Things That Don't Make Sense About RR's Firing
Let me begin this post by stating I am 51 years old and have been in management for the past 25 years. I have hired and fired people for the bulk of my adult life and currently have direct and indirect supervision over 120 people. And I am well aware of Dave Brandon's professional accomplishments in the business world and have met him and heard him speak several times prior to his appointment as AD.
I am baffled, therefore, at his breaking of one of the oldest rules in management with his dismissal of RR last week. And that is you NEVER terminate an employee (unless terminating for cause) unless you have a superior replacement selected and ready to go when you do. To take out a person in a critical functioning capacity as well as his entire support staff without having the new HC ready to step in immediately is very dangerous and will make the subsequent transition period ripe with potential problems. For example my company recently completed an acquisition of a competing firm and and we wanted to take out their existing executive team but we didn't do it until we had recruited the replacements! Firing them before hand would've put every employee at flight-risk as they would have nowhere to turn for guidance and each of them would ask themselves "am I next?" This is such a basic and fundamental rule of management I cannot believe it was broken.
Which leads me to my original question. What exactly happened last Wednesday? How is it possible that RR wasn't fired, then he was the next day. This too is something you learn in management early on - never drag out the termination process. Fire them quickly, let them vent and then answer questions. You don't conduct a "Chinese water torture" on the person being let go. This rule seems to have been broken as well and I can't help but wonder why given Brandon's obvious experience in these matters.
I wonder if Rich did, in fact, get the ultimatum "fire all your defensive assistants and you can stay" and he refused. Many of us (myself included) theorized that DB would have such a conversation with RR at the end of the season and perhaps he did. And if he did and RR refused EVERYTHING that happened afterwards makes sense. DB would have to fire RR because he would be in defiance of his directive. The firing would be delayed a day as RR decided what to do. And DB might not have a "plan B" because he never imagined Rich wouldn't acquiesce to his demands for a new defensive staff.
What do you guys think?
January 9th, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
Here's the thing, the commitments given at the Army All American game mean nothing. They have not yet signed their letters. If the RR tenure taught us anything about recruiting, it's not over until signing day. It is possible that a new coach can be hired and bring Lyons/Frost/Hart/Someone we haven't even talked about yet into the fold. As painful as the wait is, nothing in this recruiting class is set yet.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
That might be true; but every day that goes by, is one day closer to signing day (obvious, I know...) but we don't have anyone who can recruit or talk to these players... at least keep Fred Jackson around... Jesus, what the hell is going on?
January 9th, 2011 at 12:54 PM ^
Don't get me wrong, I want this search settled ASAP just like everyone else. All I'm saying is I won't go into blind panic over it. At least until we know who the coach will be. I reserve the right to freak out at that point.
January 9th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
While the commitments aren't set in stone they have created a stronger bond between the player and the school to which he committed. The commitment might be undone but it will require more effort and there are more players who will require more work. It's usually easier to do nothing than to make a change and if these players do nothing they are lost to us now.
January 9th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^
maybe you have no idea?
January 9th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
I may be wrong on this one, but I thought at the press conference that DB conceded that recruiting would likely take a hit, particularly in that we were cancelling this weekend's recruiting visits.
I believe that he's aware of the negative impact of his actions, but he believes that his plan will allow enough time for the newly hired coach to mitigate the recruiting lapse.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
I thought I read that DB may have been trying to get RR to resign rather than fire him so they wouldn't have to pay the $2.5 mil.
That would explain the Chinese water torture....
January 9th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
but again, "someone" said that. It was posted here, adding that there were lawyers in the room, etc. Cynicism would say that's why DB waited until he did to halve the buy-out payment. But to force RR to resign, ostensibly to "save face" but really to save the other $2.5 million... That is such a depressing thought. I wouldn't blame RRod for making him sit another day.
But we weren't there. We don't really know. What we do know was Brandon's eyes were very red at his press conference, and he looked like he hadn't slept, and, more than that, like he was realizing he'd seriously miscalculated.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
Every manager knows that cardinal rule. I would never fire someone if I didn't have a replacement in place already. I think DB thought he had JH, then JH backed out and DB said fire the defensive staff. RR probably thought, "that won't fix this defense in 1 year, so I am out". And that leads us to this point.
January 9th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
What if you catch a guy stealing? Catch him altering your books? Would you keep him til you found someone elts? NOPE.
I know, I know. You're perfect and have it all figured out--Dave brandon is a douche who has made eveeryone mad by not instantly giving them what they want.
Now everyone knows more than Brandon,
How predictable of this blog. How utterly, boringly, predictable.
January 9th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
go back to beating your dog
January 9th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
So why are you reading it?
January 9th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
January 9th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
I didn't understand the two-day meeting. If DB decided to give RR one more year after the first meeting, would he have become a lame duck coach? I read a journalist compare it to a high school couple who breaks up and gets back together over and over--"The relationship is never as good as before the first break up."
January 9th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
IMO, I think we had some sort of deal with Harbaugh and he had a change of heart at the last minute. Go back and listen to the tone of DB's voice when asked about Harbaugh in the Wedensday presser.
I just find it hard to believe that this was his plan all along, but then again, he did say he would evaluate the football program after the season. So maybe he is just sticking to his word and here we are waiting.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
Evaluating the program at the end of the season would be absolutely consistent with having Harbaugh on board. and not wanting to leave Stanford before the bowl game. I'm not sure we will ever know what went down. Did Harbaugh have the urge to stick it to Michigan after being slighted and then having the debate with Mike Hart? Did his stock just soar so high that the siren song of the NFL became irresistible? Did his wife give him an ultimatum?
As pissed as I am about the recruiting situation, it seems unfathomable to me that Brandon didn't have a very firm plan "B' in mind. Something had to have changed or this program is in bigger trouble than we realize.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
lined up in JH, then it all when south. (I found it interesting that in the firing press conference DB said the AD had been talking with JH on and off for a couple of years. So much for being "All In" for RR.)
What I still can't get my arms around is why when it became clear that JH was not available, DB didn't just give RR at least a 4th year to actually, you know, graduate a class of his own.
It's one thing to push out RR for JH, a special case uniquely qualified candidate. It's another thing to push out RR to start a general coaching search in January.
All of the coaching candidates that Michigan is looking at now will still be there in a year if necessary. Why panic now?
DB must really dislike RR.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
January 9th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
Which is fun, in a perverse way, but all speculation just the same.
Best case, the inevitable book will reveal all. Worst case, the press unleashes its investigative staff (!) to juice up some headlines.
In any case, it's over. I want to know who our next coach will be.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Why did he fire the entire staff? Wasn't it possible that the next coach would want to keep somebody beyond Fred Jackson?
January 9th, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
January 9th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
January 9th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
Private sector. And valid points on the impact of outside influences. I don't deal with those with the exception of a Board of Directors.
January 9th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
if you are public anyway.
Investors would actually be a pretty good analogue for fans and their zeal for irrational behavior and rolling heads.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
By ALL reasonable accounts of which I am aware, Rich Rodriguez asked, begged, pleaded for more resources and/or more authority and/or a vote of confidence from Michigan, in order to hire Jeff Casteel. Who undoubtedly would have run a defense his way. It just happened to be in agreement with Rich Rodriguez. And what is so bad about that?
Jeff Casteel is to Defensive Coordinators what Gary Patterson is to Head Coaches right now.
Not only is there no evidence for a presumption that Coach Rodriguez somehow refused to change his staff; it doesn't even make any sense to think that.
I am, like many of you, interested in how that long meeting went. I'd love to know. But this general idea floating around, aided and abetted by Michael Rosenberg's idiotic writing on the subject, that Rich Rodriguez was poisoned by failures of assistants who were his friends, is not just lacking in support. It is dumb. We didn't need fewer Rich Rodriguez friends, we needed one more of those friends. We needed Jeff Casteel. I want to know exactly why we didn't get Jeff Casteel; how we approached him over many occasions and what we offered him to come to Michigan and run our defense like West Virginia's defense.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
January 9th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
Casteel wanted to stay at West Virginia. Some coaches make these decisions because they put home and family, and stability, above ambition. And he's probably thinking now he made the right choice.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
RR tried to get casteel to come in order to fulfill a condition of future employment that he get an impressive DC just before the senior banquet and couldn't, thus the breakdown. (it was linked somewhere on the mgoboard in the past week.) i think their timeline is wrong, but i'd be not at all surprised to learn that's what happened during the post-season meeting between RR and DB. weren't there some reports that they were contacting people (possibly through intermediaries) the day of the meeting? it'd make the utmost sense for them to have been looking for a big name DC, including JC.
January 9th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
none of the D coaches have proven to me to be any good the last 3 years. i've seen significant improvement in only a couple players (both D linemen). little if any improvement in anyone else. analyze each player yourself.
that's not just a DC issue. it's a position coaching issue too.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
You're right, the firing process was questionable to say the least.
I believe Brandon tried to force RR into firing his defensive staff , RR called his bluff , and Brandon was forced to let RR and his entire staff go.
Think about it, why was the entire staff let go? Also, to my understanding, some of the defensive coaches are RR's closest friends and have an undying loyalty to him. Therfeore, he was probably reluctant to let them go. And if RR was going to eventually get canned anyway(next year, 2 years, whenever?.) it makes sense to keep his loyalty to his staff and move on now.
Finally, to the notion that DB was trying to force RR to resign, that is crazy. Why in the world would he resign with a $2.5 million buyout on the table?
January 9th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
I do not supervise 120 people, but anybody with any business acumen understands the precepts you put forth. There could be an element of the buyout here - if RR was fired on the fourth or fifth day of the year then immediately his replacement is announced, RR and his legal team could easily argue that those events imply the ultimate decision to fire was made prior to the new year. That being said I tend to agree with the line of thinking that says DB had the Harbaugh lined up and as per The Big Lead it fell apart over the weekend. DB didn't really have a plan B yet we all know the decision was made regardless. That may imply that RR was given some opportunity to save his own job that he refused, or it means that DB simply decided that the risk was worth the reward and the time to move on was now for better or worse.
In the press conference, DB played down the idea of an interim coach and hiring a coordinator. What I have learned from Bo to Mo to Lloyd versus RR starting from zero and again the new regime (presumably) starting from zero is that continuity in invaluable. I would have rather seen Magee promoted to at least interim head coach than to suffer the humiliation of another search where prospects for success seem to dwindle every day.
DB could still have some sort of ace up his sleeve and ultimately the success or failure of any decision here will depend almost solely on the results on the field.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
but do you think Magee would have accepted the offer? He's probably as loyal to RR as RR was/is to him.
Someone else posted that a new coach might re-hire one or more of the assistants, e.g. the QB coach because he's worked so well with our current QBs. I'd like to believe that, giving at least those kids some continuity and progression.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
I think Magee would have accepted. I am sure loyalty would have played a part but ultimately a successful Magee would have vindicated RR to a large extent. Also by all accounts RR is taking some time off so not sure he can expect his staff to wait on him. Right now the staff is like the drummer and bassist for "Grinder" after McCarty left the Red Wings.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
...I think DB fell into the trap that others have fallen into: "This is Michigan. I'll have to beat applicants off with a stick."
I think he's discovering otherwise in this age of fat, sassy, largely over-paid coaches who don't have any incentive in "building a tradition." It's more a case of "look out for number one" these days with most of these guys. Crap, respective fanbases have turned many of these losers into demi-gods.
Also, most potential replacements know the powder keg that has become Ann Arbor. My God, if you're already making 7 figures, why in the hell would you want to come to AA and be put under the scrutiny of the Detroit media magnifying glass? Answer: You're the rare breed who's up for the challenge, appreciates Michigan tradition, and wants to be the guy to turn things around.
Question: Who is this guy?? Next question: Is he truly qualified?
I dunno. Don't like Hoke much. Don't like Miles at all. Kinda like the idea of Gruden. What the hell do I know.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
Kneel before him!
January 9th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
May we all graze from the field of knowledge.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^
The day Rodriguez was fired DB said he thought Harbaugh was going to the NFL and he didn't seem all that shocked or broken up about it. I can't imagine this threw him for a loop or had any impact on the ultimate decision.
We'll know pretty soon (I hope?) whether Brandon had a plan or if this is a total fuck up. Until then I don't think any of the media speculation coming out has any correlation with the process going on in Brandon's head (insert pic/gif of inside Brandon's head).
January 9th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
Harbaugh could've stabbed DB in the balls after sleeping with his wife and DB would do whatever he could to look on top of the situation.
It's not in his interests (or ours) to give away his emotions in a public relations event. Looking hurt, surprised or saddened just worsens the public impact of Harbaugh's decision to go elsewhere.
If they were still in negotiations, even moreso, as what's said at that presser is not just PR, it's also maneuvering for further negotiation.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^
Appreciate your input re: successful management. I want to wait to pass judgment on DB until we know the outcome of this thing. I do agree that if it goes on for too long, uncertainty becomes the enemy, and I'm sure DB knows this. If prompt resolution was the priority, Hoke would've been the coach the minute after Harbaugh chose the 49ers. DB must be going after what he perceives as a "bigger fish." (and imho, Miles and Hoke are the same size fish). I hope he surprises us.
Go Blue
January 9th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
Those are my thoughts as well. DB is still looking for a big fish because if Hoke was everything he wanted Hoke would be looking for an apartment in Ypsi right now. Sad as it may seem Hoke is truly our safety in this mess because he is the one coach in the country with his suitcase already in the car waiting on a call from MICHIGAN.
Unless my history is wrong DB and Miles played together. That and Miles having been this pseudo dark horse this time and last lead me to believe he is either candidate number one, or not in consideration.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see an NFL name at the end of all of this.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
Correct.
And I think I know your avatar/house...
January 9th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
909 Dewey is right down the street from Schembechler Hall. I lived there the year McNabb made a name for himself. I enjoyed parking cars on our yard for gameday - taking the Lexus keys in one hand with a blody mary in the other. Also the entire street had agreed to rates of $10 per car for parking - the price fixers. We only charged $5 and filled up first every time.
I think it was vacant last year. Haven't seen it lately.
January 9th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
that looks similar. Stayed with a prof's family for a few days years ago. Thought his wife still lived there. One of those lovely situations where Mrs. Prof keeps open house for his students ("our" students, as she used to say).
January 9th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
Big ups for the "Hoke looking for an apartment in Ypsi" bit. Hooowaahh!
January 9th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
on things I tend to agree. I thought the firing of RR made sense - provided DB had a coach lined up and ready to sign, which he obviously didn't. For purposes of recruiting and Denard/Martin type stuff - the longer this drags on, the worse it is looking.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
I've been a sales Manager and you interview all of the time even when you don't have open positions. In essence you create a bench of possible replacements if one of your employees leaves. The bench you create is not 1 person long. From the presser it sounded like DB had some sort of list but it does not sound like it was vetted very well.
You would have thought that one of DB's first tasks would have been to create his bench and he would already know who would be willing to take the job if offered. I'm guessing he knows Hoke will take it but is looking for a better candidate.
I wonder if the job has to be posted for a week before he can fill the slot?
Miles has questionable ethics but at least he has a track record of success at this level. Hoke not so much.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
I have the unfortunate or fortunate pleasure of running a company (albeit a small one we are growing very quickly, so yeah for that). It probably doesn't quite equate to running a major university like U of M but one of the mistakes I believe people in management make all the time is firing people early. The performance of any unit of a business can be slow or fail because of components beyond simply one person. Process inefficiencies, poor market choices, disruptive competition can all hurt your goals. Firing people in my mind is a delicate process because there are an inordinate number of legal as well as social and psychological ramifications.
It is in this vein that I have stated multiple times that I believe Brandon give Rich the option of staying if an entirely new defensive staff could be hired. I don't think there is any loyalty to Greg Robinson, however there is a loyalty to others on the staff. I believe Dave told Rich to think about it overnight whether Michigan was a job that he wanted with what would amount to completely new restrictions on his authority or control (ie. cronyism works both ways - if Dave Brandon hires the new defensive coordinator Rich will feel like that person is "Dave's guy" which makes the work environment even more strained). In addition, every business has a culture and it usually comes from the CEO. The culture at Michigan by this time was TOXIC. Horribly, utterly toxic. If I were Rich I wouldn't have even slept on it. I would have just quit - it is a testament to his character that he put up with this charade at all.
I don't think Jim Harbaugh was ever contacted until Rich was fired. I don't believe anyone was because I'm not sure Dave Brandon had committed to firing. The defensive coordinator and staff that Dave would have brought in would have been the coaches in waiting if one more disastrous season occurred. Plus it is actually very poor for morale if you are interviewing new coaches before the old coach is fired. People on the other side of the argument can't keep their mouth shut because they are looking to increase value for their friends or clients. It isn't like an acquisition where prior to acquiring the company you know who in your management or outside management will take over. It is factored into the acquisition price and the change in ownership. This is more akin to a turn over for a department. You fire people in a department it will take time to find their replacement. You have a short list of people, and you go about actively recruiting them.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
Your company's in good hands.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^
Apparently--without a shred of actual fact to support it--we now believe that Rich Rod committed professional hari-kari to protect his defensive staff. And that includes, as you note, Robinson with whom he had no long-standing relationship. Seriously? Do people believe he was that unrealstic? He's been around. He knew the score with his defensive coaches--I'm guessing--just guessing mind you--that RichRod was interested in winning games in 2011. And we all know that required changing the defensive guard. This scenario only make sense if one is straining to defend Brandon's handling of the matter.
January 9th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
I don't think he did "hari-kari" just to protect his defensive staff. I think he did it because he wanted to protect his staff AND he didn't want to usurp his authority. I am almost certain the defensive coach would have been Dave Brandon's hire and Rich Rod was not Dave Brandon's hire. Whenever you bring in some new hot shot to work under a manager you DIDN'T hire there is going to be noticeable tension. If the performance of the department gets better then everyone in the company will attribute it to the new guy.
Rich Rod doesn't win in this scenario. So it goes a little beyond protecting staff (though I feel that was a part of it because they only thing Rich Rod is more than being stubborn is loyal).