Dave Brandon can't see how playing App St could be negative

I think this is a great idea. It will give the fans a somewhat interesting experience(when compared to a different cupcake). In addition, it will provide us with a lot of media attention. Sure, some of it may be negative(replays and all), but it will still set us apart from some of the other openers and as Hoke starts continually winning maybe the media will cast a victory over App State as a  symbol of Michigan's "return to glory" under Hoke. 

I posted this in the other thread, but the two main reasons why this game should die a fiery death are the bad publicity surrounding the game and the scheduling of a cupcake game 3 years in advance when 2012 and 2013 have no cupcake games scheduled (aside from Air Force, though they're a little better than that).

1st reason: Before the game, during the game, and after the game (assuming Michigan treats App State like Delaware State), people will be continuously reminded of what happened in 2007. So... just in case they forgot about Michigan's worst loss in school history (worse than Toledo, since this team was preseason top 5), here it is again. And again. And again. Winning this game like Michigan should have will only bring back painful memories of what Michigan should have done to them in 2007. There's even a finite chance that this can negatively affect recruiting because of the bad press.

2nd reason: To me, scheduling Appalachian State 3 years in advance means that Michigan wants a rematch from what happened last time. If this were a good team like Texas or Oregon, this makes perfect sense. But it's supposed to be a cupcake. How should Michigan treat cupcakes while "being Michigan" and "getting it"? By giving them the privilege of coming into Ann Arbor, receiving a paycheck, and getting beaten senseless. This is Michigan; we're supposed to act arrogant and treat cupcakes like they're awful teams coming to get paid. Giving Appalachian State this kind of special treatment sends the exact opposite message to the nation that Michigan respects their team and wants to set up this matchup well in advance. When did Michigan schedule this game in 2007? 5 months before kickoff. When should Michigan schedule this game in the future (as for any other cupcake)? 5 months before kickoff (or at least in some sort of logical succession, like scheduling earlier cupcake games before later cupcake games give or take).

I think Dave Brandon is correct in what he says. I too don't see anything negative about this. They replay that game and moment all the time. Scheduling them again isn't going to make it any worse than what already happen. Glad to see our fan base is terrified of App State. Hey, while were at it, let's rip DB for staying in the Big Ten. I don't see any positives in a rematch with all Big Ten teams that have embarrassed us the past 3 years. Better duck Toledo for the rest of time too. Too damn scared to lose them. Let's just schedule Delaware State, Prairie View A&M, and make Ohio Northern our new rival from Ohio. Too scared to lose to the Buckeyes again. Quit whining and beat whoever the hell is on the damn schedule.

Quit being so gutless.



I'm with Brandon on this one.

Im totally OK with it..Id prefer a Big name school..HOWEVER..its a chance to

exorcise the App St Demon..and MOVE ON...Also dont you think EVERY SINGLE

football fan in America will tune it?  the game will be a HUGE TV draw for a opener..

App St isnt your run of the Mill Div1-aa school...its not my first choice but I see some upside

Those hillbillies in Boone still talk so much trash about Michigan it makes you want to smack them in the mouth.  That's what Dave Brandon wants to do; smack them in the mouth. 

I do not like this for only the fact that it's a no win with 1-AA teams, Your supposed to win, lose and you have 2007 UM, 2010 VT. We all said after Del St. no more, we confirmed after Umass no more. I'm sure will win, and I'm sure we'll all deal with rival fan bases Derp, Derp until M hangs a Yost score on them and we'll still hear Derp. IMHO the only way to polish this turd is to schedule Oregon again too and hang one hundred on them too.

would be a disaster. App St. may be worse, but not by much.

As a coach and player you want the first game to be something you point to all off-season -- a game that grabs your attention and makes you work harder than you normally would. 

When Appy State was scheduled the first time, it didn't capture anyone's attention until after the game.  This time I think it has a much better chance of capturing the team's attention before the game.

Frankly, if I were a player or a coach, I would like it.  I would play that Appy State film all off-season to keep the team focused and motivated.

Michigan is and will always be every BIG schools' 
measuring stick.

All of these so called auto-wins (LOL) are lose-lose situations. If you win you should have won and nobody cares. If you lose well you are Michigan-App. St. LOL losers for-ev-er.

when the Canton, MI bar I walked into to watch it was hosting a TSIO game viewing and the Michigan game was on in the back room.  WTF!?

...ego.

We have a losing record against App St., we're still a joke vs. App St., David Brandon is one of the best AD's in the country, but anyone who knows him or has even watched his press conferences knows he's got a nice sized ego.

And you know what? I don't blame him. Put them on the schedule, let everyone talk and talk and talk...and then go out there and beat them. No more losing record. Lessen the jokes. Right a wrong.

I will say that people don't realize it, but for the last 5-7 years, App St. is worth of being in the top 50 of the D1 football. There teams are THAT good. They've had teams worthy of being in the top 25.

You people are all a serious bunch of vaginas.

If App State is FBS by then, this will draw national attention to the fact that they've made the jump up.

like a violin.  Hopefully this will all blow over in, uh, three years and we'll be ready to watch lots and lots of clips of blocked FGs.