Former Michigan Guard Greg Skrepenak Says Dave Brandon Needs To Go

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Former Michigan guard Greg Skrepenak, a two-time All-America selection who went on to play in the NFL from 1992 to 1997, does not like the direction the football program has veered with athletic director Dave Brandon at the helm.

"Dave got lost in corporate America," Skrepenak said to Mike Stone of 97.1 The Ticket. "That's what bothers me the most, and I understand how corporate America works. I understand that we need money to run our athletic programs ... What bothers me is that every other team in the country would love to have the tradition that we have, and that tradition is what is the heartbeat of college football.

"When an athletic director comes in with a corporate America attitude and his attitude is, 'If it ain't broke, blow it up,' you don't understand the tradition, and that probably has upset me the most because our tradition has taken a hit," Skrepenak continued. "That basis and that foundation of that tradition should maintain the same. When you remodel your house, you don't change your foundation."

Skrepenak criticized the change in student seating, which Brandon switched to be first-come, first-serve rather than by class.

"One of the greatest values that Michigan football holds dear to them - if not the greatest value that we have - is seniority, and that should mean something," Skrepenak said. "It should mean something with the students and when they buy tickets. That to me is an earmark of our program, and if it's not being honored throughout the whole sporting system, including the students, then it just has an ill effect on the football program if you ask me."

Skrepenak, while he feels Michigan head coach Brady Hoke deserves at least one more year, said Brandon should not be back next year.

"I just don't think he understands what it's all about," Skrepenak said. "When you put the forefront of the program at money, if money's going to dictate our program over the years, no. I'll tell you what, I'll turn my alumni card in if that's what Michigan football and Michigan athletics is going to be about, money. I'll turn it in right now. I don't want to be part of that. I want to be part of tradition. I want to be part of trying to be the leaders and the best.

"I don't want to be a greedy program that's solely going to be about money and money alone," Skrepenak continued. "Although I understand that you need to raise the money for the program to be successful, it can't solely be about money, and that should not be your number one goal for the athletic department. So from that perspective, no, I don't think he should be back."