Dave Brandon can't see how playing App St could be negative
"The opportunity to play again is a good thing. I don't see how it could be a negative" Link
How can he not see that? For one thing, we could lose. Oh right, that would NEVER happen...
Edit: A clarification. I was not saying that we should not play App St because we might lose. I am saying that if we lost it would be a negative. A big one.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^
Seems to me that if one were worried about losing, one would never play the game.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^
Isn't that what happened the first time though?
August 26th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^
you saw a 1 in 5000 scenario. Truly, it was the equivalent in matching 6 numbers on a 10 time kicker in Keno at the bar. The Horror was was it was, a gigantic, historically painful fluke. The team wasn't fully prepared, it wasn't televised locally which did nothing for their level of excitement, the ease in which M score on the first drive took their foot of the gas, they were looking at Oregon the following weekend.
The last two Michigan teams, in all of their blowout-loss-Gator Bowl-glory would have beaten the 07 App. State team in a rout.
This game is not a risk, it's a no-brainer. It turns a meaningless EMU type patsy game into a nationally discussed, nationally televised event. More profitable game than a directional school matchup. Gives App. State some more well deserved pub. I am fan of this decision. Relax, this game is not a threat of any kind.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:27 AM ^
Dave Brandon is an idiot if he doesn't see the negative. He's a bigger idiot if he sees any positive come from playing. Losing is obviously world-ending stuff. Winning, however, is plain vanilla minus. Beat App State and everyone says "great, you should have done it in the first place." Just leave it alone, I say. Accept being 0-1 against App State and deal with it. It should be a lesson that Michigan never forgets. Instead, Brandon is going to try to make it "right" when it can never be made right, not even by beating them every year for 100 years (100-1).
Also, those that experienced The Horror and are okay with this rematch clearly do not live in North Carolina and/or know App State graduates. Those idiots can't stop talking about that 2007 victory. Its 4 years later and the d-bags still have something to say when they see my Michigan gear or credit card or whatever. I'm really looking forward to the build-up and aftermath of this game . . . No good comes from this game.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
80 kids from my graduating class go to App. I hate going home.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^
you are talking about the man that changed the Dominos Pizza formula from cardboard to the Hot, Fresh, Cheesy, Deliciousness that is currently is. (Have you had it recently? Mmmmmmm). He is no idiot.
App. State is not going to win that game. It's a f-ing exhibition game for crying out loud, with a little more intrigue. Dave Brandon keeps Michigan in the news. That is what the nightgame is, that is what the throwback are, that is what the Bama game is, and that is what the App. State rematch is. Aside from anything like NCAA violations, any news is a good news, any publicity is good publicity. Out of sight = out of mind. Brandon is not going to let M be out of sight. That's all this is.
August 26th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
There is no reason to schedule App State. Its embarrassing to have to even have a rematch against them and news about a "rematch" is not good news. I'd rather Michigan NOT be in the press than have The Horror discussed again. Michigan has plenty of money and doesn't need publicity like this. Schedule someone else supposedly sh-tty to play - get Delaware or some other FBS school if you must play a FBS school. Otherwise, stick to regional teams like Eastern, etc.
Brandon needs to settle down in my opinion. Make news by winning games, not by opening up old wounds. I don't give a flying f- about his stupid pizza background - pizza is not football. He was forced to remake Dominos because the brand went to sh-t. Michigan's brand is doing just fine.
(You talk about the game as an exhibition game. That's a stupid thing to do. You probably said that in 2007 too, didn't you. Looks like the joke was on you back then too.)
August 26th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
is not football. I will agree with you there. I would never eat a football, but I eat pizza all the time.
I, for one, am interested in the game. I am glad they are playing it. I have watched UM v. Western enough. This at least will have my attention.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:23 AM ^
Yes. To me, this game is about exorcising demons. I think we're going to kill App State, and that will get rid of some of the lingering pain from the first time.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
To me this would not get rid of any of the pain. We were supposed to win last time and we should win next time so it doesn't really prove anything. I would prefer a rematch with someone like Mississippi State. To me that would be a game that has an upside. (I know this will never happen especially once the 9 game B1G schedule kicks in)
August 26th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
i agree, and what even makes less sense to me is why schedule Alabama when we are still transitioning from a spread team, and then schedule a cupcake when "Hoke's" first full recruiting class will be upperclassmen.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
The Alabama game was confirmed before RRod was fired so it doesn't really make sense to complain about the timing of the game in comparison to the transition from coach to coach when in all reality the game was scheduled with the plan of still having Rich.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:38 AM ^
i'm not complaining about the Alabama game, I am complaining about how much lower in competition we are going when our team should be much better. I would prefer that we play Alabama again in 2014 or any other top 25 team.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:51 AM ^
I agree with you, although I am excited to play App state again. I was just pointing out that your reasoning behind your Alabama statement did not make sense.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
"You have to play crappy non conference games"
couldn't disagree with you more, and if you really want to make it a rematch, it should be at their home.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
what are you disagreeing with? i never said i wanted to play app state in their backyard, i just said that if YOU want a rematch, it should be an away game for us. i already understand why it is a home game, but by year 4 of Hoke's tenure i would prefer at least a D1 cupcake.
"Couple that with the fact that higher bcd ratings=more money"
i believe scheduling cupcakes will hurt our computer rankings, which would hurt our bcd ratings, which would mean less money.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:22 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 1:11 AM ^
I doubt App. St would even want us to play them in their stadium because they'd miss out on a fat pay check.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:51 AM ^
"You have to play crappy non conference games"
Only if you're a scaredypants.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 1:06 AM ^
I see your point. I think Brandon is being silly and disingenuous by saying that it can't possibly be negative to play App St again. I can see that it would be more interesting from a national media perspective for us to play App St instead of Eastern. I just don't think it's a good idea.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:23 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 1:23 AM ^
"you are grasping at straws if you think that the only thing standing between us and um v Texas opener is app state."
season openers
2008 utah
2009 w. michigan
2010 uconn
2011 w. michigan
2012 alabama
i'm pretty sure we could have schedule a top 25 team to open the season if DB tried.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
i get what you are saying, and for the record, I never disagreed that "an Appalachian state rematch is more intriguing to watch than western Michigan rematch."
August 26th, 2011 at 2:17 AM ^
Michigan scheduled UConn on July 30th 2009, one year and about a month before they played and about 3 years after they became relevant. In fact, UConn cancelled their game with Northeastern to play UM instead.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:40 AM ^
I'm sorry, but do we really want another top 25 opponent in a year we play @ND, @Nebraska, and @OSU?
The name of the game when you're trying to win national championships is to go undefeated while playing a respectable schedule.
With the new BIG, a respectable schedule is a guarantee, especially with the title game factored in.
Then, let's not forget that ND could be on their way back. Many already think they are there.
So IMO, I wouldn't mind the other 3 nc games being against lesser opponents.
Of course I wish they were FBS opponents, but beggers can't be choosers.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:51 AM ^
I hate to compare us with any SEC team, but LSU is starting off the year against Oregon, N Carolina the year before, they play a lot of good non-conference opponents, and they play in a pretty good conference as well. so i personally don't mind another top 25 opponent. the only way we are going to continue to prove we have a strong conference is to play tough nonconference opponents.
August 26th, 2011 at 6:46 AM ^
The conference schedule, championship game, and ND, are all we ever need to satisfy strength of schedule. Adding tougher NC opponents generates excitement and exposure, but UM is hardly starved for exposure. I liked the UConn matchup, and schools like SDSU. Plenty of mid-level FBS schools to bring in here...it shouldn't always be the in-state directionals.
I like the Appy State game coming back to town. We need closure.
August 26th, 2011 at 6:39 AM ^
We will kick their collective asses.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
Whereas no other game offers any possibility of losing.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
And losing again to App St. would be at least as negative, but probably much more negative in terms of public perception across the country, than losing to say... Georgia. Or TCU. Or Rutgers.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
I never think we're going to lose, doesn't matter who it's against. To me, all loses are the same. Not good.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Why even play football if you're so frightened about the possibility of losing? I'm thinking about the much greater possibility of winning that game, and putting that demon to rest. It's a great move by Brandon. Here we're scheduling a team in a guarantee game (with no return trip needed), and it's actually a compelling matchup.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
That's because he didn't have to sit in the stands that day and endure The Horror
August 26th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
I sat in the stands that day and I want a rematch. I'd bet close to 100 percent of the Michigan players that day would as well. Brandon, being a former player, probably recognizes this. What's the best way to redeem yourself after an embarassing loss? Play that team again and get them back.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^
I'd hope that we don't have to do that. The fact that everyone called it a stunner/miracle/super-upset implies that we are the better team. They were better than us on that day in 2007. Beating them seven years later doesn't change that.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
It still doesn't change what happened or make it any less embarassing. The idea that we should seek "revenge" against a 1-AA program is fucking pathetic.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
It will also sell way more tickets, and luxury boxes, and commemorative programs, and get way more press than if we played Baby Seal U again.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:58 AM ^
If the argument is how to sex up a pathetic game against a 1-AA opponent because they won't insist on a reciprocal home game, then play Deleware, our true "little brother". That would get lots of attention.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
That is usually a boring slaughter into something that the media will not be able to not talk about. Caveats about winning et al, but it us db's job to set the stage for this stuff, the coaches And players job to win games.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:47 AM ^
The media will spend the whole week rehashing the lowest point in Michigan Football history. I'll have to avoid Gameday, because I cannot watch that again.
August 26th, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
this was a lowpoint, until the next three years.
after the app st game, i knew they would get destroyed by oregon and my hopes for that season were definitely dashed, but never in my heart did i think that the foundation of michigan football would be as significantly changed as it was. so, at that point, it was the low point, since then, it is one of about 30 lowpoints.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
Well there is a possibility of there being negatives but there are absolutely no positives from it. Best case scenario is we blow them out but will have to sit through replays and everyone talking about the 2007 game. This will be 7 years after it happened and even though it would have begun to slip out of our memories replaying them will bring the painful memories flooding back.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:51 AM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 8:25 AM ^
I was thinking the same thing. The negatives outweigh the positives in this game....again. If we win, everyone, including us, will say it's a game we SHOULD win and then we will move on to the next game. If we lose it will be beaten like the dead horse it already is and we will be mocked for it mercifully. I just don't see the point in this game.
In other news...we are going to UCONN? Why would we agree to that? Was that a home/home agreement from last year?
August 26th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
Re: UCONN: yes, we had to agree to a home and home to get them to the bighouse for the stadium rededication game.
Re: App State: I'm glad we're scheduling them. I don't want UM to have a losing record to ANY school big or small.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^
worst decision DB has made so far as AD at Michigan?