Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Back-to-back PL champs 2016 and 2017.... but need to get back to relevance in the national FCS scene.
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Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by lfnadmin » Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:36 am

As a veteran of WW II and Korea, imagine being a buck private and your orders are to a platoon led with history of defeat by a Captain Gilmore. Now imagine total point score differential as casualties on both sides. Something told to me as an 18 year, "A good general believes an infantryman is replaceable. A GREAT general believes an infantryman is IRREPLACEABLE!."

There are great leaders out there. Lehigh took a chance years ago on a high school coach named John Whitehead. Phil Stambaugh was a pretty tough wrestler, pitcher and QB. Even played at Lehigh. Has great leadership ability and a mind for football. If I were President or AD, I'd be looking at that guy. Leaders of men are out there. These young men deserve someone who can lead them into something bother than slaughter.

LEHIGH has been lost for a decade or more. It is time for alumni to demand accountability, not just in sports,but in academia too.

I sent my letter seeking termination of Sterrett as AD and Gilmore as Head Football Coach for reasons previously presented as well as here. Lehigh as an institution deserves better across all areas of the institution. Next step is academic output of faculty.

Bombard President with action letters to his email.


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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by DF2002 » Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:56 am

HFO wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:36 am As a veteran of WW II and Korea, imagine being a buck private and your orders are to a platoon led with history of defeat by a Captain Gilmore. Now imagine total point score differential as casualties on both sides. Something told to me as an 18 year, "A good general believes an infantryman is replaceable. A GREAT general believes an infantryman is IRREPLACEABLE!."

There are great leaders out there. Lehigh took a chance years ago on a high school coach named John Whitehead. Phil Stambaugh was a pretty tough wrestler, pitcher and QB. Even played at Lehigh. Has great leadership ability and a mind for football. If I were President or AD, I'd be looking at that guy. Leaders of men are out there. These young men deserve someone who can lead them into something bother than slaughter.

LEHIGH has been lost for a decade or more. It is time for alumni to demand accountability, not just in sports,but in academia too.

I sent my letter seeking termination of Sterrett as AD and Gilmore as Head Football Coach for reasons previously presented as well as here. Lehigh as an institution deserves better across all areas of the institution. Next step is academic output of faculty.

Bombard President with action letters to his email.
+1000

And thanks for your service!!
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by jimk72 » Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:20 pm

Thank you for your service! Hopefully new President Helble '82 understood the challenge before accepting the job. A very big job......
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by Mountain Hawk » Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:45 pm

Another way is to close your checkbooks until things change. Promise you, they’ll notice that.
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by IPSY1975 » Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:31 pm

Great Post HFO and yes thank you for your service! Sterret could never recognize leadership because he is too busy embracing mediocrity. But I doubt he will dismiss TG till end of season ..I hope.

Nothing more to add..you said it all. Whitehead was a Gem. Great moments for Lehigh football and started an asent to future great Programs

Sent my letter in this month and basically told Pres H not to expect any donation or attendance for games. Plus, seek out new AD pronto. I hope Admin gets a landslide of mail

Cheers!
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by TMH » Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:53 am

This entire thread IMHO is pathetic on so many levels.

I follow Lehigh athletics, all of it, as passionately as perhaps anyone of this forum but even I don't judge the success and failure of a University by a win or loss on the athletic field at any moment in time. If that is your thing, you should have attended Alabama. Of course, your education would have been substandard but you would be elated on Saturday afternoons.

COVID has affected every facet of life, whether you want to believe it or not. Universities were certainly no exception. Every institution handled it differently. Many universities are cutting athletic programs. Athletic budgets were being cut across the board. Some handled it better than others depending on priorities. Nobody here understands the underpinnings of what it takes to run a University.

I learned a long time ago that the people who complain the most never really donated much to begin with. Of course there are exceptions. Logic tells me though that the way to improve a financially strapped department is probably not in withholding funds. Cathy Englebert apparently has not gotten your memo since it was announced yesterday that she is contributing $1M primarily to fund scholarships for female athletes.

Last night, I had the privilege to attend the Leadership dinner at Lehigh. Joe Sterrett was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to Lehigh that spans 49 years. Virtually all coaches and many athletes attended strictly to honor Joe. He was given a standing ovation. I've known Joe for quite some time. He bleeds Brown and White like very few others. Murray Goodman gave a video testimonial to his relationship with Joe. He apparently never got the memo either. It was very evident that Joe has taken these last two years hard and personally. I'm sure he is aware of the kind of drivel that emanates from these boards lately. It just all seemed so wrong.

My guess is that Joe will retire shortly, hopefully with the dignity he deserves. Lehigh will find a replacement and if we aren't winning multiple PL Championships almost immediately, the outcry will commence again. Some will say it's unbridled passion. I think you just don't understand Lehigh.
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by DF2002 » Sun Oct 17, 2021 11:14 am

TMH wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:53 am This entire thread IMHO is pathetic on so many levels.

I follow Lehigh athletics, all of it, as passionately as perhaps anyone of this forum but even I don't judge the success and failure of a University by a win or loss on the athletic field at any moment in time. If that is your thing, you should have attended Alabama. Of course, your education would have been substandard but you would be elated on Saturday afternoons.

COVID has affected every facet of life, whether you want to believe it or not. Universities were certainly no exception. Every institution handled it differently. Many universities are cutting athletic programs. Athletic budgets were being cut across the board. Some handled it better than others depending on priorities. Nobody here understands the underpinnings of what it takes to run a University.

I learned a long time ago that the people who complain the most never really donated much to begin with. Of course there are exceptions. Logic tells me though that the way to improve a financially strapped department is probably not in withholding funds. Cathy Englebert apparently has not gotten your memo since it was announced yesterday that she is contributing $1M primarily to fund scholarships for female athletes.

Last night, I had the privilege to attend the Leadership dinner at Lehigh. Joe Sterrett was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to Lehigh that spans 49 years. Virtually all coaches and many athletes attended strictly to honor Joe. He was given a standing ovation. I've known Joe for quite some time. He bleeds Brown and White like very few others. Murray Goodman gave a video testimonial to his relationship with Joe. He apparently never got the memo either. It was very evident that Joe has taken these last two years hard and personally. I'm sure he is aware of the kind of drivel that emanates from these boards lately. It just all seemed so wrong.

My guess is that Joe will retire shortly, hopefully with the dignity he deserves. Lehigh will find a replacement and if we aren't winning multiple PL Championships almost immediately, the outcry will commence again. Some will say it's unbridled passion. I think you just don't understand Lehigh.
Even a generous interpretation of these comments show you have largely misunderstood the the point.

Nobody is judging the school based on the football’s team performance. If that’s what you think is happening, you’ve missed the point.

Sterrett’s career shouldn’t be judged based on the last two seasons. I also don’t think any is suggesting that it should be. I, and others, are saying it’s time for that career to come its close- as all eventually do. It’s a shame this may be his swan song but we can’t turn back the clock. The RECENT criticism of Sterrett is deserved. And perhaps your and others’ personal loyalty to him makes it easy for you to look past what ware plainly clear failures. The rest of us have the luxury of being able to look at the last few years a bit more objectively because we have no personal ties to the man.


So, we can be both critical for good reason and grateful for a career of dedicated service. JS deserves the recognition he received for his service- yes. He also deserves to be escorted out the door… as graciously as can be done. But go he must.
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by Go Lehigh TU Owl » Sun Oct 17, 2021 12:54 pm

TMH wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:53 am This entire thread IMHO is pathetic on so many levels.

I follow Lehigh athletics, all of it, as passionately as perhaps anyone of this forum but even I don't judge the success and failure of a University by a win or loss on the athletic field at any moment in time. If that is your thing, you should have attended Alabama. Of course, your education would have been substandard but you would be elated on Saturday afternoons.

COVID has affected every facet of life, whether you want to believe it or not. Universities were certainly no exception. Every institution handled it differently. Many universities are cutting athletic programs. Athletic budgets were being cut across the board. Some handled it better than others depending on priorities. Nobody here understands the underpinnings of what it takes to run a University.

I learned a long time ago that the people who complain the most never really donated much to begin with. Of course there are exceptions. Logic tells me though that the way to improve a financially strapped department is probably not in withholding funds. Cathy Englebert apparently has not gotten your memo since it was announced yesterday that she is contributing $1M primarily to fund scholarships for female athletes.

Last night, I had the privilege to attend the Leadership dinner at Lehigh. Joe Sterrett was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to Lehigh that spans 49 years. Virtually all coaches and many athletes attended strictly to honor Joe. He was given a standing ovation. I've known Joe for quite some time. He bleeds Brown and White like very few others. Murray Goodman gave a video testimonial to his relationship with Joe. He apparently never got the memo either. It was very evident that Joe has taken these last two years hard and personally. I'm sure he is aware of the kind of drivel that emanates from these boards lately. It just all seemed so wrong.

My guess is that Joe will retire shortly, hopefully with the dignity he deserves. Lehigh will find a replacement and if we aren't winning multiple PL Championships almost immediately, the outcry will commence again. Some will say it's unbridled passion. I think you just don't understand Lehigh.
TMH,

All summer you believed in fairy tales about how the football program was on solid footbing and how it was impossible to "foresee" the disaster that anyone who did their research knew what was about to occur. I appreciate your love for Lehigh but you also seem blind to obvious, glaring issues. Gilmore will not turn this around! He's neither a good coach or, imo, a quality individual. It was an egregious hire by Sterrett! One bad hire does not erase 33 years of invaluable contributions to the university. However, this was arguably the biggest test of Sterrett's tenure and he did not handle it well, at all. What makes it considerably worse is the fact numerous people questioned Sterrett's hiring decision from start. It's one thing to bring a coach with a less than stellar W/L record. What made this hire so bad is the questions that surrounds Gilmore's character, ability to relate with people.

Also, while "we" might not understand the underpinnings of "what it takes" to run a university some of us have more background/knowledge than others. Hence, why I am seriously considering my Ph.D. in Ed Leadership (Higher-ed). In fact, I've already reached out to Lehigh's program....
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by TMH » Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:08 pm

HFO wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:36 am As a veteran of WW II and Korea, imagine being a buck private and your orders are to a platoon led with history of defeat by a Captain Gilmore. Now imagine total point score differential as casualties on both sides. Something told to me as an 18 year, "A good general believes an infantryman is replaceable. A GREAT general believes an infantryman is IRREPLACEABLE!."

There are great leaders out there. Lehigh took a chance years ago on a high school coach named John Whitehead. Phil Stambaugh was a pretty tough wrestler, pitcher and QB. Even played at Lehigh. Has great leadership ability and a mind for football. If I were President or AD, I'd be looking at that guy. Leaders of men are out there. These young men deserve someone who can lead them into something bother than slaughter.

LEHIGH has been lost for a decade or more. It is time for alumni to demand accountability, not just in sports,but in academia too.

I sent my letter seeking termination of Sterrett as AD and Gilmore as Head Football Coach for reasons previously presented as well as here. Lehigh as an institution deserves better across all areas of the institution. Next step is academic output of faculty.

Bombard President with action letters to his email.
Life has a way of giving us different perspectives. I read every one of your posts but unfortunately agree with very little and so the discussion goes on.

I had a very good friend who died recently and fought in virtually every major battle in the African and European theatre as part of the Fighting 1st Division under Patton and theoretically Eisenhauer. His take was that the infantrymen (grunts I believe he called them) were like pawns in a giant chess match. The "Grand Masters" would gladly sacrifice them for the "greater cause".

I do find it somewhat strange to compare war with an extracurricular college sport. Apparently, the generals at West Point don't equate them or Army would have had more than 5 winning seasons in the last 25 years. Ironically, 4 of those campaigns were under current Head Coach Jeff Monken who went 4-8 and 2-10 in his 1st 2 seasons. In hindsight, a similar letter to the brass would have seemed foolish then. Army has a far larger budget than Lehigh.

So to correct your history. John Whitehead was brought on at Lehigh to coach the offensive line (3 seasons). Only then did he become the OC (6 years) before becoming the HC. Phil Stambaugh, per a variety of sources, has no intention of leaving his job as Dean of Students, teacher and football coach at Notre Dame to come to Lehigh or anywhere else.

If I'm not mistaken, you have already informed the University that you are not giving the University a dime because they took back and honorary degree from someone you obviously look up to. You may be out of ammo.

I'm sure you look back at your years at Lehigh with rose-tinted glasses but Lehigh still prepares their students exceptionally well for the real world. They rank #21 in the country in terms of salaries, interestingly just ahead of Cal-Berkley. They are tied for 10th for most CEOs in Fortune 500. Along with Bucknell, they have far fewer undergraduates than the others.

Lehigh is doing just fine where it counts. Save your ink.
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Re: Demand Accountability. Letters to President Heible

Post by Go Lehigh TU Owl » Mon Oct 18, 2021 7:59 pm

TMH wrote: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:08 pm
HFO wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:36 am As a veteran of WW II and Korea, imagine being a buck private and your orders are to a platoon led with history of defeat by a Captain Gilmore. Now imagine total point score differential as casualties on both sides. Something told to me as an 18 year, "A good general believes an infantryman is replaceable. A GREAT general believes an infantryman is IRREPLACEABLE!."

There are great leaders out there. Lehigh took a chance years ago on a high school coach named John Whitehead. Phil Stambaugh was a pretty tough wrestler, pitcher and QB. Even played at Lehigh. Has great leadership ability and a mind for football. If I were President or AD, I'd be looking at that guy. Leaders of men are out there. These young men deserve someone who can lead them into something bother than slaughter.

LEHIGH has been lost for a decade or more. It is time for alumni to demand accountability, not just in sports,but in academia too.

I sent my letter seeking termination of Sterrett as AD and Gilmore as Head Football Coach for reasons previously presented as well as here. Lehigh as an institution deserves better across all areas of the institution. Next step is academic output of faculty.

Bombard President with action letters to his email.
Life has a way of giving us different perspectives. I read every one of your posts but unfortunately agree with very little and so the discussion goes on.

I had a very good friend who died recently and fought in virtually every major battle in the African and European theatre as part of the Fighting 1st Division under Patton and theoretically Eisenhauer. His take was that the infantrymen (grunts I believe he called them) were like pawns in a giant chess match. The "Grand Masters" would gladly sacrifice them for the "greater cause".

I do find it somewhat strange to compare war with an extracurricular college sport. Apparently, the generals at West Point don't equate them or Army would have had more than 5 winning seasons in the last 25 years. Ironically, 4 of those campaigns were under current Head Coach Jeff Monken who went 4-8 and 2-10 in his 1st 2 seasons. In hindsight, a similar letter to the brass would have seemed foolish then. Army has a far larger budget than Lehigh.

So to correct your history. John Whitehead was brought on at Lehigh to coach the offensive line (3 seasons). Only then did he become the OC (6 years) before becoming the HC. Phil Stambaugh, per a variety of sources, has no intention of leaving his job as Dean of Students, teacher and football coach at Notre Dame to come to Lehigh or anywhere else.

If I'm not mistaken, you have already informed the University that you are not giving the University a dime because they took back and honorary degree from someone you obviously look up to. You may be out of ammo.

I'm sure you look back at your years at Lehigh with rose-tinted glasses but Lehigh still prepares their students exceptionally well for the real world. They rank #21 in the country in terms of salaries, interestingly just ahead of Cal-Berkley. They are tied for 10th for most CEOs in Fortune 500. Along with Bucknell, they have far fewer undergraduates than the others.

Lehigh is doing just fine where it counts. Save your ink.
TMH,

What did that man of 90+ years say that needed you to offer up the "perspective angle" in order push the conversion to the merits of war? By doing so you then opened the door to equate his service to that of a martyr. Which personally, I find deplorable given the theater in which we conversate on here. By doing so you tried to denounce his service credibility, thus his own perspective. It's an interesting approach to a conversion that runs far deeper than commentary on a Lehigh football thread allows.

I also find it fascinating that you are "perplexed" by the football/war correlation due to the fact the relationship has been touched on for well over a century. Teddy Roosevelt considered football as an ancillary military training component to war effort. This blurb I think sums up his take on the matter quite well.

"His belief that the football field was a proving ground for the battlefield was validated by the performance of his fellow Rough Riders who were former football standouts. “In life, as in a football game,” he wrote, “the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don’t foul and don’t shirk, but hit the line hard!” In 1903, the president told an audience, “I believe in rough games and in rough, manly sports. I do not feel any particular sympathy for the person who gets battered about a good deal so long as it is not fatal.” Klein, C. (2019, July 21).How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football.https://www.history.com/news/how-teddy- ... d-football

From academia, University of Virginia English Professor Mark Edmundson had a nice article touching on the parallel.
"Football is urban, tough and based to a large degree on the capacity to overwhelm the other team with sheer force. Football is a tank attack, a sky-borne assault, a charge into the trenches for hand-to-hand fighting. Football is following orders and sticking to the strategy; it’s about acting as a unit and taking hits for the group. Football is generals (coaches) and captains (quarterbacks) and the enlisted guys who play on the line."Edmundson, M. (2014, August 23). Football Is America's War Game.https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/l ... story.html

I also suggest researching how Bill Belichick Sr's time at the Naval Academy molded his son's hall of fame coaching philosophies. To relate the Army's recent lack of success (while failing to acknowledge Navy and Air Force's accomplishments) to a "failed military mentality" is patently absurd given the recruiting pool the academies pull from. Their use of the option as their preferred form of "attack" is implemented based on a calculated strategy relative to the available personnel. I guess that explains why Maj. Gen. George Pickett graduated last in his class at West Point?

The tenor of your posts leads me to believe you have some sort of administrative/faculty position(hopefully not history) at the university? If you that's true outstanding. These are the individuals who I will not back down from. I embrace both the challenge and inquiry. As the man whose 4 touchdowns led Polk High to the 1966 Chicago City Championship once said when he encountered his nemesis "Spare Tire" Dixon, Let's Rock!
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