Dave Brandon is a stand-up guy
Major respect to Dave Brandon who has apprently invited the kid from Oklahoma to a game. The story where the kid was forced to take off their Michigan t-shirt because the school district is full of babies with brown diapers.
Michael Rothstein @mikerothstein
Brandon said they are inviting Barton & his parents to a Michigan football game and will put him on the big screen. Also bought him a shirt
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
Nice gesture, but if Brandon really cared for the kid, he'd move his family out of God-forsaken Oklahoma
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
As a fellow Oklahoman I say... I wish Brandon would offer a way out for all Michigan fanatics in this state. The tragedy that happened to this unfortunate child has forced me to reconsider my loyalty as an Oklahoman and begin rebuilding my resume.
August 22nd, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
MOAR informative title
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
how rude
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
MOAR TRIPLE POSTS
August 22nd, 2012 at 8:45 PM ^
Yeah, at first I thought it was a post on how he was opening for Louis CK.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
MOAR informative title
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
On second thought...you know what? you might be right
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
MOAR informative title
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
MOAR identical posts
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
MOAR DETAILED REPLY
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
HELL, i'm with you. BAN THIS CLOWN!!
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
#thebrand
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^
#thebrandthebrandthebrandon
August 22nd, 2012 at 8:42 PM ^
#thebrand
Exactly. It's a nice sentiment, great for the kid, but the real reason it is happening is not because some great injustice was done. Rather, it's a great PR opportunity that is relatively cheap.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Everything he has done has been great. At least to me. Best AD since Canham IMO.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
Come on, everything? I like quite a bit of the stuff he's done, but "everything" seems crazy to me.
You're happy with the Appy State game? You liked hearing Pop Evil instead of the band? How about his suggestion that it's time to move the OSU game to the middle of the season?
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
Also: Curley Fries at the Winter Classic. Kill it with fire.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
We are historically linked to app state FOREVER. Might as well bash their heads in and get some blood flowing to wipe away a losing record to a FCS school. I would maybe even say play them again in 2021 to get the winning record. I was ready for that game the moment it was announced last year.
Pop Evil isn't played during games. I've only heard it before games and after.
And The Game hasn't been moved so I don't see any problem there. I understand where he's coming from, because if they meet in the B1G Championship Game someday, then the importance of that regular season meeting is going to be diminished. Hell, it already has in a way. That isn't his fault, that's the B1G's fault for putting the two in seperate divisions.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
Here's the thing: Bashing their heads in doesn't change anything.
Because no matter what, Ohio, MSU, whatever team you want to suggest, will always go back to the time we lost to them when we were ranked #5 in the country.
And all it does is bring up a solid week or two of highlights beforehand showing us losing on that blocked kick.
So yeah it will be nice to beat them - assuming we do... - and extract some miniscule form of revenge, but that small positive doesn't outweigh the negative.
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^
Hold on a minute. I'm against the game myself, but there's only 3 teams that can talk trash about it, Appy State, Oregon, and OSU.
Those are the only teams that beat us that year (I know about Wisconsin, but we weren't starting our main guys on Offense, and '08 shuts them up)
August 23rd, 2012 at 12:04 AM ^
Sure, it will stir some bad memories. But how much national attention will that game garner vs. another preseason game like... Air Force? Along with all the bad stories will be the (better) current day ones, which is a lot better than no one talking about the program.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^
Then it sounds like you disagree with how he wanted Michigan and OSU in opposite divisions, since that would enable them to play twice (http://www.maizenbrew.com/2010/8/20/1633680/what-becomes-of-the-game-mi…).
How about the bumble bee uniforms? And did you like that we wore pretend throwback home uniforms to one of the most significant games in Michigan Stadium history?
I have a feeling that you'll find a way to justify everything he does, and we just don't think similarly along those lines. I'm not anti-Brandon in every way (love the Hoke hire, think UTL was handled well, like the retired number thing), but I'm far, far away from saying that everything he says and does is perfect.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:41 PM ^
I didn't really care for the road legacies that much. I think they would have looked better with Maize pants. I can see the point of doing it in the fashion they did though to steal nike and state's thunder. That was probably more an adidas thing to piss off nike and DB just went with it.
Loved the Legacy uniforms worn for UTL and the Sugar Bowl uniforms. The players seemed to also which is what really matters.
The way he has come out and just been aggressive with Michigan in terms of facility plans, the new lacrosse stadium coming in a few years by the Soccer Stadium, the great hires, adding two more varsity teams.
I've never seen this many changes in my lifetime with Michigan, in all sports. And it is for the better. No doubt.
August 22nd, 2012 at 11:49 PM ^
So what is the word on the new lacrosse facilities? Last I heard, it was questionable if there was enough UM-owned land in thaat area, and if there was, would it be tree-coverd wetlands that were protected, too wet to build, or too politically dangerous to clear-cut and drain here in Tree Town. (I love the trees and the team, but I just want to know the facts)
Is something actually in the works?
August 23rd, 2012 at 12:23 AM ^
Yes. Bill Austin, longtime Michigan employee, gives tours of Michigan Stadium and the athletic campus said there are plans being finalized right now for a outdoor lacrosse stadium with FieldTurf and seating of 4,000-6,000.
He said it is going to be in the vicinity of the U-M Soccer Stadium.
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^
If UM beats App St. 100 straight times, nobody will care except for the one time they beat UM at home. Waving UM's proverbial junk around in games like this won't change anything.
Beyond Pop Evil, he also added twitter hashtags to the field, cut down on water access in the stadium, and didn't plan on sending the MMB to Jerryworld for one of the biggest preseason games in recent memory. So no, he isn't batting 1.000 in my book.
I never cared that much about The Game being the last game of the year. UM and OSU will care about beating each other regardless of the time, and the B1G game is more an annoyance than anything else.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
I'm not a big fan of that song (or the Arby's sponsorship of the Big Chill), but I don't understand all the angst about the Appalachian game. If we weren't playing them, then realistically we were going to play a MAC team or similar. Now we have a game that we are very likely to win, while also having a storyline behind it. I understand that the game was traumatic for a lot of people (I was in attendance - it wasn't fun), but personally, I'd have more "closure" if we could play them again. I'm not happy being 0-1 against that school.
On the Ohio thing, it's not entirely clear if it was Brandon's preference to play them in midseason or not, but in any event, he let the fans know what was going on and gave them a chance to voice their concerns. He did not have to do that. If he hadn't, the Game would probably be in October now.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
I'm also onboard with bringing App State in. When someone is busting you balls about something, you joke along with it to get it to stop. Throwing a hissy fit just ensures the ball busting continues.
I want Appy State on the schedule every 4 years or so myself. Let them come, they earned it. Out of all the smaller schools I want to see come in and collect a paycheck, Appy State is near the top of that list. At least they put up a fight, unlike most of the bodybags. Delware State and its amazing band are welcome as well. Actually maybe we should just rent the band for the game where our opponent declines to bring one.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^
This idea that we have to get even with those bastards and Michigan must have a winning record against them just seems so petty. They beat us. As much as it sucked, it's an interesting chapter in the history of Michigan football, Appy State football, and college football. I'd like to leave it at that.
August 22nd, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^
That goes both ways. If AppSt wants to play us again and we say "No," wouldn't it make us look bad, like we'd be ducking them?
Obviously, there are two schools on thought on this game. To me, the bottom line is that Brandon has taken a slot in the schedule allotted for a bodybag game and filled it with a fairly interesting opponent. I think that's good. I don't think it's any kind of a blunder on his part.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
We'll win, they are not that good without Armanti, it will generate a whole lot more interest than playing Eastern.
Hoke and the players will play their hardest... Only downside is reruns on Sports Center (which I generally avoid anyway).
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
Yeah, no way we could lose to an FCS team, right?
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Please. Please. Please. Stop.
Don't ever take any team lightly. ANY. WE ALL SHOULD KNOW NOT TO TAKE ANY LIGHTLY BY NOW.
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
If that happened to my kid (in PA) - I would be beyond pissed.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
Wait, really? Why? It's just a shirt.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
You can't possibly see why this would upset some people?
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
Honestly no. Doesn't seem like a big deal to me. It's a silly policy, but not anything to get worked up about.
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 3:20 PM ^
The thing that bothers me about this is that the kid is so young. To you and me, it might not sound like a big deal to have to turn your t-shirt inside out, but for a 5-year-old to be scolded by his teacher in front of the class over his clothes, that could be pretty hurtful.
I don't see why the school couldn't have just called home, or pinned a note to his shirt, asking the parents to not repeat their "mistake," rather than make a scene.
August 22nd, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^
I thought it was pretty funny when the first words on the OK newscast were "A local mother is outraged right now; she said her child was asked to turn his shirt inside out."
August 22nd, 2012 at 7:34 PM ^
That sounds like something I would say, something I've actually said countless times in a desperate and futile attempt to quash my borderline incredulity. It's kinda like trailing the asshole in the right lane at a redlight who's not turning right but everyone behind him is, but he just had to be first and now no one can turn and go about their day.
Fuck that guy.
Actually, this isn't like that at all. Whatever - good post.
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
Yeah, I'd roll my eyes, but this is not the hill I'd choose to die on.
I'd be a little embarrassed that I had let my poor kid get singled out by breaking the dress code--I'm supposed to stay on top of those things, dumb rules or no.
August 22nd, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
My favorite comment listed under the article:
"If only it had a Penn State logo on the inside when he switched it around...."
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:56 PM ^