The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144506
Smooth Sailing The Wolverines Are Going Strong, But Athletic Director David Brandon Wants Even More I By John Borton t really wasn't so long ago that David Brandon found himself dealing with more question marks than "The Riddler" of Batman fame. The Michigan football program had won six Big Ten games in three years, getting outscored by Ohio State by a combined score of 10024 from 2008-2010. The basketball program was building, but needed a breakthrough after not seeing an NCAA Sweet 16 in the better part of two decades. Plenty of gains had been achieved regarding U-M's athletic facilities, but finishes to Crisler Center and Yost Ice Arena left a pair of high-profile venues waiting to be unveiled. Michigan's athletic director looks around now and sees a rock-solid gridiron aggregation under Brady Hoke, one recruiting among the nation's elite and bolstered by a BCS bowl victory. Brandon witnessed Michigan's first Big Ten basketball championship since 1986 under John Beilein, followed up by a stirring run to the national championship game. Brandon has witnessed gap-jawed awe at the sight of Crisler and Yost, as well as continuing admiration for the quarter-billion makeover of Michigan Stadium. He's seen national championships by men's swimming and diving and men's gymnastics push the Wolverines to No. 4 in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup this past year. And Brandon isn't the least bit satisfied. He's looking at 16 major facilities projects, costing an estimated $350 million. He sees programs within the department that can do more in pushing Michigan toward his ultimate goal of winning the Directors' Cup. There's also something more narrowly focused, more visceral. "I want to go back to the Rose Bowl," he offered. "It's been too long. Digital Bonus: Click To See The South Campus Athletics Plan