Athletic Director Tom O'Connor Announces Retirement

[JBiggs]

http://www.gomason.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25200&ATCLID=209444671

 

[Cool Disco Dan]

I'll drink to that! Enjoy the retirement TOC - the last few years have been frustrating -- if not infuriating -- but all said he did well for GMU.

 

[P8triotfan4rightnow]

Better clear some room on the bandwagon for some people to jump back on. This is the first step. I hope Max hasn't given away gmubrian and P8's tickets.

 

[MasonFanatic]

He's done a lot of good for our athletic programs over his tenure (the issues with Larranaga and Hewitt excepted) and I wish him nothing but the best. But I think the time was right. Mason needs a new voice and new energy.

 

[sigmanorm]

Agree with Fanatic, lots of good over his time. Couple major gaffs that will tarnish his legacy in the eyes of the fans. Maybe in 10 years we will view him differently.
OK step 1 is done. Who is on the short list of quality candidates?

 

[Patriotsince81]

He's done a lot of good for our athletic programs over his tenure (the issues with Larranaga and Hewitt excepted) and I wish him nothing but the best. But I think the time was right. Mason needs a new voice and new energy.

Well said!

 

[Patriotfan49]

Good luck and thanks for the service and all you have done TOC! You deserve to retire.


Now, unless another certain mens bball figure is feeling he needs to retire....we need to nail this AD hire and get a younger, fresher person in there with big ideas and the stones to follow through. Cautiously optimistic....

 

[GreenLantern]

The time was right. That being said I give him alot of credit in bring our program from mid major obscurity to where we are now. I wish nothing but the best for him. Now let the speculation begin for our new AD

 

[JBiggs]

Considering we have a young, energetic, businessman of a president, I have high hopes that Cabrera will target like-minded people to run the AD. Everything about the University was getting stale the past few years, and it's time to throw the wheat out with the chaff, to get biblical with it.

It will be exciting to follow the progress this spring/summer, and will hopefully help us forget about the pain and suffering that we've all endured. Cheers to TOC - enjoy your retirement.

 

[JBiggs]

And LOL at @P8triotfan4rightnow. Awesome.

 

[mason2k1]

Better clear some room on the bandwagon for some people to jump back on. This is the first step. I hope Max hasn't given away gmubrian and P8's tickets.

Is this enough to bring back gmubrian?!?!

 

[psyclone]

As I mentioned on another thread when gmutom posted Goff's tweet with the news, is Kevin McNamee (internal) a viable candidate? As I understand it, he wasn't closely connected to the recruiting and hiring decision with respect to Coach Hewitt.

 

[sigmanorm]

As I mentioned on another thread when gmutom posted Goff's tweet with the news, is Kevin McNamee (internal) a viable candidate? As I understand it, he wasn't closely connected to the recruiting and hiring decision with respect to Coach Hewitt.

I heard that McNamee is not interested based on a conversation I had with someone close to the program in Brooklyn.

 

[sigmanorm]

Is this enough to bring back gmubrian?!?!

I texted him, one more move needed and he is back

 

[mason2k1]

I texted him, one more move needed and he is back

Any chance Hewitt doesn't want to steal Tom's spotlight and is waiting till tomorrow to follow suit...

 

[sigmanorm]

Any chance Hewitt doesn't want to steal Tom's spotlight and is waiting till tomorrow to follow suit...

Now that would be interesting

 

[GSII]

I texted him, one more move needed and he is back

I think we are going to have to wait a year for that move. I'll say this, if the new Ad comes in and fires hewitt mid april, donations could soar! Not likely to happen though.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

too late. already put in my deposit.

Hewitt needs to go now too!

If they do this, I'll donate a grand tomorrow.

Thanks TOC for being a class act, and knowing when it's time to leave. I'm sure Jim Larranaga will sign your retirement card.

 

[psyclone]

I think we are going to have to wait a year for that move. I'll say this, if the new Ad comes in and fires hewitt mid april, donations could soar! Not likely to happen though.

That'll be the day when donations to the Athletic Dept will "soar" for any reason! Unless I'm misjudging the collective net worth of those who spend many hours on a sports message board.

 

[Walter]

I wish Tom "Dumbass" O'Connor the best of luck in his retirement.

Just kidding.