Coach And AD Chatter Part II
IT HAS BEGUN. Oh hell yes, we're already on FlightAware. Various people have pointed out that this plane went to a place two hours away from San Francisco and has done this several times over the last few months. Also they point out that Mississippi is not Tennessee. To them I say your petty "logic" and seeming "sanity" cannot stand in the way of an internet full of ludicrous hope.
God save this country if it ever can. FlightAware: love it or leave it. We have a song.
[Even though I'm pretty sure 95% of people who got on the Flight Aware bandwagon were joking: this particular flight has been thoroughly debunked by Sam Webb, who points out that's an alum's plane and he's got auto dealerships in the cities he flies to. This did not stop it from being on Around The Horn, because they got yammerin' to do.
Coaching search plane is not going to have a block M on it, I bet.]
ON HARBAUGH, AGAIN. Previous chatter here was an opinion from someone in the 49ers organization that Harbaugh was coming to the conclusion he might fit better in college long-term. I have a couple more infobits.
One is from the Michigan/AA side of things and indicates that he would be open to a return in the event of an AD change.
The second is intel from guys who work for another NFL franchise: it's well-known in the league that Harbaugh and the 49ers GM don't get along and that Harbaugh's relentless intensity wears on NFL players who expect to be treated like adults. This is not something you haven't heard from a half-dozen NFL reporters already.
These guys think Harbaugh will end up at Michigan, though, so that's interesting.
ON THE AD CHANGE. Support for Brandon at the regent level breaks down along party lines. I can't believe that would really matter—and of course in my opinion the only problem there is that anyone would support a man so toxic that he can cut student ticket prices 40% and still get bombarded with calls for his firing this weekend.
There are yet further suggestions that Brandon is fighting a rearguard action he's not likely to win.
Ross's about-face on Brandon is meaningful because Stephen Ross can always say nothing; if he doesn't return a phone call there is no article.
I can say that there are people in the department who think it's done, Brandon's out, and that this could become official by mid-November. Current chatter holds that one of the obvious Michigan-connected guys will be the pick as replacement, but I'd expect that would be the case until a serious search committee is formed and either includes or does not include potentially interesting non-M options.
ON HEELS AND THE DIGGING IN THEREOF. Brandon is going to go down swinging. They called another meeting, this one a mandatory one for all head coaches, about a week ago. A second-hand report from that meeting says after an apology about how it's not all about him, the upshot was the criticism was all "politically driven" and that the Board of Regents was after him because he's a Republican and there are upcoming elections. After that everything would die down.
Yes, seriously.
Further, expect another letter of support organized by the department for the benefit of said regents. The email circulated to get this going indicates the level of organization here:
We wanted to keep this grassroots -- as it feels important to do so with the message of the letter. We did have a member of the leadership team and media relations take a look just to make sure there were no red flags.
You keep using that word, "grassroots." In any case, "employee publicly supports employer who hired them at high salary" is not news.
That should come out today or in the near future.
EXTERNAL ITEMS
UT Rivals board as of late yesterday.
ON BUTCH JONES. The Tennessee rivals board blew up yesterday with speculation after one of their moderators confirmed that the ever-nebulous "representatives" had been in contact with Jones. That can mean anything at all, obviously.
Tennessee folks on twitter got the requisite denial-ish substance…
Butch Jones via @GoVols247: "I may have been born in Michigan, but I am from Tennessee. When you're a Vol you're a Vol For Life"
— Teran Johnson (@TeranJ_WUTK) October 28, 2014
…and former Vol WR Jayson Swain asserted there's a 0% chance it happens. Also:
"It's not even worth discussing," Jones said of the rumors. "No validity to it.
"I'm not going to waste your time or my time commenting on that."
I wouldn't put it at 0.00%, but things would have to go in some funny directions for Michigan to hire Jones after two years trying to rebuild the cratered Tennessee program without much to show for it.
I'd keep him on peripheral radar only.
ON LES MILES. Some of the Jones chatter is undoubtedly coming from a 247 post from their national guys that reads like mostly speculation, but it did have a sourced tidbit on Miles:
Sources close to Miles indicate that given the Tigers talent level that they don't "think" Miles would entertain a return to his alma mater at this time.
Not much to go on there. I don't expect Michigan pursues Miles for a number of reasons, but impossible to say anything certain until we know which guy is running the search.
OTHER FOLKS' CHATTER. Steve Lorenz has a post up in which he suggests it's Boston College's Brad Bates who has his nose ahead($) in the still-hypothetical race to be the next AD, amongst various other interesting things. His read on the Harbaugh thing seem to be in harmony with my take: don't rule it out, don't assume it's happening.
An old-timey insider popped up on Rivals after a long, long hiatus when people cried out for his wisdom($). Verily, GFunk did descend from the mountain and say unto them that wheels were turning, there was probably a change in AD coming, and that if he had to guess at this point it would be Bates and Harbaugh.
Sam Webb posted a freebie with some encouraging items about Michigan moving up its timeline:
…there are high ranking donors that have voiced their feelings to Schlissel during meetings over the last few months. Now comes word that some donors are planning to speak with their checkbooks.
“(Schlissel) has been told that not another penny will be given until this is resolved,” a source told GoBlueWolverine on the condition of anonymity.
Exactly how many donors have delivered that message is unclear, but any impact outside of athletics will clearly be magnified. Especially since Michigan is in the midst of its “Victors for Michigan campaign” to raise 4 billion dollars to finance "student support, engaged learning, and bold ideas.” …
Before this latest barrage of negative feedback about Brandon the odds of the evaluation process lasting at least a month longer appeared pretty high. Now, especially with Ross’ announcement that he won’t serve as Brandon’s buffer, the opportunity for the timeline to be expedited is apparent.
Sam also adds a non-Michigan name to the pile of guys for next AD: Arizona AD Greg Byrne. Yes, the man who hired Rich Rodriguez. Byrne also hired Dan Mullen during his tenure as Mississippi State's AD from 2008-10.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
The (assumed) new AD will have an overflowing plate for at least a year (new fball coach, repairing relations with the fan base, eliminating the dj), and the coach of a reasonably well run organization will probably be off the radar for quite a while.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
We're hiring Butch Jones?
October 29th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
You could be on the Free Beer for Everyone Party and I'd vote to hang you if that was on a ballot.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^
Uhhh, free beer, dude.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
Free "beer". . . at the same quality Domino's made "pizza".
October 29th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
I'm gonna vote "No" to free beer.
I wreck myself during free beer gatherings. Doesn't matter if the coolest people are around me or a cousin-in-law wedding at the VFW. It always ends with the Waffle House and vomit.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:41 PM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
to be really upset next week when i start my new job and will not be able to spend all day on here at my current job waiting for newest updates... shits getting good and i'm going to be missing out...
October 29th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
that's what the app is for. Just keep a portable iphone charger with you and you will be fine.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
be getting a work phone and i will downloading the app, but i don't know how they are about spending time on your work phone and not doing work... i don't want to be like "yeah i know its my first day but i have to get in at least 4 hours of mgoblog time while i'm here..." that might not go over so well...
October 29th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
Brian, please complete this sentence:
"A Bates hire closely followed by a Jim Harbaugh hire will cause me to..."
October 29th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
float
October 29th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
Detroit Cooler?
October 29th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
but I can't say nice things about Boston since the Sox got good and their fans became .. well ... who they are.
October 29th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
One of my good buddies (and neighbor) is a Bostonian. Love him and his wife to death. But man does he have one faction of his tribe which are straight-up @#%holeish to say the least.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
Would that be Muppet worthy?
October 29th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
If that isn't muppet worthy, nothing is muppet worthy.
October 29th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Jesus, that movie came out when I was in 7th grade and it made me piss my pants.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
Please let this happen.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
he was only an OC but bill o'brien was working for the pats and penn st at the same time... they made a big deal about it during the nfl playoffs about how he was doing double duty...
October 29th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
were eliminated from playoff contention, he could and probably would leave early.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
put a staff in place - or even keep the current staff in the interim - and have them finish out the recruiting class - while Harbaugh finishes the NFL season.
Didn't Ohio State or someone have some acceptance by the NCAA to have the future staff recruiting, while the former staff finished out the season?
October 30th, 2014 at 8:24 AM ^
They did, they had two staffs.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
then he will hire Rich Rodriguez?
YOU CANNOT HIDE THE TRUTH. I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
Manditory meeting of all head coaches with another letter to the board of regeants proclaiming how wonderful Brandon is? Absolutely pathetic.
Dave, if you have an ounce of self respect left do what's right and resign.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
Obviously, I don't read blogs so this is all ridiculous, but this is seriously the best blog on the internet. Nice job of pulling together all of the publicly available info and injecting trusted sources to make this a one stop shop for all of us that are so obsessed with this that we are combing the interwebs, twitter, etc for any hint of action.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
Friday evening 8 years ago I was reading a post named "Eleven Swans" and considering how lucky I was that the team I loved was to be involved in such a momentus occasion. I literally cannot believe what has transpired in the 8 years since that night.
I won't do flight tracker again. I can't do flight tracker again.
We are a parody of ourselves. This sucks.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^
Amen. I remember being there for the Diag vigil on the eve of the Ohio St game, watching Dierdorf speak, and I was struck by the (as I now realize only 'so called') Michigan family. I knew that game was going to be the catapult for UM to regain its domianace after a few down years. Man, it's crazy how it's gone since then. It actually may have better for me. It has broken me of my old habit of getting to much of my identity, happiness, and mood wrapped up in sports. Know I can enjoy without letting me destroy my soul, and for that, I suppose, I should be greatful. Still, it would be nice if UM actually started winning again.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
While I certainly would like to enjoy a Fall Saturday, watching the Maize & Blue kick some ass, I have gotten to know my dirt bikes once again. It's fun being outdoors and in the company of friends, as opposed to shoe gazing and wondering when we'll beat Rutgers...
October 29th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
Dammit, MGoBlog! Every day I start work thinking it's going to be a productive day, and every day you post something new and I spend the rest of the day hitting F5 and waiting for the "Goodbye: Dave Brandon" post. Sigh, maybe I'll get some work done tomorrow.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
I really hope Harbaugh likes his chang chang with a little ching in it.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
The Process I in 2010/2011 is what brought me to mgoblog. As much as I don't like having to go through another coaching and AD search, I'm assured the coverage here will be second to none.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
So, it would appear that Greg Byrne knows how to run a coaching search and make a quality hire.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
Greg Byrne - 1
Dave Brandon - 0
October 29th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
Dear Dave,
It's not because you're a Republican. It's because you're an asshole.
Signed,
Me
October 29th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
...asshole. It trancends race, religion, geographic or political affilitation.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
Go Blue!
Regards,
Dave Brandon
October 29th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
before the Dave Brandon "Downfall" (aka Hitler movie) parody video comes out. If anyone feels inspired, here's the official Downfall parody generator. Have it it.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
Byrne was also an associate AD at Oregon St when Dennis Erickson was hired. He was an Associate AD when Rich Brooks was hired at Kentucky, who had success (for them at least).
October 29th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
I love how when I play the YouTube video an ad by the Alumni Association pops up...
"The new coaching search! Endorsed by Michigan Alumni everywhere!"
October 29th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
really showing his colors (what are Douchbag U's team colors?) with his "rear guard" nonsense. Sad that he is using what power he has left to drag the coaches and players into this mess.
Also, what a freaking child he is. Like a kid who takes his ball and goes home. Man up, understand that this hasn't worked out and that it's not going to work out, do the gracious and honorable thing and move on. This is America after all -- you are almost guaranteed another act.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
Sounds like Brandon has hired the Iraqi Information Minister
October 29th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
We hire the Arizona AD.
Arizone hires DB to be the next AD.
DB fires Rich Rod.
Our new AD hires Rich Rod.
DB hires Hoke to be new Arizona head coach.
I burn my Arizona hat.
All is again right with the world.
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