I found this on the Boise State fan board 247.com!
In cases like this, I always like to see what jojobro thinks. The following is his take from a post on the Misc. Board in case he doesn’t post here:
“This is an excellent pool. Excellent.
Jack Thomas is the shiniest, with significant leadership roles in the NCAA (this is after my brief association with the NCAA back in the mid-90s, and so I didn't get to meet him then), a six-year tenure as WIU president (under horrendous political circumstances, horrendous, and he's had to play hard ball against other schools in Illinois), and a rich and varied academic/administrative experience (I have a close friend who tells me he was the best provost he ever had at Middle Tennessee). He's the real thing.
Weeks brings in hefty, hefty research private/public sponsorship under his tenure at UNBC, the more I look the more impressive it becomes. Not sure about his experiences with athletic programs.
Reynolds probably has the most relevant experience with his administrative work at Portland State, with significant work in developing partnerships in an urban setting. He's probably the "safest" choice.
Lentini brings in perhaps the most varied background. His work at Oakland is impressive, and his lower tier work in leading music programs and expensive capital campaigns is eye-catching. Not a lot of experience, however, evident with athletic programs and such.
Wacker has deep and varied administrative experience, but it's all at one university (this is a real strike in my book). Her record of developing private-public partnerships is very good, but her record with athletic departments is lacking.
The public forums will reveal a great deal about these individuals. Off-hand, Thomas is the outstanding candidate, with Lentini and Weeks bringing in some intriguing experience. Reynolds and Wacker are solid, but not terribly inspiring on paper.”
Seems funny how people's perspective changes when you are viewing things from far away. Dr. Thomas has been on the "bridge" for some of WIU's roughest times. He definitely deserves credit for that and his involvement as a "spokesperson" in the IBHE. Boise State seems to be looking for an outsider to bring the university to the 21st century. Its funny how things change when you have money and public support. jc