CC: Webb suggests Cutcliffe never offered

Submitted by Argyle on
From Sam Webb's twitter:

@SamWebb77: . @Marcus_Ray29 is on "advisory board" for #Michigan search. Was on lengthy call about it Tuesday. Doesn't believe Cutcliffe offer happened

aiglick

December 10th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^

Well yeah if we hire somebody like a Schiano then maybe it's time to completely restart the program or actually apply to join the Ivy League where maybe we could be competitive.

It's been interesting seeing what lower BIG teams face on a regular basis but I'll pass from prolonging the experiment. There are plenty of guys who would be very good hires but some of the names coming out of the search are concerning. I don't think many people know anything but the beautiful thing is that we will most likely know the answer in less than a month. Harbaugh needs to answer by the New Year and if it is no we'll be glad they've been doing their due dilligence in the mean time.

In the mean time I appreciate the monkey rodeo gifs and believe both the dog and the monkey need to decked out in maize and blue.

ruraljuror

December 10th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^

I really hope Mike and Mike get the opinion of Cris Carter on this coaching search. Listening to that show is a slice of hell. It is only slightly better than listening to someone talk about their crossfit workout.

Maximinus Thrax

December 10th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^

Yes.  They are often inflicted on me in our company car on roadtrips, as if it is something everybody likes.  I genuinely want to fistfight Greenie (obvs. Golic would kick my ass).  Their middle of the road observations and opinions make me want to vomit.  Their constant plugging of shitty products is also galling.  Fuck them.  Fuck them forever.  I hope Satan eternally torments both of them in the lowest pits of hell.  

the Glove

December 10th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^

Why the Crossfit hate? Yeah I know there are some people that don't shut the hell up about it, but that's like saying that all Michigan fans are arrogant pricks. Clearly that's not the case but yes there are some that are. I'm not saying you are but most people who complain about crossfit are people that don't work out at all.

Vote_Crisler_1937

December 10th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^

If you read what he/she wrote, ruraljuror is not hating Crossfit. He/she is hating when s/he has to listen to someone talk about their Crossfit workout. Those people you yourself mention who don't shut the hell up? Yeah those moments when listening to those people is what the comparison is. Save your straw man about "all people" nobody said that.



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Gerald R. Ford

December 10th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^

Clearly NO university, including the University of Michigan would "offer" a position without understanding FIRST whether the candidate had any interest.  Cutcliffe is a very reasonable candidate based on the attributes we seek, therefore, I am not surprised that we would reach out to determine if interest exists.  

However, I could have told you based on being a part of the University community here at Duke that he would not be interested in any job.  It has nothing to do with Michigan - he and his family are very entreanched in the University and community here.  He is a great guy by all accounts from everyone here, and I highly doubt that he would personally have wanted misinformation like this to be reported at someone's (our) expense.  Most people here expect him to stay here and eventually retire here.  Time will tell if we're wrong on that.  We (Michigan) got caught on the short end of a reporter's effort to be relevant in this media opportunity.

ScruffyTheJanitor

December 10th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^

how easily people are buying this. If Les Miles is a "young" 61, David Cutcliffe is an acient 60. Seriously, He looks 20 years older than Les. In fact, I am convinced he lies about his age in order to avoid being taken by the sunset  squad. 

 

Johnson16

December 10th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^

His credibility is shot in my book. He changes his position daily. All he wants is clicks and exposure. It seems many on this blog are playing right into his hand.

In reply to by JTrain

cbs650

December 10th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^

you hire a search firm so that info is not getting out about all of he candidates you are gauging interest of. so then why do we know about guys like Cutclife

Ty Butterfield

December 10th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^

This whole thing is a clown show. Between this and the basketball team shitting the bed Michigan is a national joke.

Blue Noise

December 10th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^

People who call Michigan irrelevant make me laugh. Irrelevant in terms of competing for B1G and national titles over the last decade+, sure. Irrelevant as an iconic program, hell no.

What tells me this is that anytime we suffer through a humiliation, on or off field (which have been ample the last few years), the glee that explodes on Twitter and the media in general is overwhelming. If we were irrelevant, no one would give a shit. And people have had years to adjust to us sucking; it's not news at this point.

Detractors of M can't have it both ways. Personally, I don't mind the ridicule. It'd be worse to be forgotten. Of course, I'd prefer that we got attention for being good, but who the hell knows when that will happen again.

michgoblue

December 10th, 2014 at 10:37 AM ^

Serious question (not trying to be dickish):  How is it a clown show? 

Let's look at what we actually know:

1.  Hackett took decisive action on Hoke in exactly the time frame that was appropriate.  Firing Hoke the Tuesday after the OSU loss wasn't too short so as to be disrespectful (see Nebraska) or too long as to allow the process to drag.  Nothing clown show here in step 1.

2.  Following the Hoke firing, Hackett gave an exceptional press conference, at which he (a) praised Hoke and showed nothing but respect (which prevents fracturing in the fanbase and, more importantly, pissing off current players); (2) laid out the precise attributes that he was looking for in a coach; (3) laid out the precise process that he was going to follow (casting a wide net at first, hiring a search team, swim lanes, taking timelines re: recruiting into account, etc.).  Again, nothing remotely clown show in step 2. 

3.  Remember when Hackett said that he would take his time and be thorough, and asked for patience?  We all applauded his measured yet decisive approach.  All he is doing now is following that process.  It has been only 1 week since Hoke was fired.  Yes, it seems like it has been an eternity for us, but it has been one week.  On this point, keep in mind that our #1 option - Harbaugh - is still in the midst of an NFL season.  If we want to pursue him, by necessity, the process may have to drag for another 3 weeks. 

Fortunately, Hackett and the search team are saying absolutely NOTHING to the media, which is exactly the way it should be.  Anything said publicly runs the risk of pissing off potential candidates.  I don't see the clown show here, either.

4.  Finally, Hackett even held a meeting with the team to keep them informed of the process, at which he outlined that (a) they could expect a new coach in place by the time they returned on 1/4; (b) we would not be going with a spread coach (which I take to mean a coach who runs a specific stylized offense that may not fit with the current personnel, such as Meyer, RichRod or the like, and not a prohibition against more "pro style" spread coaches); (c) that there was a list of 14 or so candidates being vetted.  This was a smart move on his part, as it keeps the players informed and likely will prevent attrition.  Nothing clown show here.

To me, while we don't yet know the result, if we are forced to accept a longer timeline because we want to make a real run at Harbaugh before moving on, rather than running a clown show, Hackett is giving a master class on how this should be done.

jaysvw

December 10th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^

The more of these CC threads that pop up the more I'm convinced that no one ouside of the AD and the search firm has the first fucking clue about what is going on.  I like Hackett already. 

MGoVictory

December 10th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^

Michigan did not offer its head coaching job to Duke's David Cutcliffe.

____________________________________________________

This is really just an issue with semantics.

Michigan probably gauged Cutcliffe's interest, and he declined, due to his age, wants to retire at Duke, would not take on a high-profile job, etc. He turned down the Tennessee job, a place he has ties to.

Gil, on the other hand, takes this to mean that Michigan offered the job to Cutcliffe, and he turned it down. Gil is old...

 

 

 

 

 

M-GoGirl

December 10th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^

The only media that have impressed me with their reliability and professionalism through this entire Michigan Football circus are this blog and the Michigan Daily.  All the crap being tossed about is just so called professional journalists drawing attention to  themselves. And to make it worse, local TV, radio, and press are the first to repeat every nugget they hear whether it's been vetted or not.

It's getting to the point that watching a month's worth of pre-election political advertising and social media posts would be less irritating.

Louie C

December 10th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^

The sad thing is that people are taking this shit as gospel and running away with it, no matter how much bullshit it reeks of. A coworker of mine asked me who I want to be the next coach, and my answer of course was Harbaugh. He looked at me with almost pity in his eyes and continued to tell me that he wants to stay in the NFL, and that his wife wants to stay on the west coast. Then he proceeded to tell me that it will be between Schiano or Loeffler. Yeah.

MGoVictory

December 10th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^

Confirmation that Gil was spouting BS:

Duke says David Cutcliffe has not been contacted/offered by Michigan, despite report

"A spokesman for Duke University said Wednesday that no one at the University of Michigan -- not even a back-channel third party -- has contacted or offered Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe the Wolverines' vacant coaching position.

The NFL Network's Gil Brandt reported Tuesday night that Cutcliffe had been offered the job, and subsequently turned it down.

On Wednesday, a Duke official said that wasn't true.

"Neither coach Cutcliffe nor Kevin White, our vice president and director of athletics, have been contacted by anyone at the University of Michigan regarding that institution's head football coaching vacancy," Duke spokesman Art Chase told MLive.""

So, not only did Michigan not offer the job to Cutcliffe, it looks like Michigan hasn't even reached out to Cutcliffe to gauge his interest.

MichLove

December 10th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^

This is the part of coaching searches that are so frustrating but also make them soo damn fun to follow. The amount of "reporting" by NFL and ESPN shows that Michigan is in fact an elite job still, which many ESPN talking heads will try to tell you it is not, and that Hackett is doing a fantastic job of playing things close to the vest. I have no doubt that Hackett will find the right coach for this program moving forward. 

Good times to come

bronxblue

December 10th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^

It's going to be weeks more of this, right?  Like anyone who gets a phone call is going to blurt it to the media that Michigan was "interested" instead of "seeing if you are still alive" just to make themselves sound more desirable? 

Come on Harbaugh, just say yes or no so that we can move on.

JFW

December 10th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^

Caveat: I am not a journalist, nor do I know anything about the profession directly. 

My Dad's best friend was a guy who wrote for the Detroit news years ago. He used to tell me that before they reported something out, it was drilled into him to at least find secondary sources, and if possible tertiary sources, prior to publishing something. The fear was that if they were wrong, it blemished their credibility and maybe damaged someone. 

Now? Brandt tweats something nationally and it goes viral. So the people who report on it (News, Yahoo, etc. ) are reporting on a tweat from a guy who is told by (a) source that something happened...

Now its out there that it didn't happen. The whole thing is ridiculous. Some of it is our (ubiquitous our there...) fault because we don't demand accuracy. Grant can tweat this and Yahoo can pass it along and if its dead arsed wrong no one cares after the next bit of news the next day. Some of it seems like a lack of journalistic integrity on the part of the corporations. They just want to get it out there and get click bait. 

Its annoying with a Michigan coaching search. Its scary if its something more serious. 

uminks

December 10th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^

who are not Michigan fans said it will be rough for us to find a coach. They said even the Duke coach didn't want the Michigan job. I told them he was not offered but they didn't believe me, So the negative perceptions are out there. I wish who ever is in charge of the selection committee or Hackett himself will come out and say, no, Cutcliffe was never offered the job!  I  hope in hell he was never given the offer!

michelin

December 10th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^

since their front page headline has some disgusting comments about UM based on the lie (that Cutliffe was offered the job).

It is possible--and desirable--that UM continue to expand its list of serious candidates.  However, contacts with the press from Rival schools are likely to continue the flow of false rumors and use them against UM until this thing is settled.  Unless we want Herbstreit or someone like him to scuttle the search again, it is best for Hackett not to tell anybody anything.  Even revealing inside info to wealthy boosters to reassure them that Hackett is doing all he can is not a good idea, since even supposedly confidential information often flows outward.  Such info can only harm negotiations with Harbaugh or any other candidate.

Zoltanrules

December 10th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^

As an old fart, this just grinds at me. Some moron tweets out an unconfirmed rumor and then all the OSU and MSU haters come out of the woodwork to grave dance on UM (this just shows how obsessed they are with us).

Michigan has been through this process twice recently and has a sharp guy at the helm. Those actually close to situation say they know nothing, so until we hear something from Hackett, I'd suggest waiting for our Xmas present coach, and not waste brain cells on this topic until then.