Manuel releases statement
January 20th, 2023 at 8:19 PM ^
I'm sure it was written by a staffer
January 20th, 2023 at 8:47 PM ^
Did the staffer have his permission?
January 20th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
He logged into his account to write it for him
January 20th, 2023 at 10:20 PM ^
but only because Warde hadn't spoken to him since May....
January 20th, 2023 at 10:32 PM ^
What’s the worst thing that could happen?
January 20th, 2023 at 9:26 PM ^
Unless it's spoken into a microphone after being asked a question, it's always written by a staffer.
January 21st, 2023 at 12:13 AM ^
So you don't think it was manual?
January 21st, 2023 at 8:08 AM ^
It's how they warde off lawsuits.
January 21st, 2023 at 8:51 AM ^
Man, you well know that's how it's done.
January 21st, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
Nah, it was automatic (badum tssst)
January 21st, 2023 at 9:06 AM ^
ChatGPT actually.
January 21st, 2023 at 5:04 PM ^
Probably scribed by Chat GPT
January 20th, 2023 at 8:21 PM ^
In other words...
"I'm very supportive. Jim, please don't get me fired."
January 20th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
It was totally set up for you!!!!
"Jim, please don't TERMINATE me"
fify
January 20th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
Translation: I am also glad to hear that Jim decided to stay. I didn’t get off my ass to do anything about it, but am glad that I wouldn’t need to hear who Santa hired as a replacement. I am refilling my scotch bottles for a long Friday night.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:23 PM ^
I don't take these statements seriously unless they start with "I just got off the phone with Jim"
January 21st, 2023 at 8:09 AM ^
I just got off the phone with Jim. He says you're a poo-poo head.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:35 PM ^
Why is he releasing a statement late on a Friday?
January 20th, 2023 at 8:51 PM ^
Putting something out there after the Weiss firing news...
January 20th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
Because he's attempting some damage control after several weeks of dysfunctional events and inaction permeating the department, all of which is making U-M look really bad. This is basically a "hey, look at all these good things going on" to deflect attention from all the negative crap.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:23 PM ^
That message should be released at 10am on a Monday.
January 20th, 2023 at 10:53 PM ^
Agreed. Isn’t this called a “Friday news dump?” I think I learned that watching Mary Tyler Moore or Murphy Brown when I was a kid.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:36 PM ^
Scrambling for his job review
January 20th, 2023 at 8:48 PM ^
Who is this Warde guy and why do I care what he says?
January 20th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
Basically says nothing.
Agreed. So I say in my best “Maggie from Caddyshack” voice… WELL ‘TANKS FOR NUTTIN!
January 21st, 2023 at 3:07 AM ^
“Oh God, dat’s all I need!”
January 20th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
Warde needs taken to the ward.
Word.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
Would've preferred "Statement Releases Manuel"
January 20th, 2023 at 11:51 PM ^
I’m Soviet russia, statement releases you!
January 21st, 2023 at 8:51 AM ^
Name does not check out...
(I think you meant In Soviet... LOL)
January 20th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
The statement: “We are also excited at the recent news involving coach Harbaugh’s commitment to continue leading our program and announcements from many student-athletes of their intentions to return to school instead of seeking professional opportunities. Options abound for people throughout this program; I am heartened that they choose to further their education and careers here at U-M and I look forward to announcing further specifics.”
January 21st, 2023 at 8:52 AM ^
Thank you for doing what the OP couldn't be bothered with...
January 21st, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
I look forward to announcing further specifics BEFORE MY BOSS DOES."
Fixed it.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:55 PM ^
If the relationship between Harbaugh and Warde is as bad as the insiders seem to think it is, it's little wonder Harbaugh keeps looking at NFL options. No job is a good job when you can't stand your boss.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
It seems like working with a lot of the owners in the NFL can be way worse to be honest.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:10 PM ^
True, and he got firsthand experience of that with the 49ers.
It's just that many of us are struggling to understand how you can smoke Ohio State, win a conference championship, and then immediately start considering other opportunities... but if he and Warde hate each other that much, it starts to make a lot more sense.
January 21st, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
That’s actually the part I kind of get. For someone as competitive as Harbaugh, who has had success at every coaching stop, a big achievement may be something that he wants to top, not repeat. Of course one could argue that can still be done at Michigan in the playoff. But let’s be honest, he’s already had the biggest win of his Michigan tenure. Winning the national championship would be right up there, but 42-27 is a cornerstone in the lore forever.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:52 PM ^
This defies all Mgoblog logic. Didntcha know that Harbaugh is Warde's boss? Where have you been?
January 20th, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
With every comment you make, you seem more and more like just a troll.
January 22nd, 2023 at 9:10 AM ^
Remember when Gordon Gee was afraid of getting fired by Tressel?
January 20th, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^
Exactly! Warde really does seem to care about what's the ethical choice in every situation, but as AD of U-M athletics, he also has to care about what's good for all the athletic programs first and foremost.
January 21st, 2023 at 7:44 AM ^
Hmm…I see what you are saying but if I hated my boss but also didn’t have to talk to him for going on 10 months, that sounds pretty ideal.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:55 PM ^
Yeah, this seems like a peace offering statement that came as a result of a brokered deal between Ono and Harbaugh that Manuel agreed to amid the other issues now impacting Michigan, negotiation over self-reported recruiting violations and a staff firing.
This seems like a deal both sides entered into in order to pacify the other.
January 20th, 2023 at 8:56 PM ^
He sent an email blast out with a full update on Michigan athletics. That was one paragraph from the opening part. The full statement from warde is:
UPDATES FROM THE AD
Happy New Year, Wolverines!
We are immersed in the winter sports season, and some of our traditional spring teams are already in action as we look forward to warmer days.
With the timing of this email, I want to enthusiastically welcome our new head coach in volleyball, Erin Virtue. Erin returns to U-M, where she served as our recruiting and offensive coordinator from 2011-16, with significant experience with Team USA and the National Team Development Program. Please join me in welcoming Erin.
We are also excited at the recent news involving coach Harbaugh’s commitment to continue leading our program and announcements from many student-athletes of their intentions to return to school instead of seeking professional opportunities. Options abound for people throughout this program; I am heartened that they choose to further their education and careers here at U-M and I look forward to announcing further specifics.
On the community front, please take note of our annual Big House 5K, scheduled for April 16. Founded in 2014, this wonderful event has raised over $1.2 million in support of local non-profit organizations throughout Washtenaw County. Participants of all abilities can register here .
Go Blue!
Warde Manuel,
Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics
And then there was a review of each sport after.
January 20th, 2023 at 9:57 PM ^
Yeah, so this writing leads me to believe WM wrote it himself.
January 20th, 2023 at 11:00 PM ^
It's so awkwardly written
January 22nd, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
It's awkwardly written because it's copypasta from about 10 different people.
One of Warde's minions sends out an internal email saying we need inputs from each of you for the newsletter.
Warde's staff collects all the disparate replies, changes some of the 2nd person tense, and the mods some subject/verb agreement as applicable and dumps it all into a single thing.
January 22nd, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
#$%@ DP