yes plz
Dave Brandon creates the future
A proposal for future Uniformz
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I’ve been a very vocal opponent of all the Uniformz that we’ve seen the football team break out over the years, and since we’ve seen some hockey successes (and failures) and there’s now talk about basketball “special” unis, and well… I don’t have a lawn, but I do have a suggestion.
Many have noted that we’ve got history and tradition that very few schools can match. With the demand for more revenue from the AD (for new… everythings) some of us have accepted “alternate” jerseys as inevitable. I think that we can have alternate jerseys and they CAN be successful and they CAN look good. Remember, it’s not about being new, fresh, etc. it’s about selling more jerseys. Best way to do that without looking like clowns? History.
FOOTBALL:
Home Blues are untouchable. The UTL jerseys sold well, and looked good on the players, but frankly the ones for sale to the public look awful. Sleeves are too long/too many stripes. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
HOWEVA, I’d be fine with Adidas tweaking the road jersey just about annually, it's changed a bunch over the years. I didn’t mind the look of last year’s Sugar Bowl jersey, but I didn’t like that it was our 6thlook in the same year.
ALSO, we should have some historical, REAL, throwback alternates that can be in the rotation for road/bowl games. DB wants to sell other jerseys? Offer these bad boys and wear them:
Bam. Problem solved. There are white alternates for our next 3 years. They even look like Michigan Jerseys! If Brandon thinks he can sell jerseys because we wore them when we were team “coconut shrimp”, he better believe that we can sell the jerseys we wore when we won the ’97 MNC.
BASKETBALL:
This came up in the BBall Uniformz thread http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/basketball-uniformsz-watch-sunday-against-io..., but we’ve worn some good ones in the past. The Fab 5 shorts. The ’89 large block M Michigan blues, etc. Bam, we’ve got 5 basketball jerseys to sell.
- why aren't these in the rotation and for sale?
Hockey:
We’ve tried enough combos here that we should know what works. Try a new one occasionally (the Big Chill ones that didn’t have giant Arbys logos looked OK) but remember what you’ve got to draw from. I for one have ALWAYS wanted a “tournament” jersey with the script Michigan.
If the AD wants to sell jerseys, why aren’t they selling those!?!?!
Block Ms in every color worked, we’ve got the Rangers style Maize, plus the Red Era arc Michigan.
We’ve got good options to choose from in all 3 major sports that we've worn in the past. Change up a jersey a sport (bball change the blues one year, hockey try a new Maize, etc.) to see if we hit a new combo that works, but enough of the special edition one-offs that look like nothing we've ever worn. Let’s use some of these good looking old jerseys as alternates. I'd bet the AD will sell a few too.
OT: University of Cal System drops new logo
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As a follow up to the whole Cal attempt to rebrand itself, the Cal System has dropped the new seal. The Cal admins though have decided to be butthurt about the entire thing and whine about being misunderstood. For example:
Dooley defended the contemporary logo...Critics had latched onto "an unfortunate and false narrative, which framed the matter as an either-or choice between a venerated UC seal and a newly designed monogram," he said.
The article on it is kind of interesting. Beside the butthurt from people like Dooley, it does show that a harsh public outcry can make the admins put the brakes on things. In Cal's it was so extreme the intern who handles the Twitter for the governor's dog (really) was riping on the seal. It also shows how annoying that change for the sake of change mindset can be.
The graphic would not have replaced the official seal on diplomas or official letterhead, but was meant to bring a more modern look to websites and publications in UC's fundraising, recruiting and public affairs campaigns. The symbol was accompanied by the text "University of California," a fact its critics ignored, officials complained.
Only marketing morons could think that a University seal, where everyone expects to see Latin, some images representing science, knowledge, etc, needs to be updated to look like some tech startup's new logo. Even better is the attitude of "The fact it looked horrible is irrelevant because we were gonna stick some 12 point text under it!".
OT: UCal Falls Victim to Building the Brand
Since we're a board of conservative people who hate change, I present UCal's amazing misstep in branding. Their logo change:
Frozen loading bar or flushing toilet, you decide. Whatever it is, it isn't higher education. At the end of the day, let us just be thankful that Dave Brandon has yet to hire the design firm who performed this fuckup.
UNIFORMZZZZZ - Men's Soccer Edition
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I feel bad that I haven't kept up with the soccer team this year. Ever since the departure of Soony, Meram, Harmoody, it hasn't been the same.
Today I headed over to the official site to find a game I could make. Then my eyes bled.
That B10 logo is just as big as the block M on the left shoulder.
For the love of God, give me blue. (Coming from a guy who generally loves maize, especially with hockey and basketball - BUT NEVER FOOTBALL).
Soccer uniforms are pretty hard to fuck up. They are the most wearable and stylish of any sports apparel. All you have to do is keep them white and not have the numbers on the back represent a neon light.
HAIL (student loyalty program) unveiled
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Program is here: http://www.mgoblue.com/hail/
The rewards page is down but it can be viewed by clicking on the Rules page.
Highlights:
STUDENT PROGRAM ONLY
2 pts per event attended
1 pt if check in doesn't occur 20 minutes prior to start
Check ins will be via a mobile app, or ipads at venues.
Rewards: Vary based on tiers/grand prizes including swag, food vouchers, money and priority access to other tickets. Grand prizes exist from a drawing of people earning 100+ points.
My issues: What is to to stop people from leaving early if? IThis is mentioned as a goal but i didn't see an explanation for it.
How accurate can this app be to prevent someone from checking in "early" from the golf course/parents tailgate?
Is it really fair (or if not fair a good plan) to make every event worth the same points?
The New The Game (three different ones)
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Though I was disappointed with the decision to move Thanksgiving to the Thursday BEFORE the Michigan-Ohio game, it is now the way things are and I have made peace with the new normal. That being said, I wanted to bring up the three scenarios under which The Game could be played now that there is an actual B1G championship game, instead of The Game acting as proxy.
Dave Brandon had said, when it was announced that Michigan and Ohio would be in separate B1G divisions, something to the effect of “The only thing better than playing the Ohio game would be playing it twice.” For Brandon, this stems from the idea of increased brand proliferation. Though for fans this is supposed to stem from the idea of being able to beat Ohio twice in the same season. While this would seem to be incredibly gratifying, it ultimately breaks down functionally. If the same team wins both games then what was the point of the rematch? If the series is split, then what was proven on the field? See 2011-2012 Alabama/LSU and SEC ad absurdum.
Let us take a step back however and examine the three scenarios. They are:
- Michigan and Ohio enter The Game with each team having no chance of reaching the B1GCG. While this likely means more joy in Madison, Lincoln, or East Lansing than Ann Arbor, the effect on The Game is minimal. Though neither team controls its own destiny, the usual grudge match applies and the victor will revel in adulation while the loser suffers the humiliations of another year of failure. This is the scenario of the 2011 Game.
- Michigan and Ohio enter The Game with at least one team having a chance to secure a spot in the B1GCG. This scenario sees the grudge match in its more traditional role of having a great impact on trips to Pasadena and B1G championships. Again, the victor will enjoy spoils and the loser sees another season spoiled. If both teams need the win to secure a spot in the B1GCG, the intensity could be even more pronounced than usual. This is a scenario similar to the 2006 Game but with the immediate implications regarding the B1GCG rather than the BCSMNCG.
- Both Michigan and Ohio are already guaranteed their spot in the B1GCG. This is the scenario that Brandon supposedly thinks would be so great though I suggest it is sad and superfluous. The Game would not be The Game, next week's Game is the real Game. The rematch will determine the B1G champion while the first version will determine nothing. It is simply a qualifying heat and it isn’t even that since the qualifying has already been accomplished. Is there truly value in beating Ohio twice when once is all that would be needed? Why risk injury? Why risk spoiling a perhaps undefeated season for a game that is functionally meaningless? Think about that - The Game being functionally meaningless. Now perish the thought.
Ways around this sad situation include moving The Game to earlier in the season, and changing the conference alignment. In my next entry I will propose a new conference alignment. Thanks for reading.
