First, I agree with Spider that Jon's implication was this very idea.
However, I disagree with Jon's conclusion of what Occam's Razor would suggest. If goal was simply a change of broadcaster, the easiest route is to tell the AD, "Find someone else." That's it. I have a hard time believing that Barta would have fought back. And I also don't believe that Barta would be unwilling or unable to pay whatever was contractually required (if anything at all) to end that side of the broadcasting relationship. It would be a pittance compared to athletic department revenue.
So, if that's true then the only reason for Fran to cook up a scheme like this would specifically be one of vengeance and to harm Dolph's reputation personally and professionally. There's a sizable leap from "I don't like the guy and wish I didn't have to work with him" to that. Not to mention that McCaffery would be risking a sh*t ton of his own if something like that were to come out. That seems like a stretch.
Finally, I don't buy the idea that it's likely that the email came from someone with an axe to grind. It's not impossible, but is it more likely than someone was looking for a reason to be offended and found one? If anyone thinks there's not plenty of that happening I simply point to the Twitter thread started by the woman suggesting that JBo's "Three" sign after sinking Northwestern was, in fact, a racist gesture. Plenty of overly sensitive morons out there.
However, I disagree with Jon's conclusion of what Occam's Razor would suggest. If goal was simply a change of broadcaster, the easiest route is to tell the AD, "Find someone else." That's it. I have a hard time believing that Barta would have fought back. And I also don't believe that Barta would be unwilling or unable to pay whatever was contractually required (if anything at all) to end that side of the broadcasting relationship. It would be a pittance compared to athletic department revenue.
So, if that's true then the only reason for Fran to cook up a scheme like this would specifically be one of vengeance and to harm Dolph's reputation personally and professionally. There's a sizable leap from "I don't like the guy and wish I didn't have to work with him" to that. Not to mention that McCaffery would be risking a sh*t ton of his own if something like that were to come out. That seems like a stretch.
Finally, I don't buy the idea that it's likely that the email came from someone with an axe to grind. It's not impossible, but is it more likely than someone was looking for a reason to be offended and found one? If anyone thinks there's not plenty of that happening I simply point to the Twitter thread started by the woman suggesting that JBo's "Three" sign after sinking Northwestern was, in fact, a racist gesture. Plenty of overly sensitive morons out there.