OT: Harbaugh strikes again
http://www.theworldofisaac.com/2009/08/jim-harbaugh-likes-his-bathrooms…
Way to go, Jim, way to go. Everybody needs a $60,000 bathroom, right? Especially when your athletic department is lacking funds...
For those who can't access the link:
"This summer, Stanford mega-donor John Arrillaga built a private luxury bathroom and shower for Harbaugh that sources said cost between $50,000 and $70,000.
The Stanford athletic department is facing a multi-million revenue shortfall. Fundraising has cratered. Team budgets are being sliced. More than 20 jobs have been eliminated through layoffs and buyouts, and at least one sport (fencing) is in danger of being cut."
(commentary from worldofisaac) "So let me get this straight....So Jim Harbaugh could feel comfortable taking a huge dump after his team gets blitzed by USC 50-0, 20 people had to lose their job?
Something stinks in Palo Alto...And I don't mean the bathroom either."
August 27th, 2009 at 2:03 PM ^
because i doubt the donor went up to the school and said I LOVE ME SOME NICE BATHROOMS, YOU PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ONE. usually with situations like this, the school lists different facility needs it has and the donors pick what they would like their money to go to. it's telling that the coach felt a renovated bathroom should go on such a list. he may not have gone around saying I NEED A BATHROOM IN WHICH MY SHIT DOES NOT STINK BC OF BACKVENTILATION AND SANITATION EXTRAVAGANCE GIMMEMONEY! but having it on such a list of donor needs speaks.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
Harbaugh, it's not like Stanford is hurting for money.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:16 PM ^
The article said the athletic dept was facing multi million dollar short fall.They layed off 20 people
August 27th, 2009 at 2:36 PM ^
Harbaugh said all 20 people could use the bathroom whenever they wanted. Jim still has a heart of gold.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:16 PM ^
Who cares how much was spent on his bathroom? Like someone mentioned before me, the donor decides what his money goes to. Also, in most cases the donor works directly with the contractors to ensure the final project is of their approval. These universities spend more money than that on other crazy things. You don't have any idea what his bathroom looked like before...maybe it called for a gut rehab job. Who cares about fencing, I sure that the football team's revenues is what funds that non-revenue sport. Say what you say, but I highly doubt that Stanford is hurting for money...especially the alumnus donors!
August 27th, 2009 at 2:26 PM ^
if the cost of renovating RR's bathroom was equal to 1-2 people's salary in the Michigan athletic department, i'd tell coach to be one with his team and go shit in the stall. and shower at home if he's not feeling fresh. i would be sorely disappointed with my school's priorities if, in a budget crunch, they had such a renovation on their list instead of "funding necessary positions."
would i take it over no financial commitment? sure. but there's something the school is paying for that has to have been acceptable to a donor that would have freed up the cash to keep someone employed.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
It's not possible that Harbaugh was unaware of the project; it's not like $60K worth of work went on under his nose without him knowing.
It's also not possible that Harbaugh didn't already have a bathroom to crap in, one with a flush toilet and hot water and everything. Even a wastebasket. And a mirror.
It's also not likely that Harbaugh didn't discuss the features of the projected bathroom. He's a football coach, and they're all control freaks out of necessity. Nothing went into that bathroom that he wasn't aware of.
If it's true that the Stanford athletic dept is currently hurting, spending a donor's money on something that only the HC can use sends a terrible message to the outside world and to the athletic department. The right thing for Jimmy to have done would have been to request that the donor use his money to benefit some other aspect of the athletic department, say to keep fencing alive. I seriously doubt whether a donor is going to refuse such a request from the head football coach; what's he going to say? "Goddamnit, I just have to build you a new crapper, Jimmy, I just have to! *sob*"
If RR had done what Harbaugh did here, Carty, Rosenberg, and Sharp would already have visited Ann Arbor Torch & Pitchfork, and plenty of people would have been in line with them.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
Commence argument about executive bonuses during bankruptcy, AIG bonuses after bail-out, corporate jets, expense accounts, etc. etc. etc.
This is nothing new. There aren't that many ADs out there that make money (even before the economy went to shit) yet there is no shortage of arm's race - esque fringe benefit spendathons for high revenue sports coaches and athletes. Take a look at Newsterbaan...highest ceiling in college football? Gimme a break.
There were tons of frivolous purchases inside Schembechler Hall when I was around....I can only imagine what it's like now that the renovation is complete.
Glass houses and all that.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
how many UM AD employees were let go this year?
how many sports was UM forced to cut funding for or eliminate?
please.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
I was simply using my experience with the Michigan AD as an example of how "top performers" in any organization get rewarded in good times and bad. UofM is no different.
I have no idea if there were any AD employees let go (I would assume not), however many university departments have been hit with budget cuts and tuition increases every year while shrines are built to celebrate the football team.
Spare the bit about the AD being separate. Also, I don't disagree with any of the purchases/projects for high revenue athletics.
I'm just saying this isn't new and Harbaugh (the jack-ass that he is) shouldn't take a huge hit for this. Not to mention this project could've been earmarked years before the current economic crisis....just like our beloved stadium renovation.
One last thing...Stanford's endowment is pushing $20B. They could probably spare the $100k a year needed to keep fencing around if they reeeeeally wanted to.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:53 PM ^
"Spare the bit about the AD being separate. Also, I don't disagree with any of the purchases/projects for high revenue athletics."
Er, why? It's true, our AD and University are separate. That's a pretty big thing.
"One last thing...Stanford's endowment is pushing $20B. They could probably spare the $100k a year needed to keep fencing around if they reeeeeally wanted to."
Ya know, some endowments are actually restricted. It's not just free money sitting there.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
What's the idealistic world like that you live in?
August 27th, 2009 at 7:03 PM ^
I'm not sure. It's called Pennsylvania. How's dick world?
August 27th, 2009 at 7:16 PM ^
I don't think he was talking to you.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:24 PM ^
Dick world? If you need to be a prick, at least be creative about it. And, no, I wasn't talking to you. Notice whose comment I replied to.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:26 PM ^
Ah yes, my bad. Can't see. Then no, you were not being a dick to me.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
You'd also think I'd be able to edit that original comment to reflect that. Apparently not.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
Once someone replies to your comment it is set in stone.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:37 PM ^
I don't think this is much of a story. I doubt many other blogs are getting outraged over this one.
When Bo was on the verge of bolting to Texas A&M, Monohan(sp) gave him a couple of Domino's
August 27th, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^
Doesn't bother me one bit. If some donor wants to build me a 60K crapper I'd be all in. All in for the 60K crapper.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
$3,000,000 (multi-millions)
$__ 60,000 (bathroom cost)
Perspective people.
$___ 1,000
$______ 20
The only problem here, in my mind, is that no one cared about potential PR implications, but the two events (multi-million shortfall | donor-funded expensive ass bathroom) are unrelated.