Report: Texas AD Steve Patterson facing backlash from some boosters
Texas athletic director Steve Patterson is facing backlash from some boosters who feel he is alienating the school's coaches and fans, according to a report by HornsDigest.com.
According to the report, some of the Longhorns prominent boosters believe Patterson is prioritizing money over athletes and coaches.
Patterson was hired by Texas in November 2013 to replace longtime AD DeLoss Dodds, who retired.
“There is a total disconnect between this AD and the rest of the university,” Matt Herring, a former president of the Dallas Longhorn Club, told HornsDigest.com. “At a time when the football program needs all the support it can get, the program is receiving the opposite—all because of the athletic director.”
Former Longhorns football player and prominent booster Bob Moses, however, told Horns Digest that Patterson “needs time to implement his initiatives” and said change is hard, “but sometimes change is necessary.”
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Sally Lehr, who graduated from Texas in 1964, told HornsDigest.com that she thinks Patterson sees himself “as superior to the university.” Herring said Patterson has alienated coaches and has turned Longhorns fans into “mere customers.”
According to the report, Patterson denied a request by Charlie Strong to increase the salaries of his eight quality control coaches, who have the lowest salaries for their jobs in the Big 12. HornsDigest.com also reports that Patterson has cut charter flights for multiple athletic teams while spending money on team trips to places like China and Dubai as part of his global marketing initiative.
The chief revenue officer of Texas athletics told HornsDigest.com that season ticket prices increased by an average of 6% for 2015, however HornsDigest.com reports that its own analysis of the numbers (obtained through an open records request) show an increase of an average of 21.5%.
- Molly Geary
