duties as the OC over the years as the offense sputtered, stalled and was ineffective in general…
I also believe, regardless of what he claims, Bobby knew of Jeff’s resignation and was a key player in the severance package afforded to Jeff…
And possibly is a player in the non-renewal of Hart’s contract…
Of course, the above is all really my speculation and opinion…
Please enlighten me if you guys feel I’m off-base in that thinking…
I’m glad to see something is finally happening with Hart. While I do think TK is partially responsible for the mess with Jeff, he wasn’t President when Jeff was promoted and Hart needed to stop that promotion. The basketball and baseball frustrations just add fuel to the fire.