The Univ. of Michigan athletic department on Thursday "agreed to a number of significant concessions to student government, including cutting student pricing for season football tickets" following a 40% drop in purchases since '13, according to Ben Freed of the ANN ARBOR NEWS. UM's Central Student Government for the second straight year "entered into negotiations this week with athletic department officials and this year came away with promises that include lower football ticket prices and monthly 'open' meetings" with AD Dave Brandon. CSG President Bobby Dishell said of the talks, "This year was definitely less confrontational than last year." He added of new ticket pricing, "We don’t have a number yet and there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account." Freed cited a CSG survey that was completed by 22.7% of student ticket holders, which showed that the season-ticket price "would have to drop from $295 to $210 in order to maintain existing student attendance levels." Fewer than 12,000 students purchased season tickets this season, "a significant drop from the nearly 20,000 students who purchased season tickets two years ago." Survey respondents also "criticized" the gameday experience, identifying "lack of tradition, less marching band music and a more commercialized atmosphere as hurdles to their enjoyment" of time spent at Michigan Stadium (MLIVE.com, 10/16).
ON THE HOT SEAT? UM President Mark Schlissel and the Board of Regents at a meeting Thursday said that they "plan to take a 'long-term approach' to reviewing the current state of the school's athletic department." ESPN.com's Dan Murphy noted Schlissel opened the university's monthly board meeting "by saying he was 'deeply disappointed' with the athletic department's handling" of QB Shane Morris' head injury in late September and "the communication blunders that followed." Schlissel "did not mention" Brandon. Meanwhile, a source said that a Michigan donor "has reached out to athletic directors at other Power 5 schools to gauge their interest" in Brandon's job (ESPN.com, 10/16). In Michigan, Nick Baumgardner noted Brandon "was not present at the meeting." No action "of any kind was taken on Brandon, or anyone inside Michigan's athletic department" (MLIVE.com, 10/16). But in Detroit, John Niyo writes Brandon "probably needs a 'Hail Mary' to keep his job." The situation is "a game of political football now, which means the outcome may already have been decided." Brandon's leadership "was alternately described as 'toxic' and 'nauseating' by students" at the meeting. Any buyout of Brandon's guaranteed contract "likely will cost" about $3M. Concerns about backlash from major donors "might have been assuaged by last weekend's alumni gatherings surrounding the Penn State game." Brandon was "noticeably absent" as UM alum and Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross "took part in a question-and-answer session" with Schlissel (DETROIT NEWS, 10/17). Also in Detroit, Drew Sharp writes Thursday's meeting "only accomplished a deepening perception" that Brandon's job status "will be predicated as much on politics as performance." Like "any other politician, Brandon courted enemies," and it is "apparent that he has many on the eight-person Board of Regents." The situation is "entirely about bad football elevating prior toxicity between Brandon and a fan base increasingly leery of the athletic department's direction." Brandon "has alienated many, arrogantly treating Michigan football as a consumer product rather than a cherished loyalty passed down through generations." But his "biggest professional crime wasn't raising student ticket prices, but rather screwing up the previous head coaching search" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/17).
