Unverified Voracity Asks Rhetorical Qs Comment Count

Brian

Site business. Two things:

  1. I am getting married this Saturday in a top-secret location far away from any images of Fielding Yost. I am taking Friday and Monday off; Tom and Tim will produce content as per usual. If you've got a diary you want front-paged this would be an opportune time to post it. Content from me will be light this week because a bunch of friends I don't get to see will be in town, etc.
  2. I'm warning you about this a month ahead of time: honeymoon is in late July for about ten days and I am probably not even going to take my computer.

Your understanding is appreciated.

Wolverine 503wolverine mascotrallypickle4

I'm partial to the rally pickle myself.

Mascot business. I took a rage day so that I wouldn't say anything regrettable in the aftermath of the mascot trial balloon, leaving the rest of the world to offer Dave Brandon a raspberry and Brandon to quickly clarify that while he is all seeing and all knowing he is very very wily and no mascot is pending. Even while doing so he leaves himself an out, saying it "may never happen."

Q: In retrospect do you believe that Brandon announcing the OSU game would be moving to midseason was really a super-clever way to get everyone outraged about it and therefore ensure it doesn't happen?

The M-Zone makes a compelling case that we should not. After that fan explosion we've had the uniform business and the mascot business and at about the same time we've had the night game business. (While I don't care that much about having a night game, it is a departure from tradition.) The evidence points towards Dave Brandon being so intent on "creating the future" that he has absolutely no grasp on what's important to the fanbase until everyone's freaking out about it.

Worse, he spends time belittling the kind of people who do really care. From the inbox:

Below response to my (very short and very respectful) email to Dave Brandon today asking him to reconsider a Michigan mascot.  I actually responded to this, against my better judgment, and said that if there's a man in a furry wolverine costume on the sideline than it'll wind up being more life-changing for him than for me.

--------------------

Please don’t be too concerned over this life-changing topic!

All will be OK…

Have a great weekend!

Dave

I'm not sure how this happened since Dave Brandon was actually on the team under Bo, but the current athletic director appears to have no more connection to Michigan's traditions than—wait for it—Rich Rodriguez.

I really care about what goes on inside Michigan Stadium; Brandon thinks this makes me a sap.

At least he's not alone.

Convenient timing. Meanwhile, one of the main counter-arguments against Old Testament kind of guys who like their coffee black, parole denied, and Michigan Stadium old-timey is that if we don't get that cheddar Michigan will be left in the dust by its rivals.

Presenting Michigan's 2012 budget:

For the proposed FY 2012 Operating Budget (described in detail on the following pages), we project an operating surplus of $11.4 million based on operating revenues of $121.2 million and operating expenses of $109.8 million. The budgeted operating surplus will be will be used to fund our ongoing capital needs and facility renewal projects.

Bill Martin's great accomplishment was killing the immediate cheddar issue dead without compromising the brand that packs the largest stadium in the country. Further squeezing starts to impact the uniqueness of the Michigan experience and erodes the reasons people shell out as much as they do.

Unfair and true and BERGKAMP. Here is Denard Robinson's 87-yard touchdown against Notre Dame last year, first narrated by Tom Hammond, then your inner monologue:

It's not fair comparing Tom Hammond to whoever the BERGKAMP guy is, but he does have a point. Maybe Americans get more confused about whether sports is serious business worthy of objectivity or not.

For a counterpoint EDSBS immediately goes to Sean McDonough, who's the first guy I thought of, too:

Q: Franklin is retired and Nessler is now on the NFL network, so is McDonough now the undisputed #1 college football announcer? I can't think of anyone I'd rather have doing a Michigan game.

Welcome to the field. The O-Zone reports on the latest edition of the Big 33 PA-OH All-Star game, in which Ohio annihilated Pennsylvania. Featured amongst the players of interest is WLB signee Antonio Poole:

Antonio Poole, LB Cincinnati Winton Woods 6'0” 195 (Michigan)

I think Poole may have been the most impressive defensive player on the field. He's only listed at 6'0” 195 pounds, but he sticks ball-carriers right between the numbers and they stay stuck. When he's in pursuit, he looks much bigger than he is. He certainly hits much bigger than he is. He may not be big enough to play linebacker in the Big Ten right now, but the Wolverines may not be able to wait.

That's true—WLB is currently Mike Jones and maybe Brandin Hawthorne.

Goalie zen part XVI. Red Line Report is down on this year's crop of goalies but they do have a solid #1. Prepare for the same scouting report you've heard several times before:

The clear-cut No. 1 guy is John Gibson, who combines excellent size and a calm demeanor in the most important games. He plays economically and is strong in the butterfly, using his long legs to take away the bottom half of the net. Gibson is a big netminder who plays big, challenging well and not leaving much space for shooters to look at. He's also calm and patient and allows the play to come to him. We like his mental strength and focus in clutch situations.

They don't like the other Gibson, so John is the only goalie they give a first round grade.

Etc.: Penn State blog Linebacker U interviews Tom for his perspective on Michigan and Penn State recruiting.

Comments

MI Expat NY

June 20th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^

Nope, retired after the 2006 Rose Bowl between Texas and USC.  It was for the best.  As much as I love Keith Jackson, he will forever be the voice of college football in my mind, he was having a tough time keeping up with the speed of the game by the end.

CRex

June 20th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^

Congrats on the wedding.  Although given your stance on mascots, I'm assuming Curly Fries from the Big Chill did not make the guest list?

Genzilla

June 20th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^

Dennis Bergkamp is an absolute soccer legend and personal hero of mine.  As a fan of the Netherlands and Arsenal Futbol teams, he and Robin Van Persie serve as those rare double-team fan opportunities.

BrownJuggernaut

June 20th, 2011 at 5:15 PM ^

1. Mascot: the kids going to Sparty and the Nittany Lion aren't a Michigan problem. That's a parenting problem. 

2. McDonough: big fan of his, he used to call Sox games back in the day. Local guy (for me). His dad was a legendary sportswriter for the Globe. Sean is no slouch either. 

3. Enjoy your wedding.

turtleboy

June 20th, 2011 at 5:15 PM ^

for South Park to do an episode about choosing a school mascot. I have a feeling that 4 kids from Colorado could really speak for me on this potential life-changing decision.

 The more I think about our upcoming 2-deep the more I think we'll see a few 2011 kids not redshirting. While Antonio Poole is only around 190 lbs he could already be a step up, and I may be imagining it, but if all of our 2011 linemen redshirt we'll have a walk-on or 2 in our Oline 2-deep this season. Gary Yerden and Chris Bryant get my vote to play right away. Yerden will likely be the biggest kid on the team as a freshman and yet he's an athletic 330 lbs. He played OT, DT, was a powerlifter, and played basketball this year. His technique won't be great but he may have the highest ceiling of our 2011 Linemen.

XxNoRemorsExX

June 20th, 2011 at 5:16 PM ^

Congrats on the wedding Brian.  Wishing you many years of happiness.  Someone's bound to get them sometime, LOL! 

On the commentator point, I'd like to throw Mike Patrick's name into the ring.  I've always liked him and he cemented his spot for me during the Michigan beatdown of the Gators and Tebow.

M-Wolverine

June 20th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^

"How did you get her to move into your basement? She doesn't mind you sitting in your underwear all day long?"

Brandon's foot in mouth aside, congrats on the nuptials. And don't worry..last time when you weren't, all we had was an avalanche of Michigan news. Get ready with those HELLO posts Tim, it could be a busy weekend if Brian's gone. (Lord knows what will happen with ten days later this summer...)

VAWolverine

June 20th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^

Virginia is for lovers. Y'all come down and visit now, ya hear!!!

Congrats to you and the future First Lady of MGOBLOG.

What does she think of "The Horror"?

snowcrash

June 20th, 2011 at 5:22 PM ^

"...he sticks ball-carriers right between the numbers and they stay stuck."  :""

I really like the sound of that.

Also, grats on the wedding.

jbibiza

June 20th, 2011 at 5:29 PM ^

A loving relationship can be the crucible in which your finest self is discovered.... 

If you love this woman with the same passion and dedication that you have for Michigan football then all will be well.

Enjoy!

StephenRKass

June 20th, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^

So what does the future Mrs. Cook (or hypen-Cook or Cook-hyphen) have to say about mgoblog? And income generated by mgoblog? And how will this affect the future of mgoblog? I expect (and hope) not very much, until and unless such time as mgo-spawn arrive on the scene. Nonetheless, congratulations, felecitations, blessings, and best wishes.

p.s.  Please, don't even think to bring your computer on your honeymoon. Or even your phone. You will be too tempted if you do. It is good every year for part of my vacation to be in hinterlands with neither cell nor internet access.

champswest

June 20th, 2011 at 5:33 PM ^

that because Dave Brandon had a few good ideas and successes, that he is now trying to re-invent the wheel.  He seems to be trying to become the next Don Canham.  Night games and new scoreboards are fine, but we don't need throw back jerseys and mascots.  I have probably seen just about every mascot there is and I have never once thought, "Boy, I wish Michigan had a mascot.  That would be so cool." 

We don't need that stuff.  We have the uniforms, the winged helmet, the fight song, the marching band, the banner, the big house, "Those who stay will be champions" and "The Team, The Team, The Team!"  And much, much more.

ILwolverine

June 20th, 2011 at 5:47 PM ^

is it ruining the pre game run onto the field.  All of the players would be lead out onto the field by a furry costume that would completely ruin the moment and tradition.  Just another reason to fear the mascot

PeteM

June 20th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^

Brian, Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. We'll survive the honeymoon.
<br>
<br>On the mascot issue, I agree although I do think that it's interesting that the guys behind Willy the Wolverine back in the 80s ended up as the founders of Groupon.