Kansas State AD Gene Taylor criticized in Iowa audit

Well, it wouldn’t be K-State if something didn’t happen to make your head bounce off your desk of its own volition.

Ryan J. Foley of the Associated Press, via the Washington Post, reports that a recent audit of the Iowa athletic department is wholly embarrassing for the Hawkeyes, and not because of the memetic contract extensions handed to Kirk Ferentz.

A key figure in the story? New K-State athletic director Gene Taylor, who’s being somewhat criticized for poor management of the athletic department’s information technology initiatives. The main criticism is directed at former IT director Patrick Delin, but Delin reported to Taylor.

This comes in the wake of a sexual discrimination suit by former deputy Jane Meyer, who contended that Taylor was being paid $70,000 a year more for the same job. Iowa’s response at trial, which concluded last week with a $1.4 million dollar award to Meyer, was that Taylor’s additional compensation was due to his management of the IT department.

It’s unclear just how much actual responsibility Taylor bears for the situation. Obviously when your direct report drops the ball it’s on your head regardless, but this may not indicate future issues with Taylor’s work in Manhattan.

Then again, it might. Stay tuned.

At 10am, keep an eye out for JT’s Q&A with Cincy Jungle on Jordan Willis.

Football

The Chicago Bears, flush with the success of one former Wildcat on the line of scrimmage in Cody Whitehair, have invited another to rookie camp: D.J. Johnson. The Bears have invited the power forward to try out at tight end. He’s got some competition, though, as Chicago also invited former Ball State basketball star Franko House for the same purpose.

Over at our sister site Viva the Matadors, Lauren Bogle reacts to the latest round of dumb realignment rumors.

This year’s Catbacker Tour kicks off on Monday. Check the schedule to see when they’ll be visiting you. As usual, the opening week consists of the grand tour of Western Kansas.

Men’s Basketball

The NBA Combine is underway, and that means Wesley Iwundu is meeting with teams. Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald reports that the Miami Heat are one of eight teams that have talked with Iwundu, which is not surprising as they’re looking for the next Rodney McGruder. There’s no report to link to, but the San Antonio Spurs are another team with whom Iwundu interviewed.

The Milwaukee Bucks are not one of those eight teams, as reported by Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Why did he report that? Because he was reporting that Iwundu will work out for the Bucks after the combine, on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Women’s Basketball

As reported on over the weekend via Twitter (and by wildcat00 in Sunday’s Slate), K-State assistant Jacie Hoyt is now officially moving on, nabbing the head coaching position at UMKC. Hoyt, a former Wichita State Shocker who hails from Hoxie, Kan., takes over a squad that’s lost over 100 games in five years. Hoyt, at only 29, could be starting a great career. Best of luck to her. Ken Corbitt at the Capital-Journal and Kellis Robinett at the Wichita Eagle both have reports.

Baseball

It’s Sunflower Showdown time. The BatCats (26-22, 5-13) head to Lawrence to take on their arch-rivals (27-22, 9-9) in a three-game weekend clash, and will try to climb back into the Big 12 tournament while they’re at it. Luckily for K-State, the Cats have had KU’s number recently, winning two straight series and six of the last seven. Corbin McGuire adds some more info in today’s Sports Extra.

Track & Field

The track team will also be in Lawrence this weekend, visiting Rock Chalk Park for the Big 12 championships. Unfortunately, you can’t watch from home without a FloTrack subscription, because the Big 12 is a bunch of stupid dunderheads. Prospects are bright for the women, ranked 12th in the nation; for the men, things are decidedly more grim as a large part of the men’s roster is redshirting.

Soccer

Shawnee Mission East’s Georgia Weigel, who redshirted at K-State last year, has transferred. She’s headed to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, as reported by the official SIUE web site.