This was posted by Chris Balas over on the fort at rivals.
All I can say is, "wow."
Commence rumor-mongering.
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Edit: HTML Fail. Anyways, was Jamie Morris part of the faction that wanted Les? If he was, commence conspiracy theories.
For why?
Or are they just going to let the rumor-mongerers run wild with this?
ZOMG Harbaugh to Michigan!!!!1
Jamie Morris interview posted at mvictors. Maybe you could see the writing on the wall?
Did he ever actually do anything while working in the athletic department? Not to be mean, but I'm not sure he didn't hang around just so he could smile and wave when the students chanted his name at games.
Jamie Morris was a tremendous fundraiser for the university.
But if he had been "tremendous" I doubt he would have been let go.
Just sayin'...
I know you have a PhD and all, but that's not true. He's been very successful as a development manager at Michigan for the last 4 or 5 years. In most of the recent successful fundraisers the Michigan AD has had, Jamie has played a considerable role.
Sometimes people get dismissed for reasons other than performance. But you wouldn't know that, spending your whole life in academia tends to cloud your view.
But you wouldn't know that, spending your whole life in academia tends to cloud your view.
Hey now, that might be insulting to some people on the board.
Exactly, if you are going to insult academic types you might want to go to an MSU or OSU board where you are less likely to find any.
SOME PEOPLE?
what do YOU mean by "some" people?
/same joke, different thread, different day
It sounded funnier in my head.
My monocle nearly dropped.
Why I never!
Spent less than half my life in academia (graduated at 22, I'm 44 -- yeah that's about right).
My initals are PHD.
And I stand by original point that "tremendous" fundraisers (esp. those who are iconic former football players) are rarely dismissed for performance issues.
That's "Dr. Philip Henry Dardenmueller" to you Sir!!!!!!
I always say him as more of a glad-hander than a closer. He's the guy you bring around for the old alumni with the money who still think Bo is the coach so they can say they're hanging with the boys. He wouldn't have been qualified for his job if his name had been Jim Smith. He got by a lot on personality and a smile. I mean, they might have gotten his salary's worth in head cheerleading, and he might be a really nice guy one on one, but he wasn't some department leader or anything.
c'mon now, Jim Smith was one of the best receivers in Michigan football history and was on two Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers teams(13&14). Jimmy Smith is one of my all time favorites; right behind Gordie Bell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Smith_%28American_football%29
No doubt Carr thought he was "tremendous."
?
Oh god, who cares?
ITEM: LOW-LEVEL AD FUNCTIONARY GETS FIRED.
Seriously, who tracks every AD personel change? Why?
This is the internet. What did you expect?
CHITOWN AND THE ENTIRE WLA ARE IN ON IT TOO!!!!
WOW!
Um, Jamie is a hero to MICHIGAN MEN and LITTLE PEOPLE everywhere.
I know why people care about Morris in general, I'm wondering why there must be "rumor-mongering" about why he's out.
because the boss made it a mandate that the athletic department would fully support its personnel, and he didn't.
But that's boring, so we have to rumor monger.
...but I don't see why there would be a problem with passionate UM fans discussing what is happening to the program they love so much. I agree with the speculation that Jamie may not have been "all in" for RR, but I also know that most of our opinions here are just that: opinions.
Probably, none of us will ever really know, but since most people who come here care deeply about the program, it is human nature to try and guess what is going on. Besides, what else are we going to talk about until the season starts?
...
1987 Hall of Fame Bowl against Alabama.
He's Jamie Fricken' Morris! He shouldn't have to work for his job......
but I had heard mixed things about him as part of the administration so I guess its not a total surprise. Always sad to see a former player let go but hopefully it leads to better things for both UM and him.
Go Blue!!! Take your pill and move on ...
I think he's just saying how it is. He obviously isn't the biggest fan of RR, but he's not being unfair in anything he says. I hope things work out for him.
This all goes away next year anyhow when the Tate/Denard show goes on display.
He was a great player and is a Michigan Man.
Every word is gospel.
+1
It will be really, really, really easy to read too much into this.
I thought Jamie Morris was a great, enthusiastic cheerleader for the Univeristy and the Athletic Department. Everybody who went to Alumni Association functions, fundraisers, Victors Club and M Club meetings; Jamie was always there. Jamie was always up. Jamie was a nice guy to have around. This is all common knowledge.
I also have no idea what else Jamie did. What was his portfolio within the University? Was it "fundraiser"? I know darn well that "fundraiser" is a REEAAALLLLY important function for any University in Michigan's position. And that "fundraiser" is part of Mary Sue's job, part of Rich Rodriguez's job, part of Brandon's job, and the part-time job of every Dean of every school within the University.
But what exactly was Jamie Morris' job? I say this NOT because I don't think he had any real job; I say it because before anybody spouts off about any internecine political fights, there should be some basic solid information established about the subject matter.
Before there is even a whisper of a word about why Jamie Morris may have been let go, I'd suggest that there has to be a very, very high level of proof and scrutiny.
They'll probably put a job posting up for his replacement, so you can look at the job description then.
I was sitting on this because it only seemed vaguely newsworthy, but if it's out there:
1) I've got two sources, one impeccable, confirming he's gone.
2) The reason given was "mental lapses" that involved giving an AD car to someone who wasn't supposed to have an AD car. Guy then got in an accident and Morris tried to put on the insurance claim that he had given the car to someone else. It sounds like this was the culmination of a few things.
tell me that "someone" was not a recruit, or current athlete....
Please?
Not a recruit or current athlete. Just someone in the department without super cool car access.
it was Michael the copy boy
My source tells me it was a Fuck Lion.
I'm telling you it was Brian.
My sources tell me it was Lloyd Carr, and it was an intentional crash into the side of Coach Rod's house.
My sources tell me it was White Pony Rocks and he was attempting vehicular homicide on State Street.
I'm always trying to tell my kids, it's not the stupid thing you did that will piss me off, because lord knows we all do stupid things. It's the lame cover ups. Just admit it and we'll try to handle it.
are you available as a guest speaker?
Let me add some pure speculation; The "mental lapses" weren't really "mental lapses", but were played off as such.
because it's kind of unprofessional to release a letter of resignation that says, "The boy farked up!"
at least put up a spoiler alert
Forgot to use the new cover sheet on his TPS Reports.
"They come and they go."
J-Mo will always be a hero to those of us who saw him play. He was an incredible asset to the teams on which he played, and the prototype of a certain "#20" two decades later. He was, is and will always be a Michigan Man.
It has to be very hard for a guy, molded in the Bo Schembechler Philosophy, to bite his tongue and be insincere about his feelings. However, it serves no good purpose to lead anyone to believe that there is divisiveness within program or the athletic department. Especially not radio listeners in Columbus. He would have served the program much better by quietly leaving the department when he realized he could not fully and unwaveringly support the current head football coach.
It's impossible to keep from wondering why in hell someone in his position would take the obvious risk of lying, unless the consequences of it being found out who really was at the wheel were so seriously negative that fibbing seemed to be the better option.
He had done it before, said "That's the way it's always been around here," and Brandon specifically said, "It's got to stop. The next one who does this is out, I don't care who it is." I'm guessing he tried the "I forgot" response (hence the "mental lapses" statement). Very popular around our house, too.
as another blow to the country club atmosphere that seems to have pervaded the football program before RR. Everybody is accountable now and there are no sacred cows. Cows belong in East Lansing anyway.
Assuming that the 'car thing' is true, as a new AD being made aware of such a transgression, I don't think Brandon had any other option. Anything else sets a bad precedent in terms of establishing himself and his policies.
Very unlikely that we will ever know for sure if there were some anti-RR factors involved in letting him go, but I doubt it.
It also sends a message about the new regime. If the AD is willing to can a former football star who is still #3 on the all-time career rushing yards list, then everyone is being held to the same high standard no matter who you are.
...To me, this is why (in this MGoCommunity) this is more than just "vaguely" newsworthy and more than just a simple "low-level AD functionary gets fired" story. This speaks directly to Brandon following through on his promises that a) Michigan will do things the right way and b) everyone in the AD will be on the same page.
Oh for christ sake.
If what Brian says is true, WHAT ORGANIZATAION IN THIS COUNTRY wouldn't fire a guy for lending out owned assets to inappropriate people and then committing insurance fraud? Would YOUR employer tolerate that? Mine wouldn't. This doesn't "signify" a thing other than the blindingly obvious.
I think if Jamie were in the Lion's organization and buddies with William Clay, he could have survived this.
But country club... and whole pizza.... and crybabies... and dreadlocks! Will someone think of the dreadlocks!
Agreed. Whether he's a giant supporter or not, dishonesty and insurance fraud should lead to a firing.
"If what Brian says is true..."
It sounds like this was the culmination of a few things.
This sounds like more than firing a guy for lending a car out to unauthorized personnel.
Why don't you just go back to being the x's and o's guy instead of being the INSIDAH! guy? That guy was cool. INSIDAH! guy just wants to "rumor-monger" about former great players.
I don't upvote myself. According to my "Your Votes" tab, I haven't voted on a post in 16 weeks.
Eh.
what do you bring? Snarkiness?
Bingo.
your snarkiness is similar to the $4 bottle of red wine you brought to a fancy dinner party. unused, possibly offensive, often unappreciated and sitting by itself neglected in the kitchen
Do you have a hard-on for me lately?
I'm like the 4th person you've stalked across the board in the past week.
From a comment made the other day, it seems that Geaux_Blue is a mod now. I'm not sure why, since he rarely seems to contribute much in the way of useful content. But maybe he thinks it's his job to stalk people now.
but i read through every thread to see what's discussed. your angst has been quite apparent as of late
I find his snarkiness like the Bo Merlot served at happy hour at the Earle.
This sounds like aomse sort of oblique insult.
Wait, what am I talking about? I only care about wines named for Michigan legends.
Insulting obliquely? You know me better than that. I much prefer the acute insult.
I would probably enjoy the snark if it was packaged with some sort of contribution. Everyone's a critic.
I've never been to the Earle.
I think this is what chitownblue2 was talking about:
"This sounds like more than firing a guy for lending a car out to unauthorized personnel."
Bingo, part deux.
What boisterous rumor-mongering that is.
would you prefer "unfounded speculation"?
How about "continued speculation in the face of an explanation"?
I'm not taking any suggestions from a wimp who never puts out his own ideas here, just rips on others.
if he'd been canned for that interview alone. The interview reminded me of the reporters talking to the young rookies last year leading them on to answer questions that could then be held against the program. Not being an insider who might have suspected Jamie as anything but a full supporter of the program, to me it sounded like he was trying to give honest answers to questions, and then the follow-up questions kept leading him to more answers that could then be held against him. But if there was an ethical infraction, Brandon is being responsible and appropriate.
"it would be irresponsible not to."
For a long time i have read that everybody knows who the person is who was squawking to the Freep. I like the signal sent, regardless if JM is the leak or not.
I actually had my picture taken with him at the spring game, maybe it's my fault. He didn't lend me his ride though.
nevermind haha
I participate on a message board with a dude whose mom is good friends with Jamie. I will also let you all know more details if I hear anything.
Is spot on. This guy had a recession-proof, bullet-proof job, for years. For his "Fundraising" contributions, lets not forget the people behind the scenes and volunteers, not to mention a great Womens and Childrens hospital that sells itself. If a "Brother In Law" position was created in your office, such as Morris', you would cringe.
its not just for lunch any more
the wla has taken over this web site surrepticiously. we have the brain cook sequestered in an assless basement filled with cheese. those mgopoints you THINK you have? fakes. all your points are belong to us.
i don't let no busters test me no more
<i>an assless basement</i>
monsters!
is kind of big.