Brandon & the Cloak of Silence
With the endless CC & recruiting threads, something obvious just struck me. Not only has DB done a great job of not wavering and staying on message, he has also done a great job of maintaining an invulnerable cloak of silence. So often, someone in the office blabs what is going to happen. To be true, this often is caused by someone at the top sharing info with someone who can't be trusted. I think that there may have been some version of this that happened in the coaching search after Carr. (Specifically, in regards to Les Miles.) Perhaps DB learned from that debacle. Regardless, he has done a masterful job of keeping his own mouth shut.
DB's ability to keep his own counsel and keep his mouth shut will pay dividends in various ways. He is sending a clear message to the entire athletic program.
- First, he is a man of his word.
- Second, he will not be swayed by the masses or by media pressure.
- Third, if he is willing to act this way with the football program, no less can be expected all the way down through all sports teams at Michigan.
- Fourth, there are very limited backdoors in the athletic administration. Often, there are toadies or folks behind the scenes who spill the beans. Having a united front and lack of loose lips in the admin is very impressive.
- Fifth, no one in the media can expect special treatment from DB.
I'm reminded of the scene in "The Right Stuff" where John Glenn refuses to cave to media whore pressure from LBJ. By DB taking heat now, and yes, causing some discomfort for RR & for the recruiting world, healthy patterns are being set that will pay significant dividends throughout all sports at Michigan for years to come. I salute him, and have full confidence in the process as regards RR & our football team.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
well, regarding the Maryland job, that position is not filled. In fact it only became available yesterday. Friedgen is out; his successor has not been named. The Maryland AD "has a list," and Mike Leach is on it, but he's not hired yet. I agree that Rich Rod would succeed there; I think he'd do well at most ACC schools
December 21st, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^
I am going to ignore the last few paragraphs where you debated the morality of DB's decision, but with respect to the first few paragraphs, I think that this could very well be what is going on here. Many on the board have postulated this theory, and if you look at the facts, it makes perfect sense. There really are only a few other options:
1. DB is going to keep RR - if this has already been decided, there is NO rational basis to keep him waiting, hurt recruiting and put the program through this month of uncertainty.
2. DB really doesn't know what he is going to do and needs more time - if this is the case, then the collective love affair with his pimp hand is misplaced. If DB can't make a decision after almost a full year of being closely involved with the program - being on the side lines, meeting with RR, meeting with players, attending practice, talking wiht alum, former players - than he is indecisive. Other ADs don't seem to have trouble making their decision by the end of the regular season. Since Brandon does not come off as an indecisive guy, I don't believe this to be the case.
3. DB really wants to do a formal, end-of-the-year review process - If this is the case, than he is being stubborn and not bending his corporate procedures to the realities of the current situation. I know that he has said many times that he has a process and he is sticking to it. But, if that process is causing our program to be the butt of speculation and uncertaintly, then he needs to change his process in this situation.
I really don't think that any of these 3 options is plausable, so I think that your speculation could be accurate - with a twist. Perhaps DB wants to get JH. And for the reasons you set forth, he hasn't fired RR (avoid the Les Miles thing). But, he doesn't know if he will get JH. I think it is more likely that he wants JH but is keeping RR around as plan B. Again, pure speculation, but I think that this is more likely.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
I don't understand the criticism that my post wasn't "novel" and that others have posted it. Duh yeah. I was merely using it as the basis to disagree with the OP's conclusion that, somehow, we all have to give DB a lot of kudos and praise. Don't get me wrong, I like DB as the AD, esp. how he handled the whole violations fiasco. But I am not on board that DB's zone of silence is worthy of praise. The fact that others feel the facts speak for themselves, I think, tends to support the viewpoint that DB isn't necessarily a leader here, but the following.
Well, by "leader" I mean, a legend; I guess we aren't leaders. For now.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
I wan't criticizing that your view isn't novel. Actually the opposite - the fact that so many people have had the same speculated opinion only lends credibility to the fact that it might be accurate. I fully agree with you that the only logical reason for DB to delay like this is to try to get JH.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^
I hear what you're saying. However, when placed in a position of authority, one must have consistency. The fact of the matter is, DB chose to (across the board) "wait until the end of season" to evaluate all programs.
Regardless of what we think, he is following through on his word. If he were to break it [his word] now, he loses control. If he remains consistent he will remain in control. Imagine how he would look (at this point) if he came out and buckled to the media/fans.
There isn’t a better place within the entire athletic dept. to set the standard for every student athlete and coach, than Football! He has just set the bar for every program within his authority.
From my experience, a leader or manager finds the best results from remaining consistent, sometimes contrary to what the majority wants or needs. Inconsistency and questioning your own decisions leads to conflict within the ranks and lack of followership. The man is taking responsibility and not pawning it off on others. Let’s let him do his job and entrust we have somebody capable and intelligent running our program. After all, TIM (This IS MICHIGAN)!!!!!!
December 21st, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
However, if, in fact, what you are saying is true, this would suggest a level of duplicity and dishonesty on the part of DB which I would personally find disturbing. It is my hope this is not the case. We will all know, for better or worse, within the next two weeks.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:17 PM ^
Harbaugh might be keeping his mouth shut just to avoid saying anything remotely controversial that might remove him from future consideration. Harbaugh would (or so I'm guessing) come whenever Michigan calls if he really feels it is his dream job because that is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
It's quite possible that all of the silence is more about strategic positioning for this time next year. Considering that it's still a young team, it's easy to envision another year for Rodriguez. But if at the end of November 2011, M football has posted another 7-5 season with consecutive multi-touchdowns losses to Big Ten rivals then it would be very easy (downright inevitable, I would think) for Brandon to dismiss Rodriguez.
The coaching hire for football will be the biggest move of Brandon's AD legacy especially if it includes a termination. I may have no idea what Brandon is thinking these days, but I'm pretty sure that he is giving any such decision all of the diligence and patience needed and that he will, when the time comes, move swiftly and decisively.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^
DB and JH are friends and I think they have talked and JH said to DB I am interested in the job but I have a big BCS bowl game I want to coach and it will mean a lot to Stanford and he owes them that. And his wife is about to have a baby, that’s a lot on his plate and he doesn’t need more distractions and would like to wait till after my bowl game. What’s DB got to lose? he waits and saves 1.5 Million and gets the coach he wants. And RR is not getting thrown out penny less he will be getting good money and someone will want him so why feel bad look at what he did to WV.
December 21st, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
Sorry if I come across harsh...Where the hell does it say that DB and JH are butt buddies? This is like the 4th time I heard this. Please elaborate.... Yea JH's not-even-born child is dictating UM's football program... Fricking moron. I believe Rich Rod's contract states that he has to have 30 days notice before his buyout to go into effect. So there goes 1.5 million reasons BS...Also DB is doing this to Rich Rod because of what Michigan did to WVU?
I'm getting sick of this topic, because of posts from people like Rudy.. I need a beer now..
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:35 AM ^
Sorry to piss you off I was just throwing out what I have read on the scout board and on this board a number of times. The thing about DB and JH being friends was mentioned by Frank Beckman on WJR when all this crap first started and a bunch of times on the scout board. Sorry I’m posted it I thought we were just throwing stuff out there to discuss but I guess it would be like me claiming you knew something because you posted it. And you are the moron if you think the birth of a child does not play into a man’s decision on what he decides, to most people family is number one. And you are telling me the way RR handled leaving WV was up front and business like and I’m the moron
December 22nd, 2010 at 12:51 AM ^
Has anyone called Brandon out on this end-of-the-season bullshit? I can recall numerous times when he's said that he doesn't "do public performance reviews," and evaluations of his coaches (for every sport) come at the end of the season.
Like here: http://detnews.com/article/20101127/SPORTS0201/11270395/U-M-s-David-Bra…
Yet he will still make comments like this:
December 21st, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Hope it's not a horror film.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
I thought this was going to be about the latest book in the Harry Potter series.
Way to get a guy's hopes up for nothing.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^
I would change the title to be "Cloak of Horror" rather than "Cloak of Silence."
December 21st, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
along with the honorific "The" needs to be reserved for the opening football game of the 2007 season....so that we may never need to refer to that entire game by any mention of that which shall not be called anything other than "THE HORROR"!
December 21st, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
I just "thesaurused" (new word) the word "horror" and found a substitute for use in the title of the book. It will be "Dave Brandon and the Cloak of Trepidation. Better?
December 21st, 2010 at 3:07 PM ^
And trepidation says it all so much better!
December 21st, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^
Dumbledore dies on page 596.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
That witchcraft is clearly NSFH. Get real.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^
As always, and as Brian noted, everyone is going to interpret DB's silence as an affirmative of their particular personal position on the CC.
StephenRKass, of course, is no different. Every post ends with some variation of "and since I believe RR won't be fired..." or some other reference to RR being retained.
None of us know anything. No thread on this topic is going to bring anything new to the equation until January 2. Until then, it's just a repackaging of quite literally nothing into a disguised form of personal opinion.
So what's the point in starting threads like this about 5 times a day?
December 21st, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^
You are correct in regards to my personal position (the hope that RR will be retained.) This will color, as Brian notes, my interpretation of the facts.
The main reason for the OP is to suggest there has been significant organizational discipline in maintaining silence. This silence may be due
- to DB literally not knowing what he is going to do.
- It also can be attributed to him not telling anyone what he is going to do.
- It also can be attributed to his staff not blabbing what he has told them.
I would interpret the facts to point to some combination of 2 & 3 (not telling very many people what is going to happen, and those few in the inner circle of knowledge having the discipline to keep their mouths closed.)
Having said that, this thread is not particularly novel or needed. What is needed is for the next two weeks to pass. At that point, regardless of my position or anyone else's, we will have facts that can be moved forward on.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
I being one of many here that have absolutely zero inside information find myself in a unique position. I support RR as the coach and hope he continues in his current position for many years and many championships to come. I also support DB and much like in the early days of RR we are experiencing some growing pains with a brand new way of business coming to town. The one thing that I have to rely on is that there are people in place in the leadership positions of the university that will make the right decisions at the right time no matter if they are difficult or not. If a change is made I will support whoever comes in regardless of how I feel about the decision and afford that person the same I afford RR and all the coaches in the past.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Yeah. This is all about David Brandon's character. He's basically one step away from the moon.
Lord.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
No, it is all about how to run an athletic department without a bunch of embarassing leaks and lots of gossip and factions on the inside trying to leak information in order to get decision makers to move in a given direction or to get their ideas publicly supported. Note this has stopped with DB around over past few months. That is a good thing for the long run regardless of what you may or may not think about DB's character traits..
December 21st, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
I don't think RR is going anywhere..
The whole Harbaugh to michigan rumor is fueld by the media, it is pretty disgusting how many people believe it..
Brandon is looking for a long term solution as a head coach at michigan. He knows if he can get the defense fixed then they will be at the top of the big ten every year for a while. Im sure he and RR talk about this constantly.
Id expect a Ron Zook treatment of the coordinators before RR is sent packing..
Harbaugh is not a long term solution.. If he comes here, has success with RR's recruits for a couple years then bails to the NFL.. It is funny to see people thinking he is gonna come here and stay for a long period of time, and switching back over to a pro style offense may not take as long with our current roster, but we would be set back again.
His wife about to pop another child doesn't bode well for them moving across the country with a 2 wk old child as well.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
The whole Harbaugh to the NFL rumor is driven by the media and has not more evidence than Harbaugh to Michigan. It is digusting how many people believe it.
Brandon is looking for a long term solution. He knows that under RR the defense has gotten worse in 3 years and if he can't get it fixed we will be in the bottom of the big ten every year for a while.
Having a child almost done with college and building their own life would make it a great time to move across the country before their 2 week old gets older and more entrenched into school and so forth.
Wow...this argument has multiple possibilities...who would have thought.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
Look how long he kept the new Domino's pizza quite. We thought it was the same old crap and he didn’t say a word. And then when evaluated it after the yearend sales report he announced that it was now new and improved and it taste better, who knew?
December 21st, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
It doesn't even make sense. DB has said he won't even begin reviewing everything until after the January 1 bowl game. So, if you hold him to his word, how could he possibly come to a reasoned decision within a few days? If he were really reserving judgment, he'd need -- at minimum -- a week or two. Otherwise, he'd really be be remiss.
He simply cannot and will not wait till mid-January. Which means he already has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do and is waiting on something or someone. Which means he's being a little, um, disingenuous with us/the media. If he ends up making a call, one way or another, within a couple days of the bowl game -- and I bet he will -- you'll know he's a poker-player, not a priest.
Plus: this waiting-game actually hasn't made the school look so good. His first obligation isn't to honor his own rigid timeline; it's to do what's best for the team. He needs to do so with integrity, of course. But nobody gives a shit about timelines. All that matters is that he makes the right call.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
I've been thinking along these lines as well.
My gut says his word is good. Which means either he fires RR, and starts a search on 1/3/11, or, he retains RR.
If the former, anything less than two weeks before announcing a new HC would look suspiciously like he actually "started" the search long before, which means his word was not good all along.
I'm going with RR getting retained.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
Of course, your answer fits my bias. I cannot believe Brandon would BEGIN a search on 1/3/11. And having started the search long ago means his word isn't good. Hence, I think RR is retained.
But there is one other piece to this. While I think DB is behind RR, I don't think he is happy altogether with RR's performance. The failure to extend a contract NOW, and to say "All is Well," is a simple way for DB to say, "all is not well," and to discipline RR.
Again, as noted above, and by Brian, I, like most bloggers, am clueless, and only fitting facts to what I want to believe. Still, I think it would be way too slimy and duplicitous for DB to fire RR & announce JH the next day. It just doesn't fit the modus operandi displayed so far by Brandon.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
Regarding contract extension and silence, my read is that it has more to do with keeping a bit of pressure on Coach Rodriguez. If I'm not mistaken, Brandon said something to the effect that he wasn't very happy after the OSU loss and that has probably fueled much of the current speculation. But what was Brandon supposed to say then? That he was cool with loses to Wisconsin and OSU? The 7-5 season is nice but it's also clear that Brandon is going to push for more.
The other funny thing about the silence is that people keep wanting to say it's a bad thing. Yet how many times have owners or AD given their coaches public votes of confidence only to fire them a couple of weeks later?
December 21st, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
cloak of silence, have you been reading harry potter?