Myles Brand is still WAY out of touch

In an interview with the Indystar, Myles Brand confirms just how out of touch he is. The NCAA is a mess and they have him to thank.

Q&A WITH MYLES BRAND - Indystar.com

Be sure to read the whole thing. A few of my favorites:

Q: Illinois professor Stephen Kaufman, an activist on the Native American mascot issue, criticized the appeals process because it emphasizes the position of local "namesake" tribes. His point is that those names and images are still being broadcast nationally. Is the NCAA being inconsistent?

A: This is a hard one. You have to keep in mind that we're dealing with federally recognized tribes that have legal sovereignty. I may not feel comfortable with the way some school represents Native Americans in their community. But it's not my decision. I have to defer to those whose names and images are being used. . . . I don't feel, as a non-Native American, as an outsider I can override the very clear, unambiguous desire of these tribes.

Wait a sec... "It's not my decision"? You thought it was your decision when you "The NCAA" tried to force these schools to drop their mascots. Now that you have backpeddled in every instance, you are now saying it isn't your decision. Nice... very nice. Way to take accountability for your decision.

Q: Tulane president Scott Cowen has called for the NCAA, not the Bowl Championship Series, to control Division I-A postseason college football. He said it is "one critical component that remains in desperate need of reform." Do you agree?

A: I think that's an exaggeration. Whether there will be changes or not, who can tell? There are stresses and strains on the system. It's been difficult the past several years choosing the two teams to be in the championship. Maybe they have it right this time. We'll see.

I've got to tell you, college football this year is as exciting as I've seen in a long time. I'm not going to be quick to criticize an approach that produces great games, great teams. Fans enjoy it. I'm pleased to see some of our old great teams like Notre Dame and Penn State come back into the mix. College football has been as strong as it's ever been. It's hard to say something's broken there. It doesn't look that way to me.

Have you witnessed the joke that the BCS has been for the last 5 years? Obviously you don't pay much attention to the wishes of the fans, since every poll every year on ESPN, FoxSports and other media, show that the fans HATE the BCS and want a playoff system. But I guess what surprises me most is that you don't want to get your grubby hands on College Football. What, is the BCS giving you a personal cut under the table to let them continue?

Q: The Indianapolis-based Black Coaches Association is about to release its second report card on the hiring process used for head football coaches in Division I-A and Division I-AA. You and others helped develop the report card, but the situation has gotten worse regarding the number of black head football coaches. What's your reaction?

A: They're focused on the right issue (the hiring process), but they've not achieved results. . . . They may have to use extreme (legal) measures to change this. It's a situation that, frankly, is not tolerable.

Extreme legal measures??? Oh please do expand on this. What would those be? Quotas? In an earlier answer, you mention how exciting it is that Notre Dame is back in the national spotlight... are you saying that Charlie Weis wasn't the right guy for them to hire because he is white? Oh I can't wait to hear about your suggestions for "Extreme Legal Measures."

Q: Did you communicate with University of Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher while she was going through the termination of a popular basketball coach, Bob Huggins?

A: I had a phone call or two with Nancy. But I certainly did not advise her on what to do. Nancy asked me how I felt when things were going on (during Brand's firing of Bob Knight while president of Indiana University). I didn't think it was appropriate for me to talk about her situation. But I've known Nancy for almost 20 years. When I was provost at Ohio State, she was in the School of Education. I've known her a long time. She's a friend.

She was under pressure from the media. I tried to tell her not to let pressure from the media influence your decision-making. That was the level of our conversation. I thought it was inappropriate to talk about any particular case.

I can't believe that the reporter, or Brand could make the jump to compare the firing of Coach Knight to the firing of Bob Huggins. That is just plain disgusting.

Q: Is the new Academic Performance Rate (APR), which will start costing teams scholarships in February, being watered down? It has become very complicated, with appeals based on institutional mission and comparisons to the general student body, plus exceptions for players who turn pro.

A: I don't think we've watered it down. I think we've made it more fair. And by being fair -- but complicated -- it is by and large more acceptable. You don't measure the success of this by how many people we punish and sanction. You measure the success of this effort by a change in behaviors.

Q: You described it as a "sea change" when it was first announced. Is it really going to have a major impact?

A: We hope so. The proof will be in the pudding. We're still at the very beginning. But any time I've been out in the last year -- and I always meet with athletic departments -- the first question and the most persistent question concerns APR.

It is on everyone's mind. They're all thinking about it. Now, they're also thinking, 'How does it affect me?' But there's no one out there right now who isn't thinking about academic performance. That's a sea change. I think it's already taken place.

Hey Myles, I wonder why the APR is on everyone's mind? Could it be because the formulas are so convoluted that no one can understand them? Are the departments really thinking about academic performance? Or are they thinking about how this ridiculous formula will affect them and how they will have to handle the appeals process. I'm thinking the later. Can't wait until February to see the first set of results.