Chancellor Woodward Attends Practice

'09 Football NC State Administration25

WOW! Can you tell that we love us some Chancellor Woodward? Seriously…can we just keep keep this ‘interim’ guy for a few years?

The following video was posted to NC State University’s YouTube Channel yesterday and it shows Chancellor Woodward attending NC State’s first football practice of the year. Additionally, I just noticed where “Yet Another” noticed the same video and blogged some great comments in this entry.

Jim Oblinger used to say the EXACT same thing about recognizing that sports is the ‘window’ to the University. But, simply providing lip service to the obvious is very different from truly grasping the importance and magnitude of Athletics. Something tells me that Woodward not only ‘gets it’, but that he is committed to it.

This is a BIG step away from the days of Larry Monteith wanted to leave a tied NC State-UNC football game early in the fourth quarter in order to beat traffic.

This link will take you to our growing tag for Chancellor Woodward. Allow me to echo one of the comments from one of our previous entries and videos that we posted.

I just watched this video which is different than what I saw before. I’d just like to say that Chancellor Woodward is extremely, extremely impressive. As far as I’m concerned he’s night and day compared to what we’ve experienced the last few years. I know we don’t want to settle without a search, but if a search is conducted and Woodward is deemed the best guy to lead our university, then I’ll be fine with that.

Lastly, look how ‘busy’ Lee Fowler is! What a hard worker obviously exhibited by need to loosen tie. I can only wonder how many media interviews in a day it takes before Fowler has to reach for his tie.

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'09 Football NC State Administration

25 Responses to Chancellor Woodward Attends Practice

  1. GAWolf 08/13/2009 at 9:56 AM #

    I saw this linked from another site and watched it last night. It’s truly awesome. Truthfully, it excites me! Woodward certainly gives off an air of sincerity that I haven’t felt since MAF exited stage left. I researched his tenure at UNCC and apparently he was instrumental in the push to get them a football program. He seemed to understand the need for that to help further their educational goals. Any dingbat who reads any sports journalism knows that applications to Universities skyrocket after that school wins a national championship. Along those lines, it goes to reason that being competitive in sports improves all aspects of the University… even if Championships are rare. There is definitely value to offering prospective students a high quality college experience and athletics ranks right up there. Even the Nerd Herd from New Jersey loves going to college basketball games in Cameron Indoor. It’s nice to see we have someone in control, even if temporarily, who can grasp and appreciate this pretty simple concept.

    On a completely random side note: Check out that first frame of the video. Looks like TOB makes the injured guys wear first-aid crosses to push them to work hard to return to the field. I admire that, too. I believe Chuck used pink jerseys, and that seemed a bit much to me. The same point is made, but it’s done so with a little more touch of class.

  2. GAWolf 08/13/2009 at 10:06 AM #

    I also want to point out one more thing… looking at that video and walking around out there a few times… our practice facilities are first class. I had the really cool opportunity to watch an NFL combine work out on the practice fields at UGA years ago. While I’m sure they have made improvements to the facility in Athens over the last few years, ours is right up there if not better than theirs. I realize it’s not right on campus, and I’m sure that *might* pose a little bit of a dilemma to the players who don’t have cars. However, between the Murphy Center and the practice fields we’ve got no reason to hang our heads when sized up against any program in the country. CF doesn’t hold 100k, but there’s certainly top-notch quality in the quantity of the facility.

  3. McCallum 08/13/2009 at 10:19 AM #

    Pardon me but you boys don’t know first class.

    Word on the street down Clemson way is that God Himself will soon be taking a tour of the Clemson upgrades in an effort to understand what paradise is all about.

    Living midway between Athens and Clemson can wear a soul down.

    Now if we could just get the interm chancellor to start chewing tobacco……………ahhhhhhhh.

    McCallum

  4. Daily Update 08/13/2009 at 10:20 AM #

    Lee Fowler can’t wear a tie or button the top button on his shirt when doing interviews that everyone is going to see?

    If I was the head football coach, then I wouldn’t want him parading around my football team looking like that. It sends the wrong message IMO. Fowler continues to be an embarrassment to NC State.

  5. GAWolf 08/13/2009 at 10:24 AM #

    Is Lake Hartwell still empty?

  6. 08alum 08/13/2009 at 10:30 AM #

    I just thought it was appropriate/ironic that Chancellor Woodward was much easier to understand in the clip, while Lee Fowler’s words were pretty much lost in the wind.

  7. RegularExpression 08/13/2009 at 11:27 AM #

    I thought this was a telling quote about Woodward from an NC State spokesman after Woodward reinstated the marching band trip to Ireland:

    “I think his thing is that the undergraduate experience is really important, and budget cuts or no budget cuts, that has to be preserved.”

    Woodward and a revitalized Hillsborough St. give me hope that NC State doesn’t have to continue its decline toward becoming a commuter school.

  8. eas 08/13/2009 at 12:09 PM #

    Night and day different from the last Chancellor. He has a good delivery as a speaker and gives you the feeling he really cares. Only time will tell but so far Woodward seems like a solid stand in (Maybe more if it continues). Woodward looks comfortable on a football field and seems to really get the importance of the athletic program.
    He really does seem to give off a good air. Watching that clip (minus Lee Fowler) seemed like something from 40 years ago (in a positive way). Reminds me of classic football films where you would see ALL the important people at the games/practice and not just the coach.

  9. packalum44 08/13/2009 at 1:20 PM #

    Woodard has my vote if and only if he shakes up the athletics department (i.e. firing Lee Fowler). Other than that, he’d be great.

  10. Cosmo96 08/13/2009 at 2:53 PM #

    When he was first brought in, I looked at his track record from UNCC and thought it would be a great idea to make him the permanent Chancellor. I would love to keep him, but I get the idea that the guy is at a point in his life where he wants to be retired. I think he stepped in during a time of turmoil in order to help out until someone permanent was found, but probably with the understanding that this is a temporary role for him. It would be great if he changes his mind and stays on as Chancellor, but I don’t know if he will.

  11. McCallum 08/13/2009 at 3:00 PM #

    GaWolf,

    To know if Hartwell is empty is to range between the subjective and the concrete. Sure, it is one ugly lake filled with indolent yahoos from as far south as the swine pit known as Atlanta to the chattering classes of Spartanburg but while the level of water changes the foulness of those therein does not.

    It is both full and empty. Two things are for certain:

    1) the ugly red banks shine like a newly minted nickle in the sun.

    2) whispers of Danny Ford coming back to coach can move from one end of the lake to the other faster than VD can move from Dad’s II at the exit to Hwy 77 in Ga to the Flying J outside of Burlington NC.

    Currently the water level is above mud.

    McCallum

  12. Greywolf 08/13/2009 at 3:12 PM #

    Lee Fowler is like the wife who is a “plain Jane,” doesn’t dress too well, whose cooking is ordinary and who doesn’t fit in with the country club women. Not a good choice but hasn’t committed adultary or been caught committing adultary. Divorce proceedings based on the cummalitive lack of satisfaction will not be initiated by the husband who doesn’t want to discredit himself by doing so.

    If we withhold approval of Jim Woodard unless he fires Lee Fowler, we deserve to be discredited, not Woodard.

  13. McCallum 08/13/2009 at 3:42 PM #

    Lee Fowler is to athletic directors as Lake Hartwell is to lakes.

    He is just a plain ol’ muddy red bank.

    McCallum

  14. El Scrotcho 08/13/2009 at 4:10 PM #

    If he’s not in the running for the permanent post, at least having someone with his mindset around during the search process should be an asset.

  15. charger17 08/13/2009 at 4:23 PM #

    Will we know anything about Nate’s doctor appointment today? Will it certainly be through an official statement or does anyone have any inside knowledge?

  16. rtpack24 08/13/2009 at 4:29 PM #

    I believe Woodward and Joab Thomas are good friends. When I was in school Thomas came to area behind the outfield where everyone used to watch the games and drink beer, he sat down with us had a couple of beers with us and just talked. At the time I thought this was so cool that the main man at the university would sit and have a few beers with the students. Apparently, Mr Woodward is also well connected to what the undergrad students want and deserve. I have only heard good things about Woodward. 3 weeks! Go Pack!

  17. Wufpacker 08/13/2009 at 5:01 PM #

    08alum said:
    “Chancellor Woodward was much easier to understand in the clip, while Lee Fowler’s words were pretty much lost in the wind.”

    I think this is probably true whether the wind is causing audible static or not. I pretty much think most of Lee’s thoughts are probably “lost in the wind” whether or not he chooses to express them verbally.

    But I agree that so far Chancellor Woodward seems to be a tremendous improvement. Even if he isn’t a candidate for the permanent gig (although I hope he will be, but understand his wishes) I hope he is heavily involved in the process of choosing whomever will be. And I hope his prognostication skills prove to be on target.

  18. buttPACKer 08/13/2009 at 6:18 PM #

    I agree, there is a very positive heir about Woodward. . . And, I think he LOVES, finally, being at a REAL school, in a REAL conference!

  19. lsutton5144 08/13/2009 at 7:05 PM #

    WRAL announced that TOB made a statement after the scrimmage that Nate would not play this season.

  20. MatSci94 08/13/2009 at 8:43 PM #

    “Lee Fowler’s words were pretty much lost in the wind.”

    What do you think was causing the wind?

  21. blpack 08/13/2009 at 9:21 PM #

    Interesting the clarity of Woodward and the background static of Fowler. Coincidence? State is fortunate to have Woodward during this transitional time. I pray for more changes during this time in certain offices and may Woodward be right in predicting great things for the Pack this fall.

  22. McCallum 08/14/2009 at 5:55 AM #

    REAL school?

    I can promise you that UNC-C isnt nearly the pain in the back side that State is on its students and alumni.

    No school treats their fans and alumni worse anywhere, period.

    McCallum

  23. TheCOWDOG 08/14/2009 at 8:26 AM #

    “No school treats their fans and alumni worse anywhere, period.”

    McCallum, as we’ve both stated the same thing before, I still have no words nor experiences that would refute that quote.

    Although it seems we have aquirred some classy individuals of late, fans and exs’ are still treated as 2nd class at best, on whole.

    There will be many that disagree with our position, perhaps for Pavlovian reasons. Or perhaps, having not witnessed 1st class programs, first hand.

    I know that may read as arrogant, not meant to be.

  24. Pack84 08/14/2009 at 3:26 PM #

    I, for one, am awfully proud to have Chancellor Woodward representing our university. Maybe the “interim” period will be for 10 years or so? One can hope.

  25. McCallum 08/14/2009 at 4:23 PM #

    TheCOWDOG,

    I’m not sure when you graduated but we’ve got very like views on the entire situation in Raleigh. It goes beyond sports and extends into every area of the university (public safety, drop dates for classes, red tape, etc).

    I’ve been out of Raleigh for over 15 years but went back for football games (basketball was a burden no man need to witness). Nothing essentially changed from my observations and according to old friends that currently teach at State, items within the institution have changed very little as well.

    I’ll be so bold as to say this; those that disagree with you and I simply have not seen other schools in action. I laugh out loud when I hear State students running down other places especially when they attempt to get serious about an issue.

    So my suggestion to those that wear the rose colored glasses for State: load up the car, take a road trip, hit Knoxville for game day, see how unc treats their undergraduates, and so forth.

    Doing it badly is defined between Hillsborough and Western Blvd.

    McCallum

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