UF has fired all staff in positions related to DEI.

Emmitt was spitting a lot of truth. I'm disappointed the only thing you made mention of from the article was a tongue-in-cheek comment. But I'm grateful you posted the article. I hadn't seen it.

 

It wasn’t the only thing I got out of the article. But I highlighted it because it’s part of a larger pattern with him and UF. I don’t like Ron any more than he does, and I don’t at all like his path for UF, at a high level I agree with Emmitt…but he keeps tearing UF down over something it had no control over, and continues to use rhetoric that will only divide further and bring more bad press.
And much of his history with UF has been one of a disgruntled alum. Stayed away for years after he left early, at one point I think he said he had wished he had gone to another school, mentioned just about it everyone he’s ever known in his HOF acceptance speech and left UF out, among other things.
Now this.
If he really wants to help improve things, try and build bridges to solve the problems instead of constantly finding ways to criticize or minimize and doing nothing substantive. Look at the other UF greats and how they have stayed connected to the school, and have helped enormously. Danny, Steve, Tim etc. What has Emmitt done? If it bothers him that much and he genuinely cares about UF, do something about it.

 

It was an interview, and they asked him a question about NIL. Understandably, he feels cheated that he couldn't make money off his name, image, and likeness in college. I imagine you'd hear the same from a lot of elite college athletes from those days.

End of the day, UF could try building a bridge, but it prefers to stay in Ron's good graces. That's its choice. I don't blame Emmitt for feeling the way he does. If I had a college-aged kid, I would be encouraging them to not attend any public university in Florida, including UF. And I say that as a third-generation Gator. Why should Emmitt give back to a university that just sent a clear message that it doesn't give a damn about people who look like him?

 

This is a ridiculous statement. I’m glad you are a supposed lawyer because your proclivity for manufacturing an argument should serve you well in billing efforts.

 

Nope. It is an accurate statement. As for your little attempt at a dig, thanks for the laugh. Swing and a miss.

 

Crappy post on multiple levels, Mr. Snatch.

 

Emmitt is about Emmitt, always has been

 

Looks like Michael Jordon can be super pissed off now.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/23/us/unc-dei-policy-vote-reaj/index.html

 

And UF is about UF.

 

If you and @gator_lawyer don't agree with it then I’m spot on. If we ever agree then I’ll be ready for a memory care unit.

 

Memory ain't the issue.

 

This wasn’t UF’s decision.
But even if UF is really about UF, then there’s rational self interest. If enough alumni organize they would do something, because they had to.
so he could organize a donation boycott, with other athletes he could organize a boycott of recruits to the state, he could ask for a meeting with Sasse to voice his concerns to open dialogue (and yes Sasse would take that meeting), he could organize boycotts of advertisers, contractors etc. but that’s never his MO.
He has been seemingly disgruntled since ‘89 and as far as I know hasn’t done a thing to make things better for anyone behind him, other than to publicly complain about UF, or passive aggressively dismiss it. If he truly cares, then do something. Or stop complaining.

 

This was UF's decision. A number of other universities found ways to work around SB 266. UF made a choice to take a different tack. The fact that DeSantis and the Legislature set the events in motion doesn't exonerate UF.

He is doing something. He's criticizing UF publicly. Some other prominent Black alumni reached out to UF and asked UF to use private funds to keep those programs in place. As far as I know, UF either didn't respond or refused. UF has the means to fix this. It doesn't want to do it. Because it cares more about what DeSantis and the Legislature think than what it's alumni think, even famous alumni like Emmitt.

 

You questioned whether or not @gator_lawyer is really a lawyer. It would be patently obvious to anyone who knows what an attorney is that G_L is one. Worse, you strongly implied he would falsify his billing statements, essentially stealing from his clients...basically calling him a thief. That is especially galling and you owe him an apology. Not expecting you to do so, just stating it should happen. Manners issue, not memory.

 

Agree with some of Emmitt's points and cant defend Sasse or DeSantis, but coming from a guy that has long lived/worked in Texas, maybe Emmitt should focus on the Texas political landscape. Texas isn't exactly a bastion of DEI support.

Texas universities slashed hundreds of jobs and programs after state's DEI ban (msn.com)

Maybe I missed it, but I cant recall Emmitt ever talking up UF much, except maybe when we were winning NCs and he got to roam the sidelines occasionally.

 

It's okay. I don't bill my clients. The only party I could possibly "steal" from by falsifying my billing statements would be the government.

So I'm not remotely bothered by the insult. Just amused.

 

As I pointed out last time, the professors are all still there. They just got different tittles, which is exactly what FSU did for example. And as great as private funds would be; it’s not practical against the law that was passed from what I heard. You can’t be a public employee with private financing, they would be working for UF regardless.
The only difference in what UF did was the layoffs of the front line folks, but they gave them priority decisioning if they applied for other jobs. They would all have found something if they truly wanted to, there is a ton of sympathetic faculty, and I am sure at least some who would have roles that weren’t dissimilar to what they were doing.
if you want to say FSU handled the PR side of it better, then sure. But the practical difference was small.
And again, none of it was started by UF.

As far as Emmitt, anyone can complain. He has a unique platform to actually do something, and he chooses not to. His right, but that’s exactly why he’s largely being ignored. It’s lip service and has been with him for 35 years. The next time he truly takes a stand and gets his hands dirty on something will be the first time. Again, he’s not obligated to,
but if he truly cares, then do something more than complain to a reporter.

But my point is made, for better or worse.

 

That's fine, but not really an apples to apples comparison. And for that matter what is "UF"? Isn't it the students, the alumni, even the fan base and to some extent the Gainesville community and even the state of Florida? So yes, UF is about UF....at times in all those ways.
But for the scope of this particular point re Emmitt, he seems to be representing himself as a spokesman for a large segment when in actuality he has largely been inactive in such affairs for decades. It lends itself to a self serving tone, especially given he pretty quickly drifted into NIL/comp for athletes, etc...which really has nothing to do with the topic at hand and only sends the signal he "didn't get his".

 

You forgot the part where UF laid a bunch of people off, unlike other institutions, which moved them into different roles. And that's not even getting into some of the other shit UF is doing behind the scenes.

As for the law, it all depends on one's interpretation. If UF used private donations, according to the FL BOG regulation, they should be in the clear. This is how the BOG defined "state funds":
"'State funds' are those funds provided to a university or direct-support organization for a university directly or indirectly by an appropriation by the Florida Legislature. This includes financial aid provided to the university by or on behalf of a student attending the university if that financial aid is provided to the student via a state government aid or grant program."

You can keep minimizing UF's actions, but you're not correct.

Emmitt is using his platform to speak out against wrongs. I say good for him. He doesn't owe me anything. He doesn't owe UF anything. I don't blame him one bit if he has decided trying to fix UF isn't worth more of his time.

 

UF is a university. A university that is looking out for its own best interests, regardless of what's best for its faculty, students, and alumni. UF is about UF. He also didn't "drift" into NIL. The interviewer asked him the question.