U-M Coaches, Including Hoke, Beilein, Sign Letter Supporting Brandon, Praise His Leadership

By Christy Strawser, CBS Detroit

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Safe to say it hasn't been the best year for University of Michigan football -- on the field or off. And now every varsity coach, including Brady Hoke and John Beilein, have sent a letter supporting beleaguered Athletic Director Dave Brandon to U-M President Mark Schlissel.

"The University of Michigan prides itself on developing future leaders, and this Michigan Athletic Department with the leadership of Dave Brandon is developing men and women to be the 'Leaders and Best,'" the letter says, per the Detroit News.

Hoke and Brandon were ensnared in a series of gaffes that played out in the local and national media. The team drama began in January with the sudden and initially mysterious expulsion of Brendan Gibbons, who played for three seasons after a sex abuse allegation was levied by a fellow student. Teammate Taylor Lewan was accused of threatening the victim, after he had his own brush with the law in late 2013.

And then Shane Morris suffered an on-field concussion, and continued to play, which dropped the jaws of the field announcers and many in the viewing public who saw his knees buckle and head sway when he tried to walk away after a brutal hit.

Hoke first said during a press conference that to his knowledge Morris didn't have a concussion, then the athletic department sent out a 1 a.m. press release acknowledging he did. Hoke said he and Brandon hadn't spoken about the incident, then later acknowledged they had spoken.

And now the U-M Board of Regents plans to discuss Brandon at their regularly scheduled meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Regent Denise Ilitch, who made that revelation during a recent taping of "Michigan Matters" for CBS 62.

And though regents don't hire or fire athletic staff, many are wondering where the discussion will leave Brandon.