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Report: Michigan Reaching Out To Bates, Manuel Comment Count

Brian

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Manuel, Bates

Per Coaching Search's Pete Roussel:

A source has informed CoachingSearch.com that Michigan has gauged the interest of UConn director of athletics Warde Manuel and Boston College athletic director Brad Bates about their interest in the same position at Michigan.

panic

UPDATE: John U Bacon says nope.

Sorry for getting anyone's hopes up.

Comments

CoverZero

September 29th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^

I dont know much about Manuel, but the comments that Bo wrote about Brad Bates in his book are outstanding.  Sounds like Bates was the hardest worker on the team and an overachiever.

Joined: 08/30/2014

MGoPoints: 14571

turd ferguson

September 29th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

I said this earlier, but it feels relevant here.

Unless he's a Harbaugh, I don't want a "Michigan man" to be our next head coach.  I think there are better candidates out there.  With the AD, though, I think there's value in having someone who has been here before, understands the traditions, understands what a shitty job DB has done, is pissed about it himself, is willing to undo all of DB's stupid shit, and will twist the knife in DB's back while he's undoing DB's legacy.  I think a message of "I'm so sorry about the last guy; we'll never treat you like that again" is the most direct way to winning back the loyalty and hearts of this fan base.  

Joined: 12/09/2009

MGoPoints: 26493

turd ferguson

September 29th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^

My view on this is that there's no reason to want Michigan's football team to look like it did 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago.  In fact, I don't want it to, since I think there are better paths to winning football games in 2014.  

I do want the Michigan Stadium experience to feel a lot like it did 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago.  I think that's part of what makes Michigan special.  Getting that back doesn't require a "Michigan man," but it helps to have someone in the AD who understands why tradition is so important to us and what it's all about.

Joined: 12/09/2009

MGoPoints: 26493

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 29th, 2014 at 6:14 PM ^

Frankly, coaching like it's 30 years ago is precisely Hoke's problem.  Bo's philosophy was that he just had to teach the fundamentals better than everyone else, keep his guys in the right frame of mind, fix things just by putting "emphasis" on them, and everything would be great.  You didn't need a playbook; if you wanted to run the ball you just had to want to do it more than the other team wanted to stop you.  And it worked back then because coaching, recruiting, and S&C weren't all billion-dollar industries.

Hoke still thinks you can win by coaching that way.  That's why he's always talking about "we're gonna get back to work, we just need to execute better" etc. etc.  I think he genuinely believes it.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 41586

CoverZero

September 29th, 2014 at 6:29 PM ^

...except Bo and his staff actually taught fundamentals and the players took this coaching, listened and learned.  With Hoke, that does not happen.  Bo could get through to his guys and develop their talents, Hoke can not.

Bo would be very successful if coaching in his prime today.  He just had the "it" factor, both in his personality and in his ability to inspire players and coach them up.

Joined: 08/30/2014

MGoPoints: 14571

slappy09

September 29th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^

I disagree it means that someone that has played, attended Michigan.  I think it's the values, integrity to uphold the honor of our school.  It's a winner, but not at all costs, one that wins while doing the right thing.  It's what you do when you face adversity that defines it.  Brady Hoke, in my opinion, lost that status Saturday with the mishandling of the Morris incident.  Bo was not a Michigan Man because he coached here.  Bo was a Michigan Man because he just was, before stepping foot in Ann Arbor.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 733

turd ferguson

September 29th, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^

Come on, do you really think that Hoke put Morris in because he doesn't care about Morris's health and well-being?  Everything that we've ever heard from every player, past or present, has indicated that Hoke cares deeply about and protects his players.  That incident stunk of incompetence to me, and Hoke should be fired for his continued incompetence.  To give that incident an extremely uncharitable interpretation - and one inconsistent with everything else we know - is being unfair.  I get that you're upset, and I am, too, but it's possible to be upset and level-headed at the same time.

Joined: 12/09/2009

MGoPoints: 26493

J.Madrox

September 29th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^

Should Michigan be looking outside of those with ties to the university for the most qualified AD out there? I saw someone mention attempting to get Louisvilles AD in addition to a few other names.

Not trying to start an argument, or say these two guys wouldn't do a good job, just not sure why Michigan wouldn't try to get the best candidate possible, regardless of whether they had previous ties to Michigan.

Joined: 03/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1674

J.Madrox

September 29th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

I don't know anything about what makes you a true qualified candidate for the AD job. Other than you know, actual experience in an athletic department sometime in your past. Just saw a few non-Michigan sports people on twitter mentioning the fact that Michigan should look outside of people with ties to the university.

If these two are amoung the most qualified candidates and happen to have ties to Michigan, wonderful. I would just hope if it made sense Michigan would go after the best person for the job, whether or not they had ties to the university like with the current university president. But like someone said earlier in the thread, maybe you want previous ties for the AD because of the unique job they have to do.

Either way, thanks for the response.

Joined: 03/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1674

Bando Calrissian

September 29th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^

I have no information to confirm or deny this, but the fact that Dave Brandon has essentially been silent and invisible in the last 48 hours after half of Michigan Stadium was chanting for his firing makes me believe there's no small possibility an exit strategy is being negotiated as we speak.

The last two days could be the most chaotic and bizarre at Michigan since the two days he spent trying to fire Rich Rodriguez. But now we're talking about incompetence and player safety, not the inability to field a half-decent defense. These rumors, in conjunction with DB's radio silence, have to add up to something. 

Did he actually show his face on the sidelines on Saturday? 

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68120

Wolverine Devotee

September 29th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^

I see it guys! The light at the end of the tunnel is something we can SEE now!

I'll take either guy. I tweeted that they were my ideal candidates. Bo even suggested Bates as Michigan's AD in his autobiography.

This is a massive leap towards the light if this gets done. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528