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 8:04 PM ^
KRK, lots of people care what he said.
That's the whole point of post-game interviews.
Millions of people will hear his initial reaction - probably more than will hear his inevitable crafted apology. He did not perform well in his immediate response, which will be replayed on every sports show and all over the internet.
Had he done better, the entire situation would be somewhat better.
Enough with the "pearl-clutching" cliche, already.
Michigan's head basketball coach acted stupidly on national TV, and contributed significantly to what became an ugly brawl. When asked about it, he was somewhat defiant and unapologetic.
It's hard to deny he performed very poorly at his job today.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:08 PM ^
Had he done better the situation *could* be better but I doubt by much. An apology doesn’t do much to change what happened.
And sorry if you don’t like the phrase pearl clutching but that’s exactly what it is. A bunch of uptight people immediately yelling he should be fired because of some misplaced sense of decorum like this is the Tudors.
February 21st, 2022 at 9:16 AM ^
Agreed. Howard is not some 19 year old kid whose impulse control is not even fully developed. Not that he shouldn't apologize, but that doesn't make his behavior any less excusable for a coach.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:38 PM ^
If enough boosters call and tell the university that they shouldn’t expect another check in the mail as long as Howard is coaching there, then he’ll be gone.
Not advocating for him to be fired necessarily. Just saying that money makes the decision here.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:56 PM ^
Sure, but boosters generally care more about wins and losses than an altercation between coaches. It's not like Stephen Ross's business interests are hurt by today's proceedings.
Howard has to be punished and should be suspended for the rest of the year, but I'd be shocked if the moneyed people around this school will care much about this.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:39 PM ^
Nor should he. Howard needs to be better, needs to chill. He doesn’t need to be cancelled, particularly when the other coach is grabbing him and egging him on.
Opposing coaches continue to forget that Juwan is a big guy, former athlete, and current head coach of a D1 basketball team- but instead continue to treat him as if he’s a college basketball player on their team. Don’t poke the bear, treat him with respect. That said, he needs to start acting the part of a D1 college coach no matter how disrespectful opposing staffs are.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:47 PM ^
Gard stopping Juwan reminded me so much of Coach K pulling an opposing player aside in the handshake line to lecture them about talking trash to the crowd or dunking as time expired. It’s such a condescending thing to do.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:07 PM ^
The downplaying of the grab by some as an escalation is odd. I can honestly say I have never seen one head coach grab another that agressively before.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:39 PM ^
Hopefully the Wisconsin ASSistant coach receives some disciplinary action based on his comments. Or was that coach just walking by and coach Howard just decided to swat/slap (not punch) him?
February 20th, 2022 at 7:45 PM ^
There was no punch. He sorta slapped somebody up the side of the head. We all need to go to bed.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:47 PM ^
I am a fan of Mary Sue Coleman. I met her a couple times --- albeit briefly --- and came away with a high opinion of her. My view is that Mary Sue will take a "zero tolerance" approach to the Madison incident if the investigation turns out that Juwan was at fault, provoked or unprovoked, and Warde Manuel notwithstanding.
I'll just say I wouldn't want to be on Mary Sue's wrong side.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:55 PM ^
Yeah. Also leadership needs to protect their own butts here. If Juwan has an incident again, it’s on Warde and MSC for not dealing with it properly this time.
February 20th, 2022 at 7:53 PM ^
You never want your boss to be apologizing on your behalf. Manuel is going to have a big decision to make.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:01 PM ^
So much pearl clutching. Does anyone remember what Stafford did earlier this week? This will be just as much water under the bridge.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:12 PM ^
Stafford just won a Super Bowl and is a professional athlete. I understand what you’re trying to say, really I do, but the two situations are not comparable.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:13 PM ^
He won a super bowl?? Then, when drunk, he saw a woman fall off a platform and allowed emergency services to take care of it…then, he offered to pay 100% of the woman’s medical bills! I guess I’m really confused about what you may be referring to…
February 20th, 2022 at 8:23 PM ^
There were a lot of folks (Twitter) who hated on Stafford for not immediately jumping to her aid. I’m just saying there’s often a one day “who will think of the children” and then nothing. Stafford situation was that and this likely will be too.
February 20th, 2022 at 11:42 PM ^
She broke her back, I don't know what people would expect him to do.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:08 PM ^
To me you need to know what was said by the Wisconsin guy that got Juwan that pissed? Also what was all said in the scuffle. Then you can go from there to serve the punishment. But Juwan can't let this happen again though or he will be fired. Dude is just passionate about Michigan and his team and unfortunately he lets his passion get the best of him. Going to need a cooler next to him from now on.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:44 PM ^
I don't think it was what he said as much as what he did. I don't know if Howard even heard anything he said, but he sure did see him put his hand on TWill's shoulder. I posted a GIF somewhere in this thread that shows Howard only reacted and jumped back into the fray once he saw the coach's hand on TWill. The sequence seems: Assistant coach touches TWill, Howard sees, Howard investigates to see whose hand that was, he sees it's an assistant coach and reaches out to grab him.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:57 PM ^
I’ve seen a video on Michigan 247 that confirms what you are saying…
Not gonna lie, I rushed to judgment against Coach in real time and immediately afterwards. I was embarrassed and sad. But honestly it does look like he’s trying to protect his players. I think we can all debate whether he’s going about it right way (personally, if a coach from another team was getting physical with one of my players, I’d prob rush to throw down first and then think about it second)…nevertheless, I genuinely hope Warde and MSC consider all the factors here before rushing to a decision (and it sounds like they are)…
February 20th, 2022 at 8:45 PM ^
I mean the assistant also shoved Faulds and then put his hands on Williams in some manner before whatever he said to Williams too.
February 21st, 2022 at 7:05 AM ^
Notwithstanding a serious threat of death or violence, no, you don't need to know what was said. It's wholly irrelevant.
Why are you making excuses for a grown man, paid on our dime, slapping a man on television because he can't control his temper?
February 20th, 2022 at 8:11 PM ^
As usual, cooler heads will thankfully prevail. Warde is a good leader.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:16 PM ^
Juwan screwed up swatting the Wisc asst, even if the asst was aggravating the situation.
The B1G can only impose a 2-game suspension and 10K fine. I suspect Juwan gets three games (UM adds an extra one) including the MSU game at home and is given the last two games of the year to rebound.
Face this year was likely in the NIT given the earlier losses to Minny, UCF, Seton Hall, etc. We'd be 17-8 and 9-6 in conf play without those crap losses.
Gard will get off with a measly fine even though he grabbed Juwan's arm which started the physical nature of this event.
Probably two game suspensions for two of our players. Maybe one game for Wisc player.
This mirrors a football situation where the instigator who started it ends up with less punishment than the guy who retaliates.
The fact that Warde stated "instigating factors" means he has seen enough to know that Wisc started this. I don't see Juwan getting fired for this. Now, a crappy 2022-23 season (NIT) will change the game on his future IF that happens.
Gard was and is a total dick for how he handled this at the end. So what if your scrubs only have 4 seconds to get the ball past midcourt. That can be good practice for them and WTF with 15 seconds left anyway.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:49 PM ^
I would really hope that UM fights for the players because Williams and Diabete getting more than Wisconsin's guy would be pure absurdity. Also they need to be adamant that the assistant for Wisky get a hefty punishment because he clearly shoved Faulds, put his hands on Williams and then said something before Howard swiped at him. He was clearly acting in a highly instigative manner.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:23 PM ^
This sounds right. I could even see Michigan adding no games to what the Big Ten does depending on how Howard handles this with Warde and the team.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:18 PM ^
Now watch us win out with Martelli ! Moussa might get a few games too
February 20th, 2022 at 8:39 PM ^
He will be disciplined, but not fired.
Sounds about right.
We won't see him in Crisler the rest of the year. We will next year.
Who coaches the team for now, Martelli?
February 20th, 2022 at 8:59 PM ^
So did Howard and Gard actually shake hands and Gard grabbed him afterwards or with his other hand? Because initially I thought they never shook but it looks like they did and the cbs logo thing is just blocking it.
February 20th, 2022 at 8:59 PM ^
The amount of racial bias going into the coverage of this incident is insane from the media and the general CBB community. This incident was initiated by Gard. He put his hands on Howard first, but no one seems to want to acknowledge that whatsoever and the B1G's official statement didn't even mention Gard. People are calling for Juwan to be fired when the likes of Mark Few (DUI), Greg McDermott (racist comments), and Will Wade (being caught on FBI wiretap) weren't fired and were barely punished. Juwan has received racist treatment since he started at Michigan such as insulting his coaching ability and his weak technical fouls from officials and this coverage is the latest example of that. Juwan was in the wrong for what he did and should be punished, but the dismissal of Gard's role in this and the calls for him to be fired would not be happening if he was white
Not to mention the amount of people who can't have a nuanced opinion on this situation and can't understand that Juwan and Gard both should share blame
February 20th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
I don't know about the racial bias part but anyone who says they have ever seen a coach grab another coach as agressively as Gard did to Howard is lying through their teeth. Also the assistant was acting as an instigator. He shoved Faulds and then put his hands on Williams before saying something after. It doesn't absolve Howard but any narrative saying their was not escalation on Wisconsin's side is not remotely accurate. And UM needs to make that clear to the Big Ten.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:47 PM ^
You don't know about the racial bias part? This has been a continued trend throughout his entire coaching tenure. First it was saying that Juwan isn't an Xs and Os coach and that Martelli was the real brains of the staff. Then, it was calling Juwan a thug for the situation with Turgeon. Then this year with Juwan getting technicals for doing things that Izzo, Collins, and McCaffrey do all the time. And now this.
February 21st, 2022 at 6:43 AM ^
….Doesn’t this blog and 90% of posters do the same thing about another African-American coach? Frames Janklin ring a bell? Mocha Brady Hoke? Do all those people have a racial bias towards James Franklin or is it one fan base pointing and laughing / downplaying another coach like ‘normal’ fans do?
February 20th, 2022 at 10:02 PM ^
When in doubt, make it about race.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
Coach Howard an intense guy, I understand completely and personally it's taken me years to learn not to be triggered by idiots (and not be an idiot myself). That said, hope he has just a suspension for a few weeks and of course people are sue happy these days so he'll probably be paying out some $$. Hopefully no charges come of it.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
The bottom line is Juwan’s actions are a very bad optic. Further, as everyone knows this is not his first rodeo. I would be disappointed if he is fired, but I fear it probably should happen.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
No matter what happens, Juwan does need some counseling. He gets way too caught up in the heat of the moment, which you cannot do at the leadership level he is in now.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:10 PM ^
He did get caught up, but I can understand loosing your head unfortunately after you have been forcefully grabbed and then you see an assistant for the other team shove and put his hands on your players. It would have been nice to be the bigger man, but I can understand the poor reaction made in the moment.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:15 PM ^
I tell my kids everyday you can't let what other people say or do bother you as long as they aren't hurting you. Hell I have a neighbor who yells at all the neighborhood kids to get off his lawn and he's pretty damn rude about it. But instead of starting a war and confronting him I told my kids don't go anywhere near his house or sidewalk. To be honest he has a right to tell people to get off his lawn. Just like Gard has a right to call a timeout. It's Juwans entitled attitude that bothers me, like how dare Gard disrespect me the NBA legend like that. How stupid. You make yourself look like an idiot when you actually let people piss you off to that degree.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:21 PM ^
You act as though it was just the TO, like that alone caused the swipe at the assistant. Gard grabbed him in a way you should not grab another coach, period. I can definitely also say their assistant acted very inappropriately shoving Faulds and then putting his hands on Williams. Would have been nice if Howard could have stepped back for a second and not reacted impulsively, but sorry you acting like the only thing Wisconsin did was the TO is absurd.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:40 PM ^
I've only watched the cbs video. I couldn't tell exactly what was taking place. But my common sense tells me Gard didn't really grab Juwan, I actually saw Juwan Gran him and point his finger very aggressively.
February 20th, 2022 at 11:05 PM ^
Then you are looking at the wrong ones, Gard 100% grabbed him initially. And the assistant did in fact shove Faulds and then put his hands on Williams.
February 20th, 2022 at 11:06 PM ^
Not to mention, I've had people unexpectedly grab me, even threateningly, without immediately taking a swing at them. I'm not actually meaning to come down on Juwan here -- I don't know all the facts (and I don't really care), but the suggestion that Gard's actions are in any way the equivalent of throwing a punch is weird.
Even in a basketball game itself, when one player grabs you or fouls you, you're not allowed to start swinging. I'm not suggesting the situations are equivalent, but throwing a punch at someone is not a legitimate response to harmless (even when startling) physical contact.
February 21st, 2022 at 8:02 AM ^
Dude you are EVERYWHERE on these things. Holy cow your rationalizations would make some good material for some term papers. Particularly how Juwan "swiped" at someone and Gard "grabbed him in a way you should not grab another coach, period." I mean come on. Really? Gard putting his hand on Juawn's arm to get a response in after being cussed out is something I think a lot of people would do. Getting a handful of your shirt grabbed immediately after ... no.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:07 PM ^
If this was any other high profile coach from another team doing what Juwan did today I'm fairly confident we would all be calling for his job, especially after his history of run-ins and needing to be restrained. Add on top of that we are the Univ of Michigan and we call ourselves the leaders and best.
There's obviously some anger and temper issues. This wasn't a one time thing. He's gone after refs ( I know they deserve it). I've read his lips many times and it's pretty bad and crosses the line.
Big whoopty do he called a freaking timeout, no need to get your panties in a bunch about that, how about be pissed at your teams effort and coaching today. That's the problem.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^
Get out of here about the ref thing, that is utter nonsense. Tom Izzo and others scream at the officials like lunatics all game. Howard is tame in comparison. It's not his fault the Big Ten officials have no consistency and give certain coaches a pass on how much they can argue.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:18 PM ^
No I'm talking about when he had to be fully restrained from going after a ref. Like it wasn't a couple second thing, it was a full "hold me back dawg" moment.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:33 PM ^
He's gotta go unfortunately.
Too many incidents of losing his cool, and now getting physical.
We've all known hot heads and I can lose my shit every once in a while.... but not over basketball, especially when you are trying to teach boys to be men. Put extra work in beating them the next time. That's what men do.
By all accounts, Garde is a douche but this is all on Howard. Anyone saying otherwise is blind.
That was a disgrace.
February 20th, 2022 at 9:42 PM ^
Well said. Juwans still acting like a kid not a grown man. He had to get "Chicago" on Turgeron, give me a break.