Photos From The Fire Dave Brandon Rally
What started with a message board post became a law student wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt in protest:
This and all following photos: Ace Anbender/MGoBlog
While at first it appeared the media members would outnumber the protestors, that changed in a hurry, with the assembled crowd alternating chants of "Fire Brandon," "We Want Harbaugh," and "Down With Dave."
A little while in, a small group chanted "Schlissel's House!" Lo and behold, a few minutes later, the protest had moved to the university president's front lawn:
“I’m proud of our history. I’m not proud of Dave Brandon being a part of that history.”
The guy with the megaphone—I didn't catch who he was, but since he was interviewed by several media outlets, I'm sure it'll get out there—spoke for a while about his pride in the University's athletic history, his support of the students and athletes, and the failure of Dave Brandon to protect either. The rally ended with a mocking "Dave Sucks" chant and a rendition of The Victors. A certain blogger may or may not have been interviewed on live television.
The full set of photos from the rally is embedded below. I'd estimate the turnout ended up at somewhere around 400-500 people—not bad for something that started just hours earlier on a message board...
September 30th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
That's pretty much what I was getting at.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:30 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
trolls gonna troll
September 30th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
I went up to that guy and asked what the deal was. He said, "I refuse to wear Michigan stuff." Deep cut.
October 1st, 2014 at 1:21 AM ^
Dude in the OSU shirt sucks. He doesn't get it...
September 30th, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^
Wow, look at all the white people
September 30th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
Dude, there was totally a black guy there too
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September 30th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
On the lower right, towards the end of the video clip, I'm pretty sure there's an asian guy there. I think. Maybe.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
WTF?
Wow, most of those people are probably Indian, Middle East, Hispanic, Asian sorry their skin is not dark enough for you.
October 1st, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^
Let's be honest, the evident lack of diversity in these photos is depressing. I know it's not the University's fault, but...
Consider how many black players the football team has.
Consider how many black students there are at these rallies.
Does that seem OK to you?
October 1st, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^
Of course, since many of the BAMN demands amounted to "give us money," they may like Brandon.
October 1st, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^
Lot of different groups represented in that vine. Its become apparent that the eye sight on this board is sorely lacking.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
I like the "It's Great...to be..." chant and all, but it seems kind of odd to chant that when we're not feeling great about the athletic department at the moment.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
Because it's all about holding people like Brandon accountable to the high standards that we hold other Wolverines to. Shedding light on Brandon's bullcrap is all about maintaining our ideals... especially that this is a community and not a business.
October 1st, 2014 at 3:55 AM ^
Anyone remember Revenge of the Nerds?
Just be Northwestern. Be the real champions, not the meathead champions. Football players were they guys that tormented you alums back when you had an army of shinny forehead and chin zits to match your equally embarassing physiques.
Just be done with it. Count this fall as a blessing, and concentrate on completely socializing this country once and for all, and printing more fiat money faster than stupid lazy impregnated-so-I-can-get-married-and-still-live-rich women can spend it, so this country can fall too. That way, we can go way back to the big hairy dudes and their 20 ACT score great leader big hairy dude ruling. It will seem more natural and acceptable then.
This whole thing is hilarious. The WHOLE thing.
FTW.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 8:44 PM ^
It might've peaked around 700 or so. The media eating it up adds some delicious fuel to the fire, though.
Petition at 9385. At this pace it'll be over 10,000 by day's end.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
This all seems pretty weird to me. I understand every reason to hate Dave Brandon, but why are people calling for his head more than Hoke's? Do people already count Hoke as dead, so they're using this as a platform to get Brandon canned? I don't see why this Shane thing has any impact on Brandon.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
The lying.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^
First, this is kind of a "last straw". Brandon has been shitting where he eats for years, but his handling of the Morris incident made it personal. If anything I'm impressed that THIS was the final straw. The fans stood by through Noodlegate, Cokegate and other embarrassments but they decided they'd had it when a player's health was endangered.
Second, Hoke is a Brandon hire and there were calls to have Hoke fired immediately. Instead the entire process has treated the fanbase with the utmost disregard and disrespect. The fact that no one is being disciplined at all speaks volumes about what Brandon ISN'T doing.
Third, Brandon threw Hoke under the bus. Even though Hoke's been mighty unpopular, the students didn't fall for Brandon's stupid ploy. He insulted their intelligence and that only brought them from mad to furious. Hoke claimed to have no knowledge and he's probably telling the truth. Brandon badly mishandled the information HE had in the worst way possible, in a way that exposes his cynical contempt for the fans and their demands for accountability.
Fourth, the whole handling of the affair is shady and embarrassing. Hoke looks like a buffoon but the statement that damned him came directly from Brandon in the middle of the night. Everyone else was kept in the dark or shut out. Brandon may have brought even some undue attention on himself but now we're in a "cover-up worse than the crime" debacle and every bit of disdain for his handling of the athletic department is well-deserved.
Fifth, no coach in their right mind wants to work for an AD who's shown his willingness for complete betrayal. The fans know that things won't improve until Brandon's gone.
The responsibility for Morris' play falls on Hoke, but the students know where the root of all evils are.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^
Dave Brandon has been the source of the problem for awhile. He hired Hoke. He micromanages. His efforts were the one that got us here in the first place.
Firing Hoke only takes care of half the problem. Canning Brandon is cutting the head off the beast. Maybe then, this whole Michigan Man myth can finally be buried once and for all.
And the calls for Lloyd must be stopped. Please, no. Let him have the last game of his career be where he stays. Put Mattison in charge until a true long term solution is put into place.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
Lying. An inept department. Negative PR move every month/week leading up to this. There are many reasons.
Let's also not forget this: http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/brandon/spec-rel/112713aaa.html
We also know how to hold people accountable for the roles and responsibilities they have as part of the privilege for being a part of Michigan Football -- and we will
If you're going to support your head football coach in that way then you better pray it works out because if/when he goes down, Brandon will tank right along with him...
September 30th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
I will add my two cents here as well, FWIW. To me, it boils down to the principle belief that Dave Brandon is eroding the relationship between students, alumni, and the football program (and Michigan Athletics at large).
This is supported by a multitude of evidence, some of which we can all link official documentation for, and some of which we cannot.
One example of the evidence I cannot document to you: what I hear from older alums, especially ones that tailgate in the parking lot adjacent to the Big House/Crisler, who have been repeatedly jostled by Brandon and who have had to fend off repeated attempts to nickle and dime them into moving their tailgate locations to Pioneer. I believe it is these small acts of disrespect that have curried the overall sentiment that Brandon is just...well, kind of a dick who doesn't care about Michigan fans unless they're worth millions.
On the student side, I can personally attest how frustrating the GA policy was from the getgo. I don't care about cell phone coverage in the stadium. In fact, I'd rather not have it, because I enjoy getting the flood of randomly timed texts after the game when I'm finally sitting down, relaxing, and relishing in the fact I just enjoyed Michigan Football. I want to sit with my friends. But what if one part of my group of friends enters later than I do? This was the case for me and it ruined my senior year game experience because, well, shit, I'm a senior and want to enjoy my last memories in the Big House as a student with my friends, not random students and 1-2 friends. No offense, random M students! It's just not the same.
Don't even get me started on the basketball ticket fiasco. I worked 20-30 hours a week the entire way through college to afford things like basketball season tickets. To have someone then say (mind you, AFTER I spent hundreds on them) that you're not actually guaranteed any of them and that you will have to ratrace against other students to make sure you get one...that's not a good way to treat your students.
So that's really the essence of it, in my mind. He's alienated every group who isn't a rich donor at some point or another, and without remorse. He's slowly eroding the culture of fandom that makes Michigan so special in the first place.
That's without mentioning any of the crap he's pulled lately. It doesn't take a genius to gather that Hoke truly is a good guy (albeit in over his head) and that abandoning him yesterday to take bullets in that press conference is just par for the fucking course for Brandon.
These are just a FEW of the reasons I think he has to go. Other posters have covered some of the other reasons; I hope I do not seem like an entitled former student here, though I would not fault you for thinking so. I feel how I feel and there's been so many occurrences with Brandon that have made me feel that way, that now I believe it's rather justified.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:51 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^
I'm trying to get more details, but if anything happens the whole world will find out about the same time I do. We might not be waiting as long as we think. FWIW, the guy thinks DB for sure gets fired and Hoke is 50/50.
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September 30th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
Ugh..I really hope this is true. I want to believe. It's just hard with all the message board sources that get thrown around. Guess we'll know soon enough.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:01 PM ^
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October 1st, 2014 at 3:56 AM ^
Why shouldn't the Regents fire a head coach? Particularly in a situation in which the A.D. has just been relieved of his duties? Certainly, firing him for his shortcomings as a football coach is a matter that should be handled by the A.D. through normal performance review processes. But compromising the integrity and the reputation of the school/program and endangering player safety are plenty of cause to intervene. I'd argue the failure to act would be a breach of their duty if you believe that Hoke has compromised the school's integrity. Also, the head coach falls under the A.D. in some org chart but for practical purposes he is one of the leading public figures at Michigan and when his conduct is so poor that he and the University are under intense scrutiny by mainstream media then the situation has risen to a Board level issue.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^
Any details on timing of the meeting?
September 30th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
That's was my take from Schlissel's statement. It seemed to me that Brandon is for sure gone, but given the fact that we're not even mid season I could see them allowing Hoke to finish the year. Fingers crossed...
September 30th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 7:54 AM ^
If this were the case I would be happier than a kid at Christmas. I'm not one to enjoy anyone losing their job, especially in economic times such as these, but let's face it, DB has been overcompensated for the job he's done. As many posters have already outlined the many issues most of us have with Brandon I won't bother wasting everyones time but suffice it to say he is deserving of this fate and I hope beyond hope this comes to fruition. The problem is the past couple of years have made me believe that (at least where football is concerned) we can't have nice things so I'm having a hard time getting excited just yet. Please, please be right!
October 1st, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
Any particular reason why he feels Hoke is only 50/50?
September 30th, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^
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September 30th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
All of us that paid the least attention to the Sugar Bowl knew that David Molk would be starting and playing on a broken foot. Not only were there no peeps of concerns for his health and ability to protect himself, there were praises sung of his heroics. In hindsight we now know that Brady Hoke first displayed his callous nature toward his Michigan players that night. Sadly we too were too wrapped up about a game to care about David Molk.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:39 PM ^
and so was put at risk. That he didn't suffer further injury is just his good luck, but it had nothing to do with protecting the player. The same with David Molk and how many times did Gardner have his head banged around during a sack and never once was there ever a concern shown about potential brain trauma.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
And if you run an inside route as a receiver, you're putting yourself at risk. Anything like this when everything is going well is treated as positive and as toughness (rightly so). Football is a rough, dirty game. Concussions are much different. You can't equate them.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
Let's not be naive and think that guys on this team that aren't the QB haven't played with undiagnosed concussions in the past, now, and in the future. Football is obviously a violent sport, and guys get hurt all the time. There are measures in place to protect people, but I promise you there will be kids suiting up today who will suffer from the same debilitating issues we are seeing with the last generation of players as it relates to the effects of concussions.
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