The CheckerBoard

He didn't hire Serrano.

He's the reason we're where we are in football, which is enough reason to fire him. He made a great hire with Cuonzo.

This cannot be a serious post. I'm not going to argue, I just can't believe this post.

Great man. Great fundraiser. Poor administrator.

I called Hamilton on the day UT hired Serrano and asked him for comment.

He told me that while Serrano was his choice from day 1, he didn't want to comment because "I want people to give the guy a chance."

Classy guy, that Mike Hamilton.

Mike is making a greater difference doing what he is doing. He is a great man of God with supreme moral fiber. I will not trash him. His handling of Fulmer, hiring and handling of Kiffin, PR blunders and sabotaging last year's basketball final run are areas where he deserves some blame but I have written thousands of words on that. I wish him well in life. My two cents were shared. We are better off and so is the world with him where he is.

End of my words on MH. Long live Dave Hart!

There is no question that Mike Hamilton blundered his way through public relations. No question. But I have said from the beginning that his hires were amazing. Absolutely amazing. Bruce Pearl, Lane Kiffin (I know how it turned out, but look what he is doing at SC - not bad), Derek Dooley, Cuonzo Martin, and Dave Serrano(ish). That is pretty impressive in terms of talent evaluation and you've got to give the man his due on that. Period.

He was a NIGHTMARE with PR, but his instincts hiring coaches was actually pretty spot on.

In the long run after emotions cool, Hamilton will be known as a very good AD. No man is mistake free in his business decisions and bats a 1000. Overall, Pat was already here, football was doing well, Bruce was a good coach, and Martin / Serrano seems to be excellent so far. But at UT, your only as good at the moment as football goes. Football is the money machine and what UT is known for. (Pat would argue that). Unfortunately, when Hammy did strike out, it was on the sacred sport. The Fulmer/Kiffin/Dooley thing was too much and the jury is still out. If Dooley does well, he will cement his place as a great AD. If not, many will not recognize the many good things he accomplished.

LOUD NOISES!!!

The fulmer extension and then fire was so bad that I can't get past it. Hamilton should have stepped up after 2005.

Right you are. Nice +1 and welcome.

I am of the opinion that you can't judge Mike Hamilton on any of the hires that were made when he was the AD. If I recall we paid lots and lots of money to a consulting firm to find the coaches that were hired. While I dont think anyone can deny the good things that he was able to accomplish with the facility upgrades, I for one make my judgement on how he handled the coaches once they were hired. I personally place all of the multiple sport NCAA mess on his shoulders along with the collapse of the other smaller sports that happened on his watch. The comment on Pearl before the tourney last year was also inexcusable IMO.