Fractured booster relationships could damage Arizona Basketball

With the Notice of Allegations out in the open, it looks like Dr. Robert Robbins and Arizona Basketball boosters may be at odds regarding the programs’ future. 

Now on to day 10 of the Sean Miller and Arizona Basketball drama, and there is still virtually no movement regarding the future of the Wildcats’ head coach. And thanks to the coverage from Jason Scheer and Wildcat Authority, it seems like there are more depths to this than we all thought.

As we are all aware by now, the school released the Notice of Allegations last week, and just as we thought, there is was nothing in them that we didn’t already know.

Arizona Wildcats

So why what are we waiting for exactly? Well, it seems as if University President Dr. Robert Robbins may be having second thoughts.

According to USA Today’s Dan Wolken, Robbins “couldn’t get a contract extension approved by the school’s Board of Regents and left Miller with the impression that he [Robbins] would prefer a parting of ways.”

That is certainly a stark contrast from what was initially reported, as just days ago, Robbins even backed Miller, publicly stating that he wants Miller to return as coach next season.

After three years of backing your head coach and no change in the Notice of Allegations, surely, it cannot simply be because of the Arizona Board of Regents. As Scheer reported via social media the “ABOR relies on its University Presidents to manage their athletic programs and personnel.”

In short, it looks like Robbins was called out on his bluff.

So, if Robbins is thinking of parting ways, he is potentially doing so without the approval of some of the schools’ top boosters.

As Wolken writes…

"“Even if Robbins wants to move Arizona past the Miller era, doing so without alienating some of the school’s biggest athletic boosters who are loyal to Miller or further burdening his cash-strapped athletic department won’t be easy. “"

For an athletic department that is in serious debt, and just forked over $7 million to have Kevin Sumlin no longer coach a game for the Wildcats, is alienating the boosters the best option for Arizona right now?

Perhaps those relationships could be repaired, but if all of this is true, and parting ways with Miller leaves the schools’ top boosters at odds with the athletic department, should we be taking that risk, especially if it means long-term financial damage?

It is worth noting, that comparatively speaking, Miller’s salary ranks just No. 34 overall. Any significant financial losses could make it difficult for the school to attract a coach that is to the level that some fans think.