Dave Brandon 2014

University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon addresses the board of regents at a meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at the Michigan Union.

(Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News)

ANN ARBOR -- University of Michigan students are already calling for Dave Brandon's job, as nearly 2,000 have signed an online petition asking for the athletic director to step down.

In the midst of the controversy, members of the popular fan message board mgoblog.com have planned a "Fire Dave Brandon Rally" for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Diag on U-M's central campus.

The post on mgoblog was written shortly after Brandon issued a statement about the mishandling of the Shane Morris injuries during Saturday's 30-14 loss to Minnesota.

Nearly 80 comments were posted, with several people saying they would attend.

One commenter suggested that people "should do those weekly until he steps down." The same commenter wrote: "Make sure to spread it across social media as heavily as possible. Instagram. Twitter. Anything and everything. Get that #FireDaveBrandon hashtag trending across all platforms."

Brandon said in his statement that he apologized for "a serious lack of communication" and "a circumstance that was not in the best interest of one of our student-athletes."

Central Student Government President Bobby Dishell issued an impassioned statement about holding Brandon accountable for not just the woes of the season, but also Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and his handling of the Morris injury, which Brandon said was later diagnosed as a "probable mild concussion."

"Saturday's loss revealed, instead, a major fault within the athletic administration: a lack of respect for both its students and student-athletes," Dishell wrote.

"CSG stands by the student body. It stands by the rules that protect the student body, whether in the classroom, on the streets of Ann Arbor, in campus housing, or on the football field."

Dishell continued: "Policies must be followed in full. The injuries of student-athletes must be addressed with the precision and care that are compliant with code. Officials, staff members, and managers must, and should, be held accountable for their decisions and the actions that follow. CSG joins the voice of students and their demand for managerial culpability."