The Univ. of Minnesota yesterday said that it "will hire outside experts to examine the finances and employment practices of the athletic department in the wake" of former AD Norwood Teague’s abrupt resignation tied to sexual-harassment incidents, according to a front-page piece by Maura Lerner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. School Board of Regents Chair Dean Johnson said that the investigation "will take two paths." He said that one "will use an employment lawyer to look at 'the culture and hiring practices' in the department." He added that the other "will focus on finances, such as expense reports, travel and other spending" at the department that Teague headed since '12. Johnson: "We have no reason to believe there’s misappropriation of funds or other improprieties. But when you have missteps and behavior such as Mr. Teague’s, it’s always good to make sure you’ve checked all possibilities" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/12). Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Marcus Fuller reports CNBC panelist and former UM football player Pete Najarian has "talked to boosters" about Teague's resignation and "despite his lack of athletic administrative experience ... become a favorite among boosters to replace Teague." Najarian said, "It's absolutely flattering beyond words to be in the conversation. Whether or not that's legitimate, we'll see. It'll be interesting once the university puts together a team (to decide) what they're looking for. I would be an out-of-the-box kind of guy" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/12).
KALER'S CHIPS ON THE TABLE: The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS' Fuller in a front-page piece reports when it "comes to finding the next AD, the question among some prominent" UM supporters is whether school President Eric Kaler "can get it right this time." Minneapolis-based ad agency Fallon Worldwide Chair Pat Fallon: "This is a mess. The committee, whoever he assigned and however it was done, they failed miserably. At the end of the day, he has to take responsibility for the way he mishandled the whole mess." Kaler in '12 "used a 25-member search committee to recommend a finalist from among the 40 candidates culled from a two-month search conducted with the help of a search firm." The "unanimous recommendation was Teague." Kaler last week said that the school "would conduct a national search for Teague's replacement with no timetable given." There "was no mention of what the process would be this time around." Longtime booster Dick Ames said that if the school "were to hire a search firm again ... he probably 'wouldn't give a dime' to more fundraising efforts" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/12).
