In a press conference headlined by University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel came the announcement that Michigan’s Athletic Director Dave Brandon had resigned. Brandon’s resignation is believed to be forced by President Schlissel and six members of the University’s Board of Regents. Given the embattled nature of Brandon’s tenure as AD for the past year and the fact that President Schlissel and the regents had met to discuss Brandon’s performance earlier this month. While Brandon was rumored to have been on campus, nonetheless he was not present at the press conference.
“This morning I accepted the resignation of Athletic Director David Brandon,” said Presidant Schissel during the press conference. “We both want what’s best of Michigan athletics, which is to be able to pursue the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of our programs, to support our 931 student-athletes, and to enhance the strong bond that athletics has helped the university foster with our students, our alumni, and our fans.”
The list of transgressions and missteps by Brandon is a lengthy one. Brandon instituted “dynamic ticket prices” which increased the price of marquee games, and seat licensing. Under Brandon’s administration, student ticket prices have rose heftily and has alienated the student fan base. Brandon has been sanctimonious in his refusal to allow alcohol sales at Michigan Stadium He has been criticized as being too hands-on to the point of interfering, as Brandon was often present during team film study, press conferences, in the locker room, and is rumored to have been behind the firing of former Michigan Offensive Coordinator Al Borges and the hiring of current OC Doug Nussmeier. It was also rumored that Brandon was behind the benching of quarterback Devin Gardner in favor of Shane Morris, which eventually lead to concussion debacle against Minnesota last month.
In just the past month, Brandon has been the focus of several student protests, including a “Fire Dave Brandon” rally hosted on campus, an online student petition to the university for Brandon’s dismissal, a student walkout during the national broadcast of the Michigan-Penn State game that never materialized, and the latest “#WhiteOutDaveOut” campaign that was expected to take place during this Saturday’s homecoming game against the Indiana Hoosiers. The lastest protest was brought on by the uncovering of a number of email interactions between Brandon and fans and season ticket holders, in which Brandon was caustic, condescending, and threatening. The emails are just a microcosm of the public’s image of Brandon as an arrogant, complacent, entitled tyrant.
Rumored candidates to replace Brandon include Connecticut’s Warde Manuel, Boston College’s Brad Bates, Arkansas’s Jeff Long, Oklahoma’s Jeff Castiglione, and Texas Tech’s Joe Parker. All of these candidates have ties to university, as Brandon did when he was hired. Schlissel stressed that being a “Michigan Man” was not a prerequisite for candidates, but that student-athlete welfare and integrity would be a priority for the new athletic director.
Jim Hackett was named the interim athletic director by Schlissel during the press conference. Hackett was an offensive lineman under former Michigan Head Coach Bo Schembechler in the mid-1970s. He was described by Schlissel as “a man of integrity and a devoted member of the Michigan community.” Hackett noted that the athletic department was “in great financial condition,” and that he was “humbled to help during this transition period.” Hackett was not ruled out as a candidate to be the permanent athletic director.
Brandon’s resignation now puts Head Coach Brady Hoke’s job further in jeopardy. Hoke was hired by Brandon in 2011 has been under as much scrutiny as Brandon in recent months. The team’s season win total under Hoke has dropped each year, and is currently on pace to miss out on bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2009 season.
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