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Is ETSU Athletic Director Scott Carter a “Yes” Man?
Consider how he’s handled certain situations in his career
A quote from East Tennessee State athletic director Scott Carter that was re-run ad nauseam over last summer on the Buccaneers flagship radio station comes to mind following the events that caused Jason Shay’s resignation as ETSU head men’s basketball coach.
That, seemingly above all, what Carter wanted to do as ETSU athletic director was “build great relationships.”
Not win games. Not increase the profile of the athletic department. Not increase the graduation rate or produce professional people or any of the 10 things linked to above.
“Build great relationships.”
Like relationships with boosters that might take away the coach’s loaner car if the booster was offended by players kneeling for the national anthem.
Granted, an athletic department is only going to grow as far as the boosters surrounding the program are willing to fund it.
But when a booster’s actions begin to influence the comfort level of the coaching staff and players, something is wrong.
Carter now seems to be so beholden to his boosters, to “build great relationships,” that he has allowed the boosters to have more influence than they should.
