Viewpoint

Student comes to Goss' defense

The editorial printed in the Feb. 7th issue of the Daily, ("Goss should go") fails to address several issues about the apparent forced resignation of Tom Goss. The author of the editorial writes that Goss "will be leaving the athletic department in shambles." Since when is basketball the only sport in our athletic department? If memory serves me, Michigan athletic teams have been very successful as of late. The football team won the Orange Bowl, also bringing with it $12 million for the BCS berth it received, the hockey team is ranked among the top five teams in the country once again, our field hockey team finished second in the nation, both gymnastics teams are among the nation's elite and the woman's basketball team is having successful campaign as well. And once again, Michigan will be among the top schools in the running for the Sears All Athletics Trophy. It seems to me that our standards may be a bit too high.

Granted, the over two million dollar deficit in the athletic budget needs to be explained, and there are many questions surrounding the basketball program, but when looking at the big picture the athletic department has been extremely successful while maintaining a high level of integrity. Tom Goss inherited a basketball team in severe disarray when he became AD, and perhaps he made a poor choice in choosing the inexperienced Brian Ellerbe as the new head coach, but the issues of Ed Martin and his influence under Steve Fisher are things that Tom Goss cannot and should not be held accountable for. The University is forcing Goss out now, in hopes that they will be able to clean house and rebuild the athletic department.

There are two problems with this. First of all, I don't think that the department is in that bad of shape. The majority of the teams are enjoying success, while only a few are in the rebuilding stages. Secondly, what happens in five months when the FBI reveals all of the information concerning Ed Martin and his involvement with the basketball program? At that point do we fire Ellerbe for something he had no control over? Or perhaps we find a new AD because the basketball program is going to struggle for several years because of NCAA sanctions. In either case the University would be acting in haste, just as they are right now.

Tom Goss has done a very good job as athletic director. He has made mistakes, but given time, he could correct those mistakes. He has represented the University with class and dignity, as well as overseeing an athletic department that has seen much success in his 29 months here. It is unfair to blame him for the recent problems with the basketball program. It seems that the nobody knew anything was wrong, including Jamal Crawford, who unfortunately is suffering the most because of this situation.

Additionally it is unfair to blame Goss for issues concerning the basketball program that occurred before Goss got here. There may be a bigger story here as well. Although there are sufficient reasons to warrant the forced resignation of Tom Goss, perhaps the real reason he is leaving is because University President Lee Bollinger wants more control over the athletic department, just like at Michigan State. It would deeply sadden and offend me if the University stole a page from the Spartan playbook.

Tom Goss is the fall guy in a situation that does not need fixing. The University is making a mistake if they fire him. They need to look at the bigger picture, and not just at the a few issues. Otherwise the athletic department is going to suffer.

- This viewpoint was written by LSA sophomore Andrew Fine.