I recently learned that the word going around Loyola water coolers is that Garanzini did not discourage Calhoun from seeking employment elsewhere, and that the two main sources of his displeasure with her were: 1. Nepotism/cronyism; and 2. Italy.

I so hope the gossip is accurate. It would give me great satisfaction to know that I was right to bring up these issues on Ramblermania while being castigated by Calhoun apologists for being mean-spirited and "too personal". Shame on me, but the "too personal" attacks even caused me to censor myself; I chose not to bring up the fact that Calhoun went on a SECOND Italy trip the next year with the women's basketball team.

I don't think this means that Garanzini reads Ramblermania and takes his management cues from Swella. (It would be cool if he did though, ha ha.) But I do think it demonstrates (assuming the story is accurate) that these two issues were not trivial, but represented serious lapses in judgment and business ethical standards that cast doubt on Calhoun's suitability for the position of Loyola Athletic Director, and that Garanzini recognized them as such. I also think it's not too much of a stretch to say that the atmosphere of "where's mine" engendered by Calhoun's selfish pursuits may have contributed to the lack of loyalty displayed by staff and student-athletes as they departed Loyola in droves during her mercifully brief tenure here.

If there's a pool, I say two years and three months for how long she stays at Penn. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ivy Leaguers in general, and Ben Franklin's ghost are less forgiving than anyone at Loyola.

The reception she got on the Penn message board was cool bordering on hostile. She faces a lot of skeptics there.

And Penn's men's basketball program is imploding.