Hackett Discusses Past and Future of M Athletics
As part of Michigan's ongoing celebration of 150 years of Athletics, Jim Hackett sits down for a chat with Mgoblue.com.
http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/082815aab.html
"The University of Michigan is a global symbol, and it's largely because of our 550,000 alums. They remember the significant athletic contests that they're really proud of. They didn't have to play in it, but they were proud of their university for being in it. President Ford felt that way. Now I'm meeting with kids 40 years after I played that feel the same way. What is it that persists over time? It's the spirit of "This Michigan of Ours," the thing that brings you to the centered place of why this is so powerful."
August 28th, 2015 at 5:34 PM ^
"There's few things in life that get to last 150 years that have people tied to it. You can make a list and cross off the things that don't make it -- companies, countries, architecture. For an athletic department to function within a university for that long, it's a great endorsement for how powerful it is. It's something that can last."
It is an interesting thought and it is something that is easily forgotten as we move from season to season - there are indeed nations, corporations and buildings that have come and gone in the time Michigan has had an athletic department. To me, that is one of the things that makes it truly special and such a deeply integral part of the university's culture.
August 28th, 2015 at 5:34 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 5:43 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 5:49 PM ^
#hackettyourcat
August 28th, 2015 at 6:10 PM ^
Heck no, he is over qualified. The perfect job would be for him to STAY AS AD! Please, please, please Jim!
August 28th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^
Hackett > Brandon. This guy seems to understand that his job is to listen to alums, students, players and coaches and if he does that existing within the university culture will take care of itself. I have been in sales accumulating clients for years and can tell everybody here that in order to make people happy you have to ask a ton of questions and find out what is important to them and make that happen. It's something Hackett seems to understand that is lost on Brandon.
> 
August 28th, 2015 at 6:18 PM ^
Have seen business leaders do this time to time as well and the secret ingredient seems to be that those leaders place customer and employee needs and above financial business cases.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:54 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 8:52 PM ^
perceptive
August 28th, 2015 at 5:58 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^
I love that he believes that the University of Michigan is a "symbol" and not a "brand"
August 28th, 2015 at 6:16 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 6:21 PM ^
So much to love here. That subtle Yost quote at the end. The fact that he's geeking out about specific games and players, because he was in the stands or taping stuff to watch later.
This, however, I worry about this:
We have to figure out a way, in our future, to make the in-game atmosphere and experience better and more enjoyable. What's so valuable to see in-person that you'd be willing to drive two hours in each direction? The reason you don't is because you can see the same thing on television. Now the question we have to raise is, what does that fan learn here, what does that fan experience here that they can't back at home? There's all kinds of technologies that can be brought to bear.
Please be careful, Jim. Teetering on the "WOW Experience..."
August 28th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^
Here's the thing, he's right. In an era where, from a quality of viewing perspective, watching the game is objectively better on TV, you need to make the stadium experience what convinces people to show up. You need to be able to say "yes you can see the game better from your couch, but here's why you NEED to be in Michigan Stadium." BUT the way you do that is not wifi, noodles, rawk, and a DJ. It's through fans jumping out of their seats with excitement. It's through the band on the field and the pep band in the stands. It's through embracing the history and greatness of the program in and around the stadium. Hell, it's Punt/Counterpunt in the free programs. And, if we're being intellectually honest, it's through in-stadium amenities and concessions that are reasonably priced (cheap food won't pull people in, but high priced food will drive people away). Yes, a certain percentage of people, many of whom are on this site, all they need is the game and the crowd, but that's not everyone, and using what makes Michigan special to appeal to that latter group, to grow the fanbase, I have no disagreement with that at all. You just have to do it in a way that embraces Michigan, not by turning the Big House into a wanna-be NFL experience.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:23 PM ^
Totally agree. Just when I read that original quote, with the part about "technologies" and such... My mind goes to RAWK and ribbon boards and such.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
I hear that. But technology could be a lot of things, and many of them could be very cool. Imagine, and this is purely making stuff up, they had a tent near the M-Den trailer with a bank of half a dozen Oculus Rifts where you could watch and listen to say, one of 5 locker room speeches from Bo or Lloyd or Harbaugh from the perspectives of the players. Free or being charged for it, that's the kind of thing (in conjunction with all the in-game and on-field stuff) that could convince people to get off their couch and be at the stadium an hour early for, just to check out the cool thing, especially if it's only running before and after the game and during halftime. It'd be a way for parents and old fans to introduce their kids/young fans into some of the history of the game.
I firmly believe technology in general is going in a direction where experiential engagement is going to be vastly improved, and I'd 100% support Hackett, or whoever ends up as AD, embracing stuff like that as a way of saying "yeah, you can watch the game at home, but can you do ____ during halftime at home?"
August 28th, 2015 at 8:22 PM ^
I generally agree with you--and further to your point, notice that Mr. Hackett's strongest memory was of a Michigan-Ohio State game and the quiet.
When that massive stadium falls still, it's an eerie and marvelous moment. Of course, it's even better when it then erupts in earth-shattering roars of victory.
But how often do you have moments where an entire 100,000+-person crowd is silent, spellbound, holding their breaths for the next play on the field? I would fight to preserve that magic.
August 28th, 2015 at 8:39 PM ^
Yes. Agree. 100%. Although most of my memories of overwhelming quiet at Michigan Stadium are "what the fuck just happened" moments, most notably Colorado. So...I'm ok with us not having any moments like that again. But even shocked failure quiet is better than RAWK infesting the stadium and ruining the atmosphere.
August 28th, 2015 at 8:55 PM ^
I was there. It was traumatic beyond belief. You're right, sometimes the quiet is just the result of utter devastation.
August 28th, 2015 at 6:35 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
We are so lucky to have him at the exact right time...He got me when he was talking about the softball program. Ive big a big fan since wayyyyy back in the early 90s...Michigan then a national power back then toom always came to a Big tournament in Columbus Ga..about 30 mins from my home..All the top teams in the country would come and it was GREAT and Michigan always played well..It was the presigious torunament of the year.
The first time I went I was hooked! Ive met Coach Hutch a few times and have a few corresponse with her throughout the years...I love all Michigan sports just as he mentioned. Softball has taken over the #3 spot on my favorites moving ahead of hockey.
What he said in his interview is 100 percent correct...Its what Michigan represents....
I for one hope he stays on for a LONG LONG Time
August 28th, 2015 at 6:54 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 7:15 PM ^
Disagree with watching on tv being the same experience as going in person. Sitting in the stadium is much better. Hopefully Hackett's checklist has Michigan replay, getting MSU to play here two times in a row, and getting Mel Pearson still to go.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:22 PM ^
The Michigan Replay name is owned by the producer who made the show, and seems to be a thing of the past. It's probably not coming back--though a certain poster insists the new show will be exactly the same as the old one, only it will still be called Inside Michigan Football. So we'l see.
MSU two times in a row? Good luck.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^
You got to be agressive and tell the big ten this is what's going to happen. We got hosed in a situation that was avoidable from Jim Delaney.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:47 PM ^
Or let bygones be bygones and realize it was a goofy scheduling situation in which someone was going to get screwed, and yes, it sucked, but from here on out we're back to the normal situation. It's not that big of a deal--Hackett showing up with guns blazing saying "I expect you to rearrange your entire scheduling matrix to give me two home games with Michigan State" is not the way to operate in a conference if you expect the other ADs to have your back on the things that really matter.
August 28th, 2015 at 8:54 PM ^
I know I'm in the minority, but there were times I enjoyed the piped in music. Is Hackett's position no rawk or less rawk?
August 29th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^