Snowflake Thread: AD (DB) Articles

That Slate article is by far the best I have read in the national media:

http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2014/10/dave_brandon_th…

"The resignation of the Wolverines' villainous athletic director is why we like college sports."

This is one of the few articles that actually gets it right that Mr. Brandon's difficulties were only tangentially related to the football team's difficulties.  Also, it is just about the only one that actually links directly to MGoBlog when discussing the e-mails.

especially the "mealy-mouthed" press relese comment.

I am a bit baffled why Mgoblog's front page contributors haven't offered any editorial comment since the resignation other than a transcript of the presser. Clearly, the email exchange that the blog ran earlier this week and actually coincided with the day that Brandon informed Schlissel of his decision to resign, if you believe that his resignation wasn't forced (which I believe was) was the final straw in making the decision right for him.

It would be interesting to hear Brian's take on that. What is also clear, however, about the timing was the significance of Tuesday's election as it related to the regent vote and how the balance of power in that partisan-elected board would have narrowed or eliminated Democratic regent control, which would have dimmed the chances of forcing Brandon out if it had come to that.

Only a week ago, John U. Bacon had opined such a timeline for presidential action in prompting to get the AD out one way or the other or face an uncertain period of poliitcal naction that would hardly have benefitted anyone's agenda and put Michigan behind the curve going forward in naming both an a new AD and likely hiring another fooball coach to replace Hoke.

It appears from that standpoint that both Schissel and Brandon were aware of the political consequences as well and that their discussions apparently led to Friday's resignation press conference. Finally, I just think this was very well played by Schissel, a freshly minted Michigan man, who demonstrated poise in leadership and acquitted himself precisely as required when faced with his first real public test as president.

Finally, even if you grew to dislike DB, the fact is he has been an asset to the school during his career both as a regent and as AD. While he got himself in trouble and is responsible for Hoke's hiring, his other contributions to the school should be both noted and widely praised.