Dan Dierdorf is the new radio guy (Brandy to Play-by-Play)
Like the move. I wanted Dan Miller but knew that wasn't happening. Not a huge fan of Shep either. Hey, if it doesn't work out they were going to need new guys anyway in a few years.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041714aab.html
EDIT: Brandy to Play-by-Play and DD to Color
Champion was just fantastic for the Lions. He was the true voice of frustrated fans everywhere. I loved the "Oh you just cant have that" type lines...Cant believe that a franchise the hired Matt Millen and kept him around for so long removed Champion just for telling it like it is.
I loved Champion too. Then again I loved Art Regner in the post game Lions show because he was everyman's fan as well. But you cannot bad mouth the Lions I guess anymore since they pay the bills. I feel bad for Champion because he was kicked out of the Lions near/at the worst and headed over to Auburn Hills for their near/at worst. ouch.
I don't care much about the Detroit teams, but I do like Mark Champion from when he did Lions radio. I've heard him to Pistons games, and he does a great job there as well.
I like Brandy, but I really don't know about him being a PBP. Glad Dierdorf is on board at least.
Brandy is significantly better on Lions broadcasts than he has been doing color for Michigan. He lets it rip on Sunday - critical, frustrated, fired up. On Saturday, he seems more subdued, like he is trying to make comments that won't get him in trouble.
I hate the way he says it. Wrong emp-ha-sis on the wrong syl-la-ble.
I went back and checked your history - and you've made some "execute" reference 11 times over the 14 weeks - can we just lay this to rest now? It's really tired... 
Dude, find a hobby. Way to much free time.
Brandstatter is AWFUL
I know this would have been impossible but too bad they couldn't have schmoozed Dick Enberg away from the Padres. He's a local of Michigan and is pretty much gold at any sport he does.
a test to see how Brandy does as PBP guy. I'm not sold on him in this role, but we'll see. I really like the idea of bringing Dan Dierdorf in though. i've always liked his style of telling you what's he really thinks. Again, because of his age and health, this won't be for a long time I'd guess.
This could work out well. With only one opponent he has to study up on every week, and following a team he is passionate about, Dierdorf is liable to be stronger as a UM color guy than he was on NFL broadcasts. If nothing else, they should have no trouble dissecting the offensive line play. A bit of a gamble, but worth taking IMHO.
Love the moves - Brandy is great and Dierdorf is proven.
Dierdorf '67-'70
Brandstatter '68-'71.
Both were Bump Elliot recruits who went through the Bo transition. All-conference tackle Dierdorf started (I believe) and definitely played in the legendary 1969 M-Ohio game.
Were they on the same team as Brandon?
Two former M tackles doing the PBP and the color --- couldn't be much better. I just hope there's enough room in the broadcast booth to accommodate both of them.
Love both guys and think that they will be fun to listen to, but that is one heavy ass broadcast team. Hopefully ample structural support wasn't value engineered out of the press box!
I like this as well and think it might lead to some amusing interplay between two former teammates. It will definitely be interesting having two former players from the Bump / Bo transition doing the radio broadcast together. Brandstater on play-by-lay will be interesting, but the idea of Dierdorf doing the color commentary is something that I think I could get used to, I think. I look forward to hearing them this fall.
So Brandy announces porn too?
April 17th, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
Was it the "amusing interplay" or "play-by-lay"?
JK to all
reveal that I sent in a demo DVD of my best Ufer impersonations. IMG returned the DVD with a note which included words such as, homer, hysterical, and restraining order.
This is outstanding. Made my day!
I like Brandy a lot as a color guy. Not convinced he will be good for PBP but obviously he can prove me wrong. Dan USED to be good, but I was watching an NFL broadcast this year and the color guy was just terrible, getting all kinds of things completely wrong and just making no sense at all. My wife even noticed because I was yelling at the TV (basically some variation of "who the **** is this idiot announcing the game?"). Unfortunately it turned out to be Dierdorf, who I USED to like quite a bit. I think he has really really slipped as he's aged. Maybe getting back to UM football will get his focus back.
Brandy did a few games in 2004 when Beckmann had some health issues (IIRC), and it was just OK. Not great, just OK. He gets this sort of I'm-really-excited voice that doesn't really work in context, unfortunately.
Love the Dierdorf addition, but I'm skeptical of how this is going to work out.
The amount of corporate-speak in this press release is maddening. Maybe next time you sell the naming rights to the head coaching position you should limit the name to something that can at least fit into a tweet.
He played offensive tackle at UM and has very wide name recognition. So, even if he had a very small amount of time for actual coaching, his name could help OL recruiting
(e.g. Chad Lindsay)
to the program. Welcome back, Dan.
The RR hiring and failure has even further cemented the idea of Michigan always honoring old traditions and poo-pooing fresh, new ideas.
I actually think the Dierdorf hiring is cool. I didn't see that coming. It's a recognizable voice, and I'm sure he has another couple years in the tank. And he meets DB's job requirement of knowing the words to "The Victors"
there is no question Dierdorf is overly qualified for the position in terms of actual experience. I just hope he's more engaged than he was in his last year of NFL broadcasting.
to believe this is the best they could to. It just reeks of stauchy old traditional Michigan. Bo's guys.
George Kell and Al Kaline broadcasting Tigers games on TV. Two legends from that team, handling the entire broadcast.
Kell and Kaline were excellent.
Why not Dan Dickerson for play by play?
Michigan has games roughly every Saturday from September to November. The Tigers, in a good year, will have games every day from April to the end of October.
Realistically, the voice of Michigan football would have to either miss a large chunk of the middle of the season if he's focused on the Tigers, or the voice of the Tigers would be taking weekends off for a new gig.
Either way, it's not doable.
1. Its radio
2. Just my opinion but I kind of really like the old dude.
People would be bitching no matter who got the job. It could have been a three man team of Bob Ufer, Ernie Harwell, and Vin Scully and people would bitch about it.
Ernie and Vin wouldn't get a word in edgewise with Ufer in the booth.
April 17th, 2014 at 11:44 PM ^
I heard Scully two weeks ago doing the Tigers / Dodgers game. He is still excellent and does everything, play by play and color at age 86. At one point he apologized for a mistake the day earlier where he was given info that Max Scherzers brother was still alive, so he presented it like that. He apologize the next day and stated that they didnt do enough reserarch and they should have. Classy guy.
April 17th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
Brandstetter hasn't done PBP before. Why. Well, I'll give him a shot as he has been heavily involved with the TV side (Inside Michigan Football)
I wanted Shepard.
No problem with Dierdorf. People give him shit for stating the obvious, but so what.
Why on earth would you want Shepard? Maybe I have a bias from hearing him on talk radio for so many years, but he's terrible to me. I feel embarassed for Michigan basketball when I hear him doing the games...the guy is smarmy and awkward
April 17th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^