David Brandon's Address to the Players
[Ed-M: Diary bump for usefulness.]
Interesting tidbits from David Brandon’s meeting with the team yesterday – this was conveyed to me by a contact of mine (can’t say who it is and can’t say whether it is a player/coach/manager) etc., but much of this was rehashed on the rivals forum yesterday.
I was always a Harbaugh or RichRod gets a 4th year guy, but hearing stuff like this is very encouraging. I’ll try to keep this concise:
- I refuse to believe that Dave Brandon let his ego get in the way of this coaching search.
He said he interviewed big names from every conference and found that some "big names" clearly have themselves as their first priority, not their players or the program. This made his search a little easier.
- He knows exactly what's been said on blogs and such. Said he wasn't on either plane that we were tracking (hahahaha.) He knows some will love the hire, others will hate it. It's his job not to care.
- He did interview Harbaugh and Miles. Harbaugh told him straight up that he was NFL bound and gave him advice. Didn't offer the job to Les Miles.
- Everyone he spoke to referred him to Brady Hoke. Opposing coaches, former players, former coaches all said he should consider Hoke.
Michigan alumni really supported Hoke (Steve Hutchinson called unsolicited to say that "Brady Hoke was the best coach I ever had")
- Only offered the job to one man -- Brady Hoke. Called Brady yesterday morning and offered, Brady accepted immediately. Didn't even ask about money.
- Money isn't an issue. We'll pour as much money as it takes into this program to win. Football is the heart of our athletic department. Whether it's $200 million to the stadium or new video boards.
- Brady is very familiar with our team and the special athletes we have at certain positions. "He knows you very well by number, and he'll learn your names starting tomorrow"
- The team was overwhelmingly happy when he announced it. I don't know that you could expect differently though. Morale is high.
- Even Denard looked happy. Especially when they were prepping them for interviews and mentioned that Hoke will incorporate spread aspects in his offense. At this point I don't think attrition will be high.
- Team started chanting "Nike" towards the end. Dave Brandon laughed and said he doesn't break contracts.
Sounds like Michigan is on its way back.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:50 AM ^
If this is true, I am glad that Denard and the rest of the team seemed to be happy. GO BLUE!
January 12th, 2011 at 8:56 AM ^
The Scout board was buzzing about this. The team attitude seems to be everyone (besides Tate, wasn't at the meeting) is all in, and all-willing to stay and learn from Brady. While I think a couple guys will be leaving (in their own interest, no hard feeling), I don't think attrition will be nearly as high this time around.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
does that not make Harbaugh Plan A?
And money is an issue, Adidas paid a boat full, contracts can be broken if they are bad. This deal was not a bad one for the University.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
The order in which a candidate is interviewed doesn't necessarily equate to where they fit in a "plan". Harbaugh wasn't OFFERED.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:06 AM ^
and that's becasue he said he was going to the league. If, and I mean IF (DB or Hoke or JH would never say otherwise) JH was not the first choice, DB failed miserably at this whole process and should be relieved of his duties immediately. And just wait to the contract is announced...
January 12th, 2011 at 9:07 AM ^
We need to stop thinking of this job search in terms of the order in which candidates were interviewed. I've conducted numerous job searches and I rarely if ever interview only one candidate. Brandon, as a typical CEO type, would most assuredly not feel comfortable without "interviewing" numerous candidates and then making his decision. I take him at his word that he spoke with people in all the major conferences, then deliberated and decided to offer to Hoke.
Granted, College Football is not the board room, so i'm not sure i agree with this strategy...but i'm getting tired of people thinking he went from Harbaugh, to Miles to Hoke thus making Hoke his third choice. Sounds to me like Harbaugh and Miles were never really "choices" to him (either due to not being available - JH or not being desirable in his mind - LM).
January 12th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^
just curios?
/hint,hint,stomp,stomp,wink,wink
January 12th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^
I find it funny that the players were chanting Nike. It is very telling.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
Great, the pizza man is even dumber than I thought. I am not sure he should be asking Tressell who he should hire.
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<br>/s
January 12th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
January 12th, 2011 at 9:04 AM ^
So, you poked the dude to your right?? Awwwwkward....
January 12th, 2011 at 8:53 AM ^
Raback where have you been? I rarely see your name around these parts any more
January 12th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
Life's been busy man...haven't found much time to post. Additionally, and not to trying to be a dick (you not included), but I've found that the quality of posting on this blog has fallen severely....I still read religiously, just don't feel the need to post unless I have something significant to add.
Hopefully things change RE: quality once we start winning.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
I, personally, am expecting things to get better with a new coach. Once the trolls get their Hoke-hate out of their systems, I think the blog will be back.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:09 AM ^
[Grimace in your direction]
January 12th, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^
I think things will get better only if Denard announces that he's staying. It's going to be a shitstorm if he leaves.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:06 AM ^
Glad that you did take the time. I started reading, and wondered who on earth was posting, looked up and saw it was Raback and breathed a sigh of relief. You have a high believability quotient.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
Just as always, I've probably dated myself with this reference, and it may fly over a lot of heads.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
So all the new members don't look at us funny when we say "Raback it!". It's sad when a meme sticks around longer than the poster. And you're one of the only guys who has sources I believe.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^
- Team started chanting "Nike" towards the end.
It's good to know the players are learning some words in their Greek classes.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:55 AM ^
Where have you been? Great news can’t wait to hear about Position Coaches/DC. Now like a true MgoAddict any Reback recruits?
January 12th, 2011 at 8:56 AM ^
They can't be too worried about their new coaching situation if all they can think to chant at the end of the meeting is "NIKE!"
I'll say it again... I would love to see Nike come in and go all Oregon on our away jerseys.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
Anything like this might shake my faith in the program more than any coaching change.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:04 AM ^
To each their own. I'm not going to go on a campaign or anything, but I will say this: players these days eat that stuff up, and I think seeing Oregon-ish away jerseys could help up the cool factor for a lot of recruits.
Don't touch the home jerseys, they're badass as it is obviously, but if mixing things up gets us even a couple more 5* recruits, I'm down.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
I'll say it again... I would love to see Nike come in and go all Oregon on our away jerseys.
Um, no.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:56 AM ^
our away jerseys suck.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
Team started chanting "Nike" towards the end. hilarious, even the players hate adidas
January 12th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
Man do I wish we could get Nike back!
January 12th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
We can. In 2016. :/
January 12th, 2011 at 9:02 AM ^
bidding war.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
Why Nike when you could have UnderArmour instead?
January 17th, 2011 at 1:15 AM ^
under armor sucks a$$ and uses cheap s***
January 12th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
- Even Denard looked happy. Especially when they were prepping them for interviews and mentioned that Hoke will incorporate spread aspects in his offense. At this point I don't think attrition will be high.
Thank you sweet baby Jesus.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
yes and amen.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
I mean if Hoke is such a great guy it would have been obvious since we lost to OSU?
edit: sorry for the sarcasm and thanks for posting...but hoke did not wake up on Monday with more character and moral fiber than he went to bed with on sunday night, he was not a better coach b/c he got a good nights sleep. This could have been done a while ago
January 12th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
Thank you for sharing. The team's morale being high, Miles not getting offered and the numerous recommendations of Hoke have me feeling a lot better. Let the 2011 season begin!
January 12th, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
... is a fine example of "Leaders and Best."
Anonymous board posters who attack him with iPhone posts from Angell Hall or Dungeons-and-Dragons meetups, not so much.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
This is the best news I have heard in weeks. Appreciate you sharing this. All along my biggest concern is that we would lose players off of this current team. They seem like a great bunch of guys and it sure would be nice to see some seniors around here.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
Thanks for the report. If the players are on board- like Victors_Valiant said- this has a chance to be a very good hire. I hope Hoke has the sense to use the talent that he has and not be bull-headed with his hate of "spread offenses."
January 12th, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
..is HUGE! Nike would have us dancing in all maize uni's at some point -- yuck!
January 12th, 2011 at 9:00 AM ^
Another coaching search, and another round of not offering Miles. At least we interviewed him this time.
I wonder what the issue is? Still the fact that he slept with Moeller's wife / dirty recruited against Carr? If that is the only reason, GET OVER IT. If he is one of those guys that Raback mentions as "clearly cares more about himself than his players," then I understand. But even if that is the case - his results at LSU have been superior to our own.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
Probably more that Miles is happy at LSU and that became apparent when interviewed.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^
But I heard that sleeping with the Head Coach's wife is EXACTLY why Miles wasn't offered the job three years ago or recently. He is a slimeball who has other practices we don't support at Michigan.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
Good stuff. I'm glad to hear the players seemed to be receptive. I'm also very pleased with the fact that Hoke didn't even ask about money as I'm sure ALL other candidates probably did. This is a guy who loves Michigan Football and will give his heart and soul to the program. If some guys hate on him because he's not a big name, so be it. When we're back they'll have to swallow their words.
I have faith most players will stay, including Denard. Brady has used versions of the spread in his previous tenures so there's no reason to believe he won't use them now, especially with the type of players we have. He's a good coach and will implement an offense suited to our strengths.
Lastly, I didn't know the players didn't like adidas. Now that I know, I wonder why. Hopefully adidas is able to re-tailot those "fit' jerseys they were implementing last year.
I know some of you don't like to the new hire. But, if nothing more, if what you want is a guy that cares as much as Michigan Football as you do, Brady is probably it. I'm supporting Brady and The Team 100 percent.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
So that makes no one that likes Adidas.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:03 AM ^
If ther salary talk went like this:
Only offered the job to one man -- Brady Hoke. Called Brady yesterday morning and offered, Brady accepted immediately. Didn't even ask about money.
Hopefully Hoke's contract is incentive laden - "more wins, more money". It sounds like they could have gotten this guy for SDSU's salary and paid the rest to top notch assistants (Shannon?).
January 12th, 2011 at 9:05 AM ^
i dont think nike has the same popularity as it did in the 90's and adidas was more soccer, but i could care less. the brand doesnt make the jersey.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:09 AM ^
If we get back in bed with Nike you can bet on a maize-and-blue, carbon fiber-look helmet. Which, I think would be awesome if we only used it a couple of times.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
1. Nike is much more of a global presence than you'd think. Jordan helped them with that and now Kobe and a lot of other basketball stars.
2. Phil Knight, for the longest time, didn't want to sponsor soccer, but he finally relented with the Brazilian soccer team. Now countries like Brazil, USA, Portugal, and Clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona are all sponsored by Nike. Additionally, they have some of the big names like Ronaldo, Rooney, Fabregas, and half the Barcelona squad (no Messi). Nike has done a lot of work in this regard, and it has helped them expand their brand.
3. Would the University let that happen? Seems like we are so attached to our uniforms, our colors, and our helmets. I think there would be public outrage if that were the case. Some of us still hate Adidas for changing "maize" to a bright yellow. I think new uniforms would be cool and allow for better merchandising, but I've always admired that we didn't delve into changing our uniforms.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:05 AM ^
will be a great learning experience for the players, let alone the rest of us. If we get more team unity, good winter workouts, and an enthusiatic team in the spring and the fall, good things can and will happen.
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