Dave Brandon

Per ESPN, Gene Smith favors the concept that Michigan and Ohio should be in the same Division, nothing new for Mgoblogers.  Not locked in stone, but leaning in that direction as DB feels similarly.

Smith said he has had informal discussions with Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon about the two teams being in the same division and that both sides were open to the idea. In an email to ESPN.com, Brandon said, "I would certainly not be opposed to being in the same division as OSU if it was in the best interest of our conference. I look forward to the discussion with my colleagues and our conference leadership." 

"Going into the meetings, we would be leaning toward being in the same division," Smith said. "But there might be something that comes up in the [AD meetings] that could change our minds."

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/70120/smith-favos-osu-michigan-...

Boston Globe profile of new Boston College AD Brad Bates.  Bates was a football walkon during the Bo Schembechler era in the late 1970s.

Given the way Dave Brandon has scheduled with other ADs with Michigan ties (Jeff Long-Arkansas, Bob De Carolis-Oregon St, Warde Manuel-UConn, & Derrick Gragg-EMU), I bet we will see Boston College on Michigan's football schedule soon.

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/2012/12/18/bates/mmLRhxd8sAKe2eUtoA9PQN/story.html

Per AA.com and a radio interview this morning Dave Brandon indicates that UM cut ties with CFC and supports still having a charity run at the Big House. 

http://annarbor.com/news/dave-brandon-we-think-that-a-race-that-ends-in-the-big-house-is-a-good-idea/

So, Dave Brandon has totally redeemed himself?

Per Angelique, who adds that Michigan has made proposals to move the game.

Does this mean New York City? It's hard to imagine a big stadium with a big draw near UConn other than it, or perhaps ... Boston?

EDIT: more tweets with more information:

On UConn game...Brandon says w state $$ to improve stadium politics are in play. Says would need waiver from state legislature

Brandon on UConn "my attitude - let's go to state legislature to move game". Realizes this is gonna be tough to accomplish

MORE UPDATES (per Angelique):

Brandon said Meadowlands was proposed venue for UM UConn. Meadowlands was very interested, he said

Brandon said "that's not Michigan" when asked if he considered buying out UConn game. "we did a contract, they control game"

Summary

Ticket Prices:  Gradual increases coming

Future Schedule:  Announcement "days away"

Baseball Coach: Very deep pool of candidates

Air Force Game:  Planning for special day

Student Incentives:  Coming (no new news)

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120605/SPORTS0201/206050436/1361/Dave-Brandon-anticipates-gradual-increases-in-U-M-football-ticket-prices

EDIT:  Ann Arbor.com Article w a few more things

Would like to schedule more military teams

Entertainment factor examined when scheduling: "networks are fighting over that game" - 2014 App State game

Still working to move UConn game to new venue: "working hard on that"

http://annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigan-football-planning-special-tribute-for-air-force-game-would-like-to-play-another-service-aca/