Chris Carlson on SU & Weitsman

[Bill Orange]

Behind Adam Weitsman’s breakup with Syracuse University: Money, image and a need for control

A fresh look at the relationship between a rich booster and a sports program that needed money. It just wasn't made to last.

www.syracuse.com

 

[FireballPhil]

Clears up a few things doesn't it.

 

[tptcuse]

Sounds similar to what we have heard here. Also seems that neither party are likely to move away from their position. I mostly don’t care about this but it would be helpful to the program if Adam donated through a collective. Nothing in the article indicates that he can’t donate and publicize it.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

This doesn't change much, if anything. Hopefully we can finally put this to rest. Unfortunately, I'm not expecting it to.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

This doesn't change much, if anything. Hopefully we can finally put this to rest. Unfortunately, I'm not expecting it to.

Yeah, not much there that was either not known already or strongly suspected. SU seems very much at peace with the situation and seems like they have made up the financial difference from other donors.

As you say, I'm not expecting it to finally be put to rest. There seems to be a PR machine keeping it alive.

 

[jgeorge322]

This is somewhat of a stupid rift but unless Weitsman will donate substantial money to the basketball program (eg at least $1m per year) it probably doesn’t matter

He needs to accept he can’t be the king of the carrier dome but I still have no issue with the celebrity thing.

 

[OCESIP]

The financial specifics were interesting. Obviously, in his own words, his actual contributions were not very significant. The question is, would he have followed through with the millions he was putting on the table via the media reports if the university had embraced him and accepted the risk that the NCAA posed at that time. Valuing one player at that price might not have been the best option for the overall health of the program.

 

[Scooch]

To me, this is the entire story:

Weitsman said he was not banished by Syracuse... This March, Wildhack said Weitsman was not prohibited from helping the school and he was welcome to donate to the school’s collectives... Weitsman said if the relationship was repaired he’d consider donating to a group effort with either the athletic department or a collective. But he said he prefers the excitement of personally attracting and building a relationship with a program-changing recruit.

SU has rules, like them or not, and Weitsman didn't want to follow them.

 

[capeorange]

“Mr. Weitsman,” vice president for communications Sarah Scalese wrote in rare public comments about a booster, “is not a major donor at Syracuse University.”

Therefore not such a big loss to the program as some would like us to believe.

 

[Scooch]

“Mr. Weitsman,” vice president for communications Sarah Scalese wrote in rare public comments about a booster, “is not a major donor at Syracuse University.”

Therefore not such a big loss to the program as some would like us to believe.

In fairness to Weitsman, his exit from the scene largely coincided with the massive increase in "this definitely isn't pay-for-play, nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more, say no more" NIL. So we can't know what his spending would have been like the past 2+ years.

But, as has been discussed here multiple times, the bulk of the money he did spend with SU was for tickets and suite renos/access.

 

[cusefan88]

This doesn't change much, if anything. Hopefully we can finally put this to rest. Unfortunately, I'm not expecting it to.

I think if basketball regains their footing and makes the tournament you won't hear much about AW anymore.

 

[Dcuse]

There is also the feeling after reading that SU would lose the Lally’s if they embraced everything that AW wanted from all of this

 

[Newhouser]

So basically this long awaited expose proves yet again that this forum has better and faster info. than any media outlet.

 

[Scooch]

So basically this long awaited expose proves yet again that this forum has better and faster info. than any media outlet.

Getting SU to speak on the record about this is a big deal. That adds an element of credibility to things that didn't exist previously.

 

[MSOrange]

Getting SU to speak on the record about this is a big deal. That adds an element of credibility to things that didn't exist previously.

And I thought the specific donation numbers were interesting also.

 

[MGraves5]

So basically this long awaited expose proves yet again that this forum has better and faster info. than any media outlet.

I'm guessing that before many of these articles are written the writer of the article reads this forum first.

 

[UnknownOrange]

oh fun -- this again

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

There is also the feeling after reading that SU would lose the Lally’s if they embraced everything that AW wanted from all of this

I think without the article that was the tea leaves, and Lally would likely have taken others with him.

 

[Chip]

But he said he prefers the excitement of personally attracting and building a relationship with a program-changing recruit.

This is the line right here. To each their own I suppose, but..

 

[jr4750]

Carlson was definitely hand picked by SU to write this. The numbers provided are very telling. The fact those big name players he targeted never came is even more data for those thinking we need him back. That said, he did donate, albeit way less than what he made everyone think he was. I appreciate what he did donate.

This was my favorite: SyracuseOrange.com

The school said Weitsman’s lawyers initially asked Syracuse to endorse a $250,000 valuation for his donation. He said that valuation was determined by outside experts he hired.

The school valued the website at much less, labeling it a $1 charitable contribution instead.

He likely bought that website for pennies and wanted to take a big tax deduction for it. He and Rob Konrad should start a business together...

 

[Jake]

Not a lot new here, and I’m still on team SU. I do not doubt that the Lally’s have suggested that it’s him or us.

But you don’t tell $25m to take a walk over a guy who hasn’t donated hardly anything that’s not for tickets and access.

I did find it interesting that Weitsman paid Cinco and the administration didn’t know it. Which kinda supports SU’s concern.

Weitsman seems like Lucy with the football….he’s tempting, but would pull the ball away when you tried to kick it.

His social media stuff would make you think he’s a 7 figure donator to players. Not even close.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

So basically this long awaited expose proves yet again that this forum has better and faster info. than any media outlet.

Dasher. Thank you for your info.

 

[illi3]

I look forward to Etan's updated podcast now that we all know the financial details

 

[jr4750]

He has 17 million followers, he can donate to the collective and still brag about it, but chooses not too. What does that tell you. Its about him not helping SU

 

[Jake]

Carlson was definitely hand picked by SU to write this. The numbers provided are very telling. The fact those big name players he targeted never came is even more data for those thinking we need him back. That said, he did donate, albeit way less than what he made everyone think he was. I appreciate what he did donate.

This was my favorite: SyracuseOrange.com

The school said Weitsman’s lawyers initially asked Syracuse to endorse a $250,000 valuation for his donation. He said that valuation was determined by outside experts he hired.

The school valued the website at much less, labeling it a $1 charitable contribution instead.

He likely bought that website for pennies and wanted to take a big tax deduction for it. He and Rob Konrad should start a business together...

Yeah, he acquired it “accidentally” to extort the school. What a guy!!!