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ESPN Report: Regents To Discuss Brandon Tomorrow, AD Candidates Contacted Comment Count

Ace


Jeff Long and Warde Manuel: already contacted?

ESPN is reporting that the regents will discuss Dave Brandon at their previously scheduled meeting tomorrow, as revealed to them by regent Denise Ilitch herself. This may very well be the beginning of the end (or the beginning of the end of the end) for Brandon, as Ilitch had this to say about the Shane Morris situation:

"The systems failed and there are a lot of issues we have to review," Ilitch told WWJ CBS TV in Detroit.

The money quote, however, came at the end:

Sources told ESPN's Brett McMurphy that someone on Michigan's behalf has contacted three possible candidates to replace Brandon to gauge their interest in the job.

Arkansas AD Jeff Long, UConn AD Warde Manuel, and Boston College AD Brad Bates are the obvious candidates to be those three people, with Texas Tech deputy AD Joe Parker as a possible dark horse.

Comments

Bluefishdoc

October 15th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^

The folks at Arkansas don't like Jeff Long because he is "too corporate" - he is into the whole "branding thing" just like DB.  Only difference is Long lost $9.3 million last fiscal year.

Joined: 03/31/2011

MGoPoints: 398

Mo Better Blues

October 15th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^

OK, *unsubstantiated claim is unsubstantiated*--fair warning and take this FWIW, (Nothing!), buuuut  (/Proceeds to comment anyway, what a jagoff)...an acquaintance of mine whose father works at the U said chatter around the hallways would have it that Schlissel and Brandon got into a heated discussion (about stadium fireworks, no less), in which Brandon was getting pretty mouthy, forcing Schlissel to cut him off mid-sentence with the (too good to be true) rejoinder that "you work for me, not the other way around."

(No, I have no idea how anyone could know this, due to the nature of the scenario described--a presumably closed-door meeting with the two biggest wigs in the building, but I submit it nevertheless in the interest of rumormongering. And because it gives me some small hope that Dave Brandon will be replaced and our national football nightmare will soon come to a close.) 

Joined: 09/22/2014

MGoPoints: 499

victorsvaliant01

October 15th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^

I am getting hitched on Saturday, and could
Not possibly fathom a better wedding present!

FIRE BRAND-ON!!

Joined: 02/01/2009

MGoPoints: 782

maizenbluedevil

October 15th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^

Am I the only one thinking there's nothing earth shattering here? Like, nothing at all?

The regents are meeting tomorrow, which we knew.

And of course they're going to discuss Brandon..... How could they not?? Ilitch doesn't reveal anything surprising.

As for the candidates being contacted, we knew this a few weeks ago and it could mean any number if things.

If amazes me (I guess it shouldn't) how things get so sensationalized that have such little substance.


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Joined: 09/12/2008

MGoPoints: 6906

DarkWolverine

October 15th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^

Agree With You
This is the first Regents meeting since the Shane Morris thing and the statements issued by the AD and the President. It would be expected that Brandon would attend this meeting and discuss the corrective actions taken post the event. Brandon just got his extension in 2012 that runs until mid-2018. These are business people. Are they really going to buy him out at a cost of 5-10 million? Their is no cause to terminate him with no payoff. Would a new AD want to come to UM if they are at risk of being fired for the trivial stuff that Brandon has done wrong and UM does not honor contracts? Mary Sue probably left Dave with a glowing performance appraisal. Brandon's performance on the things that matter to business people has been very good. He may get a little counseling from them on smooting things over with students. But, I expect him to stay. Sorry.


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LSI Wolverine

October 15th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^

His buyout is 3 million, not 5-10. Definitely not cheap, but a manageable amount for an institution like U of M. I think think all of the hoopla about the athletic department being run too much like a corporation might also stunt some of the business minded arguments and he appears to lack significant regent approval (ie: no to fireworks from what is normally a rubber stamp board). I'm not saying he's gone tomorrow, but I do expect a certain amount of condemnation that will be used to justify his termination when schlissel is ready.

Joined: 10/08/2014

MGoPoints: 244

MI Expat NY

October 15th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^

The regents can't fire him, so it wouldn't make sense that there would be a "decision."  Brandon is not going to be fired at a public meeting.  Just not the way the world works.  But, if the regents voice displeasure about Brandon during the public portion of the meeting, it's probably an implicit endorsement of ending his tenure with explicity endorsements taking place in private conversations.  

I don't think this means anything and is either Bacon acting a little perturbed that other outlets are breaking the news, or his source is purposefully being cryptic about what's going to happen.

I still think signs are good that Brandon gets the axe very shortly.  Too much smoke for there not to be fire.

Joined: 07/24/2008

MGoPoints: 8641

I Bleed Maize N Blue

October 15th, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^

Band plays "Anticipation" as a large cannon with a massive air tank is rolled to the 50-yd line.

Drumroll ... "YOU'RE. FIRED!"  *BOOM*

Dave Brandon is fired over the end zone stands. (Bonus points if between the uprights.)

"HAPPY LANDINGS!"

Band plays "Happy Days are Here Again"

Joined: 09/27/2008

MGoPoints: 58690

Blusqualo

October 15th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^

Keep in mind the Board has to follow the Open Meetings Act, (they got their peepees smacked over that regarding a "constructive quorum" over the President search in the past), as such they will have to have their discussions on this matter in public. The University needs to have a good understanding of how things should have been handled, so likely they are talking to other athletic departments to see what protocols they have and to inquire how they may have handled things. The best person to ask at these other athletic programs would be the AD, and while you have their ear, my as well gauge their interest and knowledge of the Real Estate market in AA. Losses amplify outrage, losses to rivals more so, and losses to traditionally inferior rivals immensely so. With a likely lop-sidded loss occuring on Saturday the 25th, DB being dismissed on the 24th, and a formal press conference scheduled for Monday the 27th; the rumors about the dismissal over the weekend and the official announcement on Monday, will temper the inevitable deluge after yet another humiliating loss to Sparty. ...the dismissal on the 24th was mentioned in another thread, and the University press conference on the 27th was made up by me to make this post seem more plausable...

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MGoPoints: 2700

Tater

October 16th, 2014 at 3:09 AM ^

Denise Ilitch is saying what I have said all along: there has to be an idiot-proof system to prevent medical errors and it's the AD's job to make sure that system is in place.

I really hope David Brandon "resigns" early Friday morning.

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MGoPoints: 30584