Possibly lost in DB emails; Admitting to Watching Game Film w/ Coaches
I felt like this was an entirely separtate issue that had not yet been brought up in a sea of 300+ comments, so I made it a separate posting.
But with all the questions about whether or not Dave Brandon sits down with coaches and watches game film... he apparently does (If these emails are in-fact authentic)
In the email that Brian linked as 'Longer Exchange 3', Brandon replies by saying he 'measures the direction of Michigan Football', by several things including 'reviewing game films with the coaches'.
I could be wrong here, but wasn't this in question earlier and something many thought was ridiculous?
October 28th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
but didn't initially think much about it given the other crap going on, but yeah...this is not your job DAVE. Let the coaches coach, Jerry Jr...
October 28th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
It IS ridiculous. But his admission of doing this routinely in the email will make it much more difficult for those who deny he's doing it to continue their defense.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
I don't think anyone is denying that he is doing it. I think most people are skeptical of the idea that he is in there meddling. And in the context of the email, it looks like he is saying he is in there to judge the coaches, since it comes along with watching practice, recruiting results, development, etc. I've never doubted he is watching film. I don't even really doubt he is pulling the strings. But we need some proof. Just like we needed proof that the WD email was legit.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
Absolutely need more context around what those film sessions are. Is he just sitting down with the coaches at convienent times to understand their approach in the effort of assessing their performance, a couple times a year? Is he in film review sessions that happen with players, where player error is called out and scrutinized?
His reference in the email was pretty vague since he was just listing it as a point of consideration in assessing the state of Michigan Football.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
We could ask Brandon himself -- but, as discussed below, Brandon can't seem to keep his story straight as to what he's doing in those film sessions.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
I think the proof you seek will be tough to come by but his admission confirms what I've felt about his involvement from the very beginning - that his presence, by the nature of the position he holds, is detremental to the coaching process. I'm 55 and have spent a lifetime in corporate America and I can tell you, without reservation, that the guy in the room with the most institutional power and a huge ego like Brandon carries the most weight and his approval will be sought - either outright or quietly - as the meeting unfolds.
I've been in meetings where the Brandon-like CEO was present and his "opinions" on issues were well known so people held back on suggesting ideas they knew he wouldnt like. He didnt say anything (he didnt have to) as the room policed itself and the group spoke to the CEO even as the directed their comments to a lower-level manager. I know this because I know the opinions of the people in the room AFTER the CEO left changed once he was gone. So Brandon doesnt have to say a word - the fact that a staunch proponent of Manball who could fire everybody in the room - is present will be enough to drive thinking and ideas in a certain direction. And if you think Brandon allows for dissenting opinions on matters I would simply point at the emails just published that certainly indicate he does not.
Anybody who thinks otherwise simply hasnt been in a room with a CEO like Brandon.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
Also 55, and also have spent a lifetime in corporate America. Concur 100%.
It could be Brandon attends film reviews for no more malicious reason than he misses the game of football and enjoys being near the inner-workings. But his mere presence -- your point -- affects the outcome. The properly self-aware CEO would know this.
Or it could be Brandon attends to deliberately set course and direction ... which is far more damning. What coach -- other than one whose lifelong dream it was to coach Michigan -- would submit to that?
October 28th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
How anyone could not understand the issues you raise is beyond me. I am very close to you in age and have also worked in the corporate world all of my life. If my boss (who does not have a Brandon-sized ego and is much respected by me and my employess) chose to sit in on my weekly staff meeting, it would seriously limit my ability to to have honest conversations with my team. Even though my team knows how much I think of my boss, there is no way his sitting on my routine work with them would not undermine my authority. I just cannot fathom this approach to leadership.
October 28th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
I get what you're saying and I have been in those situations in my professional life as well. Having the shadowy CEO type loom over a meeting certainly can be a giant distraction for a variety of reasons. That could be true here as well but for me I just don't see this direct line from Brandon sitting in the back of a meeting room to the field on Saturdays.
There are certainly scenarios where his involvement would be a distraction to the way the coaches go about their business but I do think there are other ways where it could be much less invasive.
I would personally be more concerned if he was in watching practice film with the coaches and players or watching opponent breakdown and sitting in on prep. That would be far more invasive then trying to understand what happened in the most recent game.
October 28th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
But your assumption that Dave's "sitting quietly in the back of the room" seems to run counter to the Dave Brandon I've come to know and love. I find it far more plauseable that he would offer his "suggestions and input" on matters rather than just sit there and say nothing.
Again - he doesnt HAVE to say "play Morris on Saturday" to make that happen. All he has to do is let the room know how unhappy he is with Gardner's play during film and the message is delivered.
October 28th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^
All the points to you sir!
October 28th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
not coaches; if he thinks his coach can't pick a staff then he's got the wrong coach) by the scoreboard and maybe advanced stats.
Period, full stop.
Anything else at best provides irrelevant information to an AD. At worst, it hinders transparency and communication within the program.
October 28th, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^
If he's watching to judge the coaches and there is the lack of improvement that has been displayed he has a duty to act or he's part of the problem. He should have seen the signs last year.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
I certainly believed he was in the film room, but nothing I've seen or read makes me believe he's meddling or telling the coaches how to do their jobs or anything of the sort. I could be wrong, but this seems (at worst) to be a bit weird but not beyond the believable realm of an AD who wants to be aware of what his struggling football team is doing.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
In his own statements, Brandon can't seem to make up his mind what he's doing in those film sessions. And the coaches are hardly going to complain that their boss is meddling in their film sessions. As for Brandon wanting to "be aware of what his struggling football team is doing," he claimed in his Sam Webb interview a couple of weeks ago that he hasn't sat in on a film session in quite a while (since last season, if I remember correctly), so apparently he doesn't think the team is strugging this year.
October 28th, 2014 at 5:53 PM ^
I hadn't heard Brandon's talk with Webb, so I'll take your word on that. But again, I don't get why these things matter so much to people. It's like they keep wanting to bury him deeper in the ground. Yes, I'm sure having your boss in the room is annoying, but I've worked in enough law and corporate offices to kinda be immune to that. Yes, you might be a bit more "professional" on that context, but I'd like to think that Brady Hoke and Greg Mattison will be able to do what they want on the football field without running it past the AD. If anyone has proof that Dave Brandon is telling Hoke to do X or consider play Y, then by all means pass that along. But for what feels like the millionth time, I want Brandon fired, but I'm not going to take every thing he does and make it more proof of his ineptitude.
October 28th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
And yet again, another failing of our AD: He doesn't seem to understand that him being present can only be detrimental to the football team as there is no possible constructive insight he could add to these film sessions.
Edit: I'm sorry if you feel I was smug in that other thread. I guess what I'm pointing out is that if we really want DB gone and if we want him gone as soon as possible, all of these things, even if they don't seem major (and I think the fact that DB is too dumb to not answer those emails is pretty major), are important in keeping up the pressure on Schissel and co. to get rid of him. Every bit of bad publicity makes their job easier.
October 28th, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^
I'm all for Brandon being gone, but it seems like the University is going to move at their pace regardless of how much bad press Brandon brings them, with the caveat that if something truly horrible came out they'd move. Sitting in on game film and sending dumb emails, though, probably isn't going to move the needle.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^
Good catch. I believe Brandon already admitted to watching film with coaches in his PR blitz after the botched handling of the concussion. However, he said it was for his own edification and personal interest, and not used as a performance measure for the coaches. Interesting.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
In his WTKA interview with Sam Webb, he said that he watches film with the coaches, but he explained that it's for his own convenience, since he is too busy with his AD duties to watch the games live. He also claimed that he hasn't done this in a while. He said nothing about these sessions being used to evaluate the coaches -- to hear him tell it, he was just hanging out in the back of the room, catching up on what he had missed the day before, and taking advantage of the coaches' expertise in reviewing game film.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
The AD department suite is on the 50 yard line and Brandon is at every home game of course. Not sure what duties he needs to be attending (other than photo ops) on game day. He has to watch a fair portion of the game live.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
I'm also quite certain that he has access to multiple televisions.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
but yes, many thought it was ridiculous. Because it is.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
He admitted this in one of the video-recorded interviews with the local media. It may have been the one with Sam Webb, but I'm too lazy to go look.
His defense for this was that he is busy during the game to watch the whole thing due to his obligation to speak with donors and other people. Obviously, this is weak sauce, but not a new revelation.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
like the rest of us common folk do with shows we want to watch.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
Sure, but after the game, he's busy responding to fan email.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Now he lists watching film with coaches as one of his methods for reviewing coaches in his email to a fan. So, long story short he has one again lied and made an ass of himself because that's just what he does.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
October 28th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
All Due Respect
October 28th, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
Are you sure that you know what this term means?
October 28th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
When you have to turn to those ass clowns, it will quickly degrade from something you want to hear to complete and utter embarassment. And that's before they let the unintelligent callers through.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
October 28th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
is a good man.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
Things I saw. Admitting to watching game film with the coaches seems a bit odd. I'm not farmiliar with the duties AD's are suppose to do day in and day out, but this seems like it's not one of them. First and foremost, why would Hoke let him sit in on game reviews? This is just odd to me. This whole situation seems odd, and I'm hoping this E-mail gate is Bradon's last straw. Please, please show him the door...
October 28th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 28th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
After Saturday, it appears that strategy isn't paying off too well. Although I'm sure the coaches cherish his highly valuable input...
October 28th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
And I also took it as fact that if that policy remained, we'd never get a coach worth anything. If you want to sit with a coach and watch game film, turn on ESPN and watch Gruden in the MNF trailer.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
I just remembered this, at the Purdue game in 2012 DB was running out of the locker room behind the team and coaches. Wonder if he sits in during the halftime adjustment period?
October 28th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
"My fellow Wolverines.
As a young boy, I dreamed of being a football.
But tonight I say, we must move forward, not backward,
upward not forward,
and always twirling,
twirling,
twirling towards victory."
October 28th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
Don't blame me - I voted for Kodos.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:14 PM ^
THROW YOUR VOTE AWAY
October 28th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
Either way, you're doomed! DOOOOMED!!!!
October 28th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
I was sure the phrase following "we must move forward" was going to be in "top-line revenue growth."
October 28th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
Intentional or not that warrants a LOL.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
...of becoming a golf club.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
AD's should be seen and not heard, IMO. Go raise money, build nice buildings, hire good coaches, and for the love of everything, let them do their job and stay out of the way.
October 28th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
October 28th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
October 28th, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
It's been a few years since I read Three and Out, but I seem remember that being correct. WD could probably shine more light.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
David Brandon: Michigan's own Jerry Jones, except even Jones won 3 titles...