State Street

September 26th, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^

The most compelling part was the fact that Mr. Brandon refused, through his spokesperson, to be interviewed by the student run newspaper.

For all the shit that Gordon Gee got on this board, he never felt he was above the students at OSU.  He was incessently out at frat parties, hanging with student groups, visible out in the Oval.

DB comes across as massively egotistical in this piece.  It's the motherfucking daily, not Charlie Rose.  Be a man and provide at least a snippet for them.

jmblue

September 26th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^

You are comparing an athletic director with a university president.  Does the OSU AD regularly give interviews?

I get that Brandon's personality and some of his marketing decisions annoy people, but people here blow all that out of proportion.  My fear is that when he's gone, his successor will get some things wrong that really matter - like hiring coaches and giving them institutional support.  His predecessors, Martin and Goss, were pretty bad in that area.

 

GoBlueInNYC

September 26th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^

Goss was before my time (at least of caring about or understanding the role of AD), but Martin was brought in for a specific reason. He was tasked with righting the ledger, which is something he massively excelled at. In the same fashion, I think Brandon is excelling at what he was brought in to do: keep moving forward with Martin's work (e.g., upgrading facilities, keeping the budget in the black), but upgrade the athletic decision-making like coaching hires. People have problems with Martin and Brandon, but it seems like both were bought in to take on specific tasks, and both seem to be accomplishing what they were asked to do.

Personally, I don't agree with Brandon's decision making all the time, but the hate around here is ridiculous. I get the impression that most posters don't have any clue what they're talking about or even really understand why they're mad.

Baldbill

September 26th, 2013 at 12:18 PM ^

Agree, I think the man is good at doing what he is supposed to, does that mean I understand all the things that went on behind the scenes for some of the things he and the dept do? I don't pretend to know their job. The AD position is high profile these days, no matter who it is, they will get 2.7 metric tons of grief.

 

 

btw 2.7 metric tons == a sh*tload

robpollard

September 26th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^

A university president is the highest ranking official at the University, so in theory, if they can find time to talk to the student paper, any lower-level official should also be able to find the time. Are you suggesting Brandon is too busy? That he has something to hide? 

And it's not like Brandon is shy in front of the camera or other media.

Additionally, I think a major reason for the problem people have with the student tix switch for the basketball program is they bought tickets under one assumption and now, after the fact, it switched. Personally, I think the new policy is not that bad, but I can understand people being upset that the "rules" changed on them after they thought they had already bought tix. This suggests a communication issue and one way to improve communication is by talking to the student newspaper.

Section 1

September 26th, 2013 at 8:18 PM ^

What a great post.  One of the best I have seen on the MGoBoard in a long, long time:

The most compelling part was the fact that Mr. Brandon refused, through his spokesperson, to be interviewed by the student run newspaper.

For all the shit that Gordon Gee got on this board, he never felt he was above the students at OSU.  He was incessently out at frat parties, hanging with student groups, visible out in the Oval.

DB comes across as massively egotistical in this piece.  It's the motherfucking daily, not Charlie Rose.  Be a man and provide at least a snippet for them. 

This is all so profoundly true.  The contrast with Gordon Gee is remarkable, and thoroughly true and apt.

"State Street"; man, you are good.

I have enormous respect for the kids at The Daily and for most of the work that they do.  (Ryan Kartje is/was the exception that proves the rule.) 

 

BlueBarron

September 26th, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^

Those are B-25s that they flight out of Willow Run btw, not B-52s. A really simple typo for two very different types of airplanes.

 

Unless Dave Brandon REALLY goes all out and rides a bomb out of a B-52 like Major Kong in Dr. Strangelove at these outings. I wouldn't question it much.

MGoShoe

September 27th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^

...accurate. There is not a B-52 squadron at Selfridge ANGB. The only USAF aircraft that currently fly from Selfridge are KC-135s and A-10s of the Michigan ANG's 127th Wing.

I do not believe Selfridge ever had a B-52 squadron. It certainly didn't when I lived there in the 70s and 80s. 

Section 1

September 27th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

No B-52's based at Selfridge. But they use Selfridge. And if you've ever been on a boat in upper Lake St. Clair when a wing of four Stratofortresses take off, you'll never forget it. Four loaded B-52's on takeoff, each with eight engines on full throttle; after the last plane is gone there is a black streak in the sky like it was paved asphalt.

LSAClassOf2000

September 26th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^

"It may be that Brandon is simply powerless to the commercial direction of college sports. The ship has already departed the dock, and he’s not going to be the one responsible for Michigan being left on shore."

This was an interesting read, and thanks to the OP for sharing it. 

The above quote is where I think Brandon's take might be intriguing honestly, but Don Eaton was spot on, I believe, in the end as well when he said that it wasn't Michigan's place by themselves to "save college athletics", as he put it. Agree with the method or not, the man does a pretty decent job with keeping Michigan's name out there at least. 

The Reeve

September 26th, 2013 at 12:16 PM ^

There seem to be some positions - like poiticians and cable customer service people - where you are doomed to being despised. If Brandon did everything found in the majority opinion on this board, there would groups to the left and right declaring he was hidebound or like Bill Martin or clueless or all of the above.

At best, an AD in today's game is probably tolerated, but never beloved. It only takes one bad hire, one deficit or one bad song, and out come the pitchforks. Wouldn't want the job (not that I'm qualified).

ESNY

September 26th, 2013 at 2:51 PM ^

Like many high profile position, no matter how many good things he does, the vocal minority will attack any perceived slight or change.   Face it, there are a lot of fans/alums that think tradition is sacrosanct and any attempt to update/modify is met with yelling and pitchforks.  Oh my god, he put a hashtag on the field, this is the biggest insult ever!!!!   I mean look at all the criticism heaped on him for student no shows which somehow is all blamed on him for raising ticket prices (not really sure how being late for a game in which you bought tickets is a result of paying more money for the ticket, but I digest).  

He definitely has made some missteps and been a victim of poor timing on other decisions but he also gets way too much blame and criticism for other things.  You cannot argue that in the arms race of college athletics, he has positioned us for success into the future, while running a profitable department.

TatersGonnaTate

September 27th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^

Raising ticket prices was his attempt at "solving" the student attendance issue. It's pretty clear that his ego drives most decisions.  His number one goal is to increase revenues so he can do something "Wow" and say, "Look what I did!"

As Duderstadt so aptly put it, he is building the brand of Dave Brandon.

charblue.

September 26th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^

which clearly outlines the career and motivation of Michigan's athletic director. Whether Brandon chose to be interviewed for the piece is irrelevant in my mind because as the profile subject he can view this attention for what it is. Perhaps he misread the direction of the piece. 

He ought to recognize, however, that the same incubator that served as the starting point for his career and set him off with the inspirational legacy of his professional path is the same one whose interests he is now influencing as athletic director by his actions and silience. There are a lot of smart folks who have worked at the Daily and are now working at influential media outlets these days. They do graduate and get jobs like he did. 

Here's the one lasting lesson he didn't learn from Bo, you can avoid the press without understanding one essential point: They always have the last word. Maybe he felt it was a no-win situation to comment. CEO's frequently feel that way especially when they can't shape the message themselves. 

People who bring change and are unafraid to do what they think is right and do it successfully are frequently criticized for their methodology and manner of creativity. Their personaliy becomes the focal point rather than their record. 

Brandon is a product of the University of Michigan who played under the modern messiah of its college football program. The lessons he learned are documented by the same critics and analysts who were interviewed for this story. He is a Michigan man. 

And the truth is, the reason he believes in fireworks is the same reason he believes in the growth and upward mobility of this university. He's just putting his stamp on that direction. And you can either accept it or not, but it's hard to argue with the massive changes he has brought and the success of his achievements in doing so as AD, regardless of what even past presidents think. . 

PeteM

September 26th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^

It seems more like an excellent magazine profile piece than a typical newspaper article.  I was impressed by the way Rothchild found sources for Brandon's time as a player and at Dominos.

I was surprised about how much internal expenses in the Department have increased.  I'm sure that Brandon would argue that paying high salaries is necessary to attract the best people, but I'd like to see a tangible payoff.  I do think that no matter how many revenue sources Michigan has or develops there is a limit to what it can generate financially, and that you always have to watch costs.  .

Assuming that he was given time to make himself available, I think it's ridiculous that he wouldn't agree to be interviewed.  As was pointed out above, the Daily is the student newspaper.  Even if he doesn't like talking to the press the writers (and readers) are students and future alumni -- who in theory are the people that the department exists to serve.

French West Indian

September 26th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^

...who is surprisingly tone deaf regarding Michigan football considering that he played for Bo.

AD shouldn't be that difficult of a job.  Balance the books, hire & fire when necessary and generally don't fix something that ain't broken.  The fact that Brandon is constantly being talked about is part of the problem.

Some may argue piped music, uniformz, seat licensing, etc. are minor things but they are actually not.  They are pieces of the overall package and with each unnecessary tinkering Brandon actually damages the "brand" that he so insistently claims he is protecting. 

It'll be a good day for Michigan (if there's anything left of it) th day Brandon departs.

robpollard

September 26th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

Put him in charge of EMU (or any other MAC school) - let's see how profitable he can make it. I'm sure people will be snapping up replica legends jerseys of Kevin Walter and filling the sky boxes at Rynearson Stadium.

There are ~25 programs where, unless you are a demonstrably poor businessman (which Brandon is not), you're going to make a profit. U of M is one of those programs.

UMgradMSUdad

September 26th, 2013 at 9:46 PM ^

Yeah, that's just what Michigan needs, an AD along for the ride who doesn't try to change anything. I'm sure that would work out real well. Like it or not, I'm pretty sure that's not the mandate Brandon was given or why he was hired. And quite honestly, one of the reasons Michigan athletics has the name recognition it does is because of Don Canhan, an AD who certainly introduced his share or changes while in office.

BlueHills

September 26th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^

Well-written article that certainly justifies the Daily's reputation among college newspapers.

Dave Brandon may indeed be very good with the schmaltzery that college football has become, but to my way of thinking, what he does epitomizes exactly what's wrong with the game today.

I realize, of course, that I am a traditionalist. But I love those traditions. The "get off my lawn" usual disclaimers apply.

The more the traditions are tampered with, the closer to a minor league baseball experience this whole thing gets, and for me at least, the less appealing it becomes. I wince at some of the stunts that are pulled, the guy with the jet pack, the piped in music, Beyonce, etc. Why not just put on a clown circus, have a halftime show with a pop music artist, and give everyone a free pencil lollipop while we're at it?

I was thinking about what Delaney said yesterday that maybe the NFL should have a minor or developmental league, and have student athletes who are actually interested in the education play on Saturday. It's a pretty good idea. But also leave the gimmicks to them.

It doesn't matter to me if the stadium isn't full for every game. It wasn't full when I was a kid growing up, in the days before Bo. And I still loved Michigan football, the university, and everything that went with it. Heck, I'd be a Michigan fan and enjoy the games as much if we joined the Ivy League and Harvard or Yale were our rivals.

For me, college football is about the college, not being a pro football minor league. I know I'm different that way, and I don't expect anyone to agree with me.

UMxWolverines

September 26th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^

I don't think people necessarily hate Brandon. But when you're trying to maximize profit for something that's not actually a business (it's run like one, but it isn't one), it gets on people's nerves. There's only so much profit Michigan can make without sucking the fans dry and Michigan isn't even guaranteed to win national championships with all this donating. It's really irritating how he's not about the fans AT ALL like he claims. 

Michigan4Life

September 26th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^

every athletic department are trying to maximize revenues and profits. To say otherwise is foolish.  They also serve for the student-athletes in terms of academic, athletics and other things like fundraising so the team can travel to certain part of the country that they would never get to do with their budget.

To say that college athletics is not actually a business is just plain wrong.

MGlobules

September 26th, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^

the article doesn't make me like him less. And the question whether he's just going where the sport is pointing is completely valid. It's going to take someone or power higher than the AD to change things a little. 

Biggest item of interest for me was that he was instrumental in bringing Mary Sue, whose party politics are quite different from his. Which for me helps to prove what some of us have been saying for a while--not much difference between the two parties, both of whom fervently believe that big business is somehow going to save us. I don't. 

MGlobules

September 27th, 2013 at 8:20 AM ^

below you. And--wierdly--I don't assume that lots of people jump on everything I say. But if I feel it's important I try to say it. There IS an increasing confluence of understanding between people, left and right, outside of mainstream politics. And it's worth pointing out. What contribution does your post make? 

Section 1

September 26th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^

... that his term as AD predated the popularity of the internet, and especially MGoBlog.

Great quote in the article from Don Eaton:

“But we’re competing out there, and it’s not Michigan’s place to try and save college athletics. It’s the presidents of the universities of the country to help control that. Personally, I think it’s gotten out of hand.” 

Actually, I'd like to think that Michigan, the leaders and best, really is the institution to "save college athletics."  If not us, then who?  Yes, Don Eaton; "it's gotten out of hand." 

 

 

I have said this previously.  Dave Brandon submits all of his coaches to an annual review.  I'll bet it isn't an easy review.  I'd like to put Dave Brandon to annual review.  Where he knows the questions in advance: 

  • Dave, what have you done this year to return Michigan student-athletes to a position of true STUDENT-athletes? 
  • What have you done to reduce costs in the Athletic Department? 
  • And, since Michigan will never 'unilaterally disarm' in the battle to compete and win in intercollegiate athletics, what have you done in the past year to bring all of the NCAA in line with these goals?  To 'normalize' athletics throughout the NCAA?