Minerforlife said... "She is more like Khator than you think."
Natalicio and Khator are both high visibility, minority women leading major public institutions in the State of Texas. Their collective commitment to academic excellence speaks for itself. That said, keep several things in mind...
First, in less than ten years, Khator has already achieved Tier 1 status for UH, a remarkable achievement.
Second, Khator is first and foremost an educator, but from Day 1 she recognized the jet fuel ($) for achieving Tier 1 status would be provided by nationally recognized athletic programs.
Third, do not underestimate the substantial political and financial benefits that accrue to Dr. Natalicio and any institution included in the University of Texas system. Whether it's the Texas legislature, historically dominated by UT and AnM influence, or the Big 12, dominated by the University of Texas, Dr. Khator has overcome HUGE obstacles in her tenure. Some remain. Like the institution she serves, Dr. Khator is in many ways the best kept secret in Texas, if not the nation.
Natalicio and Khator are both national treasures. For years, however, it has been a mystery to many outsiders as to why the bar for UTEP athletics has been set so low. A leader delegates, provides resources, and holds people accountable. Athletically, that record also speaks for itself.
Uhh
Two very different circumstances coug. When Natalicio became president of UTEP in 1988, UTEP was a poor commuter school with very few majors. UTEP had the worst infrastructure both academically and athletically in the state of Texas. There was no coorporate or alumni base to raise funds for UTEP. Natalicio had to cultivate it.
Houston has had pretty decent academics for its entire history. In the last 15 years they have made great strides achieving tier one. What Houston had UTEP didnt was an outstanding athletic pedigree. Houston football abd basketball in the eighties were the envy of almost every school in the nation. Houston's problem was they never capitalized off their time in the SWC and built facilities. Playing games in the dome was a huge mistake. Even in the down times however Houston was a sleeping giant.
The big difference in the schools are the cities. Houston like UTEP is mainly a commuter school. However, Houston pulls from a population base thats six times larger than El Paso. They also have the benefit of being located in the energy and medical capital of Texas. Its much easier to raise money there because of the coorporate money that is readily available.
When you consider what Natalicio has accomished in a poor border city its remarkable. The UT system is a benefit to UTEP no doubt, but to infer that it politically benefits UTEP more than Houston is absurd. El Paso is always used against UTEP in the legislature. This a conservative state where the leaders want to push the narrative the border is being invaded, we're under attack, border towns are poor crime ridden hell holes. Several times UTEP has been denied thing unfairly because we are on the border. That is a fact. UH never faces the hurdles or stereotypes UTEP does in the Texas legislature.
Natalicio was anti football until the late nineties, when she realized a good football team increased applications and donations. She has stated she gets the most positive emails and donations when the football team wins. The building of the football program has been a priority. She has had to build a program from scratch. Build the donor base, take ownership of the Sun Bowl from the city, build facilities.
I will be the first to admit that Stull has made many inexcusable mistakes. However in this 21 st century football has been better than basketball. With the major renovations coming to the Sun Bowl and conference stabilization, we are poised to become a perennial winner in football. I like where the program is at.
Khator has the benefit of being not only president of the university but also chancelor of the UH system. She has alot of power, and controls the purse strings. She has made a huge gamble on sports. Houston is subsidizing their sports programs at an unsustainable rate (106 million a year). The faculty and students are not happy about it. It will work if Houston goes to a p 5 conference, but if they dont or if football takes a dip, Khatur, will crash and burn. Her tenure will be over and her career in ruins. Its a risky play but I give her credit it takes big risks to get big rewards.
UTEP is second in the state of Texas behind Gouston in subsidizing athletics. However, UTEP is a very distant second and the level is sustainable. Plus we dont have the burden of paying off stadium bonds like UH. Thats why I say they're similar both are pouring large amounts of money into athletics. I think UTEP is about to start seeing the divends.
When you look at the big picture of what Natalicio has done its astounding. No one in 1988 would ever have thought UTEP academics would get to the level they are now. No one would have thought the athletic department would be as strong and financially sound as it is. Its taken longer than many would have liked, but the athletic program and specifically the football are right on the cusp of greatness. The story isnt done yet, and theres going to be a hell of a final chapter in Natalico's legacy.
