This was the beginning of the end of Don James at UW

RoadTrip said:

Gerberding was like Vindman; a jealous, petulant, vindictive traitor. Now downvote me beta blow boy.

RaceBannon said:

I think Don James might be a better witness than a pathological liar like Adolph

After sharing a platform with Ronald Reagan and George Bush when they were president and vice president of the United States, I learned that football and politics don’t mix. I didn’t think I was getting that involved in politics when I did what I did. I thought I was only honoring the offices they held—not promoting the men who happened to hold those offices.

… President Reagan was coming to Seattle … They wanted to know if I would make some sort of a presentation. Possibly give him an autographed football and a Husky hat. … I wanted to do it. After all it was the president of the United States. … I talked to some people who were close to our program. … They didn’t think it would be an issue. So I did it.

… The phone about rang off the hook. People really came down on me over the incident. Really bad. Not just a few. A lot of people were upset. Democrats and people that were no doubt opposed to President Reagan and his program. I had many people who backed me, of course.

… A number of faculty called, critical of what I had done. I thought they were wrong and still do. I don’t know how a faculty member could ever criticize me after the things that I have witnessed on college campuses during the past 32 years.

… Among the mail was a letter from a guy who said that I was rich and that I didn’t know what it was like to be poor and suffer financially. I couldn’t wait to write him back and explain my childhood and how I lived in a garage for eight years with no indoor plumbing. And to let him know that I did know what poor was. I added that if I have any affluency now, it’s because of the great country we live in and the opportunity that we are afforded.

It was mind-boggling to me that people could be mad at me because I got to meet the president of the United States. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t get a chance to say anything. I just congratulated him and gave him the autographed ball. … Incidentally, I paid for the football and the hat so that no state monies were involved.

RaceBannon said:

A number of faculty called, critical of what I had done. I thought they were wrong and still do. I don’t know how a faculty member could ever criticize me after the things that I have witnessed on college campuses during the past 32 years.

Alexis said:

HHusky said:

RaceBannon said:

I think Don James might be a better witness than a pathological liar like Adolph

After sharing a platform with Ronald Reagan and George Bush when they were president and vice president of the United States, I learned that football and politics don’t mix. I didn’t think I was getting that involved in politics when I did what I did. I thought I was only honoring the offices they held—not promoting the men who happened to hold those offices.

… President Reagan was coming to Seattle … They wanted to know if I would make some sort of a presentation. Possibly give him an autographed football and a Husky hat. … I wanted to do it. After all it was the president of the United States. … I talked to some people who were close to our program. … They didn’t think it would be an issue. So I did it.

… The phone about rang off the hook. People really came down on me over the incident. Really bad. Not just a few. A lot of people were upset. Democrats and people that were no doubt opposed to President Reagan and his program. I had many people who backed me, of course.

… A number of faculty called, critical of what I had done. I thought they were wrong and still do. I don’t know how a faculty member could ever criticize me after the things that I have witnessed on college campuses during the past 32 years.

… Among the mail was a letter from a guy who said that I was rich and that I didn’t know what it was like to be poor and suffer financially. I couldn’t wait to write him back and explain my childhood and how I lived in a garage for eight years with no indoor plumbing. And to let him know that I did know what poor was. I added that if I have any affluency now, it’s because of the great country we live in and the opportunity that we are afforded.

It was mind-boggling to me that people could be mad at me because I got to meet the president of the United States. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t get a chance to say anything. I just congratulated him and gave him the autographed ball. … Incidentally, I paid for the football and the hat so that no state monies were involved.

You're failing, old man. No one who matters was calling for James's scalp over this. Ever. And certainly not by the time he left--9 years later. It was not "the beginning of the end".

Maybe you should order that suicide kit now?

Jeezus you're an idiot.

hardhat said:

HHusky said:

Alexis said:

HHusky said:

RaceBannon said:

I think Don James might be a better witness than a pathological liar like Adolph

After sharing a platform with Ronald Reagan and George Bush when they were president and vice president of the United States, I learned that football and politics don’t mix. I didn’t think I was getting that involved in politics when I did what I did. I thought I was only honoring the offices they held—not promoting the men who happened to hold those offices.

… President Reagan was coming to Seattle … They wanted to know if I would make some sort of a presentation. Possibly give him an autographed football and a Husky hat. … I wanted to do it. After all it was the president of the United States. … I talked to some people who were close to our program. … They didn’t think it would be an issue. So I did it.

… The phone about rang off the hook. People really came down on me over the incident. Really bad. Not just a few. A lot of people were upset. Democrats and people that were no doubt opposed to President Reagan and his program. I had many people who backed me, of course.

… A number of faculty called, critical of what I had done. I thought they were wrong and still do. I don’t know how a faculty member could ever criticize me after the things that I have witnessed on college campuses during the past 32 years.

… Among the mail was a letter from a guy who said that I was rich and that I didn’t know what it was like to be poor and suffer financially. I couldn’t wait to write him back and explain my childhood and how I lived in a garage for eight years with no indoor plumbing. And to let him know that I did know what poor was. I added that if I have any affluency now, it’s because of the great country we live in and the opportunity that we are afforded.

It was mind-boggling to me that people could be mad at me because I got to meet the president of the United States. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t get a chance to say anything. I just congratulated him and gave him the autographed ball. … Incidentally, I paid for the football and the hat so that no state monies were involved.

You're failing, old man. No one who matters was calling for James's scalp over this. Ever. And certainly not by the time he left--9 years later. It was not "the beginning of the end".

Maybe you should order that suicide kit now?

Jeezus you're an idiot.

My source was in the UW President's Office at the time and for decades.

Your source?

Was your source Dixy Lee Ray? My dad used to talk about her.

46XiJCAB said:

HHusky said:

RaceBannon said:

Dr. William Gerberding (no one ever called him “Bill”), President, University of Washington, held an animus toward major college sports, believing their popularity was a convolution of priorities, and was further rankled by the esteem with which Washington Head Coach Don James was held on campus (he was just a football coach, after all).

As it was explained to me, Gerberding’s politics were a little to the left of Barney Frank while James’ convictions, of course, were not. This further aggravated Gerberding as evidenced by Gerberding’s reaction when President George H. W. Bush, while in Seattle, invited James to join him (the two had met when the national champion Huskies visited Washington D.C.). Gerberding had not been similarly invited – apparently in Gerberding’s mind, a slight. Gerberding believed Bush invited James because James was a Republican, perhaps active in the party, and Gerberding read James the riot act for mixing politics with football.

James, who served in the army and has great affection for his country, reminded Gerberding that Bush was the President of the United States and, regardless of party, when the President of the United States invites you to dinner, you go. It’s a great honor. If the president was Lyndon Johnson, James would go. Jimmy Carter. But it didn’t explain why Gerberding wasn’t invited. Although, considering Gerberding’s political convictions, he probably would have declined the invitation had one been extended, Gerberding was not mollified.

This is unmitigated horseshit.

Hey dipshit, this thread is over. You lost. Again.