medals

September 19th, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^

I fired off an email and Brandon responded (twice).  It was not a form response, because he quoted back to me some of the language I used in my email.  (/Tin foil hat medals:  Maybe we have some really smart email bots at Michigan.  Hmmmm.)

Anyhow, allegedly less than $5K spent on 50 sky messages to be spread across the state of Michigan.  E.L. was allegedly not directed to be a target.  I'm personally no longer bothered about the amount spent (i.e., $100 on the E.L. "GO BLUE"), but remain a bit bothered about the class aspect.  Assuming that they were spread across Michigan, I'll bet that it was cool to see something like this in Muskegon, Jasckson, Flint, Battle Creek, etc.  Would have been much cooler to see this in NYC/CT this weekend.   

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 824

bronxblue

September 19th, 2013 at 2:32 PM ^

OR we could double up and fly over every big game and just etch "Go Blue" everywhere.  Like those people who carry around the WSU flag at every Gameday.  Tell me it wouldn't be slightly hilarious for ABC to pan out to the stadium at Alabama-TAMU and see "Go Blue" in the sky?

But yes, definitely worth the price increase on soda and water to troll MSU.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172085

Perkis-Size Me

September 19th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^

Interesting. So this is probably why DB hiked up the football ticket prices again. Glad to see that profit is being put to good use.

Seriously, though, we'd better back up this trolling on the field, otherwise we're just going to look like a bunch of jackasses. As if MSU didn't need any more motivation for their upcoming Super Bowl.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 106281

stephenrjking

September 19th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^

Ugh. I love rivalry and I love rivals jabbing at each other on non-rival-game weeks (the billboards needling OSU a couple of years ago were great) but from the official Athletic Department? Cheesy. It should be beneath them. 

This is embarrassing. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

kicknback1

September 19th, 2013 at 12:47 PM ^

I mean...he really squished the O in there between the G and B. 

When he can do “This is Michigan,for God’s sakes!"....I'll be impressed

 

Joined: 02/03/2010

MGoPoints: 151

dahblue

September 19th, 2013 at 12:52 PM ^

It would have been funny if it were a random Michigan fan/alum, but for the AD to do it?  When the teams aren't even playing each other?  Not good.  Weak.  Etc.

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 5253

Everyone Murders

September 19th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^

The Athletic Department is going to hire a bunch of kids in Ohio to toilet paper Urban Meyer's house!  It'll be hilarious!!

(As others have noted, this skywriting business is really embarrassing.  With luck a well-heeled donor will strongly suggest that we not engage in this sort of bush-league behavior in the future.)

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

wish you were here

September 19th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^

Nothing wrong with adding a little more fuel. On a separate note, my cousin (msu grad) is marrying his sweetheart (msu grad) on Saturday. Even the invitations were green and white. Please keep me in your thoughts.

Joined: 02/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1942

phork

September 19th, 2013 at 12:58 PM ^

I love the trolling but leave it to the alums and/or fans.  Coming from the AD is pretty weak.  I mean I would atleast with limitless pockets that you'd have a fire works show to accompany it.

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 4486

Blue Since B.C.

September 19th, 2013 at 1:01 PM ^

Very embarrassing for Michigan, and with MSU turning this into a cancer fundraiser it makes us look even more petty.  Very rarely do they ever take the moral high-ground, but they win 1000x over on this.  I think someone should get fired in the athletic department for this.

I was really hoping it was Stephen Ross' great grandson's expenditure with his first allowance check, or something.

Joined: 09/17/2013

MGoPoints: 2861

ChetChill

September 19th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^

Yeah, like David "Multimedia" Brandon.  This + the fraudulent season ticket sales should light a fire under his ass.  I wrote a letter, but since I don't donate $10,000+ a year, I doubt he gives a shit.  All about the benjamins, right Brandon?  This guy is a piece of work.  He manages to NOT FUCK UP the hiring process of a head coach of Michigan and expects to be sitting free and clear for the next decade?  The guy is scummy beyond belief.  I can't wait for MORE ads to be in the Big House.  Maybe he'll put the macaroni statue on the field next time.

Joined: 06/20/2011

MGoPoints: 279

LSAClassOf2000

September 19th, 2013 at 1:03 PM ^

""It's a multi-thousand-dollar job," Asbury-Oliver said. "First, it's $2 per mile for how far we have to take the plane, then the lightweight oil we use (to skywrite) is expensive, and we use about a gallon and a quart each letter. Then for these kinds of jobs you have to throw in hotels and all that."

Yeah, if the athletic department paid for this and East Lansing was the target, then I can't help but be a little embarrassed by it sadly. Hopefully, we make up for it and take up Scott Westerman's challenge to our Alumni Association and beat the MSU donations to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance. That is a great use of the rivalry, in my opinion. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130801

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 19th, 2013 at 1:03 PM ^

I would guess that Ablauf is telling the truth when he says East Lansing wasn't specifically targeted.  It's funny that it was, but these skywriters are from the West Coast - the department probably just said "southeast Michigan" and the writers figured they'd hit all the football stadiums, because football fans are football fans, right?  It's at least plausible that people from Oregon would have no concept of either the rivalry or what "southeast Michigan" means.

That said, if the department has money to spend on this, THEY HAVE WAY TOO MUCH OF IT and I'd rather they stopped pushing the limits of what fans will accept in terms of hiked-up ticket prices and advertising and noodles and Arby's and stuff.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 41586

Raoul

September 19th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^

Except they're not from Oregon, they're from Arizona—and they're not sports fans.

Asbury-Oliver said she noticed from media reports the uproar it caused among Spartan fans, although she had no premonition of that beforehand as she's not from Michigan and didn't understand the nature of the MSU-UM rivalry. . . .

"My husband and I, we're not sports fans. We didn't know what it all was about," said Asbury-Oliver, who lives in Tucson, Ariz.

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 13957