On Harbaugh, Brandon, And Other Such Things
ALL RIGHT, PEOPLE. We are probably embarking on a coaching search in the near future and also probably embarking on an AD search in the near future. When these things happen I get buckets of insider information from provenances both dubious and legit, and at some point they cross the threshold where I think they're useful to relate.
When I do this I want things to be supported by multiple people, or people I've heard from before and were accurate. I've learned over the years that when you get in these situations a lot of people stridently believe things that turn out to be wrong, so keep that in mind; I strive to be precise with my language to give people the right impression of how strongly these opinions are held.
So…
ON JIM HARBAUGH. There are plenty of media reports suggesting that Harbaugh won't be with the 49ers next year; I've heard similar things. I've also heard that people within the 49ers organization think that maybe Harbaugh isn't an NFL guy, long term, and that Harbaugh is also coming to this realization as the guys in his locker room start getting more and more ornery. Michigan is not a far-fetched destination according to them.
ON DAVE BRANDON. I mentioned this on twitter and should clarify. There is the Big Ballers Meeting and then a Meeting With A Lot Of Big Ballers And Some Smaller Ballers And Some People Who Do Nice Stuff For The University. I got a report from the latter, in which Schlissel sat down for a Q&A session that was moderated by Stephen Ross. Nothing said was definitive, but almost all of the side chatter centered on how Brandon wasn't going to make it and Ross didn't seem like he was going to throw a hissy fit if a change was made. Even in this context away from the madding crowd the first issue addressed was the AD; Schlissel reiterated his point about a culture change; there seemed to be big baller chatter about who might be next.
Now: these people are not universally omniscient. There was chatter that things might go down last Tuesday. Obviously they did not. Don't take that as gospel.
ON THE COMBINATION OF HARBAUGH AND BRANDON. Never say never but I've heard from guys who know Harbaugh who say that Jim working for Dave is highly unlikely to happen. I do not have signed affidavits, but… yeah. As chatter goes this drumbeat is intense.
ON HOKE SURVIVING. This is likely to become moot this weekend, but serious people are asserting that he's not dead yet and could get by with a 7-5 record that includes a win over MSU or OSU, or even that 6-6 might be enough.
I don't think this is the case, as the powers that be know that season tickets are on a knife edge now and bringing Hoke back could see significant drops. It's impossible to know anything about Hoke's status given the uncertainty about the top of the department; the information being discussed is going to point strongly to a change no matter who is in charge.
ON AD CANDIDATES. Amongst the obvious Michigan Man candidates I would peg the pecking order as
- Jeff Long (Arkansas)
- Brad Bates (BC)
- Warde Manuel (UConn)
- Joe Parker (Texas Tech's associate AD)
There's a bigger gap between 2 and 3 than between 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. Michigan may go off the board, of course, but Long in particular seems to have the respect of the AD community—he's the CoFoPoff chair—and made a stunning hire of Bret Bielema after the Petrino situation blew up in his face.
Also worth noting that he handled the PR of that disaster as well as can be expected. Bates and Manuel have not had to face similar crises yet.
ON JABRILL PEPPERS. This is not certain otherwise Michigan would have announced it but I've gotten several seemingly independent sources asserting that Peppers isn't going to play again this year. Michigan just threw him on top of the depth chart at nickel and punt return, so I don't know… I just wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play this weekend.
ON LLOYD CARR. Lloyd Carr is a civilian. He is neither involved nor wants to be involved in the day-to-day of the athletic department, and if you have a conspiracy theory involving him it is ridiculous and you should just drop it.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
Does anyone know how much of a hit it would be if a new coach came in and got rid of Nuss and Mattison?
I am really interested since we just paid Nuss 1MM+.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
They would be owed the rest of their salary.
October 21st, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
of the football cash flow stream that will be lost if the present state of the program is allowed to persist.
It's an $82-frickin million/yr cash flow stream in direct revenues. With season ticket holders and luxury box benefactors at a disappointment level not seen in my lifetime.
October 22nd, 2014 at 6:42 PM ^
Right? Jimmy, like most married men has to live with his wife and there s no way she wants to go anywhere there s snow. Not to mention, would U-M really be dumb enough to pay millions to a flighty abrasive guy who already dis-respected his alma mater with his big mouth (and didn t seem at all bothered that by doing so, he was burning bridges) and he was NOT even an NFL coach then! GAG. My dream scenario: JACK Harbaugh for AD and son JOHN as head coach. Why in he** does the new AD have to have U-M ties; didn t anyone see already how that worked out for the coaching search?
October 21st, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
That only Harbaugh is mentioned here.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
I don't understand why John Harbaugh would come to Michigan. He has no personal ties to the university, and he's in an incredibly stable and lucrative position in Baltimore. Can anyone clarify?
October 21st, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
Are you trying to be funny? No personal ties? Let's see...
- Grew up in Ann Arbor (Pioneer High School)
- Brother played at Michigan
- Father coached at Michigan
Just becuase he didn't go to U-M doesn't mean he doesn't have personal ties. Yeesh.
October 21st, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^
His personal ties to Michigan are actually pretty deep. He grew up in Ann Arbor, his dad was on Bo's staff, he was a ballboy during practices, etc. He was basically raised by the program, even though he never played or coached there.
But you're right that the signs John Harbaugh would actually consider leaving the Ravens to take the Michigan job are minimal and likely fleeting. The only indication is that Harbaugh reportedly demanded that Ray Rice be cut when he became aware of the domestic violence allegations, he was rebuffed by the Ravens' front office, and that this supposedly caused a rift between them in light of the poor handling of that fiasco by the Ravens and the NFL. But those rumors have died down (unlike the rumors about Jim Harbaugh's relationship with the 49ers), so they may have been baseless to begin with.
October 21st, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
He would have to say I've had it with the NFL and Michigan is my dream job.
October 21st, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
But seriously this post just made my day
October 21st, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
So Lloyd's even got Brian on his payroll now...
October 21st, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
What is Brian HIDING? CLICK HERE for the SHOCKING truth
October 21st, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
I really, really hate Upworthy.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
New ACAI Berry formula cures cancer!
October 21st, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
I'm just asking questions!
October 21st, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
Mark D: "Lloyd, you guys really didn't need to put 49 on us".
Lloyd: "Listen, sooner or later, I'm going to retire. Michigan will drop Nike for Adidas and the Athletic Director will be hired away from Domino's Pizza"
Mark D: "No shit"
Lloyd: "Then, and only then will you have a chance to win games against Michigan"
October 21st, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
So, we're getting Harbaugh and Long/Bates. I'll freakin take it!!! Yes, please!
October 21st, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Pass it this way, please. You may be right or wrong, but it seems to have you in a good mood and I could use some of that these days.
October 21st, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Strictly an injury.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^
and the coaches are actually doing the right thing for him long-term ( as in medically not from RS perspective). He will be FINE next year so please no moaning and bitching about AMHG.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
And it doesn't really make sense to put him on a depth chart if it was a discipline or eligibility issue. Bummer that it's a severe injury but relieved that it's not a discipline or eligibility issue.
October 21st, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
You just responded to make your point total look real cool -- 80808...
October 21st, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^
I refrained from posting the other day just so mine would stand at "666." So I don't judge.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^
He's 70!
October 21st, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^
What a wonderful world it would be.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
Made me lol with one word. Humor AND brevity ... I upvote and salute you, sir.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
October 21st, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
He could choose his own salary also. Both might be compelling reasons to move to Ann Arbor.
October 21st, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
It's like you don't care about my well-being!
October 21st, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^
That was Brandon skimming some off.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
Heard similar things re: Long. I think he's the front runner, but I'm not sure the timing is right becaues of the CoFoPo stuff. If he's the guy you won't know til it's announced, however.
October 21st, 2014 at 7:36 PM ^
why would the CoFoPO thing be an issue
he either resigns or Alvarez does
October 21st, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
can we assume from the context of the peppers section that peppers will not play for injury reasons only?
October 21st, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
I know you like to be calm and controlled with your coaching decisions, but do you (as a University admin) look at this tenure and say 'yeah probably will get better. Keep!'
11-2
8-5
7-6
6-8 wins
Michigan can do much better than that.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
With the exception of the Athletic Department, the administration (particularly POTUM) isn't looking at the W-L record. Excepting a violation of policy or the law, POTUM isn't likely to tell the AD to keep or fire a coach.
From what Schlissel has said, his beef with the AD has (in no particular order) been about:
- Player safety
- Misaligned priorities
- Culture
- Communications and image
- Community
If Brandon gets dismissed by Schlissel, it's for those reasons. If Hoke gets dismissed, it's for other reasons and it won't be Schlissel who makes the decision.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
Nor should it be Schlissel who makes that decision. If I were an AD, I'd be pissed if the university president made his own decisions about when to fire coaches, whom to hire as replacements, etc. That's the AD's job.
Brandon needs to be fired before Hoke. That's partly so the new AD can make the call on Hoke and partly because there's no reason to restrict the new AD's flexibility by having him step into a situation with no coach and an panicky need to get one ASAP.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
We're not Texas.
October 21st, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Fire Brandon now. Hire a new AD--no unwritten rule says an AD can't leave in the middle of football season. Give him time to survey the field for possible candidates, evaluate the current bunch (it's only fair) and be poised to make a move as soon as the seaon (again mercifully) ends.
October 23rd, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
Agreed, and there is nothing stopping the new AD from reaching out to current NFL coaches before the season ends..
October 21st, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^
also has something to do with it.
NO ONE at the university is immune from the repercussions of 8-figure mistakes.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
think it's optimist of you to just pencil in 6-8 wins this year. I don't think we can pencil in a W for any remaining games.
October 21st, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
that's why you write it in pencil.
October 21st, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
You continuously make me look stupid!
Anyways, I think we can pencil in wins all we want. Just don't use ink, cause that shit ain't erasable.
Also, I hate the fact that 6 wins is now optimistic. Oh pre season me and my 10-2/11-1 season. How naive and full of life you were.
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