Hmmm..

My initial reaction to Bray Cary’s decision to cancel interviews with Garrison detractors and others for this weekend’s Decision Makers was one of irritation.

But, of course, to land an hour-long “exclusive” with President Mike Garrison (I’m sure in exchange for dropping the detractors from the show) was a business decision.

Garrison convinced Bray that every word he said was the truth. 

And, Garrison is engaging and a likable guy. 

And, I believe MOST of what he said.  But, there were a few items I didn’t believe.  Not for a second.  Let’s analyze those first.

Well wait, let me say, overall, I thought Bray did a good job on the interview and I thought Garrison did a good job,  but it struck me as politician-esque in its delivery.  Bray took it easy on him for the most part, but also asked some tough questions.

Garrison is now in survival mode, so he is promising his constituent groups whatever it takes to keep his Presidency.  Staff - more salaries.  Huggins and WVU Basketball boosters - a new practice facility.  Huggins came out in support of Garrison… and quickly inked a long-term deal to go from $800,000 to $1,500,000 for life.  My guess is if you want ANYTHING from WVU, RIGHT NOW is the time to get it.

But back to the main point, a few points that I don’t believe that Bray bought hook, line and sinker.

Point #1 of disbelief (ALTHOUGH he did reveal more about his “conversations” with the Governor)

That he and the Governor “NEVER SPOKE” about the Bresch inquiry.

Of course, if you listened closely, Garrison NEVER said they didn’t speak during the five days in question or during the course of the investigation.  He simply pointed out that during the conversations they had that they didn’t discuss the Bresch matter.

In fact, Garrison admitted that he and the Governor had conversations during that time.  Actually, Bray was going to let him off the hook after Garrison said he and the Governor never had any conversations.

Then Garrison told Bray he wanted to clarify his statments:

Garrison: “Just to be clear on your question…  No discussions with the Governor.  I talk to the Governor a lot, not weekly necessarily, but I talk to him frequently.  We talk about legislative issues.  We talk about Bucks for Brains. We talk about, uh, you know, pop tax and how that may affect Health Sciences.  But, the first discussion we ever had, and really the only discussion we ever had about this issue, was in December and we maybe had a three or four minute discussion.

Cary: “In that, what did you all say to each other?”

Garrison: “Again, talking about another issue, and as I told the panel, he (Manchin) said ‘what about this story in the paper, what’s happening and you know you never mentioned anything to me about that.’ and I said, no I didn’t, there’s no reason for you to know about that and he (Manchin) said ‘I appreciate that’ and I said you know we’re going to have to take a look at that because clearly there is some confusion over it, I want it to be resolved…  the only suggestion he gave to me was to be transparent.”

Now, if you believe that one, I have some beachfront property in Kansas I’d like to sell you. 

And, I could have sworn I saw a shadow off-screen of a masked gunman who was shaped like Gov’s Chief of Staff Pucchio as Garrison gave the interview.

I’m sorry, I don’t believe it for a second and I’m surprised Bray does.  Does Bray know Joe?  Does Bray know Garrison?  So, according to Garrison they talk almost every week, which means they spoke multiple times during the course of October-December and they NEVER spoke a word about the Bresch matter?

Puhleez.

Of course, I know they have to say that, but for Bray to say he believed every word Garrison said is silly.  I don’t believe it, and neither do about 98% of the people watching this story.

But, what Garrison did is give himself and the Governor some protection by clarifying it.  If you listened closely, Garrison never said they didn’t speak.  He simply said they never had a discussion about the Bresch matter.

So, when the cell phone records do come out, and they show Garrison and Manchin having conversations during that time, he can simply say he already said they spoke, they spoke all the time, but the Bresch matter never came up.

Point #2 that I don’t believe that the media hasn’t followed up on…

That landline records aren’t available.

Sorry, I don’t believe it.

Garrison’s explanation: “what we’ve learned is that the voice-over IP… is that… unless you have to punch a keyID number in the calls are not logged from my landline, so there are no records for my landline…”

Sorry, I don’t believe it.  I do some consulting in the telecommunications field and sorry, but I don’t believe their phone carrier has no way of pulling those numbers. 

First, you have to bill for usage itself.  Second, even with “unlimited” long-distance, there are still records kept.  Third, there are some pretty strict FCC-federal government regulations after 9-11 that require the ability to track numbers in the case of needs of the FBI to have the ability to trace back calls during crime (or terrorist) investigations.  So, either their carrier is not following along the federal guidelines or there is an ability to get those records.

But, there is a much easier direction for the media to go. 

Simply FOIA the cell phone records of Manchin, Pucchio, Carte Goodwin, and the top of the Governor’s staff to see if THEY called WVU. 

How many calls were made between Pucchio and Walker?  How many between Goodwin and Walker?  And, Pucchio and Macia?  And, Manchin and Walker? 

That’s a much easier course for the media to take than to wait on AT&T or whoever the cell carrier is.  If you see Manchin, the dude has a cell phone tied to his ear, same with Pucchio.  FOIA their records during that time and see if they called Garrison, or Walker, or Macia.

OK, let’s get down to the bottomline.

A MAJOR, MAJOR screw-up of near biblical proportions occurred at WVU.

OK, I’ll dole out some free advice.

First to WVU BOG President Steve Goodwin, who I don’t know personally, but who seems like a good guy.  Please be quiet.  Goodwin has come off as arrogant and actually has inflamed the situation with his “we don’t answer to the students and faculty” and the “well, we run the university and if you don’t like it change the law.”

Ummm…  let’s see how politely to put this.  The LAST thing people want to hear is a “Screw you” commentary that basically says we all are idiots, they run the show, and if you don’t like it, vote everyone out of office and change the law.

Now, is NOT the time for anger and venom toward the people who pay the taxes that make up a major portion of the University budget.  Humility is in order.  Goodwin should be saying, look, mistakes were made, we are going to fix those mistakes and we will continue to look at Garrison’s performance and if he has to make that same statement 100 times, so be it.  Look, I understand you are getting shot at, but sometimes its best just to be humble and apologetic.”Screw all you peons who don’t know what you are talking about” is not necessarily the best PR stance to take. 

My advice for Garrison (although I did like him using my quote “Sometimes ‘I don’t know’ is an acceptable answer”)….

As hard as it is, if you are to weather this storm, someone’s head will have to roll. 

Now, I know that’s not a pleasant thought.  And, the people’s who’s heads will roll are people who are loyal to you and who most likely have worked the hardest to make things right, but look at it from the state’s perspective.  If they were truly loyal, they would go ahead a resign and end up in a cushy job somewhere.  But, if they don’t, then you will have to do it.

EVERYONE who caused this major blunder REMAIN ON CAMPUS.  Not a single person who made this horrendous decision that you have distanced yourself from has been fired.

I’m sorry, but that’s not acceptable.

And, while the BOG and Manchin and Huggins are on your side, the people of the state, many of your donors, and many WVU alumni are not. 

Now, maybe that doesn’t mean anything to you, but this wound will not close until you’ve taken decisive action.  And, as I said in the post from last week, your insistence on protecting people who made a colossolly bad decision may invoke a French revolution where eventually your head gets lopped off.

From a PR standpoint, you yourself pointed out major blunders including Amy Neil giving what ended up being completely false information.  And, then the press release that failed to mention that Sears and Lang weren’t really resigning, but were taking lucrative jobs on campus.

Your PR side has completely stunk up the place.  Wow, they were horrible. 

And, while it seems sad to off someone in that department, maybe you can get away with just offing the Neil girl.  No one in the private world will blame her for what she said, she was obviously told what to say, but the information she fed the media for months was proven to be complete falsehoods.  There obviously needs to be a shake-up on the communications side for their complete butchery of the situation.

For PR, heck, anyone can do good when things are going well, the true test of a communications department is when there is a major dustup and needless to say, they failed miserably.

So, if I’m you here’s what I’m doing. 

I know you don’t want to fire Walker, but hopefully he steps up and resigns on his own.  No matter what is said, he was your highest ranking General in the room.

For you to completely distance yourself as you said, you had to put Walker in charge. 

And, he failed. 

After his departure, you can move Macia over to Chief of Staff so you maintain someone 100% loyal to you in that position.  I’d off Neil at a minimum and maybe Case as well as difficult as that is.  Case has been loyal, but heck, he was the lead messenger and after hearing your interview, you obviously lay much of the blame for this “problem” with the way the communication of this debacle was handled.  Neither will have trouble finding employment in the private sector.

But, ONE thing is certain.  This won’t blow over with everyone still on campus.  Changes will have to be made.  If not Garrison himself, then changes will have to come within the administration.