New Prez a former Redskin? Good Omen for Thursday!

[b bulldog]

Diehard football fans will recognize him once they see his picture. I remember him from the Hogs era. I think he played S like our Murphy . He was apart of some very good Redskins teams.

[Bretsky]

This is interesting; honestly I'm kind of surprised this was the best guy they could find experience wise. Maybe Reinfeldt was a pipe dream and the Texans were not going to give him the opportunity. But I'd be surprised if we hired a guy that lacked some more intense NFL background and experience

Bob Harlan has stated a few times that he has always felt it was very important to hire somebody with loads of background and experience in the NFL. Based on candidates being discussed I'm not sure the search committee would agree with that assertion.

I never heard they wanted a guy with "intense" NFL experience. This guy is the former Redskins safety, so it's not like he doesn't have any experience with the NFL.

I kinda thought Harlen meant front office experience but he did say NFL experience.....so the fact he played fits that criteria.......and it is the Redskins Murphy not the Packer one, not that that matters much.

You are right in that he meant NFL experience in the front office....so he had a pretty good understanding of how the league works behind the obvious of what players and fans see. Who knows if this turns out to be good or not; hopefully this group doesn't mettle in the FB business

[swede]

The article I just read at the top of this thread suggested that he had experience as a player, possessed an ambitious and active intellect and continued his schooling during and after his NFL career, had obtained a law degree and spent four years in the justice department, had worked for the NFLPA, had a working relationship with Paul Tagliabue, and had worked as a College AD in a couple different programs.

That is almost a perfect template for the job of Packer President.

[The Leaper]

That is almost a perfect template for the job of Packer President.

Huh?

You need some BUSINESS experience, I believe. Running the Packers organization is a FOR PROFIT business. You have to know how to appease customers. You need to understand the small market obstacles facing the Packers in the big market business of the NFL.

Being a lawyer and working for the NFLPA doesn't seem to me perfect qualifications for running the Packers. It isn't bad...but I wouldn't label it perfect. I thought there were others in the running who actually possessed better qualifications in terms of prior experience. Guys who worked in high positions running other small market NFL teams with success.

[Patler]

Murphy might fit kind of nicely, especially with Wied also in the picture to form a front office "team" on the administration side.

Wied is awful young, 35 I think. He will be named the "President in waiting" at some point in the future is my guess.

Wied has a lot of current league experience, from what I have heard. Murphy is experienced with the Union and league negotiations with the Union. I suspect he had contacts at the league office other than just Tagliabue.

Much of the Packer job is PR. That was actually Harlan's background. Murphy as a trial lawyer and Athletic Director should be good in front of audiences, the press, etc. He should have good negotiating skills.

An AD also runs a big business, and a University athletic department is somewhat akin to the Packer structure. A University Board of Regents sets general policy, acts on major things but should stay out of the day to day running of the business, just like the Packer Board should. The close parallel is that, unlike general businesses, and even other pro-teams, there is no real owner in either the Packers or a University. Also there are no shareholders with any real power or influence. Each has to be run to sustain itself, not to make profit for owners. I think the parallels are there.

Murphy is obviously an intelligent, hardworking and ambitious guy. I think it could work well.

[Carolina_Packer]

Yeah, not many guys who go for their MBA while they are playing. I did read an article that said because of his style of play he had sustained about 6 or 7 concussions in his playing days.

I guess you just have to trust the powers that be that they know who's best for the job. As concerning as the 11th hour decision to back off of John Jones was, at least they saw the error of their ways and corrected it. Sure, it made them look silly, but they avoided what they saw and further problems.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I hate him already. What has he done for the pack so far? He is just doing nothing.

I don't care what he does cause if he doesn't reach the personal benchmarks i've established for him then he is a LOSER.

Well done!

[The Leaper]

An AD also runs a big business, and a University athletic department is somewhat akin to the Packer structure.

I would agree...but Northwestern?? That university is about academics, not athletics. Granted, it does provide some experience...but I'd rather have someone with NFL experience in that regard, not Northwestern AD experience. If he was the AD at Illinois or Georgia...I'd be more impressed.

I'm not saying this guy isn't qualified. He looks like a solid enough pick. I just don't think I'd say he has perfect qualifications. Few candidates would, but I did feel there were a couple of other guys who had stronger qualifications ON PAPER...although that isn't all that meaningful.

Harlan's position is basically what the owner is to other franchises. The board also has a say in Green Bay, obviously, but they aren't the face of the organization that Harlan is. That is why I think business experience is very important. Most successful owners have some kind of business background.

[Patler]

Looks like Murphy has done well. From the Northwestern website (emphasis mine):

Mark H. Murphy was named the 20th director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation at Northwestern University in June 2003, and has been at the helm for four of the finest athletic years in school history.

In the past four years, Murphy has overseen a 19-sport program that has won nine conference team championships and 34 individual Big Ten titles, including 13 in 2006-07 alone. Northwestern has garnered 13 conference Coach of the Year accolades, 19 Player of the Year and 11 Freshman of the Year honors. A total of 49 student-athletes have earned first-team All-America distinction, with 32 of those honors coming in the last two years (16 in both 2005-06 and 06-07). There have been eight individual national championships (four coming in 2006-07) and three NCAA team titles, 216 all-conference honorees and 505 Academic All-Big Ten certificates in Murphy's tenure, along with 10 CoSIDA Academic All-America awards and 28 CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees.

NU had its best sports season in program history in 2005-06. Eleven sports earned postseason berths, and women's lacrosse and men's swimming's Matt Grevers successfully defended their NCAA championships from the year before. Cristelle Grier and Alexis Prousis of women's tennis won the 2006 NCAA doubles championship to add to Northwestern's exploding total of titles. Softball nearly made it two team titles in 2006, advancing all the way to the final pairing of the Women's College World Series.

In 2006-07, the Wildcats continued to improve as a department, sending 10 sports to the NCAA postseason and earning an astounding four individual national titles (three for men's swimming) and one NCAA team title courtesy of women's lacrosse.

As a department, Northwestern finished 30th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings with a school-best 626.5 points. NU has been in the top-30 in the standings for the past three seasons. Northwestern finished sixth among Big Ten schools for the third-straight year after not placing higher than ninth in any previous season.

Following the 2006-07 season, Murphy was named the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) AstroTurf Football Bowl Subdivision Central Region AD of the Year.

"I am very excited about the future of our program," says Murphy. "We offer student-athletes a truly unique combination-a chance to receive a first-class education at one of the top universities in the country while playing athletics at the highest level. I think we can serve as a role model for schools nationally by showing that you can combine excellence in athletics with excellence in academics."

A former professional football player who holds both a law degree and an MBA, Murphy brought a record of similar success both on and off the field from his 11 years as athletic director at Colgate, a member of the NCAA Division I Patriot League. During his tenure, Colgate's football program went from 0-11 in 1995 to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA I-AA playoffs, and the men's basketball team twice advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Colgate women's soccer team captured eight Patriot League championships and made three NCAA tournament appearances, while the women's volleyball team went to the NCAA tournament twice. In addition, the softball and men's ice hockey teams also made appearances in the NCAA tournament.

During that same time, Colgate, like Northwestern, had some of the highest graduation rates for student-athletes in Division I athletics. Northwestern's graduation rates for student-athletes are perennially among the best in Division I-A while Colgate also has been in the top 10.

"Mark understands our goals and values at Northwestern: to maintain the highest academic standards while competing at the highest level on the field and providing outstanding recreational opportunities for our students," says Northwestern President Henry S. Bienen when he first introduced Murphy. "We are confident that, under his direction, Northwestern's athletics will continue its recent track record of success and our club sports and recreational offerings will be enhanced even further for the entire Northwestern community."

A 1977 graduate of Colgate, where he was captain of both the football and baseball teams, Murphy brings a varied background to his position. He holds a master's in business administration from American University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He worked on his MBA in the off-seasons while a player for the Washington Redskins pro football team.

Murphy was a safety for Washington from 1977-85, co-captain from 1980-85, co-captain of two Super Bowl teams and a first-team Pro Bowl player in 1983. When he completed his playing career, he served as assistant executive director of the National Football League Players Association.

After receiving his law degree, Murphy was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as a radio commentator for NPR for 10 years, analyzing football games and commenting on other sports issues.

Murphy became Colgate's athletic director in 1992. During that time, he significantly improved the school's athletic facilities, including a new fitness center, an Astroturf stadium for field hockey and lacrosse, a cross-country trail, and improvements to numerous other athletic facilities.

Murphy and his wife, Laurie, who also is a Colgate graduate, have four children: Katie, 24, a graduate of Harvard who played basketball for the Crimson; Emily, 21, a junior at Middlebury; Brian, 18; and Anna, 16.

[MadScientist]

Looks like Murphy has done well. From the Northwestern website (emphasis mine):

Thanks for digging up Murphy's bio. He has a track record of success, lets hope it continues. His biggest weakness is that he doesn't have recent NFL experience, but that might not be such a bad thing, since he won't have 'his own guys' to bring in on the football side of the organization, but since he is an outsider, he doesn't have any reason to keep people who aren't working out.

I had been rooting for Brandt, but perhaps that would have caused some issues when a guy who was working for TT suddenly becomes his boss.

[Cleft Crusty]

Murphy is still holding a grudge against the Packers for getting whipped on the MNF game back in 1983. I mean, he blew the coverage on Gerry Ellis, allowing a huge completion down the middle for the Packers' final score. It wasn't his fault that Moseley botched the final FG, but for a guy having a career year with 9 INTs, you think he could have stepped up in that game. I don't trust defensive backs as a rule, and I suspect there are evil, hidden motives behind that craggy facade.

[Patler]

Thanks for digging up Murphy's bio. He has a track record of success, lets hope it continues. His biggest weakness is that he doesn't have recent NFL experience, but that might not be such a bad thing, since he won't have 'his own guys' to bring in on the football side of the organization, but since he is an outsider, he doesn't have any reason to keep people who aren't working out.
.

I think that's where Jason Wied comes in. It has been mentioned that Wied has attended all league meetings for several years, and has been learning the ropes quickly. Further, Murphy will not be a stranger to many in the league administration from his careers as a player and as a union official after his playing days. He is not a true outsider, as someone from the business world with no NFL background would have been.

If he was a close to Tagliabue as some articles have implied, I suspect he is known in league circles.

[The Leaper]

Following the 2006-07 season, Murphy was named the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) AstroTurf Football Bowl Subdivision Central Region AD of the Year.

My my...that is a mouthful.

Were they able to fit all of that on the award he got?

[The Leaper]

I still think NFL front office experience trumps being a college AD...but he's not a poor choice.

[pbmax]

I think being Athletic Director at Colgate and then Northwestern might have better prepared him for the small market realities of Green Bay's NFL franchise than you might think at first glance.

I am glad they didn't just pick the most recognizable names off a press release or the search firms first survey. That's good.

Lawyer? check. Knows Upshaw, Tags and possibly Goodell? Check. Management experience? Check. Has managed both people and complex organization with a sales and operating budget? Check.

Former Redskin who might reverse the weird juju of Lombardi retiring from the Packers only to go coach the Redskins? Check.

I would fear Harlan's warning about league experience more if he hadn't been so far wrong with Jones for years. Has anyone seen an explanation of how Harlan had been so wrong for so long that it only came to a head in the month before JJ's ascension?

Was the revolt against JJ from those under him or did the anti-Jones people find allies on the board?