Beilein responding to OSU pregame video

Submitted by PeteM on

I went to the Beilein show tonight and had to wonder if, since the awesome aneurysm moment he displayed in East Lansing, he's developed more of an edge. He was asked about the Ohio State video shown pregame at Value City, which I understand featured the Chris Webber TO, Evan Turner's half-court shot to beat us in the B10 tournament and a dunk to win a game back in the 70s.  It ended with the Pure Michigan logo. 

In the past, I think Beilein would have simply chuckled and said that that stuff doesn't matter.  Tonight he said (I'm somewhat paraphrasing), with an edge in his voice, that "I hope we never do that kind of thing at Michigan and we won't as long as I'm here".

Anyway, while I don't really have a problem with players like Sherman trash talking I think it's classless when teams do it through their video feeds.  I'm also in favor of our PA announcers (Carl at football and Scott at hockey) continuing to essentially provide neutral(ish) commentary.

I'm curious if anyone else has thoughts about the contrast between the Michigan in-game experience and other schools'.

XYZzz

February 13th, 2014 at 5:57 PM ^

I was there...
The video was showing part of Ohio Bobcats upsetting Michigan...which I took as a jab at the whole OSU being called Ohio thing. It did show Webber and also some schlub type folks with the Pure Michigan logo.
For me it was all in good fun. Similiar to an AD paying for skywriting or chicken dance videos.

mbee1

February 12th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^

I didn't care for the chicken dance vs Norte Dame. I thought it was kind of classless. And we were certainly not in a position to be taunting or calling out any programs given our situation over the last 7 years. I said it at the time and throughout the season, don't do things that create bad karma

CLord

February 13th, 2014 at 2:21 AM ^

I don't recall Michigan abruptly ending a rivalry with OSU on favorable terms with two home games for itself to 1 for the opposition like the Fighting Chickens did to us.  Talk about classless...  For all his buffoonery, Gordon Gee's characterisation of the priests running ND was dead on - charitable, except when it involves ND sports, then they're cut throat assassins.

Section 1

February 12th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

How did I miss any news about that pregame video at the Schottenstein Center?  Is it posted online?  Anybody got a link?

 

GoBlueInNYC

February 12th, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^

Assuming the  "Webber TO" refers to his time-out in the championship game and not some turnover during an OSU game I'm not remembering, that's the only part that seems to kind of cross a line of mean spiritedness. Turner's winning shot? Sure. Big dunk in an old game? Right on. An event that has nothing to do with OSU or the rivalry but is just a bad moment in the opponent's history? Seems petty and kind of dumb.

XM - Mt 1822

February 12th, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^

never, ever.   never have, never will.   and that is true for the PA guy too.  i agree 100% with beilein and am proud to have a coach that reeks with dignity and integrity.   that is my idea of 'pure michigan'. 

ThadMattasagoblin

February 12th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^

I did like the skywriting and the chicken dance. If you're always taking the high road, college sports gets kinda lame. If you're constantly taking out Ms and showing degrading pregame videos, it just reeks of insecurity so as long as we don't get obsessed, I'd say it's fine.

SC Wolverine

February 13th, 2014 at 7:55 AM ^

I agree about the Chicken Dance.  That was not mocking players or being mean-spirited in celebrating the failures of others.  It was a comment (in agreement with Hoke's "chicken" remark) on a cowardly move being made by their athletic department.  It was "and here's what we think about what your AD has done."  Good stuff.

gwkrlghl

February 12th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^

and had his team back it up for him on the court. I think I'd be embarassed if the university went through the trouble of making a grand trolling video like OSU did but subtle, improvised jabs (like 'The Pride of Columbus Ohio' and the chicken dance [maybe not so subtle]) are cool with me

GoBlueInNYC

February 12th, 2014 at 10:06 PM ^

I think it's a fine line. There is something to be said for poking fun (e.g., the chicken dance was funny) and having a good time, but there is something also to be said for the school kind of staying above the fray and letting the students and players feed the rivalry (e.g., the sky writing was dumb and embarrassing).

As I posted above, the Webber TO doesn't seem to belong, but highlights of OSU beating Michigan seems totally fine.

Raoul

February 12th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^

Actually, OSU's Jim Jackson was the Big Ten player of the year in 1991-92, and the Buckeyes won the Big Ten title that year. They beat Michigan twice during the regular season, but then lost to the Wolverines in the Elite Eight of the 1992 NCAA tourney as a #1 seed (Michigan was a 6 seed).

Not justifying the use of that film from the 1993 tournament, but your notion that OSU was a nothing program during that era is mistaken.

clarkiefromcanada

February 12th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^

I was being dismissive of their program in that era. I do remember the Jim Jackson time; thought it was the year earlier.



Regardless, my point is that celebrating Webber's mistake in the Final 4 would be like Michigan running highlights of Ohio losing in the MNC to Florida by a zillion when Michigan was, sadly, some distance from that game.

Dubs

February 12th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^

Was there, and can verify that all of those clips were shown. The Pure Michigan part I will admit was kind of a funny touch, but I honestly felt kind of bad at the... er, "homely" looking couple they zeroed in on.

That being said, I've been to the OSU Michigan basketball game at the Schott for the past 3 years now, and those types of shenanigans are nothing new. They always do this bit where there is a "Michigan fan" that is clearly an OSU student dressed up as one, acting stupid, eating nachos sloppily, failing on the KISS CAM, etc. The crowd laughs. Whatever.



But I can promise you nobody laughed harder than I did when Aaron Craft attempted to save the world with a genius flick of his wrist and-OH MY GOD HE AIRED IT

mGrowOld

February 12th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^

FWIW they do the same shtick at Cavs games too.  Have some shill dressed up in either Michigan or Pittsburgh garb act like an idiot on camera and everybody laughs.  Fake proposals, faked kiss-cams, dancing in the isles - you name it, they mock it.

What I find hilarious is that this is done at a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game.  So WTF does the Wolverines or the Steelers have to do with that?  Hell - for years they even had Tressel on the big screen during timeouts leading the crowd in "Hang on Sloopy".

 

Bando Calrissian

February 12th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^

The skywriting was stupid, the Chicken Dance thing was stupid, the "Ohio" thing is stupid...

And this video was stupid.

Apparently, it's too much to ask that Athletic Departments act with a little class and dignity every now and then. Good on Beilein for being above it.