“Today is an elite day, as I have acquired Row The Boat from Western Michigan. Row The Boat is extremely personal for me. It’s a way of life that centers around a never give up mentality. It helped change a culture at Western Michigan and enabled the entire community of Kalamazoo to rally around something bigger than football. I am confident that it will do the same here at the University of Minnesota, in the Twin Cities and the entire state.
“I am grateful that an agreement has been reached on Row The Boat, which again, is extremely personal for me. Part of this agreement calls for me to pay Western Michigan $50,000, which I am happy to do. That money will then be used to endow a scholarship at Western Michigan, which I hope will be used to help a walk-on player accomplish his dreams. Kalamazoo is a special place for me and my family and always will be. I was honored to coach Western Michigan for four historic seasons and was privileged to lead a group of young men to many accomplishments.”