Bill Martin Evaluation
- Can someone post an "evaluation" of sorts of Bill Martin's job as Athletic Director since he came to Michigan? I've talked to some people about it and some things that come up..
- Baseball/Softball Facilities - He didn't do anything, Fred Wilpon donated everything for it because he was alumni. I would probably agree with that, but I don't really know.
- Basketball - Tommy Amaker, the former basketball "coach". Getting John Beilien (still don't know how to spell his name), Crisler Arena staying the same
- Football - Stadium Renovations? Coaching search miscues? New Football facility - was this a just Rich Rodriguez demand or did he actually forsee this happening. It displaced Mens/Womens soccer for quite a few months, so that's not really good planning on his part. Rich Rodriguez buyout and ugly lawsuit
- Personally, I think he has done a mediocre job. I don't think he has any vision, he just does things as they are needed and doesn't have a sense of urgency. I made this post because I wanted to get other people's opinions because I really think it might be time for him to go (NOT Rich Rodriguez, maybe his coordinators though muhaha) It's too bad his job is in the hands of our money hungry administration AKA Mary Sue Coleman who loves money and surpluses and who hired Kirk Ferentz at Iowa...and we see how that has turned out..maybe its time for her to go too! hahhaha
- Please post your thoughts!
October 12th, 2008 at 2:57 AM ^
Please, someone stop me: IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!IDIOT!!!!!ID. I.OT.
Do some research. Seriously, you people need to learn how to use Google.
October 12th, 2008 at 3:31 AM ^
- WITH MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GOES THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY!!!
- http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-10-11-gm-chrysler-reports_N.htm
- GM AND CHRYSLER FALLING TO SUCH LOWS THEY HAVE TO MERGE!!??!? FORD, GM AND CHRYSLER LOSE TO TOyota!! (They weren't efficient enough!) MICHIGAN LOSING TO TOledo! (we definitely weren't efficient enough, on offense or defense) The TOs a coincidence? I THINK NOT!!
- WITH MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GOES THE ECONOMY OF THE WORLD!! (NO EXAMPLE NECESSARY, JUST WATCH TV OR READ THE NEWSPAPER)
- WE NEED A BAILOUT! HOW ABOUT INSTEAD OF A BAILOUT WE GET A BLACK DUAL THREAT QB AND SOME OFFENSE! IF THE GOVERNMENT GIVES US THAT, ORDER WILL BE RESTORED TO THE UNIVERSE!
- There are so many things going wrong today!
- 1. OJ SIMPSON IS GOING TO JAIL! HE NEVER GOES TO JAIL! HE KILLS PEOPLE AND DOESN'T GO TO JAIL BUT NOW HE ROBS A SPORTS STORE AND HE HAS 25 to LIFE!? WHAT?!?!
- 2. A WOMAN FROM ALASKA (I SAID WOMAN) FROM ALASKA IS RUNNING ON THE REPUBLICAN (I SAID REPUBLICAN) TICKET FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! JOHN MCCAIN IS 70 YEARS OLD AND IS RUNNING A RIDICULOUS PATHETIC CAMPAIGN!
- 3. GLOBAL WARMING! OOOOOO!!
- When Michigan Football returns, it will free OJ, kill bin laden, end wars, kiss babies, not give out sub prime loans, restore American Auto dominance,
- i hope this ridiculous post makes you feel better.
October 12th, 2008 at 3:49 AM ^
I don't think it's possible that Martin could hire Rodriguez in December and then, just after the hire, when Rodriguez says "new practice facility....NOW" Martin says "yes sir" and the thing goes up. It's just not possible. Where's the money coming from? Who designed it? Do you really think these decisions were made in 3 or 4 months? Even if all that shit got done in 3 months, do you really think they just magically found a construction crew to start that thing? Jebus.
Get ready folks, the MGoBlog, she'll be burning this week with stupidity.
October 12th, 2008 at 3:55 AM ^
- WITH MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GOES THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY!!!
- http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-10-11-gm-chrysler-reports_N.htm
- GM AND CHRYSLER FALLING TO SUCH LOWS THEY HAVE TO MERGE!!??!? FORD, GM AND CHRYSLER LOSE TO TOyota!! (They weren't efficient enough!) MICHIGAN LOSING TO TOledo! (we definitely weren't efficient enough, on offense or defense) The TOs a coincidence? I THINK NOT!!
- WITH MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GOES THE ECONOMY OF THE WORLD!! (NO EXAMPLE NECESSARY, JUST WATCH TV OR READ THE NEWSPAPER)
- WE NEED A BAILOUT! HOW ABOUT INSTEAD OF A BAILOUT WE GET A BLACK DUAL THREAT QB AND SOME OFFENSE! IF THE GOVERNMENT GIVES US THAT, ORDER WILL BE RESTORED TO THE UNIVERSE!
- There are so many things going wrong today!
- 1. OJ SIMPSON IS GOING TO JAIL! HE NEVER GOES TO JAIL! HE KILLS PEOPLE AND DOESN'T GO TO JAIL BUT NOW HE ROBS A SPORTS STORE AND HE HAS 25 to LIFE!? WHAT?!?!
- 2. A WOMAN FROM ALASKA (I SAID WOMAN) FROM ALASKA IS RUNNING ON THE REPUBLICAN (I SAID REPUBLICAN) TICKET FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! JOHN MCCAIN IS 70 YEARS OLD AND IS RUNNING A RIDICULOUS PATHETIC CAMPAIGN!
- 3. GLOBAL WARMING! OOOOOO!!
- When Michigan Football returns, it will free OJ, kill bin laden, end wars, kiss babies, not give out sub prime loans, restore American Auto dominance,
- i hope this ridiculous post makes you feel better.
October 12th, 2008 at 3:59 AM ^
October 12th, 2008 at 4:47 AM ^
I'm not a huge Bill Martin fan by any means, but I think there are a lot of positive things he has done that shouldn't be overlooked.
You mention baseball -- There were rumors after Michigan's program really took off that coach Rich Maloney would be leaving for greener pastures, but Martin signed him to a 5-year contract that should solidify the baseball situation for a while.
As for the stadium renovations, you seem to portray that as a negative, but I think it was widely agreed in administration that it was a step that needed to be taken in order to maximize ticket revenue. Agree with it or not, people have to realize that you've gotta keep up with the Joneses, so to speak, in big-time college athletics. If luxury boxes mean keeping advertisements out of Michigan Stadium, I can live with them. And there's no way that the practice facility was a RR demand, that was in the works well before he came on board -- and I doubt that the soccer team being displaced for a few months was a concern compared to the dollars and attention that football delivers.
While I agree that the football coaching search was a complete debacle, Martin was widely hailed for landing Beilein as basketball coach, since he is considered one of the best X's and O's guys in the country. And Martin got him to take over a program that, while rich with tradition, has been a disaster in the last decade. And then he successfuly negotiated down Beilein's buyout with West Virginia, which was the same thing he attempted to do with Rodriguez (albeit unsuccesfully).
Again, the negatives are there (football coaching search debacle, Amaker situation, Crisler Arena waiting for upgrades, etc.), but don't assume it's ALL bad.
One last thing: Don't forget the deal we signed with Adidas, which not only makes us the highest-paid school, but guarantees us that status (a bit of a slap in the face to Notre Dame and a big-time negotiating victory for the athletic department).
October 12th, 2008 at 4:58 AM ^
For basketball, everyone seemed very pleased about the Amaker and Beilein hires. Amaker was only criticized after he had a few years and failed to make the NCAA tournament, but I don't remember anyone predicting that he wouldn't pan out. Bielein is only in his second year, no telling at this point. Basketball facilities are planned for improvements once Michigan Stadium renovations are complete. So look for those to start in 2011 or so.
I'm not clear on the problem with the new baseball stadium. I'm sure it took effort to get the donations for that, you've got to suck up hardcore to get people to give you millions of dollars. And Wilpon only donated about 10%, it was a large fundraising project with quite a few donors.
Does Martin have vision? I have no clue, all I know is he has more vision than I do. And I think he's made some smart decisions with support of the BTN and having that third party handle the media rights to michigan athletics. Those things should provide a lot of extra revenue. I think Bill Martin was involved in the creation of the network but I can't seem to find anything to corroborate that at the moment.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:19 AM ^
I mean, really? All he's done is:
- Hired one of the most respected basketball coaches in the country
- Hired one of the most innovative foootball minds in the country, a winner at every stop
- Taken the budget from deep in the red to a large surplus
- Organized the largest rennovation in the football stadium's history
- Kept around a baseball coach who has us WAY above our baseline
Those are some huge things he's done, IMO. I'm all in favor of having a businessman (like Martin) who can handle budgets and knows how to run the AD financially, rather than a coach (like Bo) who might know how to run a football program better. I think he's done a fantastic job the past few years. Say what you want about the coaching search, but we got one of the best coaches out there. When we're an offensive machine in 2010, you'll be singing a different tune.
October 12th, 2008 at 10:03 AM ^
When Amaker and Beilien were hired, they were both hailed as homeruns. Amaker didn't workout, but that's always easy in hindsight.
Rich Rodriguez has been one of the most successful coaches in college football. I never thought getting him was a possibility, and when we did, I was floored. Unsubstantiated rumors floated by Les Miles' agent will not make me think he botched the coaching search.
The buyout - what the fuck did you want him to do?
The baseball team has been an unqualified success under Martin. He hired and retained a coach who, frankly, is "too good for us" given our baseball "Tradition". It would be like NC State hiring Urban Meyer to coach their football team.
I'm not sure what there is to criticize about the renovation.
He's taken the AD from deeply in the red to profitable.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:50 PM ^
He has done a good job and I'm sure he has more plans in the future to keep Michigan atheletics at the top and getting better.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:50 PM ^
He has done a good job and I'm sure he has more plans in the future to keep Michigan atheletics at the top and getting better.
October 12th, 2008 at 10:21 AM ^
October 12th, 2008 at 10:21 AM ^
October 12th, 2008 at 10:44 AM ^
October 12th, 2008 at 11:55 AM ^
To that point, I will take it even further. Compare the Amaker hire to the Willingham hire at ND:
Both were hailed as homerun hires and both didn't work out. However, Kevin White (or maybe the powers that be, who knows) pulled the plug 3 years into Willingham's tenure and shots of Racism and unrealistic expectations flew at ND's AD. Amaker was given a very fair shot, and when he wasn't able to do the things he was brought in to do (he was from coach K's lineage and therefore was expected to do big things) he was let go. Yeah, Tommy didn't work out, but thats hind-sight, like someone else mentioned above.
(from the eyes of an outside observer) Martin has done a pretty good job at Michigan, and seems to know how to run an AD. I'm not sure I agree with the counterpoint at all.
October 12th, 2008 at 1:18 PM ^
October 12th, 2008 at 8:35 PM ^
October 12th, 2008 at 12:11 PM ^
Maloney had options to go to an assitant coaching job at several SEC coaching spots (note: massive increase in salary). Martin signed him to the extentsion but told him you have to do your own fund raising. While this sounds negative, Maloney has really connected with baseball alumni in his tenure so it wasn't as big of a challenge. Maloney approached Wilpon and a few other Michigan alumni to post up some major funding.
BM's big deal has been making the AD financially sound. This meant some negative circumstances such as keeping Amaker around for too long, but in the long run, its been a good investment.
Anyone want to write a diary about the similarities of the Rich Rod/Beilien first seasons. I think it would be an interesting read.