New fluffy blog post from Dave Brandon

Submitted by Rosey09 on

Apparently someone who has a similar name as me was a former letter winner in the athletic department and still donates. As such, I just received this e-mail (by accident):

 

"Link to Dave Brandon’s newest blog entry below, in advance of the general public

The University of Michigan Athletic Department wants to make important information available to U-M letterwinners before the information is made public.

Below is a link to athletic director Dave Brandon's newest blog entry featuring his thoughts about his search for the next football coach: http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/brandon/spec-rel/011011aaa.html

Go Blue!"

Jan. 10, 2011

 

 

University of Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon will regularly offer his view on different topics related to U-M and intercollegiate sports. All of his posts, along with links to related content, will be available on his page, mgoblue.com/brandon, and he is also on Twitter at @DaveBrandonAD.

During the press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 5), I noted we would be conducting a national search for our next football coach. Some would suggest we should complete this national search in a matter of hours, but this is a critical decision for Michigan Athletics and it cannot and will not be made in haste.

Coaches are an interesting, intense group, and although this interviewing process is time-consuming and somewhat demanding, it is an honor to represent Michigan and discuss our football program's needs and opportunities with a variety of impressive candidates and/or people who can offer valuable advice and input. The process is proceeding with careful consideration as to the qualifications, commitment, effectiveness and passion that various candidates would bring to our program.

I am sure all of the news reports are interesting for our fans, but I am too busy to follow the majority of the news except to hear some pretty wild stories about "where I am and who I am talking to?" The last week should be a reminder to everyone not to believe everything you read or hear. Some of the so-called "news reports" over the past week have been simply ridiculous.

As it relates to our fans, I have received the "advice and recommendations" to hire just about every football coach in America -- including some who have never coached or haven't coached in years! I am glad our fans are passionate, but we cannot hire your favorite high school coach (as one fan suggested) and we cannot hire several head coaches and have them take turns leading the team during the season (another unique approach that was suggested to me!).

Sometimes, fans who provide more level-headed suggestions do not realize that some of the people they mention are not viable candidates for Michigan for a variety of reasons. This is some of what we learn as we go through this process.

Our Michigan Athletic Department e-mail servers have been very busy! I am trying to answer/acknowledge all e-mails we have been receiving from sincere, thoughtful individuals. The department appreciates the messages from those who are simply trying to help. Those that are not trying to be helpful quickly end up in the delete/block sender file!

I would bet that in the majority of cases, fans have never met and interviewed any of the coaches they are either supporting or trashing, so they really don't have any idea what kind of people they really are! Thankfully, I am given this opportunity.

We are looking for a coach that matches our program's particular needs and objectives, on and off the field.

There will always be a certain number of people who enjoy criticizing others, and there is nothing any of us can do about them! However, for those of you who want to help bring Michigan football back to where we all want it to be, you can help by getting behind our new coach and ignoring those who enjoy creating controversy and resentment. Much of our past success was largely a result of our large number of passionate, united fans around the country supporting our coaches and players in every way. Uniting again behind one singular purpose -- to win Big Ten championships -- is what we need, and now is the time to get on board.

The most important thing everyone can do at this point to help Michigan football is to prepare to greet our new coach with all of the support, encouragement and positive energy that we can muster. Getting our football program turned around quickly is our goal, and having our fans and supporters "jump on board" early with our new coach will help him be successful -- which is what we all want!

It is time for me to get on to the next session. Go Blue!!

Lorch Hall

January 10th, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^

get something out there, I think,  if you're Brandon. Now all the news outlets have something to quote from his perspective on all the speculation articles. Ted Leonsis who owns the Washington Capitals has a blog, largely to help somewhat control the media narrative on his teams. 

Desmonlon Edwoodson

January 10th, 2011 at 3:38 PM ^

Based on Angelique Chengelis's assertion that "If it is up to Les, he will be the next coach at the University of Michigan" during Sunday's "Off the field" on 1050, along with her twitter soon afterward stating, "If they dont lowball him, he is absolutely going to take the job". Can we stop speculating that Miles is just looking for a bigger LSU contract?  Or is Chengelis not a credible source?  Why has Brian not mentioned this at all? 

trueblue262

January 10th, 2011 at 4:03 PM ^

coming out since the firing. All the waiting, interviewing, etc and now interviewing tomorrow is going to cause media erruption on the eve of the biggest night in CFB. He's marketing Michigan right now, and advertising our new HC.

Atleast I hope thats his plan anyway? And hopefully he knows this could turn into bad publicity REAL quick

NY wolve Old Guy

January 10th, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^

The delibater pace and speed might be appropriate if this were September -- but it is January and recruiting season.  We have cancelled one recruiting weekend.  ANd we have no coaches recruiting (or I speculate that given that they have all been fired.)

Speed is important here, for the team -- and the recruits.

michiganfanforlife

January 10th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^

the coach whoever he is. Really, he should already know that. Most of the divisive crap came from people closer to the program (former players, coaches, boosters).  The vast majority of the fans in the US were behind RR from the very beginning. We will be again. I just want this to end soon, and find out who the new guy is.

The evil part of me hopes that they are meeting in LA just to confuse people, and that the mad hatter isn't really the guy. If it ends up being him, my warped mind will justify why he's the best choice. Sick, huh?

Section 1

January 10th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^

were so helpful to our program under Rich Rodriguez.  Way to go, guys.  Just keepin' you all posted.  Whose turn is it to watch Braylon today?

BlueBarron

January 10th, 2011 at 5:36 PM ^

Since I can't make a new post on this, can someone quickly answer this:

What offensive/defensive scheme does Les Miles use? Is it any form of the spread? Would it probably involve Denard transferring? Do we have any of the right type of players to get that system to work? I'm starting to like the idea of getting Les Miles but I don't know any of the schemes he uses.

Tanks!

marlon

January 10th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^

"The most important thing everyone can do at this point to help Michigan football is to prepare to greet our new coach with all of the support, encouragement and positive energy that we can muster."

If this is Brandon's way of priming fans for his eventual hire of Brady fucking Hoke.....How about you just hire a coach that fans actually want, Dave?  That way you won't have to beg for unity and support among the fanbase.

CountBluecula

January 11th, 2011 at 5:34 AM ^

"some of the people they mention are not viable candidates for Michigan for a variety of reasons."

It would be cool to hear those criteria from Brandon even if he couldn't mention names.  (It would be even cooler to hear names, though.)  

Blue in Yarmouth

January 11th, 2011 at 6:44 AM ^

I am not sure he should be so condescending towards others opinion of what should be done with the coaching search. Just because someone has more information from which to make a decision, doesn't exactly make it certain that they will make a better decision than someone with less information. He has proven that already IMHE.