Honorable department should be Goss' legacy

The joke still lingering around campus the past several months is that Athletic Director Tom Goss should quit because things cannot get better than his first year as the A.D. While only the future will tell if Michigan can have a better season than 1997-98 - in which the football and hockey teams won national championships - Goss has so far shown that he can give the athletic department the direction needed to achieve success.

Tom Goss was appointed as the University's ninth athletic director on Sept. 8, 1997, and though this was the start of his contract with the University, Goss' relationship with the maize and blue goes back several decades. He received his undergraduate degree from the University and starred at defensive tackle on the football team from 1966-68. Goss earned All-Big Ten honors in 1968.

MATT MADILL/Daily Michigan Athletic Director Tom Goss spent the last as the envy of many of his peers. During his first year as AD, Michigan won both the football and hockey national championships.

After leaving the University, Goss went on to success in the world of business. He held high level positions in such large corporations as Faygo, National Beverage Corporation and PIA Merchandising. The combination of business-world success and a University background made him very attractive to succeed Joe Roberson as athletic director.

The past year was, for the most part, a resounding success. From his first day, Goss made clear that he wants a University Athletic Department that is as well-renowned for its integrity as it is for its winning tradition. And his actions back up his words. As Goss has said, "I am grounded in accountabilities. Once you know what I expect, I hold you accountable. People will know what the expectations are."

One person who did not live up to Goss' expectations was former men's basketball coach Steve Fisher. When Goss arrived, a black cloud of alleged improprieties hung over the basketball program. Three NCAA violations came to light, and Goss made his first controversial decision in firing Fisher. Goss explained that his decision stemmed from a meeting he had with Fisher, and not directly from the violations. Goss' main concerns were with Fisher's philosophy regarding the Athletic Department and the direction of the basketball program. It was Goss' decision, in his words, to "change the program."

Goss deserves credit for his decision. When he saw that a tough decision needed to be made, he made it. Certain aspects of the men's basketball program bother Goss, especially the low graduation rate. In recent years, talented players such as Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose and Maurice Taylor have left the team for the NBA. Goss seeks to run a tight ship so that athletes succeed academically and socially as well as on the playing field. Obviously, he felt that Fisher could not meet such expectations and had to go. The past season showed that he made the correct move.

The men's basketball program seemed on the verge of disaster. Goss dismissed Fisher six days before the start of practice. No big-name replacement joined the team, and Goss handed the job to lesser-known assistant Brian Ellerbe.

But the team rebounded from a slow start and won the inaugural Big Ten tournament in March before falling short in the NCAA Tournament. Goss proved he could show good judgment in making an unpopular decision and take the backlash. His integrity is exactly what the University needed.

After the firing of Fisher, Goss has had a seemingly easy time of it. Two national championships followed, and no other controversies arose. The tragic death of wrestler Jeff Reese could have loomed over everything, but the department took action and banned all radical weight loss practices and the NCAA followed suit.

Goss also displayed a desire to improve the Athletic Department's relationship with the student body. Last year, the University inexcusably ran out of seats to accommodate the number of student requests, resulting in first-year students receiving a split-season ticket package.

As a former player, Goss understands the importance of the student body's support at athletic events. He has vowed not to allow such a situation occur again, and has taken steps to ensure that all students who want tickets receive them. Goss must continue to support the student body's interests throughout his term as athletic director.

Goss' philosophy is that winning is a byproduct of instilling student-athletes with strong academics and values. His vision should serve as a model to all of collegiate athletics in this time where winning and the dollars that come with it have too often replaced the underlying issues of integrity and decency. Goss must continue to strive for integrity at every level of the Athletic Department. As long as he continues to run an honorable program, Goss should leave both a strong personal legacy at the University and a legacy of winning.

09-08-98