Whitlock rips athletic department
Columnist says he won't donate until Collins leaves BSU
Vinnie Lopes
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During Sunday's Freshman Convocation guest speaker Jason Whitlock spoke about his memories as a Ball State University student and football player.
However, while on campus Monday, Whitlock, a columnist for FOX Sports, made comments about the current state of the athletic department that were less positive than his speech.
In an interview, Whitlock said the athletic department is disfunctional and Tom Collins is a horrible athletic director who needs to be fired.
"I do believe we have one of the weakest athletic directors in Division I," he said. "You just expect from a leadership position, it's like being a quarterback or head coach, you have the personality for it or you don't. We have a guy that doesn't have the personality for it."
In addition to writing for FOX Sports, Whitlock is a columnist for the Kansas City Star and was named in 2006 as one of America's top-10 sports columnists. He also has appeared
as a guest host on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" and "Jim Rome is Burning."
In his most recent column for FOX Sports, Whitlock wrote Collins was unqualified to be an athletic director and was one of the reasons why Thompson failed as a Ball State coach.
Collins was hired in January 2006. Currently under his administration, investigations are being conducted about five potential NCAA rule violations.
Also, a climate assessment is being conducted to determine if the athletic department's work environment is hostile. That investigation started after notes containing racial slurs were discovered in the offices of then-men's basketball coach Ronny Thompson and his three assistant coaches offices.
Whitlock said he hopes Collins is relieved of his athletic director duties before the 2007-08 school year ends. He said he will not donate any more money to the university until Collins is fired or resigns.
"I don't have any money to give Ball State as long as he is here," he said. "Not that I give a whole lot of money, but he kills my enthusiasm and I don't have any confidence in what we're doing. So, I guess my protest is whatever $2,000 or $3,000 I give, or whatever I've given the last 12 years, I'm withholding until we get a new AD."
However, while on campus Monday, Whitlock, a columnist for FOX Sports, made comments about the current state of the athletic department that were less positive than his speech.
In an interview, Whitlock said the athletic department is disfunctional and Tom Collins is a horrible athletic director who needs to be fired.
"I do believe we have one of the weakest athletic directors in Division I," he said. "You just expect from a leadership position, it's like being a quarterback or head coach, you have the personality for it or you don't. We have a guy that doesn't have the personality for it."
In addition to writing for FOX Sports, Whitlock is a columnist for the Kansas City Star and was named in 2006 as one of America's top-10 sports columnists. He also has appeared
as a guest host on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" and "Jim Rome is Burning."
In his most recent column for FOX Sports, Whitlock wrote Collins was unqualified to be an athletic director and was one of the reasons why Thompson failed as a Ball State coach.
Collins was hired in January 2006. Currently under his administration, investigations are being conducted about five potential NCAA rule violations.
Also, a climate assessment is being conducted to determine if the athletic department's work environment is hostile. That investigation started after notes containing racial slurs were discovered in the offices of then-men's basketball coach Ronny Thompson and his three assistant coaches offices.
Whitlock said he hopes Collins is relieved of his athletic director duties before the 2007-08 school year ends. He said he will not donate any more money to the university until Collins is fired or resigns.
"I don't have any money to give Ball State as long as he is here," he said. "Not that I give a whole lot of money, but he kills my enthusiasm and I don't have any confidence in what we're doing. So, I guess my protest is whatever $2,000 or $3,000 I give, or whatever I've given the last 12 years, I'm withholding until we get a new AD."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Rose
posted 8/21/07 @ 8:20 AM EST
I totally agree about Tom Collins. I am an athlete that just graduated and whenever I would pass Tom Collins in the hallway he would never say hi or ask how my sport was going. (Continued…)
Doug Schrader
posted 8/21/07 @ 10:19 AM EST
I have a lot of respect for many of the views that Jason Whitlock presents in his columns but his attack on Mr. Collins and others leaves me wondering why he feels so strongly against him. (Continued…)
Dodger
Dodger
posted 8/21/07 @ 11:33 AM EST
For a variety of reasons, some of which were touched upon in this article, I agree with Mr. Whitlock. It is time to throw AD Collins overboard.
BJ
posted 8/21/07 @ 1:02 PM EST
Another Alumnus withholding funds until this athletic department can get their act togehter.
Matt
posted 8/21/07 @ 8:51 PM EST
It seems unfair to withhold money from Ball State until Collins is fired. This is an academic institution and based on Mr. Whitlock's comments, athletics are important than academic. (Continued…)
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