David Brandon continues to say the right things.
I just read this article and I'm blown away by how amazing this guys is. He continually impresses me every time he gives an interview.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^
He gets what most arm chair coaches don't. Had we beaten MSU we would be in control of our own destiny for the Big Ten Championship going into these last two weeks. That MSU game was a matter of 2 or 3 bad plays away from being a victory. We are very very close. 7-3 going into the last two games. With our defense are you kidding me? That is a great feeling.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
I appreciate your love for the man. But you can't play the "2 or 3 bad plays" arguement. Because you could also make the case for losing to ND, Indiana, Illinois and Umass. Reality checks about to be cashed with interest the next 2 weeks.
PS: Nice lights, even as a fan of the enemy I have to say there is nothing like the Michigan Stadium experience. Night games are going to be flat out awesome.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
Must resist the urge to neg simply because of the negative MGoPoint total . . . Must resist the urge to neg simply because of the negative MGoPoint total . . .
Awwwww screw it. -1 anyway!
November 19th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
He's dead right though. We could easily be 3-7 (losses to Ind., Ill., ND, UMass). We have two convincing victories: UConn and Bowling Green. Not pretty. And sorry, but to me it looked like we got housed by MSU.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
None of those ever felt in doubt except Illinois. Even ND. The way we were running at will on the Irish I was grinning ear to ear because I knew that we were going to march it down the field on them and receivers were going to be wide open everywhere.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^
I have more of a problem with this part of his comment:
Reality checks about to be cashed with interest the next 2 weeks.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
Agreed. OSU in particular I hope we smash in the mouth. Beware a wounded Wolverine.
November 20th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
Reality Check #1 coming in with spades...
November 19th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
Why is it with the anti RR people that winning isn't enough? I understand that we have lost 3 games and played some other close ones. However, what happened to the sign of a team growing up was winning close games or winning while not playing well.
Since when do style points matter so much as simply beating the team on the opposite side of the field on Saturday's?
November 20th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^
They are changing their stories now that he met their conditions. This is a subconscious coping mechanism relating to the principle of commitment and consistently that is often seen in cult members when their salvation doesn't suddenly happen.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
Its obvious that Brandon is an intelligent guy and a good speaker. He clearly knows the Xs and Os of football and appears to spend a lot of time with the program. That makes perfect sense because football is obviously the most important sports program in the department (in dollars and in national significance). But am I the only one that felt it was a little strange that Brandon is sitting in on film sessions and watching plays over and over? Is that something an athletic director is supposed to be/should be doing with his/her time? I honestly do not know and am hoping for an education.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
1) He's new to the job and has access to this stuff that he loves but hasn't had access to for 20+ years... chalk some of it to "recapture the glory" type of retro-ism in a new job. He'll probably grow out of this phase.
2) If he's truly evaluating Rodriguez for job security, then he's probably being as hands on as he thinks he could be (since he may think he knows this stuff being a former player) and trying to get a holistic picture of Rodriguez the coach... truly going beyond just wins and losses.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Being an observer of all facets of the program makes a ton of sense. In fact, its an exceptional way to handle the situation because he can make a truly informed decision. I would like to think that I would do the same thing in Brandon's situation. All that said, I don't think anyone likes a micro-managing boss . . . I hope he's giving Rodriguez the chance to succeed and not standing over his shoulder at every turn.
November 20th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
I suppose you almost had Wisconsin there as well, yah? 2 or 3 bad touchdowns and the game was yours!
November 19th, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
"I don't want their favorite venue to play be somewhere else."
'nuff said.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^
Yeah that was one of my favorite things he said in this interview. It's pretty obvious, why would you want your players to enjoy a venue that is not your own? Players should not like playing anywhere more than at home and DB realizes this and by us hosting a night game next year, it will open up more games like it.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
If you don't have respect for DB and what he is doing at UM, then shame on you. He is a great guy and leader and continues to prove that we are the leaders and best. Keep up the good work DB.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
Here's why my unbreakable faith in the pimp hand of David Brandon is, um, unbroken. Observe the following two quotes, which occur right after each other in the article:
There are three phases to the game of football. I think by anyone's standard, our offense is exciting and it's a threat to anybody who has tried to defend it. We've scored a lot of points, and we've certainly moved the ball for a lot of yards. But we turn it over too much, and that's hurt us. Particularly these last two games we were fortunate to win, but you can't turn the ball over five times a game and expect to win a lot of football games.
On the defensive side of the ball, this is such a young team. The development these kids go through from the time they're 18 and 19 to the time they are 22, 23 is amazing, the amount of weight, speed and strength they gain. That's the case in all programs across the country. We've got a bunch of 18 and 19 year old guys out there trying to chase down and tackle and fight off blocks of 22 and 23 year old guys.
Notice that he is willing to criticize the side of the ball that is obviously more dominant and willing to explain the reasons for the difficulty for the side of the ball that has been pretty sucky. That's because he--what's that called--evaluates evidence. The offense is exciting, but has turned the ball over too much recently. The defense is woefully inexperienced.
Belief in pimp hand still unbroken.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
I loved this part as well.. He pretty much knows what most retards that want RR gone don't...
We have so many young kids on D, that he knows they aren't gonna just put on a michigan helmet and stop everyone.
He knows what is coming and in the next few years we are gonna start a revolucion
November 19th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
For dropping an R-bomb. but I agree with what you said. I am also far more concerned about the inability of the offense score points that keep up with the yardage they gain (due to turnovers and redzone struggles). I think that will come with experience too though.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
has entered Beast Mode. He continues to make those who doubt him and this program look foolish, even without making it obvious.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^
It goes without saying that DB is the man - he really is. I hope, and think, he stays here until he retires after a long tenure as AD.
That article was very insightfull too - the most he's ever divulged about his thoughts on the football program. He seems to spend a lot more time with the team than other ADs or we even knew. That is telling b/c he's developing a relationship with the coaches and the staff and it sounds like they're all on the same page. What that means is there's no way he is going to can RR this year, and as long as RR keeps improving, I think DB will keep him. They're becoming pals.
The other thing that stood out to me was that DB said the team competes for Big Ten championships and the Rose Bowl. What about national championships? I'm surprised he didn't mention that.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:16 AM ^
when we start winning consistently in conference. If things continue to go as we are all hoping/expecting/praying/sacrificing mythical creatures for, that should be next fall.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
All Big Ten coaches/AD's seem to consistently talk about the Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl being the number one goal at the start of every year. I'm not sure if this is a nod to tradition, or whether they don't mention national championships because that's something that would naturally follow a great season & Big Ten championship, or if it's because the National Championship is to some extent determined by other factors not entirely within their control, while the conference championship is entirely within their control.
Regardless, you've got to like DB and the way he has handled his job at U-M thus far--everything he's had to deal with (1st NCAA major infractions, RR controversy, new Big Ten alignment, etc.). The guy's been pretty successful at his previous jobs, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
Regardless, you've got to like DB and the way he has handled his job at U-M thus far--everything he's had to deal with
I've "got to like" the fact that the Big Chill is sponsored by Arby's? Or the fact that he deprived us of a home game in 2012 to line Jerry Jones's pockets? What horrible external circumstances forced those decisions upon him?
I have two concerns about Brandon's tenure:
1. That he may over-commercialize the athletic department.
2. That he may micromanage the football program, overstepping his bounds Jerry Jones-style.
His tenure may well turn out for the best, but it's dangerous to just blindly go with everything he says and does.
November 19th, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
You know it's 2010, right?
November 19th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
Completely agree about Arby's.
I'm guessing UM is getting a nice paycheck from playing 'Bama, at least enough to offset the cost of one less home game. I love the idea because it puts UM in the national spotlight and will probably get them A LOT of media coverage in one of the prime recruiting states.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^
Kind of interesting that we have an AD who knows so much about football and goes into such depth about all aspects of it. Think about Bo's passing as sort of the loss of the wise old football coach emeritus who kept an eye on the program and the coaches and could not be snowed.
Also, Bo was Lloyd's outside and inside looking eyes that could advise him and help him with a unique perspective on players and coaches.
Now, our AD is that guy who appears to have been there and done that and has a ton of people management and manager's management experience.
This could turn out very well for our football program......
November 19th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
That could go either way. Periodic constructive input could help RR run his program, but there's a danger in pushing too far and becoming a micromanaging AD. At the end of the day, it's the head coach's program. I'm a little wary of seeing Brandon on the sidelines every week. Let's not become the Dallas Cowboys.
November 19th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
I don't have the Dallas Cowboys fear, at least not yet. The way DB was speaking during the interview sounded like he was learning from RR, not necessarily managing RR. However, there is the possibility that once DB learns enough from RR, he will start to micromanage, which would not be good. I kind of percieve DB as someone who might do that. He is a born leader and I feel like he's learning now, so he can lead later. We'll see.
November 19th, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
That is exactly what I was getting at in my post from a few hours ago. Brandon has many other programs to manage - granted, football is the largest and most important (arguably?) - and should probably spend time learning more about those as well. But I assume he is doing his job and I'm not necessarily critiquing, if only because I don't know what the f- I'm talking about.
November 19th, 2010 at 8:48 PM ^
I see what you mean, but I didn't get the impression that DB was micromanaging so much as closely monitoring the football program. As he says, at Michigan we put most of our eggs in the football basket. Arguably, the decision to fire or keep the head coach will be the most important thing he'll have done as AD, so he's making sure not to screw it up. You can't blame him for wanting to get as much information as possible on which to base his decision. Nothing he says he is doing, even watching game films (which he seems to acknowledge probably isn't typical AD behavior) strikes me as over-controlling. Not yet, at least.
November 20th, 2010 at 7:45 AM ^
That is a page out of the Bo playbook. He never mentioned the national championship but made a point of stressing the Big 10. When we achieve parity with schools like tOSU, the conversation can change. Until then, it is a distant dream.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
Wow. The guy breaks down film.
Anybody else read this and think "RR is fine, but GERG is dead man walking?"
November 19th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
This will sound pessimistic, but I take that as meaning the whole thing is on shaky ground.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^
RR and DB make a great combo.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
I will not deny the man crush for Brandon. Howeva, his blog post about the playoff/bowl system debate tempered those feelings just a little bit:
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/brandon/spec-rel/111710aaa.html
November 19th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
"My point is, write me letters, send me email, but understand you only have five percent of the information I have. You don't get to go to practice. You're not in the locker room, you don't know the kids, you don't know the coaches; you're not seeing the dynamic among the staff. You're not getting the exit interviews from the seniors who talk about their experience with the program, you're not getting the academic records, you're not getting input on what's happening uptown with the behavior of the team. I get everything, and I get to lay it out into an assessment."
November 19th, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
I.E., go ahead and flap your ignorant pie-hole all you want—it don't mean squat to me.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
is winning.7-5 is good enough for this season, but next year more is expected.
<br>
<br>The things he points to will be there, but will UM win enough for RR to keep his job? That is something only time will tell.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
still got 2 games left man....lets not pack it in yet....
November 19th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
are you capable of pointing out anything that isn't absolutely obvious?
"7-5 is good enough for this season, but next year more is expected."
"The things he points to will be there, but will UM win enough for RR to keep his job? That is something only time will tell."
Honestly, what have you said here that every UM fan on the planet doesn't already know? It seems you were attempting to give everyone a reality check like "don't get too excited because we need to win next year or RR is gone!"
This was a good article and the comments have all been pretty positive as well. You just seem to want to add a little negativity for some reason. To hell with it.... -1 for you.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
Gave an excellent interview, but I was hoping for it to be HARD EDGE-IER. Keep on pimpin' DB.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^
RR is a stone lock to come back next year, regardless of what happens in our next two games.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
It does sound that way reading the entirety of the article. But, at the same time, if we go out and get blown out by Wisco and OSU, looking uncompetitive and playing poorly, I am not sure that this would be the case.
Brandon said that he is looking at every detail of the program. How we stack up against good teams - an area that we have really struggled - will have to be one of those areas. Not saying that two non-competitive losses would seal the deal but how could it not factor in?
November 19th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
Not all blowout losses are the same—if the team just up and quits the next two weeks, that would be a very bad sign. If the team battles hard from whistle to whistle—which it has done all season—that's a different thing. Brandon alludes to that in his comments about the PSU game.
His comments here and elsewhere about the youth of the team are significant. It was interesting, though, that he mentioned looking at how and why we ended up so short on experienced players. I expect that one of the things he'll address with RR in the off-season is improving retention, and making sure that offers go to kids who won't have any trouble qualifying.
I don't expect that Brandon's standards for on-field performance are going to be the same next year. If we're still turning the ball over at an alarming rate and if the defense is still sieve-like and if we're still having issues in some parts of our kicking game, I think he'll be much less "understanding," if you know what I mean.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
Yeah and I don't think DB is one to do something like that. He realizes what he has in a coach like RR and like he said in the interview, he knows what is going on. He has more information than anyone and I know he will make the right choice (keeping RR for at least one more year).
November 19th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
Just wondering what in the interview made you think that he's a "lock" to come back next year? Then, you double-down by saying that the next two games don't matter. Really?
I'll drop a DB quote for you:
We have two big games to play. It's important to see how our guys improve, particularly as we step up the level of competition, so I'm like everyone else. I'm anxious to see how this all pans out.
Nothing is a "lock" and the last two games most certainly matter.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
My belief that DB won't fire RR is based on all of the interviews and comments I've seen and heard over the last several weeks, of which this Rivals interview is just the latest.
When I wrote "regardless of what happens in the last two games" I was referring to what I think will be two losses. I think OSU and Wisky will win by two scores, we will turn the ball over, but we will compete as hard as we did against Iowa and PSU in the latter stages of those games. I'm not under any illusion that Brandon will be anything but disappointed in losing, but on balance I think there has been enough progress in his eyes to warrant another season.
If DB was only concerned about the number of wins and/or the margin of defeat, then why would he have said on multiple occasions that he's going to look at the totality of what goes on in the program? Why would he have referred to the attitude of the players, the issue of academics, for example, when by all accounts, we have not had any problems along those lines this year? If Brandon was planning to axe RR if we lose one or both of the games, I doubt he'd be making references to those things.
If you haven't already, go to this link at Crain's Detroit Business, and then click on the video interview with Brandon. Among other comments he makes, he mentions the issue of firing coaches too readily. Maybe you'll interpret things differently, but that interview does not show me somebody who's planning on kicking RR's butt out the door the morning after the OSU game if we lose.
I obviously don't have any inside info, and if I'm reading Brandon's intentions wrong, so be it. I like RR and really hope he finishes his contract so successfully that he gets numerous extensions, but if DB decides that it ain't working and a change needs to be made, I'm not going to be outraged.
I also believe that whatever standards for evaluation that Brandon uses for this season will not be the same for next season; if we don't continue to improve in the quality of play in a manner that is reflected in being much more competitive in the conference by the end of 2011, I would give RR lousy odds of coming back in 2012.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^