Do you want to see the Team 136 thing continue next year?
From what I understand that was a Brady Hoke thing he got during his playing days at Ball State, and was something that he carried with him when he was head coach at Ball St, took it to SDSU, and of course brought it here, to the point where teams past were retroactively called Team 65, Team 125, etc.
For the record, I thought it was kind of lame, especially the retroactive labelling. I especially didn't care for the number being prominently displayed on the student section shirts.
December 31st, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
As a fundraiser for a charitable organization (not a university) that depends largely on the generosity of donors for its very existence, I heard arguments similar to those posted here both for and against naming rights. They are all good arguments, but the most persuasive one, to my mind, is that when people see a donor's name attached to something (a building, an activity, an event), it is a reminder that the organization could not exist without the generosity of those who came before us and made these things possible. Therefore, it serves as a subtle encouragement for future endowments.
Sometimes donors were reticent to put their names on things. For the reasons above, i always encouraged them to.
Also, some people would refer to the object on which a name is attached without the name (e.g., the "Activity Room" rather than the "Harvey and Emily Kockenlocker Activity Room"). In informal uses, that seemed to me to be perfectly okay. Using the same reasoning, he is usually "Coach Harbauch" but when formally introduced he is the "J. Ira, etc., football coach."
The fact that the name of the football coach is more prominent than those of other endowed chairs (though perhaps not the name of a hospital or business school) is one of degree, not kind.
December 31st, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^
One major difference in view here, however. J. Ira and Nicki absolutely did not endow a chair. The gift was a general athletic fund gift during a fund drive, not an endowment of a position. In endowed professorial chairs, the interest/earnings on the donation pay the professor's salary.
In short, it is a difference of kind. (That's largely where me and Prez. Ford are crossing swords.)
In any event, I appreciate your point of view and you weighing in from a fundraiser's perspective.
December 31st, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
That makes it akin to more typical naming rights and not specifically an endowed chair. Maybe the price tag should have been higher. We had a situation where someone so eagerly bought a particular name that we kicked ourselves for pricing it so low.
I agree with those who pointed out that the awkwardness of the title is an issue. "Harris Family" would have been simpler. Or "Ira and Nicki Harris." Or maybe just dropping the "J." In everday life, I assume he doesn't call himself "J. Ira."
December 31st, 2014 at 8:38 AM ^
No doubt the use of the name was akward, and as an alumni, I felt a bit embarrassed by Harbaugh being introduced as the Ira and whatever coach, and I do think the length of it makes it even more akward. I always take pride in the fact that Michigan is the only major university I'm aware of that doesn't have some external sponsor who's paid to have its name, along with the university, on the backdrop used for press conferences like these.
December 31st, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
The two UM schools I have degrees from—the college of architecture and urban planning and the art school—now have the Taubman and Stamps names attached to them because of large donations, but at least Al Taubman and Penny Stamps attended the schools that now bear their names. One of my U-M clients is a center that now bears the name of its major benefactor from its inception, and the benefactor is a member of the nationality that the center is focused on.
As a U-M business grad, Harris offered support that created the J. Ira Harris Center for the Study of Corporate Finance, and has created scholarships, endowed professorships, and provided support to LSA, the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. All of this makes perfect sense to me because of Harris's involvement as a student and as a professional in the fields those schools deal with.
In contrast, Harris has no direct connection whatsoever to the football program. He was not on the team during his time at U-M, nor was he a program staff member in any capacity, not even as a water boy. He was not a varsity athlete in any sport. His name is now attached like a barnacle to the position occupied by Yost, Crisler, and Schembechler for one reason only: money. He's already got his family name on a wall at the stadium, and that should have been enough recognition for his generous donations to the football program over the years. As with so many of his decisions, David Brandon simply didn't know or care when he was going too far.
December 31st, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
Thought about it further. The Harris "coach-ship" is not an endowed faculty position, right? It was a name in exchange for an unrestricted donation? That puts it in a different light because to the casual observor it sounds just like an endowed chair.
However, it doesn't bother me that Harris wasn't an athlete himself. I also wouldn't blame the Harrises. They should be thanked for their generosity even if you disagree with Brandon for making this opportunity available.
I hope the money at least went into an endowment and didn't just go to cover operating expenses. Was there any time limit on the name? Is it the Harris coach-ship in perpetuity?
December 31st, 2014 at 8:29 AM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
Thank You for bringing this up. I cringe every time I hear it, at first and I'm like " Who the Hell???"... and then they say the Head Coach at the end and I just feel so dirty for hearing that mess. I am sure they are all nice, rich and important people and all but that HAS to GO.
It's time to get in the right groove and build upon the solid foundation that's been started again by the hiring of JH.
All the Gimmicky Junk that DB dumped on us has to be cleaned up or at least watered down.
The whole team # thing has its place in my opion but shouldn't be overused. Honoring the past and the greatness that came before is awesome and all but it should never blur the HERE AND NOW, something that the old regime seemed to never get right.
December 31st, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
I was being a bit snarky with my post, and everyone pro and con has made really interesting posts, so here's my take on why this is not the best thing for the football coach:
1. An academic post with an endowed chair is a great thing, and it's not like the So-And-So Professor of Anthropology gets introduced to the media at press conferences and the like. In fact, to the general public the So-And-So Professor of Anthropology is a fairly invisible person.
2.The football team generates some, $150,000,000 dollars a year in revenues (please correct me on this, I didn't look it up), and is self-sustaining. It was not necessary to pretend that a ten million dollar gift to the Athletic Department or General Fund was anything like an endowed professorship.
3. Coaching Michigan football, though it is important to the athletes, is hardly an academic endeavor. It's popular, it's wonderful, it's amazing in so many ways, but it isn't done for course credit.
For these reasons, I think it's a joke to give donor names to a football coach. It's just silly, and I don't care if Stanford or anyone else does it. That's just more silliness.
Finally, I'm sure that if I met J. Ira and Nicki I would like them as people, and be very impressed with their generosity and overall wonderfulness. But they don't need this (no one does), and as a Michigan fan who is an alum, married to an alum, the father of alums, I have to say that I snicker up my sleeve whenever this abomination of a title is recited on TV.
It sounds pompous and ridiculous.
Give them a fricking plaque or name some real estate after them, but don't recite this bullshit title on TV and make Michigan Football look like some Ivy League, brandy snifter, wing-tip (apologies to wing tip shoe wearers), tight-assed football program!
Edit: If J. Ira and Nicki played a personal and meaningful role in landing Harbaugh, I will name myself after them, and put photos of them on my wall, but please, just not this title.
December 31st, 2014 at 3:14 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 3:21 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 3:31 AM ^
who cares
I cannot imagine being so bored that I spend the day after the biggest hire in Michigan football since Yost thinking about helmet stickers, team numbering and whether the fucking shade of maize is PERFECT
December 31st, 2014 at 3:51 AM ^
Keep the Team year #, it is tradition (Michigan teams refererenced the # before Hoke era) but please....take it off the under-uni sleeves... and switch back to Nike. No more of those HIDEOUS addidas threads.
December 31st, 2014 at 4:01 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 4:05 AM ^
There'th no quethtion inth my minth that good athithtant coathes are vithal to a throng foothballth programth. My thon Thkip coathed with me ath Thouth Carolinath anth he wath a heckth oth a ball coath anth altho a heckth oth a manth.
December 31st, 2014 at 6:39 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^
Vargo Hoat? Is that you?
December 31st, 2014 at 4:05 AM ^
If Brady Hoke's tenure has taught me anything it's that people would gladly badmouth Coach Rod long after he was gone. I'm sorry to say that I expect similar statements to be made about Coach Hoke by a small but unfortunately vocal minority. We just signed one of the top coaches in the sport today and one one of the top 5 highest win% coaches in the history of the NFL. Coach Hoke did a lot of good for the young men on his teams--is it to much to ask for people to lay off the guy and focus on how exciting the future is?
December 31st, 2014 at 5:48 AM ^
I am with you 100 percent on that Carolina Blue. The past is the past. I thought it nice of Jim Harbaugh to speak and honor Brady and Laura Hoke, thanking them for their service to the football program and university. What class Harbaugh shows. He is what every Michigan football player should strive to be like.
I just want to focus on what is ahead, and be in support of the things to come at Michigan. We have a bright future. Go Blue.
December 31st, 2014 at 8:23 AM ^
IMO, this could be the difference between JH winning as many as 10 games in each of his first couple seasons vs 7 or so if he were inheriting a roster with glaring deficiencies in depth, talent and experience at certain areas (i.e. 2013 interior OL).
December 31st, 2014 at 4:09 AM ^
I remember when I was in undergrad in the 80's and we loved the team, went to the games, cared mostly about the team, the team and the team, and barely knew half the players' names...
Love this blog, and the details and endless information we now have so much easier access to, but where have we come to that as fans where we now ponder such granular bullshit such as this topic...
December 31st, 2014 at 4:40 AM ^
THANK YOU. Here I was so worried that we'd get through an entire day without finding something to complain about.
December 31st, 2014 at 8:36 AM ^
I don't think Harbaugh dresses very well. Makes a bad impression on the University. I'm starting to have my doubts . . .
December 31st, 2014 at 5:25 AM ^
Simple way to build a bond with that present team and maintain a sense of tradition even as the game evolves with things like uniformz
December 31st, 2014 at 5:55 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 6:45 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 6:48 AM ^
I like it. It puts the focus on The Team, as opposed to individuals, unlike the legends jerseys.
December 31st, 2014 at 6:50 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 6:51 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:02 AM ^
Please explain.
And you realize that Bo Schembechler was the one who started the "TEAM (year)" thing, right?
In fact, Hoke didn't start very many new traditions at all. He returned everything (he could control) to the Bo/Carr years.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:04 AM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 7:06 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 7:15 AM ^
Here's what I want: a team that plays solid fundamental football. A downfield passing attack that has me jumping off of my couch with excitement a few times a game. A running game that can both grind opposing teams down and also hit a home run once or twice a game. A team that puts up half a hundred with some regularity, including against our rivals. A defense that hits hard, doesn't miss tackles, and suffocates WR. A few sacks a game. A special teams unit that not only fields 11 guys, but that is a strength of the team and not a weakness.
At a somewhat higher level, I want Michigan to compete for the Big Ten annually. We do to have to win it every single year, but I want us to be in the race through the end. In a similar manne, I want us in the discussion for the CFP most years. Again, I don't expect us to be selected every year or even every other year, but I want us in the discussion and I do want us to make it every few. Hell, I want our first national championship since 1997 at some point in the next 5 seasons.
Compared to those goals, what the team calls itself, whether they put stickers on their helmets, even the occasional uniformzzz - it's all irrelevant to me.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:24 AM ^
Finally a use for this......
December 31st, 2014 at 7:26 AM ^
The team, the team, the team.
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December 31st, 2014 at 7:35 AM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:04 AM ^
I'm all for less 'gimmicky' or 'novelty' stuff, less 'cliche'.......I understand about having an identity, but I'd rather the identity be on the field. Is it so bad to just call it 'next year's team'? In the end, it doesn't really matter, I guess.
December 31st, 2014 at 8:13 AM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 8:36 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
I'm not inherently against keeping the Team 136,137, etc. going. Gives that specific team its own identity. If Harbaugh wants to keep it, I'm all for it. But if he doesn't, that won't bother me either.
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December 31st, 2014 at 8:24 AM ^
What ever Harbaugh wants to do! I bet you Harbaugh names team captains and leaders right after summer camp!
December 31st, 2014 at 8:26 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:32 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^
I like it and hope they keep it. I was watching a sports program recently and I think another program was trying to steal it. Simple, concise way to convey history and tradition.
December 31st, 2014 at 8:42 AM ^