Dear University of Minnesota president-designate Eric Kaler:
I hope as one of your very first priorities you will help clean up the mess in the University athletics department by initiating a program to eventually abolish intercollegiate athletics, or at the very least scale it back to manageable proportions.
If it must continue, each sport should play in a conference where it can compete without having to break NCAA recruiting rules. Academics should be emphasized over wins and losses.
Expand intramurals program, which serves all students.
And, post haste, meet with our next governor and the Legislature as soon as possible. Urge them to sell TCF Bank Stadium to the Vikings; arrange a deal whereby the Gophers will continue to play there, and let the political leaders deal with VikingsâÄô owner Zygi Wilf from there.
I stand ready to help you on these problems in any way I can.