Resigned. Not shocking, that recent series of email exchanges with a couple of Mich fans (don't know if they were alums or just fans) was pretty heated. I'm not really even sure why he bothered to even respond to them in the first place. I wouldn't be shocked if the net result is that Hoke is back sometimes the new guy doesn't want to walk through the door and as his first act fire a football coach no matter how much the fans want him to do so. I remember when Kevin White was hired everybody was going....great he'll fire Davie. But he didn't let him go another year. Same thing for Swarbrick, Weis got another year because Jack wasn't ready to hire a new coach. Even Steve Patterson at Texas didn't have to fire Mack Brown, which is what Texas fans wanted. Mack worked it out to resign so that it appeared that it was his decision. In the best interests of the program, etc.
It seems as if Brandon's caustic reply emails to complaining fans was the straw that snapped the camel's back although the downside of this is that this legitimizes to some degree a multitude of adolescent and feckless bloggers. Brandon was the proverbial bull in a china shop and alienated many alumni, fans, and the athletic departments of other universities. He did a good job in updating the facilities and competitive enviorment for non revenue sports and was a great fundraiser but also gouged the fans who support the football program. His bad qualities, in particular, his hyper abrasive persona, outweiged his positive contributions. Re Hoke, Brandon's departure is the first domino. Brandon's presence impaired the school's ability to hire a top echelon coach since no talented coach wants to have a meddling, Jerry Jones personality type as his boss.
A little sugar in Brandon's bad day: Brandon will receive $3 million over the next four years. Michigan has the right to reduce his compensation should he take another job. The University will pay the cost of COBRA for Brandon and his dependents' health benefits through June 30, 2015. Brandon will retain two "Regents Emeritus" seats for football, men's basketball, and hockey. Brandon retains the use of two company cars through the end of the year.
UM President said today that there is no time table for having Brandon's replacement. So I don't expect one before 2015.
3 million over 4 years....he should have had Charlie Weis agent. Charlie is still getting paid by ND and will add KU money to that total. Plus neither school gets a discount if he gets another job.
Charlie is the 'Willie Sutton" of college coaches.He makes the Lufthansa heist look like a kid robbing a piggy bank.