ADVERTISEMENT

Just a "Thought" here, and I am merely posting this simply in regards to the article's focus...

Gaimcock

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 1998
12,427
1,982
113
124
and NOT because of its writer, though I do personally respect the man (i.e. the writer). In regards to Brad Edwards replacing Ray Tanner?? Absolutely as-far-as I'm concerned! And with ALL DUE RESPECT, LOVE and APPRECIATION to Ray, I guarantee you that NO ONE so desperately wishes our football team to catch up with a few others than does Brad! I had several Bus. Admin. classes w/ Brad back in the day, mostly Marketing classes. In fact, he and I were in several groups together along w/ several others (I also had several classes w/ Harold Green back in the day!) and he was steadfastly always one of the leaders of our groups.

While I could certainly go on as far as my personal opinion of Brad, by no means do I wish to come across as a "pusher", and at any rate, here ya go from Fitsnews...

Powerful South Carolina Trustee Courts Brad Edwards To Be Next Gamecock AD


One of the most powerful members of a badly divided University of South Carolina board of trustees is courting former Gamecock football great Brad Edwards as a possible replacement for embattled South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner, multiple sources familiar with the situation have confirmed to this news outlet.

However, it is not immediately clear whether the influential trustee – Eddie Floyd of Florence, S.C. – will be able to win sufficient support for the move from his fellow board members, who are still at each other’s throats following a divisive, highly politicized presidential selection process.

In a recent post urging the termination of Tanner, we noted the University was “a glorified goat rodeo at the moment, with its governing board bitterly divided and its new president entering under a cloud of controversy.”

And whether you like retired U.S. Army general Robert Caslen or not, there is no denying the University has self-administered a major black eye as a result of his hiring – not to mention invited serious accreditation issues.

This lingering dysfunction could benefit both Tanner and struggling fourth-year head coach Will Mushchamp, the latter of whom probably would have been fired by now were it not for his massive $22 million buyout (which drops modestly to $18.6 million at the end of the year).

That is a hefty chunk of change for a coach whose program is currently in free fall...

09.01.16.will_.muschamp.ray_.tanner.4-e1556637317160.jpg


As for Tanner, we believe he should have been fired last year … but South Carolina’s board gave him a contract extension instead.

Muschamp’s huge buyout is one of the reasons Tanner is under fire after hiring the former Florida coach to replace Steve Spurrier in December 2015. After nearly four seasons in Columbia, S.C., Muschamp has posted a 26-23 overall record and a 15-16 mark against SEC opponents. He is 1-3 against Georgia, 1-3 against Florida, 1-2 in bowl games and 0-3 against Clemson.

More disappointing than those numbers? The downward trajectory of the program over the last two seasons …

Compounding these issues? The once-proud Gamecock baseball program – which Tanner coached to back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011 – has fallen off the map since he took the athletics director job in 2012.

Could Edwards turn things around in Columbia, S.C.?

Floyd certainly thinks so, and so does former South Carolina trustee Mark Buyck – an influential Florence, S.C. attorney who is reportedly the point person on pushing Edwards as a replacement for Tanner.

“They are trying to sell him to the board,” a source close to the program told us.

Edwards – who played at South Carolina from 1984-1987 – reportedly joined Floyd and Buyck at a recent Gamecock home football game. According to our sources, the former National Football League (NFL) star was asked at the game whether he would consider returning to the Palmetto State to lead the flagging Gamecock program.

What did he say? Good question …

Edwards, 53, is currently athletics director at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia – a post he has held for the past five-and-a-half years. Prior to that, he was athletics director at Jacksonville University (2012-2014) and Newberry College (2009-2012).

From 1999-2006 he was an assistant athletics director at South Carolina under the late Mike McGee.

Edwards is remembered fondly by Gamecock fans as one of the program’s best defensive backs. During his senior season at South Carolina in 1987, he led the Gamecocks in tackles (130) and interceptions (8) – including a memorable, game-clinching pick-six that sealed an upset win over then-No. 8 Clemson.



The Lumberton, N.C. native was chosen in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft (No. 54 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. He played in 122 games for three teams over nine seasons in the NFL – recording 589 tackles, eighteen interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

In Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins, Edwards intercepted Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly twice to help secure the franchise’s third world championship – returning one of his picks for 21 yards and the other for 35 yards. He was the runner-up MVP of the game.

While Edwards would probably make a fine athletics director, several sources close to the Gamecock program are unhappy with Floyd and Buyck’s candidate – believing the South Carolina program needs a “bigger name” to restore its top tier programs to their former glory.

“We need a Mike McGee or a Dan Radakovich,” one prominent South Carolina donor told us.

Dan Radakovich, the hugely successful athletics director at Clemson, was an associate athletics director at South Carolina from 1994-2000 under McGee. He was rumored to be in the mix for the South Carolina athletics director position in 2012, but the job went to Tanner instead.

Under Radakovich, Clemson has completed nearly $200 million in upgrades to its athletics facilities and captured two of the last three college football national championships.

Of interest? Floyd and Buyck – who was replaced on the board in 2018 by Dan Adams – were among the South Carolina trustees who pushed for Tanner to get the job seven years ago.

-FITSNews

So, there ya go ladies and gentlemen, y'all have at it and tell me why I'm wrong; What say ye???
 
Last edited:
While I wouldn’t be opposed to Edwards being hired I’m not sure Floyd’s support is exactly helpful for him. I could be wrong but it sure seems to me that Floyd’s name has been at the center of issues before and he helped create the situation we are in now.
 
I don't know. I just really don't know. I was going to say that we need an agency/consulting firm to take on this task, but the last group we hired damn near caused a civil war in South Carolina.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tall Squirrel
The only concern I'd have, & it isn't big enough to keep me from wanting Edwards as AD, is that George Mason doesn't have football.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nikolas22
Let me get this straight. The 2 most outstanding qualifications Brad Edwards has for being the AD at USC are that he loves the University, and he has not been fired from George Mason in five and a half years. Sounds like a sterling resume to me. Why wouldn't we give the keys to the Athletic Department of a large SEC school to someone who has accomplished so much as an AD? Who is his major competition at this point, baseline Jesus?
 
  • Like
Reactions: nikolas22
Let me get this straight. The 2 most outstanding qualifications Brad Edwards has for being the AD at USC are that he loves the University, and he has not been fired from George Mason in five and a half years. Sounds like a sterling resume to me. Why wouldn't we give the keys to the Athletic Department of a large SEC school to someone who has accomplished so much as an AD? Who is his major competition at this point, baseline Jesus?
You obviously have not read his qualifications... Why don't you hit Google... He's plenty qualified.... Asst AD of one of our best Athletic directors ever and so many other things....
 
You obviously have not read his qualifications... Why don't you hit Google... He's plenty qualified.... Asst AD of one of our best Athletic directors ever and so many other things....
No, I think the sterling performance at such major institutions like Jacksonville State and George Mason are quite enough. I see no reason to strive for anything higher, do you?
 
No, I think the sterling performance at such major institutions like Jacksonville State and George Mason are quite enough. I see no reason to strive for anything higher, do you?
So you don't think that being the asst to the AD that was our best.. who Edwards learned from (mentored) Is great... I think it is... But some people aren't going to be happy no matter who it is....
 
Let me get this straight. The 2 most outstanding qualifications Brad Edwards has for being the AD at USC are that he loves the University, and he has not been fired from George Mason in five and a half years. Sounds like a sterling resume to me. Why wouldn't we give the keys to the Athletic Department of a large SEC school to someone who has accomplished so much as an AD? Who is his major competition at this point, baseline Jesus?
Easy now leave Baseline Jesus out of this. that man is a treasure.
 
So you don't think that being the asst to the AD that was our best.. who Edwards learned from (mentored) Is great... I think it is... But some people aren't going to be happy no matter who it is....
So what did he do with all that knowledge and mentoring he got? He went to Jacksonville St and George Mason (who doesn't even have a football program). Basically what you're advocating is hiring another Ray Tanner insider.
 
So what did he do with all that knowledge and mentoring he got? He went to Jacksonville St and George Mason (who doesn't even have a football program). Basically what you're advocating is hiring another Ray Tanner insider.
Ok my man 17 years as an AD or Asst AD isn't enough experience for you.. I get it....I'll tell you this.. I know the man personally and I know that he would jump through fire to get our football program to an ELITE level...
 
Ok my man 17 years as an AD or Asst AD isn't enough experience for you.. I get it....I'll tell you this.. I know the man personally and I know that he would jump through fire to get our football program to an ELITE level...
No, that's not enough. Everybody does something for 17 years if they are old enough. So he occupied some chairs for a long time? You still have yet to name ONE MAJOR accomplishment he has as an AD. Hell, Ray Tanner won 2 National championships as a coach, but nothing as an AD. What has Edwards done as an AD? How many national championship coaches has he hired at any level? How much outside revenue has he increased where he's been. You have to have more than "he loves the university" or "he's worked for some great guys". What are his accomplishments that warrant being hired as AD for an SEC school?
 
No, that's not enough. Everybody does something for 17 years if they are old enough. So he occupied some chairs for a long time? You still have yet to name ONE MAJOR accomplishment he has as an AD. Hell, Ray Tanner won 2 National championships as a coach, but nothing as an AD. What has Edwards done as an AD? How many national championship coaches has he hired at any level? How much outside revenue has he increased where he's been. You have to have more than "he loves the university" or "he's worked for some great guys". What are his accomplishments that warrant being hired as AD for an SEC school?

https://gomason.com/staff-directory/brad-edwards/11

read
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaimcock
No, that's not enough. Everybody does something for 17 years if they are old enough. So he occupied some chairs for a long time? You still have yet to name ONE MAJOR accomplishment he has as an AD. Hell, Ray Tanner won 2 National championships as a coach, but nothing as an AD. What has Edwards done as an AD? How many national championship coaches has he hired at any level? How much outside revenue has he increased where he's been. You have to have more than "he loves the university" or "he's worked for some great guys". What are his accomplishments that warrant being hired as AD for an SEC school?
You look up his accomplishments .. I'm not going to type on a phone all night ... Google it.... All he has to do is fix football..... Everything else is running great ..Imo. His connections with high level football minds is second to no one.... He will make the right hire.....and that's all I care about.... Do you trust a FOOTBALL guy to make the right hire or do you trust some Harvard Smuck that has a good business resume more
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaimcock
and NOT because of its writer, though I do personally respect the man (i.e. the writer). In regards to Brad Edwards replacing Ray Tanner?? Absolutely as-far-as I'm concerned! And with ALL DUE RESPECT, LOVE and APPRECIATION to Ray, I guarantee you that NO ONE so desperately wishes our football team to catch up with a few others than does Brad! I had several Bus. Admin. classes w/ Brad back in the day, mostly Marketing classes. In fact, he and I were in several groups together along w/ several others (I also had several classes w/ Harold Green back in the day!) and he was steadfastly always one of the leaders of our groups.

While I could certainly go on as far as my personal opinion of Brad, by no means do I wish to come across as a "pusher", and at any rate, here ya go from Fitsnews...

Powerful South Carolina Trustee Courts Brad Edwards To Be Next Gamecock AD


One of the most powerful members of a badly divided University of South Carolina board of trustees is courting former Gamecock football great Brad Edwards as a possible replacement for embattled South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner, multiple sources familiar with the situation have confirmed to this news outlet.

However, it is not immediately clear whether the influential trustee – Eddie Floyd of Florence, S.C. – will be able to win sufficient support for the move from his fellow board members, who are still at each other’s throats following a divisive, highly politicized presidential selection process.

In a recent post urging the termination of Tanner, we noted the University was “a glorified goat rodeo at the moment, with its governing board bitterly divided and its new president entering under a cloud of controversy.”

And whether you like retired U.S. Army general Robert Caslen or not, there is no denying the University has self-administered a major black eye as a result of his hiring – not to mention invited serious accreditation issues.

This lingering dysfunction could benefit both Tanner and struggling fourth-year head coach Will Mushchamp, the latter of whom probably would have been fired by now were it not for his massive $22 million buyout (which drops modestly to $18.6 million at the end of the year).

That is a hefty chunk of change for a coach whose program is currently in free fall...

09.01.16.will_.muschamp.ray_.tanner.4-e1556637317160.jpg


As for Tanner, we believe he should have been fired last year … but South Carolina’s board gave him a contract extension instead.

Muschamp’s huge buyout is one of the reasons Tanner is under fire after hiring the former Florida coach to replace Steve Spurrier in December 2015. After nearly four seasons in Columbia, S.C., Muschamp has posted a 26-23 overall record and a 15-16 mark against SEC opponents. He is 1-3 against Georgia, 1-3 against Florida, 1-2 in bowl games and 0-3 against Clemson.

More disappointing than those numbers? The downward trajectory of the program over the last two seasons …

Compounding these issues? The once-proud Gamecock baseball program – which Tanner coached to back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011 – has fallen off the map since he took the athletics director job in 2012.

Could Edwards turn things around in Columbia, S.C.?

Floyd certainly thinks so, and so does former South Carolina trustee Mark Buyck – an influential Florence, S.C. attorney who is reportedly the point person on pushing Edwards as a replacement for Tanner.

“They are trying to sell him to the board,” a source close to the program told us.

Edwards – who played at South Carolina from 1984-1987 – reportedly joined Floyd and Buyck at a recent Gamecock home football game. According to our sources, the former National Football League (NFL) star was asked at the game whether he would consider returning to the Palmetto State to lead the flagging Gamecock program.

What did he say? Good question …

Edwards, 53, is currently athletics director at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia – a post he has held for the past five-and-a-half years. Prior to that, he was athletics director at Jacksonville University (2012-2014) and Newberry College (2009-2012).

From 1999-2006 he was an assistant athletics director at South Carolina under the late Mike McGee.

Edwards is remembered fondly by Gamecock fans as one of the program’s best defensive backs. During his senior season at South Carolina in 1987, he led the Gamecocks in tackles (130) and interceptions (8) – including a memorable, game-clinching pick-six that sealed an upset win over then-No. 8 Clemson.



The Lumberton, N.C. native was chosen in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft (No. 54 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. He played in 122 games for three teams over nine seasons in the NFL – recording 589 tackles, eighteen interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

In Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins, Edwards intercepted Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly twice to help secure the franchise’s third world championship – returning one of his picks for 21 yards and the other for 35 yards. He was the runner-up MVP of the game.

While Edwards would probably make a fine athletics director, several sources close to the Gamecock program are unhappy with Floyd and Buyck’s candidate – believing the South Carolina program needs a “bigger name” to restore its top tier programs to their former glory.

“We need a Mike McGee or a Dan Radakovich,” one prominent South Carolina donor told us.

Dan Radakovich, the hugely successful athletics director at Clemson, was an associate athletics director at South Carolina from 1994-2000 under McGee. He was rumored to be in the mix for the South Carolina athletics director position in 2012, but the job went to Tanner instead.

Under Radakovich, Clemson has completed nearly $200 million in upgrades to its athletics facilities and captured two of the last three college football national championships.

Of interest? Floyd and Buyck – who was replaced on the board in 2018 by Dan Adams – were among the South Carolina trustees who pushed for Tanner to get the job seven years ago.

-FITSNews

So, there ya go ladies and gentlemen, y'all have at it and tell me why I'm wrong; What say ye???


Great video.Remember the night well,frigid temperature,but magic atmosphere.An iconic moment in Gamecock football history.
What does this reply have to do with athletic director position? Nothing much,actually.
First year as USC fan 1958-age 8-and cherished memories of King Dixon/Alex Hawkins duo.But King Dixon was not a good AD.
The point is.....who knows? Maybe Brad would be a great AD.
(Loved the 1987 INT TD return.)
 
You look up his accomplishments .. I'm not going to type on a phone all night ... Google it.... All he has to do is fix football..... Everything else is running great ..Imo. His connections with high level football minds is second to no one.... He will make the right hire.....and that's all I care about.... Do you trust a FOOTBALL guy to make the right hire or do you trust some Harvard Smuck that has a good business resume more
I trust the guy who has been there and done that - successfully. Not a neophite who must learn on the job.
No one is suggesting you type all night. I'm sure he did a lot of things in 17 years. They probably never ran out of towels in the men's room during the games. He probably got all the tickets printed ok at a reasonable costs, etc etc etc. All I asked you to do is name ONE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT that he has made that turns heads and makes people think he is a great hire for an SEC school. Name on major hire he has made that has turned his programs around into a national contender. Apparently, you don't have one.
 
Last edited:
You look up his accomplishments .. I'm not going to type on a phone all night ... Google it.... All he has to do is fix football..... Everything else is running great ..Imo. His connections with high level football minds is second to no one.... He will make the right hire.....and that's all I care about.... Do you trust a FOOTBALL guy to make the right hire or do you trust some Harvard Smuck that has a good business resume more

Why would his connection to high school level minds help him hire a great coach? He needs to have connections among college coaches. We need a big splash hire.
 
I trust the guy who has been there and done that - successfully. Not a neophite who must learn on the job.
No one is suggesting you type all night. I'm sure he did a lot of things in 17 years. They probably never ran out of towels in the men's room during the games. He probably got all the tickets printed ok at a reasonable costs, etc etc etc. All I asked you to do is name ONE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT that he has made that turns heads and makes people think he is a great hire for an SEC school. Name on major hire he has made that has turned his programs around into a national contender. Apparently, you don't have one.
My man, I don't know what you are talking about... Learn on the job? The man has been an athletic director or asst athletic director for 17 years ... He played in the NFL for 8 years .. I think ... He was a pro bowler and Super Bowl Champion co mvp...... The Athletic directors that have hired Elite coaches are not coming here... They are straight already where they are ALABAMA, CLEMSON, OKLAHOMA, OHIO ST..... I trust a FOOTBALL GUY to make my next hire... Please tell me who you would be more comfortable with...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaimcock
Why would his connection to high school level minds help him hire a great coach? He needs to have connections among college coaches. We need a big splash hire.
I said not one word about Connections to High School..... I said high level.... Read much?
 
  • Like
Reactions: howard13
Let me get this straight. The 2 most outstanding qualifications Brad Edwards has for being the AD at USC are that he loves the University, and he has not been fired from George Mason in five and a half years. Sounds like a sterling resume to me. Why wouldn't we give the keys to the Athletic Department of a large SEC school to someone who has accomplished so much as an AD? Who is his major competition at this point, baseline Jesus?
Ray's AD qualifications: 1) He loves Carolina 2) He somehow deserves the job because he was a legendary baseball coach 3) He really really wants the job
 
Whoever the asst AD’s at bama, Ohio state, Texas, penn st, etc deserve a look before Edwards. I want someone that deals with football on a huge level. If Edwards was not a former player would he even get a look? I think not.
 
Whoever the asst AD’s at bama, Ohio state, Texas, penn st, etc deserve a look before Edwards. I want someone that deals with football on a huge level. If Edwards was not a former player would he even get a look? I think not.
He was on the short list when Tanner was hired and probably would have gotten it..if it wasn't for the love of all things Tanner
 
I trust the guy who has been there and done that - successfully. Not a neophite who must learn on the job.
No one is suggesting you type all night. I'm sure he did a lot of things in 17 years. They probably never ran out of towels in the men's room during the games. He probably got all the tickets printed ok at a reasonable costs, etc etc etc. All I asked you to do is name ONE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT that he has made that turns heads and makes people think he is a great hire for an SEC school. Name on major hire he has made that has turned his programs around into a national contender. Apparently, you don't have one.
Crickets!!
 
Edwards is plenty qualified. I'll say no more than that.
Nor do you stand alone I assure you.

It amazes me, the ironic ignorance that sometimes seems to overwhelm this free board, for even within the slightest evaluation, Brad Edwards sure as hell isn't an "Expro" that's for damned sure!!

SmokinSmile
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: king ward
Crickets!!
Nothing to respond to. I asked ONE SIMPLE question. What major accomplishment has he made as an AD? What home run hire has he made that propelled his programs to championships? All you can do is continue to ramble on about how long he has worked (which only helps him in terms of years of service toward retirement and nothing else) and who he has worked with, yada yada yada. It is obvious you have no answer.
I am fiercely loyal to the university, would do anything I can to make them a winner, and I have worked for a lot longer than 17 years. Maybe I should be AD????
 
Nothing to respond to. I asked ONE SIMPLE question. What major accomplishment has he made as an AD? What home run hire has he made that propelled his programs to championships? All you can do is continue to ramble on about how long he has worked (which only helps him in terms of years of service toward retirement and nothing else) and who he has worked with, yada yada yada. It is obvious you have no answer.
I am fiercely loyal to the university, would do anything I can to make them a winner, and I have worked for a lot longer than 17 years. Maybe I should be AD????
Have you been an AD for 17 years... If so, go for it.... If you can't read what everyone is posting.... And the links provided to you ... I don't know what else to say... I know this though, I will not respond to another one of your posts about this subject.... Either im in Troll hell, or you are a brick wall.. either way, I'm done with you...
 
Have you been an AD for 17 years... If so, go for it.... If you can't read what everyone is posting.... And the links provided to you ... I don't know what else to say... I know this though, I will not respond to another one of your posts about this subject.... Either im in Troll hell, or you are a brick wall.. either way, I'm done with you...
Probably a good thing since you still can't answer the question and have nothing meaningful further to add.
 
Probably a good thing since you still can't answer the question and have nothing meaningful further to add.

Helped bring in Holtz and Spurrier. McGee attested to this and the board knows it, that's why he has their support.

Davis at Newberry - most successful basketball coach in school history.

Triplet at Newberry - most successful baseball coach in school history.

Dave Paulsen at GMU. Jury is still out, the program has improved but they had a down year last year and Paulsen didn't get an extension. They're 4-0 right now.
 
Helped bring in Holtz and Spurrier. McGee attested to this and the board knows it, that's why he has their support.

Davis at Newberry - most successful basketball coach in school history.

Triplet at Newberry - most successful baseball coach in school history.

Dave Paulsen at GMU. Jury is still out, the program has improved but they had a down year last year and Paulsen didn't get an extension. They're 4-0 right now.

By anyone's account Nield Gordon was the most successful coach in Newberry history winning the district 6 title several times including an undefeated team that went to the quarterfinals of the national playoffs.
Horace Turbeville won several titles in baseball and took his team to the national playoffs as well and included wins over both USC and Clemson.
 
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT