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Michigan President Schlissel Disappointed In Situation, But Offers No Word On AD's Status

Univ. of Michigan President Mark Schlissel issued a statement yesterday saying that he was "extremely disappointed" in the handling of QB Shane Morris' head injury on Saturday, but he "avoided any reference to the growing calls for the firing" of UM AD Dave Brandon and football coach Brady Hoke, according to a front-page piece by David Jesse of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. The statement, issued at 6:30pm ET after "days of silence" from Schlissel, "left many fans unhappy, including several hundred students" who gathered on campus last night and called for Brandon's ouster. UM Public Affairs Dir Rick Fitzgerald said that Schlissel will take "no further action against Brandon and Hoke at this time." Hoke's name was "not mentioned in the statement." Jesse reports the goal for UM yesterday "seemed to be an effort to get all the main characters on the same script, something that didn't happen for the first several days of the crisis." Lansing-based PR consultant Kelly Rossman-McKinney said that UM has not "followed the PR handbook's rules in dealing with a crisis." She said, "There's a three-pronged approach to crisis communications, and this is a crisis." Those steps are to "acknowledge the mistake, apologize and then act to amend." By issuing an early-morning statement yesterday on the situation, Rossman-McKinney said that Brandon "finally took those steps, but it was too late." Rossman-McKinney: "It was on the 'Today' show this morning. That means non-sports fans who don't watch ESPN are hearing about it" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/1). CBS' Tracy Wolfson said, "Michigan didn't just botch what took place on the field, but what has taken place this morning" ("We Need To Talk," CBS Sports Network, 9/30). ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said, "This week has been a debacle, from the way they handled the injury to Shane Morris to the press release late in the evening Monday night. I don't know if it could have gone any worse." However, he added, "Despite as bad as this is, I would be very surprised to see Michigan do anything until the season were over" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/30).

BRANDON THE LATEST TARGET: In Detroit, Mark Snyder notes the UM Student Athlete Advisory Committee released a statement late last night "supporting Brandon while he's getting publicly beaten down." However, Brandon's early-morning statement and other "public circumstances that students have cited, including a change in the football attendance policy," led to an estimated 1,000 students "rallying against him in the Diag on campus Tuesday night" (FREEP.com, 10/1). In N.Y., Mark Viera notes a petition calling for Brandon to be fired, in "part because the football program had become 'a black eye' for Michigan, received more than 5,000 signatures" by yesterday. Students during their march last night to Schlissel's house chanted, "Down with Dave" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/1). FS1's Joel Klatt said, "Somebody needs to pay with their job, whether it's the trainer, the head coach or the athletic director. The bottom line is we know too much about head trauma for this kid to be back on the field after losing his balance and being that woozy on the football field. That sickens me." FS1's Brady Quinn: "It all falls on the head coach, and if he's not doing the job, then Dave Brandon needs to take responsibility. An apology isn't enough” (“America’s Pregame,” FS1, 9/30).

OUTSIDE PRESSURE?
Big Ten Associate Commissioner for Communications Scott Chipman said that Commissioner Jim Delany "has been in contact with the university athletic department regarding the football program's shortcomings in dealing with Morris' concussion." But in Michigan, Brendan Quinn noted that "doesn't mean" that the Big Ten will be "levying any sort of punishment." Chipman said that "no review process exists that enables the league to issue any penalty upon the athletic department or football program" (MLIVE.com, 9/30). Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Dan Murphy noted U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) asked the Big Ten and Delany to "investigate the circumstances that led to Morris' return to the field." Pascrell is the co-Founder and co-Chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (ESPN.com, 9/30).

Ross voiced his support for Brandon but did not
suggest he would halt donations if the AD was fired
ROSS STILL SUPPORTING BRANDON: In Detroit, Bill Shea noted Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, one of UM's largest donor, is "giving an unequivocal vote of confidence" to Brandon, who has been "under criticism for a struggling Wolverines football team along with increased event prices and marketing gimmicks." Ross said, "I wouldn't have given my gift to the athletic department if I didn't believe in Dave. You don't go around giving $100 million if you don't feel there is going to be bang for the buck." Ross has "not suggested his donations to the university would cease if Brandon were fired, and said he hasn't spoken to anyone at UM about him" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 9/29). MLIVE.com's Quinn noted if Brandon is fired before July 1, 2016, he will "receive his remaining base salary and an amount equal to his remaining deferred compensation as of the date of his termination." That sum "if he’s fired this year" is $3M, which is "in addition to the $900,000 base salary Brandon is due to earn" in '14-15. Brandon is "due to earn an additional $850,000 in deferred compensation over the course of his contract, but won't be eligible to receive those funds if he's not employed by the school." While full compensation is "required if he’s terminated before July 1, 2016, he’ll receive 50 percent of his remaining base salary and 50 percent of an amount equal to his remaining deferred compensation if fired after that date." In order to be fired with cause, UM would "have to prove a failure to perform any of his duties, conviction of a felony charge, conduct that 'offends against public decency or morality,' the committing of an intentional or major NCAA violation" (MLIVE.com, 9/30). 

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN: In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski writes if Hoke "should be fired, likely after the season, Brandon should be, too." Brandon has "asserted so much control over athletics, he can't escape culpability" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/1). In Chicago, Teddy Greenstein notes Brandon's statement yesterday came at the "cowardly hour" of 1:00am and writes, "While you were sleeping, Michigan tried to explain why its officials were asleep at the wheel." Brandon has "focused so much attention on maximizing revenue via sponsorships ... that he neglected to institute a functional concussion protocol." He will "pay the price for it, as will Hoke" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/1). In Michigan, Nick Baumgardner wrote UM's "horrifying level of miscommunication has been national fodder for two full news cycles, complete with Benny Hill music" (MLIVE.com, 9/30). In this morning's USA TODAY, Drew Sharp writes it is "no secret Michigan is making Hoke the scapegoat." UM "figures the anger over losing nine of his last 13 games might overshadow the systemic breakdowns that apparently contributed to the right people not knowing a the right time that Morris wasn't OK as he weaved and wobbled after taking a brutal hit under his chin." Sharp: "Try as he could to let the Brandon statement speak for itself Tuesday, even Hoke must have realized the athletic director's poorly executed mea culpa was merely another attempt at distancing himself from the head coach he hired" (USA TODAY, 10/1). 

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