Warde Manuel is stepping down as Michigan’s athletic director at the end of this year. The big question for fans is whether he actually deserves the blame for the recent chaos. A new column from Maize n Brew argues that his biggest failures were moral, not sporting. The author says the answer is yes, though maybe not for the reasons fans think. This is a tough spot for a program that just won national titles.
The Scapegoat Trap
Sports fans are often irrational creatures who attach their whole identity to a team. It’s easy to point fingers at someone else when things go wrong. Fans often blame referees or the front office to avoid hard truths. According to Maize n Brew, Michigan fans have had an easy target in Manuel for years. The department has faced plenty of controversy and allegations of misconduct during his time. Losing big games is one thing, but the off-field issues are the real problem. The author notes that it’s fun to live in a world where heroes are blameless.
Heroes are blameless.
But can you really separate the glory of a championship from the culture that built it?
Championships and Departures
The Wolverines did snap long championship droughts in football and basketball recently. However, the program couldn’t hold onto either of its national championship-winning head coaches. Jim Harbaugh and Dusty May both left shortly after leading Michigan to the ultimate prize. Per Maize n Brew, the seeds for the 2023 football title were planted before Manuel even arrived. Manuel deserves some credit for backing Harbaugh after a rough 2020 season. But the broad resume lacks one unmissable stroke of brilliance. His first major hire, Juwan Howard, ended in disappointment despite a promising start.
Just a rough 2020.
That’s the season where Manuel stepped up to support Harbaugh when the pressure was mounting.
Does that single act of loyalty outweigh the subsequent unraveling of the basketball program?
What Comes Next
Whoever replaces Manuel will have huge shoes to fill in Ann Arbor. The job is one of the most coveted positions in the country right now. The new leader must handle NIL deals and major media changes. Maize n Brew lists three potential candidates to replace him. Both have proven they can hire and keep great coaches. The next AD will need to fix the moral culture while keeping the wins coming.
Hire and keep great coaches.
That’s the specific skill set the incoming leader needs to master in a shifting landscape.
Do you think Manuel should have stayed longer to fix these issues, or is it time to move on? Tell us your take in the comments below.
