Is there any way Brandon hasn't screwed this up, barring getting Harbaugh?
If Rich is brought back, the vast majority aren't going to be happy. If you want Rich brought back, and he is, you'll be happy, but the one thing everyone will agree on is if you were going to take that course, why the he'll put the coaches, program, fans, and recruiting through the last month? Why not salvage December? Did a 38 point blow out make you more confident? Or did you get caught with your pants down when Harbaugh turned on the lights?
If Hoke is hired, the vast majority aren't going to be happy, but even those that think he's a pretty darn good coach are going to also wonder why this couldn't be done a month ago. Put the staff in place, start recruiting, screw SDS's bowl game. But again that's seeming more like the pants down scenario.
There could be an off the board candidate that wow's, but I'll find it even harder to believe this was his plan all along than the OSU game thing was. It'll seem a lot more like hiring Rich, where someone falls into our lap, and who knows how that works out?
It'll ultimately be proven right or wrong by whether RR, JH, BH, or whoever wins not just next year, but for years to come. But it's looking more and more like the "Pimp Hand" got bitched slapped by the whole situation.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
Would not have been prudent. If in December DB openly supports RR, or fires him and hires Hoke, we would never have known whether JH was a possibility. I assume JH was not talking prior to the bowl game. Even though DB may look foolish if JH goes elsewhere, he had no choice but to wait this long, because the only possibility of getting JH involved waiting exactly this long.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
Was Harbaugh's phone shut off all this time?
January 4th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
I agree. If JH really was interested, he would have given DB a sign when the feelers went out. When he didn't do that, I wish DB would have come out in support of RR, to save the recruiting class etc. The problem is that the fan base would have crucified him for it. I don't think the fan base is going to be any warmer or fuzzier toward DB if we end up with Hoke than they would have been if he'd come out in support of RR a month ago.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
He could have openly supported Rich, saved the class, and if Harbaugh checked out after the 1st said the Bowl Game changed things and put him over the top. Or that he didn't think Harbaugh had any interest other than the pros, but when he became aware there was an interest, had to move now or never.
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<br>I guess he would be taking a chance that we won the bowl game big, but in hindsight that's kinda laughable. I'd rather have an AD who looks like he may tell a business lie (which frankly, he's already been theorized to have done to good effect with The Game), than a guy who comes off incompetent.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
You can support him and always explore the option of a replacement of they're interested. Or you can fire him then and time to do an actual coaching search with quality candidates. To wait this long, DB needs to be damn sure he has a topnotch replacement. If harbaugh doesn't come, brandon's delay screwed us.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
Unless DB lands Harbaugh or some surprise candidate we don't know about, yes, DB will officially have no credibility. No reason why he'd have to wait this long in order to get Hoke.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
Meantime, though, DB needs to do a better job with the media. He's just letting speculation and conflicting reports run wild. Dave, just tell us whether or not Rich is fired. Stop playing coy already. Do something to manage the flow of information.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:23 PM ^
If not JH, hopefully a big name. I know it's not probable, but I think we should at least call gruden and see if he's interested. Idk about Hoke..
January 4th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^
Hopefully, this does not reflect on or damage the recruiting class. It's really what facilitated this mess even before RR. If we can somehow hold what we have regardless of the coaching decision we've dodged a major bullet.
January 4th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
My blood pressure is through the roof! The thought of someone beside RR or JH being in charge makes me not want to drive 3 hours on fall Saturday's
January 4th, 2011 at 8:16 PM ^
Man I live in Atlanta and drive 12 for at least two or three every year. I struggles with driving up for the tOSU spanking, but had to visit the fam for the holidays, and didn't want some Schmuckeyes sitting in my seats if I moved the tickets outside my circle of usual buyers.
January 4th, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^
I know this is exciting/scary/redeeming or whatever you'd like to call it, but a cool down might do us all some good (notably our livers). I can't imagine that this instant reaction blitzkrieg is going to make any coach more comfortable making a decision to come here. We still don't know anything official until actual statements have been made by the people we're speculating about.
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<br>DB is a smart guy who was hired for his impeccable decision-making and we still don't know that he has dropped the ball, so quick reactions aren't helpful. It's entirely possible that it's all squared away and down to logistics.
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<br>I trust him until he proves me wrong, wait for official word before judging and pump the brakes until then. Do work, wizard.
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<br>Go Blue.
January 4th, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^
Just a guess, mind you. But I'm more of the mindset that I don't trust Brandon till he proves me wrong. He's done some fun stuff (night game, lights) helped follow instructions (listening to expensive firm on what to do with NCAA), and either "saved The Game" by not moving it or screwed the pooch by almost letting it slip and moving them into different divisions (YMMV). This is where we need to see the pimp hand that's so talked about but rarely actually used. We could have kept Bill Martin around to make money and bumble coaching searches.
January 4th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
I seen herbie mentioned that hd believed JH will still come aboard. Didn't he screw us with Les Miles also. WTF, just shut up. Maybe JH is just keeping it quiet until we announce it tomorrow. Please be case!
January 4th, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
DB would also be setting Hoke up for a buzzsaw of skeptical, impatient fans. And I'm not sure to what degree the MM would protect the guy. People would be more patient with a marquee coach. If Hoke stumbles for any length of time, he won't get much benefit of the doubt.
January 4th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
I like Hoke, and think he's a good coach, but I don't want him because I think he'd be even more set up to fail than Rich was, and where does that leave us? Because while he'd be popular in the Athletic Department, and they'd support him, that'd be about the limit. He doesn't need that. And neither does the program. We need a unified front. And that won't come from that move.
January 4th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
If the reports (by John Clayton) of Michigan offering JH $5.2 million a year are true, you can't say DB didn't aggressively go after him. I don't think JH is worth that kind of money. If Stanford or the 49ers pony up to that, I think it's a bit foolish.
<br>I wouldn't hate JH for going to the NFL, but id like him to stop this farce of wanting to emulate Bo.
January 4th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
When he was cheaper before all the competition. Or found out then he was too expensive so he could go another way.
January 4th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
Michigan should NOT be playing hardball this much. If Harbaugh wants us to match or beat every other offer then he's only in it for the $ and could just up and leave at the next huge NFL offer. If this is true, I'm a little put off by it. He should want the job then the money!
January 4th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
Make that level? Is that where Satan is?
January 4th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/the-highest-paid-college-footb…
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<br>Saban was one. Rich made the list. The USA Today link has everyone, but in alphabetical order.
January 4th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
Might also have been about another big name coach in a new years + bowl game - TCU just played, Miles is still there (ak!), even Nevada's guy who just went 12-1
January 4th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
Absolute fail, in every way imaginable.
January 4th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Hence the Bill the Cat quote in parentheses
January 5th, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
Chris Ault is a senior citizen who played for Nevada and has been their HC for 30+ years. Why don't we just go after that Paterno guy?
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January 4th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
If we fire RR and don't get JH then DB's so-called genius will prove to be nothing more than bullheaded balderdash.
January 4th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
I dont see how he's done anything wrong up to this point. The media and fans running around with their heads cut off making unjustified assumptions and speculations isn't on Brandon.
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January 4th, 2011 at 8:53 PM ^
But what potential outcomes would make it look like he hasn't done wrong? The options are dwindling.
January 4th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
What should he have done differently? What would be an ideal outcome that is/was within his control?
January 4th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
Top notch replacement in the bag, or backed Rich a month ago.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
What do we gain from him backing rich a month ago?
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<br>Also, whoever he hires will be top knotch in his opinion, even if they aren't in yours, and Dave is more knowlegeable on this subject than you are.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^
He's hired just as many coaches for a major University as I have - zero. Maybe the people giving me advice know as much as the one's giving him advice. If he's even taking anyone's advice, which is in doubt. If just being an AD made you knowledgeable, there wouldn't be any coaches fired, because they'd all get it right. Why are we even firing Rich then? Bill Martin obviously knew more about it than me...
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<br>And I said back Rich, or get a surefire replacement in. If it's NOT Jimmy (kinda the point of the whole thread), and say he has total belief in Hoke (which whether a non-surefire replacement was better than Rich is a whole other thread), then he should have had him in a month ago, assembling a staff, and saving the recruiting class (that would have made it easier for him to succeed). Because you DON'T need to wait a month for a Hoke level hire. Even if he is a good hire, his rep and desire allows you to pluck him immediately.
January 4th, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
I can't agree more. As a former CEO, I can't imagine DB didn't plan for nearly every scenario - good or bad. No one but DB knows what his train of thought is, but I seem to think the delay is more strategic than a lack of preparedness.
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<br>Side note: Do not put too much credence into this.
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<br>Just heard from a friend, grandson of former UofM coach (Bo predecessor). He said, and I quote " Just heard from _______that RR is fired by lunch tomorrow, he's not 100% about Harbaugh like he was before but he's definitely still in play more than the media says."
January 4th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
Don't expect you to reveal your sources...
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<br>I know Yost's grandson was active in talking about the Stadium upgrades...didn't know Bump had any family in the area...and really don't know much about the families of the coaches in between....hmmm...
January 4th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
My "insider" pestered his grandfather, Gary Moeller, until he gave him something. That being said, it is unclear whether he was given misinformation - DB has something up his sleeve..
January 5th, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^
I call foul on the guessing game! ;-)
January 5th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
It was all part of my master plan to create confusion.
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<br>Looks like he was correct - announcement that RR has been fired and the state of the program will be at 12:30.