Michigan Grad Who’s Not Arrogant — That’s Me!

So during our spirited debate on Press Pass with Jack Ebling Sunday night on TV 47 Lansing (11 p.m. to Midnight for those of you unaware of this local programming gem), fellow panelist Detroit Free Press Spartan beat writer Joe Rexrode informs me that Michigan AD David Brandon was the only athletic director of the Big 10 schools not to appear at last week’s Big 10 AD Meetings in Chicago. So my question is simple? Why wasn’t he there? Was there a legitimate reason for his absence?

Many people think David Brandon is arrogant in his role heading the athletic department of the “perceived” most arrogant public university in the land. In some aspects – it’s justified. I sure hope the reason he went “no show” was not to display indifference that “I have better things to do.” There better be a good reason. I don’t like arrogance at all. It’s one of my most disdained character traits in individuals and organizations, in my opinion. My radio partner Jack Ebling and I have had Brandon on The Drive with Jack Ebling sports talk radio show and they have all been positive/informative interviews. But I just don’t like this well-document “controlling persona” he displays when representing the Michigan football program. It bugs the hell out of me. It’s arrogant. Just like it’s arrogant seeing him at Big 10 Football Media Days in Chicago a couple years ago and noticing his dress shirts were monogrammed on the cuffs with his personal initials. Now that, folks, bleeds arrogance in my humble opinion. I hate that.

I am a proud University of Michigan graduate from a family that combines for no less than 13 degrees from the Ann Arbor campus. And I am also “proud” to say I am the antithesis of “arrogance.” Not even close. I am down to earth, grounded, self-deprecating and I like all people from varying walks of life. Not all Michigan grads are arrogant. But there are enough of them – and administrators – that create/maintain that reputation that will just never seem to go away. I wish that wasn’t the case — but it is.