Email Response from Bruce Madej Regarding Michigan-OSU Rivalry

Submitted by bklein09 on

 

First, my original email (short and to the point):

 

To Whom It May Concern,
 
     Please do everything in your power to maintain the importance and tradition surrounding "The Game" by ensuring that it continues to be played the last week of the regular season. I understand that with the conference splitting into two separate divisions there is a lot of concern about where to put Michigan and Ohio State, but as a Michigan Alum I can tell you that nothing is more important than keeping this rivalry special. 
 
Sincerely,
Me
 

And now the response:

Dear Me,

 

Thank you for your note on the importance of Michigan-Ohio State football game. President Coleman and other university leaders have asked me to respond on their behalf.

 

I want to assure you that no one understands the tradition of this Big Ten football rivalry more than Athletic Director David Brandon. He has experienced this legendary rivalry first hand as a player, as a fan and supporter of the athletic program and as a U-M regent.

 

Expansion of the Big Ten is certain to bring some changes. We know there will be a conference championship game in 2011 and we expect to soon learn the details of the divisional alignment.  Clearly we would like to have Michigan and Ohio State play the last game of the season for the Conference Championship (as has happened so many times in the past). However, based on a 12 Team - two division conference with a championship game format, in order for this to happen in the future both teams will have to play their way into the championship game.  Which, we hope happens many times!

 

Certainly one of the priorities of the Big Ten commissioner and the Big Ten athletic directors is preserving the traditional rivalries, like Michigan-Ohio State and Michigan-Michigan State.  This will continue to be a driving principle...as will creating competitive balance between the two divisions.

 

Just like the renovations to the Big House, we believe the Big Ten can move forward and make improvements while maintaining the traditions that are so important to fans.

 

Go Blue,

 

BRUCE MADEJ

 

This does not sound good IMHO. I told him we wanted to have Michigan-OSU be the last game of the regular season. And he responded by saying they are hoping Michigan-OSU can play in the title game every year, but change is inevitable. Maybe I didn't explain myself well enough, or maybe this is just not going to end well. Anyways, I suggest you guys keep flooding the AD with emails, and when you do make it clear that Michigan-OSU need to be on the same side and play the last weekend of the regular season. No excuses!

MGoBoard
Football
Michigan Ohio State

Brodie

August 23rd, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^

I got the same response. It makes me kind of optimistic that they even devised a boilerplate response... they must be getting a lot of e-mails

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 10712

Blue boy johnson

August 23rd, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^

Only thing left to do is let the top 2 in each division into the Big Ten Tourney, put M and OSU in the same division and play the last game of the year. M and OSU can still possibly meet for the Big Ten Title a couple weeks down the road.

Joined: 03/15/2009

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JeemtotheH

August 23rd, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^

My email:

"Mr. Smith,

Imagine how improbable it would have been for a Michigan Alumnus like myself to email you asking for your help one week ago.

  
Moving The Game earlier than the last regular season game would be a travesty and would destroy the excitement, tradition, and national significance the Ohio State - Michigan Rivalry generates.  
 
Please read "The Madness of Moving The Game on Rivals" for a well reasoned argument to keep Michigan and Ohio State in the same division, and keep The Game as the greatest rivalry in college sports.

http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1116012

Sincerely,

 
me"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The reply:

 

"Dear me,

Thank you for your comments.  I appreciate your concerns.

Sincerely,

Gene Smith"

 

LOL, Good thing I wasn't expecting much out of this!

 

 

Joined: 08/20/2010

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DStamper22

August 28th, 2010 at 3:43 AM ^

 

I was shocked to see that DB answered this email personally.  Just another reason I'm going to cast all my fears aside and be All in for Michigan and DB.  
 
Please don't take THE GAME
 
 That game is why students attend Michigan.  It is why elite football players travel north to play in the freezing cold rather than go to Miami or USC to soak up the rays.  The last few years have been hard on everyone.   Taking this away from us would break everyone's heart.  I can't imagine a year without that game to look forward to.  We could be 3-8 (wait we were 3-8) and I was waiting with baited breath for the kickoff of that game.  I know some unfortunate intern or assistant will have the good pleasure of reading this and copying and pasting some uninformative and even less passionate response.  I know that that intern will tell me about you and you're knowledge of Michigan football and The Game.  I just can't see the logic.  Probably money. 
 
Barely Optimistic,
 
Donny 
 
 
Re: Please don't take THE GAME
 
Donny,
 
Thanks for helping me understand the importance of the Michigan – OSU game.  I appreciate your thoughts on the topic….
 
I don’t do interns and I answer my own email.    You were wrong about that….and you are wrong that the scheduling issues we are working through are about money.  They are not.  They are about the management of competition… and there are 12 different universities and their A.D.’s and Presidents joining up with a building full of conference officials – all of whom are looking to protect their own interests and needs as it relates to scheduling rivalries and games.
 
I suggest you just relax….students will continue to attend Michigan….try to be just a little optimistic….and see what we are able to work out.
 
Go Blue!
 
Dave

Joined: 10/01/2008

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