Wolverine Wednesday: More like Canham Less Like Jerry Jones

I think everyone agrees that David Brandon is going to get his walking papers.  The only person that probably doesn't understand that is David himself.   If he did, he would man up and resign.   The rumor is, he thinks this is just a political thing that will die down after the elections.   If this is truly the case, then he is one confused AD.  Per Sam Webb:

“(Schlissel) has been told that not another penny will be given until this is resolved,” a source told GoBlueWolverine on the condition of anonymity.

Exactly how many donors have delivered that message is unclear, but any impact outside of athletics will clearly be magnified.  Especially since Michigan is in the midst of its “Victors for Michigan campaign” to raise 4 billion dollars to finance "student support, engaged learning, and bold ideas.”

You add the recent WSJ article that Ross will stand down on Brandon's firing, means there is only one decision to be made.   Most are expecting something in November.

Michigan needs a AD more like Don Canham and less like Jerry Jones. 

More of this:



Don had some swag back in the day!  My grandfather always said he was a good man and even owned his own island.  Wikipedia could not confirm the island part.   But did have this interesting fact:

One of Canham's first priorities upon being named athletic director was to address the dwindling attendance at Michigan home football games, which by 1967 had declined to an average of 67,000 fans per game. Canham's good friend, Notre Dame athletic director Moose Krause, knew a sure-fire way to fill Michigan Stadium — by playing Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish and the Wolverines had not met on the gridiron since 1943 when Fritz Crisler, Michigan's then football coach and athletic director until 1968 when Canham succeeded him, became so incensed at the intensity of Notre Dame's Frank Leahy that he never scheduled Notre Dame again. Canham and Krause worked out an agreement to renew the series, which resumed in 1978 and ended in 2014.

Interesting to see how history has repeated itself.  Don also had a PR theory of never making a one day story a two day story.  Michigan has broken this rule like 5 times this year alone.  Canham was also known as an aggressive marketer but had Bo and a winning football program.  

Many think BC's Brad Bates will be offered the job, when Brandon is removed.   I am a fan of all the candidates that were mentioned.  They all understand how to run an athletic department and not a real estate firm or pizza delivery franchise.    Jeff Long was on TV last night as the playoff committed announced it's first standings. 

Last point:  DB was called out by Mgoblog on his treatment of fans over email, here is his response:

"I don't read blogs so I think it's nonsense," Brandon told MLive, while exiting the Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Recognition Dinner at Zingerman's Cornman Farms on Tuesday night.
 
"I'm here to get an award tonight, so I appreciate you showing up, but that's not why I'm here," added Brandon, who alongside a handful of staff members represented the U-M athletic department as recipients of an award recognizing the department for its key roles in tourism and its impact on Ann Arbor's economy.

He probably should read blogs, since he writes a blog on Mgoblue.com.

It's time for history to repeat itself and the first step is removing the pizza guy.

• Side note:  Tennessee's boards blew up yesterday as a rumor that Michigan contacted Butch Jones.  My thought, ok but after the brothers and Les have turned down the job.  Butch being from the RR coaching tree probably won't help even though he was born in Michigan.

Butch Jones via @GoVols247: "I may have been born in Michigan, but I am from Tennessee. When you're a Vol you're a Vol For Life"