Your Weekly Michigan State General Athletics Question and Answer Article
Hondo, I am convinced that if Mark Hollis doesn’t have an agent you should apply. What do you think is his single biggest quality that makes him successful? Matt
Mark Hollis has the single most difficult job at MSU, far more difficult than the President. MSU athletics has been used as a political pawn for so long and he was charged to fixing it. I think what makes Hollis very good at what he does is that he gets the big picture. He has to be political at times, but that isn’t what he is. He is about people. He cares about people.
Hondo, I was wondering after your comments about MSU swimming and the problems with the facilities and program last week what can be done? If their facilities are already worse than the MAC, let alone the Big Ten what can be done? Laura
Laura, let me give you an example. The University of Iowa just spent millions building a new aquatic center. The issue is that the school paid for it and NOT the athletic department. MSU has sub par aquatic facilities. If the school, which constantly takes from athletics and in my opinion takes advantage of it, would step up here is a great idea. The school should step up and build an amazing aquatic center that the water sports could use and the general student body. That would give the teams a chance to compete and the school to advance the program. Asking the non-athletic administration to actually become a partner with athletics seems far fetched at this time, but the times they be-a-changing and who knows if that could happen in the future. Coach G can win. He is a top tier coach. He has to get help.
Hondo, I was stunned to hear Hollis talk to you about building a new ice rink. Then Munn could become a student events center. How feasible is that? Tom
Tom, it is a great idea.  It is also out there a ways. Mark Hollis has so many balls to juggle and only a small amount of dollars to do with them, so the first step would be to get donors in place. They are out there and frankly the Spartan Nation stands solidly with Hollis and trust him. I think he will get it done. Not this year or next, but if he stays it will happen.
Hondo, I heard you say on your radio show that Mark Hollis, the MSU Athletic Director, is the single most important person in MSU athletics. Did you include Dantonio and Izzo in that mix? Kourt
I sure was Kourt. Izzo can be replaced and so can Dantonio. I think winning in football is SIGNIFICANTLY more difficult so replacing Dantonio and the money he has proven to generate would be harder than Izzo. With that said, Dantonio is here because of Hollis. There were a lot of people, above him, that wanted other candidates, but he stood firm for Dantonio and got his man. He is proven. He can navigate the deadly MSU political waters and is the man that can steer the ship.
Hondo, I had never heard of provost Wilcox before you having mentioned twice that he will be the next President when President Simon retires. Now that you have told us about him, do you think it is a good move and why? Larry
I support it wholeheartedly. He understands the ferocious politics that surround MSU. I don’t think he will run the University as some have in the past like a Washington political machine. I think he will run it like a University and unless he is in a room with Hollis, every room he walks in he will be the smartest person in it.
Hondo I am thankful that you are so honest about Cathy George. I know that some have complained, but I agree that she is a very good coach and can win. Josie
Thanks Josie! She is a winner and I think she can win here also.
OK everyone, there you go, our weekly general MSU athletics Q and A article. We will continue them every Tuesday morning (usually), so if you have a question (not about basketball or football) here is a simple way to get it here. Send your questions to SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put in the subject line general. If it doesn’t get answered in the article you will get a personal response. Thank you!
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