OK, Dave, we'll call your bluff: Here's what we want.

Submitted by M-Dog on
The narrative is starting to shift away from the AD and toward the fanbase as just a bunch of petty whiners who are only mad about the football team's win-loss record.  Just dismiss them, wait until things die down, and go on with business as usual.  They just want to complain, they don't even know what they want.
 
It's time to call that bluff.  Here's what we want Dave, and none of it is just about football scores:
 
- Stop gouging the fanbase in the most insulting ways possible.
 
Stop nickel-diming the fanbase with water bottles, seat cushions, "dynamic" pricing that only goes up but never down, and so on.  Here is a real life test-case for you coming up:  Next year the home schedule will include both Ohio State and Michigan State.  Your natural inclination will be to gouge what you can for these games, because you can.  DON'T DO IT.  It will alienate the fanbase - a fanbase you are going to need the following year . . . when OSU and MSU are back off the schedule.  Sticking a finger in your fanbase's eye when you can is a bad way to keep them around for when you can't.  
 
- Drop the deceit, spinning, and Orwellian double-speak.  Immediately.
 
"Probable concussion??"  "Retail activation??"  What are you trying to accomplish with this kind of weasel wording?  Because it's not working.  All it does is insult our intelligence and piss us off.  Do you have anybody that actually reviews these kinds of statements for the cringe test?  It's obvious you have a staff of people that work on making these things up, now get somebody to review it and make it suitable for a fanbase that is not composed of morons.  
 
- Treat the students and "regular" fans like they matter.  Not just the large corporate donors.
 
We get that the big-donor guys are happy with you.  But Michigan is not a private club.  It's a public University.  There are other people that are supposed to matter.  Start acting like it.  Actually go out of your way to show some goodwill.  Here's an idea:  Take a couple of your precious suites and make them available to students and regular fans for every game.  Have a drawing that lets them use the suites for a half or a quarter or whatever.  And wine them and dine them when they are there like they matter . . . like you do for the Big Guys.  It won't break the bank and it will show that not only the big donors are "Michigan" to you.
 
- Be more transparent in both your words and deeds.  
 
You represent a public University.  Backdoor dealings hidden by a smokescreen of spin and manipulation are abhorrent to the charter of a public institution like Michigan.  Change your mode of operation to a "Need not to know" basis.  If there is not an absolutely compelling reason that something needs to be hidden, make it public and transparent.  Here is another real life test-case for you coming up:  If there does need to be a coaching search down the road, it can not all be done behind closed doors with a pre-determined result based on who was friends with who a decade ago.  There needs to be some transparency and oversight injected into the process.  No more huddling behind closed doors for days, culminating in 1:00 AM white Papal smoke announcements.       
 
- Stand up for the things that make Michigan Michigan.
 
It is your job as the AD to stand up for the things that define Michigan.  Do nothing to sell these out for expediency or a quick buck.  If the Big Ten wants to move the Ohio State game from the last game of the season, your job is to scream "Hell No!"  If they want to schedule all your key rivals as away games every other year, your job is to scream "Hell No!"  You may not always get your way, but you won't know unless you actually, you know, try.  If you are just going to "go along to get along" because you want to be the next Big Ten Commissioner or you don't want to make waves with your cronies in the Big Ten front office, then you don't deserve to be the Michigan AD.  
 
- Leave some money on the table.  Do not run the AD as just a profit center.
 
Follow Don Canham's advice:  Don't make it all about maximizing revenue, even when you can.  The money is a means to an ends, it is not the mission statement of the Athletic Department.  If you could maximize total revenue by having a high price-per-ticket but a half empty Michigan stadium, would you still do it?  If you could maximize revenue by focusing on TV rights and corporate suites while alienating regular fans and students, would you still do it?  The answer so far has been "Yes, in a minute".  Change it immediately to "No, that would be bad for the future of the program". 
 
- Put some student and "regular" fan representatives on your staff.
 
You have shown every indication so far that you live in a tone-deaf echo chamber.  The only voice you hear is your own, parroted back to you.  Get some other voices on your staff.  Get rid of a few MBA's and hire some students and regular fans to be on your staff to advise you on how things will be interpreted in the real world.  Get somebody who will not just say "Yes, sir, that's brilliant", but will whisper in your ear "Uh, Dave, have you thought this through?  Because this is going to piss a lot of people off, unnecessarily.  Are you sure it's worth it?"   
 
- Unite the student-athletes, fanbase, students, and alumni.  Do nothing to pit them against each other.
 
We all need each other.  It is not "us versus them".  Nobody owns the players and gets to hide behind them to make whatever point they are trying to make.  Without the fans, Michigan athletics are just a bunch of club sports played in the open fields across the train tracks.  Without the players, they're just something curious from the Bentley archives.  Nobody is going to "win" a battle that pits one group against the other or that favors one group at the expense of the other.  We are all part of the same family and we need our AD to treat us all like we are, and that we matter.
 
MGoBoard
Recruiting

Wolverine Devotee

October 9th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^

There's one way and one way only he can save his job for me.

Hire Jim Harbaugh and get the fuck out of the way. And if he's so weepy eyed in his media day about fixing things with students, do it. And stop with the ads at Hockey games.

The freaking power plays are now the power play presented by Toyota.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

October 9th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^

The freaking power plays are now the power play presented by Toyota.

Contrast to when GM was in bankruptcy court and couldn't afford to keep sponsoring the fountain at Comerica, and rather than accept money from Toyota for the sponsorship (which did make an offer for it) Ilitch put up signs for all the Big 3, for free.

A huge Toyota sign in one of the single most prominent places in the whole Motor City? Ilitch understood that the perceived slap in the face to his customers (not to mention the enormous branding hit to the Detroit part of Detroit Tigers) would outweigh the hard cash. Smart business.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 41586

ChuckieWoodson

October 9th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^

And I agree whole-heartedly, but Dave Brandon, to his core, I believe, is the exact opposite of everything you just laid out.

If he did indeed change of few of those things, it would only be for just enough time for him to sign another contract extension.  See picture below minus the sheep

Joined: 01/13/2012

MGoPoints: 26175

M-Dog

October 9th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

Yeah, I'm afraid you're right.  He is what he is.

But we should at least be on record as to what we want from an AD, because the narrative is starting to be spun that this is all just about football wins and losses, and we just want an easy scapegoat.

We have some legitimate issues that we've had for a long time.  Even at 10-2.

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257517

Forza.Wolverine

October 9th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^

Hey Brandon!!!

Do you know why else all that matter?

So OUR (MICHIGAN) fans do sell their tickets to whomever. So I won't be surrounded by Ohio fans and hackle and intimadate me in my own statdium. I was hackled and kicked in their stadium, i understand that, but doing in my own stadium???? I am an old fart holding season tickets for over 42 years. I can't fight them back.

filling the seats with oposing team's fans isn't Michigan. i hope this saturday i won't be surounded by PSU fans.

 

I want to support the players, but that would make me leave the game really early...

 

GO BLUE (wounded and all.....)

Joined: 10/01/2014

MGoPoints: 26

Bando Calrissian

October 9th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^

The key differences between Canham and Brandon:

1. Canham was selling Michigan, not Coke, StubHub, Marathon, Toyota, Hyundai, Cadillac, Chobani, Kraft, geez this list is getting long. Sure, he slapped the M on coffee mugs and bumper stickers, but it was all in the name of selling Michigan, not as a product, but as a university.

2. Canham was selling tickets that didn't sell--aside from OSU and MSU, the stadium NEVER sold out. He used Michigan and the draw of a football Saturday in Ann Arbor--not outside products--to fill the stadium. He marketed Michigan to people who bought cars, not cars to people to get them to buy Michigan tickets, too. Once Bo started winning and the seats filled up, Canham was able to back away from things like aggressive ticket marketing and Band Day because the tickets now sold themselves.

DB did it in reverse--he took tickets that sold themselves and made them not sell. And he's done it while telling us we're wrong because we don't understand his version of Marketing 101. It's kind of amazing, really.

 

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68120

Bando Calrissian

October 9th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^

~2001 (I think it was 2001) Martin pulled some deal that had the M-OSU game sponsored by (I think it was) AT&T. It was definitely a phone company. The backlash was immediate and fierce, and the whole thing was swiftly axed. I still have a promo phonecard for it somewhere. It was a la what Texas and Oklahoma did with the Red River Rivalry, but Bill had the good sense to admit he got it wrong. He tried something, it blew up in his face, and everyone pretty much forgot about it because he manned up.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68120

BlueFish

October 9th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

I was doing some "research" about the noodle for my treatise to President Schlissel on why I'd welcome a new AD.  I came across an article on AnnArbor.com, where Dave Ablauf is quoted as such:

"It's actually kinda funny, everyone seems to be fixated on a noodle and not about a football game being played tomorrow," he said.

Well, yes, Dave, you probably would find it amusing.  Because you and your boss are tone-deaf to the priorities of the fanbase.

Joined: 08/21/2009

MGoPoints: 4653

mikoyan

October 9th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^

I like that and could support it.  But it seems like every modern CEO and politician lives in an echo chamber and is out of touch with reality.  Otherwise, we wouldn't hear about half the stuff we hear.  some of these people would do well to remember the old saying, "Just because you can do something...doesn't mean you should".

Joined: 09/06/2010

MGoPoints: 2784

Profwoot

October 9th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^

Good post. I would have added, " Stop meddling; you have no football insights; stop pretending you do. Stop watching film with the coaches, and immediately remove the pressure, if any, regarding style of play. If you are tasked with finding a new head coach, humble yourself and find the best one, regardless of his style or how threatened you are by his personality. If you're uncomfortable with any of this, do the university a solid and resign."

Joined: 10/12/2010

MGoPoints: 153

Bando Calrissian

October 9th, 2014 at 9:20 AM ^

I'm on board with the possible exception of the coaching search portion. There's a certain amount of secrecy and discretion that goes into these kinds of things by necessity--when you're going after people who already have jobs, it's in their best interest to keep things as discrete as possible.

Now, don't get me wrong, Dave sending an empty Stuffed Crust One around the country to deflect attention was utterly stupid, and the way he conducted the search was typically hamhanded, but there are ways of doing the same thing in a much more, well, experienced manner. The key is he has no idea how to actually administrate athletics.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68120

True Blue Grit

October 9th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^

The coaching search can't be very public for the reasons you mentioned.  However, there definitely needs to be a lot of involvement by the President and Regents this time - which I kind of doubt was the case last time.  And that's regardless of who the AD is when it happens.  And hopefully it will NOT be Brandon.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32373

Der Alte

October 9th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^

From ESPN's Website showing game time and ticket availability: 7:00 PM Penn State at Michigan ESPN2 4,023 available from $49 Many will find tickets at cheaper prices. How long will the Powers That Be tolerate this situation?

Joined: 07/30/2010

MGoPoints: 1925

Bosch

October 9th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^

...it was completely dumb. I know because I did it too, and I've been checking stubhub every Saturday. By my quick estimate, a patient individual could go to every home game this year for around $100 total. Unless there are drastic changes, I'm done buying season tickets from the AD. Tickets will be a little harder to come by next year, but there will still be a hoard of tickets available in the secondary market. You can still get on the ticket office website and buy PSU (our only game worth anything this year) tickets in lots of 15. 2016 will be atrocious. DB'S damage is done and it won't be fixed over night without a significant reduction in face value.

Joined: 04/03/2009

MGoPoints: 8195

riverrat

October 9th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

The stunts that he did (having other teams do a send-off for the football team, asking for Beilein's and Berensons' support) are also typically corporate groupspeak...and in case we were confused by their origins, he filmed them so that we would know what a great guy he is...

I cannot wait for him to be replaced by someone who knows how to run an athletic department. 

Joined: 02/01/2009

MGoPoints: 795

M-Dog

October 9th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^

But why not?  Why not show the students and regular fans that they matter?

Those suites dominate the presence of the stadium, yet the vast majority of us will never even get a peak at them.  Why not open one or two of them up to the masses, so it's not just all about the big money guys?

Show you care . . . reserve one of them exclusively for the students and one for the fans.  Have a random drawing at the start of each game that invites 16 of them up for the 1st quarter.  Then invite another 16 up for the 2nd quarter and so on.  And wine them and dine them while they are there like they matter.

Do it every home game.  Break down the false wall you've put up between the students/regular fans and the big money guys.

At the end of the season you will have 896 people talking to all thier friends about what a cool experience thay had this season at the games.  What a great way to build goodwill with the fanbase for what amounts to pocket change for the AD. 

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257517

marcota

October 9th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^

I still like an incentive program for the students. show up on time to all the home games and you get the face value of the last home game refunded to you or applied to next year's season tickets or credited to purchasers at mden etc. it would be cheaper than lowering all student ticket prices and still motivate people. the suite idea seems a little bit of a stretch. even though they are purchased by businesses they are often filled with regular fans.

Joined: 01/08/2010

MGoPoints: 423

WolverineRage

October 9th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^

Agree with every part of your post, including the preface and that last point.  That is the part that is really starting to grate with me.

 

During the NHL lockout, the owners hired a PR firm who was well known for having a mantra of "change the narrative".  They worked with different political groups in the past and the idea was that if you can frame the argument in the right way you can win it every time.  And that is what I see Dave Brandon doing: changing the narrative.

 

Its turned from "fans vs. Athletic Director" to "fans vs. Athletic Department" implying we are against the kids.  And, the worst part is that the media is now beating that drum too.  We all love our University, and to insinuate that being against the direction of Michigan Athletics also means you are against Michigan Athletes is insulting.

 

So yes, I think you've done a great job of laying out rational arguments and are absolutely calling his bluff.  I would sign a petition with this letter at the head.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 206

mich12fan

October 9th, 2014 at 10:37 AM ^

The few people I know that still support DB and Hoke are playing this game too. I said this the other day on social media and it bears repeating - "Wanting a coaching change does not make me an unloyal fan. It means that I want the players to reach their greatest potential, not rock bottom." 

Joined: 07/04/2009

MGoPoints: 708

Gobgoblue

October 9th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^

is so different and unique and insightful and not like the rest of the "my valuable thoughts on DB!" posts. /end rant I'll take my call off the air.

Joined: 07/07/2012

MGoPoints: 21043

LSA Superstar

October 9th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^

Re point # 2:

It's one thing to sell shit to me.  Personal seat licenses are an opportunity to continue sitting with my friends and family?  Nonsense; it's you screwing me by making me pay for what I used to get as a matter of courtesy.  But fine, that's life.

It's another thing entirely to sell me shit and tell me it's gold.

This is not North Korea.  I do not want to see a stadium that is 85% full and have the scoreboard announce an attendance of 104,000 people.  I do not want to hear that you did not sponsor the skywriting over East Lansing and later discover that you did.  I do not want to hear on Monday that a player did not have a concussion, hear on Tuesday that the player DID have a concussion, and hear on Thursday that you knew on Sunday that he had a concussion.

I'm a lawyer; I know the difference.  Spin is a symptom of an increasingly corporatized culture, and it's a symptom we all have to tolerate.  But lying is something different altogether, and I won't tolerate that any longer.

Joined: 10/03/2009

MGoPoints: 3323

maizenbluenc

October 9th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^

the Gibbon's debacle needed to be handled truthfully as well. I understand there were legal obligations - but there was a way to handle it (e.g., like Florida, or at the very least he is not playing this week pending the outcome of disciplinary issues, and then he is no longer with the team.) - and the was the misleading and then "cover up" way it was presented.

Joined: 07/21/2009

MGoPoints: 10630

Autostocks

October 9th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^

I would add, "Respect the traditions."  Stop trying to fix things that aren't broken.  Leave some breaks in the non-stop noise between plays that allow people to converse and the students to be creative.  Stop trying to make each Saturday a cheap spectacle - our traditions are enough of a spectacle.

Joined: 11/02/2010

MGoPoints: 1961