Info from fireside chat w/Schlissel: AD change not ruled out

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

RT'd by Brian. Proppe is the former student president at Michigan who took the AD to task when the student seating fiasco went down. 

 

Hearing from several students who attended Schlissel's fire chat that he signaled AD needs a culture change. Read into that what you will.

— Michael Proppe (@mikeproppe) October 8, 2014

By AD I mean athletic department. Was a question about whether that meant a change in leadership, and Schlissel did not rule it out.

— Michael Proppe (@mikeproppe) October 8, 2014

I wasn't there, but several students did all relay the same thing to me. So, as I said, read into it what you will.

— Michael Proppe (@mikeproppe) October 8, 2014

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JamieH

October 9th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^

I've never understood why anyone had any problems with Harbaugh's comments.  He was dead right.


Here's his comment:

“Michigan is a good school and I got a good education there,” he said, “but the athletic department has ways to get borderline guys in and, when they’re in, they steer them to courses in sports communications. They’re adulated when they’re playing, but when they get out, the people who adulated them won’t hire them.”

 

Please tell me what is wrong with that comment? Especially since he was making it from the perspective of Stanford, a place that has pretty high academic standards.

 

If Schlissel is a hard-line academic, he should have no problems with a coach who would make a comment like that. I sure as hell don't. He was just telling the truth. After the constant misinformation and lies of the Brady Hoke era, wouldn't that be refreshing?
 

Maybe Harbaugh would push to make Michigan football better in regards to steering kids into easy majors just to use their talent.

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justingoblue

October 8th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^

If Schlissel really is the disinterested-in-sports academic, I have to think the smart move for him is to get someone the regents/donors want and who doesn't make athletics an issue he needs to be constantly involved in. I know it's not even close to the issue, but I have to imagine that somewhere along the line the hiring committee would have made sure he was okay with a non-Ivy AD and I'm sure it's something that he has seen first hand so far as well.

TL;DR version: If I'm Schlissel and don't want to be bothered with athletics I hire someone the people who are engaged in athletics want and let him run athletics.

Joined: 11/16/2010

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bj dickey

October 8th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^

I expected this from schlissel. And Brandon is clearly "on the run". But there are a significant concerns that he may desire a dimi is he'd athletic department. This is not necessarily bed in my opinion. It depends on the form. If we're not going to spend 8m on a football coach im ok with that. Yet there has to be a subatNtiL focus on football. M And I believe that wont fade. After all, the amount of money in donations brought to the u from football games is astronomical, not merely athletic money,but we all meet Nd congregate and the administration asks for money following these meetings whether academic or athletic. I am sure that he will want to keep this up, and the culture here will force him to so that. At the same time we are not (or at least were not) and do not wish to become the Detroit lions, michigan state, USC, sec, etc! It's a fine line I think we're quickly approaching the resolution the students have demanded. Whether that is Dave's head on a platter And Manuel or bates is yet to be seen. Absolute worse case is a neutered Brandon who will move on of his own accord soon. My guess is the latte, but regardless change is imminent. The AD needs to embrace the students as an integral part of the game experience (not puish them for tardiness) and guide a thoughtful stewardship of the longest and best traditions in American sport! Go blue!

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NoVaWolverine

October 9th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^

Schlissel's idea of "culture change" may very well mean a broader de-emphasis of the athletic programs at Michigan. And frankly, all the craziness on campus and in the media after "Concussion-gate" might confirm his initial instinct that athletics plays an outsized role at this great university and that it all needs to be toned down. Everyone who thinks Michigan should just back up a Brinks truck with $6 million/year to Harbaugh's house needs to remember that Schlissel might well consider it ridiculous to pay a football coach so much money.

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SAMgO

October 8th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^

I was there this afternoon. He clearly identifies that there is a problem and that the Athletic Department is not connecting with students in a satisfactory way. He certainly did not rule out the possibility of a change in AD, but he didn't seem to possess a clear urgency about the situation. He was very thoughtful and sincere with his answers but clearly acting with haste is not top of mind for him at the moment. The discussion (when focusing on athletics) centered solely around how to make the experience better for students and how the Athletic Department can better connect with and serve students, so that lended itself better to some topics than others. It was a very interesting chat.

 

One thing I'll say for sure is that if he was being honest in his answers, then big money donors such as Stephen Ross are not going to be an obstacle in the removing of Brandon if he deems it necessary. Schlissel was extremely down to earth and conscious of the student experience. He de-emphasized the monetary aspects of Brandon's job for the most part and really focused on what the students wanted, though he said he wouldn't relent to protesters at his house or make a knee-jerk reaction.

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turd ferguson

October 8th, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^

My feeling on this, just based on the politics involved, has been that DB will be fired but it's going to take time.  If I were Schlissel, I wouldn't fire him now, because I wouldn't want to send the message that I'll do whatever a protesting group of students - or public opinion more generally - demands.  At the same time, there's no way on earth that I'd lose the faith of large groups of stakeholders (students, alumni, fans, etc.) by keeping a bad AD who was hired by a different president.

I'd be shocked if DB has his job six months from now.  I'd also be shocked if he doesn't have his job six days from now.

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julesh

October 8th, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^

Firing him in six months will mean either Hoke is still around in six months, during spring ball, or Brandon was involved in hiring the new head coach. And if we believe John U. Bacon (and of course we always do), no decent head coach will come work for Brandon.

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bj dickey

October 8th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^

For the record, schlissel doesn't care if we're .500 for one year if we're graduating players and doing the right things, the rightt way. For an extended period, yes. One year, no. And that is as it should be. THe constant badgering here and emphasis on coaching changes will not be rewarded by the president. In fact, the controversy has likely taken the decision to do so away from The athletic Director, and Thus, any hope of a rash decision, an immediate termination of the football coach, is really gone at this point. That doesn't mean that hoke will not be coach next year, but it's unlikely to occur in a time that most here seem to want.

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BIGBLUEWORLD

October 8th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^

John U Bacon guesses Brad Bates AD,and a Harbaugh for coach.  Schissel cracks open the door for DB SCHLOCKMEISTER to walk out.

We are generating some SERIOUS positive waves here today, folks.  I like that.

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justingoblue

October 8th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^

If he doesn't have a lot of interest in trying to resurrect another program I honestly hope they can find a home for him in the athletic department. Depending on who the next coach is that might have to wait, but I would hope the AD could find something that fit his strengths and allowed him to keep up a relationship with Michigan.

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bj dickey

October 8th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^

Brady's a good coach. He will take another head coaching job. If the right job is not available it's conceivable he could remain on staff. But not likely. Don't let your frustrations fool you though, the guy was very successful and will continue to be. I'd hate to see him at another B1G school if we don't retain him.

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bj dickey

October 9th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^

No plant.  I was sent to bolivia by a mod who didn't like me taking him to task.

More importantly, I'm not saying Brady is the man for us, we're probably way too far down this road now, absent a miracle of epic proportions.  I am saying the guy is a good coach and has been successful.  He will be successful at his next position.  Guy can flat out recruit, and I think this blog has correctly identified the correlation between recruits and winning.

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justingoblue

October 8th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^

Hoke might not get any Power 5 offers but I definitely think a lower tier program would love to have Hoke as their coach. He's had success at Ball State and SDSU and being a former Michigan coach would probably be a help, no matter what happened with his records here.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hoke hang it up because at this point he's already achieved his career goal (HC at Michigan) but I don't think his best option after this season would be Michigan's DL coach.

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991GT3

October 8th, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^

and until he is on board forget about a AD change. That said, Ross did indicate that unless there was marked improvement from Hoke a change would be necessary.

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SAMgO

October 8th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^

I mean, this is coming from a guy who loves Stephen Ross. Absolutely love the guy. His donations have made a huge, direct positive impact on my educational experience and career prospects. I just don't think donors will hugely impact Brandon's retention or firing as AD, and there are many big donors beyond Ross. From what Schlissel said today, he REALLY sounds like a guy who takes in all the information he's given over a period of time, internalizes it, determines what he thinks is best for the University he leads, and then will act. He's certainly in no hurry at all to spit out a firing, but he didn't sound at all like he would cave to any donor no matter the size. He spoke about relying on the experience of the regents who've been around the block a few times, but eventually making a decision on his own based on what he thinks is best.

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g_reaper3

October 8th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^

While Ross is an enormous donor who has made very impressive donations to the University that have likely greatly enriched a lot of things, the University's endowment was $8.4 billion in 2013. I believe Ross has donated around $300 million or 3.5%. He is a big voice, but no individual donor is going to be the only voice.

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althegreat23

October 8th, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^

I attended but missed a lot of it because of class. I walked in during the Q & A portion. Personally, my biggest concern was that coming from Brown, he would be apathetic to athletics. In my opinion, he seems passionate on the issues because the students have shown so much passion. I was satisfied with what I heard from him.

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