Univ. of Michigan interim AD Jim Hackett is "still taking a hands-off approach to the details" nine months after taking on the job, instead spending his time "on the big-picture issues," according to Mark Snyder of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. The "most apparent to outsiders: the football coaching transition ... and switching apparel providers from Adidas to Nike." The "most apparent inside the department: a restructuring of the hierarchy and flow chart, with less direct attention to him." That "has stirred some inside the department with a change from a hands-on leader ... to a more spread-out approach." Hackett: "I sit on three boards, two which I'm chairman or lead director of, one of the principles is you almost want the thing running better as if you weren't there, because it means everyone around you is stronger." Snyder reports despite having "no intention of ditching the interim tag ... Hackett said he still had a major project to complete." Every time the subject of his tenure "is broached, he insists there's more to do." Though the department "already is large, with 353 people listed in last year's salary release, a steady increase from 250" in '09-10, Hackett "might be trying to evaluate that total, allowing senior adviser Bob De Carolis, recently the Oregon State AD, to assist there" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/10).
AN EVEN BIGGER HOUSE: Hackett said that he is "not a fan of giving up home games at Michigan Stadium" for one-off neutral-site contests. Hackett: "You can't believe the people knocking on (our) door for (neutral site opportunities) right now because of Jim Harbaugh. And they're not really good ideas for us." In Michigan, Nick Baumgardner reported one proposal gave UM "the chance to play in front of 160,000 people at a venue Hackett wouldn't name." He said that he "declined" the opportunity (MLIVE.com, 7/9).
