The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530730
12 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS WARDE MANUEL SIGNS FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION Michigan announced a five-year extension for director of athletics Warde Manuel on Dec. 5, locking him up through June 30, 2030. Manuel, who is the school's 12th athletics director, has led the department and overseen its 29 varsity sports to 52 Big Ten championships since his tenure began in 2016, headlined by the football program's College Football Playoff national championship in 2023. He currently sits as the chairman of the CFP selection committee. "During Warde's tenure as director, athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan de- grees," President Santa Ono said during the Board of Regents meeting on Dec. 5, where the deal was announced. Manuel has also been a strong academic proponent for the university, setting a record last summer when 243 student- athletes were named to the 2024 Academic All-Big Ten team. "I want to express my gratitude to President Ono, Board Chair Kathy White, and the members of the Board of Re- gents who have been very supportive of me and our athletic department," Manuel said. "I look forward to continuing the success that we have driven together during this chang- ing landscape in college athletics. Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan athletics. "I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and aca- demically. I am excited to continue giving back to a univer- sity that has provided me with so much over my career." Manuel was honored on Dec. 10 with the National Football Foundation's 2024 John L. Toner Award, which recognizes athletics directors who demonstrate "superior administra- tive abilities and have shown outstanding dedication to col- lege athletics, particularly college football." — Anthony Broome OHIO LAWMAKER PROPOSES FELONY CHARGES FOR FLAG PLANTING U-M's 13-10 upset win over Ohio State on Nov. 30 — which 12.3 million viewers nationwide tuned into — came with some fireworks afterward with an on-field celebration that saw Wolverine players plant a Block M flag at the 50-yard line of Ohio Stadium. This started a scuffle between the two rivals when Buckeye players sprinted back from their tunnel to midfield to at- tempt to stop the plant from taking place. Ohio representative Josh Williams responded by putting forth a bill that would make planting flags — specifically at Ohio Stadium — a felony charge in the state. "I am proud to introduce the O.H.I.O Sportsmanship Act to make flag planting at midfield a felony in the state of Ohio," Williams said. "Behavior that incites violent brawls and puts our law enforcement officers in danger has no place on the football field." The bill, which is unlikely to pass given the end-of-year timeline, would "prohibit planting a flagpole and flag in the center of the Ohio Stadium football field on the day of a college football game and to name this act the O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act." ESPN voice Paul Finebaum agreed with the bill, but blamed OSU head coach Ryan Day, a loser for the fourth straight time to the Wolverines, for being the center of the blame. "I'm usually not wild about state legislators trying to get publicity, but in this case he's got the right idea," Finebaum said on ESPN's SportsCenter. "This needs to end. But ulti- mately, it's really up to Ryan Day." "You don't need a state law, and you don't need the Su- preme Court to rule on this. You simply need head coaches doing their jobs and telling players, 'Don't do it, or you won't be on the team' and I think that would solve it." In true Finebaum fashion, he ended his segment with a quip. "I would also tell my team the next time Michigan comes to town to try winning the game," Finebaum said. — Anthony Broome MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Director of athletics Warde Manuel recently received a five-year con- tract extension from the University of Michigan that goes through June 2030. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN