By Jeff Alba for DieHardDevil.com

After months of speculation and some fan backlash, Lisa Love is out as Vice President of Athletics at Arizona State University.  Although Love had her moments in the sun during her tenure, the recent coaching search experience left a bad taste in the mouth of Sun Devil Nation and was damaging to the overall image of ASU and the Athletic Department.  The new executive leader that has taken the keys to the Sun Devil Maserati is Steve Patterson.

Some say this was an inevitable move when Patterson was hired by University President Michael Crow in July 2011.  At the time, Crow said Patterson was brought in to manage and oversee the new stadium district projects including the financing and renovation of Sun Devil Stadium.  After all, this was Patterson’s specialty in his previous stop with the NFL’s Houston Texans.  Additionally, he has a long history as a professional sports executive with stops at the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. This was the part of Patterson’s resume that appealed to Crow and his ultimate vision for ASU athletics: To have a CEO run the department like a business, which is what many DieHard fans have expected for years.

What is Patterson bringing to the table? Successful, professional sports executive experience and management.  Along with Crow, he will oversee the big picture for ASU athletics, delegate and expect accountability from his executive staff and coaches. He is also an attorney who is very familiar with negotiating contracts as well as developing and managing the necessary financing.  Patterson, who is a University of Texas alumnus, wants to model Arizona State athletics after his alma mater, which is not a bad program to emulate.

Nobody is doubting Patterson’s experience as an executive in the sports industry, but the main concern with this type of “business” approach is the potential of losing the personal touch and passionate connection with the heartbeat of Sun Devil Nation. What remains to be seen is if Patterson can lead by example, inject passion and inspire his coaches, staff, students and alumni to bleed maroon and gold. Then again, maybe that just isn’t his style.  We shall see as we drive down the road in the coming months. Left lane hammer down or right lane cruise control?

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