Hanging Onto Brandon Gives Michigan the Best Chance At Harbaugh For Next Season--Sam Webb
See link for exact language:
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=162&f=1088&t=13280630
The gist is that it would take too long to fire Brandon, bring in a new AD, and then hire a new football coach. So if we want a chance Harbaugh next season, we should want Brandon to remain AD at least through the football coach hiring process.
October 22nd, 2014 at 1:38 AM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
October 22nd, 2014 at 7:40 AM ^
But DB didn't play basketball and (this might be a stretch) probably knows he would have little to add to the conversation when other sports are performing film sessions. I think his bench days on the football team coupled with the fact that he hired BH gives him (in his mind) the expertise required to help the coaching staff during those sessions.
October 22nd, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
Not only would they be interesting in themselves, but it would enhance my understanding of the games I watch. I certainly wouldn't be trying to tell the coaches how to do their jobs. I've assumed that Brandon is doing the same thing. He's enjoying the access he has. It's a bit of a leap to think he's also trying to act as a coach. Not saying, it's impossible, but some seem to take it as a given. Have we ever heard any indication from a player or coach that he makes coaching suggestions or otherwise meddles?
October 22nd, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
Well Sam has been pushing the 1 of them has to stay BS lately so who knows what he was told or what higher ups threatened his access to the program.
I understand Sam is the eternal optimist put he has been clearly pushing more a DB side of things lately for whatever reason.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^
Well, it's not as though most of the people starting stories about DB are completely objective. Pretty obviously a lot of people want to see him gone. The whole Harbaugh-won't-come-here-if-Brandon-is-AD claim seemed like an awfullly convenient speculation for those pushing for Brandon's firing.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
Yes, that tale has played out more than once . . . .
October 21st, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^
If Sam says something you don't want to hear, it must mean that his access to the program has been threatened and he's saying it under duress.
What else could it possibly mean?
October 22nd, 2014 at 7:43 AM ^
it's about the fact that his justification makes zero sense whatsoever so the presence of an alterior motive is not a leap, it's the logical conclusion.
October 22nd, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
Not necessarily been "threatened" per se, but it's reasonable to think he's parroting the information that the current regime (whether it's the coaching staff or AD) want put out there. Webb has extrordinary access. He's benefited greatly from that access. It's reasonable to conclude that he's afforded that access with the understanding that when the current regime wants a certain angle pushed, he'll push it. It's how the world generally works when there is a symbiotic relationship between a reporter and his subject. See the NFL insiders reporting on the Ray Rice incident as a recent great example of how this relationship plays out.
October 22nd, 2014 at 2:50 AM ^
Yeah I like Sam as a guy, but this kind of stuff has made me stop listening and reading for the time being.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^
Seems to contradict the general feelings that Harbaugh and Brandon don't like each other, but whatever. At this point, Harbaugh probably needs Michigan as much as Michigan needs him.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
Come again? How is it that Harbaugh needs us when he probably can get his pick of NFL teams next year. Hasn't he neen in the conference championship game every year as coach?
We defintely need Jim miore than he needs us and you can say the same for John who has won a freaking Super Bowl.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
John Harbaugh is more of a pipe dream because he isn't in any danger of being left go; Jim definitely has been having issues with the 49ers for some time. And while in a vaccuum hiring a guy who was recently let go happens (see Reid in KC), if the break is particularly bad I could see NFL teams shying away from going after Harbaugh for a year.
I guess my wording was a bit harsh, but the idea that Harbaugh would return to Michigan a conquering hero after leading SF to a Super Bowl seems less likely. Him coming to UM likely means he gets fired/walks away from the NFL, and that makes this a nice match for both parties and their PR.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^
My wording was a bit harsh also.
Didn't mean offense I just think that Jim has a lot more going for him at the moment than we do. Doesn't mean our situation can't change but I just can't shake the feeling unless our team pulls a complete 180 we are about to get shellacked by Sparty. The funny thing is Hoke is technically right. Beat Sparty and we are right back in the the thick of things but if (probably when) we lose this weekend this season is truly lost.
Just kind of sucks for everyone involved. I guess we've got nothing to lose since 99.9% of people have written us off anyway.
Hope our team shocks the world again.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
Obligatory clickable SFW pic
October 21st, 2014 at 10:48 PM ^
This must be Kate at 16.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
which is her cleavage for those who lack spatial awareness
October 21st, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
Not singling you out specifically BronxBlue but where has there been any hard evidence that JH and DB don't get along? I recall DB uttering the phrase "over my dead body" with regards to some dynamics of the previous coaching search but I thought that was in reference to Miles.
And has anyone ever ALSO sat in on one of those film sessions DB attended? Maybe he just sat there and watched, remaining mostly quiet except to ask a benign question now and then?
I'm not by any means a Brandon apologist, I think he's made a lot of boneheaded moves and has alientated the loyal fan base and students on multiple fronts, but I think these two "strikes" against him -- his rift with Harbaugh and the film session thing -- seem like perceptions that became reality.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
There is no hard evidence that JH and DB don't get along.
The two strikes you refer to are perceptions that became reality due to mgoblog groupthink.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
There probably isn't hard evidence, but even the "over my dead body" was attributed to Brandon in Bacon's book after a discussion with RR. So who knows if that was really said, and if Miles was ever a viable candidate.
Again, perhaps the language was a bit more declarative than I should have been, but Brian noted that it was highly unlikely Harbaugh would work with Brandon, and given how much of a jerk Brandon has been to people these years I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't mesh well with Harbaugh's equally-rough attitude.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:43 PM ^
October 22nd, 2014 at 1:34 AM ^
especially since JH is about 10 years younger than DB.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:38 PM ^
You mean like a quote from Harbaugh telling the public that he won't work for Brandon? That's not going to happen.
Sam Webb said tonight that they don't get along and that they'd have a very hard time working together. There is no possibility for Brandon and Harbaugh - it's Brandon or Harbaugh.
October 22nd, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
Sam Webb never said they don't get along. Stop misquoting people. Exhibit some integrity.
October 22nd, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
Look at one of the responses in the "timing" thread as well as the one last night in the "rift" thread. You need to be a better reader and don't comment when you're being ignorant.
Webb QUOTES (the "It's real" was in a response to the OP of that thread whether the rift between Brandon and Harbaugh was REAL:
"It's real.
Even absent the uncalled for verbal shot from Brandon, the likelihood of these two coexisting the past four years is extremely low."
"Yes I mentioned a divide, which is why I added that Schlissel would have to be good with a blank check being put on the table."
October 21st, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
FYI, you can infer multiple things from ambiguous language. The poster was stating that he was unaware of any hard evidence. Ambiguous language is not hard evidence.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
October 22nd, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^
According to Kirk Herbstreit Miles wasn't rebuked in 2007. Since we don't know all the facts of that episode there is ambiguity.
October 22nd, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
Herbie is most certainly not the authority on the subject.
October 22nd, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^
Whether he is or isn't, there is ambiguity.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
Brian alluded to the fact that Harbaugh and Brandon likely wouldn't want to work together, and I've heard and read various accounts that something happened between Brandon and Harbaugh that led to him turning down the position in 2011.
Regardless, I may be totally wrong on this and I'll gladly take my medicine. But given how badly Brandon has rubbed people these past couple of years I wouldn't be surprised if him still being at UM turns off potential options for a new HC.
October 22nd, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^
We get it--you've heard a lot of things, including hearing things from Brian.
Stop saying "fact." "Brian alluded to the fact . . ." Guess what, it isn't fact. Stop acting like it is. It could be true that JH and DB don't get along. It could also be BS. Further, it could be used to spread ire against DB by those who want DB gone for other reasons besides his (in)ability to hire a competent head coach.
October 22nd, 2014 at 6:15 AM ^
I've read where DB said that in regards to Miles but... where in the hell does this come from?
Sounds like someone who doesn't like Les was in DB's ear at that time. I don't see why DB has such a dislike for him.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
Just as I don't trust Jon Bacon about anything he says, I certainly don't trust Sam Webb. Both are just trying to sell something, and realize the Michigan fanbase is dumb enough to buy anything Michigan related they push.
There's no way Dave Brandon would be an impediment to gettting a Harbaugh as coach. I guarantee neither one of these clowns has any information either way.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^
Both people are saying things that directly contradict each other. One of them is obviously wrong.
Which one is it?
October 21st, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
Webb says best chance of Harbaugh next season is hanging into Brandon.
Bacon says Harbaugh dislikes Brandon and would be loath to come onto Brandon's ship.
I issue this scenario: Brandon fired, new AD, new AD doesn't want to fire his HFC on the first day, Hoke retained. No Harbaugh next year.
Alternative scenario: Brandon retained. Hoke fired to save Brandon's ass. Brandon knows he must land the mother. Offers Harbaugh half of the departmental revenue. Harbaugh can't say no. Harbaugh next season.
With non-paywalled info, this is all we have.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
That is a mischarterization of what Bacon has said. Bacon has said that agents and others tell him that they don't think Brandon could bring in Harbaugh. Which is more damning of Brandon, I don't know. But let's at least stop mischarcterizing others' positions.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^
Not fact.
It looks like we're going to have to go through the same thing we went through a few days ago. So please do what happened last time and start posting links that don't actually back up your quote. I won't be here to refute, as I am off to bed. I trust the mgocommunity will actually listen to the link(s) you eventually post to see that your quote misses the mark.
Also, please use "[" instead of "(" when you add language that did not come from the source quoted.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^
Who do you think Bacon's source is?
As far as I know he doesn't hang out with Miles or with either Harbaugh. Who is he talking to, and why would that source be objective and credible? Would Bacon be better sourced than Webb on this matter?