Monday, September 29, 2014

The Jug is Gone...Along With Pride, Safety and Integrity

Sometimes, I get a little “Jump” on the Monday morning posts, and I had originally wrote this first paragraph sometime last week…

In case you haven’t seen it, on the sidebar is a heading with the title of “The Case Against Dave BranDictator”.  It has a collection of links to the blunders of this particular individual (though he refers to them as unquestionable “successes”) while at Michigan.  I am in search of any issues the general readers of this fine blog may un-earth and feel free to send those in.  I’m really searching for photos of BranDictator in compromising positions….naked, preferably….with farm animals…and farm instruments…and anything else you can find…

However…There is now a very large elephant in the room.  A Big One.  One that forces me to forego the witty and humorous part of the Monday Morning prose and deal with an issue head-on.  One that may force me to take back the words, “It accomplishes nothing when you fire a coach mid-season.”  Well, there is now a situation that has forced a decision on Hoke that must be made immediately.  And by making it immediately, well…something may be salvaged.    

When the NBC Sunday Night news, the Today Show


Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


and Good Morning America are all leading with the Shane Morris “Incident” over ISIS, the Middle East, Obama, and the economy, as a blogger that focuses on Michigan Athletics, primarily Football, I’m left with no choice but to follow that lead.  A special hat tip to mgoblog for pulling out the link.  If you didn’t see it, here it is.



I didn’t see the hit.  I was sitting in the stadium and I had taken to reviewing all the social media at that point and was responding to the myriad of texts I had received, disgusted with what I was watching on the field.  But I did hear the crowd’s reaction, the booing (which, WHERE THE F!@#$ IS A FLAG REF!!!) and looked up to see Morris on the ground getting up shaky and I asked my daughter what happened.  She said that a Minnesota player had hit Morris right in the head.  I looked for flags and didn’t see any.  I figure it was just a clean hit that looked bad and got everyone’s attention.  I thought it was clean due to the fact that officials are so zoned in on the targeting issue in College Football.

It wasn’t until I saw the replay much later that evening that I was more shocked that a flag hadn’t been thrown.  Insert any of the numerous MMQ referee rants here, please.  And then I was even more surprised that Morris was still in the game after what was so obvious to me:  His bell had been rung.  And college rules specifically state you need to be evaluated in the event that you suspect there may be a concussion.  Hoke “claims” he never saw it.  There’s a shot where Coach Nussmeier can be seen trying to tell Morris to lay down so they could get an official’s time out and not waste a Michigan TO. 

Hoke stated in the presser that he didn’t see the hit.  How is that possible?  Are you not watching the game?  70,000 or so fans that were left in the stadium saw it.  MY DAUGHTER SAW IT.  The fans booed because there was no flag and probably because poor Shane was wondering what state he was in.  No headset means Hoke couldn’t ask any of the assistants what happened.  That’s BS. 

Now, you have a statement released by the AD last night that makes Dave Brandon complicit in this entire thing (and equally responsible, in my mind):


Tell me that doesn’t look like something written by a lawyer. 

The Michigan Daily nailed it, stating that Hoke needs to be fired immediately for his gross negligence.  I have to say that, based on what we’ve seen, I can’t disagree.  Forget whether or not Shane actually suffered from a concussion.  HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMMEDIATELY EVALUATED FOR A CONCUSSION AND REMOVED FROM THE FIELD OF PLAY BY THE COACHING STAFF!



It’s this loss of protocol for safety alone that Hoke should be terminated and all the other coaches reprimanded. 

I can only imagine what the parents of any future Michigan recruit are thinking right now:  Not only can’t this guy seem to be able to coach right at this moment, but he doesn’t care about the safety of his players.  Dave Brandon doesn’t care about it either as the CORRECT ACTION on Sunday would have been to make the only decision that can be made at this point:  You need to release Brady Hoke.  Instead, the statement comes out....a cowardly move by an Athletic Department that's too afraid of doing the right thing...and it may not even know what the right thing is at this point.

Which makes Brandon as guilty as Hoke in all of this.

I can’t help but wonder if Brandon is looking at Brady’s contract figuring whether or not he can manage a $1 Million shit-storm that has erupted around his football coach.  You see, if BranDictator fires Brady today, his buy-out is $3 Million.  After January 1st, 2015, it’s $2 Million.  So, for Dave ”Diamond Jim” BranDictator, there’s some money to be saved in this whole thing….And don’t think that doesn’t matter to BranDictator…

I would like you all to recall the actions of Joe Roberson and Gary Moeller after the incident that took place in 1995.  It was May, classes had wrapped up, and Head Coach Moeller went to dinner with some friends.   Due to unconfirmed circumstances, he got very drunk and was arrested for disorderly conduct and shoving a police officer.  Roberson didn’t respond immediately.  But I’m sure he gave Moeller two options.  Roberson could address it or Moeller could resign.  Moeller, with Michigan’s integrity in mind, took the high road and stepped down, leaving the integrity of Michigan in place.  I’m not saying the two events are in any way comparable – but I think we need to look at them in context.  Moeller’s was a question of image…This is a question of safety and responsibility to the players. 

This particular event has destroyed the last shred of Michigan integrity that was left.  Forget the 2-3 record and the fact that Michigan has never lost 3 games in SeptemberPresident Mark Schlissel, still in his 1st 50 days of presiding over Michigan, needs to involve himself in the recent actions of the Athletic Department IMMEDIATELY.  If for no other reason than to show that someone, ANYONE, somewhere in this University still has some semblance of control and concern for what the University of Michigan represents. 

The Daily got it right. 

Something needs to be done.  Today.  Not tomorrow.  Not after the season to “evaluate Hoke’s performance”.  Today.  And it needs to be a complete review of the entire Athletic Department that reaches all the way up to David BranDictator.  And it’s fairly obvious, at least to this fan, what needs to happen.

Unfortunately, that probably isn’t going to happen.  As was mentioned by one of the Crew at the Tailgate in the post-mortem, “Follow The Money.”  Super- Donor Stephen Ross will see to it that BranDictator’s Bacon is saved in this entire mess.  And SI’ Andy Staples also believesthat if you follow the money, and that money is coming in from Ross due to the fact that Brandon is there. 

That was before Sunday, mind you.  Even President Schlissel probably won’t have the cajones to stand up to BranDictator and throw away any future donations that might be forthcoming.

And that’s sad….

But the question of whether or not Brady Hoke should still be at Michigan should not linger.  Not unless the University wants to kiss the entire future of the football program and any promising recruits good-bye.  It’s a question of integrity.  I’m not entirely sure how Brady himself can’t look at the job he’s done up to this point and wonder how he’s going to be successful moving forward and retaining recruits.  Without the recruits…there’s no success. 

The students and the fans that were left in the 4th quarter got it right with their chants. 

“Fire Brandon.”

I don’t see how there’s any other way out of this at this point in time.  Both Brandon and Hoke have gone too far down the rabbit hole to weather this storm.  They both need to go.

Brian Cook at mgoblog.com has started a #boycottmaryland effort and while I agree that’s one thing we could do (I did the same when Michigan played Delaware a few years back when Bill Martin was AD), it’s really unfair to the players.  But, maybe we all need to consider doing something to make our voices heard.  For what it’s worth, neither my daughters or I bought concessions at the Minnesota game.  Not one extra cent from me will go to this university until something changes.  And it may mean the future of my season tickets as well.  Hell, they only cost a Coke if we all stop buying them!

It was mentioned by another one of the crew after the game that he was afraid that one day he was going to open the link I send out and he was simply going to see the statement, “F!#$@%   IT!  I Quit!”  And believe me, there have been MANY, MANY TIMES over the last few years where I’ve thought about it.  Lingered over it.  Sat at the keyboard when the words just wouldn’t leave the fingertips.  Times when I’ve decided that, “This is it.  No one reads this crap and even less people care that do read it.”  But then I think about how in the world would I deal with ALL OF THIS and, believe it or not, 
this is my way of coping



I mean….You can’t drink 24/7. 









I guess I look at it as a way for all of us to come together and know that



 IT'S NOT US…IT’S NOT OUR FAULT

Right now, this is the fault of two people and I will continue to post as long as it takes.  And then, it’ll be someone else’s turn to keep watch.  Because it may take a lifetime….

But no, I’m not going anywhere..Not yet.

The Rest of the Mess

Sparty rode over Wyoming in convincing fashion and not only are they enjoying a 1 loss season, but their most hated rival is in bigger dis-array than ever before.  But, to all the HATERZ….Please keep in mind that College Football is better when Michigan is better.  And the B1G gets a lot more respect when the Big Boys of the B1G are better.  I don’t think you want to stay on your mantra of Michigan losing every game and how wonderful that would be…that makes any chance of Sparty getting to the Final 4 that much harder.

Cincinnati losing to ohio....Same goes for you...Hatin' is as hatin' does...

The Hogs should have beat Texas A&M.  The MMQ’s Final 4 will reflect that, but I still think A&M is one of the top 4 teams in the country. 

The Seminoles also looked a little shaky against the Wolfpack but managed to come back and win the game.  Yeah, it wasn’t glamorous…and until they lose, FSU has to be in the FF.

Nebraska continues to roll and is sitting at 5-0 with a trip to East Lansing coming.  They will be tested by Sparty…

The 5 Stages of Slappy Fan Grief

  1.  Denial and Isolation:  Gamecocks are probably here…But I don’t know how they can’t be down in the depression area when the Ole Ball Coach is pretty much there….
  2. ANGER:  MICHIGAN FAN….’nuff said….
  3. Bargaining:  Texas A&M is probably here after a last second victory….
  4. Depression:  I’m going to put Razorbacks here because, damn…they were so close….
  5. Acceptance: Perdon’t, Iowa, Northwestern, Michigan, and Kansas…
The MMQ’s Top 10

Definitely a couple of stunners over the weekend.  And one impacting the top 4:

  1. Oklahoma – Just cause….
  2. FSU- they are not number 1, but still get a seat at the FF table…
  3. Oregon – Mariota for Heismann…Just cause…
  4. Texas A&M – is the team with the lowest percentage to hang in the top 4
  5. Satan’s Warriors – looking better all the time…can they survive the SEC West?
  6. Sparty – we have to keep them in the Top 10 or there’s no shot at the FF.
  7. Baylor – It’ll be one of these two coming out of the BigXII
  8. UCLA – It’s been ugly…I’m not sure how good the Pac12 is now..
  9. Auburn
  10. This hurts…domers
Idle Thoughts From Saturday

-Why do I have a bad feeling?
-Like we’re going to lose the Jug?
-I’ve seen it lost twice on this field. 
-And I didn’t like it – either time.
-Okay…The Shane Morris Show begins…
-Oh man…it’s worse than I thought.
-And I was thinking pretty bad.
-Is there anyone on this team that wants it bad enough to play with some heart?
-Less than 100 total yards and it’s nearly half time?
-This sucks….
-Great, pick 6.  This game is over…
-What just happened? 
-Well, the hit couldn’t have been that bad.  No Flag…
-Gardner in…Hey, he put together a drive!
-Maybe he should have started?
-WHY AREN’T YOU GOING FOR 2??? 
-HOKE!!! You’re three scores down!
-Can’t anyone manage a game on this team?
-We suck…that’s all there is to it.
-Winning 6 games…Close to impossible now, odds wise.
-It’s gonna be a long season.
-“Fire Brandon!” Chants from the Student Section…
-Way to go, guys!
-Morris off on a golf cart…
-Hoke leaving the field with 0:30 on the clock..
-How much worse can it get?

The Hot Seat

Hannah Furgeson edged out last week’s winner, Genevieve by one vote, putting her into the finals.  This week, the Hot Seat Mascot nominee is:  Lauren Mellor!  You know…you’d think those SI guys would find swim suits that actually fit these poor girls!







GONE LIST:

  1.  Weis – I didn’t even get to mention this because of the shenanigans in Ann Arbor.
Hot Seat Rank

Brady Hoke – It’s a foregone conclusion…         

  1. Will Muschamp:  Was not competitive against Bama…
  2. Hazell:  At least Purdue scored against the domers….
  3. Beckman:  He’s got problems….
  4. Norm Chow:  Hawaii.  The Rainbows haven’t mattered in a while.and that’s a fan base that cares.
  5. Mike London:  Needs wins…

FMQ

I won’t have a chance to up date the FMQ today. I will post an update mid week with the FMQ results.

Thanks for your patience!



4 comments:

Msuperfan said...

From the Desk of the original M Superfan:
Prior to penning this statement I logged on to MGOBLUE to see if Hoke had done the right thing, but alas....NO. So, whereas it is a fact that Hoke's best season was thanks to Rich Rodreguez's team; whereas the performance of M football has declined in almost a game by game linear fashion (factoring in the quality of the competition); whereas the more time the players spend on his team the worse they perform; I plead for the immediate dismissal of Brady Hoke. In fact, if he had any character and truly loved M football he would resign and apologize for what he has done to the program.
In the meantime, the degradation to our Great traditions MUST be stopped NOW! Therefore I submit that the use of the Winged helmet be banned until the team wins 3 consecutive games by 8 points or more unless one of those victories is over a top 15 team. I also submit that this team is making an absolute mockery of The Victors. Thus, The Victors should only be played at the conclusion of a victory until a reasonable level of competitiveness is achieved (3 wins as above). Until then, the band should revert to what was used prior to Elbel's inspiration. If the football team wants to hear The Victors, let them earn it, or they can attend a basketball or Hockey game:)
Hey M ticket holders; you should have all immediately departed as soon as the debacle at the end of the 3rd quarter occurred. That stadium should have been devoid of M fans with 15:00 to go; what a powerful statement that would have been.
I am neither disloyal, nor a fair weather fan, but neither am I a CHUMP! At this point, I submit that the disloyalty is on the part of brandone and hokei, as their massive incompetence is destroying M football.
P.S. The temporary helmet must be something so bland and ugly that no one would every want to keep it. There must be no way to interpret the helmet change as some sort of Oregon-like styling exercise.

Unknown said...

Good suggestions M Superfan!

Regarding Morris and the hit he took. In a day and time when junior high girls softball coaches are mandated to take concussion awareness classes it is completely unacceptable to take the medical staff cop out that Hoke and Brandone both are hiding behind. The entire staff should feel shame with that incident. With the extensive staff they have in the pressbox and on the sideslines multiple people must have seen the hit and saw the way Morris looked after the hit. This should have sent red flags and alarm bells through the staff and the communication should have been made to Nussmeier and Hoke and who ever else that the kid needed to come out for evaluation. I can see a high school coach loosing his job over such a mishandling of that type of incident let alone someone getting paid $4 million a year. This is all tied to the headset issue, the guy is not in the loop with what is going on during the game and he is certainly not in control. He just is being paid $4 million a year to cheerlead on the sidelines and have the best "seat" in the house.

Unknown said...

You play like you practice - I can not help but think about all the past Michigan football players who tell the stories about how hard practices where under Bo, Moeller, Loyyd etc. Gameday was a relief and break from practice. I would define that as being prepared enough or even over prepared (if there is such a thing). Whe you are prepared thoroughly test day or game day is easy and you hang 49 on Minnesota.

I seriously doubt the current players could tell such stories with a straight face.

So are these coaches seeing great State Street play at 3/4 speed? Too much #1 vs #2&3s? Are recievers getting separation on State Street? Are you running the ball on State Street? Too much conern about injries on State St.?

I believe they need to practice everyday like its OSU lining up accross from them and pound on each other some more. Because what they are bringing over to Main Street is not even close to what they need to bring.

MMQ said...

G-Money and Super Fan - Both great comments. This is not the Michigan I know and it makes my stomach hurt (literally) to watch these events un-fold the way they are.

@ Super Fan: I think this #boycottmaryland effort is going to catch on and I am certainly considering either going in for the Band and to recognize the Seniors and then....walking out.

@ G-Money: Yes... I had to go through concussion training and the head set thing has gone way past what any rational human being would do at this point. Put them on if for no other reason than to get everyone to shut up about it.