The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1412876
20 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2021 "I just don't. Now, if they're doing it because they want to induce and give somebody a reason — basically pay them to go to an institution — that's different." The Wolverine: That's the thrust of the question — the potential for abuse. Manuel: "Opening this up is poten- tial for abuse. But am I going to sit and chase after everybody, because I'm wor- ried about abuse? That's not my role. Not my job. "I'm not going to allow our coaches to do it, or my staff to do it. But it's not my job to chase people down across the country, based on what opportunities are put out there and that people say they have. "I'll let the public and the NCAA and the conferences handle that. That's not how I see it." The Wolverine: The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 have agreed to align in ways that have yet to be fully defined. How will this impact Michigan and the Big Ten? Manuel: "I don't know yet. It's a way to publicly state what has probably been happening for quite some time. Like in- stitutions, from an academic perspec- tive, athletic perspective. Out of the 41 institutions, like 27 are in the AAU. "It doesn't just have to do with athlet- ics. It's about groupings of schools that have been having conversations on dif- ferent levels — academically, athletically — for a long time. "We go way back with the Pac-12 to the Rose Bowl. That started, I believe, in 1901. For the people that say, 'I don't see how or why they would align,' well, we've been aligned. "I have friends across the country, regardless of the conference they're in. This is just a continuation, a way of stat- ing what has been happening for quite some time. We're going to have conver- sations, the commissioners are going to have conversations, the ADs are going to have conversations for the good of in- tercollegiate athletics — for scheduling purposes, maybe, in different sports. "We'll see how it goes. To me, it's a good thing. You have institutions decid- ing that we're going to have more con- certed conversations about what's good for intercollegiate athletics. If other con- ferences want to participate in that, I'm willing to have the conversation. "I can't speak for everybody, and I can't speak for all the commissioners, but I'm willing to talk to whoever wants to talk." The Wolverine: Football is always on the minds of your fans. What is your sense of Jim Harbaugh's mindset coming out of your discussions last winter and into this football season? Manuel: "I love where Jim is, in how he has approached and attacked ev- erything this year. How he's dealt with COVID and transition and everything involved with staffing. I'm just really pleased and proud of what he's doing, across the board. "I'm very happy with where we are. I'm looking forward to watching him and the staff, and particularly those young men, have a great season." The Wolverine: Did you and the head coach discuss the staff changes, or did he indicate his plans in that area? Manuel: "Yeah, we had great discus- sions over time, as we always do. I'm very proud of him and who he's attracted here, and the level of coaches and people that we have on the staff. We had great conversations, and we continue to have those conversations whenever we see each other and whenever necessary — picking up the phone, Zoom calls, what- ever we need to do. Those conversations have and will continue to happen." The Wolverine: Obviously 2020 was a bizarre, COVID-shortened, injury- marred season for that sport. What are you hoping to see from Harbaugh's crew this fall? Manuel: "Winning. Effort. Passion. A commitment to each other and team. Having some fun. Winning. That's it." The Wolverine: There's been a lot of talk about conference expansion. You have not been a proponent of it in the past. Have you changed your mind in that area? Manuel: "I think we're fine where we are in the Big Ten. I can't speak for other conferences, and won't, but I think we're fine where we are in the Big Ten." U-M student-athletes like junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who released a T-shirt line this summer, have the support of Manuel and the school to pursue ways to make money off their name, image and likeness. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL