David Brandon Weighs in On The Win and Coaching Situation.
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he put his arm around Rodriguez as they walked to the embattled coach’s news conference.
“I said, ‘You had a good week, coach,’ and he did,” Brandon recalled. “It’s been a month since we had a win and the (NCAA) situation is over, and I think Rich was to a degree was vindicated. Now, we’re going to a bowl and if we can find ways to win it’ll improve the picture.”
http://www.freep.com/fdcp/?1289082727578(print link from Freep) Edit: I know the link isn't working, but i won't post a full link. sorry guys
November 6th, 2010 at 6:36 PM ^
Best hire in the last few years wasn't Coach Rod, but David Brandon.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:41 PM ^
+1000
November 6th, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
I love this team and our coach.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
I was in favor of coach getting to next year even if we went 5-7. Coach Rod couldn't have gotten through this week without Brandon. And loved seeing Brandon on the sidelines talking to Denard. Just made me smile.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:27 PM ^
November 7th, 2010 at 1:18 AM ^
It was pretty motivating seeing him run out with the team at Happy Valley last week as well.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^
I think the Coleman has been a great university president, even when it comes to athlietic matters. Her hire of Brandon was well handled and she did a great job with the NCAA investigation.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^
Keeps getting mentioned for positions above and beyond. I know NCAA President was one of them, and Time Magazine named her one of the 10 best college Presidents. We need to stop having such awesome presidents, lest they keep leaving us.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
November 6th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
mary sue coleman is a far more attractive human being than general lee bollinger.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
And a better person, too. The whole time Lee was here, he was itching to leave - and he didn't always inform the university community when he was planning on interviewing elsewhere. I'll give him credit for bringing the Royal Shakespeare Company to campus, though.
The Dude and Lee were better fits for Ivy League schools. They never really liked the fact that we had big-time sports. MSC is fine with it.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
I didn't realize till the latest Alumni Magazine interview that she's been here longer than at Iowa. She says she has two more years on her contract and couldn't see being anywhere else, which they all say, but comes off as true coming from her. Maybe not my lifetime, but by far the best U President since I matriculated.
November 6th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
and she says that being the president at michigan is the pinnacle.
p.37
"the contract says i'm currently employed for two more years. i'm having the time of my life. i couldn't go any other place because it would be bound to be a disappointment. i've been at the pinnacle. this is an endlessly exciting place."
yeah... she's done alright for the university.
November 6th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
I've heard that Bollinger was a better fund-raiser than Mary Sue, at least of out the block. (It could be that she's improved over the years.)
- - -
Side note on attractiveness (personalities aside): I understood that Bollinger's nickname among female law students (when he was the law school dean) was "Sundance" because of his supposed resemblance to Robert Redford.
November 6th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
He liked Halos too.
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<br>And "Ew".
November 7th, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^
Back in 1997, after Michigan laid the wood to Penn State in Happy Valley, a bunch of us (students) congregated at the President's house and were singing the fight song in his yard/on his porch. After about five minutes, to our surprise, he opened the door to address the crowd.
We thought he was going to tell us to go home or something like that, but instead, with a big smile on his face, he congratulated us and the football team on a great win and invited us into the President's house!
There were at least one hundred of us cheering and yelling, and we shook his hand as we walked in and jammed into the house. What a night!
November 7th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
That story is pretty well-known, and helps to color peoples' memory of the guy. It's cool that he did that, but overall, he had a reputation as being aloof and not real conntected to the university community. He also hired Tom Goss and apparently was the biggest supporter of the Halo.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:39 PM ^
And she even took part in the halftime show!
November 6th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
The only thing missing from the cool halftime show was getting Rich Rod to be the Wizard (complete with snake oil). But I guess that would have worked better if we were playing Purdue. And Rich wasn't busy, you know, trying to beat Illinois this week.
November 6th, 2010 at 9:04 PM ^
We were talking about that in our seats. That would have put the show over the top.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
Here is a guy who not only knows how to run a corporation but understands the game, being a former player himself. On the corporate angle, he seems to be an excellent employer.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:36 PM ^
I am shocked the freep would even print that quote. I won't click the link though
November 6th, 2010 at 6:36 PM ^
I was glad to see an article with Brandon showing RR some love. DB is also correct, winning cures all. I do not know how you can call this anything other then support from Brandon.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
Send a picture of this moment to every recruit left on the board.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:38 PM ^
Freep is Michigander for toilet paper. Who cares about words scrawled on toilet paper?
November 6th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
If they beat Purdon't they will most likely finish the season at 7-5, which was the consensus in the preseason. I think we all get very worked up because of the horrific defense. It easily cost the team 2 wins this year of not more.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
said "There's no way in hell we're losing again."
November 6th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
I honestly think the Wiscy game is now on the table. Illinois only gave up around 12 points a game coming into this game, and that included games against some decent offenses in Missouri, MSU, and OSU. So if this offense can keep putting up similar point totals, you never know. And I also think that Illinois was one of the worst match-ups for this defense because of the mobile QB - Tolzien and the conventional Wiscy offense will at least be something that won't immediately flumox the defense. 8-4 is out there.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
Only giving up 23 to Mizzou looks a lot more impressive now than it did at the time. And if their offense could've threatened OSU's D, they had a chance there. I disagree slightly about your Tolzien comparison. If Sconsin has Tolzien do his best Chappell impression, it could be problematic.
For the time being though, ain't no clouds in sight.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
If our offense comes to play like this, especially minus the turnovers, if they could score on Illinois, they can score on Wisconsin. Being here helps a lot. Hardly a lock, but certainly in the realm of possibility. But have to take care of the Danny Hopes first.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
I'm more afraid of Wiscy's offense than OSU's. Pryor hasn't exactly been Mr. Clutch and OSU's running back situation is not consistent. While I'm a little crazy thinking 9-3 is possible, it is, but I think we have a better chance at 8-4 with a victory at the 'shoe. The home crowd will help us against Wiscy, and we very well could beat them, but if we beat Wisconsin then we should at least have a shot against OSU in Columbus. Then we're 9-3, then 10-3 and 13-0 next year. AMIRITE?
November 7th, 2010 at 7:45 AM ^
14-0 next year ; )
November 6th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
That offense's shredding of a pretty good defense would make anybody a little giddy. Willing to bet that there will be a casual announcement whenever if the offense keeps showing 4 quarters of nuclear tendencies the next couple weeks.
Rich is earning it with the potential of that offense alone. Soon would be cool so we can get word to potential recruits.
November 6th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
Assuming that 7-5 gets RR another year (and I think it will), when do you make defensive staff changes? After the OSU game or after the bowl game?
November 6th, 2010 at 7:28 PM ^
Um, the bowl
November 6th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
IF a change is made, you do it before the bowl game to get a head start on next year.
Funny thing is, as bad as the defensive numbers were today, I thought they played one of their best games of the year. There was noticeable improvement from my untrained eye.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
They definitely played one of their best games of the season defensively. The turnovers and terrible field position played a big role in the Illinois score.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
canned I don;t necessarily think that he should be. I cant imagine a coach who could take this young of a defense and do much better with them. Walk on sophmores, 3 freshman starters 3 seniors on he defense! Our 2006 defense had 7 seniors, and maybe 1 freshman, OSU his year has 7 seniors and 1 freshman, what are you going to do with what you got. I will tell you my opinion of GR is that with the shit hand he has been dealt he is still playing, bluffing, clapping, blitzing jumping what ver he can do to motivate this very young D and I think he has done better than most. In the face of failure he hasn't given up. That takes something, so like I said unless RR says something different I keep GR.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
I agree, Robert Smith said some BS on college football scoreboard about it doesn't look that Greg Robinson is the problem..
He said we don't have the personnel.. There is no talent on the defense.. Yet he fails to mention that we start 6-8 freshman every game on defense..
November 6th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
+ 1,000,000 to you sir, nice post.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
Buddy Ryan couldn't get any more out of this talent.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
Good to see someone cut GERG some slack. He has been dealt a difficult hand and he soesn't make excuses, just keeps at it. If nothing else, you've got to respect his attitude.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:34 PM ^
before David Brandon takes over the world. That guy is an absolute master at what he does. Brilliant hire.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
hasn't noticed, Oregon isn't exactly lights out on defense. To paraphrase someone I know, who gives a fuk about defense when you can score whenever and however many you want.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
I want to win as many as possible. An excellent defense is part of that and part of the Michigan tradition. This was fun. But, losing isn't. Also, what is wrong with winning 67-0? I don't want to be Oregon. I want to be Michigan. Let Oregon wish they were us.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^
I want to be like Florida of years past...lights out on O and D. That's when a team is terrifying.
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<br>Halfway there...
November 7th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^
November 6th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
It was classic when he went over to see what the hell happen to Denard. DB is the man!
DB:Denard come'er! What happen? Tell me everything.
DR:It was that guy The Zook. One of his thugs speared me!
DB: Richie, you gotta take this guy Zook out. He's invading our turf. Showing no respect to the family.