John Arbeznik Interview on 105.1Sports

Any chance you could briefly summarize what he says in the interview for the benefit of those of us who are VERY interested in what he said but unable to listen to the link?

That would be awesome.

Ok that makes perfect sense to me now.  And it explains why the seemingly crazy "reminds me of Adolph Hitler" point was made.  The letter is being circulated and everybody who gets it probably adds a comment and somebody was trying to be funny.  It also explains why some of the 20 points were complete thoughts and some were simply fragments.  And my guess is that Henson got his copy when only 20 players had recieved it and now the number is up to 40 which is why the list is larger than the 20 "issues" originally reported.  It's still growing.  What Henson had wrong was that it hadnt been given to the Regents/Ross yet and was till being built.when he posted it on his blog.

The list of grievances seems based on an email was forwarded around and each person added one or two things, not that everyone agreed with all the other claims on the list. And Arbeznik seems pissed about Brandon but also the performance of the team and doesn't think the current coaching staff is up to the job.

is on. Not to mention the other big donors like Al Glick, J. Ira and Nicki Harris, etc. Concerns could be anything from "if we change Brandon, we're more likely to change Hoke, and thus add to transition time", to the players and fans have decided that Brandon has strayed too far from the moral philosophy and values of Michigan football culture, and if you don't let him go and find someone to bring everyone back into the fold, you are likely to have a huge expense on your hands down on State Street as the revenues decline.

Were they asking for Shane to start?      

/s

My goal is to one day be rich enough, and donate enough to the University, that I get to personally sit down with the president to discuss my concerns about sports.

Stephen Ross could get things to change if he wanted. But he has given during DBs tenure so it's possible he likes the way things are going.

Not even Stephen Ross likes losing to Utah at home.

So do we think Arbeznik is the former co-captain that forwarded this email to Henson?  If so, he should be upset with the way Henson portrayed it.  And it seems the Hitler comment was not Henson's but one of the former players.  Obviously Brandon seems like he is in a very weakened position now, but the whole thing reflects poorly on Michigan, including the former players with the way Henson portrayed this.

My son tells me your business stinks! where there's smoke, there's fire...hopefully it doesn't get put out, keep fanning the flames former letter winners

I would think has a bit stronger voice than a group of disgruntled players.  The guy has his name on the B-school and made a silly good donation to Ath Dept with possibly more to give.

It wouldn't surprise me if the wow experiences get fewer and far between for awhile as sort of an organizational reaction to the press surrounding all of this.

What I don't have a good grasp of is whether the greater populus of people dislike Brandon as a singular entity or if its a tool to more quickly pry Brady Hoke from his position.  I'm in the first category but only because I'd rather the football game played speak for itself, not the program trying to fly flags and play trumpet fanfares (in sort of a medieval analogy to the concept of "hey look at me!!") from all the parapets at every occasion.

The nearly undisguised goal of jacking every fan for greater revenue in the last couple of years I think has put a lot of bad taste in a lot of peoples' mouths so to speak.  And I think its just the conditions now that has caused this to boil over at least in the general populus.

It will be interesting to see what management style Schlissel has and how he views the relationship between the academic side and the athletic side, as he sort of has a unique opportunity to put his stamp on the direction going forward.  I suspect its very low key on the surface and anything ever said will be behind closed doors and not to the media. 

There has to always be a group of 30-40 disgruntled ex-players at all times. There are always people that are unhappy. Micheal Taylor has been unhappy for 25 years.

These bubble to the surface in times like these as the talk radio hosts actively seek the disgruntled types out because they know it will turn into a media story itself. There is a reason why Micheal Taylor all of a sudden appears on the radio this week.

It's a shame that the email  was forwarded to a shock jock instead of the letter to someone like John U. Bacon.

Wow. I don't care he doesn't care much for athletics and has expressed so publicly. When UM athletics (football, let's be real) are not only a cash cow but an extra reason a guy like Ross will toss you $400M in a decade, you better at least understand it's importance. My main concern there is where Ross stands on the issue of the AD. IIRC, he and Brandon were quite chummy during the last HC search. I wonder because it's guys like Ross that will determine what happens. The few like him outweigh any average group of alums on almost any collective. It's like a whale at a casino. People like Ross will get their way but I'm not sure what direction that way is. Finally, can someone clear up the rumor/word in regard to Ross on the last HC search regarding both he & Brandon but he & (sigh) Harbaugh? I'd always heard that DB spent time talking to Ross and quite a bit of it. I heard they spent two separate days together, one flying somewhere. Finally, I'd always heard that Ross met with Jim and flew him to Miami with regard to the Dolphins HC job. I'm sure I could still find the link but I remember reading Ross joking about telling Jim "it's either the Dolphins or Michigan" in a lighthearted way once he turned the Miami job down. Thanks. I ask because confirming or debunking the two things could give us an idea as to what Ross is thinking. It sounds crazy but he could be there backing DB for all I know.

It seems like this Henson character is on in regards to some things but then exaggerates or invents extra stuff. Maybe he will be correct about Harbaugh,lol.

Dear Mr. Ross,

Please sit down in a room with Mr. Jim Harbaugh, throw 50 mil on the table and make him say no.  

 

I'll say it again I got destroyed last week for starting the thread asking if Utah was Hoke's biggest game. The amount of dominoes that fell this week is unimaginable. It's only gonna get worse.

Not trying to be "that guy" either but my fiancé is in a grad program in AA and I don't want to get into too many details but her professor works for the athletic department as well in a prominent role that I can't get into and he told her class that Hoke is probably gone after this year because his leadership is lacking significantly.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140927/NEWS/309289978/pressuring…

I've no idea of the validity and I'm wondering if others have heard the same.  Schlissel is an academic and there's a thought that he's interested in significantly de-emphasizing athletics - therefore, a letter to him may embolden him, but to what direction for the athletics program nobody really knows.

Mary Sue was always interested in the perspective of the students, and having come from Iowa, knew the role of athletics in big college (B1G) life.  If I recall correctly, Schlissel has no such point of reference in his background.  I've heard he doesn't engage with students the same way, just the academics (students please confirm).

While Brandon has failed (to-date) at our marquee sports program, many of the others are in a much greater place than they were before his arrival.  It should be no shock that he covets National Championships, and the Director's Cup trophy, over other things (athletes and coaches please confirm).  And I do know from meeting him, he values player development as one of his top measures of what's to come.  He told me years ago that Belien clearly develops players (this was before JB won a B1G), and pointedly implied RR did not.

Apologies for rambling a bit, but net-net, I'm interested in whether others have heard that we have a signficant risk in the direction Schlissel may take athletics.  And who would be your chosen successor to Brandon.  Someone like Jeremy Foley?  Or a "Michigan Man"?  Is Ward Manuel ready?

Angelique just retweeted and interview with Ross where Ross states he's basically 100% behind Brandon and Brandon is the most qualified AD in the country. Sooo, there's that....