The many myths of Mark Emmert

If you listened to the podcast, you heard Race and iDawg talk about the myths of Mark Emmert. One myth in particular is the myth that Emmert did not hire Todd Turner, that Turner was already on board by time Emmert started.

Here's the proof that particular Doog myth is bullshit, courtesty of your Seattle Times:

community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040619&slug=uwad19

If Turner is named today, it will be the first major decision of Emmert's UW career.

He hasn't officially started at Washington — he didn't complete his job as chancellor at LSU until this week and is expected to take a vacation before beginning at UW next month.

But Emmert let it be known early that he would make the final call on the AD job, part of what is expected to be a strong hand in all decisions involving Washington athletics.

Need more proof?

community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040620&slug=les20

The moment Mark Emmert walked through the door and said he would be president, the old Husky world shook. It hasn't seen a man like this at the top of the campus, someone who will overlook the sports empire and make decisions with a clap of the hand.

Emmert has inherited an oil slick, one that has taken months to contain. And now with the whole mess tugged ashore and thrown before the NCAA for inspection, the first thing he has done is hire the man who would make sure it could never happen again.

If that's not enough for you, try this:

community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040620&slug=uwad20

But Emmert, who won't officially start at UW until next month, said the contract is fitting of what he called "clearly one of the best athletic-director jobs in the country."

Turner agreed with that assessment, despite the troubles of the past year. He said the recent run-ins with the NCAA "were not a factor for me (in pursuing the job).

"There have been some things that have happened. But I'm convinced this is not an environment that is broken horribly. It just needs a little focus."

Emmert, who made the final call, said Turner's blend of experience — he has now been employed as an AD in four of the six BCS conferences — and reputation for following the rules is what UW needs.

"He is a seasoned pro with all of the values we wanted to see here at the University of Washington," Emmert said.

Emmert said Turner was his top choice for the job, disputing reports that Utah's Chris Hill had been offered the position first before rejecting it.