Michigan Fans Petition Fire AD Warde Manuel Jim Harbaugh Leaves NFL

University of Michigan fans are calling for the firing of their athletic director a month after winning a national championship.

The University of Michigan is facing a unique situation as their college football fan base is calling for the firing of their athletic director, Warde Manuel, less than a month after the football team won a national championship. A petition has been circulating, criticizing Manuel for mishandling various situations and specifically addressing his current handling of retaining Coach Jim Harbaugh, who leads the university's most profitable and valuable athletic program.

The petition highlights Manuel's shortcomings, including the departure of successful coaches such as Erik Bakich and John Beilien, and his failure to address concerns from other athletic programs, such as swimming facilities and the refusal to collaborate or support NIL programs. These issues are seen as threats to the success of Michigan's athletic programs and are causing the university to fall behind in collegiate sports.

While it's true that Manuel and Michigan have faced challenges, such as the basketball program being in disarray and reportedly lagging behind in the NIL space, the timing of the petition is surprising given the recent football championship win. However, tensions between Manuel and Harbaugh have been evident, and Harbaugh's departure with some of his national title-winning assistants to the Los Angeles Chargers has not helped Manuel's case.

Despite the circulating petition, it is uncertain whether the university will oust Manuel, as the timing and the circumstances surrounding the situation are complex and contentious.