The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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18 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2021 WARDE MANUEL EXCLUSIVE Michigan's AD Assesses The State Of U-M Athletics BY JOHN BORTON I t's a tradition of Michigan athletics directors for the past quarter century — sitting down with The Wolverine for a discussion near the beginning of another athletic year. Warde Manuel maintains that time-honored practice, in a wide-ranging discussion on a host of topics. Here's Manuel, following one of the most difficult years for ADs, athletes and fans across the nation. The Wolverine: How would you sum up the past year, in terms of the chal- lenges faced? Manuel: "There were challenges — significant in some respects, minor in others, changes. In hindsight, it taught us a lot. It brought a lot of people to- gether. While there was pain along the way, we are coming out of it in a way that makes me proud of my staff, and my coaches and student-athletes. "They endured. They persevered. They found ways to stick together and have fun and play games and to win. But I think we all grew in a way that I'll never forget, because of the pandemic. "Oddly, looking back, I'm thankful — not for the pain and the hurt and the hard decisions that had to be made, but for the growth and for seeing people really have their greatness show." The Wolverine: You projected in mid-June a near $63 million budget shortfall for the 2021 fiscal year. How do you absorb that hit? Manuel: "Loans … I mean, loans. We're reducing expenses where we can, but the bulk of it, it's loans through the University that we have to pay back over a five-year period or maybe a little lon- ger. "There's no magic to it." The Wolverine: You're project- ing a much more normal fiscal year in the coming months, with a surplus of $1.4 million. Do you keep your fingers crossed, or are you operationally back to normal? Manuel: "We are working and prepar- ing to be completely back to normal, with the understanding that the pandemic and the impact of a variant could change what we're allowed to do, in terms of having fans attend our events and our games. "If last year taught me anything, it taught me to expect the unexpected and be as nimble as you can." The Wolverine: Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) is very much in the news. What are your thoughts on the oppor- tunities this legislation has provided for After a year of immense challenges, the athletic world is trying to get back to normal, includ- ing a stadium full of fans at The Big House. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL