Endzone Discussion
I know excerpts have been posted here and discussed and it has been discussed in varying capacities over the past few months, but for those of us who received it for Christmas and are slow readers.
I just finished the book and found it infuriating at times, jaw dropping some of the stuff going on behind the scenes, and fascinating. If anyone cares to discuss:
-The amount of seemingly excellent people that were forced out with the Firing Fridays. People that worked tirelessly for Michigan and not for the paycheck, necessarily. People who loved the University and loved what they did. Seems like a wealth of knowledge, connections, and the like were forced to move on or into early retirement.
-With the department growing in size and salary under Brandon, does anyone know what checks and balances are happening now to reign that in? I assume Hackett and Manuel aren't offing people either, but I could imagine salaries being stagnant for a while in the department and some openings not being replaced. Some of the obvious high paid and Brandon manufactured positions have already been phased out.
-I definitely felt like the Michigan culture the past 5 years or so was a bit of a circle jerk of how great we were without much to back it up. Reading the book and hearing about interactions and policies behind the scenes it put it into context for me. I can imagine we were a pretty obnoxious fanbase to be around (at least locally for the Sparties). At least today, I feel like we are on our way to backing it up.
-I'm sure Dave Brandon is not a bad person, but an arrogant and very out of touch person at times. Sounded like he was trying to make amends, but it was already too late. Not sure if he could ever turn around the damage he had made. MGoBlog played a critical roll of getting Brandon to resign when he did, which was something that absolutely had to go our way for Harbaugh to fall into place. I appreciated the Hagerup excerpts to humanize Brandon.
-Does anyone have an explanation for Brandon resigning and still getting the buyout?
-Harbaugh stuff was fascinating how that came together and how the groundwork was layed along the way. The power of all parties working together and on a common goal was critical. So many things had to go right and at critical times. Unbelievable how different the feel is a year+ later.
-Lastly, kudos to Hackett for landing the Unicorn. But how in the hell are you about to land the biggest fish and your computer is on the frizz, cell phone dead, no chargers, no internet on the flight? Glad that worked out, but I was nervous for him and I already know that Harbaugh is our coach!
Sorry for the length. Slow day, snow day. Discuss, or not. Go Blue!
February 24th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 11:51 AM ^
Brandon's Lasting Lessons ring any bells?
February 24th, 2016 at 12:16 PM ^
Still nothing.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
Brandon's idea of a "Wow" experience.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
Brandon thought he was too smart for the job. He wanted to be larger than life, the next Don Canham, a beloved figure in Michigan sports history. Hey Dave: If it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT!
February 24th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:44 PM ^
Steve the Pirate. The only guy on our team that dresses like a pirate.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
what do you think those areas at either end of a football field are called ?
Some people are just soooooooooooo derppy
February 24th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
Got it for Christmas - haven't read it yet.
February 24th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
at least say that you are about to post a spoilter.... sheesh! RUDE!
February 24th, 2016 at 11:26 AM ^
you didn't pick yourself getting mentioned in the book.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 11:56 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:50 PM ^
the site without any fun directed towards you? lol
February 24th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^
It would be fun to go back and find the thread here where it was announced that he was resigning. The excitement level could be compared to when Roundtree made the catch in UTL and Trey Burke's shot against Kansas.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
This is the formal resignation post. Man, I love Hackett. The guy NEEDS a statue.
http://mgoblog.com/content/president-schlissel-announces-dave-brandons-…
February 24th, 2016 at 12:50 PM ^
Wait.....are you actually from/currently living in SD?
February 24th, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^
I live here currently. Moved to Sioux Falls about a one and half years ago. I am from the Detroit area. Still have my season tickets and will keep them for eternity.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
No WD statue?
j/k big guy.
February 24th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^
What was so awesome about that closet that you have to take people on tours of it?
(I'm sure Mgoblog has a good imagination here)
February 24th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
What a Renaissance man.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
No JC Penney shit.
February 24th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^
And probably won't have time to read it for a while. I'll just read this thread instead.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
I'm either working from home or using PTO. Their choice.
If there's a snow day I'm kicking the kids out of the house to play in the snow, and I'm going to stay in bed all day, only emerging for food and water.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^
Gotta leave sometime.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
Good point, but he may have already planned ahead and got an EST....
February 24th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
fetish gear?
/asking for a friend
February 24th, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
Same. I think I burned through it in about a day and a half. But that was back in the "ding dong Brandon's gone I'm so happy about that plus holy shit Harbaugh is coming" days; maybe if I picked it up for the first time now I might not be quite as eager.
Eh, I probably would be.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
I received it for Christmas. I haven't read it yet.
Still trying to get through Three and Out.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
No time? I'm a slow reader and usually keep the same book by my bed for months, but I blow through Bacon's books.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
Phrasing?
February 24th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
we're not doing that anymore
February 24th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
Despite the poor results on the field, Three and Out is a great book. I was disappointed at how many villians were in the background hurting Rodriguez. The chapter where JUB follows Denard and Devin around for a day was very cool. JUB's somewhat forced workout with Barwis and Foote was also a fun read.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
I had a really hard time reading all the Brandon stuff, no checks and balances to stop that train. This book really changes the narative on Mary Sue Coleman, she really hurt the University by letting Brandon do everything he did, with out having to check in. I think the part about the tennis coach was horrible. I was super excited when I got to the resignation, he was worse then I thought he was. After reading the book I have a hard time shopping at Toys "R" us, I just do not want Dave Brandon to be a success at anything.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
MSC did a lot of excellent things for the university, but her love for Dave Brandon bordering on (as you mentioned) cronyism was a huge mistake. Certainly a black mark on her tenure looking back
February 24th, 2016 at 12:16 PM ^
Because I think they were fucking. That's the only thing that makes sense.
Maybe not full on bf/gf romantic affair type stuff, but at least some bent over the desk at the office type contact.
Now excuce me while I go vomit.
EDIT: Posted before I read the whole thread.