The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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noted he has met briefly with the new AD, and that they enjoyed a cordial conversation. There will no doubt be more of those meetings over the coming weeks, with the end of Michigan's regular season drawing near. THE BIG DECISION Hackett, who declined an interview for this story, was not made available for questions at his introductory meet- ing with the press. He has maintained a relatively low profile in the days since taking the job, and kept his state- ments circumspect. "Michigan has a stellar record of ex- traordinary performance academically, and as we mentioned, athletically," he noted. "Our potential is just not in question here." The question he'll be asked to evalu- ate very soon involves the highest-pro- file sport at the University of Michigan, how it is living up to its potential, and what to do about it. Hackett will, pre- sumably with Brandon's behind-the- scenes assistance, embark on a postsea- son review of Michigan football. Schlissel made it clear Hackett is now the fully empowered athletic di- rector. Whether that means he might be called upon to make a decision on the present football coaching staff is a point upon which the president found himself pressed. "Football, like all of our programs, is evaluated by the athletic department through the season, but particularly at the end of the season," Schlissel said. Athletic Director Candidates Drawing Some Speculation University of Michigan president Mark Schlissel indicated the process to fill the athletic director's position permanently is just getting started. He knows what he wants, but isn't necessarily in a hurry. "The athletic director is an important position at the University," Schlissel said. "I'll be looking for a person that prioritizes the welfare and the experience of our student-athletes, a person of unquestioned integrity, not just integrity to the level of NCAA rules but integrity to the Michigan way of doing athletics. "I'll be looking for somebody that appreciates the bond, the cultural aspects of this great athletic program and what it does for this community. I'll be looking for somebody who wants to make the athletic program as tightly inte- grated a part of the overall University environment as possible." Here are some early unofficial candidates worth a mention: Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione: The 2004 Bobby Dodd Ath- letic Director of the Year has been in place for seven national championships in various sports, including football. Oklahoma has been a consistent top-25 finisher in the Directors' Cup stand- ings.