Bryan Blair: New Syracuse AD

JrodCuse · 2026-03-12T19:21:21-0400

Wow from first hearing his name a day ago to being our AD today…

Dinkyspond · 2026-03-12T19:33:12-0400

JrodCuse said:
Wow from first hearing his name a day ago to being our AD today…

like the Fran Brown hire, all we heard was Chesney and Mullen and then boom! Don't be surprised if the new basketball coach comes out of left field too.

tep624 · 2026-03-12T19:44:09-0400

Bulldog04 said:
Sure the school has sec money but have you been to Columbia ? It makes Salina street look like Taj Mahal. Only good thing there is Halls

I read that comment, thought about Columbia SC and chuckled. Better be great money lol.

GoSU96 · 2026-03-12T20:16:06-0400

brandokc said:
Bnoro, shaky potatoes and HRE all on board. I have no reason to doubt this hire.

= doomed

Atlcuse44 · 2026-03-12T20:25:03-0400

Based on the way he speaks, I can see him and HCFB getting along really well.

orange79 · 2026-03-12T20:29:34-0400

Atlcuse44 said:
Based on the way he speaks, I can see him and HCFB getting along really well.

What does that mean?

OrangePA · 2026-03-12T20:34:40-0400

MSOrange said:
Expand on your concerns if you don't mind, as it's not very often that you're not positive about an SU coach or administrator (and I'm being sincere when I say that)

When Wildhack was hired I was charged because he understood the ins and outs of sports television - having worked as an executive for ESPN for a number of years.

He obviously understood the business of big time college athletics.

And he was a Syracuse grad who grew up

in college during the renaissance of SU Football. So, he likely understood the strengths and weaknesses of the Department - at least to some degree.

Blair just doesn’t have a Resume that inspires me. Lot’s of people can take credit for fundraising at a school or success on the field during a short time period.

Obviously there must be something there. Those who hired him were clearly impressed.

So, I am hopeful that he will work out well.

But, I just don’t feel blown away by the hire at this point.

OrangePA · 2026-03-12T20:36:49-0400

PeteCalvin said:
How bout this?

JoeCollege back in the day.

I feel much better. Thank you.

LpoolNative · 2026-03-12T20:40:14-0400

CuseLegacy said:

I think shes feeling giddish about this hire

buffalorange · 2026-03-12T20:47:27-0400

Frozen said:
View attachment 261002

Perhaps he was given "the talk."

Widget24 · 2026-03-12T21:30:07-0400

orange79 said:
What does that mean?

hoopsupstate · 2026-03-12T21:43:13-0400

CuseLegacy said:

What a refreshing mindset

LpoolNative · 2026-03-12T21:56:37-0400

Atlcuse44 said:
Based on the way he speaks, I can see him and HCFB getting along really well.

AAM62 · 2026-03-12T22:04:56-0400

Atlcuse44 said:
Based on the way he speaks, I can see him and HCFB getting along really well.

Jesus

Atlcuse44 · 2026-03-12T22:05:48-0400

orange79 said:
What does that mean?

They are both very confident individuals. I can see them getting along really well. I guess I could have worded that better.

Orangefan1 · 2026-03-12T23:35:21-0400

We shall see, he’s got a lot of work to do. I’m not 100 percent convinced he’s a long term solution or in it for the long haul before leaving us in a few years to go south as some have suggested

GHLF · 2026-03-12T23:50:59-0400

He is very well spoken. There is undoubtedly going to be haters without any knowledge of this gentleman. Just based upon their preconceived notions. A lot of like covert discussion as it related to Coach Autry. No one can tell me that does not exist, it is honestly very evident. Certainly on this board. I have no insider knowledge as it relates to this gentleman. I simply like the fact that he has rose through the ranks, He is an obvious academic with his JD, and very importantly chose to remain in athletics. I wish him well

javadoc · 2026-03-12T23:58:37-0400

Orangefan1 said:
We shall see, he’s got a lot of work to do. I’m not 100 percent convinced he’s a long term solution or in it for the long haul before leaving us in a few years to go south as some have suggested

He has plans (see the image of his 5-year plan from a previous point in his career). It is refreshing to see that we are not only considered a step up from Toledo (in a business/career sense), but that he considers us, at worst, a viable stop on his career trajectory, wherein his experience with us will be regarded as a strength for his next move. And if that is his goal, he has to do well here.

My only concern would be that he brings a genuine, legitimate modern skill-set for fundraising, and he can't make it work here no matter what, through no fault of his own. And he moves on quickly, a lateral move, to preserve his career ambitions.

Which is why we need to hope that someone kills NIL and private donations as a significant funding source for players' salaries in college athletics. IMNSHO.

zjscuse · 2026-03-13T06:56:24-0400

OrangePA said:
When Wildhack was hired I was charged because he understood the ins and outs of sports television - having worked as an executive for ESPN for a number of years.

He obviously understood the business of big time college athletics.

And he was a Syracuse grad who grew up in college during the renaissance of SU Football. So, he likely understood the strengths and weaknesses of the Department - at least to some degree.

Blair just doesn’t have a Resume that inspires me. Lot’s of people can take credit for fundraising at a school or success on the field during a short time period.

Obviously there must be something there. Those who hired him were clearly impressed.

So, I am hopeful that he will work out well.

But, I just don’t feel blown away by the hire at this point.

What did wildhack do for us that makes you think he excelled using any of those connections at all?

Newhouser · 2026-03-13T08:35:58-0400

OrangePA said:
When Wildhack was hired I was charged because he understood the ins and outs of sports television - having worked as an executive for ESPN for a number of years.

He obviously understood the business of big time college athletics.

And he was a Syracuse grad who grew up in college during the renaissance of SU Football. So, he likely understood the strengths and weaknesses of the Department - at least to some degree.

Blair just doesn’t have a Resume that inspires me. Lot’s of people can take credit for fundraising at a school or success on the field during a short time period.

Obviously there must be something there. Those who hired him were clearly impressed.

So, I am hopeful that he will work out well.

But, I just don’t feel blown away by the hire at this point.

I posted on the basketball side - if Lyke was never in the picture and this was the hire, people would be reacting much differently.

I'm sure he will be fine but that is based more on hope than what has been demonstrated.

dwilmont44 · 2026-03-13T11:54:52-0400

I don't know anything about the candidates. What do we think Blair's compensation coming from Toledo is compared to what the others would have been? Cheaper, more expensive, similar?

CuseLegacy · 2026-03-13T14:04:30-0400

LpoolNative · 2026-03-13T14:11:39-0400

I’m loving this guy

JRHEETER · 2026-03-13T14:25:22-0400

LpoolNative said:
I’m loving this guy

Agreed. Seems to be saying all of the right things.

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