Thursday, October 16, 2014

Michigan Thursday: Is Ross Support Enough?

The Regents are meeting today in Flint to discuss U of M issues including David Brandon as the AD.  

“The reaction has been very very strong,”Illitch said. “I’ve received hundreds of letters and I know my fellow regents have as well.”

Some insiders expect this to be a political issues and when I say political I don't mean internal U of M politics, I mean Republican vs. Democrats.  There are 8 total regents, I believe the way the parties breakdown are 2 Republicans and 6 Democrats.   It sounds like the Democrats want him out and would win that vote 6-2. 

President Schlissel has also been meeting with the big Michigan donors including Billionaire Stephen Ross, who you might remember as the guy with his name on the business school and a donor that has given the University of $300 Million.   He is also the owner of the Miami Dolphins.

Ross has supported Brandon during this: 

"He's probably the most qualified athletic director in the country,” Ross told Crain’s Detroit Business.  “I think he's terrific.”

“I wouldn't have given my gift to the athletic department if I didn't believe in Dave.”
"You don't go around giving $100 million if you don't feel there is going to be bang for the buck."

Later he spoke to the WSJ:

"If they were winning football games, this wouldn't be a problem," Ross told the Journal. "He is as qualified to be an athletic director as anyone could be."

President Schlissel has been very careful about this words when meeting with the donors, he has not backed Brandon nor has he said a change has to be made.  The meeting today should go a long way of understanding what the next steps should be.

First off, firing Brandon is not just about "concussion-gate"  its about everything he has done as the AD of Michigan.   I don't have to give you a list of failures or how he has disrespected fans, students and staff, we know it all to well.    If David Brandon is fired in the next weeks or months, he has earned that firing.   A monkey could have been in his role and grew revenue for the athletic department.   That BTN check can hide a lot of dysfunction and poor decisions. 

Can Ross support save him?  $300 Million gives you a voice, it sure as hell does.   I just don't think he has enough support in other areas like former players, staff, students, season ticket holders and high profile alumni.   I expect Brandon to receive a "No support" from the Regents today and that he could be removed from role in the next few weeks.   I don't believe he will be fired today or even this weekend. 

If Michigan has really reached out to other candidates (as they should be doing) there is enough smoke here for a Brandon fire.


Update:  Heard DaveBrandon won't resign but there'll be some push when #Michigan board meets today to make recommendation to UM prez that he be fired
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 16, 2014
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  • Did anyone notice how Hoke spoke about Gardner's broken foot/toe earlier in the week from last years OSU game.  So coach, you lied about the turf toe?  I'm shocked.

  • Hoke expects Gardner and Willie Henry to play against MSU.

  • Good News:  Kyle Bosch will re-join the team in January after taking some time off from the team to deal with some personal issues.   He played one snap in App. State game but I expect he will receive a full redshirt this season.

  • George Clinton tweeted Dennis Norfleet on his Atomic Dog dance!  Nicely done Fleet!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I understand your point of view Bob but I think it is heavily influenced as a season ticket holder. I personally am concerned that we are going into an alternating year cycle with MSU and OSU being both home and then both away, but I think that Brandon has learned along the way as well.

Michigan has a broad fan base and in fact the last time they played in the southeast other than a FL bowl George Rogers was at South Carolina! in the mid 70's. Playing a prime time game at a neutral site is not the end of the world.

Brandon like him or not genuinely cares for M football. He is down on the sidelines, etc. I think Ross is right on.

Rob said...

NC Wolverine's comments are well received. However, genuinely caring for M football, while an important pre-rquisite, is not dispositive of the issue concenring Brandon's fitness for the position. I believe we will find several qualified candidates to take the AD posiotion that genuinely care about M football. As for being on the side line, that is a symptom of an entirely bigger probelm that exists relative to Brandon not maintianing healthy boundaries with the program, coaches, and players. Making money is also undoubtendly important. But as far as I can recall, our Athletic Department budget was one of the few self-sustaining, profitable departments in the country before BRandon took over. And I am confident pother experienced candidate for his job will do a fine job on the balance statement. Sadly, while he loves M Football and knows how to make money, the other multitide of gaffs by Brandon are too monumental to overcome and the lost is far too long to address in this short ocmment to a blog post. As a footnote: I have a strong suspicion Brandon is a big reason why the ND rivalry was suspended, and why there is so much ill-will between UM and ND the last three years. ANyone else think a possibility exists that Brandon just MIGHT be a reason?

Scott K said...

much over used, but winning heals a lot of wounds... not winning at all costs, hence we get a rep. like fsu, ohio and the like, but winning makes lots of complaints go away.

if rr was winning 10 games a season, he would still coaching in A2. Be it fair, unfair, right, wrong... it really doesn't matter at this point. The program under Brandon/Hoke has been a failure.. from 11-2 to the worst start in program history, in just 4 years.. Considering Brady took over RR's team and won, recruited his own team and can't win.
Just fix the O line and it all gets better, really? wow, that shouldn't take 3 years, should it?

If RR was only give 3 years, with a record that improved every year, why should Brady get more than 4, with a record that has declined every year? Recruits are on record saying Michigan doesn't develop talent. Change is needed, hopefully THIS time its the right change.

For what its worth.

Bob said...

NC, I agree it is not the worst thing in the world to move home games to Dallas, I also agree he loves Michigan football. Why else would he leave a salary of Millions to be the AD of Michigan. With that said, the $5 waters, selling the coaching titles, the RR firing to late mistake, making the former players pay to get into a game, App. State reschedule, the list goes on and on. I think there is enough here for him to be removed. The luxury boxes and BTN payment is the reason for the growth in revenue.

Rob said...

What about the gaffs like approving to have antagonizing flyovers at your rival's home stadiums (imagine if swomeone did that to us how angry we wold be!), playing the chicken dance when be beat ND at home last year, the Minnesota/Coke debacle, how he has treated alumni that vpoice any degree of negativity over twitter by tellthin essentially to go to hell, etc. etc. the list goes on and on...

Rob said...

Not to mention the over kill on fireworks; clown uniforms on our players; fuckin Beyonce and Eminem on out jumbo-tron; the horrible music piped into our beloved stadium like Sweet Caroline, Build Me Up Butter Cup, or any variety of 80's hair band vitriol! It just has to stop. His big ego marketing brain would not stop. And even though he received intense negative feedback from countless alum and seaoson ticket holders on a whole host of issues, we were disregarded and ignored countless times as we have had to watch him take to the lecturn at one of all of his media conferences with a sense of indignanation and arrogance - you could tell he was being dimissive every time! He has broken his bond of trust with so many factions of our University. Ypou cannot rebuild the trust that has been lost...

Rob said...

Its NOT just about wins. Not anymore...