What's the next step we can take re: getting rid of Brandon?
I just had the chance to digest Brian's description in today's UV of Sam Webb's post saying he thinks Brandon will survive long enough to possibly keep Coach Hoke. It reminds me that I would like next season to not feel like someone is pulling out my teeth with a pair of pliers.
What can those of us who want Brandon fired do that we haven't done already? People have mentioned creating "Support the Team/Fire Brandon" tee shirts. That sounds okay, though I'm personally not in a good position to make that happen for people who live in AA. It wouldn't be the most powerful thing, I assume, but I like the idea of those shirts showing up on TV in shots of the crowd during games.
Does anyone have any other ideas? Or has the message been sent, and are we now at the mercy of President Schlissel?
October 20th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^
I don't see it happening. I know the Athletic Department hates us all, but I can't see Hoke coming back unless he wins out, which won't happen. Anything less than 8-4 means people riot in the streets, and people may still do that anyway.
October 20th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ^
How about running him out on a rail?
October 20th, 2014 at 10:45 PM ^
that the administration, the fanbase, the Athletic Dept and the media will hear and see is a massive block of empty seats at the next home game. This is so far beyond supporting the team at this point.
Everyone supports the players, including me, but to prove how serious and dire this situation is and that the fanbase will hit the AD and the university where it hurts the most, a huge boycott of the next home game is the loudest message. If the stadium is ful or close to it for the next home game, the message could be lost and the status quo could survive.
If there is a very obvious, very large gaps of fans, empty seats at the next home that screams displeasure with the direction of the program, the media will pick up on it and the administration will be forced to act to put a stop to the embarassment raining down on the university because of the ath. dir. and head coach.
The season is lost and it will be painfully evident on Saturday and the final straw will be a 1/4 to 1/2 empty stadium for the next home game. The message will be complete and the President will be forced to see the only solution is to fire Brandon and then coach at the end of the season.
I root for Michigan always and will on Saturday, but I want Brandon gone even more. He is a cancer to the program and as long as he and Hoke are here, this program is doomed.
October 20th, 2014 at 10:51 PM ^
The world of academia may not produce the intended outcome, especially when the leader doesn't know a football from a hockey puck. Ross needs to bite the bullet, help Sclissel form a search committee now, or this will turn into a complete cluster.
This cannot go on into December!
October 20th, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^
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October 21st, 2014 at 7:23 AM ^
October 20th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
There ain't no steps we can take to get rid of Brandon- the most intense week has already passed
If you really want him gone no matter what, then just sit back and let Mr. Dantonio and Mr. Meyer do your work for you- for they surely will not show mercy if it is theirs to give
October 20th, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^
Dantonio and Meyer have to love facing Hoke, they get a lot of mileage of it.
October 20th, 2014 at 11:41 PM ^
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October 21st, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^
October 20th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 1:31 AM ^
Stop going to games. It stinks but it has to happen. If Brandon cared about Michigan he would resign.
October 21st, 2014 at 5:59 AM ^
I have given up hope. I am not going to buy anything Michigan football related, watching anything michigan football related both in person and on in tv, and donate to the university. When they eventually call me for a donation, I will tell them I refuse to support a university that employs Dave Brandon. Outside of leaving flaming bags of poop outside his door, I don't know what else to try.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:39 AM ^
If Schlissel thinks DB can be housebroken. The AD sure has been quiet.
MSC allowed Brandon free reign for the most part but Schlissel seems to be cut from a different cloth. That's a good thing.
However, it may also mean that Schlissel believes in second chances. If that's the case, particularly if he is of the opinion that all of the previous transgressions are reversible or correctible, then I believe that Brandon is back next year if back-channel discussions with suitable candidates are not fruitful.
That leaves Hoke in limbo at least. Brandon may or may not fire Hoke if an obviously better option doesn't present itself. The Harbaughs, Les Miles and Dan Mullen are not coming, especially with Brandon still at the helm. Any thoughts to the contrary are simply wishful thinking.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:43 AM ^
I've lost all hope that anything will change. Every year I get tell myself not to get my hopes up and every year I find myself getting caught up in all the hype and optimism, only to get disappointed in the end. I have a sinking feeling that is what is happening here as well. My gut tells me if anything was going to happen it would have happened already and the further removed we get from the Shane Morris incident the less likely it is that anything will change in the AD. If DB is in place after this year there's really no point in firing BH because no one else worth their salt is going to come coach under this clown.
For the first time in the years I have rooted for UM I am in wait and see mode because I have been let down too often to do anything else.
October 21st, 2014 at 9:03 AM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
It can't be that bad if the stands are still full, right?
October 21st, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
The process WILL play out and Brandon and Hoke will be gone.
To do so now, though, without doing proper research to find a new AD would just be to appease the masses and not in the best interest of the University.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
You mean the masses who pay the bills? The ones who see massive incompetence at every level of the athletic department and are saavy enough to think of at least 2-3 qualified potential replacements?
I'm less certain any changes will be made but I'm hopeful. The year for change is this one, not next year. By then it will be far too late and we'll have nuked two recruiting classes instead of one.
October 21st, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
The Jug's in Minneapolis, the Paul Bunyan Trophy --- vile as it is --- will most likely remain in EL for the foreseeable future. A win over the Buckeyes doesn't appear on the near horizon, and M's on track to win at most four or five games this season. M's new president faces major, major football program issues.
Given all that, printing up a few "Fire Dave Brandon" tee-shirts seems adolescent in the extreme. Survive the remainder of the season and give Schlissel and the Regents time to sort everything out and come to measured decisions about whether Brandon and who on the coaching staff stays or goes. As Lloyd Carr often said --- and probably still says --- "don't worry about things you can't control." Go Blue.
October 21st, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
Granted, there are things we can't control. But as we have seen, there are things we can influence.
Do you think that the recent regents meeting with its spotlight on the athletic department's gaffes would have played out without the petition, the diag rally, and the media firestorm, all working in concert?
Th OP is right in the sense that pressure of some kind needs to be maintained, or Brandon and Hoke stay.
It's good to think more about what can be done. I think more emails, maybe another petition or demonstration, will remind those in power that folks are still unhappy with the way things are going. However, the way the season is shaping up - we'll be lucky to get two more wins - I think people are going to be complaining and unhappy anyway.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
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October 21st, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
Though it would not surprise me if Brandon survives. Would he keep Hoke? May be if Hoke finishes 6-6, which would be a disaster. Recruiting would be way down and we would lose a year of rebuilding if Hoke stays. And what if goes 7-5 next season would that justify a contract extension? I hope not!
October 21st, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
So is that what Brandon is trying to do? Survive in order to keep Hoke around? Presumably becasue Brandon thinks Hoke is a great coach and has the program moving in the right direction?
It's a nightmare I can't wake up from.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
Of course. To save Hoke? Not so much.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:19 PM ^
It's hard to read the tea leaves. Someone who usually has his ear to the ground told me that feelers have gone out to Bates and Manuel from certain alums, as has been reported by a few folks in the media. But that doesn't mean those feelers were authorized by the University or the Regents.
I think that Brandon is a lame duck, personally, and that Hoke is gone unless he wins every remaining game - and we all know the odds against that.
There's a rumor that there will be mass transfers if Hoke goes. There's a rumor that a coach plans on giving his or her notice if Brandon is fired. There's a rumor that the coaches' letter in support of Brandon was circulated at the behest of none other than Belein.
Frankly, I don't care who stays or leaves as long as Brandon and Hoke are let go. The football program is a tire fire and needs to be fixed, and that's the front porch of the University of Michigan. If a great coach came in and got the program headed in the right direction, I'd certainly be one of the happy campers, even if it means losing some of the best players we have.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
Let Brandon be Brandon.
October 21st, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
Tell them you want Brandon fired and a building named after you. If they counter agree to meet in the middle with a firing of Brandon.