Letter to the president
I've been meaning to send letters to the big wigs at UM since the Minnesota game, but just now have some time to do so. I actually think the timing maybe better now anyways as the the firestorm of the Morris incident has subsided without changes made and we need to keep the pressure on. I'm focusing my letter on DB as the president is more directly responsible for him and Hoke's record speaks for itself. I just want to make sure I get as many of our grievances down as succinctly as possible. Here's what I'm focusing on:
1. The consisent raising of prices and general feeling of gouging the fans which has led to the disappearance of the season ticket wait list.
2. Student season ticket policies
3. Sky writing incident, which Brandon labeled a "miscommunication"
4. Coke incident, which Brandon labeled a "miscommunication"
5. Morris incident
Am I missing any other major public relations gaffes? I'm not concerned about stuff like the noodle and music in the stadium, as I feel this sort of stuff is unfortunately par for the course in college football.
If people like, I'll be more than happy to share what I write so that you can copy and paste and send your own letter once I'm done.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
I like tacos.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
A taco that craps ice cream?
October 26th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
My mind goes to sour cream, but maybe its a chocotaco.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^
Your sour cream penis is hanging out.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
I think they are second cousins
October 26th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
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October 26th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 26th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 26th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
Why not mention the Coke incident? It was a major PR gaffe that got (brief) national attention. If anything, it manages to touch on multiple issues with Brandon's tenure all at once: declining ticket sales, awkward commercial partnership, blown PR response, taking no responsibility for the screw up.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
But have you tried Manzanita Sol or Mountain Dew Baja Blast? Sure, neither are "cola" products, but damn if they don't taste awesome and they are PepsiCo ... uh oh, here it comes ... brands.
October 26th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
That incident made us a national laughingstock. It belongs in a letter addressing DB's shortcomings.
October 26th, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
Ya, that is the issue. However, Hoke is seen as a nice guy so he gets a pass on not developing anyone in four years. DB is seen as the devil incarnate so everything is his fault.
October 26th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
If you want to lead with this, use data from OSU and ND as Midwest examples. Same thing with the expensive water prices.
3 & 4 were amateurs hour mistakes, but not reason for the ad to be fired. 5 was a problem because Brandon kind of lied and for no real gain. It shows that he has no clue how to handle bad PR.
However, your letter should have some facts that compare michigan to other big time programs.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
What does that mean?
October 26th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
You speak in riddles. Go on...
October 26th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
The idea that "they" (the President? Regents?) are somehow happy to have a failing football program, leading to a generally disgruntled alumni base, is utterly false.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
The stadium experience has gone downhill.
The fact that DB calls our university a brand.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
I declare this post a taco posbang.
October 26th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
I am so confused why she is eating it like that
October 26th, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^
October 27th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
You just have to remember she's out there competing, and sometimes it just comes down to poor execution, but dangit she is out there competing.
October 27th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
Double Post.... Apologizes
October 26th, 2014 at 7:07 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
If you want us to take to time to contirbute to your important letter, I think you need to tell is if you are an average Joe or if you are somebody who has actual influence above the average Joe.
Because if you are an average Joe, your important letter is really an impotent letter.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
is still the biggest PR gaffe, and shows even more because it kind of set the tone for how the AD responds to every single problem that occurs.
October 26th, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
Obviously, I'm as frustrated with the product on the field as all of you, but complaining on message boards doesn't accomplish much. I feel like writing an email is at least doing my part. It's like voting, 1 vote is unlikely to change much, but you really can't bitch about the President and congress if you didn't cast your vote. And if you get enough votes together, maybe change is possible.
As someone currently living 1400 miles from AA, I can't really voice my displeasure by not going to games.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
I'm guessing this was a response to my question below. I understand your desire to write a letter. But shouldnt we all be writing our own individual letters? My impression is that only some sort of collaborative letter everyone sends or a letter from a VIP warrents its own thread topic.
October 26th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
Yeah, I think it would be most effective if we continue to flood his inbox with individual emails. I'm suggesting getting a template together that we could each add our own twist to. But based on the feel of the thread, I'm sensing that it wasn't a winning idea. No big deal, I'm still gonna send my email.
October 26th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
Maybe I'm way off base here but aside from all of the tangible things that Brandon has done wrong, I think the thing that bothers me most about him is how he acts in a way that comes across as dishonest and insulting. A great example of this is how he released the post-Morris press release in the middle of the night on a Tuesday with the wording "probable, mild concussion."
He does things like this constantly, and they're very transparent. Anyone who has critical thinking skills knows that he released that in the middle of the night on purpose and that "probable, mild concussion" is worded in a way to mitigate his culpability. The fact that he thinks that we will fall for stunts like that is insulting on top of it all. It's one thing to "brand" and "market" sporting tickets but Brandon treats the MIchigan community like ignorant consumers instead of members of a dedicated, familial group. This is hard to explain or quantify, but I would compare it to that feeling you get when you're talking to someone and they're looking over your shoulder to see who else is in the room, or when people don't make eye contact while shaking hands.