Please welcome Chancellor Woodson!

The UNC Board of Governors made it public today that the new Chancellor at NC State will be former Purdue Provost and administrator Dr. William “Randy” Woodson. Please look here for a small statement from Chancellor Woodson from this morning’s BOG meeting.

“I think the most important thing going forward is to get to know the institution; take the time to learn the culture, to learn the leadership team, get to know the leaders in the state so that they have confidence that the university is in good hands,” said Woodson. “It’s really about the confidence in the leadership.”

Scattered below are a few quotes from the News and Observer’s story on the same.

“I’m proud to be part of the Wolfpack Nation,” Woodson proclaimed after a standing ovation from a crowd that included NCSU leaders and the chancellors of the other universities in the system.

There’s obvious reason for us as alumni to be skeptical of any administrative hire at our University. We’ve certainly had more than our fair share of disappointment over the last few months. This hire, however, is hopefully going to be of the sort that in years to come we will look back on and wonder how fortunate we were to land someone of Chancellor Woodson’s caliber. The University, riddled by scandal, can go nowhere but up in many ways. To that extent Chancellor Woodson’s job will be easy. It’s like being hired to follow the Les Robinson years as NC State basketball coach and then failing to be “successful” given the context. It’s hardly possible. Woodson will be successful here and ultimately held in high esteem as long as he can avoid lunch date with a Federal Grand Jury.

What convinced Bowles, he said, was Woodson’s combination of attributes, including his people skills, vision, experience and passion.

Woodson, he said, had earned a reputation for great integrity and sound judgement as he rose through the ranks to become Purdue’s provost.

Nonetheless, we wanted an outsider and that’s what we have in this hire. Upon information and belief, Woodson is a man of great integrity who will objectively assess the “leadership” and “culture” and have the gumption to make any necessary decisions he sees fit. The bottom line: Woodson’s professional reputation is on the line without a network of support in the “culture.” I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before some fat gets trimmed.

Woodson said he wanted to become more familiar with NCSU before talking much about any changes he might make, but said one thing he knew he wanted was for the university to do a better job of telling it’s story.

Rumor has it that the guy is full of personality. That’s a huge upgrade from where we were. His job, in part, is to sell our University to the country, to potential students, to industry both in the state and abroad. That cannot be done effectively without having an administration that can be of and with the people. That obviously starts at the top. I, for one, welcome a guy who is willing and able to talk to those who need to hear what our University offers and represents.

As we’ve pointed out here countless times at SFN, perhaps the most obvious face of a university is its athletics programs. If you ask ten people on the street what their thoughts are about any university, nine of those folks will immediately turn to athletics in their description. That’s because in our culture college athletics is a media darling and cash cow. It’s been mentioned to me that Chancellor Woodson not only understands this (which is so obviously apparent to all of us but previously ignored by past NC State administrators) but that he embraces it.

He described himself as a passionate supporter of college athletics and said he understood its importance and tradition at NCSU

A friend of mine (and staunch Tar Heel mind you) has a close family connection to Purdue athletics. Here is some insight from his email to me regarding Chancellor Woodson:

Talked to my (ommitted) about this the other day and he said the guy is a great guy, personal friend, very conservative, and the all the coaches wanted him to be the (head guy) at Purdue because he is a very big athletic supporter. (Omitted) is actually close with him and said he will be the best Chancellor NCSU has ever had. He will promote athletics, revenue programs and said you might even have a chance now taking it to the next level. Good news for the Pack.

The follow up communication makes me even more giddy. Read, comprehend and savor what this means for NC State athletics.

This guy is the number two guy at Purdue behind their lady President and the head coaches have been trying to get him promoted to President for years. Purdue’s President is the equal to State’s Chancellor. The guy will shake it up no doubt. He was the old Agriculture head and from a “fit” perspective he will slide right in Raleigh. I actually just called (source) again and talked some more about it and the word is that NSCU better take care of him because when they (have an opening) that Purdue will try to bring an Indiana boy back home to run their school. All word of mouth of course. You may or may not know but Big 10 athletics is the real deal. Makes the ACC look like a joke from top to bottom with revenue and non revenue sports. Forget Carolina and Duke basketball. You have to look at the big picture. He will do very well and am sure he will make some changes. I do know one bullet point that (source) mentioned is that every coach likes this guy which is very different in an academic setting. Usually a fit for power with the administration. Atheltic success is a mentality that is built throughout the school. For instance look at Purdue’s program from top to bottom. Every other sport is ranked. They have no world beaters (well basketball is #4 right now) but they know how to run it like a business. Non of the sports are great (like a Carolina or Duke basketball program) but they all compete each year never sucking (hotdogs) like we see with every couple years with UNC and NCSU football. More importantly their administration embraces the athletic program and gets what truly makes the school money. The ACC schools are a joke putting all of there eggs into one sport for each respective school. In that regard this big time Big 10 guy can only help the Pack. He might just be the guy to turn the corner in a couple years. Whoever picked him did their homework….. as Purdue is bummed in the loss. Losing a guy like this can effect them adversely as well.

It’s only natural for our fan base to be wary. We’ve been burned so many times before. However, we are also some of the most loyal fans a worthy administrator could ask for. It seems that Chancellor Woodson is more than deserving of our support. Further, given the tone of the email set out above he is likely someone who will not only help our athletics department creep from the depths of the ACC cellar, but will potentially help us make significant strides to becoming an all around top-notch athletic program.

Statefansnation.com welcomes Chancellor Woodson and is excited about the future of NC State and NC State athletics while under his care. “Here, Here” to Interim Chancellor Woodward (thanks so much for all you’ve done for NC State), Erskine Bowles (that took some effort for me to say but it’s necessary in this isolated instance) and all of those who had a hand in bringing Chancellor Woodson to Raleigh!!!

I know a number of SFN authors, SFN readers, prominent alumni, not-so-prominent alumni, coaches, and students who will gladly put on the rubber boots, grab a shovel, and help Woodson shovel some shit when the time is right. Let the clean-up and rebuilding begin!

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33 Responses to Please welcome Chancellor Woodson!

  1. Alpha Wolf 01/08/2010 at 2:35 PM #

    Dear Dr. Woodson,

    Please allow me to set the agenda for the first fifteen minutes of your first day on the job:

    9:00am coffee
    9:05am Fire Lee Fowler

    Please feel free to schedule yourself afterward.

    Thanks,
    Pack Nation

  2. old13 01/08/2010 at 2:39 PM #

    I saw Dr. Woodson’s quote about college athletics in the N&O article and got rather excited! I just hope like hell he can keep the “good-ol’-boys” and eggheads from getting in his way like they did with MAF!

    I got a chuckle out of this when I read it on the WRAL site:

    “Woodson admitted that his tenure at N.C. State has gotten off to a somewhat embarrassing start. He, his wife and his three adult children were staying in Chapel Hill Thursday night in advance of Friday’s Board of Governors meeting, and his son picked the Old Well on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus – not somewhere on N.C. State’s campus in Raleigh – to propose marriage to his longtime girlfriend.”

    If you view this video, you might get a little more excited – I think that he gets it! http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/story/274313.html

  3. GAWolf 01/08/2010 at 2:41 PM #

    Que “Randy” jokes coupled with some Moo U slurs from the Carolina faithful. All signs here point to a perfect fit for NC State… at least as far as us sports fans are concerned.

    In all fairness, my buddy who gave me this AWESOME insight is a Carolina grad. He has every reason to say this is a bad hire and to his credit did not. His perspective on this is truly remarkable and it seems very positive for us.

    It’s just nice to have something positive about which to be excited.

  4. steelcity36 01/08/2010 at 2:41 PM #

    I remember being excited before about an outsider with scientific credentials who loved sports becoming our Chancellor. Her name was Mary Anne Fox and the faculty ran her out of town because she held people accountable for their jobs. I hope Chancellor Woodson succeeds, but this University is stuck with a lot of old professors who aren’t receptive to any type of change.

  5. ncsufan13 01/08/2010 at 2:44 PM #

    So are we supposed to get some more substantial comments from him anytime soon? I heard there is a reception this afternoon, is he supposed to speak there?

  6. GAWolf 01/08/2010 at 2:54 PM #

    Steelcity: Fair point. What I would say that would be the difference between MAF and Woodson is their ability to work with the administration and bring strong personalities together. I have no personal knowledge of MAF’s demeanor but she seemed somewhat Texan in her “you’re with me or your against me” approach. From all accounts coming out of Purdue, Woodson is the sort of guy who produces a vision for the direction and pulls those around him with him through discourse and when necessary compromise. The folks at Purdue LOVED him.

    Of course you’re right in that there seems to be a pretty prominent “beast” within our administration that he will have to kill with his kindness. I think he’ll be very successful here in light of all of that.

  7. Rick 01/08/2010 at 3:14 PM #

    Alpha,
    You were very generous with the five minutes.

  8. hoop 01/08/2010 at 3:25 PM #

    A WRAL video segment on the new chancellor noted that Woodson said his son proposed to his girlfriend last night at the old well at UNC and how that “was not a source of pride.” That got a big laugh from the two anchors at the desk.

    Things can only get better from here.

  9. Class of 2009 01/08/2010 at 3:27 PM #

    ^^^I was thinking the same thing, Rick. I think it’s possible to elicit change in a subtle and political way, even in North Carolina, but it’s going to take someone who isn’t native, someone with youthful energy, and a guy whose not too quick to pull the trigger when he should wait for the right time to get something done…

    …I guess Woodson sounds like our man!

  10. Pack78 01/08/2010 at 3:38 PM #

    I will be at the UVA BB game tomorrow; great first move for the new Chancellor would be to make an appearance to signal his support for a top-notch athletic program. GAWOLF-THANKS for the update on the inside info-I am prepared to be impressed!

  11. Trout 01/08/2010 at 3:42 PM #
  12. Trout 01/08/2010 at 4:12 PM #
  13. Alpha Wolf 01/08/2010 at 4:13 PM #

    ^^ Trout’s opinion is well informed and this worth taking to heart.

  14. Paramarine 01/08/2010 at 4:18 PM #

    Forgive my ignorance with the question I’m about to ask, but I remember some discussion here about three candidates, and one of them was head and shoulders above the other two. Can anyone confirm that Chancellor Woodson was that candidate?

  15. thekind 01/08/2010 at 4:40 PM #

    I bet that Fowl-up has already sent Woodson some flowers. Lee “the politician” Fowl-up will be kissing some major butt to protect himself.

    Don’t buy into it Dr. Woodson. Fowler has had ten years of incompetence at NCSU. Get rid of him.

  16. Cardiff Giant 01/08/2010 at 4:56 PM #

    If he fires Fowler and Anabelle, we’ll know.

  17. choppack1 01/08/2010 at 4:57 PM #

    The more info I’ve read on him, the more hopeful I become. 85 Packgrad said he did shake some things up at Purdue in a good way…and I’ve heard he really believes in results.

    As I said in another thread, if he’s customer-focused and results-oriented, I think he can do great things here.

  18. Class of 2009 01/08/2010 at 5:00 PM #

    He’ll force Fowler out in the smartest political way possible: start holding him responsible for good performance, hawk-eye him and send him little “reminders” that he’s watching, and basically force Fowler out via his inability to live up to high standards. Makes the chancellor look like he’s not just cutting heads off and shows Lee for what he is… incapable.

    I’m calling it…. early to late 2011 is when I’m thinking Lee will throw in the towel.

    UPDATE FROM BELOW: I didn’t realize his contract was up in 2012. Well, damn. I don’t know if he’d fire him before the spring game UNLESS this is a decision that was already made before Woodson got there and they are able to convince him he has the support of the administration and athletic staff. This would imply that the administration/staff might have already sent feelers out to other AD candidates. If no candidates are being considered right now, I’m just going to buckle up and be prepared for Fowler to serve out his contract without a renewal.

  19. tobaccordshow 01/08/2010 at 5:09 PM #

    ^ Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Lee’s contract up in 2012 anyway? Woodson wouldn’t have to fire him in late 2011.

    I’m betting before the Spring Game.

  20. WV Wolf 01/08/2010 at 6:28 PM #

    Quote about athletics from the news conference video from the N&O just before the 5 minute mark:
    “I’m excited to be part of an institution that has a strong tradition there, and I’ve heard, a strong interest in moving that tradition forward, I’ll leave it at that.”

    Sounds to me like Chancellor Woodson is already aware of the fanbases’s opinion of our athletic director.

  21. PackHowler 01/08/2010 at 7:02 PM #

    Watching the video really emphasized his interest in improving our athletics debacle. The author of the written story seemed to downplay that part of the speech, mentioning it in a single line.

    I’m excited about our future!

  22. Rochester 01/08/2010 at 7:33 PM #

    This is very encouraging. It was obvious Oblinger didn’t give a crap about anything the rest of us care about. I think Woodson will.

  23. leewolf 01/08/2010 at 7:36 PM #

    The more I read about Dr. Woodson the better I feel about this hire. Looks like a great move from a guy that not only understands NC State from the academic perspective but also how important athletics are to the university.

  24. Sakaspack 01/08/2010 at 7:36 PM #

    maybe, just maybe, Coach Fowler’s position can “evolve” into one, of say, “Senior Athletic Director of Fucilities” or some other bs deal where we can pay him to do what he’s been doing…..and move on with an AD with purpose and vision. We can only hope.

  25. PoppaJohn 01/08/2010 at 8:08 PM #

    fingers crossed

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