What Dave Brandon is really about
Dave will be out soon with this media frenzy that is surrounding this imploding football program and embarassing athletic department, there is simply no way he can stay - plain and simple. This guy has "created the future", just like the all-too-frequent mgoblog tags. What Dave Brandon is really all about is Dave Brandon, not the University of Michigan. That is what is bringing the football team to the depths it is at currently.
No athletic director sits in on film study, picks a coach after purposely avoiding to offer Jim Harbaugh - the biggest, most accomplished option at the time, and then 'pimping out' the school's tradition and brand while raising ticket prices. This guy stands on our sidelines during games and clearly has a presence in all of the critical events of each teams' seasons. This guy is Jerry Jones. Michigan football is now nothing like it was during the Carr years which, while not the most successful during his later years, were a period of stability and success for this team. Dave Brandon turned the football team into a product that he can supply, market, and create a profit. This has become Michigan football in name only. Things must change, from the top-down.
Dave Brandon if you read this, don't make this uglier for any of us and resign please. Michigan students, fans, alumni, whoever - they proved that we demand change. Brandon will be removed when we continue to make our voices heard. We can't let the program continue to fall apart.
Watching the rally and Brian speak today, and then later seeing the major news story that this is becoming is unreal. The fans are demanding Brandon fired, Hoke removed, and some are demanding an offer to Jim Harbaugh to be our next coach. Could Michigan become something that the University must share decision making processes with its alumni and students? A Green Bay Packers situation and maybe even the opposite of the players' union at Northwestern. This entire season has been crazy and almost surreal and I hope this is all resolved as soon as possible.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
We are better off, financially, firing him now and paying his buyout than continuing to endure the damage he has done to the fanbase. The season ticket sales are going away. That is real money that the AD won't have in the future. In order to preserve the season ticket base, Brandon must be fired.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
There is no longer a backlog of money in the form of a season ticket holder waitlist. The current money is dwindling as season ticket holders drop out, meaning no PSL funds and no game funds. Meanwhile, the future alumni no longer think of football as the must do event of the fall and have no incentive to return after graduation.
Think of a buyout as an investment in the future!
September 30th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
This whole thing is unprecedented and it is going ot be very interesting to see how this all ends up.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:31 PM ^
I am not a defender of DB or Hoke - I think they should all be fired simply due to the on field results in the past two years. That said, I think people have become somewhat irrational. David Brandon loves Michigan, plain and simple. He is not about anything else.
Domino's pizza CEO earned 43 Millions in the past three years. David Brandon earned 800000 dollars a year, may be with some other perks. Still, those are not comparable numbers.
Let's hope that next AD and J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach can win on the field consistently. Winning will cure everything, trust me.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
I mean this seriously just because you talked about his love for Michigan, then ended with the bought and paid for head coaching title. That's HC title symbolizes some of the gimmicky stuff that wore thin over the years.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:06 PM ^
Sure DB loves Michigan and Michigan athletics. So do I. But neither he, nor I, are competent to run the Michigan Athletic Department.
His repeated gaffes culminated with complete mishandling of Shanegate, or whatever you want to call it. His PR handling of this situation is obviously that of a rank amateur.
Yes, people are jumping down his throat because of things other than that, and yes it's partly because of the team's failure on the field. But mostly it's because he's done his best to alienate Michigan students, alums, fans, etc.
The job of the AD is not to alienate Michigan's faithful with complete incompetence.
This man may have the best of intentions, but in practice he is poison. He needs to be unceremoniously run out of town on a rail, tarred and feathered.
And as far as I'm concerned, Stephen Ross can go fuck himself, too. He may have bought the right to plaster his name everywhere, but that doesn't mean he should own Michigan or call the shots for our school.
October 1st, 2014 at 1:49 AM ^
It's also about the guy's arrogance.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
Do you really think Hollis EVER sits in on film sessions with Dantonio? Do you think Gene Smith does the same with Urban? Do you think Canham ever did that with Bo?
Why in gods name if he is doing his job would an athletic director need to ever watch film with the head football coach? That is totally sticking your nose where it doesn't belong and everyone knows it.
Have you ever heard of an AD doing that until Brandon? Did you not hear the anonymous coaches that said they would never coach somewhere where the AD did that?
September 30th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^
Rodriguez also "let" Brandon sit in on film sessions. I assume that told you the same thing about RR that it tells you about Hoke?
October 1st, 2014 at 1:52 AM ^
I was just reading somewhere the other day in the avalanche of information that has come out on all this - several ADs of major universities were very suprised that this was going on at Michigan, and would see themselves doing anything of the sort.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^
If whoever becomes coach can get most of the players to stick around, they should be pretty good next year. This recruting class might be a lost cause, though a good hire in Dec/Jan can put together a decent class. Assuming Brandon is gone, there aren't a ton of messes for the next coach to deal with. Whoever it is will be in a decent situation, tbh. Speight or Malzone will have to step up or Morris will have to improve a ton. That's my biggest on the field concern.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
Of course he has finer shirts and ties to choose from than the average plebe.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
Well that settles it. We can't fire him now you guys. He wrote Sllepy81's cousin a letter of recommendation!
October 1st, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^
I have not supported Brandon at all. I do not now. But it is not a crime to point out a favorable personal experience with someone who is being debated like Brandon is now.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
That's nice that he wrote your cousin a letter of rec.
By any chance was it mailed out at 1:30am or written in the sky?
September 30th, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
Did anyone watch the volleyball match? You guys should stick to that and let the football players play football. All Morris wants to do is play football--- He is not a victim the witch hunters are making him out to be
September 30th, 2014 at 11:11 PM ^
Money is what gets the most attention. I suggest a boycott of all concession stands for the remainder of the home football games this season.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
Since Stephen Ross thinks Brandon is the best AD in America, maybe he can be persuaded to hire Brandon for his damned Dolphins.
October 1st, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^
this was the best part:
"Dave Brandon if you read this, ..."
October 1st, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
Picking nits here but 2006 we were rated #2 for almost the entire year.
That's Carr-era and "later Carr-era" at that.
I dont love Carr for myriad reasons, but his late era "failures" have been overblown IMO.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
"This guy is Jerry Jones."
Truth