Ross Changes His Tune
![the-godfather-kiss-of-death[1]](https://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/Ross-Changes-His-Tune_C88C/the-godfather-kiss-of-death1.jpg "the-godfather-kiss-of-death[1]")
The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Ross batphone rang again today:
On Monday, Ross said that he still thinks Brandon can do the job. But he also has promised school president Mark Schlissel that he won’t interfere or oppose a decision to fire Brandon.
“I don’t think alumni should control universities,” Ross said. “We have a great president and he is running the university and not me.”
Ross said Schlissel has “been talking to a lot of people” about Brandon and “has not come to a hasty conclusion.” If he has made a decision, Ross said, “he has not told anyone.”
IS THIS THE KISS OF DEEEEAAAATH?
October 27th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
next week. Even if the University has 3 or 4 candidates whom they've pre-qualified, there is still the interview process. And then the new AD needs to resign and give notice to their old school. So, that would take us to the end of the season already at the soonest. They'd need to get going with the coaching search almost immediately.
October 27th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
I'm picturing the regents scrambling right now, emails and phones melting down. Wish I had your optimism re: preparedness. Brandon has had everyone so snowed over, no one saw this coming. I'd like to think they were ready for this but I've lost faith in the admin that created this mess in the first place. Brandon should have been reeled in long ago.
Side note: there's a Domino's "large 3-topping carryout" ad in the banner next to this page I'm viewing right now. Random chance but I'm calling it a sign.
October 27th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
To those of you actually planning his derailment for the bye week: before you firm it up, let me check my calendar. I want to make sure the coffee pot's in ship shape, the computer battery is at optimal charging power, and I'm available for 24 hour MGoBlogging.
October 27th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
Insightful.
October 28th, 2014 at 8:04 AM ^
October 28th, 2014 at 8:04 AM ^
October 27th, 2014 at 3:06 PM ^
real life drama, including the Michigan internal AD-coaching evaluations.
For example, the scene where Michael tells his henchmen that he wants nothing to happen to Fredo while their mother is alive, could be viewed as symbolic of the kiss of death statement Ross portends here in talking about not standing in the way of Brandon's firing, or maybe the scene where Michael asks his supposed mentor, Hyman Roth,for permission to deal with Frank Pentagelo, a smokescreen proposal aimed at baiting his mentor into thinking he plans on murdering the New York gangster for his alleged part in a botched shooting at Michael's Lake Tahoe compound, where Michael and Kay are nearly killed in a bedroom spray of machine-gun fire,
An emotional Michael confronts Frankie Five Angels and confuses him with this angry accusation punctuated by his anger over the intimate setting of the near-muder scene, "where my wife sleeps and my children come and play with their toys."
He raises the ante of his false revenge with Roth to guage his view of his plan. Roth respnds almost like Ross here, saying in Geico-like ad script, "He's small potatoes."
Whether Brandon sleeps with the fishes, Schlissel is keeping his friends close and big donors closer.
October 27th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
"I won't interfere or oppose" you taking out this S.O.B. who's making me look like a fool for supporting him in the first place. An ugly way for Brandon to go out - with his "allies" turning away as he's pulled off. I'm compassionate to an extent, but I hope it's painful and embarassing for him every step of the way. I want him to come out the other end with nothing on the horizon - no political career, no notable private career, just done. Take your contract buy-out (if any) and disappear.
October 27th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
can we fire him now, like today?
October 27th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
just wave your white flag, go out, count your money and spend time with your family. Lets end this relationship and move on.
October 27th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
I imagine that the horror of this year's football season has to have exceeded Schlissel's worst nightmares of what might happen in his first semester on campus. Can't blame him for trying to move judiciously, but I still feel like Brandon can't be gone soon enough.
October 27th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
October 27th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
That is singlehandedly the most polite way I have ever seen "Fire this asshole!!" expressed.
October 27th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^
A major donor who in fact was meddling could very well make the public statements Ross did, while sending different messages through other channels. I do not know Ross well enough to evaluate whether this is Dave Brandon style doublespeak.
I think Thanksgiving is the End Game for an AD move. Any longer than that and it would not be feasible to have a smooth transition. I can see why the President would want to give Dave Brandon due process, as he is an alum who notwithstanding his many flaws has made contributions to the University.
The longer this drags out, due process turns to drift, and inertia becomes overpowering.
October 27th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^
Peace be upon thee, Noid.
October 27th, 2014 at 7:00 PM ^
That game Saturday was assuredly the big ole kiss of death. Two week's to prepare for the second consecutive year and again? Kiss him goodbye.
October 27th, 2014 at 7:22 PM ^
I would like to think that if I had donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the university I would be able to say "I don't think alums should runs the University." But I'm not sure I'm that open minded.
Yes, maybe Ross sees the handwriting on the wall and just decided to be gracious. But even that deserves a lot of credit. Look at Carr's behavior during the RR years, the refusal to support someone who wasn't his pick, even when it hurt the university he supposedly loved. Ross could have kept quiet, or made threats in private or in public. Instead he said, in effect, my gifts to the university are without strings, give or take a few naming rights. That's a pretty class act.
October 27th, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^
I believe it was a Fox Sports article, or maybe Yahoo. Point is, the fellow gets good intel.
October 27th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 28th, 2014 at 12:06 AM ^
October 28th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
On other hand, he is now saying that he'll not push for DB's ouster or push the Pres to oust him. But that is no change either.
I don't get how this is a change of tune. How I read it, Ross has not been supportive of DB since the Minny game & (probably, shear guessing now) the AD handling of the concussion matter.
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