Texas men’s AD Steve Patterson said he and school President Greg Fenves, with whom he met Friday, have an “excellent working relationship” despite reports last week that their relationship was in peril, according to Brian Davis of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Patterson: "He’s an engaged CEO in the university. I feel really good about it." He added, “Some people may like what we’re doing and some people may not. But somebody’s got to make tough decisions day in and day out to try to stay focused on what’s most important to us.” Both Patterson and women’s AD Chris Plonsky said that the "lack of communication about various issues, like higher ticket prices and parking, may be to blame more than the changes themselves." Plonsky: “We blew it -- collectively” (STATESMAN.com, 7/17). Patterson said, "I think when people look at the facts and understand what we're doing, they generally agree with where we're headed." Davis wrote the "real test" for an AD is "fundraising for facility improvements." Patterson "mentioned how there's a new governor, new chancellor and new president who must all be on the same page for such major decisions." He said, "You need to take the time to make sure everybody has a complete understanding of what that means and complete alignment before we go forward on that. That's going to take some time. How much money? I can't tell you" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/18).
ON THE HOOK: The STATESMAN's Davis cited high-ranking UT sources as saying that Fenves "doesn’t want to fire Patterson," but rather Fenves "truly wants to work with the AD." One source said, “Greg really just wants his phone to stop ringing." Sources said that Patterson "has been told to develop better relationships with key donors and strive for better communication with the fans." Davis noted the athletic department is "conducting a national search for a chief communications officer." Patterson admits he is "not as smooth as his predecessor, DeLoss Dodds." Patterson: "Have I got as high an EQ as DeLoss? Probably not. But everybody brings their strengths and/or weaknesses to any position." Davis noted Patterson and school officials "have been holding quiet events around the state and elsewhere." Davis: "Call them clandestine fundraising missions. The dates and locations are not publicly known, and invitations appear to be mostly by word of mouth" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/19). The AP's Jim Vertuno wrote where Dodds "had a casual, folksy personality, Patterson has been more direct with aggressive attempts to raise money at a program that already ranks among the wealthiest in the country" (AP, 7/17). In Dallas, Chuck Carlton noted Patterson's media session Friday "could be viewed as a high-stakes public relations offensive by an administrator under fire." Patterson spent the first 25 minutes "explaining a six-page athletic department memo that covered lightning-rod topics" (DALLASNEWS.com, 7/17).
