Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel came out swinging in an interview that he did with Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider on Tuesday morning.
"I've been fired three times by social media I got here," Manuel said. "I just move through it because to me, it's nonsense."
Manuel took aim at multiple reports, some citing Justin Spiro, a well-known Michigan State fan, who claimed that Manuel was going to accept a buyout.
However, the current Michigan athletic director pushed back on that, saying that those people "have zero knowledge."
"People with zero knowledge of what’s going on are talking about things are happening. I wish we got to the point in society where people put their names to things," he said.
Warde Manuel is embattled as Michigan AD
Michigan hired a law firm to investigate the culture of the athletic department, costing more than $10 million. The results of that report have not been released, and it's not clear that they will be, according to a Michigan spokesperson, but some have said that the details will lead to Manuel's exit.
The Michigan AD didn't deny there have been conversations about the future, but that nothing has been decided. He also said he hasn't seen the Block and Jenner report.
"I've had several conversations over the last 6 or 7 months about the future and things that have happened, different opportunities and different ways it could go," he said.
When it was first reported that Manuel was on his way out, it was claimed that his future would be discussed at a Board of Regents meeting scheduled for Thursday. However, there is nothing on the agenda about Manuel, according to the Detroit News.
Manuel also told the Detroit News and other outlets that he is still the Michigan athletic director. Obviously, things can change, but it would be a pretty bold thing for Manuel to do if he were on the way out this week.
Sam Webb said that the interview was previously scheduled. It wasn't a response to the recent reporting, however, Manuel's pushback makes you wonder what is going to happen later this week.
During his tenure, there have been numerous scandals from Connor Stalions to Sherrone Moore's affair which led to his termination, and later his arrest.
A new lawsuit alleges that Michigan had knowledge of Stalions' scheme and didn't report the information, although lawsuit allegations should not be confused with facts. They are not, and the way the lawsuit was worded, according to Jim Harbaugh's lawyer Tom Mars, was to make clear there was no proof behind those allegations.
FYI, When a lawsuit says "upon information and belief," as this one does in every paragraph in the screenshot, it means the person making the statement does not have proof but thinks those things are true. https://t.co/DYu6Mcje71
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) July 13, 2026
One thing is for sure, there never seems to be a dull week around Michigan.
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