An Intersting Dichotomy b/t Two Athletic Depts.

Submitted by Michigan Arrogance on

[EDIT: Yeah, I forgot how to embed in here; working]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq6AhMxK3HU&list=UU_G-_2azcOV9JBAmqFgER…

 

The above is obviously an ASU AD PSA.

Below, 2 M Thank You ads as they appeared in the ND UTL II program and The Wolverine mag- directed soley to donors like Steven M. Ross (and others paying seat licenses, etc).

 

I think this provides a sharp contrast b/t the 2 athletic depts: how they think about the people that support their programs. I wonder if the M AD even considers M as having fans, or they just think about donors. Maybe fans are too fickle for the AD, so they'd prefer to think about donors instead? Perhaps your worth in the M AD's eyes is not measured in loyalty or even fickleness, but rather in dollars donated to the AD?

Clearly producing a cheezy turkey day video isn't the point, but it does provide a bit of insight and context regarding how the M AD thinks about fans/donors relative to another AD.

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Come On Down

November 27th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^

I don't think there's anything wrong with going the extra mile to thank someone who donates tens of millions of dollars to the department. I think the real question is whether or not it needs to be either/or? I don't believe that it does and the AD would probably be well served if it created some sort of "fan engagement" team to repair some of these obviously damaged relationships. 

Joined: 05/15/2013

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The Crootin' Crouton

November 27th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^

Assuming an average of 8 wins a season (ugh, reality hurts), that would be $200 a year. Stephen Ross has given $100 million to just the AD and $313 million overall.  So it would take 500,000 little guys to match just Ross's contributions to the AD and 1,565,000 little guys to match his giving overall.  Much easier to keep one big donor happy than a huge portion of the alumni/fan base.

So yes, one phone call from Ross or a big donor means more than any complaints from simpletons and bloggers.

Joined: 11/16/2013

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Yo_Blue

November 27th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^

"Interesting" in the title is a stretch.  I don't see a huge difference between thanking the fans and thanking the fans along with a donor who made the biggest donation in M history.  I don't see the point in your question.  Is it just another slam against Brandon?  There are several other things more relevant than this.

Joined: 08/24/2010

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MGoShoe

November 27th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^

...DAB Derangement Syndrome. Why the hell isn't it appropriate for the AD to dedicate a spread in the UTLII game program to the guy who just gave the biggest donation in the history of the University of Michigan? Now, should the AD also thank its legions of fans and supporters separately? Sure. And maybe they will or have. But this comparison is intellectually lazy. 

Joined: 04/23/2009

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RHammer - SNRE 98

November 27th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^

it was nice to see Brandon et al. at the Athletic Dept. arrange for the nice tifo displayed in the stands thanking Ross for the donation, but it was pretty milquetoast, and certainly not the most memorable example of one; perhaps in the two years we have until Ohio returns to the Big House again, we can get something like this put together; http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/videos/96313/snapshot-borussia-dortmund-fans-perform-impressive-skull-tifo-before-pulverising-wolfsburg-video.html

Joined: 06/30/2008

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