Dave Brandon Reminds Us All of the Proper Perspective

Here here. (Or is it hear hear?)

Agree with you about the press conference. It was something else, and for me, it was both extremely welcome and pretty surprising.

I loved it when the reporter told Hoke, "People believe Michigan isn't an elite program anymore...". Then Hoke got pissed and said "Who said that!!!?, really, cause i want to know!!...."

any videos on that part?

Although exhausted, Brandon was really on today. What he said really hit a chord with me, and reminded me (one reason) why I came to this university. It's a special place. I always use to hate the term "Michigan Man", but to see how much Brandon believes in it dispelled that. I hope one day I'll have earned the title of Michigan Man.

Make us proud, Brady. You have my support.

A good leader gets people thinking about what is important. Brandon surprised the hell out of me today. Maybe because he was tired, he let loose, and let his hair down, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn't listening to a politician or corporate spokesperson. I felt like I was hearing a very passionate person talk about what he felt was right, from his heart. It was a "wow" moment for me.

Hoke did the same thing. I found the whole conference inspiring, and it reminded me why I love this university.

I said in a post yesterday that this thing wasn't a beauty contest, and that's a good thing.

But in a way, what happened today was a thing of beauty.

You were one or the most ardent Rich supporters. And you never wavered. So coming from you, it is saying a lot.



And though I liked Brady's parts more than Brandon's for the most part, thank you from highlighting my favorite part. Some people forget it is about the players. After reading enough "life is tough" references to the kids Miles discarded over the weekend, I wondered if that still held true at Michigan. It does. I want most out of the program that the players are having the best time of their lives (and winning usually makes it a lot more fun). And it showed today, by the past player support Brady got today...it has been, and will be special, at Michigan.



(This is no knock on Rich. The football may have had some issues, but his player treatment wasn't one of the problems).

Coach Hoke has my support and I loved the way he handled himself in the press conference. He's said and done all the right things so far. He was by no means a bad choice and there is no reason why he can't be successful at Michigan. I'm confident that the program is in good hands. 

However, I couldn't disagree with you more about Brandon. I'm still extremely disappointed in the way Brandon mismanaged the search, and he made himself look even worse in the press conference today. Brandon came off as arrogant and defensive, constantly referring to himself and his process, yet refusing to answer questions about that process (ex: mentioning 12 criteria that he had established but refusing to divulge what most of them were). He patted himself on the back about a process that led him to hire a coach he could have hired back in December. His ridiculous timetable and the "national search" that he launched on January 5th have put Hoke behind the 8-ball in terms of recruiting, assembling a staff, etc. If the recruiting class falls apart and Hoke has to settle for a less-than-stellar stable of assistants, it could affect us for years to come. And that will be Brandon's fault, not Hoke's. 

In short, now I understand why Domino's Pizza tastes like cardboard.

I am pleased to see a groundswell of support growing for our new coach, but am somewhat dismayed by the volume of venom being spewed towards Dave Brandon by members of the MGoBlog community.

I would think that any true "Michigan Man" would take another "Michigan Man" at his word unless given compelling reason to do otherwise. I don't consider conspiracy theories based on conflicting, unreliable rumors or conclusions based on presumed mind-reading abilities to constitute sufficient cause.

I take Brandon at his word that he waited until after the season to evaluate the program and I believe that RR (whom I supported) was given the opportunity to save his job with an impressive performance in the Gator Bowl (alas, it was not to be). I also believe Brandon entered into the job search process with an open mind and a sincere intent to do his due diligence. Should he have kidnapped Harbaugh's children to force him to take a job he did not want? Just because not everyone might agree with his ultimate selection, that does not warrant attributing sinister motives and duplicitous behavior to an honorable man. I guess cynicism is an incurable disease among sports fans.

I call bullshit on Brandon, and am surprised by the number of people who seem to support him and his performance as of late. I was particularly offended by this comment:

This is about changing young men's lives.

If that was your real goal, you could do it for a lot cheaper and probably to a number of far more deserving people (i.e., merit-based scholarships for those in lower-income brackets).

Further, if it was just about the players, wasn't Coach Rod doing a great job with them, as people (if not as football players)? I don't know about you, but every time I heard virtually any player speak, I was impressed by how they all seemed to be good people, humble and well-spoken. If it's all about the players, wasn't Coach Rod doing just fine? 

This is about one thing: money. Anyone who says otherwise is a politician. When RichRod kept losing, it sure wasn't about the whether he was doing a good job molding the young men on the team. It was about getting boosters on board again with the program. So for DB's sake, I hope they're on board again. Because if they're not, this hire sure doesn't make any sense to me.

Here's my version of "proper perspective:"

David Brandon wanted publicity and he has succeeded in getting it.  He put his ego and his personal goals and agenda ahead of the good of the athletic department whose interests he is supposed to protect.  And he lied while representing the University of Michigan.  His bumbling during the process has damaged the esteem in which many hold the University of Michigan.

He deserves to be held accoutable for his actions. He deserves no exemption for the process or its execution, only the same scrutiny that he would give any of those he considers to be "underlings." 

But Brady Hoke is now the head football coach at the University of Michigan.  No matter how he got there and whether he was "your guy" or not, he is worthy and deserving of the respect of everyone who calls himself a "Michigan fan."  I am giving Brady Hoke the same four-year exemption I felt that RR deserved. 

I realize that the hire could turn out terribly, but I also realize that Brady Hoke could turn out to be the "diamond in the rough" that AD's and GM's always seek and seldom find.  He has charisma, and appears to know when to delegate authority to other coaches and when to take control himself.  He doesn't appear to be "married" to any one scheme on either side of the ball. 

I was very critical of the "Chicken Little" approach many took toward the team while RR was coaching it.  I am still very critical of the "Chicken Little" approach.  Brady Hoke has been the head coach for less than two days, and many have already written him off.  We all have fears and apprehensions, and we all want the team to do well.  But there is a positive way to represent and a negative one. 

I choose to look at positive possibilities.  I choose to hope that Brady Hoke's charisma and drive will translate to a lot of wins for the University of Michigan.  I choose to support someone who was not my choice because I feel it is not only the right thing to do, but the most productive.  After all these years, it is still all about "the team, the team, the team."

I don't need David Brandon to remind me of that. 

So much of DB & BH's outlook and opinions have been influenced by Bo. I feel like I'm reading "Bo's Lasting Lessons".

I think Brandon did an admirable job of reminding us of what we should really want and support in a Michigan coach: 1) He’s in it for the players with the goal of creating Michigan men: educated men of character who excel at what they do 2) He’s in it for the University of Michigan, it’s goals and reputation.   These are values as a Michigan community we can feel proud of, rally around, and support.  And I personally was excited by the way Brady Hoke convinced me he fits that job description.  I was a RichRod supporter, and I think he tried to live into that space, too.  But for all the reasons we have discussed those two values seemed have gotten diminished in the drama.   And it’s so easy and tempting to second guess and critic the sincerity of a public figure like Brandon.  If we can let RichRod go, and some of our cynicism – I think yesterday’s press conference gave us a great focus for what we want and hope for – and a coach that looks like he can do it.  That’s pretty cool.  Go blue!

I think it was refreshing to hear someone talk about Michigan with passion and hope for the future. I am excited for next year.

Those people who like to tear apart and like to criticize, and like to find fault, and all that stuff, they're out there and let them be out there.  They are not going to detract me or this coach or our team from getting on the path that we all want to be on.

or in other words...

Haters gonna Hate!!