Gregg Henson: Sources- Dave Brandon next domino to fall
Saw this in the thread below this one.
http://gregghenson.com/new-information-on-the-new-michigan-coach-and-ad/
This was just posted 20 minutes ago. He details his sources (without naming them), talks about the Regents not being DB's corner anymore and that they will not pursue a new HC without a new AD.
My three separate sources tell me that the next domino to fall is Brandon. He must go before any potential football coach can be approached as he totally botched the Hoke hire, never offering the gig to Miles or either Harbaugh. As a matter of fact, he never even returned calls to Les Miles when he was interested. In his mind Hoke was the only option from day one.
The two names surfacing in the AD hunt are Ward Manuel the AD at Uconn and Brad Bates, the current AD at Boston College.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:25 AM ^
I can understand a bit on Miles due to the rumors of bad blood between him and past Michigan coaching staffs. But to not even throw an offer at Harbaugh is gross negligence. Just put a number out there and see if he would consider it.
In 2010-11, who the hell would have wanted Brady Hoke over Jim Harbaugh? Anyone? If you surveyed 1 million college football fans that didn't include anyone in the Brady Hoke family or Jason Whitlock, would even 1 of them have picked Brady Hoke?
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^
Speaking of, even Whitlock acknowledged Hoke has failed this weekend.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
I'm sure Hoke would acknowledge he failed this weekend (in private, at least).
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
Brady would have walked to Ann Arbor from SDSU...maybe the deal breaker was that Jim wanted Pizza One to pick him up. You know...Dave is all about the $$$.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^
could consciously admit or no. Hoke was a guy he was going to be able to control. It hasn't helped Hoke's image that he looked so wafty in comparison to Brandon. In the end no one even cared if Hoke or Brandon made the overt Gibbons decisions because everyone knew Brandon called the shots. In the end, all this has proved that trying to have a caretaker/administrator-type coach was not an easy thing to pull off. Didn't really work at FSU, either.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
But then again, I wouldn't think the AD would be incompetent enough to think that skywriting was a good way to spend money...or that not sending a band to Dallas is OK...or that a ticket giveaway with two coke purchases was a good idea (after all the skyrocketing ticket prices of the last few years)....or that disallowing seat cushions and then wanting to charge fans for rentals would be a dandy way to raise money (nope, no fan backlash could happen there I'm sure). That's just 4 off the top of my head.
So...you know...I wouldn't think someone is that stupid. But reality has shown quite a few embarassing, baffling moments in the athletic department since Brandon has been here. That's what happens when you have a guy who is all business, money first; and views its fanbase as cashcows and its band as nothing more than an unnecessary expenditure.
I like Hoke, I still have faint hope he works out. But yeah. If DB never even considered Miles or never really tried to get Harbaugh (or maybe Harbaugh didn't want to come because he didn't like DB)...then...yeah, that's real bad.
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:55 AM ^
No way to tell if this is true or not. Personally I'm not ready for another coaching search, but here it is. Why can't it just work out for once?
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:55 AM ^
If a new AD is hired, someone should send him a Nike gift basket as a nudge nudge wink wink
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:11 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^
Those names are fairly common speculation. I mean, Brian talks about the UConn guy as the obvious candidate in today's podcast.
September 23rd, 2014 at 6:44 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
Turd.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:28 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^
Miles would still look like an aging D-minded, somewhat antiquated, possibly crazy philander.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
Yes. This. I don't think I want The Hat running the show. Good coach? Probably. Crazy? Probably.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
Even if he is a little 'unpredictable', the guy could be an instant stabilizer... Just look at his track record:
| LSU Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2005–present) | ||||||||
| 2005 | LSU | 11–2 | 7–1 | 1st (West) | W Peach | 5 | 6 | |
| 2006 | LSU | 11–2 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | W Sugar† | 3 | 3 | |
| 2007 | LSU | 12–2 | 6–2 | 1st (West) | W BCS NCG† | 1 | 1 | |
| 2008 | LSU | 8–5 | 3–5 | 3rd (West) | W Chick-fil-A | |||
| 2009 | LSU | 9–4 | 5–3 | 2nd (West) | L Capital One | 17 | 17 | |
| 2010 | LSU | 11–2 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | W Cotton | 8 | 8 | |
| 2011 | LSU | 13–1 | 8–0 | 1st (West) | L BCS NCG† | 2 | 2 | |
| 2012 | LSU | 10–3 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | L Chick-fil-A | 12 | 13 | |
| 2013 | LSU | 10–3 | 5–3 | 3rd (West) | W Outback | 14 | 14 | |
His worst year was 2008... 7/9 years with 10+ wins... IN THE SEC- WEST. C'mon. Let's get a look of the coordinators he's produced or had a hand in producing:
- Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State (2005-present) - Miles' offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2001-2004
- Jimbo Fisher, Florida State (2010-present)- Miles' offensive coordinator at LSU from 2005-2006
-
Bo Pelini, Nebraska (2008-present) - Miles' defensive coordinator at LSU from 2005-2007
This guy is proven, would be a home-run hire, and at the worst would bridge the gap in the fan base [of Rodriguez supporters and Hoke supporters]... Not too mention with him, our Defense would stay towards the top and our offense would significantly get better... He runs a Pro/Spread-like offense, and has shown he can coach with the Saban's and Meyer's of the world. Even though he just lost to Miss St., that doesn't make him bad... I mean it's the SEC-West, that division is just loaded with the likes of Sumlin, Miles, Saban, Mullen, Malhzan, Bielema, and Freeze. If there's a team that comes out of that division unscathed, I'll be shocked!
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:39 AM ^
Obviously the top two choices are Harbaugh and Miles (Miles with the age caveat and the other issue that Miles has never coached anywhere with academic limitations on who he can recruit), but if they don't end up being possible, I think Addazio would be a good choice.
He took a lot of stick in his year as Florida OC because he was the new coach and people didn't realize yet that John Brantley was just a bust and that Urban had checked out. But he won games at Temple and has turned BC into a manly robust running team that whips your tail. No he doesn't recruit future NFL statuesque passers, but by God he runs the ball, and he's got head coach experience. He's also got a hell of a reputation for recruiting in the Northeast, so hiring him would be a blow to Penn State as they try to rebuild.
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:47 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:09 AM ^
Addazio also ran the UF offense in 2009 and it was awful.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:39 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^
With a new AD settled and in place to potentially fire him and hire the next guy than see Hoke fired tomorrow and risk Dave Brandon hiring Ron English or Scot Loeffler or something insane.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:16 AM ^
Hoke will be fired or given a contract extension at the end of this season. We really need a new AD not to give Hoke a contract extension for going 6-6 or 7-6. If Brandon remains the AD, he will probably give Hoke a contract extension for a sub .500 season. This scares me the most about Brandon.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
this is where replacing Brandon is teh first step. Let the next AD come in and evaluate objectively whether to keep Hoke or not after this season. As it is now, he's on thin ice and has his work cut out for him. But I can imagine - however unlikely - a scenario in which hoke goes 7-1 in Big Ten play and the next AD thinking that was good enough for a (short) extension.
I'm not ready to fire Hoke...but definitely ready for DB to be gone, like, yesterday. The bad he's done far outweighs the good. Ironic that for all the talk about "the brand", all DB has done is destroy the brand. Some of the biggest Michigan fans I know and call friends are sick of all his BS too...it's sad to see folks like that considering to drop their season tickets that they've had forever.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
We've seen nothing in 4 years to support a contract extension..one can only imagine how that would be sold to the regents, fan base, administration if that were to happen. If (God forbid) this were to happen...I don't see any way DB wouldn't lose the last few supporters her has left.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
We've seen nothing in 4 years to support a contract extension..one can only imagine how that would be sold to the regents, fan base, administration if that were to happen. If (God forbid) this were to happen...I don't see any way DB wouldn't lose the last few supporters her has left.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
Hopefully they'll be joined at the hip as they walk out of the football facilities in about 2 months.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:04 AM ^
Loeffler did beat OSU at OSU. I don't remember the last time we did that....
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:06 AM ^
Also last season? Also the year before that at Auburn?
I'd hire Scot Loeffler to do my dental surgery before I'd let him coach my offense or heaven forbid, the entire team.
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:29 AM ^
And Al Borges put 600 yards on OSU.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
By the same source who broke the Hoke hire? Seems shaky but also presents a possible pattern. I recently heard some similar rumors from someone who generally has reliable information. It was more related to staff jumping ship around the athletic department due to Brandon which was causing some heavy hitters (I assume doners) to start campaigning for his removal. Who knows, just seems weird this got leaked to this guy. On the other hand, if it doesnt happen, he can be written off pretty easily.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
Note, "due to Brandon" and not "due to Hoke".
My sense is that the discontent with Brandon isn't primarily over Hoke, it's directly with Brandon. I think the people that are assuming this is just a way to get rid of Hoke are misreading the situation.
If anything I think this would make a fifth year more likely. A new AD is going to want to have a chance to scope out the situation before making a major change. (Unless the wheels come off down the stretch, 2010-style, forcing his hand.)
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^
Losing the head coach and the AD at one time would likely be more destructive than keeping Hoke on during an assessment period for a new AD. It is also pretty unfair to the players.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:12 AM ^
To fire RR. I have no doubt our new AD will fire Hoke unless he finishes the season strong at 9-3. If Brandon is retained then we will see Hoke possibly get a contract extension.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:01 AM ^
That new AD had been in the job for nearly a year.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:35 AM ^
Perfect choice for AD. See ya, Dave. Don't let the door hit where the Universe split ya...
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:55 AM ^
cause this shit ain't working, Brandon needs to go pronto and Hoke soon after that, the clueless looks on Hoke's face during games is maddening.
Hoke's pressers are such bullshit, snide replies and evasive nonsensical answers, I don't care about how good they practiced and how well they game planned, the results don't show it, I'm sick and tired of hearing that crap.
This ship is off course, Hoke is not the guy, he just ain't. This team has talent up and down the roster, it's not being developed well enough and not being coached well at all, 3-7 record in the last 10 games, just pathetic!
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:16 AM ^
Dave Brandon and his fucking 'process' have done nothing but lead the money making machine that is UM football into the tank. All those pretty renovations, etc. around campus? That's not DB's work but Bill Martin's. The revenue forecasts are trending downward based on attendance and season ticket sales. Anyone who does basic budgeting models can fucking see that. If Dave stays on his legacy will be taking 100K attendance and surplus $ of Martin and turning them both to the red.
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:28 AM ^
The Regents care zero about Michigan Football other than its a "classy" reflection of the University and is played with fairness, public safety, with compliance to rules, laws, you get the general idea. Note to those who didn't get the email, whether the team wins or loses has absolutely zero bearing on the above.
Brandon probably has some disdain from the Regents for wanting to start a weekly circus act surrounding the football game.
However he's an incredible fundraiser. For those of you who who missed the other email on the $250M free gift of 3 rail cars full of $100 bills, to the Athletic Dept. His position and Hoke's are endowed and not paid from the general fund. So there's no danger of him being in any trouble financially.
What would get Dave Brandon fired would be things along the exact same lines that would get your fired from your job....misappropriation, non-compliance with laws or NCAA violations, some sort of discrimination event. While anything is possible I don't see that happening. I don't love the guy but any win-loss issue with men's football is solely his own problem.
The media circus has begun, yes even here. I've never seen so many nancys posting on a football blog in my life. The season has sucked, yes, the Nuss-system is struggling to take hold and nobody from Hoke to the 'Blog is willing to admit it. I still believe it will work. Wringing your hands doesn't help. Recall football is a tough, man's game. Sometimes you get your ass handed to you and its your job to either deal with it, figure some stuff out or fold up your tent.
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:18 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:34 AM ^
current circumstances are very "un-michigan", to use the parlance of the '07 search?
Maybe I just want to believe this too much, but it seems plausible. In fact, could the regents be floating the idea to gauge public opinion?
September 23rd, 2014 at 6:16 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 6:39 AM ^
I think that's highly unlikely to be true. While some of the Regents might not be big sports fans per se, all but one of them are U-M grads, and consequently are undoubtedly very aware of the prominence of the football program in the general public's impression of the University, and its unique and powerful role in fundraising for non-athletic units of the University. One of the Regents is Denise Ilitch, and her family history guarantees that she understands very well the importance that sports has in our culture, for better or worse.
I have a variety of U-M clients on both the academic and development side of things, and all of them readily acknowledge the importance of Michigan athletics in general and the football program in particular when it comes to student and donor recruitment.
I don't think you can ignore the political dimensions of this situation, either. Six of the eight Regents are Democrats, and Brandon's political affiliations and ambitions as a Republican are not a secret. It's also no secret that Brandon can be abrasive and arrogant, and in combination with political differences, it can be a combustible situation. My most important U-M client's spouse is also a Dean in one of the units on campus, which means they're quite aware of the general opinion of Brandon among faculty, students, and staff. To say that opinion ain't favorable to DB is an understatement. Regents pay attention to that stuff.
All this being said, I wouldn't automatically believe any of these assertions from Henson without any kind of attribution.
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:34 AM ^
Let's also remember that the regents hold elected positions. Most fans also happen to be their constituents. This certainly plays a role.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^
this is dumb beyond poop. Even the most bottle-eyeglass-wearing intellectual regent (and they are obviously not your type) is keenly aware of the degree to which football leads Michigan by the nose, and anxious to place his/her own imprimatur on the proceedings. All the MORE reason that they would, at this stage, want Brandon out, and be QUITE willing to pay attention to the issue.
"[F]ootball is a tough, man's game." Can we quote you on this? If we didn't have deep thinkers like you to remind us of such wisdom, glory--where would we be?
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
Do you really feel in your heart of hearts that Brandon is some magical fund raising fairy who would bring in more money than any other semi-competent AD? If that's the case I hate to break it to you when I say, he's not. And on top of that he's tone deaf and not nearly interested enough in making sure folks will still be willing to open their wallets for Michigan football in 5, 10 or 15 years from now.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
Are you sure you dumped the dope?
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:51 AM ^
If there is a God, please be true. Can we also tar and feather Brandon on his way out.