Mark Schlissel Very Impressive

Submitted by alum96 on

This is the first time I've heard the President speak and I was actually stunned at his ability to answer everything as nearly perfect as you could.  He was honest, straight to the point, optimistic, cordial, and his answers on things such as the Michigan man requirement were fantastic. 

Just because you are a good speaker doesnt mean you are necessarily good at your job but if his speaking skills are any reflection of the rest of his work this is one impressive person.  I don't think he could have done better even if he had all the press questions told to him beforehand.  A+ performance from this set of eyes.

dnak438

October 31st, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^

He killed it. He was great on differentiating between the educational and research mission of the University and the role that athletics (and especially football) plays in the University experience.

The difference between him and someone like Gorgon Gee is enormous.

BlueKoj

October 31st, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^

I agree that he handled the presser well. Beyond that, I won't extrapolate. I did that once before...and come to find out, I was really, really wrong.

bjk

October 31st, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^

the Michigan Men who weren't Michigan Men before they were Michigan Men actually turn out OK.

I'm letting my EEE BARWIS little schoolgirl side out of the bag for this one.

I can say it now -- I wasn't that impressed by the Hoke introductory presser. It sounded to me like a bag full of empty slogans and mortally wounded sentence fragments. But I kept my mouth shut, until now. It might still be heresy.

BlueKoj

October 31st, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^

Of course, I wasn't impresssed with Hoke as a speaker, but I connected with his emotion...and I'll admit -- with the slogans. As simple as it was, those meant something to him, and to me...I so badly wanted them to mean something again...too bad they meant nothing on the field.

True Blue in CO

October 31st, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^

Choosing Hackett to come in from the outside will allow for major decisions to be made before a new AD comes on board.  Clearing the decks for the new AD will allow for quicker healing of the football program.  Thank you President Schlissel.

The2nd_JEH

October 31st, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^

"I've been here for about 110 days, and I already feel like a Michigan Man." See. We don't need to hire a football coach with Michigan ties, just get the best one out there and he can learn the Michigan values, and win games!

might and main

October 31st, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^

I wasn't that impressed with his delivery of the comments at the last Regents meeting, it felt kind of stilted.  But he was fantastic during the Q&A, especially, today.  Well done President Schlissel!

UM Indy

October 31st, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

Spot on.  The guy is extremely smart, gave just the right amount of information and handled every question without hesitation.  In essence, he portrayed exactly what you want to see - someone calmly and confidently in charge.

Sam1863

October 31st, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^

Agreed. His comments, and especially the way he handled the questions, showed what you want to see from the man in charge: intelligence, calmness, and a firm idea of what he wants to do.

Schlissel reminds me a bit of Beilein. Both give the impression that the man with his hand on the wheel knows exactly where he wants to go, and knows how to get there.

An Angelo's Addict

October 31st, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^

Definitely appears like a very smart guy and I thought he did a great job. I don't remember the exact quote but I loved the response about the next head coach just being the best person for the job and that the "Michigan" things can be learned. Very refreshing to hear from someone in charge

BlueKoj

October 31st, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^

For a guy coming from Brown, who had never attended a big time football game live in his life, to student protests on his lawn about the AD...he probably thinks this drama has been out of balance...and he's right. It hopefully doesn't mean anything that would change UM's spot in the landscape of CFB or MBB...he said enough other things that lead me to stay hopeful.

The first concrete indication may be how much the new AD spends on the next staff.

Michigasling

October 31st, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^

And very impressed, hearing him live.  I was thinking of posting a report, but I didn't want to post my reading between the lines on this subject, but without mentioning any names or particulars, he said he'd been listening to alumni and students about the divide in culture of the athletic department, implying that most agreed with many on this Blog. 

He was interviewed by alum Bob Woodward, who opened up by saying he'd like to ask what's on everybody's mind (dramatic pause): "Ebola."  (Schlissel being an MD/Ph.D., of course.)  After asking what brought him to Michigan, without a background here, he said all the good things about the excellence, the number and diversity of the excellent programs as well as of the student body and faculty, the campus and the facilities, and liking that it was a state school.  He mentioned his background working at another state school Berkeley ("That's a pretty good school, too."), adding something that surprised me and hope I'm not misquoting:  Unlike Mich, Berkeley doesn't have an academic/teaching medical center like ours. 

Woodward finally asked about athletics, and Schlissel laughed, "You said you wouldn't ask me about that!"  (Starting with the Shane Morris issue, Woodward added, "And I know something about concussions.")  He may not have come from any bigtime football campuses, but turns out Schlissel played basketball!  ("Not well.")  But he's learning about how important the athetlc experience is at Michigan, both for students/alum and participants.  In answer to another question from Woodward, he's not anticipating a B1G championship in football right away, "But I'm looking forward to a final four."

He has a wonderful sense of humor, and, dare I say it, seems to be a man of wisdom as well as smarts.

And I haven't even listened to today's press conference.

GoBLUinTX

October 31st, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^

Frankly I'm surprised it took so long for that nuance to be recognized by somebody else.  Like I said, his words were measured.  You don't establish something that already exists thefore we must conclude he believes academics and athletics are not in the correct balance.

So yes, you ask the correct question, how are the two out of balance? 

True Blue Grit

October 31st, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^

He gave all the right answers without saying anything controversial or that can be missinterpreted.  I think also that picking an Interim AD from outside the department was a great choice.  No way you'd want to let one of Brandon's yes-men be in charge,even for a short time.

SFBlue

October 31st, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^

It was a classy touch to give Brandon a measure of tribute.  Both Schlissel and Hackett did well to thank him for his contributions, simply and matter of factly.  This is the best way forward. 

jblaze

October 31st, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^

Hoke was very impressive during his hiring speech. It basically changed almost every fan from being disappointed to being wow'ed. Talk is cheap.

DrewForBlue

October 31st, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^

A GREAT point

Also do not forget that if we are to take the president at his word, Brandon would still be AD with no firing on the horizon. Who knows how long he would've stayed in his job if it was up to Schlissel. Does this scream competence to anyone?

Rmilkman

October 31st, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^

I do agree with the idea of talk being cheap, but just because the headline is "Dave Brandon Resigns", that doesn't mean Schlissel would have let him stay at AD. Schlissel could have just as easily told Brandon that he has the choice to resign or be fired. I'm not saying that this is what happened, but we simply don't know every detail of this resignation. I trust him to make the best choice for the new AD and he seems like a very competent president for the university.