Brandon and the Headset (or lack thereof)

Submitted by Tuebor on

This is not an apology of Dave Brandon's actions as AD.  Raising ticket prices with this 2014 schedule was a bad idea and I doubt he plans on keeping them the same price next year with both MSU and OSU coming to Michigan Stadium.  Changing the student seating policy from assigned seating to general admission to super fan assigned seating over the last three years was a bad idea.  Brandon should have made the change to general admission and stuck with it IMO.  Bad ideas have consequences in the corporate world so they should in Athletics as well.

 

Brandon has to realize the terrible optics of the situation when you say you are going to "improve communication on the sideline between the coaching staff and medical staff" and your head coach refuses to utilize a coaching tool used universally at all levels of football for the past 30 years. 

 

We hear about how Brandon sits in on film review sessions and gets a copy of game plans from coaches.  To me these are signs of an obessive AD who is micromanaging those he chose to work beneath him.

 

If Dave Brandon has so much control over Hoke and the football program, how come he can't get Hoke to wear a headset? 

 

Drew_Silver

October 6th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

i just don't see him sucking up his pride and putting one on -

why does he need one?  what could he add on saturday that he couldn't have added over the past 4 years?

if he could have improved the team with a headset years ago he would have put one on

Drew_Silver

October 6th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^

I doubt anything he does now can change the narrative going forward,

but if he puts on a headset and the team wins out - beating OSU and MSU and going to a bowl game - then DB could have all the room he needs to bring him back for next year

he could say - look he changed - he is willing to do new things

also - did anyone notice that the O would line up and then look to the sidelines to change plays?  That looked like a nice new wrinkle

Don

October 6th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^

It's a medical condition. When Hoke wears a headset for more than 5 minutes, his ears sweat profusely, which then leads to clogged sebaceous glands inside his ear canal. These clogged sebaceous glands then turn into inflamed and very painful cysts which can only be dealt with surgically. There's no manually popping these babies.

goblue20111

October 6th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^

What does it matter, it's not like he has anything to add to what's being discussed during the game.  He doesn't call plays and going for it on 4th down is a pretty quick judgment call.  He says he has someone behind him FWIW with a headset on giving him information.  He's a bad coach at this level of competition and wearing a headset isn't going to change that.

hennesbe

October 6th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^

Hopefully Brandon isn't around next year being in a position to do anything with the ticket prices.  If he is,  Michgan football has seen the last of me buying season tickets

MonkeyMan

October 6th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^

The whole headset thing is terrible PR for Hoke. It advertizes that he is doing nothing during the game. It makes him look just like some average fan.

But I guess it might also get him out of responsibility for calling certain plays that go wrong.

On balance though I think the negatives outweigh the positives PR wise.

He really is very stubborn and strongly set in his ways. My guess is that Brandon doesn't always get his way with him.

Terrible PR following the concussion thing but it would seem to admit guilt to start wearing them.

If you have any more questions about this post I ask you to refer to my lawyer's statement for more details (he is at the Bar right now)

Gob1ue22

October 6th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^

I can think of several delay of game penalties (some game-changings ones at that) that could have been prevented if there was a grad assistant yelling in hokes headset to call a timeout. 

mGrowOld

October 6th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^

FEELINGSPOST #3 IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

It joins "No Maise - just Blue" and "A case for Positivity"

Gonna have to go some tonight people to hit 10.  

Mittelstadt

October 6th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^

Somehow it makes it more concrete that Hoke needs to go.  I like his loyalty to and love of Michigan.  Still, not wearing a headset in the face of rampant miscommunication is exhibit A of what he's lacking.  

1) Why wear a headset if you're not adding any value?,

2) Why help with strategy during the game when you are not a strong strategic thinker?, and

3) Why do something that exposes 1 & 2 above?

 

JZ

October 6th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^

The headset is worthless when you realize Hoke is an incompetent in-game manager. 

I would actually pay to view the episode of "Mic'd Up: Brady Hoke"

991GT3

October 6th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^

All he can do is clap encouragement. He is a $4,000,000 a year cheer leader.

Regarding Brandon, its been over a week since Morris gate and the memo from the school. As I predicted nothing has happened or will happen. This matter is being buried. Hoke and and staff will be retained for at least another year.

Brandon is having the last laugh. It is what it is.

UMForLife

October 6th, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^

Brady is refusing because he wants at least 4 hours of his life where he doesn't have to listen to Brandon over the headset.

Hope you understand and never ask this again in this board.

Drop your headset and kick it as hard as you can. You will feel better.

SysMark

October 7th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^

He'd probably like to start wearing one now just to make it all go away but it's too late - he'd get clobbered even more for trying to look engaged.  He should just get an ipod and listen to some tunes.