January 20th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
There’s no way Warde survives the year. I’m surprised he still has a job today.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
One would think. I've often seen the higher the position that they never are fired for what they should have been fired for and often it's not until the leadership is so bad there is no choice but to act and then they find a miniscule thing to let them go. But since it's not with cause they pay them a massive going away package. So, Warde will be getting paid very handsomely to leave most likely.
January 20th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
When execs hire an exec, there is a lot of political and/or personal capital invested. They are blind to much, only seeing what they hired. On this take, I am in adamant agreement.
But when the hiring exec changes, there is no investment and no blind spot.
My over/under for Warde is April 2nd (spring game). And I am taking the under.
January 21st, 2023 at 3:16 PM ^
I will take the over. Warde has a 3 year buyout due if he is fired without cause prior to July 1, 2023 per his current contract.
January 20th, 2023 at 4:20 PM ^
The Peter Principle.
January 20th, 2023 at 7:35 PM ^
The Peter Principle is the old way of incompetence rising to the top. Stay at a company 40+ years and you’ll be promoted beyond your capabilities.
Now you have to be hired into a job beyond your capabilities. In many ways, it is easier and doesn’t take as long. A shiny resume, trumped up responsibilities, have a couple networked hot shots, and that Subway sandwich maker seems like a good exec.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
I think Michigan is lucky that the success of its various athletics hasn't fallen apart.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
How is it possible an AD doesn't talk to the football coach in well over half a year, including through an entire football season? I would expect regular communication with at least the major revenue generating sports, if not all of them.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
Given things like:
- an NCAA investigation of the football program
- a highly successful coach leaving
- both the tunnel incident and the Mazi charges
- the ever changing NIL world
How could Warde possibly be doing his job if he doesn’t have a regularly scheduled meeting with the head coach of by far the most lucrative team at Michigan?
January 20th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
Have you considered that possibly Harbaugh, being Harbaugh, is the one refusing to speak?
January 20th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
That is most likely true. ...and at a football school it is 100% on Warde that Harbaugh isn't happy or talking to him.
January 20th, 2023 at 4:22 PM ^
lol it's not 100% on Warde if Jim freaking Harbaugh refuses to speak to him.
That doesn't even make sense.
He can't fire him. He can't even reprimand him.
This is a problem on more campuses than you all realize.
At a bunch of schools the head football coach doesn't deal with the AD. Why should he? He's more powerful, he makes more money, and there is nothing the AD can do because he coaches a sport that makes too much money.
I've always felt like this was in Harbaugh and if anything was on Manuel, it's that he hasn't figured out a way to get to Harbaugh and work through their issues.
I'm sure whenever Harbaugh needed something from Manuel, he'd send Biff Poggi or the Assoc. AD for Football to deal with it.
It won't end well for Manuel because again, he's powerless and Harbaugh can easily make it a "me or him" situation...when we all know it's Harbaugh 11 times out of 10.
It's just a bad situation all around. Many of you are down on Manuel for bullshit, but it's time for him to go just because this relationship has soured to the point where it's best for all parties to just, move on.
0% chance he gets it, but it wouldn't shock me at all if Manuel is at least trying to replace Warren at the B1G office.
Less than 0% chance.
January 20th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
"He can't fire him. He can't even reprimand him."
Gordon Gee couldn't fire Jim Tressel but wondered if Tressel could fire him.
January 20th, 2023 at 5:41 PM ^
At a bunch of schools the head football coach doesn't deal with the AD
Sure, but they surely talk once every few months, don't they??
January 20th, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
You sort of made my point after your first lol sentence. Jim Harbaugh has hand. It is up to Warde to kiss the ring, lick the boot, etc. even if he technically is the boss. If Santa had to make the deal to keep Harbaugh because Warde didn't make Harbaugh happy Warde is gone.
I've been screwed over by bosses in the past. Didn't matter that I was in the right. I didn't have hand.
I love the scene in Pulp Fiction where Marsellus says: "The night of the fight, you may feel a slight sting. That's pride fucking with you. Fuck pride. Pride only hurts, it never helps."
You (Warde) may be the best ever, but if you want to survive in the business world you got to take the dive. You can't be proud.
(I was at a luncheon where Warde spoke when he was at the University at Buffalo. He seemed like a cool smart guy. I think he's probably a great AD, but the re-telling of Warde not backing Harbaugh on the game in 2016 and Harbaugh not talking to him, making the NFL stuff tempting is disqualifying.)
January 20th, 2023 at 8:05 PM ^
I don't think it's on Warde but I think Warde will take the fall for it not happening. Tis what it is in business. The more valuable player is given the benefit of the doubt and then some, and with the past two seasons, Harbaugh has established himself as the more valuable. If this was 2020, this wouldn't be the case. I commend Warde for playing hardball with Harbaugh, as humiliating as it may have been. Without that, we may not be here. But Warde may be paying the price for that now.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
Warde has a political job that pays really well. This is the downside. He's cashed all those nice fat checks for some time and now the rain must fall. I'm sure Warde understands.
January 20th, 2023 at 10:32 PM ^
I’ve spoken with WM multiple times, he’s neither cool nor smart.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
If I were Ward’s boss, I would not find that acceptable. Either Warde needs to fix it, or Warde’s boss does (and if Warde’s boss has to address it, replacement should certainly be on the table).
January 20th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Then Manuel's got to find a way to bridge that gap. He is (on paper, at least) Harbaugh's superior.
How/why would things get to the point where they don't speak at all?
January 20th, 2023 at 7:42 PM ^
I'm a Harbaugh apologist but he and Baalke had the same lack of relationship in SF and the common ingredient is Coach.
But time for Warde for gtfo
January 21st, 2023 at 4:14 PM ^
This comment is a year old but it is a quote:
“I just believe those conversations have to occur. I believe I need to have those conversations with my coaches, with my direct reports, not through an agent, not negotiating with somebody else.” Manuel said.
“… It worked out because both of us knew we cared about each other and we cared about the department and wanted to make sure that we did things the right way and balance it out for everybody. I commend Jim for a great conversation — and it worked out great! Look, I didn’t intend to do it that way — it wasn’t a motivational ploy or anything else. I give Jim 100% of the credit. His staff and his student-athletes, 100% of the credit.”
“We had good conversations about the staff and what he was thinking about doing. Very open. I shared my thoughts. And, ultimately, like I do with all my head coaches, is I want them to have the ability to bring in the staff that they want. I’m not coaching the teams, but I do listen, I do provide input to my coaches when they want to talk about their staff. And I think the staff, 100% of the new staff that they brought in are great additions. I give Jim credit for who he has attracted to be on the staff with us.”
These are dated comments but they don't sound like someone who just sit on their ass or avoids his coaches. So who is likely not talking to whom?
January 20th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
if anything, not that warde shouldn't be communicating with all coaches but the football coach at Michigan is really the only one that matters. Without football, we wouldn't have any athletics.
January 20th, 2023 at 3:16 PM ^
Wait a second werent they shoulder to shoulder for Tunnel-gate or am I remembering incorrectly?
January 20th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
Nothing about this surprises me that’s for sure. And for those trying to parse JUB’s tweet with references showing Warde & Harb together on a podium, making small talk is not “talking” when it comes to people you manage. Especially if you’re negotiating a contract.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
I have a high opinion of Warde because of my past personal experience with him. We are not friends, and have not spoken with him in several weeks. Having said that, if Warde is the one refusing to talk to Jim, then that is not excusable, and Santa should take action. Also, it is more than likely that Jim is the one who is not picking up the phone (just a slightly educated guess). I am not dogmatic about it, and if Warde's behavior and management style have changed so much, then I will be calling for his dismissal too.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
MAY!!??!? The AD at Michigan's job is to make the football and basketball coaches happy. Hockey is a distant third. Assistant ADs do everything else. Warde gone.
We want Harbaugh coaching football full-time, but give him an honorary Co-AD position or something where he's telling the real AD what to do with football. I mean it pretty much works that way now at most football schools. No one is telling Saban or Kirby Smart what to do.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
Incredible if true. Harbaugh has fathered two kids since then.
January 20th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Todd Day and Mel Tucker?
January 20th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
They said kids, not his bitches
January 20th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
He's turned poor Sarah into a pez dispenser
January 20th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
Among other things, this means that they never talked after the tunnel incident. Not good.
EDIT: Okay, I see that someone's got this covered above. Suppose this could date back to Anderson?
January 20th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
I have no idea whose fault it is, but the town is probably not big enough for both of them at this point.
January 20th, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
I was all about defending Warde but this changes things. Before this we had little evidence of laziness, just conjecture. This is pretty bad. You can't have a lame duck as an AD.
January 20th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
Depends on what the definition of "spoken directly" is. Many don't speak directly anymore. Personally, like others, I prefer texting, having all of my conversations in writing. Maybe Warde Manuel is the same, especially with those that don't seem to recall numerous conversations.
Mr. Manuel is far more astute, professional, and capable than anyone here currently gives him credit. He's privy to sensitive situations, events, and activities, managing them to his best ability. He's also accountable to UM President, Board of Regents, and a plethora of attorneys.
That he doesn't react and answer to the outside chattering whims of the moment is likely exactly why he still has his job today and beyond. I'll take him far and above the long list of car-crash ADs that preceded him.
January 20th, 2023 at 5:44 PM ^
Idk man, how do you not pick up the phone once every few months and ask Harbaugh if he needs anything? Congratulate him on the conference championship? Merry christmas? Like that's just mindboggling to me?
January 20th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
6 years without a performance review. I am not saying Warde was bad, but what a huge disconnect between the University and Athletics.
January 20th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
that shows how much Capt Knish cared about athletics.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Too busy sending sexy emails
January 20th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Doesn't he deserve some points for sexiness?
January 20th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
Stupid Sexy Schlissel.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
If he didn't have a performance review for 6 years, he probably has felt untouchable. It's likely the reason he's so stubborn and slow to react on most things
January 20th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
Definitely this: "If he didn't have a performance review for 6 years, he probably has felt untouchable."
Harbaugh may be prickly and difficult to deal with but not being in regular substantial communication with the head of what is the largest revenue generating component of the organization you manage is inexcusable.
But Warde not having a performance review for 6 years is a University Failure.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
Athletics SEEMS big... but on the scale of the university, it just isn't.
The AD lost ~$63 million due to the COVID pandemic.
The U of M medical system lost somewhere between $3-$4 BILLION.
January 20th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
That doesn't tell the whole story though. Athletics has an outsized importance on the image of the university and its ability to attract donations. It may also be the most variable component on a yearly basis. The health system, law school, Ross, etc., don't really have big swings in yearly performance. Athletics can.
January 20th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Not only that, but Schlissel was reputed to be a guy who didn't want it seen that the sport tail was wagging the academic dog. While 'no official review' doesn't mean that he was completely disconnected, that should have been a reason to make sure some official oversight was taking place.
Suddenly, the athletic department is consumed in controversy and you have to admit it's just been a loose cannon? Uncool.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^
Or Schlissel wanted to hammer the point home that the AD wasn't a priority by literally ignoring it.
January 20th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
Athletics has an outsized importance on the image of the university and the athletic departments ability to attract donations.
Private gifts to academic side average about 2x the entire athletic department budget per year.
The Academic side brought in $184 million in donation in 2021.
The entire athletic department brought in $33 million in donations.
January 20th, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^
You're writing that as if 15% of $200M is something that is totally understandable to ignore.