It's time to start looking at new Athletic Director candidates (i.e. Fire Warde)
If Warde can't defend the school and football program, he needs to go.
The idiot agreed to a three game suspension for Covid BS when the entire country was re-writing and ignoring their own rules over the insane circumstances at that time.
He's allowing this smear campaign against Harbaugh to go unchecked and unchallenged.
He let the BigTen 'both sides' the tunnel assault by MSU.
He's not retaining our best coaches.
We need an AD that can not only be an accountant, we need someone that understands the shifting landscapes of our modern world.
The new AD needs to understand and promote NIL proactively.
The new AD needs to address slander on social media and fight enemy PR campaigns.
The new AD needs to support and retain our best coaches.
The new AD needs to slap some sense into the admissions office.
And if we can't get it together as an organization, where everyone 'for Michigan' is actually FOR MICHIGAN, well then all we need to do is look down the road at East Lansing to see what awaits us if we allow this failure of leadership to continue.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
Jack Harbaugh.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
Amen.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:19 PM ^
Agreed. I’ve been hesitant at times in the past to pile on Warde. He is, in my opinion, a decent man and a decent administrator. But he has proven to be inadequate as an advocate. Not to comment on what has happened the past 10 days or so is inexcusable. To say nothing in the face of an avalanche of shit orchestrated by our arch rival is malfeasance. I’m sorry Warde but at a critical moment you have proven to not be up to it.
This is not about how you feel about Harbaugh. Or playing campus politics. The institution is under attack and we need wartime leaders. Pop had Genco. Look what we got.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:41 PM ^
I have generally thought the "Fire Warde" talk is stupid particularly when we have no idea what's going on internally. But I agree with you that it feels like things have gotten so out of control at this point that Warde needs to put out a statement saying something to the effect of "we have been in contact with the NCAA about X. We are fully committed to the rules and to cooperating fully with the investigation. We can't comment further but anyone speculating outside of these bounds can go F themselves."
Allowing all of this to go completely unchecked without any sort of response, even if it's a simple "please relax and wait for all of the facts to be determined" response, feels like very poor leadership
October 29th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
Oh stop it
October 29th, 2023 at 9:06 PM ^
Take a breath!
October 29th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
A Warde sucks thread.
My favorite type of thread.
"Looks like Warde is back on the menu, boys!"
October 29th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
It's that time of the month for some. Their gonna use their pull card.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:55 PM ^
*they're
October 30th, 2023 at 8:26 AM ^
Instead of only complaining, how about explain your reasons why he should stay? I'd be willing to listen - I agree the guy can administer the AD quite well, but also believe there's more to his job than just that.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
Agreed. There comes a point where saying nothing becomes saying everything. That moment in this situation was like 5 days ago. The AD has handled this situation horribly.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:46 PM ^
There is a point when silence by a leader is agreement with the noise.
Time for Warde to publicly refute this BS. It’s dragging down UM far more than Harbaugh - and it’s all noise about a low-level staffer finding a gap in the rules to gather more info.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:08 PM ^
Tom Brady recently left his former position. But I’m all for a Fuck Warde campaign. Fuck that guy.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:09 PM ^
I agree he has to go, but message board post won't get it done. If we really want Warde gone, we need to start a protest similar to Dave Brandon.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:10 PM ^
If only there was a devoted wolverine fan out there for this job
October 29th, 2023 at 9:21 PM ^
Let’s organize it and make it happen. I’m sick and tired of Michigan getting the raw deal in these situations. There is no way our rivals or other major programs would not defend their coach in this spot. When the athletic department runs Harbaugh out of town nobody is going to pity the university or the football program. It will be their moment to beat Michigan and rub it in our face. Michigan should stop allowing itself to be the punching bag. Again, if Harbaugh did something totally unethical or illegal I would say fire him. This particular allegation did not give Michigan a huge advantage over its opponents. Hell purple face himself said it’s a nothing burger. Let’s organize and start a protest to keep our coach.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
Saturday before the game seems like an appropriate date. We need all Michigan students who want Warde gone and support coach Harbaugh to post Fire Warde Manuel flyers throughout the campus this week.
October 29th, 2023 at 10:35 PM ^
On it, I’ll print some out and post them around campus, enough is enough.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:10 PM ^
Bring back Jim Hackett!
October 29th, 2023 at 9:13 PM ^
The only competent AD this school seems to have had in a longgggggg time.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^
The wartime consigliere
October 29th, 2023 at 11:07 PM ^
100%. Hackett would be visibly handling this situation, and wouldn’t leave Michigan or its coaches spinning in the wind. He’d also drop the hammer on a coach if warranted, but I would trust him to make that call. Warde, on the other hand….
October 30th, 2023 at 8:07 AM ^
Well, I suspect Hackett would have some attorneys out visibly handling it. He'd be making sure the public statements of actual UM AD employees are totally in-bounds. Always have your attack dogs be a 3rd party.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
Look, I'm no fan of Warde. Hell, it's hard to get a read on whether or not he's any good. He's just kind of "there".
While he does seem kind of weak, as in he doesn't really move the needle in either direction, I think the NIL thing is overblown. Our NIL program seems to be focused towards player retention rather than buying recruits. We see very few transfers out and have amassed incredible depth. Players are transferring out of other programs that would stay and play as upperclassmen in the past. Those programs could never dream of talents the caliber of Corum and Zinter staying.
That being said, this whole ordeal is incredibly annoying and Warde has done nothing to stop the bleeding. Could it be that he knows this is all bullshit and nothing will happen? Who knows? All that's certain is that we are the victims of a smear campaign that at least somewhat involves the sport's biggest, softest bitch boy, a coward that has zero confidence in the abilities of his team, his staff, or himself.
I guess tl;dr: save the vitriol for those whom we know deserve it.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^
Warde deserves it. All of it.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:29 PM ^
You nailed it on our NIL strategy. As for Warde, we have no way of knowing whether he is botching this thing until it reaches its conclusion and the U of M is allowed to speak on the matter. If this goes away and Jim is signed to a new deal, the Warde did his job.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:48 PM ^
At a bare minimum Warde should be putting out a vague non-committal statement saying we are looking into and addressing the issue, even if he has to do it multiple times. I'm not going to judge his actions that we can't see at the moment but staying silent while a Michigan sports team is being actively burned at the stake by the entire world is completely unacceptable imo
October 29th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
If nothing else this debacle has taught us that buying recruits is looked at muuuuch more favorably than in-person scouting/sign scouting. So let’s just do that, everyone else does
October 29th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
Warde's handling of hockey situation should have been looked at critically. I dunno how many chances he needs.
October 30th, 2023 at 3:38 AM ^
If one of Dante Moore, Jason Carr, or Bryce Underwood transfer back here and are competent, I'll eat crow, but I'd rather have them here, learning the system and getting developed rather than out in the wild because someone offered them more money.
October 30th, 2023 at 7:15 AM ^
I was trying to explain what this experience has been like to my wife. Imagine if you had the best meal of your life prepared and on the table. All of your favorite food prepared perfectly. You are very hungry and you know this meal is going to be amazing! You’re able to take a few bites and each one is better than the last.
Just as you’re about to have the main course, a few “unnamed guys” come into the room and piss all over your meal. You’re devastated. You know the food is amazing and you want to keep eating, but now there is piss all over it. You want to beat the fuck out of the guys who did this, but they’re gone and you don’t know who they are.
You realize the last time you attempted to have such a meal, in 1997, it was also pissed all over by Nebraska and the Coaches Poll. You begin to believe that the world does not want you to be happy, so you attempt to think about something else.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:30 PM ^
Warde is a self-serving politician who acts in his own interests. He issues generic CYA statements about cooperating that only protect himself rather than the football program. He never says anything to defend the football program or Harbaugh in a moment of controversy. He doesn’t rock the boat so he can protect his job security rather than risk defending the program amid scandal. He’s failing at his job by not pushing a counter narrative in the media.
Has Warde ever said one smart comment to defend Michigan in his entire career? No.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:52 PM ^
How has any of this served him? You're just saying shit to say it, lol.
October 30th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Agreed. His job requires him to be both a competent administrator and a savvy marketer knowing when and how to communicate in order to preserver our programs. He is either choosing to not defend Michigan football or he doesn't know how. Either way, that is a failure on his part and a fatal one at that. Bye Warde
October 29th, 2023 at 9:31 PM ^
Agreed! Fire the Fat Lard with no backbone! He has not went to bat for Harbaugh once during his tenure!
October 29th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
I think that this is premature to call for Warde's firing. However, if Harbaugh leaves for whatever reason, Warde has to go, voluntarily or involuntarily.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:41 PM ^
It is not premature. It is way too late. A total failure of leadership. He has no leadership skills. He is a buffoon.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
You’re a clown. Quit trying to defend him. He hates Harbaugh and we all know it. No one knows why. Put yourself in Harbaugh’s shoes.
October 30th, 2023 at 5:42 AM ^
No, this is not how to do business. Be proactive or get left in the dust.
October 30th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
Your opinion is a valid as anyone else's, so please provide your reasons that he should be retained. I'm loooking forward to hearing them...
October 29th, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
When Harbaugh confirmed to Ono instead of Warde earlier this year, that should have been a sign for Ono. 3 game suspension for cheese burger is ridiculous. Hockey Coach situation was mishandled. Now this.
I think Warde is on his last leg and Ono has to do something. He has been here for almost a year. Time to look at things critically.
October 29th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
He is an incompetent buffoon. And I have been silent for years. No more. Time for him to go. It's already too late. A disaster,
October 29th, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^
I agree with this post
October 29th, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^
Post his and Santa's emails please
October 29th, 2023 at 10:15 PM ^
Thank you. Emails sent.
October 29th, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
Please send respectful emails. Nonetheless, spread the word so the level of support for coach is unavoidable. He deserves our support. He runs a good program and his program produces great young people. A sign stealing allegation should not ruin his tenure with the university.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:50 PM ^
Feel better?
Because you accomplished nothing.
Also, if you think either reads those accounts and they don't go to secretaries first...you're crazy.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:24 AM ^
I mean, you do know how our last AD left, right?
October 30th, 2023 at 7:42 AM ^
I do.
And it wasn't his public e-mail. All of these folks have multiple accounts...one for idiot fans, and one that they actually use day-to-day.
Google whatever school you want and put "staff directory" behind it. Then click the ADs e-mail.
See how many are "AD" or something generic at school.edu.
Also, Dave Brandon was a fucking idiot.
Warde Manuel might not be front-facing, but he's not dumb. Especially dumb enough to get in a pissing match with WolverineDevotee. Dave Brandon is one of the worst ADs in the recent history of ADs.
E-mailing there public e-mail is screaming at a wall. But if it makes you feel better, have at it.