Uh, I THINK John U Bacon confirmed the Gregg Henson rumor on WTKA this morning.
I know nothing - NOTHING - about Gregg Henson's credibility. Nor do I know anything about Bacon's sources, although I do know that he wasn't on Brian's ad hoc "certified source" list in the Mailbag post from earlier this week. But during Bacon's regular segment on WTKA this morning, he slipped in a detail that didn't get a lot of hype and didn't seem to get mentioned in the Henson thread below.
Go listen for yourself. Download today's Bacon segment on the WTKA website. The whole thing is worth a listen, but the back third is what you REALLY need to hear.
At around 10:35, Webb discusses how various players have spoken out for or against Michigan in "many different facets." Webb asks if there are new factions emerging between players for and against the current football regieme, or if those factions never left and have always been there.
Bacon answers - this part is paraphrase - that there aren't any factions at all. Pretty much all former lettermen are against the Athletic Department, but NOT Brady Hoke. Bacon says it's not like Rich Rodriguez, were there were people for and against him. Bacon then says - quote - "If you want to find one group that is most uniformally opposed to the current direction of the department, it's the lettermen. I mean, they've got to be 95 to 99 percent negative right now."
Webb counters that Billy Taylor defended the department; Bacon defers gracefully and says "give the reverend his due." Bacon then says that many more would come out but "can't for political reasons."
But here's the kicker. Go to 14:00, right after Bacon's phone goes off. Bacon says that there are "two approaches," but not pro and con. The two approaches are "do you speak up or do you not speak up," meaning against the athletic department. Then Bacon says - again, quoting at 14:31 - "But they [the former players] don't get a vote. They're not on the board. They're not, you know, in the president's ear in the normal way. They are writing him a letter, obviously, and they - many - I think hundreds have signed it. What it does tell Schlissel is this. I can't imagine president schl taking action based solely on the lettermen's letter. But I can see him thinking if he decides to make a decision, 'Well, one problem I will not have is obstruction from the lettermen. They're not going to defend the current direction.'"
This does not confirm that the letter Henson presented is the actual letter. But if what Henson is saying is true as it pertains to Harbaugh...
Take for granted, take it with a grain of salt, or don't take it at all.
September 26th, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
I'm starting to wonder if the sense a few of us have had here that Brandon's meddling might be interfering with the coaches' ability to do their jobs is shared by some people closer to the program.
I'm guessing if you polled those lettermen you'd have trouble finding anyone that's happy with the product on the field, yet sentiment towards Hoke is still mixed and the anger's directed at Brandon.
September 26th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
ColdWar,
I sure did!
You and I seem to be fighting back-to-back for Hoke & Co., and as I mentioned above, this point is very telling to me.
I think the anti-Hoke faction in here hear "upset about the direction of the program" and will hear, "they don't like Hoke." But, it's interesting that there was specific mention that it's NOT about Hoke, despite the fact that Hoke is "Brandon's guy."
I am not sure what to make of all this, but the waters are getting muddier rather than clearer as this rolls on.
September 26th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
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September 26th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
September 26th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
Who knows more and cares more about Michigan football? Those guys or us keyboard warriors?
September 26th, 2014 at 3:06 PM ^
it's week 5 and we're already inundated with TMZ level gossip on will the AD and/or Hoke be fired. I wish we were talking about football
September 26th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
I wish our team played football.
September 26th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
The former players are upset that Dave Brandon is only giving them two free tickets and limiting sideline access.
John U. Bacon is upset with Dave Brandon because he banished him from the press box after he wrote his book.
Alumns are upset with Dave Brandon because of the price gouging, this year's home schedule, and the team is losing.
Students are upset with Dave Brandon because of the change in the seating policy.
I don't think it takes inside program sources to predict that a change is coming...
September 26th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
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September 26th, 2014 at 6:47 PM ^
Behind the Maize outs, alternative uniforms, and RAWK music, lies a flaccid program stuck deep in the muddy terrain of mediocrity. But now the village is being exposed.
September 26th, 2014 at 8:20 PM ^
To be honest, it's been that way well before Brandon showed up.
September 26th, 2014 at 11:58 PM ^
And then there are mixed metaphors that ask you to imagine getting your penis stuck in mud.
September 26th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^
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September 26th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
When it comes to the point of my UM alumna daughter, who truly has very little interest in football, complaining about the direction of the athletic department, I have to think something's rotten in Ann Arbor. She can smell it in Chicago.
September 26th, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^
Listened to the podcast. Wow. There is definitely something wrong. The email from Henson, which I'm sure isn't the actual petition, is also disturbing even if only half of what is on there is true.
Sigh. At least Mattison has the defense doing relatively well.
September 26th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
September 26th, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
(assuming the team under-performs over the next four weeks) Brandon gets axed by Oct 20, giving the board and Pres time to hire a new AD by the end of November. A decision on the head coach is made shortly thereafter. Recruiting is stabilized by the timing of it, preserving the chance for either Hoke % Co. or the new staff the chance to be competitive next year and beyond.
If the team goes 3-1 over the next four games, the waters are further muddied and the Brandon thing lingers longer. Continued ineptitude on the field makes the removal Brandon easier and less contentious, opening the door for a new direction and a new staff starting around Jan 1 or 2.
September 27th, 2014 at 3:36 AM ^
Hold up, Bacon's phone went off during an interview?
Hope Sam Webb brought his hammer.