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4B -- November 3, 2014 . k

The Michigan daily -- michigandaily.com

4B - November 3,2014 SportsM onday The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

8tndon's tenure at Michigan began. In 2012,
Brandon's employment agreement was extended,
putting him under contract with the University
through June 30, 2018.

Brandon hired then-San Diego State coach
Brady Hoke to replace Rodriguez. Hoke, a former
assistant for the Wolverines, became the 19th IJANUARY 11
coach in Michigan football history.
2011

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Senior defensive end Brennan Beyer and the Michigan defensive line forced two fumbles from the nation's best rusher.
Fve things we learned:
Dismantling of Indiana

The price of student football season tickets rose
to $240, which was the highest point under
Brandon's administration at the time. Student
tickets rose to $295 in 2014.

5.. SUMMER
2011

By ALEXA DETTELBACH
Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan football team
grabbed -its second conference
win of the season in a dominant
34-10 win over Indiana on
Saturday. It was the Wolverines'
19th straight win over the
Hoosiers, leavingthemin abetter
position to land a bowl game.
Here are five things we
learned from Michigan's second
win in three games:
1. Drake Johnson is a
starting running back.
The redshirt sophomore had
a coming-out party Saturday
running for 122 yards and two
touchdowns on 16 carries in
the first extended action of his
career. Johnson is a slashing,
weaving runner and isn't the
typical power running back that
Michigan coach Brady Hoke has
used throughout his tenure - but
maybe that's a good thing.
As a slasher, Johnson utilizes
his speed and vision to find the
outside or the holes. He has the
ability to break off runs for a
touchdown, avoid tackles and
catch passes out of the backfield.
In the first six games of the
season, when sophomore Derrick
Green - who is out for the season
with a broken collarbone - came
outforaplay,offensivecoordinator
Doug Nussmeier usually sent
in sophomore De'Veon Smith,
anotherpower back.
But with Smith struggling
with the starting responsibilities,
combined with the fact that
he came out for several series
due to injury against the
Hoosiers, Johnson was given
the opportunity, and he rose to
the occasion. If nothing else,
Johnson provides a different look
for opposing defenses and helps
mix up the necessary coverage.
2. When Michigan's defense
and offense play together, they
win.
This isn't rocket science:
When Michigan's defense and
offense play up to their potential,
the team wins. And against
Indiana, that finally happened.

The offense had its bestE
of the year - Gardner
for over 200-yards fori
time all season. He alsc
two touchdowns, the fi
the Wolverines have do
against a Power 5 tez
season.
While the defense
always lived up to expei
it's performed better tl
offense. But this time, bo
finally looked strong at t
time, and it yielded good
3. Things may be b
they could be worse.
Michigan may be dos
in negative off-t
coverage, but its on-ti
performance hasn't
either. And as bad as th
in Ann Arbor for 'Tea
they could be a lot worse
Look no further thanI
The Hoosiers are a str
team starting their
quarterback
of the season
and have
dropped to 0-4 "I
in conference 1
play. While a
Indiana isn't
garnering t
national
headlines for b
off-the-field
issues, nor W
are on-field
expectations
as high as
Michigan's, its abysm
shows Wolverine fan
things could be a wl
worse.
Additionally, Michig
has a potential pos
berth to work towarc
the Hoosiers, well, don'
matter how bad things
the field - and even on t
for that matter - thingsc
worse.
4. Monday cou:
interesting.
You didn't think we
it through all this
mentioning former1
Director Dave Br
resignation, did you? Fo

showing Saturday's win, Hoke was asked
r threw a series of questions about his
the first boss's departure, and he gave
o tossed the same answer.
rst time "We'll talk about it on
ane that Monday," he said. "I want to talk
am this about what the kids did between
the white lines."
hasn't On Mondays, Hoke meets
stations, with the media followed
han the by Nussmeier, defensive
ith units coordinator Greg Mattison
he same and three selected players.
results. It's usually filled with
generalizations and a lot of
ad, but talking for very few answers. But
this Monday could be different.
inating Most of the questions will be
he-field about Brandon's resignation,
he-field- what Hoke knew and what his
helped, thoughts on the sudden decision
ings are are. He may not give the media
am 135,' much, but then again, he could.
a. Look for Monday to be an
Indiana. interesting press conference.
ruggling
third 5. Bold Prediction:
Michigan
makes a bowl
game.
want to talk It's pretty
unbelievable
about what that after one
of the most
he kids did disastrous
seasons in
etween the Michigan
football
rhite lines." history there
could be a
postseason bid
waiting at the
al play end. But it's not as crazy as it
is that sounds.
hole lot With three games remaining,
two are extremely winnable for
an still the Wolverines (2-3 Big Ten, 4-5
ttseason overall). The biggest challenge
ds, and will come this weekend on the
t. So no road against Northwestern.
are off Last year, Michigan beat the
he field, Wildcats in Evanston in triple
could be overtime - Hoke's biggest road
win in four years.
Following Northwestern,
Id be the Wolverines have a bye
week and then host Maryland
'd make in their last home game of the
without season. If Michigan can win
Athletic those two, they'll be eligible for
andon's a postseason berth regardless of
illowing the end result at Ohio State.

Sophomore quarterback Shane Morris displayed
concussion-like symptoms but was kept in a
game. Two days later, Hoke said he hadn't been in
contact with Brandon and that Morris' only injury
was a high ankle sprain. Brandon later Issued a
statement saying Morris had sustained a "mild,
probable concussion."
In an Interview with the Daily a week later,
Brandon said he had been In contact with Hoke
despite the miscommunication from the
fourth-year coach,

I I

- SEPTEMBER 27
.2014

A student rally calling for Brandon's firing was 5 SEPTEMBER 30
held on the Diag. The protest was organized in
response to a petition started Sept.29 that as of 2014
today has amassed 11,350 signitures. The Daily
estimated hundreds of students attended the rally
that eventually moved to Schllssel's house.
OCTOBER 2
In an exclusive interview with the Daily, Brandon 2014
stated that he had no intention of resigning,
though he admitted that mistakes had been made
by the Athletic Department and that there was
work to be done in rectifying its relationship with
the student body,

0

The University of Michigan
Department of Economics
presents
The W.S. Woytlnsky Lecture
Susan Athey
Economics of Technology Professor
from Stanford University
"The Internet &
the News Media"
Friday, November 7, 2014
11:30 am -1 pm
1202 School of Education

MGoBlogcom reported Brandon had sent dozens OCTOBER 28
of e-mails to fans percieved by many to be
confrontational and unprofessional. The e-mails 2014
included messages from Brandon to frustrated
alumni telling them to "quit drinking and go to
bed" and, "I suggest you find a new team to
supportl"
OCTOBER31

Schlissel announces Brandon's resignation at an
afternoon press conference.

2014

0