Dallas Crawford Update

That's actually a valid point, but a whole different discussion.  Because no decision has been made, the people who are mad at DB are mad simply because they don't like the way he's coming to his decision, without even knowing what the decision is. 

Now, once the decision is made, and you don't like it, that's a new discussion altogether.  If DB made all the correct moves to get Harbaugh, but you just didn't want Harbaugh, then can voice that at that time.  But until we know what the decision is, we really can't fault DB for how he's going about making it. 

I have a strong feeling, however, that if JH is our coach in Jan 4th, there will be far more M fans in favor of it than against it.

In the scenario I provide, there are three options, as far as I see it.

1) Fire RR and wait 5 weeks to announce Harbaugh.
2) Fire RR and announce that Harbaugh is our next coach, which might backfire and cause Harbaugh to not come here.
3) Keep RR on to help us win a bowl game and keep as many recruits in place until Harbaugh gets here. This requires a lie about why he is waiting.

So, he can either be incompetent, a (possibly incompetent) liar, or a competent liar. I'll take the competent one.

David Brandon has said he's waiting to begin evaluating the coach when the season is over.  He hasn't stated anything about what the result of the evaluation will be, since in the words that did come out of his mouth, he hasnt' even started yet.  Which means even he doesn't know.

There is no lying going on.  There is just the lack of a review, because it's not time for a review.

Out of all the possibilities of the review, many people have foolishly decided the result is to fire Rich Rodriguez and hire Jim Harbaugh.

I admit that's still a possibility our of all the possibilities, but there is no evidence at all it's likely.

Yes, this part is painful.  We are witnessing what's it's like to be a child of a determined parent who can only teach the lesson through patience and a commitment to their belief.

The long term lesson is that every Athletic Team at the university will get to finish their entire season without any drama about a "change".  They will be measured on the results of their complete season, which of course has to be over to complete.

Now I don't see anywhere that this means David Brandon can't act any time he needs to in making a decision.  If Rich Rodriguez drove Denard out to a bunch of bars one night and was pulled over for a DUI, I'm pretty sure a decision would be make quickly.

The other thing everyone forgets, that was a clear statement from David Brandon, as recorded in the Crain article that started all of this, was that he uses more than Wins and Losses as things to consider during his evaluation.  And for me, the only thing I don't like about what Rich Rodriguez has done is only get to 7-5 this year.  Every other aspect of how he has managed the team, built recruiting pipelines, lead by example in his activities outside of football, etc. has been done extremely well.  OR there is no other reason to fire him except, "I don't like that we lost to Michigan State because my friend at work won't stop teasting me"

Now, yes, recruits are stating, "hey I only want to go to Michigan if Rich Rodriguez is my coach".  But these are only some recruits, (go back and read TomVH yourself to find the other recruits who state, "I want to go to Michigan because it's Michigan") and they haven't yet enrolled at another University.  So what has really happened in the past few weeks where Brandon has stated nothing?

From my point of view, all that is happened is that they completely fabricated stories that Journalists are calling "reporting" these days are getting fewer and farther between, and readership has moved on to other topics where facts actually exist.

For me, I find the psychology of what David Brandon is doing very interesting, and I can't wait to see what happens next to the rats in the maze when they can't find their cheese next week.  Will they remember that they will get now cheese until Jan 2, or will they again squeak loudly about "the unfairness of the universe", and "will someone please think about the children who want to commit to Michigan"

it's enthralling, really it is, way better than "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

I have no idea why my wife watches that crap.

How about you abstain, rather than absolve?

Seriously, if you want Michigan to be coach-less right now, or have Greg Robinson as the interim coach because RR was dismissed and Barwis, Smith, Tall and Frey followed him out the door, along with a number of RR recruits, then your admonition for David Brandon to make up his mind right now makes perfect sense. Also, if you'd like David Brandon to have Jim Harbaugh reject the Michigan job a la Les Miles in 2007, then firing Rich Rod right now is a splendid decision.

If, however, you'd prefer for the team to have its full complement of coaches, for RR to finish out the season, and for Stanford to be allowed to prepare for a very, very big bowl game without intermeddling by David Brandon, then just be patient. January 4th is not far away at all. If a commit, or a fan, can't wait 21 days to see whether RR or JH is the coach, well, get a hobby.