A question for Brian Cook
Brian,
You recently stated that you would not be attending the football game against Maryland on November 22nd as a boycott against the current athletic department administration and Coach Hoke. While I commend you for this stance, as you are one of the loudest and brightest voices currently covering Michigan sports, I do have a question for you about your choice.
There are two more home games before November 22nd. October 11th sees Michigan hosting Penn State, in what will most certainly be a heavily scrutinized game played during prime time. November 1st is Homecoming against Indiana. Why is it that you chose to boycott, and by extension, essentially call for your readers to boycott this game? Would it not have made more sense to try to get this done for one of the other two games? Especially considering that the Marlyand game is Senior Day, it seems like that might be a poor choice. Through all of this turmoil, the one thing we all here have agreed on is tthat supporting the current players is of the utmost importance.
Again, I want to make it clear that I agree with your stance on this matter, but only seek some clarification on the timing.
September 30th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
But the PSU game would happen whether or not Brandon is in charge. Maryland was allowed into the conference under Brandon's vote and added for the wrong reasons in my opinion. Though in hindsight I believe Maryland (and Hopkins) will make the Big Ten a future power in lacrosse, I cannot find that the ends justify the means.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
Did Brandon "vote" for Maryland's invitation to join the B1G? I'm pretty sure that decision is made by he member university presidents, not the AD's.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
While I agree with Brian on most things, I don't share his opinion on boycotting games for the following reasons:
1. Tickets have already been bought and you will be counted whether you are in attendance at the game or not.
2. The events of the last few days, along with Hoke's performance, will with almost virtual certainty, cause Hoke to be fired at the end of the season or sooner.
3. Brandon will probaby not survive either. In addition to the intense dislike of Brandon's policies, and the ineptness of his handling of "concussiongate", Brandon is higly unlikely to survive as AD. I believe that student demonstrations, alumni discord and the negative press, in spite of DB's attempt to deflect liability, will be enough to get rid of Brandon.
4. Last, but most important, is that our players deserve our support. I believe many of them were dealt a bad hand by this coaching staff, but they still should know that we stand in support of them, and that our anger is directed towards the coaches/AD.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
Your first point is the perfect reason to boycott.
We, as Michigan fans, have long known how the AD fudges the truth about attendance. If 100,000+ is announced at a game that is clearly closer to 70,000, the lie gets exposed to the general public, because ESPN and sports websites will eat up the chance to make fun of it.
That, aside from a walk-out, would be the most obvious way to show our displeasure at the Athletic Department.
September 30th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
I understand your point, but my desire to support the players remains paramount.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
Have you encouraged your source for the assertion that medical people were pressured to lie to contact anybody in the upper reaches of the general UM administration or at the Regent level?
Have you considered contacting anybody yourself to convey what you've been told? These folks need to be aware of this stuff. I know life can be unkind to whistleblowers, but sometimes information needs to get to the right people regardless.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
I meant to ask this too; it's kind of the discussion in the next roundtable.
I would prefer not senior day. Considering Des Morgan probably gets a medshirt, it's Gardner, Ryan, FClark, Beyer, Hayes, Wile, Hagerup, Ray Taylor, and Hollowell.
The reasoning is patience: give Michigan a reasonable amount of time to respond and make their move, thereby rendering the threat moot.