UM Varsity Coaches come out in support of Brandon

Submitted by iawolve on

Well, there is this now out there, full text at Det news. It is signed by every varsity coach. Granted, you do assume that is expected since I would not want to be the coach left off that list if DB sticks around. On the other hand, it is something that I am sure the Regents will give a significant amount of weight. 

 

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/201…

 

 

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AMazinBlue

October 16th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^

and wouldn't be shocked if that's how it turns out.  BUT, if it does, I guarantee a student and fanbase backlash that will not be pretty.  These guys need to go.  If the two of them stay, then the 100k+ streak will end in 2014.   By the end of the season there may not be anyone in stands.  The MSU game will be sooo ugly.  Brandon leaving is the only hope of getting a real coach here.

Joined: 10/12/2008

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Doc Brown

October 16th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^

If that happens say goodbye to the donor base and recruiting. With many of the capital projects coming due with ticket revenue falling and my generation being alienated, I wouldn't be suprised to see Michigan in the red four to six years from now. Brandon's strategy is not intelligent at all. 

Joined: 11/20/2011

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robpollard

October 16th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

You are completely right on the AD. People got WAY ahead of themselves regarding the regent meeting, but I still think unless Brandon resigns (which is possible, but I doubt his ego would let him) he will be here in 2015. He makes too much money to pay off, has support of big bucks Ross, and has support (as noted) from the coaches. 

Hoke, OTOH, is absolutely gone unless we win out. There is no way David Brandon is going to want to try and sell tix next year for a Hoke-coached team that just went 7-5 or worse and lost to MSU and/or OSU again. He showed he is willing to throw Hoke under the bus during the Shane Morris thing. He will certainly do it after this season unless Hoke somehow gets this team to 9 wins (which has literally about a 1% chance of happening).

Joined: 06/03/2009

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mGrowOld

October 16th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^

Maybe.  Dont underestimate though Brandon's belief that it's schedule plus less than steller results on the field that's creating the attendance issue - not pricing.  If he remains in control and Hoke shows improvement through the balance of the year (as incremental as it might be) I think they both return and Brandon bets heavy on people wanting to see both MSU & OSU in person.

I know it's definitely not what just about everyone wants but we dismiss the possibility at our peril.  As Eric correctly states above - we MUST keep the pressure on the President and the Regents that the current situation is untenable and must be changed.  Remember - the party line is "if we were winning nobody would care about who the AD is" so many will be looking for the rancor to diminish if that happens.

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Perkis-Size Me

October 16th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^

He's their boss. He's taken a lot of money from the donors and re-distributed it back to them and their programs/facilities. It might be career suicide to leave yourself off signing that list, especially if DB isn't canned. Why wouldn't they be supportive of him?


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michelin

October 16th, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^

of the same coaches.

It might turn out the same, since many head coaches would worry about losing their jobs under a new AD.   Perhaps a more revealing strategy would be to have employees across the department, not just the HCs, rate DB on a number of leadership qualities and performance measures---perhaps comparing him to prior AD's they worked under.  One could also include in this anonymous questionnaire the people who worked with DB on various projects and committees---like the Regents themselves.

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goblue16

October 16th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

Don't they have to support him since he's their boss? Wouldn't they risk getting fired if they were calling for his job

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justingoblue

October 16th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

I can't think of anything Brandon has done where he'd lose support of the current coaches. On top of that a lot of M coaches have had enough success that they probably don't care who the AD is unless someone is about to cut their budget (which isn't happening).

Joined: 11/16/2010

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UM Fan in Nashville

October 16th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^

Well of course they do, Brandon gave them all raises or new facilities.  They will quickly learn that those nice things will all be gone without the support of the alumni and fanbase (mainly of football).   Have a second anonymous poll if they think he's the man for the future, I think you might have different results. 

Joined: 01/22/2011

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samsoccer7

October 16th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^

Yeah I mean al the other non football and basketball coaches have to love him bc he's given them raises and improvised their facilities. I have to say I've been impressed with almost all of his hires for head coaches (albeit without a ton of knowledge but based on their histories and resumes). So I do think he's done some good for Michigan athletics. Problem is he's done poorly for football and that's the cash cow so if football doesn't improve quickly then these coaches will eventually change their tune.

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TheBoLineage--

October 16th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^

--  FoxNews Investigative Team  . . . 

 

En-quire-ing  Minds--    Want To KNOW, The Truth  . . .

 

 

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Mittelstadt

October 16th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

Feels desperate to me.  Further polarizing behavior by the administration that many feel is polarizing.

File in the "actions speak louder than endorsements by direct reports" folder.

Joined: 03/26/2011

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InterM

October 16th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^

With this and the Brandon media extravaganza (which happened at about the same time -- note that this coaches' letter was dated 10/2), I keep wondering, who's the intended audience?  I seriously doubt that Schlissel advised Brandon to get out and meet with the media and the coaches/players in order to shore up their support.  Instead, it seems more likely that Brandon himself decided he needed to win over the public/students and rally the troops within the AD, which suggests that he believes it's necessary to counter views among the regents and/or University administration that his time is up.  As you say, it seems desperate, and more likely to backfire as regents and anti-Brandon folks within the University administration start to resent Brandon's "save my job" media blitz.  Perhaps someone clued Brandon in that this was counter-productive, explaining why he has dropped off the radar since then?

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west2

October 16th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

not signing it is suicide.  Its a no win situation for a coach as if brandon stays your toast and if he goes you would be tagged as a malcontent.  Siging it is the only move if you are a coach so actually, it means nothing.  This kind of thing happens in corporations with department heads but it doesnt mean that that person will be staying.  You don't have to be an expert in sports or business to know that things within the Michigan atheletic department specifically football, the major money maker, have been dissapointing.

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Sllepy81

October 16th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^

worked under the staff for years. This is not entirely true. Besides Bradon firing secretaries and people around the AD office tgat worked their since Schembecler Beandon started a horrible tradition for mens basketball. He made all the staff and players wait after every home game until he showed up with his rich friends to meet and talk with the players. They hated this and it was mandatory. so u instead of heading home to study or sleep and redt these college STUDENT athletes had to wait so he can show off to his friends.

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Greg McMurtry

October 16th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^

It's not fun to watch.  I'm torn between rooting for losses so that changes are made or just not caring.  There are no signs of improvement with increased mediocrity annually.  On top of that, you've got a penny-pinching prick ruining the gameday experience while gouging fans with higher prices, and ads everywhere.  Eat shit, Dave.

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UMForLife

October 16th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^

Nice. Good job varsity coaches. Way to stick behind your boss. I guess the old adage of "consumer is always (almost always) right" doesn't work? Good for the coaches. Sounds like the whole university is against the fans. It is hurtful to me and my family.

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Blue Balls Afire

October 16th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^

I get why people are brushing aside the letter, but I believe it does have some significance.  I'm not trying to be contrarian, and I've said elsewhere that I think it would be best for all involved for DB and Michigan to part ways, but of all the voices in the chorus, I do find the sentiments of the varsity coaches to be compelling.  The most important constituent in intercollegiate athletics is the student athlete, and if all the varsity coaches truly believe DB has made the student-athlete experience better since his arrival, then I have to give DB props for that.

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TESOE

October 16th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^

it's really about replacing Hoke in my mind at least.  The department can be driven by a competent AD.  There are more than enough candidates.  

All the satellite sports will be taken care of in some respect or another.  Football, however, is broken.  DB won't last through the next football coach.  He made the wrong call on Hoke.  There is little to no reason to think he will make the right one in December.  In fact candidates are not going to be attracted to DB with his micro-managing lord brand maximizing style.  DB is a hindrance to getting the best coach for 2015.  Football is boss.  Basketball is little brother.

DB has done a fine job.  A good job even if you exclude football.  Fine isn't good enough.  Of course his employees (including student athletes here) will openly support him.  Schlissel is all that matters at this point.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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ldoublee

October 16th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^

This is posturing for Brandon to get more money out of a settlement when he "resigns". The less popular he is, the less he will settle for, but the more support he can generate--from whatever source--the more he can reasonably expect.

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SF Wolverine

October 16th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

I'm somewhere between Kool-Aid drunk and optimistic, but this strikes me as a real end game play by Brandon.  Hard for me to imagine that this was organic; my guess is that DB had one of his trusted minions making the rounds of the coaches the last week or so to "get behind the AD."  Did the same with the student-athlete council.  I'd put this as a slightly less ham-handed version of the 1:00 a.m. perss release. 

We're on to you now, DB -- who do you really think you are kidding?

Joined: 10/04/2010

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Nickel

October 16th, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^

Of course they signed it, they don't want to get fired.

Not to mention it's Brandon's gouging of football fans that is allowing all these other sports to have their shiny new gold plated practice facilities and

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