Where is Stephen Ross?
Stephen Ross loves the University of Michigan. He has donated hundreds of millions to the school over the past few decades and been supportive in a myriad of other ways. I realize he was a huge supporter of Jim Harbaugh and probably is upset over how all this has gone down, but he's a big boy and it's time to put personal feelings aside and address this situation before it gets any worse. As the saying goes, this isn't personal it's just business and we need to address it that way.
Ross could immediately help the situation in two ways. One, corral a handful other large boosters and come to President Ono and the BOR with a plan to replace Warde Manuel. And have two or three guys lined up as possible replacements a la Jim Hackett. You cannot tell me a handful of billionaires don't have many very talented people in their organizations who could clean up this mess very quickly. And the same group of boosters could even offer to put up the money to buyout Warde's contract and pay for the next AD if necessary. Even if it's just a 2 year gig for a rising star inside Ross' organization before he goes back, that's really all we need to right now to steady the ship. Two, the same booster group could agree to spearhead a fundraising effort similar to what Ohio State's boosters did recently to jump start Michigan's NIL programs for football, basketball and other key sports (e.g., ice hockey, softball, baseball, swimming/diving).
I realize I am spending other people's money here, but it's probably a rounding error for guys like Stephen Ross. And he is watching the university he loves go through a horrendous football coaching transition compounded by a lackluster NIL effort. Stephen Ross has frequently been "the adult in the room" when UM has had crises like this. Why is he not stepping in this time to bang some heads together and help steer UM away this pending disaster? He could easily turn a negative unto a positive here. Use this crisis to replace Warde, establish a professional NIL fundraising arm for UM, and if we're really lucky get Ono and the BOR to take steps to relax Michigan's outdated rules on admissions and/or transfer admissions for key student athletes each year.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:27 PM ^
I haven't seen him since this last tailgate on AAGO
February 7th, 2024 at 2:13 PM ^
I think the short answer to the question is Miami.
The longer answer is... i found him; here in his trademark many-pockets blue suit. This graphic must be a younger version, he's since stopped dyeing his hair.
OP - you're welcome.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:22 PM ^
LOL.
Good sleuthing!
February 7th, 2024 at 1:32 PM ^
Keep this menace away from the octogenarians!!!
February 7th, 2024 at 1:38 PM ^
He’s dead, he’s locked in my basement
February 7th, 2024 at 2:23 PM ^
Gee Slim
February 7th, 2024 at 1:28 PM ^
Am I reading it correctly, you want someone in Stephen Ross' organization to run the athletic department, with who knows what, if any, experience they have in athletics?
February 7th, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
Although I don't think it's essential, Stephen Ross has plenty of people with experience in athletics, football even. He owns the Miami Dolphins. And he's not Michigan's only mega-successful alum/booster. I find it unbelievable that none of them have within their organizations or know of anyone who could step in and clean up this mess. That's what they do for a living at this point in their careers ... hire the best people to run their various businesses. This is not a football or even an athletics crisis. It's a management crisis.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
I believe Ross has given slightly less than half a billion to U of M.
I have thought for a while that one way to pay players would be to set up an endowment specifically for that purpose. A $100 million gift to the endowment would be a good start, A couple of generous donors could give Michigan great recruiting and player retention advantages.
You need someone with a vision running the show to do something different and better, and our current regents along with our AD may have other ideas, or no ideas,
February 7th, 2024 at 2:28 PM ^
Agree. And it doesn't have to be done all in one year. Launch an NIL endowment fundraising campaign to raise $100 million over several years. Once the NIL endowment is built, it could easily generate $5+ million per year toward NIL. It wouldn't meet all our NIL needs, but would cover a large part of it. And that's the problem right now. We are not proactive enough. We need to start planning several years ahead instead of just scrambling to put out the latest fire.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:18 PM ^
I was thinking of a $100 million gift and go from there. Endowment funds are typically invested a a certain percentage of the fund is distributed annually. It would take some work but over a few years there would be lots of money being generated annually.
The advantages this would provide would be significant as you wouldn't have to go begging every year once your funding is established.
February 7th, 2024 at 3:49 PM ^
Ross' experience with the Dolphins is not the resume highlight you think it is. They've been mismanaged, have gone through a string of coaches and he lost a first-round pick for tampering. He is not the savior.
Signed, a Dolphins fan.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:02 PM ^
True, aside from his checking account.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:19 PM ^
Co-signed, this Dolphins fan
February 7th, 2024 at 2:26 PM ^
We don’t need another hero . . .All we want is life beyond the Thunderdome.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:32 PM ^
You assume that Mr. Ross sees the situation in the same way (apocalyptic) you do, and is interested in spending his time leading one of the projects you described. The money may be a rounding error for him, but like every other human being, he has only 24 hours in the day. I imagine he has a few other things going on.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
True, but he hasn't donated hundreds of millions to UM over the years for no reason. And from what I hear, he was willing to commit a ton of money to help fund Jim Harbaugh's contract extension. So UM and UM athletics must be somewhere on his short list of priorities. But you might be right. I might be the only person who thinks this is a crisis. I sincerely hope that's not the case.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:10 PM ^
In all fairness to Mr Ross, (and no disrespect to Sherrone), but giving a ton of money behind a push to get JH back is much different than giving a ton of money to a 1st time HC, that doesnt seem to have any support from his AD.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:32 PM ^
Harbaugh went on a big push to get money for the collectives last summer and by all accounts was not terribly successful. I suspect that if Harbaugh could not do it, the money may just not be there. The Michigan money cannon was an illusion, it only existed for small money donations not the really big ones.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:40 PM ^
I think you're half right. I think the money cannon is there, but it doesn't want to aim at recruits and players. It wants to put its name on big monolithic buildings, not buy a Lambo for a 19 yo.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:07 PM ^
Let's split the difference and give out monolithic Lambos
February 7th, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
And tbf, it's harder to sell people that Michigan needs your money when they just won a title. There's a reason Columbus is on a money raising rampage - they're scared and desperate
February 7th, 2024 at 4:00 PM ^
Yup. I have no money cannon, maybe a money peashooter, and the last thing I am interested in is giving money to kids who play football for Michigan. That is one the things that makes me chuckle when I read comments about how bad Michigan's NIL program is. It probably does suck, but I bet most of the complainers are not contributing much. The complainers seem to be under the impression that we have NIL funds and that we don't use them properly. Is that true? Maybe the funds aren't there at the level of the schools that these complainers think have a "good" NIL program.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:00 PM ^
Yup. I have no money cannon, maybe a money peashooter, and the last thing I am interested in is giving money to kids who play football for Michigan. That is one the things that makes me chuckle when I read comments about how bad Michigan's NIL program is. It probably does suck, but I bet most of the complainers are not contributing much. The complainers seem to be under the impression that we have NIL funds and that we don't use them properly. Is that true? Maybe the funds aren't there at the level of the schools that these complainers think have a "good" NIL program.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:41 PM ^
I just don't believe that our wealthiest alums are ever going to be in for this kind of thing. Especially the ones who grew accustomed to Bo Schembechler telling them everyone but us was paying players... it just encourages you to think nothing's changed now and we don't have to pay to win.
Besides, a lot of our alumni base are the wine and cheese set. Insofar as many of them care about football, "winning" is defined very differently than perpetual nattys and probably looks more like a 9-3/10-2 every year sort of program
February 7th, 2024 at 1:42 PM ^
The money cannon has always been about the generosity of average Michigan alumni and fans, who are often willing to help others.
I think most of those folks just aren’t as willing to donate their money so that players can make more than they do. That’s probably true for just about all fanbases.
I suspect Michigan will do much better with all of this once some actual structure from a governing body is in place.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
I understand. Then again, maybe the current situation can be used to change minds. OSU was dragging their feet a bit on NIL too ... until they lost to us for the third year in a row and watched us go on to win the national championship. Then the floodgates suddenly opened. Michigan alumni have plenty of money and we have quite a few large boosters. It pains me to say it, but it's time to take a page out of the OSU playbook.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:55 PM ^
Harbaugh went on a big push to get money for the collectives last summer and by all accounts was not terribly successful.
I was under the impression that the amount of money our collectives have isn't too bad. The issue is more about how we're choosing to use it.
February 7th, 2024 at 3:46 PM ^
Reporting from last summer indicated they got about half of what they were expecting, that is a big let down. Our NIL does okay, to your point, but in a NIL world okay is not going to make a 12 team playoff. Like has been said earlier, we need the University athletic department to be able to pay players.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
We have the most insufferable fanbase in college football and it’s not close
February 7th, 2024 at 1:52 PM ^
Really testing my patience, lately.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^
This post is like the high-class but still semi-insufferable version of RCMB demanding that Ishbia write Urban a check for $20m/year.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:08 PM ^
Liberty excluded ... yes
February 7th, 2024 at 2:31 PM ^
I used to think it was a little overblown, but man the consternation amongst a lot of fans literal weeks after the greatest football season Michigan has maybe ever had means there's a segment of the fanbase that cannot ever just sit back and be happy. Call me when fall camp starts - I'm enjoying the national title and won't let anything rain on that parade for at least 6 months
February 7th, 2024 at 3:37 PM ^
This....I have no idea what your username means, but I am right with you. Sure, I am thinking about how tough 2024 might be, but dammit, we just won the whole fuckin' thing. I am totally going to enjoy it and not think about this stuff much, at least not for a while.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:15 PM ^
My username was an inside joke from the early Harbaugh days and now I don't think I can change it so it just confuses people
February 7th, 2024 at 6:30 PM ^
Yep, I get it. I don't live in NY anymore, but the name is the name.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
Maybe he's tired of being the adult in the room, maybe this is on Warde, once again. AD's need to foster relationships with big money donors.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
Per ChatGPT:
(Verse 1)
Let's talk about Ross, a name in the game,
With wealth so vast, it's almost insane.
But here's the thing, the story untold,
His alma mater's team's feeling the cold.
Michigan football, once a powerhouse grand,
Now struggles to rise, to take a bold stand.
Coaches come and coaches go,
But the glory days seem long ago.
(Chorus)
Stephen M Ross, with pockets so deep,
Your Wolverines need you, don't fall asleep.
Invest in the team, let greatness ignite,
With your help, they'll reclaim their rightful height.
(Verse 2)
It's not just about the wins and the scores,
But about the legacy, the tradition, the lore.
From Bo to Harbaugh, the names we revere,
But without support, they can't steer clear.
Recruiting battles, facilities prime,
These are the tools for the climb.
But without the funds to compete at the top,
The Wolverines' journey might come to a stop.
(Chorus)
Stephen M Ross, with pockets so deep,
Your Wolverines need you, don't fall asleep.
Invest in the team, let greatness ignite,
With your help, they'll reclaim their rightful height.
(Bridge)
It's more than just money, it's passion and drive,
To keep the Wolverines' spirit alive.
So open those coffers, let the support flow,
And watch as Michigan's legacy grows.
(Chorus)
Stephen M Ross, with pockets so deep,
Your Wolverines need you, don't fall asleep.
Invest in the team, let greatness ignite,
With your help, they'll reclaim their rightful height.
(Outro)
So here's to Ross, and the dream he can sow,
For Michigan football to again glow.
With his generosity, the future's bright,
Go Blue, and let's win this fight!
February 7th, 2024 at 1:45 PM ^
I'm fairly certain this one was by Stephen Collins Foster. It was almost as popular as "Camptown Races" back in the day.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:43 PM ^
What in the world did you ask ChatGPT for this? Lol
February 7th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
I think you misunderstand the dynamics. Manuel is Ross's guy and always has been. I can't find the article now, but I read something last week that went as far as describing a mentor/mentee relationship and before Manuel left Michigan for Buffalo, he was pretty much the Associate AD for Stephen Ross relations.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^
Ross is a businessman. He's probably fired plenty of people over the years he considered friends. Nothing personal, just business.
But if you are correct, if Warde is tied to the hip with Ross, why isn't he stepping in to help him? Keep Warde as AD, but send him someone to help him out. If anything, your point makes it even more confusing that Ross is just sitting by and watching Warde go down in flames.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:13 PM ^
You're assuming that anyone outside of weird internet echo chambers thinks Warde is going down in flames. I bet the AD posts record revenue and profits this year. Football won a national championship less than a month ago. Hockey seems to be humming along just fine. There's a big decision coming for the basketball program, but there are a lot of us that think it's asinine to fire a program legend in the middle of a season where he had heart surgery. They're not fixing that before the end of the season, so chill. Women's basketball is as good as it's ever been.
I think that if you're a big money donor, you're pretty happy with the direction of the athletic department.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^
We seem to be coming at this from 180 different perspectives. You think Warde is doing a great job and there is no crisis. I think the exact opposite.
But please don't credit Warde for record revenues and barely balancing the budget. Revenues have skyrocketed under Warde for two reasons: skyrocketing tv revenues and Jim Harbaugh beating OSU, winning the B1G and making the CFP the past three years. Winning puts butts in the seats and enables you to raise ticket prices. And the opposite happens when you lose (see the Rich Rod era). Fwiw OSU just announced enormous jumps in revenues the past two years (they have soared to around $280 million as of latest). They are literally leaving us in the dust. We used to be $10-$20 million behind them. If our latest budget projections prove accurate, we will soon announce we have hit $220 million. Sounds like a lot, but we are not keeping up. That's a $60 million gap. We are steadily falling behind.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:53 PM ^
No, I'm pointing out that there are ways to frame the state of athletic department that aren't a crisis and that the current state of things is a natural evolution of letting very rich businesspeople have an outsized say.
I'm not a particular fan of Manuel, but that has more to do with thinking that putting MBAs in charge of everything is dumb. And he is an extremely MBA sort of AD. I will say three things and if you think that they're in support of Manuel, then I can't stop you.
1. I don't think there was a good way to manage Harbaugh leaving. Time will tell where Manuel falls on the spectrum of bad outcomes.
2. The type of AD that Michigan keeps hiring is a reflection of the culture at Michigan. We're always going to have an MBA type and I don't think raging about the shortcomings of that reality does any good.
3. The last time Santa Ono hired an AD, it was a total disaster. Things could always be significantly worse.
February 7th, 2024 at 6:13 PM ^
1. If by "very rich business people" you mean Warde Manuel who will soon have earned close to $10 million plus a very lucrative retirement package during his tenure as the AD at UM, you might be onto something.
2. Santa Ono hired Mike Bohn as AD at Cincy who in turn hired Luke Fickell and supported him with an unprecedented pool for assistant coaches and staff and significant upgrades to facilities. The result was five highly successful seasons which included two conferemce titles and the selection to the CFP in 2021. And that helped make Cincy attractive enough to get an invite into a P5 conference. Not too shabby IYAM.
February 7th, 2024 at 6:33 PM ^
I bet those two wouldnt of let Bakich go.