Dave Brandon's Athletic Department Continues to Use Student-Athletes to Save His Job
Facing a boycott of kickoff in protest of Dave Brandon's continued employment, Dave Brandon's Athletic Department puts out an official photo using a quote from Dennis Norfleet to try to stop the boycott. The caption on the Michigan Football Facebook page: "Fleet".
If you are like me in thinking that it is inappropriate for Dave Brandon to use student-athletes in orchestrated PR ploys intended to save his own job, you'll join me in thinking this is inappropriate, too. Boo, Dave. Boo.
Mrs. Jon06: "Is that official?"
Jon06: "Yes."
Mrs. Jon06: "...He should be fired."
ETA: Mr. Yost down below tries to convince me that this is not a new social media strategy. I asked him to provide an example from the Michigan Football Facebook page of any student athlete quote used in a 2014 ad. I mentioned that coaches' quotes had been used. His responses: basketball players from Twitter (not what I asked for), coaches (not what I asked for), and then a Funchess quote that never appeared on the Facebook page (not what I asked for), which (last time I checked) he is pretending was posted there. If anybody knows where he got that Funchess Chobani image, that'd be great to know. [Image was from Twitter. Again irrelevant. Again obfuscation from Mr. Yost who wants you to forget what we were discussing.] In any case I am just writing this here to register that Brandon supporters appear to be engaged in an active misinformation campaign here. Be careful out there, folks.
ETA2: To be fair, I should add here that Mr. Yost seems to think I'm lying by having moved the goalposts on him. I disagree insofar as social media strategies are a lot more specific than he seems to think, but you can see what you think if you read through the stuff below. The Funchess image he keeps reposting is from Twitter, per the above, unlike the FB-sourced image embedded in this here OP. FWIW, I am now inclined to think MGrowOld is right in the "Why the Surge" thread when it comes to at least part of the increased pressure to attend, but I still strongly dislike the AD using SA quotes in official materials in any way that even has the appearance of being an attempt to move the needle on a boycott aimed at DB.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^
Beautiful. I mean that.
One of my all-time favorites when I was growing up.
October 8th, 2014 at 3:47 AM ^
I must rewatch this movie sometime soon (I think I'm at 552 viewings to date). Such a brilliant cinematic piece. I know Ben Stiller gets shit on for whatever reasons but he was phenomenal in Heavyweights.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
that is just beyond the pale. This is clearly DB doing whatever it takes to prevent the kickoff boycott. He's using the student-athletes now to try to prevent his own extreme embarrassment. If the students really pull off this boycott it's going to show the emperor has no clothes, and everyone knows it now. For a man with the ultimate ego, it's looking like this kind of public humiliation - prime time, UTL - is too much to take.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
Go blue!
October 7th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^
We have to make it known in as many ways as possible in as many avenues as possible that Brandon needs to go. If Brandon somehow survives this I would not put it past him to keep Hoke. Again, if Brandon and Hoke are still here nexy year and the stadium is predictably 70-80% full for games would you rather have that happen of have fans fight tooth and nail now to ensure that doesn't happen.
I will say this: sometimes leaders make the tough decisions and they turn out to be right. I' just not sure how Hoke would turn it around next year when he has so clearly failed to do so the further away we get from the RR team.
Not sure why people care whether or not the students are there for kickoff. Maybe you all think Hoke and staff are going to send 10 men out for a kickoff and the fans are needed to boo them so more so they don't make that mistake a third time.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
He is just so over-reaching with this kind of marketing. He has played his hand, and shown he's bankrupt. The kingdom is crumbling.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 7th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
Still boycotting the football program unti Brandon is fired.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:25 PM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 5:16 AM ^
burned them and peed on the ashes.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:51 PM ^
This is really revolutionary. Fans on this board have decided that they don't want to be on the hook for watching an awful football team they are "fans" of by "boycotting" them.
October 8th, 2014 at 5:19 AM ^
or they refuse to pay for an ever unaffordable product. If Brandon wants to treat alumni like customers, then I will not pay for his shit product. I will also not pay for a program that does not have player safety as its top priority. I don't buy for a second that Dave's sudden emphasis on player safety.
I refuse to donate to the athletic department until Dave is gone. That also includes ice hockey.
October 8th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
I have no doubt that you stand in solidarity with all of the Purdue fans behind the picket lines.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
Just give it a rest. He'll be gone soon enough.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:31 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
Happy to clarify. Where'd I lose you?
October 7th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:31 PM ^
#SupportTheTroops
October 7th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ^
What an ego on this guy.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
I want Brandon fired as much as anybody here and if he was smoked in an hour it would be 59 minutes too late for me. I cannot stand the smug, sanctimonious SOB and think he is single-handidly destroying our fan base.
That being said I see no issue in this whatsoever. His job is to get fannies in the seats and he's trying to do just that. What I find interesting is that all the noise generated on this meaningless little blog seems to be getting to him a bit. I do think this move is directly in response to the boycott, the protests and all the attention recently focused on attendance.
Looks to me like our efforts are starting to have an impact.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
Yes, the mob mentality on this board has gone completely craze balls insane. I mean the RR "DickROD!!!" guys are sitting around going, 'shit, we never thought to make up half the bullshit these guys are up to.'
October 7th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^
But we know the AD revamped PR strategy last Wednesday. I urged President Schlissel, in the same email where I notified him of my pending FOIA request, "to instruct the athletic department to put an immediate end to any activities intended to produce positive social media buzz about the current athletic director in a way that places current student-athletes at risk of harsh public censure."
At the time I was reacting to last week's spate of pro-DB SA tweets. But this image is more of the same, and it should be beneath Michigan Athletics to repurpose an athlete's enthusiasm to protect the Athletic Director from a protest.
Ain't no reach.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
You are suggesting that athletes supporting DB is putting them at risk. That's int-... that's not really something I need to respond to.
There is some portion of you that realizes these kids are probably just supporting the guy they see come to all of their games, right? Trying to get them better facilities, help them compete?
October 7th, 2014 at 11:44 PM ^
Unless every single kid is going to sign a petition and generate a bunch of media attention in support of Brandon, it's moot.
No President is going to make a decision off of the opinion of some outspoken student-athletes.
That would be like allowing this football team to pick their next coach when Hoke is fired.
He's worried about nothing. He needs to be worried about what the donors are saying. If they're in support of Brandon it'll go a hell of a lot further than a few outspoken athletes on Twitter or a public statement by SAAC.
In the end, if you're in a position of power...and you're making a hire, you can only be influenced so much. Otherwise you're not doing your job and YOU are the issue...not that failed person that you hired because of pressure.
To be worried about a few focal students is so beyond silly.
You REEEALLY think the University President isn't going to fire Brandon because a few girls on the field hockey team really like him?
Jeez, just think. For two seconds. THINK.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:51 PM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 6:30 PM ^
I don't see too many people beating down the doors in support of Hoke or Brandon. I see the media sticking microphones in faces and saying "TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!"
Take it with a grain of salt.
When the head MBB, WBB, MIH, BA and SB coach get together and start a petition and generate some legitmate buzz in support of Brandon and/or Hoke.
THAT is when you worry.
If the entire student-athlete body got together and did the same...
THAT is when you worry.
You don't worry about a few vocal athletes and a few more coaches being PC.
Don't forget for a second. DAVE BRANDON IS STILL THEIR BOSS!
What the F is John Beilein supposed to say? "Yea, my boss, he sucks...I hope he gets fired over this mess because this is not how we do things at Michigan."
Why in the world would any current coach say anything bad about their boss to the media?
Shit - the recession is not over, and that's Ann Arbor, Michigan...less than an hour from Detroit. I'd be out there leading the way..."Mr. Brandon is a wonderful man! We love him and hope he's our AD for a long time!" (code: hey motherfucker...if you survive this shit, just remember who was leading the way in support for you. Don't think for a second you can get rid of me now. That was job security.).
I'm somewhat joking, but seriously...no one in their right mind would bash their current employeer. How the hell are they going to get another job? If I'm another AD, I'm not hiring you if I know you're going to throw me under the bus to the media.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:54 PM ^
I think Brian Cleary has been getting mocked because of his statement, and that the AD bears responsibility for that. That's all I mean.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
Hoke is gone and so is Brandon. There is no point in hurting the kids. They have done nothing wrong. Let show up and support the kids.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^
... to fire Brandon is weakened by this gish gallop. Getting fans to attend a game is not Brandon trying to save his job, it's Brandon doing his job. There are plenty of real reasons to fire him, stop trying to make everything fit into your pretty narrative. Accept that there are nuances.
Real reasons for firing Brandon:
1) Failure to conduct a real job search in the marquee sport that focused on hiring a candidate that would foster a positive environment and onfield success. His coaching search focused too much on appeasing alumni in the short term and not enough on finding a qualified candidate.
2) Failure to handle the Brendan Gibbons situation with any level of decorum.
3) Failure to ensure the medical staff at football games are properly equiped to manage head injuries. That is not a Hoke job. Hoke's job should have been to be more aware. AD's job is to make sure medical staff is on top of shit for all sports.
4) Failure with multiple PR episodes and promotions -- Noodle was minor, coke was a big mess up, a couple others
5) Failure to foster a positive attitude between the athletic department and student body.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
6) Ruining gameday stadium experience.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^
It is so Brandon to address this through PR rather than, you know, actually seeing what the students and fans want and then making some adjustments. And if it is successful, it will only encourage him more to keep operating unilaterally from on-high.
HOWEVER . . . Brandon aside, the players do need the support of the fans, throughout the entire game. This is their only night game at home. They deserve at least as good of an environment as Rutgers had.
Find another way to target a protest directly at Brandon. A boycott, even "just for kickoff", will have too much unintended collateral damage.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^
Not to mention he will be able to control the narrative of what is said about any "boycott" that occurs. It happened last Saturday night when Jim Delaney made up a cock-and-bull story about the rally on the Diag being a protest against the Shane Morris incident and a losing streak.
He even said, evidently trying to make me vomit (or destroy my TV) words to the effect of: "I mean, they've put in place the necessary process to ensure those oversights can't happen again. I just don't know what more the fans can ask for."
As buckeyejonross said in an earlier thread: don't fight an enemy who can buy ink by the barrel.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:10 PM ^
I don't hang out with cats, mofo.
October 8th, 2014 at 1:07 AM ^
You found a picture from another platform. Here is an equally relevant picture:
October 7th, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
October 7th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
Whether it's Brandon trying to sell tickets, or Brandon trying to save his own butt, or (most likely) a little of both, this thing strikes me as desperate. It's like he's saying "Please come to the game! Don't you realize the team needs you?" It wasn't that long ago that this didn't need to be said. Michigan fans couldn't wait to get into the stadium, especially for a marquee opponent.
I think it's starting to dawn on some people in the athletic department that they are in serious danger of losing their fans. 'Bout time someone got a clue.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:37 PM ^
Don't worry norfleet, we all support you and the team. It's the coach and AD that people have a problem with. I do have to give it to norfleet though, he brings a ton of energy and gives it his all.
October 7th, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 1:08 AM ^
...I've been married for like 3 years, but thanks?
October 8th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^
RIP Herm. I think he'd have something great to say right now
October 8th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
if they banned you for awhile. In the absence of that, you should consider stepping away. Note that I'm not accusing you of doing anything ban-worthy. I just think it would be in your best interests.