Will Profit Ruin the Michigan Football Tradition?
On the “Weekly Rich Rodriguez Coach’s Radio Show” on 26 August 2010 at about 43 minutes into the show, Dave Brandon said the following (and I quote exactly but emphasis was added):
“One of the things few things that annoy me about some of the feedback I get is like, you know, ‘Dave, money isn’t important do this cause this is what feels good to me.’ But money is incredibly important….
….So my job is to leverage the assets associated with football whether it be merchandizing, or licensing, or the stadium, or the gate. Everything and anything we can do. And any Michigan fan should want us to maximize those revenues because it affords us the ability to invest in Crisler arena and the player development center and all the things that are so important to building this brand and building this program.”
I felt sick to my stomach when I first heard this and it has bothered me ever since. Notice Brandon did not say to make reasonable revenue but to “MAXIMIZE” revenue. Maximize: “to make as big or as large as possible.”
So, with apologizes to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984):
First they came for the Michigan Marching Band and started playing gawd awful piped in crap
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came and said I couldn’t pee against the walls
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came for the player introductions
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came for the game
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came to put adds on the jumbotron
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came to put adds on every available square inch inside the stadium
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came to put adds on every available square inch outside the stadium
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came and renamed it Zingerman’s Stadium at the U/M
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came and changed the home jersey
And I didn’t speak up
Then they came and changed the block M
And by that time there was nothing left
And all I could do was cry.
EDIT: I was NOT trying to compare anything to the holocaust. I was just trying to post the material in a different way (total fail?). Sorry if I offended anyone.
August 29th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
....to compare that which is happening to the Michigan football program and the Holocaust.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
When doing all that "adding".
August 29th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
I don't see anywhere that he compared anything to the Holocaust. I mean come on we can't say anything anymore without hurting someones feelings.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
...your take is that to a broad spectrum of people, comparing anything but other genocides to the Holocaust is inherently offensive. It's not about hurting someone's feelings, it's about being self aware enough to realize that there are some things that are out of bounds.
I believe the OP that he didn't mean to compare the state of the Michigan football program to the Holocaust, but when he rewrote Niemöller's First they came... declaration, that's effectively what he did, whether he meant to or not. He's basically comparing the Athletic Department to the Nazi Party and Dave Brandon to Adolf Hitler and the fanbase's apathy to that of the German people which permitted the Holocaust (the analog to all the bad things listed in his version of First they came...). And that's why I said he was being unaware. I made the assumption that he made an honest mistake.
August 29th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
The problem with your take is that offense isn't actually "inherent" in anything. It is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:01 PM ^
To clarify, THIS IS WHAT HAS CHANGED:
The Stadium got bigger and probably louder. The bathrooms were updated along with the rest of the Stadium.
Garbage piped-in music has begun, hopefully to be cut back by the amplification of the band starting this year.
The Game might be changed.
No nazis.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
Not sure how our AD wanting to maximize profits and you peeing against a wall have anything to do with each other. I'll gladly take your tickets and watch outstanding athletes, attracted by the best facilities in the country, play in a renovated stadium. Feel free to pee on your walls at home.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
There was just 226 million paid to upgrade the big house that came entirely from the athletic department. They are working on upgrading Crisler while Yost, Fish and nearly every other arena has gotten upgrades in the near past..again all on athletic department funds. You are just making shit up about putting in adds and you're upset about re-modeled bathrooms.
You're nuttier than a squirrel turd.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
and I didn't speak up....
August 29th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
I was worried Brandon wanted to strap a bunch of hyperactive teenagers to the scoreboard. That would clearly be wrong.
I'm totally cool with nicer bathrooms though.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^
If I ever see this, that's when I'll be concerned. But until then, no worries here.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^
Yikes! Even seeing a photoshopped picture like that depresses the hell out of me.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
I don't think changing player introductions or the piped in music are intended to generate additional revenue. Those are just dumb decisions.
Really my only worry is about moving U-M and OSU into separate divisions and lessening the importance of the rivalry (as happened with Nebraska-Oklahoma and FSU-Miami). To me that is an even bigger deal than the end of season date (the Texas-OU game has become huge because everybody knows it decides the division title, even though it is still in the middle of the season). Again, the issue isn't about Brandon attempting to maximize profits, but rather not understanding how best to do so (keep the U-M/OSU rivalry as the marquee regular season game in the conference/division with the added bonus of a money grab championship game). Texas-OU should be the model, since they have become the marquee game in the Big 12, a game that hasn't been cheapened even by the steady stream of absolute clunkers we've seen in the Big 12 title game (e.g. Texas dropping 70 points on Colorado).
August 29th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^
That is one of the things that has gotten to me most about Brandon. If he's really just into maximizing profits (and that's not a bad thing in and of itself), long term much more money to be made of a viable and meaningful Michigan/OSU game. Texas-OU is the perfect example. The national media hype comes from the fact that it was often the defacto Big 12 semi-final, not merely the nth edition of Red River Rivalry.
August 29th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^
Division A: Michigan, OSU, Michigan St., Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern/Illinois
Division B: Nebraska, Penn St., Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern/Illinois
Basically all the major traditional rivalries are in place. You split up Northwestern/Illinois (the least intense rivalry game in my estimation) but you could easiily still have them play every year. You have plenty of balance with maybe Division B's depth making up for Division A being a little more top heavy. No current regular season game is diminished in any way (except the Illinois rivalry) and you add new rivalries with Nebraska for their closest neighbors and Penn St. (who I'm pretty sure has a history of playing them in the regular season and bowl games). After all that you then get pretty much guaranteed an exciting championship game.
Why is this so hard to figure out? I also don't see how any other plan creates any more money than this one.
August 29th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
If you assume the recent top 6 are likely to stay that way (an assumption necessary for doing any sort of "balance" judgment, though one I question - short term, Michigan clearly isn't there at the moment, and long term nobody knows who's going to be good), you have them split 4-2. In Division A, all it would take is for one of the two powerhouses to have a bad year and you have a cakewalk division. Much better to have them split 3-3, which is why I prefer straight geography with at most a swap of a couple of the Indiana/Illinois schools.
That said, those divisions are more sane than anything I've been hearing from the people actually in charge.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^
Brandon was immediately letting you know, profit isn't a dirty word.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
Although comparing Michigan football to Holocaust was an unwise idea Enjoy Life, I do see where you are coming from. If something at just weeks ago we laughed at happening (they would never change The Game...that would never happen!) is happening, then what is next? Wherever there is money, someone will pursue it. Is it that hard to imagine in a few years ads in the Big House?
I thought that "Michigan doesn't need lux boxes. We have enough money and no one would want to change the stadium." Then it happened.
I thought that "there would never be rawk music at the Big House. Michigan loves its band too much." Then it happened.
"They would never change The Game" Then it happened.
If college football is now all about "maximize those revenues"
then ads in the Big House are next. I hate it as much as the next person, but now I'm jaded and wouldn't be surprised if Michigan football, and college football as a whole, gets screwed over for a few bucks. It will become just like the NFL...and I will cry.
If you want to see the best players in the world playing the best football in the world watch the NFL. That is what it is for. If you want something more than Wins and Loses, then college football is where it is at. It is unique.
Although "peeing on a wall" seems like a dumb thing to hold dear, it was unique. How many times will you have that experience? I remember old Tiger Stadium had them; now it's gone too.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^
Sacrificing the biggest rivalry in the conference, and one of two contenders for that title in the nation, for an increase in profit that would be marginal at best (and honestly, I'm not sure it actually *does* make more money - you won't get Mich-OSU in the title game all that often, and the slight increase in revenue when it does happen (because really, you think OSU-Nebraska or PSU-Iowa wouldn't draw a zillion eyeballs?) won't come near to offsetting the loss in turning OSU-Michigan from The Game into just a random midseason game) ... now that's the problem.
August 29th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
I have to agree with Dan.
Profit is not the problem. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of why this rivalry has developed into what it is: timing and consequences on a yearly basis. And in removing both of these from the equation they are about to commit what could be the most colossal mistake in Big Ten history.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
I have already edited the OP to clarify that I was not trying to compare anything to the holocaust. And I apologized for offending anyone.
That said, I have always interpreted what Pastor Martin Niemöller said as an admonition to current and future generations to beware of accepting changes that seemingly do not affect you as an individual. These changes may often start rather small (test baloons?) and continually grow when no one protests.
Am I crazy? Did he mean it in a more general sense or just in reference to the holocaust?
August 29th, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^
some people just look for ways to feel offended. The same way analogies for sports can be used for real life situations, real life analogies can be used for sports. You didn't take anything too far or step over any lines there.
August 29th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
Kellen Winslow (a.k.a the soldier) Agrees with what he said/.
But seriously, some people who think that it is wise to compare sports to war or other atroities such as the holocast and think that it is reasonable are simply insane. ITS A GAME
August 29th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
Anyone who thinks sports actually compare to war, etc is insane but making a comparison that people can understand is not the same. I don't think the OP was saying that what Brandon is doing acutally compares to the Holocaust itself but used something associated with those times to get his point across. In my opinion this is very different. If Winslow actually thinks that playing football is the same as being a soldier then he is crazy. However you can make analogies about anything if it really helps people to understand. I am not saying it is completely PC but nothing is anymore.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
Does your use of that poem mean that you have actually said or done something more than post an overused poem of an incredibly inhumane time in our global history?
For example, did you at least type up a letter to the Athletic Department stating why you think it's bad to maximize revenue so that it can be spent improving the facilities for all of our student athletes? Did you even send in an alumni donation to show your commitment to helping make a dent in that cost of running the most successful amatuer football programs in the nation?
Or are you just not well informed as to the core task and responsibility of Athletic Directors toward the Athletic Programs they serve?
Since you seem to at least have some interest in history in quoting Pastor Martin Niemöller, then let me assist you with the words of a previous Michigan Athletic Director on what he thinks about his responsiblity toward maximizing revenue.
August 30th, 2010 at 9:05 AM ^
My family has had season tickets to Michigan games for 53 years spanning 3 generations.
I have written e-mails indicating my conerns.
We have a Victors club membership.
Amonst the family members a substantial sum of money has been given to the University and the athletic department.
August 29th, 2010 at 2:32 PM ^
If DB will change The Game for the sake of money and the greater good of the B10 and all that, then anything is up for grabs. His true colors are showing. Holy shit- Green. I just about get sick whenever he plays the "I played for Bo"-card. It really makes it worse. I am trying to look for a ray of hope and a reason to support him but its becoming more difficult all the time. And having to pin our hopes on OSU administration to not have The Game moved gives me a sick feeling too.
August 29th, 2010 at 2:46 PM ^
The idea that the game is going to be changed by moving is rediculous when we can't be competitive in the series. Its not a game when year in and out, it isn't even competitive. If the game becomes competitve (like I expect it will), then it doesn't matter when it is because the hatred is and will always be there
August 29th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
But much of that hatred exists because of the stakes it has been played for. When it's a random cross-division game in October, the stakes will be much lower. (And if it's in-division, there's no reason to move it. Oklahoma-Texas is early because Texas, at least, already had a season-ending rival in A&M. Some SEC rivalry games are early because the eastern teams have a lot of in-state rivalry games with ACC teams to end the season. Otherwise, the biggest rivalry games are all at the end of the season.)
August 29th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
Living on the west coast I personally know that having the Civil War game between U of O and Or. State the last game of the year has made it much more exciting. The rivalry has been vastly intensified by the fact that one or both of the teams is playing for a Rose Bowl birth. The last few match ups have received much more hype that in years past and a majority of that hype is due to the game being played as the final game of the regular season schedule and something huge (Rose Bowl) on the line.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
I agree that has made and fostered that hatred, but once it is produced, it won't go away. If every year the two teams meet with that hatred and something on the line, then it will be important no matter where it is. A great game is a great game in other words. Besides, it pretentious of us to think this is going to happen every year when recent history suggests this will be a once in a while occurrance. When we are back to winning, that will do more for the rivalry then playing like we have the last few years and meeting at the end of the year.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:55 PM ^
The fact that they got split up is one of the major reasons Nebraska is one year away from being a Big Ten school.
August 29th, 2010 at 3:07 PM ^
Mutual animosity isn't sufficient to make the rivalry what it is. The stakes involved and the quality of the two teams are what separates it from the Apple Cup or the Holy War (where trust me the anomisity is just as great).
If the two teams are in separate divisions, the game is severely diminished in the overall scheme of determining the Big 10 championship. If it isn't the last game of the regular season, its place as a de facto conference/division championship game for at least one team involved is also removed.
As for our recent competitiveness in the series, despite a program-worst run the last two years, the game has still been in essence the Big 10 Championship game 2 of the last 4 years.
The better question should be: Why move the game?
I have yet to hear anyone answer that with anything stronger than platitudes about "the need for progress" or snarky jabs insisting "we can't change it so we might as well accept it" or vague assurances that diminishing the greatest rivalry in college football will somehow produce more money for both U-M and the conference as a whole (despite the fact that this claim makes zero logical sense).
August 29th, 2010 at 3:03 PM ^
He is not changing the date of the game. There are 12 schools with competing interests trying to hammer out a compromise. Hopefully, it'll work out for Michigan, but the schools are afraid of creating a Big 12 division situation where Michigan and OSU are clearly the best teams each year and the other division is irrelevant. The presidents understand that Penn State is up for significant change very soon and that Nebraska's recent success may be a mirage.
August 29th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
I just don't see how a division with programs like Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota (with brand new stadium), with the recent success and the longstanding tradition of some of those schools could be in danger of becoming the Big 12 North. Even if the two best teams reside in Columbus and Ann Arbor, the only way the other division could become irrelevant would be by its own doing.
And if the worry is that Michigan and OSU will dominate the league, why split them up such that no other school has a shot at making the title game? And why would there be more worry about sustaining success at Penn State and Nebraska than at Michigan right now?
To me the move just makes zero sense and is not in anybody's best interest. Hopefully Brandon has the initiative and the ability to make that case to the rest of the league's members.
August 29th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
Like "Michigan is going to return to being a consistent powerhouse", "Ohio State is going to remain a powerhouse", "Penn State is going to suck when JoePa is gone", "Nebraska's glory days are over", "Iowa's recent success is unsustainable", and several others.
Besides, if two teams are truly dominating the entire league consistently, are you really any better off if the regular season is eight warm-up games (including one against each other which means almost nothing because a rematch is all but certain) for their coronation before the title game? At least if they're in the same division you have the teams trying to avoid any early pratfalls so that they can have a division title game in the final week.
Bottom line, if you have two teams running amok on a conference, no division setup is really going to save you. If anything, putting those two powers in the same division offers the opposite side more room to grow into tradition (although it would suck for the four who get stuck with the two juggernauts).
August 29th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
If they put up ads in the Big House, the solution is simple: boycott any company who advertises there (and make a big, public deal about doing so). Recognizing that money talks, we must speak its language. Perhaps Brandon will try to sell advertising, and perhaps he will not listen to the objections of the fans for doing so. But if companies know not to waste their dollars on such ads because the Michigan fanbase will blacklist them for doing so (and they know that Michigan fans will be very public about their boycott, thereby widening its impact), then the crisis will be averted.
/wishful thinking
August 29th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
So let me get this straight. If Michigan loses money it's cool so as long as tradition is maintained (what tradition you speak of I don't know).
This is complete lunacy.
We're in a fucking recession and you don't want the University to make money. Why even have a school? This is the most retarded thing ever written here.
Please delete this diary.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:35 PM ^
Did you ever notice that there are zero ads in Michigan Stadium? Did you think this was an accident? Even if you disagree with the policy, there is no question that it has been longstanding practice at Michigan to place integrity above financial gain in this manner. As for tradition, I believe the OP is referring to the greatest rivalry in all of college sports. I am sorry if you are unfamiliar with this tradition.
When you make mistakes like this, words such as "retarded" tend to take on a more autobiographical meaning.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
Then the University shouldn't have hired a CEO of a large-cap corporation if you value tradition above money.
We live in a capitalist society...if you weren't aware. One of the reason Brandon was hired was to maximize revenue, eliminate costs and upgrade the facilities of the athletic dept.
He also has first hand perspective of "tradition" and is more than likely aware of "tradition". He was recently quoted against the inclusion of advertisements at Michigan Stadium.
But he's sticking to his guns, just like he did in the interest of the shareholders at Domino’s, he’s doing the same for the regents and the University, and for that he has my respect.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:39 PM ^
I'm not sure what your point is. Obviously we live in a capitalist society, but I don't see what that has to do with not-for-profit college athletics (there is a reason you get a tax deduction if you donate to the athletic department). If Brandon was hired to simply "maximize revenue", why would he be against the inclusion of advertisements in Michigan Stadium, if not for nobler non-revenue-maximization reasons? His job is to oversee a group of athletically successful teams/indviduals who can represent the university with integrity. His job is to give those student athletes all the resources they need to succeed and to create an atmosphere that attracts future student athletes. Those things take funding, so he has to ensure that the athletic department generates enough revenue to cover the costs. His job is not to milk every dime he possibly can out of the students, alumni, and general public who have any fondness for Michigan sports.
I also have no idea what you are talking about when you claim Brandon is "sticking to his guns." If the "gun" in question is a desire to bring in as much money as possible, then he is certainly not sticking by said gun if he doesn't sell ad space (and even naming rights) in Michigan Stadium, which it appears he has no plans to do.
August 31st, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^
I agree with what you are saying, but you should know that they don't have ads because it is illegal for them to do so... I don't remember the exact term for it, but we learned all about it in my business law class (my teacher is a lawyer for OSU). Something to do with them being non-profit. You can do things *like* ads, but no legally defined ads.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
Have you ever been to Crisler Arena? Or any other college stadium, just about? You can have advertising...
I think you need a teacher who has a better job....
August 29th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
It's not all Brandon and Coleman's fault. And Smith and Gee's fault at OSU. If they keep OSU and Mich together and PSU and Neb together, I can totally understand the other 8 schools wanting no part of getting stuck in the same division with Mich/OSU. However most of the bile seems to be that Brandon has to do what he feels is best for us, not the other 11 schools. And that seems to be screwing this rivalry for $$$, not saving it. I'm in favor of different divisions, last game of season, rematch bedamned. For all those change is good/necesarry proponents. Enjoy that Michigan/ Indiana game November 28 2015. It's going to be an awful cold day for a meaningless football game.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:22 AM ^
important tradition of all is winning. Not at all costs...but certainly all bills must be paid to get it done. UMGoBlog did a good take on the important traditions...but there are some there I would sacrifice to get back on the winning track. I'm comfortable with DB making these calls. We can always leave the B10 if it doesn't go our way. We've done it before. Let the business guy do business. Let RR do his. I'm hoping to go to sleep now and wake up to Minnesota at Middle Tennessee. Come on you Gophers, don't make us look bad against those Blue Raiders. BTW - I'm picking the Blue Raiders in this one.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:38 AM ^
August 30th, 2010 at 2:30 AM ^
I am opposed to moving the game, but I will say that those who believe it will lose importance are wrong. At Michigan we want to win Championships. In college football you almost have to go undefeated to have any chance at playing for the national championship. Playing OSU in October might not have as much at stake in terms of the Big Ten race, but it certainly doesn't take away its national importance. I want to see it played at the end of november til the end of time, but if it's going to move, and there's nothing we can do about it, then lets not dwell on whether or not it loses importance but that how we do in that game still greatly effects where we will end up. GO BLUE
August 30th, 2010 at 8:29 AM ^
except for the 'home jerseys' reference. FWIW, I like the new home jerseys.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:34 AM ^
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