What would Mary Sue do?
First post from a long time reader. So please.. be kind in your plot to kill me when you are inevitably dissattisified.
I saw this posted in the "Brandon on e-mails.." thread..
"I know its got to be extremely tough for Schlissel to make a change like this, especially less than one year into the job, but this comes with the territory." -Russale2012
It left me wondering.. I am a student at Florida and a long time fan of everything Michigan/Detroit, so my familiarity with the adminstration at Michigan is slim outside from the surface level information I have read from this Blog. With that said.. What would this situation look like if Mary Sue Coleman were still the President? Would the timeline look different? What would be her reaction to a protest on her front lawn by the student body?
I imagine that a year into a unique job like being President at the University of Michigan would make me extremely cautious and thorough in making an athletic department change, but if this were say, year five of Schlissel's tenure, what would be different?
As a fan caught in the middle of two of the biggest stories in college football right now concerning coaching hot seats, I am eager to here your insights.
October 29th, 2014 at 7:58 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
at satire, but I think it might have gone either way--a quick firing out of need to establish some separation between she and Brandon once and for all, or some kind of public rebuke with a veiled admonition that Hoke had to go.
But where the current president and reality are concerned, I'm not sure I get the criticisms of Schlissel, at least to this point. Of course the guy has to do this carefully; who wouldn't want him to? Yes, the timing is critical, but it certainly hasn't been blown yet. And the fact that we haven't been privy to any of the decision-making hardly means decisions haven't been taken, with the timing (including severance deals) being carefully lined up to follow.
At this stage I don't see how Schlissel avoids removing Brandon. Schlissel is a guy who implicitly stands against what Brandon represents; he was hired in part for that reason. And though the email scandal hardly represents cold-blooded murder on Brandon's part, it does help with the PR follow-through because many of the last strands of his support are going to be swept away as people absorb what an SOB he is.
If you're doing this you have a sequence of events to quickly fall into place--a new AD or AD search, a new HC or HC search, payouts, money saved on payouts, etc. Not just a matter of pulling the trigger on Brandon.
October 29th, 2014 at 7:59 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 8:05 AM ^
So what you're saying is that Brandon would be fired through means of regrettable text exchanges?
October 29th, 2014 at 8:08 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
Like any good Morchigan Man, er, Woman would.
Then DB would tell her to stop and go to bed.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:00 AM ^
She'd get drunk and slur her support.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:02 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 8:03 AM ^
I'm not sure Mary Sue would be handling things that much differently right now. She hired Dave Brandon, so she would have more skin in this game than Mark Schlissel does. Plus, I'm not sure a president or head of any large organization would want to allow for the appearance of bowing to public pressure. There are significant political and financial considerations that come with firing Dave Brandon and it needs to be carefully considered and delicately handled. We've made too many blunders the past fews years not doing more homework in considering personnel decisions. Mark Schissel taking his time with this one may not be satisfying to the torch and pitchfork masses, but I think we'll be better off in the long run.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:06 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 8:16 AM ^
That's pretty short-sighted. Consider our ability to find a quality replacement if we were to run Dave Brandon out of town on a rail. Finding a way to allow him to step down with some dignity is in the best interest of the University.
We are probably already facing an uphill stuggle with the impending coaching search based on how Rich Rodriguez was so unceremoniously chased out of here. Top candidates, especially ones who wouldn't pass the "Michigan Man" smell test, aren't going to be lining up for the Michigan job if there is any risk of them getting the Rodriguez treatment. That can be overcome with money, but it's a weak position to be negotiating from.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:37 AM ^
What you say is a reason to let Hoke resign with some dignity. Dave Brandon has embarrassed himself and the University while apparently repeatedly breaking laws regarding record keeping. He should be fired for cause and marched out of Schembechler Hall by security.
October 29th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
Dave Brandon has embarrassed himself and the University while apparently repeatedly breaking laws regarding record keeping. He should be fired for cause and marched out of Schembechler Hall by security.That's yet to be proven and that's probably the path that takes the longest for getting Brandon removed. If you're going to try and fire the guy for cause then there's probably lots of legal hurdles you have to clear before you can do so. If you're threatening to throw the guy out without any compensation, with his reputation in tatters, then he's not going to go quietly. The expedient thing to do is to try and find an acceptable settlement that allows Brandon to leave without a lot of fuss and probably lets him keep some of his buyout. That won't satisfy all those who want their pound of flesh from the guy, but it gets him gone sooner, and that is the best possible scenario for getting things unfucked in the Athletic Department.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^
Everybody at least deserves a Lucky Strike™ in that situation!
October 29th, 2014 at 8:08 AM ^
The long run is nothing a fan like me wants to hear.. but I agree. I would rather Schlissel be delicate in his decisions. the implications of this situation is everything for this program
October 29th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^
oversaw DB get a significant raise and a contract extension.
Apparantly she thought he was doing a great job. I am very glad she is not handling this situation now because my gut tells me she would not be so thorough or possibly not do what's int he best interest of the school. Cripes, Brandon makes triple what the old AD makes with the potential to make even more.
Boo this man,
October 29th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
Having fun all the time (other than on football Saturdays).
October 29th, 2014 at 8:11 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 8:17 AM ^
Trust me. I want Michigan to get whoever they need. "Bright Futures" (Florida financial aid benefits for those unfamiliar) is my only attachment to Florida.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^
Well, good for Florida for givng you the opportunity.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 8:15 AM ^
Year 1 and Year 5 (assuming it's last year) should be complete opposites. For me, it would be easier in year 1 of a 5 year gig to make a change like this than it would be in year 5 when you are about to hand over the reigns to someone new and they end up living with your decisions. I'm happy Schliss is taking his time and being thorough but, at some point, and I think we are passing it now, he has to take swift action to avoid the shit storm getting out of control.
The nice thing for Schliss now is the fan base, alumni (both rich and not) are clamoring for this change so he won't spend too much political capital on this move and if he gets it right, will earn a lot of political capital in the process.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:17 AM ^
Let's not forget she was the administrator dumb enough to hire these fools. She'd probably drink her worries away, embarass the University, and then make bullshit excuses for her behavior like a real leader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yZh004_MHY
Yes this is an English news story regarding her blackout speech to 100,000.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2500796/University-Michigan-pre…
'She, absolutely, had not been drinking alcohol,' Fitzgerald said. 'I want to underscore that point in the strongest possible way.'
Yes, just like Shane didn't have a concussion. This type of behavior started with her behavior.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:22 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^
And she would be absolutely roasted for it.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^
...and deservedly so.
October 29th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^
Since this is a pure speculation thread, I'm qualified to offer an opinion.
I think MSC would support him publicly. Behind the scenes, I think she would be incensed at the double reputation damage - her rep for hiring him and for her office as President of the University. Behind the scenes, details of his severance package would be worked out.
Part of the whole asinine apology-for-the-stake incident, again in my opinion, stems from the Michigan overreaction to the whole asinine "Stretchgate" hatchet job, during MSC's regime. The mindset is "Don't you dare do anything that makes us look bad!" and we end up looking worse. My gut tells me that Hoke would have never apologized on his own - he was directed.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^
I have been on the faculty here for 21 years, and regardless of who the president has been, changing course is something that takes this university a long time. Things here move at a glacial speed, especially compared to the 24 hour news cycle we live in. I think Schliss will get it right and heads will roll, its just going to take awhile.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^
I remember four short years ago I sent an email to Mary Sue the day after Brady Hoke was hired expressing how displeasing the Brady Hoke hire was and asked her why we would hire such a candidate. I then told her in a few years we would be repeating this same process.
As you would expect, she did not respond.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
She did not give a crap about athletics. And it showed.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
While MSC and Brandon had a tight relationship, MSC was much more plugged into the role of athletics at a B1G university than is Schlissel. Recall that MSC came to us from Iowa, where sports are integral to the identification of the university. Iowa sports are a huge part of that school's (and state's) identity. Not that she put a lot of personal value on sports, but she understood the value of a successful program to a university. I like Schlissel, but he has been open about being new to the big time sports element of our university.
With that in mind, I think MSC would have been quicker to respond to some of the nonsense, and also have intervened with Brandon. Brandon was her pick, and she's a smart woman - I expect she would have told Brandon to tone it down a bit, and that the students' and fans' opinions matter for the well-being of the university. She was in a position where she could act as a mentor to Brandon.
My sense with Schlissel is that he's letting Brandon twist in the wind a bit while Schlissel learns the landscape. I'm OK with that, because I want Brandon gone, and he seems slow to put down the shovel when he finds that he's dug himself a hole.
October 29th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
October 29th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
The impression I got is that DB was on his best behavior with MSC. But the last couple months have been so toxic, it's hard to say what she would do.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
Was the President when I was in school (04-08) and she cracked down on partying quite a bit. I'll always hold that against her. That, and hiring Brandon.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
She must've been worried there wouldn't be enough booze left over for her.
October 29th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
extension/buyout that totally screws Schlissel. If I'm Schlissel, I'm pissed off at MSC. As Might and Main, I'M pissed off at her.
October 29th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
The U has been cracking down on partying since forever ago. When I was in school the U imposed draconian restrictions on fraternities, then shut down the Naked Mile when I was in grad school.
October 29th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
that's Jim Calhoun, of course. I think he has some good, pithy advice for DB
"My best advice to you .. shut up."
October 29th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
This entire University needs to stop living in the past.
Everything is about what would this person have done or what would this person say.
Who gives a shit. They aren't here anymore and never will be again.
It doesn't matter.
October 29th, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
public appearance, probably have another drink.
The answer is nothing, she runs in the same circles as DB, those people stick together and pat each other on the back for everything, even as the ship is going down.
October 29th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
Were her problems with alcohol part (or the main) reason for her stepping down?
October 29th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
1. She would get wasted
2. She would sign my diploma
3. Give one hell of a halftime speech
October 29th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
She followed Dave's advice after her infamous slurring halftime speech and simply quit drinking and went to bed.