Jim Hackett appreciation thread
December 28th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^
Hackett could hire a permanent AD right after Harbaugh is announced and still go down as one of the best ever at the position at Michigan.
So refreshing (and needed) to have competency there again.
December 28th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
The best part is that he's not David Brandon. Hackett is someone who actually respects tradition instead of talking about it while tearing it down. He also stays behind the scenes like Don Canham did. David Brandon made the job all about David Brandon. Hackett is making the job all about Michigan.
December 28th, 2014 at 8:57 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
While I agree that Brandon deserves the lions' share of the blame, he is not the sole guilty party. It's rather remarkable that the AD has been turned around under the short tenure of a true academic President who, supposedly, did not care a bit about athletics. Compared to the tenure of Mary Sue Coleman, who came from a Big Ten school, yet allow the AD (and school in my opinion) to flounder aimlessly and embarassingly. Remember, the AD still answers to the President. I'm glad that she's finally gone and the school can move on from nearly a decade of athletic mismanagement and futility in the football program.
December 28th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
Actually, here's the "coffee is for closers" scene, because I can sort of see the various endings of Brandon's personnel being similar to this too:
December 28th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^
First, he has given us a coach that will surely unite the fan base, energize the students, energize the game day experience, and draw big crowds! Second, he is the right guy to bring back the season ticket holders that may have left, and given us some value for the PSD's we are paying! Third, he out played the NFL! Finally, he pulled this off like a true magician! There is no way in hell DB would have had the patience to pull this off! Huge props to Jim Hackett! Go Blue!
P.S. He brought us a coach that will put MSU back in its place and restore order in the OSU rivalry!
December 28th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:25 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 28th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^
Awesome job for an "interim" AD.
Go Blue!
December 28th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
Indeed I agree with all of your posts. Jim Hackett deserves a big Thank You, Hail, and an entire pot of the best coffee one can serve up. I respect the professional way in which he conducted this coaching search. Whether or not he stays on as permanent AD, I guess that is his decision to make.
It feels likenew life will soon be breathed into the Michigan Football program.
Thank you Jim Hackett, and Thank you Jim Harbaugh.
GO BLUE
December 28th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
I will give Hackett all my appreciation.
December 28th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
I will give a lot of thank you's when it is actually finished.
December 28th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
But he knocked this coaching search out of the PARK.
I still would've waiting to fire Hoke just to shorten the time we were without a coach, but in the end, we got out guy and that's all that matters. No one cares that it was a month.
He should be a consultant on these things when he retires, because he got RAVES reviews be everyone, that's HUGE.
He was respectful, he represented Michigan the right way, he was agressive, he was decisive. Couldn't ask for anything more in a head coaching search, this was a clinic.
December 28th, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^
...he knocked the hire out the park. But that doesn't make you a great AD.
That's what gets you in trouble.
Think if a President handled a war beautifully, but completely failed on healthcare, taxes, crime within the country, education, and the economy.
Getting a A+++ on the war doesn't excuse F's in other areas that are important to the American people.
It just meant he/she was awesome at how he/she handled the war.
Same thing with Hackett...now he doesn't have F's by any regard, he's got I's. But getting Harbaugh doesn't mean he can fail in other areas of his job. That's bullshit and that's not what's good for the University of Michigan or Michigan Athletics. It's definitely not what's good for the health and welfare of all student athletes.
So he's on the right track and headed in the right direction with full steam.
But right now we're giving the Heisman to Forcier or Denard after ND games. Let's put together more wins before we go crazy.
December 28th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
Assuming that it is not him, and understanding that we may barely notice it happening. We really don't know how good of an AD Hackett could be in the long run, but he sure seems to be good at dealing with hires! Hopefully that bodes well.
December 28th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
will be dubbed Hackett Hall? Well done, Mr. Hackett!
December 28th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
Jim Hackett for AD forever!!!
December 28th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
Already the best AD we've had in years. Hope he stays on.
December 28th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
Delete
December 28th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
After Brandon took some of the worst qualities of a CEO (imperiousness, overemphasis on marketing, micro managing b/c he knew best), it's great to see a long-time CEO apply the skills that can make a CEO work in a college environment.
- He moved quickly, but wasn't in a hurry (e.g., I didn't get a sense, at all, UM was swayed by a few "leading" commentators saying, "What's taking so long?! Nebraska and Wisconsin already have a coach!"
- He correctly assessed the value of Harbaugh and didn't d*ck around with not enough money/years (if Harbaugh didn't come, it wouldn't be b/c of lack of money or control, but b/c he wanted to stay in the NFL)
- He locked down, as much as possible, the info coming out of the search.
- His couple of press conferences limited the corporate speak, and answered questions without giving away too much
I could go on. Just a wonderful job. And based on UM's past performance, quite unexpected.
December 28th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^
Brandon: Promote yourself and be a dick
December 28th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
Don't forget Mark Schlissel, who set aside his own misgivings about big-time sports and accepted that they were important to our community, hired Hackett, and then gave him carte blanche to make this hire.
December 28th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
December 28th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
I admire the way Hackett handles himself. It's clear that he not only listens to what every part of the community wants, he is capable of bringing us all together, including current and former athletes.
He doesn't play games, from what we've seen re: his handling of Hoke, his handling of the message that's getting out about the department standing for Michigan traditions and values, down to his prompt firing of Lochmann after his remarks devalued the legacy of the athletes and instead touted the value of the institution. Yet he's handled these things respectfully, and has not let individuals swing in the breeze publicly the way Brandon did.
Hi handling of a high profie coaching search has been very well done. There was no sense of going through the motions with cagey BS, only to settle on someone he had in mind all along. He identified his candidate and did what was necessary both internally and with the candidate. No doubt there are other candidates lined up in case of emergency. I've read (don't know the truth of it) that he had a hand in getting the former captains involved with Harbaugh. If so, that's a heck of a mission that took some research, work and who knows how many personal calls.
I also admire the confidence and courage of conviction he is showing during this process.
I'm proud once again that the front porch of our university is the Athletic Department, instead of relatively embarrassed. To restore alumni pride in just a few weeks is pretty incredible.