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Transcript From Dr. Chris Hill's Chat
Transcript From Dr. Chris Hill's Chat
Brian (Norfolk): Dr. Hill. We had a great time in Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics. Will your football stadium be renamed Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium to remember the games? Will you light the cauldron for home football games this season?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:34 PM ET ) There has been some talk about renaming the stadium. There is going to be a park that will be built right outside the stadium which will have the names of all the Olympic medal winners around a reflection pool and the cauldron.
Charlie (Oakland): Congratulations on another great year at the University of Utah. The football and men's basketball teams were fun to watch, especially football in the Las Vegas Bowl. How have you been able to keep Coach McBride and Coach Majerus at Utah so long?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:36 PM ET ) Both have independently done great jobs. The university of Utah has tried to keep all of our coaches. This is a great place to work and live and those factors contribute to keeping them here.
Jeff (Layton, Utah): Dr. Hill, Our football team has very attractive home uniforms, yet very low-key road uniforms. Are there any changes planned for the road uniforms?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:36 PM ET ) I let the coaches and the players choose the uniforms within certain parameters.
Joseph (Albany): Dr. Hill.
Rich? West Jordan: Why doesn't the U paint a big U in the center of the football field like in years past?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:38 PM ET ) We haven't had it on the field in a while. Given the new surface we're going to get we may take a look at doing it this year.
James (SLC): What is the latest on Chris Burgess? Do you think he has a very good chance at a medical hardship or some other clause to obtain another year of eligibility? Will the U contest it if he is turned down?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:39 PM ET ) We will do everything we can to support Chris. A medical hardship isn't an easy thing to obtain. However Chris has indicated to us that he would like to play professional basketball in some fashion, either here or overseas.
Rick (Phoenix): What lasting effect did the winter Olympics leave on the University of Utah and Salt Lake City as a whole?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:40 PM ET ) I think one of the big things is, it showed prominently what a great city Salt Lake City is and the world-class facilities that are available here. I think it will have a big impact on recruiting, as recruits will have a different perspective of Salt Lake City than they have had in year's past.
Nathan (Salt Lake City): With the alarming rate of men's non-revenue sports (wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, baseball, etc) being dropped around the country. Would you comment on whether or not there is any kind of talk (preferably action) being taken to reign in the outrageous expenditures of football? i.e. number of scholarships, travel, etc....
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:42 PM ET ) I think everyone is concerned about maintaining non-revenue sports, especially the men's. Fortunately we haven't had to drop any men's sports here at the University of Utah yet have been able to grow our women's sports programs. Football has the ability to generate the most money so you have to spend the most money on it and I don't see that changing here or nationally in the coming years.
Tom- Salt Lake City: I am a former Utah swimmer, and I was wondering what was being done to bring the Utes back to the national scene like we were in the late 70's and even late 80's when I was swimming. Are there any plans for the team? Is the head coach meeting your expectations?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:43 PM ET ) We're excited about the new coach we hired two years ago, Mike Litzinger. We think he's made some great progress since he has been here and we hope to be competing at the level we were at in the late 80's.
Alex: Dr. Hill, Any chance that the Utes will play Texas again in basketball in the future? I notice that they are not on the schedule for this year.
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:44 PM ET ) We really liked the series of games we had with the University of Texas. Both Rick Majerus and I enjoyed the series and hopefully we can get another one like it or similar to it going again soon.
Travis (Salt Lake City): I am very proud of the accomplishments both on and off the field of the U program and student/athletes while you have been AD. I know you are a driving force to the success of our great school. Keep up the great work!
Rob from Canton, Ohio: Do you consider Andre Miller one of your greatest Basketball players of all time???
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:49 PM ET ) There is no question that in every aspect Andre Miller is. We've had some great ones. His is a great story because of his academic achievement against some pretty tough odds.
Byron (Austin, TX): Dr. Hill, First: thank you for your wonderful job as Utah's AD! Question: How close was Utah to inking a deal to play Nebraska? thanks!
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:50 PM ET ) We weren't close to scheduling Nebraska this year. We have Michigan on the schedule and feel that is a good enough non-conference game that we didn't have to add another one.
Paul Berg, Atlanta: What are the chances of Utah joining the Pac 10 conference, someday?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:52 PM ET ) I don't know what the future holds but I know most importantly we need to be as competitive as we can be in the Mountain West Conference. I am pleased with the progress our league has made over the last three years.
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:54 PM ET ) We're excited about the year we've had so far. The Olympics were an exciting time here at the University of Utah. We look forward to finishing out the spring season and what the future has in store for us.
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:54 PM ET ) I would like to thank everyone for their questions.
 | University of Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill |
Moderator: (3:30 PM ET ) University of Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill will be joining us shortly, please continue to use the form below to submit your questions.
Brian (Norfolk): Dr. Hill. We had a great time in Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics. Will your football stadium be renamed Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium to remember the games? Will you light the cauldron for home football games this season?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:34 PM ET ) There has been some talk about renaming the stadium. There is going to be a park that will be built right outside the stadium which will have the names of all the Olympic medal winners around a reflection pool and the cauldron.
Charlie (Oakland): Congratulations on another great year at the University of Utah. The football and men's basketball teams were fun to watch, especially football in the Las Vegas Bowl. How have you been able to keep Coach McBride and Coach Majerus at Utah so long?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:36 PM ET ) Both have independently done great jobs. The university of Utah has tried to keep all of our coaches. This is a great place to work and live and those factors contribute to keeping them here.
Jeff (Layton, Utah): Dr. Hill, Our football team has very attractive home uniforms, yet very low-key road uniforms. Are there any changes planned for the road uniforms?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:36 PM ET ) I let the coaches and the players choose the uniforms within certain parameters.
Joseph (Albany): Dr. Hill.
I wanted to personally thank you for getting the Utah men's basketball team on ESPN Big Monday so many times this year. It is great for alumni that are no longer in Salt Lake City to see the games, even though they are on late at night.
With the Mountain West Conference being so good in men's basketball, how is it Utah can get on the leagues ESPN Big Monday package so often? This is great!
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:37 PM ET ) I think the reason we're on so often is the success and performance of the team under Rick Majerus.
Rich? West Jordan: Why doesn't the U paint a big U in the center of the football field like in years past?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:38 PM ET ) We haven't had it on the field in a while. Given the new surface we're going to get we may take a look at doing it this year.
James (SLC): What is the latest on Chris Burgess? Do you think he has a very good chance at a medical hardship or some other clause to obtain another year of eligibility? Will the U contest it if he is turned down?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:39 PM ET ) We will do everything we can to support Chris. A medical hardship isn't an easy thing to obtain. However Chris has indicated to us that he would like to play professional basketball in some fashion, either here or overseas.
Rick (Phoenix): What lasting effect did the winter Olympics leave on the University of Utah and Salt Lake City as a whole?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:40 PM ET ) I think one of the big things is, it showed prominently what a great city Salt Lake City is and the world-class facilities that are available here. I think it will have a big impact on recruiting, as recruits will have a different perspective of Salt Lake City than they have had in year's past.
Nathan (Salt Lake City): With the alarming rate of men's non-revenue sports (wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, baseball, etc) being dropped around the country. Would you comment on whether or not there is any kind of talk (preferably action) being taken to reign in the outrageous expenditures of football? i.e. number of scholarships, travel, etc....
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:42 PM ET ) I think everyone is concerned about maintaining non-revenue sports, especially the men's. Fortunately we haven't had to drop any men's sports here at the University of Utah yet have been able to grow our women's sports programs. Football has the ability to generate the most money so you have to spend the most money on it and I don't see that changing here or nationally in the coming years.
Tom- Salt Lake City: I am a former Utah swimmer, and I was wondering what was being done to bring the Utes back to the national scene like we were in the late 70's and even late 80's when I was swimming. Are there any plans for the team? Is the head coach meeting your expectations?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:43 PM ET ) We're excited about the new coach we hired two years ago, Mike Litzinger. We think he's made some great progress since he has been here and we hope to be competing at the level we were at in the late 80's.
Alex: Dr. Hill, Any chance that the Utes will play Texas again in basketball in the future? I notice that they are not on the schedule for this year.
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:44 PM ET ) We really liked the series of games we had with the University of Texas. Both Rick Majerus and I enjoyed the series and hopefully we can get another one like it or similar to it going again soon.
Travis (Salt Lake City): I am very proud of the accomplishments both on and off the field of the U program and student/athletes while you have been AD. I know you are a driving force to the success of our great school. Keep up the great work!
My question: What, if anything looming on the horizon gives you the most concern for collegiate athletics as something that must be fixed or changed right away or in the very near future?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:48 PM ET ) Although I am not sure I have a solution I think financially running a Divison I program is becoming problematic. One of my biggest concerns centers on the confusion of post-season football.
One thing I am excited about is the new legislation which will strengthen the rules towards a degree. I think it will put even further the student in student-athlete.
Rob from Canton, Ohio: Do you consider Andre Miller one of your greatest Basketball players of all time???
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:49 PM ET ) There is no question that in every aspect Andre Miller is. We've had some great ones. His is a great story because of his academic achievement against some pretty tough odds.
Byron (Austin, TX): Dr. Hill, First: thank you for your wonderful job as Utah's AD! Question: How close was Utah to inking a deal to play Nebraska? thanks!
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:50 PM ET ) We weren't close to scheduling Nebraska this year. We have Michigan on the schedule and feel that is a good enough non-conference game that we didn't have to add another one.
Paul Berg, Atlanta: What are the chances of Utah joining the Pac 10 conference, someday?
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:52 PM ET ) I don't know what the future holds but I know most importantly we need to be as competitive as we can be in the Mountain West Conference. I am pleased with the progress our league has made over the last three years.
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:54 PM ET ) We're excited about the year we've had so far. The Olympics were an exciting time here at the University of Utah. We look forward to finishing out the spring season and what the future has in store for us.
Dr. Chris Hill: (3:54 PM ET ) I would like to thank everyone for their questions.