MGoRadio 5.3 re Warde Manual
So glad to hear Brian criticize Warde Manual. This guy is the most milquetoast AD who has done next to nothing as an advocate for Michigan or its fan base. In fact, he’s a hinderance to success on the field
Moronic scheduling (Army, dropping ARK to add a second away game at ND last year) and failing to install basic technology like WiFi in the stadium are just a few examples of where he just doesn’t get it
Really pleased Brian called this guy out. More people should do the same.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:01 AM ^
Pancakes and Maple Syrup sound good today. Go Blue!!
September 28th, 2019 at 7:47 AM ^
To an extent I agree , but I have to cook pancakes AND bacon for seven, 25 year old football fans before they and I go off to the Stadium. (My daughter and her former housemates from Arbor st. c.2016).
September 28th, 2019 at 7:10 AM ^
Harbaugh is the AD. Deal with it.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:52 PM ^
If you see Jim Harbaugh tell him I'm looking for this guy. WHERE IS HE?!:
September 28th, 2019 at 7:18 AM ^
The scheduling of ND away again makes no sense. Did Warde ever give an explanation of why he did that?
September 28th, 2019 at 7:20 AM ^
Cause Harbaugh told him to.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:22 AM ^
I thought this was common knowledge
September 28th, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^
I believe they've been on record saying they want 7 home games each year. I think the previous scheduling had them going 6 and then 8.
September 28th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
Yes, so when we have 4 home games like this year (that includes staee & THEEEEE ohio - fuck you david brandon!!!) need all 3 non-conference games to be at home and when we have 5 we need only 2 of non-conference to be at home.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:26 AM ^
He hasn't been bad, but he really hasn't done anything to help the fan experience either.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:29 AM ^
I think many of us had said the same things years ago. He has been very "meh" at best. In addition to the reasons the OP lists, I don't think he did or said anything after the robbery in Columbus in 2016. He should have been on the doorstep of Delany's office that Monday morning. I don't think he said a peep about it.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:27 AM ^
If I recall correctly, he issued some sort of apology statement instead of backing Harbaugh. I could be wrong, but either way, he rolled over and took it instead of standing by our coach. I liked him before, but soured on him then.
That game disgusts me to this day. I actually registered here right after it was over. I'd been a lurker for years, but felt compelled to sign up and join the angry mob. Woo!
September 28th, 2019 at 9:52 AM ^
I'm not sure why people assume that not stating publicly means that nothing at all was done. He was a new AD to the conference, it probably would not be the best look to call everyone out within your first year. It wouldn't be a shock if there were some closed door discussions that we'll never know about.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:32 AM ^
Haven't heard the podcast, yet, so I don't know what he said or the context it was said in. But I do know that I never liked the way ND was added back. I also know that I dislike the 'all noon games, all the time' philosophy that both he and JH prefer. I also know that he does next to nothing to back up his coaches, players, teams, and sports when shit happens in the media.
I don't expect him to be an out front, out spoken, get me in the spotlight type of AD. But I do expect some backbone in backing up his guys when the situation calls for it. Example - his silence after 2016 OSU. Indeed, not only was he silent, he allowed Harbaugh to be fined without word one of protest. Also, after the Spieght ugliness at Purdue. The disciplining (or talking to) of Harbaugh after the 'welcome back' tweet when Gene Smith jumped on him...
I've not been a big fan of his, but he's been a decent administrator otherwise - leagues better than DB, anyway. And he's made some good coaching hires across the campus. And I know he wouldn't tolerate MSU level abuse of privilege. So there's that in his favor...
September 28th, 2019 at 10:16 AM ^
TV schedules game times. The only one Michigan gets a say in is homecoming. And yes, that's a noon game.
I think the notion that he does nothing to support the student athletes/coaches is (probably) incorrect. If people want to say they're disappointed that he isn't more publicly outspoken, that's something I'd agree with. We have ZERO idea what is done behind the scenes.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:44 AM ^
He didn't schedule Army, Hackett did.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:25 AM ^
Fine, but why didn't Warde cancel it and schedule Northeast Illinois State instead?
September 28th, 2019 at 8:30 AM ^
I imagine the buyout plus Arkansas buy out was too much
September 28th, 2019 at 8:29 AM ^
Dave Brandon scheduled Army folks. At least put the blame on the correct AD. Granted Warde taking Arkansas and Virginia Tech from us was stupid. Adding ND did not help us in anyway shape or form. ND is still the only benefactor as they are getting two more wins in our series. Warde has lost a lot of his donors in the 3-10% range and that is the core of Michigan Athletics. He does not engage that group well at all.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:34 AM ^
Rescheduling an event that puts a $2M cost on your budget would tend to get you fired anywhere else in the universe. That Arkansas decision was boggling....
September 28th, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
Absolutely agree! It still pisses me off. There was no reason to do that. I think fans were looking forward to those games away from Ann Arbor.
September 28th, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^
The blame for that is solely on harbaugh which is why it was started when Hackett was in place. The hatred of warde is fucking weird. He’s not the top ad in the country but he’s far from bad. He handled the beilein situation as well as could be done which is easily his biggest test
September 28th, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^
Hackett got the ball rolling for ND also. https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/72875746
September 28th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
I wish VT wasn’t taken off the schedule.
September 28th, 2019 at 6:02 PM ^
Army was scheduled in the summer of 2015. That's Hackett.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:38 AM ^
This crowd can be brought out daily. Ad nauseum. You will hear things such as, if I remember correctly, I think he’s done this, he really sucks at this I suppose, Boy has he ignored this, I’m almost positive he did or didn’t do this. If Harbaugh, then Warde there’s a witch riding around and she’s so happy. Trust me the poster knew once he posted this that he’d get a raise from the rafters but let’s face it today’s game day and THIS post is needed today specifically to create unity and togetherness for the Michigan faithful. Excellent observation guy. GO BLUE and Warde too.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^
I did. I did after the 2016 OSU game when he didn't back Jim publicly after Harbaugh's criticism of the officials, I did when he allowed ND to totally screw us on the scheduling and many other times.
And each time I did I took a ton of shit from the rest of the board about how wrong I was and what an absolutely fantastically wonderful amazing job he was doing.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
WM has to be a politician and going to war with the NCAA really isn't in Michigan's overall interests. I can see why he didn't get out front of all that.
Anti Michigan bias by officials is real why fan those flames even more?
September 28th, 2019 at 8:04 AM ^
I didn't want to get into it right then on the show but I think Warde's been a mixed bag so far. Brian's right that he's done little for the fans, and raising money is just raising money. But I also talk to people in athletics a lot who say it's night and day from Brandon. Warde's main thing is integrity, and he's done a lot to make sure things that happen in other athletic departments can't happen here.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:15 AM ^
Like winning B1G football Championships for example?
I kid, I kid....
Sort. Of.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:59 AM ^
Hackett hired Harbaugh.
September 28th, 2019 at 10:00 AM ^
Yeah, but Warde should have fired him by now.
I kid I kid.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:17 AM ^
I don’t know, I assume integrity is a given in any Michigan athletic director—or he shouldn’t be athletic director. You hope for something more than “honest guy, won’t turn a blind eye to bad things.” Not sure we have gotten that from Warde.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:53 AM ^
I can see your point and even agree with to an extent (honesty and integrity as baseline pre-requisites, not "surprise and delight" features.)
The problem is as Seth is saying, there are a lot of other athletic departments around the country that _aren't_ doing those things, so it does matter that Warde is making sure Michigan stays clean and above board.
A little more would be nice, but I mean, we just spent a week in that zone on almost everything related to Michigan football, so it feels somewhat familiar.
September 28th, 2019 at 10:00 AM ^
I mean, have you looked around at the rest of the football and basketball programs around the country?
September 28th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
Integrity is a given?
Were you in a coma during the DB era?
September 28th, 2019 at 9:03 AM ^
I’m not a big fan of Warde at all but he did make the right decision with Juwan Howard even though it looked like he was going in another direction.
The ND decision was a terrible one and his negotiation on when and where the games would be played was even worse.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:03 AM ^
Obviously the vast majority of Michigan alum/fans want an AD who cares about integrity and the welfare of student athletes, and just generally doing things right, but it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive vs winning key games.
There's still an officiating travesty on certain key games (that Ronnie Bell spectacular catch that got overturned and took the wind out of the guys sails last week for instance) that lead many to believe Warde isn't even lobbying behind the scenes. Just because the NCAA says "relax we are giving you lots of ad money", doesn't mean its taken care of.
September 28th, 2019 at 10:09 AM ^
So basically he does just enough to be good but doesn't go above and beyond, just like the football team. -_-
September 28th, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
He’s 8-4 every year
September 28th, 2019 at 8:17 AM ^
If you want to know what Warde Manuel is really capable of, you need to read the Manual.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:17 AM ^
Better version:
"If you want to know what Warde is really capable of, you need to read the Manuel."
September 28th, 2019 at 8:25 AM ^
Harbaugh controls all things football & he wears a wired headset, do you think he cares about your wifi?
September 28th, 2019 at 8:33 AM ^
All these problems would be handled if only Warde Manual were still the AD.
Wait, what?
September 28th, 2019 at 8:55 AM ^
He’s working on his next gig instead of worrying about Michigan.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:04 AM ^
Hackett was the AD when Army was scheduled in August 2015, not Warde.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:48 AM ^
I thought it was the lasting legacy of Dave Brandon? Maybe that was Air Force. Either way, it definitely wasn't Manuel.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
Air Force was Brandon, announced in October 2013.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:05 AM ^
Truth be told, I actually liked Jim Hackett. I'd like to have someone else like that in the position.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:43 AM ^
At least you told the truth. I like that in a non-biased way. See how that works.