Fred Oien article

[JackJD]

Re: Fred Oien article

Honest question(s) here.....then why do you think Fred vacated his office immediately? Why wasn't he present for the ladies NCAA run? Why wasn't he present at the Summit tourney? Why did he work from home the last few months? Why did have no input, after 20 years as AD, as to who would replace him? Why was he basically invisible after he announced he was soon retiring?...

I was not going to post any more in this thread. However, I have a problem with posts like the foregoing. The questions posed by TeaJackrabbit are not honest questions (merely proclaiming them "honest questions" just doesn't work). At least one is based on a false premise (which I know from personal knowledge) and, since TeaJackrabbit asked one question without knowing the underlying fact, then there is some likelihood the remainder of his "questions" are based on conjecture -- no personal knowledge of the "fact" on which the question is based.

Questions like those do not merit any attention and they cause harm because they imply or suggest a fact that may not be true (and in the case of one of the "questions", is not true).

Illustration: I had a buddy in college who regularly made jokes using "questions" having no basis in fact. He'd walk into a public place and spot someone he knew and ask in a loud voice a question which implied some outrageous underlying fact: "Hey, you still sleeping with your sister?" It always got a laugh.

The problem with such questions on this thread is they're not funny and they cause harm by giving false impressions.

And now I'm going to leave for work in my old vehicle, knowing full well that I'm being judged a misfit by some because I like my old vehicle. I am planning on having pie at lunch.

[Nidaros]

Re: Fred Oien article

If you would like to discuss things even further with the immortal Stu Whitney, go here:

Link-a-roo

It appears now that we have a faulty president leading SDSU, at least in Stu's mind.

Good luck Stu, you might have bitten off more than you can chew here.

[Rabbitlivinginverm]

Re: Fred Oien article

Honest question(s) here.....then why do you think Fred vacated his office immediately? Why wasn't he present for the ladies NCAA run? Why wasn't he present at the Summit tourney? Why did he work from home the last few months? Why did have no input, after 20 years as AD, as to who would replace him? Why was he basically invisible after he announced he was soon retiring?

Fred didn't go out in the fashion that someone who spent 20 successful years guiding and building and trailblazing a program should. I am very, very, very thankful for what he has accomplished, but no matter your allegiance to Fred Oien, you can't simply bury your head in the sand and tell yourself it's all about the Argus hoping to smear Fred or about former employees attempting to get even.

He was present at the Summit League Tourney. Unless it was somebody that looks excatly like him and goes by the name Fred.

[yoteforever]

Re: Fred Oien article

AD Oien is a publically paid and recognized official of the state of South Dakota. Mr. Oien must have been a highly controversial figure, and obviously was a strongly driven man.

My guess is to be an Athletic Director today, those are charecteristics that probably come with the title. You certainly don't want an AD that has no backbone because then you get a program running amuck. An AD has to be stern, yet fair, with his/her coaches. They need to manage the athletic program as if it is like any other business. How many managers/business owners are wall flowers? Very few, and if they are, they don't last long.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Oien had to pay the ultimate price of job loss probably due to his actions outside the arena of SDSU athletics. Right or wrong, that is how it is today, public figures live in glass houses. As one not closely connected with SDSU athletics, and making comment on the job he appeared to do, I would have to have given him a good grade. It appears that SDSU has made the transition and done it fairly well. I don't look at your budgets or deficets, but since there doesn't seem to be much public outcry, I would have to assume that Mr. Oien did you well.

I think it is time to stop talking about it, for nothing more can come of it. Let this serve as a reminder to all public employees especially in the so-called "limelight", that unfortuantely for you, people are watching, and some of those people want you to make a mistake so they can pounce on you.

I think it would now be fair for a final story to be written on Mr. Oien that spins all the good things he did, not only for SDSU, but for the state of South Dakota as well.

As a Coyote fan I am saying it is time to drop this subject, move on, and welcome your new AD to South Dakota. I hope that Mr. Sell will serve the interests of your institution well, as well as the people of South Dakota and surrounding areas that SDSU touches and affects. Welcome to Brookings Mr. Sell. Best wishes and good luck.

[bigticket1]

Re: Fred Oien article

Honest question(s) here.....then why do you think Fred vacated his office immediately? Why wasn't he present for the ladies NCAA run? Why wasn't he present at the Summit tourney? Why did he work from home the last few months? Why did have no input, after 20 years as AD, as to who would replace him? Why was he basically invisible after he announced he was soon retiring?

Fred didn't go out in the fashion that someone who spent 20 successful years guiding and building and trailblazing a program should. I am very, very, very thankful for what he has accomplished, but no matter your allegiance to Fred Oien, you can't simply bury your head in the sand and tell yourself it's all about the Argus hoping to smear Fred or about former employees attempting to get even.

I think you would find that in a major administrative position like this,that the out-going person usually has little or no input in who their replacement will be.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Fred Oien article

If you would like to discuss things even further with the immortal Stu Whitney, go here:

Link-a-roo

Stu raises some good questions (and some dumb ones)... all questions we'll never be able to answer. So.... nothing to see here. Move it along.

[Evolution Prime]

Re: Fred Oien article

If you would like to discuss things even further with the immortal Stu Whitney, go here:

Link-a-roo

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Fred Oien article

Anyway, President Chicoine was asked point blank whether there was another reason for Fred retiring, other than his own wish. The President said, point-blank, there wasn't. Now all of you can think what you want to think...if you think the President is lying, you can continue to look for another answer. I think this was the Argus' last whack at SDSU's retiring AD when they couldn't find the smoking gun they wanted to find...so may he live in peace with the knowledge that he did a great job (even if critics didn't like his management style)....

Honest question(s) here.....then why do you think Fred vacated his office immediately? Why wasn't he present for the ladies NCAA run? Why wasn't he present at the Summit tourney? Why did he work from home the last few months? Why did have no input, after 20 years as AD, as to who would replace him? Why was he basically invisible after he announced he was soon retiring?

Fred didn't go out in the fashion that someone who spent 20 successful years guiding and building and trailblazing a program should. I am very, very, very thankful for what he has accomplished, but no matter your allegiance to Fred Oien, you can't simply bury your head in the sand and tell yourself it's all about the Argus hoping to smear Fred or about former employees attempting to get even.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Fred Oien article

Here it is:

Linky

Thanks EP...I couldn't find it where it was at yesterday, and when I did an archive search of President Chicoine interview, it gave me a "no results" answer. I'm glad you found it, because I hope all posters who still think he was "let go" will read it and decide whether they want to believe President Chicoine lied.

[Evolution Prime]

Re: Fred Oien article

I wonder how many of you read Terry's interview with President Chicoine. If you didn't, you can't now. I find it interesting that I went back to review it, and it had been removed from the web page, and can't be found in the archives. Hmmmm...

Here it is:

Linky

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: Fred Oien article

It is a very good book, especially the interesting chapter on Doug Miller's death.

Agreed, Great Book. Everybody that wants to rip up the sod and put an artificial surface in Coughlin should read that chapter.

[SidelineObserver]

Re: Fred Oien article

OBTW...I ordered VJ Smith's new book today. Can't wait to read it!

It is a very good book, especially the interesting chapter on Doug Miller's death.

[CatchEmAll]

Re: Fred Oien article

I like:

1. Pie
2. My 1994 Buick Lesabre
3. Killing Threads

OBTW...I ordered VJ Smith's new book today. Can't wait to read it!

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Fred Oien article

Oien had issues. They were under investigation last fall. In the middle of winter, having (probably) reached his 59 1/2 years and 'rule of 85' (age + years of state employment if he was under the SDRS), he retired.

OK...I'm moving on with this one last post on this subject. Fred Oien hasn't reached his 59 1/2 years, he was 57 at the time of the announcement.

Secondly, investigations at SDSU come from complaints. If the complaint is justified, it becomes an action, and if not, it is filed in File 13.

I wonder how many of you read Terry's interview with President Chicoine. If you didn't, you can't now. I find it interesting that I went back to review it, and it had been removed from the web page, and can't be found in the archives. Hmmmm....

Anyway, President Chicoine was asked point blank whether there was another reason for Fred retiring, other than his own wish. The President said, point-blank, there wasn't. Now all of you can think what you want to think...if you think the President is lying, you can continue to look for another answer. I think this was the Argus' last whack at SDSU's retiring AD when they couldn't find the smoking gun they wanted to find...so may he live in peace with the knowledge that he did a great job (even if critics didn't like his management style).

Although I haven't had my last soiree at the Argus...it won't be on this board. I'm moving on...just moving on...

[EQguy]

Re: Fred Oien article

My plates are up for renewal next month. How do I go about getting SDSU organizational plates for it my pickup?

Can't wait to get that d*mned 1 (Minnehaha County) off of my plates.

Just tell them at the county office you want organizational plates and then pick up your stickers ($30 i think) at the little building on the side street across from the alumni center.