Michigan Marching Band to attend season opener in Dallas.
per Nick Baumgardner's (AA.com) Twitter.
Nick Baumgardner @nickbaumgardner
Michigan marching band received a letter today from Dave Brandon informing them that they will be heading to Dallas for the 2012 FB opener
Hell. Yes.
Who cares what Levenberry decides now! This is the news of the day!!
This makes me feel a lot better now that both bands are going to be there. It just felt wrong having Alabama's band there, but no MMB.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^
I'm starting a RAGE thread because our AD is spending money on a bunch of noisemakers instead of lowering tuition cost!
KEEP THE BAND AT HOME! RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE TUITION
at Brandon now? Now we have nothing to occupy ourselves with this offseason. I'm going to miss the thread-a-day about the band not going.
you can always bitch about tthe fact that the jackass made the decision in the first place. Also, the band was just the tip of the iceburg. He also has us playing against bama in Dallas which is going to get us less money than playing a home game against baby seal U while costing fans almost twice as much for a ticket.
Listen, I can understand why some people support DB as the AD, he admittedly has made a few decent decisions, but I find it hard to believe that those who do support him won't give those who question him the same benefit.
I mean seriously, basically what DB did here is floated an idea out hoping no one would notice so he could make up for the fact that UM is getting fleeced in the bama game. It didn't work and he got a hell of a lot of backlash because of it. If you want to mark this down in the "plus" column for DB go ahead, but I would beg to differ on that.
they would get less money within 2 years rather than having a netural site game where they get paid with no event staff hiring, etc. plus a home game against Baby Seal U.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I would pay twice as much money for a game against Alabama all day every day. Much better than watching us beat NW Ohio Tech 60-0. I don't understand the issue with the fact that arguably the two best programs in history are going to play a regular season opener with both ranked in the top 10. Our athletic department makes enough money throughout the year. I'm not worried that we missed out on like a million dollars by playing this game. And by game I mean this ridiculously epic game of college football superpowers that the whole country is going to watch.
Don't some people on this blog complain when we schedule Delaware States? Also, isn't this great for recruiting as well as being on the national stage? There's a time and place for Baby Seal U, but this is pretty cool. (Although the husband and son are leaving me at home when they travel to Dallas! so mean!!)
I love that we are playing Alabama, I just don't like the fact that we are doing for next to nothing and at a nuetral site. Don't get me wrong, I live in Nova Scotia so I couldn't have gone anyway, but now fans have to pony up the extra ticket price as well as arifare, hotels, meals etc to see a game that UM will get very little out of financially.
The post was in response to people saying yay DB for making a decision after his hand was forced that he should have made from the get-go.
On bitching: It could be argued that collective "bitching" is one way to get things done. The interesting question is what would have happened had the decision not drawn such strong criticism . . . Would Brandon have stuck to his guns or ended up making the right decision on his own after introspection? I think we all know that the answer is the latter, which makes his reversal a victory for the "bitching" fans.
This story wasn't really covered, in the newspapers, or television or radio. It got some mention, to be sure, but it was late; and it was simply reported as something that was, like, maybe or maybe not happening.
When Mark Snyder snarled at Brian Cook, "You're the competition," he was right. Sorta. But I'm not so sure that Snyder's employer even competes anymore. They sure as hell didn't drive this story. They can barely keep up with the story.
This story was purely a product of the online media, and the social networks. The energy came out of online media and the social networks. It is what carried the news, and then the popular reaction.
I recall something dismissive about the blogs passing Brandon's lips not too long ago. It is too bad that he said it. But the good thing is that David Brandon is way too smart to not re-evaluate. It's hard for me to see how this isn't a rather specific triumph for MGoBlog, et al.
He sticks his finger in our eye, we bitch about it. That's how it works.
Just like when he decided he was going to be one of the mouthpieces for moving the Ohio State game. We appropriately raised hell.
Don't start no stuff, won't be no stuff.
Unfortunately, it is still too costly for the band to bring the instruments.
Someone start a kickstarter to buy 350 kazoos. MMB WILL NOT BE SILENCED
I think Jerry has stipulated the MMB brings 350 vuvuzelas.
are dudes.
PRAISE JESUSSSSSSSSSSAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
out of his left 'stril, or do I need to clean this computer screne?
that made this happen. Nice work, folks.
brian.
using your powers for good.
Not taking the band, was making Michigan look second rate. When Michigan pulls the upset, the band needs to be there to play the Victors.
Damn straight. Bout time Brian picked up the red phone that connects to Brandon's office. Fear him, for his power knows no bounds anymore.
Any band members willing to post a copy of the email? Does it have any mention of where Brandon found the funds to send them?
The email specifically said, "Athletics has now decided that, with the help of some donors, they will be taking us to Dallas for the Cowboy Classic game vs. Alabama" If that is what you are looking for--donor support was needed, yes.
The email specifically said, "Athletics has now decided that, with the help of some donors, they will be taking us to Dallas for the Cowboy Classic game vs. Alabama" If that is what you are looking for--donor support was needed, yes.
It still doesn't take away the fact that it took an absolute uproar for the Athletic Department to do the bare minimum that they should have done in the first place. It honestly made us look like a second-tier department compared to Alabama and our numerous peer institutions who would have certainly brought their bands in the first place.
I hope Brandon didn't just turn the screws on donors to get some big donors to pay for it- that kind of extortion is not how you build loyalty or set yourself up for larger future gifts.
This will always be a mar on Brandon's legacy and its resolution is not something for which I'm grateful to him.
---
"MMB Members and Staff:
We just received an email from AD David Brandon saying that Athletics has now decided that, with the help of some donors, they will be taking us to Dallas for the Cowboy Classic game vs. Alabama.
There are many details yet to be worked out. For example, we do not yet know exactly how many students and staff will go, and we don't know for sure when we'll be leaving or returning. Please be patient as we sort these issues out. We will let you know when we know.
I'm excited that the MMB will be there to support our team for this historic event!
Go Blue!
SB"
Feel how you want about Brandon. Just be happy the band is going to Dallas!
*advice
Unless I'm missing something here, which could be possible, it seems like you just incorrectly corrected someone. I'm pretty sure "advise" was the correct usage there.
...is an older MGoBlogism. The guy who made a fetish out of the usage doesn't post here anymore, apparently.
It was a joke. I assure you I know the proper usage of advise/advice. Others don't, though, and I was just trying to make light of that.
much less twice.
Yore not correct usige of propar grammer wuz called out n u play it of as a joke? Your dumb
Shut up, Stephen.
I believe you, but your delivery was poor then, since no one else got the joke either.
For future reference, I find throwing in a second, obvious mistake helps everyone catch on to your joke. That way, you can laugh at the one poster who didn't get your joke, and corrects your second, obvious mistake.
*advise
/grammar Nazi Nazi
Booooo. I was assuming that the band's tickets would then be sold to students as we have submitted applications to buy tickets. Am I the only one that's disappointed? Selfish, yes.
DB would be the "good guy" here if he had actually wanted to do this in the first place. In reality, I feel more like he's a scrooge who was forced to do something nice in order to avoid looking like a total DB. Yes, that acronym word play was intentional.
and found a severed horse's head in bed with him.
Maybe he saw this:
tweet them and ask: https://twitter.com/#!/AATorchNPFork