Proof that Brandon tried to move Michigan and OSU

Submitted by JeemtotheH on
In light of Brian's epic post, can someone provide actual evidence that Brandon tried to advocate for Michigan and OSU in separate divisions and to move the game to midseason? Brian referenced an interview but is that it? I am amused and terrified that the email Brian quotes is so similar to the response Brandon sent me when I voiced my concern over moving the game. To paraphrase Brandon: "I understand the rivalry better than you, get a life, have a good weekend". Not to be confused with Jim Tressel's "have happy easter, go bucks". Edit: happy easter, not have a good weekend.
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M-Dog

February 19th, 2015 at 8:45 AM ^

It was (at least one) direct quote from Brandon, in writing, posted soemwhere on the internet.  I saw it posted on this blog, either on the front page or on the board posted directly or as a link to a source.  It may have been his response to an email, or a quote from an interview with him.  
 
It was his initial early response to the outrage from Michigan (and Ohio State) fans when the B1G was arranging divisions and let it be known that they were going to move The Game so as not to have possible back-tio-back Michigan-Ohio State games.
 
It was the specific moment when he lost me.  He would do a few snotty things now and then before that, but this was the moment when I thought "Wow, this guy is working his own agenda".
 
That does not help that much, but that's all I've got.  I had my post above saved because I was going to use it as the basis for a letter to him, but he and the B1G office wound up backing down.
 

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MichiganG

February 19th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^

I'm confused about why you are more concerned with this now then you were at the time when you acknowledge you were concerned enough that you actually emailed Brandon about it?  If it's a big deal to you, wouldn't you have only emailed him if you felt like it was a real thing, and not make-believe?

But since searching the Internet really isn't that hard:

http://www.maizenbrew.com/2010/8/20/1633680/what-becomes-of-the-game-mi…

Relevant quote, from a transcript of a Sam Webb interview of Brandon:

DAVID BRANDON: I think there's a distinct possibility that game will be a later game in the season, but not necessarily the last game of the season. And simply that's because... I don't think the coaches, or the players, or fans, networks or anyone would appreciate that match up to happen twice within a 7 day period. So however the division alignments occur... What you're really going to want is for that last game of the season to determine who's going to be the champion of that division and who is going to play for the Championship... Although I love playing OSU the last game of the year, I don't thinks it's necessarily a slam dunk.

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M-Dog

February 19th, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^

This part set us off too, it set up the above quote:

SAM WEBB: Let's say that you're making the call on Big Ten Divisions, you are making the decision, are Michigan and Ohio State in the same division?

DAVID BRANDON: No.

SAM WEBB: And why?

DAVID BRANDON: Because we're in a situation where one of the best things that could happen, in my opinion in a given season, would be the opportunity to play Ohio State twice. Once in the regular season and once for in the championship for the Big Ten.

He was willing to throw tradition out the window for the novelty of playing Ohio State twice in the same season (for obvious marketing reasons once we got to know him better).

 

 

 

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bacon

February 19th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^

it doesn't matter. The athletic director of Michigan should have publically said FU big ten, without OSU and Michigan, this conference is nothing and preserving that rivalry on the last weekend of the regular season is all that matters.

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