UNC getting a new AD with SEC ties
"A succession plan is in place at North Carolina, as North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham will pass off his current role to Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing President Steve Newmark when his tenure is over. Newmark represented the Southeastern Conference in multi-media deals, partner agreements and marketing projects during the league's emergence as a leader in the industry 20 years ago."
Cunningham will be AD until next year and stay at UNC. Newmark has a UVA law degree but doubt it means anything for conference realignment.
20 Replies
H
hokieZ71
1y
I remember hearing about it on the news and that his Alabama ties were a main reason he was being hired. For years I never could wrap my head around why he got hired simply because he had some red and white neck ties.
(In response to this post by Athens)
1y
realignment, or other non-academic issues?
(In response to this post by Pylons)
1y
Most schools probably have a faculty athletics committee (I was on one once), but something like that wouldn't have any sway on anything like realignment, which is a nothingburger for faculty.
(In response to this post by 33laszlo99)
1y
the BIG at the time. It was a bigger deal to the faculty than to the football fans.
(In response to this post by Pylons)
1y
Really the only reason for a faculty member to care about conference membership is because they're a sports fan.
Have anything to demonstrate their support?
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
dean of the engineering department. He said that he had never seen the faculty excited about sports, but the idea of being included with the Big 10 schools had them buzzing. They saw it as a step up in academics, but we know, they would eventually lose their AAU status.
(In response to this post by Pylons)
1y
but moving athletics conferences isn't a step in any direction academically.
Even AAU status is pretty much a nothingburger for faculty. Nebraska faculty didn't really lose or gain anything associated with either change.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
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Stech
1y
I would expect way more from the BOV, Sands etc. especially with moving on from Witt as the AD. We are all of sudden going to wake up when it is probably too late, and just say we didn't see it coming. Good grief!!!
** Edited by Stech at 7/6/2025, 1:19:32 PM
(In response to this post by Athens)
D
dallasvt
1y
it had reached the pinnacle. It feels like Tech is always lagging behind. Poppycocking the SEC was a seminal moment. That was a chance to jump ahead, and this is not second guessing. Many people wanted Tech to pursue an SEC opportunity at that time, but unfortunately, those people were not the decision makers. Yes, I believe the SEC wanted Tech instead of Missouri.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Stech
1y
I have some understanding of the first one since we were hoping the ACC would be able to compete. However, it was a no brainer after Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC. Now they reportedly have moved on to UVA to capture the viewers in Virginia, and we are still longing for 20 years ago in our snail pace changes to College Athletics.
(In response to this post by dallasvt)
1y
UVA and viewers? LOL I think the Hokies if true stats are shown will win that dept.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
new states in the south. I think more money is coming to basketball with the likely tournament expansion.
(In response to this post by MrFantastic!)
E
EDGEMAN
1y
...over 3/4 of their conference made the NCAAT...lol
(In response to this post by Stech)
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VPI 1924
1y
Can’t you see it???
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
Then panic and then realize its over
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
of his time kissing the hinneys of the same 5% OF GIVERS!! They obviously need stroking but not at the expense of locating and delivering new sources of income from never-giving alumni and new corporate/non corporate sources as well.
Smart move by UNC.
(In response to this post by Athens)
1y
Bubba cumingham was old school unc and the approach - unc going all im
(In response to this post by RJHokie)