AD Manuel doesn't seem inclined to fire Coach Howard
“We will review the situation more thoroughly and work with the Big Ten Conference as they determine their disciplinary actions and will determine if further disciplinary actions are warranted,” Manuel concluded.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:56 PM ^
Except there is still, to date, no hard evidence that Bo actually *did* anything wrong aside from some vague recollections of conversations made by people 30+ years after the fact (and, from the WH report, even those recollections aren't exactly definitive). I am not saying he was/was not guilty of any wrongdoing - I wasn't there.
What Juwan did is available for everyone to see and scrutinize, repeatedly, and it is obvious there is wrongdoing - mainly disagreement on how severe it actually was.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:08 PM ^
Not being a jerk.
And we will never get hard evidence
Why the pay out then? The James Earl Jones football hype video before every home game had no Bo in it. They don't play The Team video anymore. They played that at every UM sporting event they could that had video so you would donate more money.
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/um-settles-anderson-survivors-490-million
February 21st, 2022 at 5:45 AM ^
The payout ultimately had nothing to do with "Bo" or any of the *numerous* other athletic department staff members that allegedly knew or should have known (and keep in mind that the list of Anderson victims was much longer than just the relative handful of football players... yet those are the ones getting the most media attention because it gives the media & others the chance to cry out "Bo knew!") The university as a whole failed these victims and has a moral obligation to atone, which includes financial compensation. Giving the significant amount of time (and subsequent staff turnover and lack or records from that period), it is difficult (sometimes impossible) to verify the claims made by some of the victims - which is a sad reality. There may still be some victims who have not come forward, but there also may some false claims among those in the settlement - which is the price the university is willing to pay since they are at fault. They need to go above & beyond whatever the bare minimum response is to try and do justice to those who were harmed.
There is also a due process of sorts for those being accused of wrong-doing and/or inaction in all of this. Those who are still alive & able to participate can facilitate this process, but there are many who are not. For some of them, such as Bo, we can neither condemn nor absolve him since all we have (thus far) is effectively hearsay - so for many the easiest solution is to just let him fade away from public mention.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:28 PM ^
GoBlueGoWings, you are my Internet hero for the day! This is my feeling exactly!
February 20th, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^
Juwan still hasn't apologized for what happened, and this is just Warde putting out a generic statement saying my bad and buying time to investigate.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:01 PM ^
I wonder if Juwan has been asked to not say anything until the investigation wraps up and / or the PR plan is in place…?
February 20th, 2022 at 7:34 PM ^
Dude is on a plane home. Guessing the flight may not have Wi-Fi.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:39 PM ^
The people on the main post bringing up Woody Hayes, etc are flat out being insane. You are talking about a situation that had already turned heated versus one with a coach flat out decking a player out of nowhere. Significant consequences are definitely in order but the hyperbole of comparing this to other situations with no nuance for context is dumb as hell. The reality is I think some fans are letting their disappointment of the seasons results impact their view of whether this is a suspension or fire worthy offense. And Wisconsin needs to absolutely face significant consequences as well. You don't forcefully grab another coach the way Gard did, their assistant was acting in a instigative manner and their player threw the initial punches as far as players throwing any.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:45 PM ^
First day on the internet?
February 21st, 2022 at 8:13 AM ^
I mean I agree they are different but it is really odd to say that Howard was heat of moment and Hayes was not. Actually it is reverse. Hayes was a gut level reaction. Howard occurred later after a few minutes to cool down (or stew in this case).
February 20th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
Good grief, he didn't even apologize in the post-game presser.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:44 PM ^
Much of what comes next will depend on how Howard handles himself with Warde. Does Warde trust him? Will Howard express the right tone ? It’s not too late for Howard to put this behind him but he has to accept that his conduct was wrong even if he felt justified in the heat of the moment.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:44 PM ^
This will likely result in a lengthy suspension and of course some players as well. Michigan's post season has been torpedoed by Howard himself. Michigan coaches and players should be better than this, but it happened so what will be the fallout?
I love what Coach Howard did last year, but this season has seen the luster fade. Will the results of this help or hurt the program? In the short run it will certainly hurt with coming suspensions and who knows the Big Ten could even keep UM out of the conference tourney over this, its not out of the equation. But what will be the long term impact? That is my concern and it could turn out good, bad or negligible.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:56 PM ^
lol the Big Ten will not keep a team out of the conference tournament over a scrum. The only way this has any long term effect is if Michigan fires Juwan. If not, it becomes just another thing that happened. Heck, I bet some recruits are watching Juwan stand up for his players and thinking they wanna play for that guy.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:46 PM ^
Suspended for rest of season ..Yes. Fired , i would be surprised. But Warde seems like no bullshit dude so it could happen.
Terrance and Mousa should be suspended. Can’t be swinging like you’re at the rec center. Learning moment for all i hope. ?♂️
i love Howard, Chicago raised through and through. Coaches and played like he was raised to defend him self at any moment…..but gotta lock it up a bit coach
Embarrassing moments can and should humble you, and this is one of those moments for coach and some of our players. Reflect on this, learn and move forward.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:52 PM ^
Williams and Diabete should get a game max in a just world. Do you really expect a college kid to not react when Wisconsin's guy throws two punches first in the heat of the moment?
February 20th, 2022 at 6:54 PM ^
Worth noting TWill and Diabate were sucker punched. In Diabate’s case, with his back turned. In TWill’s case, right after a Wisconsin assistant coach tackled him.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:30 PM ^
Also, Faulds deserves some recognition (from what I can see in the video). He tried to deescalate things from the beginning. He stepped between Howard and the Wisconsin coaches. He kept his cool when he was being pushed and grabbed, and he even kept his cool and tried to deescalate when guys on each side of him were being tackled and throwing punches. He looked like the adult in the room.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:33 PM ^
This is the worst part of what Juwan did. Those players were minding their own business, shaking hands after a game - both sides. Before Howard's strike it looked like TWill was trying to keep people separated.
At very worst there were harsh words and a bit of jostling prior to Juwan lunging at that assistant and striking him - and that seemed to come mostly from coaches, not players. Yes, Gard grabbed his arm - c'mon, big deal.
Once that first blow was struck, it's hard to blame players on either team for stepping in to defend their coaches. It was a melee at that point and hard to say who hit who first; just an ugly mess. Unfortunately, players will be punished too - and to my eyes, it looked like Moussa threw the most aggressive punches (at least in view of camera).
February 20th, 2022 at 7:52 PM ^
Look up other videos, there are a couple that clearly show the sequence of events among the players. Wisconsin 0 threw two punches at Williams as the first punches thrown by any players, that is indisputable. Also you waive off the grab by Gard but that was not a touch grab, that was an agressive grab and I can honestly say I have never seen another coach grab another that forcefully before. Just let him pass as that was clearly Howard's intention initially , the grab definitely escalated things. It doesn't excuse Howard doing what he did but handwaving Gard's grab away as not being an escalating factor is just wrong.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:37 PM ^
I mean, ok. Gard should not have grabbed him. But are we just ignoring that Howard showed him up by not shaking hands and very clearly shit talked Gard on the way by?
Howard acted like a child today. He probably isn’t getting fired. But this team is terrible and seems clueless at times, and he keeps trying to fight other coaches. Diabate also had to be escorted out of the arena at Rutgers this year after completely losing his shit. Dickinson has been doing increasingly bizarre celebrations after plays for like a month now that even announcers are saying is weird. Is it possible that Juwan simply isn’t up to this job and is not really instilling the best ideals in these players?
I think that is up for debate.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:47 PM ^
Look at the court-level video without the CBS text box blocking the view - Howard has his hand open for a handshake with Gard and was most likely saying, "we'll remember that last minute," as he walked past. Gard grabbed him and got in front of him, which obviously Howard didn't appreciate. If he doesn't take that later swing, Warde can call the Big Ten Commissioner's office to complain about Gard physically grabbing him and the narrative is much different.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:49 PM ^
Anyone who thought Juwan would be or should be fired is seriously out of touch or they have an anti-Juwan agenda. No doubt there are a lot of blue hairs that fall in the latter category for obvious reasons, but thankfully those cranky old farts aren't calling the shots on this one.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:17 PM ^
I'm a 30s millennial who thinks that he COULD be fired, and quite honestly, I would not be terribly disappointed if it happened.
I still think he's a good coach and has done some good stuff with the program; however, a huge chunk of his goodwill evaporated today.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:48 PM ^
If you are indeed a '93 Grad, you're not far off from blue hair yourself, buddy.
If not, enough of the ageist drivel.
It's perfectly reasonable to expect better from a high-profile head coach, and even to suggest he could/should pay the price of his job.
It's also reasonable to believe his actions, while terrible, warrant a lesser punishment.
Either opinion can be held without an "agenda" regarding Juwan Howard. Personally, I love Coach Howard and hope he isn't fired - but he harmed the school, his players and his reputation today. This was bad, and it can't happen again.
What's b.s. is insulting anyone whose opinion differs from yours.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:56 PM ^
What are the "obvious reasons"?
Juwan was always the old soul of the Fab Five. And without a hint of scandal.
He left college early, but then did the work on his own and still graduated with his class to keep a promise he made with his grandmother.
Imagine that, your first year in the NBA and instead of spending your free time on parties and the limelight, you spend it graduating from college.
Not all the Fab Five personalities were the same. Let's not do the collective guilt thing.
February 20th, 2022 at 6:52 PM ^
"The Big Ten Conference has failed to act as expected, which leaves me no choice but to leave a giant mud pie in the toilet at Mars' Cheese Castle"
February 20th, 2022 at 6:54 PM ^
John Bacon often quotes Don Canham's maxim "never turn a one day story into a two day story". To me, that means Warde talks to whoever he has to talk to -- Mary Sue Coleman, Regents, others on the staff etc. -- and makes his decision tomorrow the earlier the better. I assume that means at best for Howard a multi-game suspension and at worst loss of job. These thing don't age well, there's not much to investigate (he can talk to everyone who was there tonight/tomorrow) and delaying the decision will just given the media more time to opine and debate. Yes, folks will say it was rushed but that will be at mot a one day conversation.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:04 PM ^
What will happen? I don't know. But Warde Manuel's public statement seems to me like it was just right. Juwan's behavior was inappropriate, and for that, an apology to UW is warranted, regardless of whether Gard, his staff, or players also owe an apology or not. Atonement is not a transaction. Warde will consult with all involved first, and then decide on further steps.
What do I hope will happen? I hope Juwan does whatever he needs to do to keep his job. I think he's a good coach, his players seem to like playing for him, and from all accounts of his professional associates going back decades, he seems like a genuinely good guy. But whether he likes it or not, it's now up to other people to decide what that will be.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:06 PM ^
This comes under the heading: Don't rush to judge, don't rush to act.
Wise move...
February 20th, 2022 at 7:24 PM ^
So I saw someone else mention it but the videos I saw I couldn't tell for sure. Does Wisconsin's assistant actually shove Williams before Howard reaction? If so their assistant definitely should be suspended for however long Howard is for touching an opposing player. Honestly think he should be suspended just as long anyways though for being a general instigator. I would also like to know what he said cause clearly Williams reacts strongly to something he said.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:27 PM ^
No shove of Williams before Howard's blow. He said something that had Williams pissed and clearly Juwan heard it. But no physical altercation that I'm seeing.
REALLY want to know what Krabbenhoft said.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:32 PM ^
I respectively disagree enlightenedbum. At a minimum there is some jostling for positions, maybe a hand to move Williams back.
doesn’t excuse Howard. But I saw the assistant moving Terrance a bit. Could be maize and blue bias.
interested in what others saw
February 20th, 2022 at 7:34 PM ^
My honest first thought was some sort of racial slur but you would think we would have heard about it by now if it was.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:48 PM ^
I have failed MGoBlog video posting several times, but there’s a video on Michigan 247 that clearly shows Krabbenhoft shoving two UM players before Juwan does anything. It looks like Juwan reacts after Krabbenhoft quasi pushes (or does something physical) to Williams…
February 20th, 2022 at 7:32 PM ^
Sure looks like it.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
I mean he does have his hand clearly on Williams in that shot but we can't say if it is forceful enough to be considered a shove without seeing it in motion.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:52 PM ^
Fair enough. Maybe that’s not enough force to be considered a “shove,” but it’s clear that seeing a hand on TWill is what set Howard off.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:58 PM ^
It actually looks like he shoves Faulds before touching Williams, you see Faulds fall back and he says something after like he got shoved. That assistant is definitely putting his hands on the UM players in a agressive manner at the very least and I can see why Howard wouldn't like that very much. As I mentioned before that assistant for Wisconsin deserves whatever Howard gets.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:21 PM ^
It is clear that at this point of the conflagration it was about to blow over. But the Wisconsin assistant is still engaging Howard and others. This is not totally exculpatory. But along with other factors (including Gard making first contact) it means we are ultimately talking about the length of suspension and not termination. As long as Howard accepts responsibility for his role.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:29 PM ^
I didn't like Coach Howard's behavior after the games today. Not at all. But if you consider the totality of what he has contributed to Michigan - as an athlete, a student, a proud alum, and as a Coach - I just have to say that if they even CONSIDER firing him, given the level of the offense, and the way it was provoked, I would be shocked and dismayed. And would have to think REAL hard about further supporting the school financially in the future. Juwan - turn off the twitter feed. 98% of Michigan fans have your back. As they should.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:42 PM ^
Agreed, if they suspend him the rest of the season so be it but firing to me screams you don't care about nuance as far as how this was a situation that was escalated, etc by both sides. At the end of the day Howard is still a human being and we are all capable of doing stupid shit in the heat of the moment at times.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:44 PM ^
I think Warde is made of tougher stuff than to cave in to any pressure to fire Juwan. He's not a guy who's know for knee-jerk reactions. For a reference, look at how he handled the recent situation with Jim Harbaugh and his interest in the NFL.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:52 PM ^
No doubt Warde will play a heavy role in deciding Juwan’s future at UM, but I honestly think MSC will play a larger role than normal (especially given the circumstances associated with her interim placement).
February 20th, 2022 at 8:30 PM ^
MSC hates everybody associated w/ the Fab Five, so wouldn't be surprised if she wants him gone yesterday.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:44 PM ^
She is just in a temporary caretaker role. She is not going to be burning shit down.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:17 PM ^
This is the second incident for Howard, after the Mark Turgeon tussle last year. There might have been a performance counseling action after the event last year. If so, it makes it more likely Howard is no longer the coach, probably forced to step down.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:23 PM ^
Two coaches had a shouting match after chippy regular season meetings. If you think this situation and that are the same you are wrong.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
Whoever is #0 for Wisconsin started throwing punches at Williams and Diabate. Then had the nerve to start running.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
Do people really think he’s not going to apologize? And who cares what he said 5 minutes after a brawl? Has anyone ever been composed in a presser after something wild happens at the end of the game? Not really. He’ll do the apology tour and take his suspension. The pearl clutching-knee jerk reactions are as hilarious as they are stupid.