Here's my problem with the situation. If Herndon's "dangerous," it was dangerous in VADM Fowler's first year. And his second. This is his third Herndon. What made it more dangerous this year? Rather than make the decision to change Herndon when HE would have to take crap from the alums, he did it on his way out the door, leaving the fallout to his sucessor, who had nothing to do with the decision. It was a bit wimpy, IMO.
This process emasculated the Class of 2013 and, especially, if Herndon returns next year, will really leave them as the class w/o a "real plebe year" through no fault of their own. They will take a lot of ribbing for it, I fear, for years to come.
OTOH, maybe Fowler's move is sheer genius (in terms of his goal of eliminating Herndon) in that alums have a whole year to realize the world didn't end w/o Herndon. Also, if the new Supe brings back Herndon, several things will happen: if someone does get hurt, he'll take a bunch of crap; going back will be almost a personal affront to Fowler; and it would 2013 in a worse light as the only class in recent memory (other than 1969 apparently) not to have a real Herndon.
It's always easier to move forward than to retreat. I just wish it hadn't come to this. And, I feel a bit sorry for the new Supe, for whom this will probably be the very first question at every single event for the entire first year of his tenure -- unless he takes the dramatic step of announcing right away that Herndon will be back.
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