Should Athletics Honor Academics?
The athletic department is working on their image and their relationship to the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the university.
One idea might be to honor academic accomplishments on the field along with athletic accomplishments.
Currently each time there is a timeout, the athletic department brings a person onto the field who was successful in the NFL, won a conference championship, or won an olympic medal. These are athletic accomplishments.
Would it help tie together academics with athletics to sometimes also honor those who have achieved academic accomplishments? As an extreme example, if a Michigan alum won a nobel prize, having them come onto the field and honor them.
edit: typo
December 17th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
I don't think a nobel prize winner would deserve a WHOLE commercial break, but yes - some recongnition would be nice.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
Thank you. That's awfully nice of you to say. A few minutes is more than I can ask.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
They already got their million dollars and a big gold medal with an old guy's head on it; they're just being greedy if they want more than a TO against Miami (NTM).
And don't get me started about MacCarthur Genius Grant recipients, those glory hounds.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
We could also honor our ex-athletes who went on to big things, for example being the CEO of a major pizza company... and... ahh... never mind.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
I think that is s great idea. Just like a strong athletic department strengthens a University.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
lets start with Prof. Robert Axelrod
December 17th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
Nobel Prize winners are honored at the games. The thing is, as you mentioned, Michigan does this at every timeout, and you're not exactly going to have enough Nobel winners for that even if you're Harvard or Trinity College. A big issue is recognizability. Consider that being inducted into the National Academy of Sciences is a huuuge deal in the academic world, but the average fan probably doesn't know or care about the NAS. On the other hand, literally everyone knows about the NFL and the Olympics...
I do think this is a great idea though and could potentially even improve the public's poor awareness of academic professionalism.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^
If Carl Grapentine intones the award with enough gravitas, people will clap and be impressed.
100% for this idea, obviously.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
In six sentences you have done a much better job coming up with a good idea than Hunter Lochmann did in 4 years.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
honored the Apollo 15 crew at the Big House during a game?
December 17th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
I believe it was before the 2009 Homecoming Game against Purdue.The jet pack guy was a part of the ceremony.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:26 PM ^
They should do one for the Gemini 4 crew, both of whom were UM grads. Gemini 4 was the first American spaceflight to accomplish a space walk. Sadly, Ed White was killed in the Apollo 1 fire, but James McDivitt is still around.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
I think Harbaugh and Schlissel would both approve of this idea.
As would I.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
should have came to you for advice.
I'd add that the alumni need not be the level of Nobel Prize winners, but very successful UM grads (e.g. Doctors, high level business people, teachers...).
It would be nice to take your kid to a game and have a UM Grad teacher who won a teacher of the year award honored at the stadium. Something like that is far better than having a mascot or playing Rawk Music.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
remind people that Michigan is place where you in fact do come to play school.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
as accomplished athletes. Adding outstanding academics is a great idea.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
Actually, this is a really cool idea. It would be nice to honor former players in each sport who have gone onto significant scientific, business and other achievements to better instill that the quality of the athletes and the quality of the students go hand-in-hand and that the department is indeed an extension of the university it represents.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
they should just do t-shirt canons. They should also look into a kiss-cam.
December 17th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
And a race between a donut, a bagel, and a cup of coffee.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
you can't do both, right. How many breaks are there per game, 15? But that wasn't your point was it. You wanted to talk about getting back to academics vs. emphasis on sports as king. That's a solid idea, and should be given serious consideration. Although with Hoke and his AWESOME clock management departing, we probably will use 2-3 fewer timeouts per game than in recent years. Great practices though.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
They wont be doing it in Columbus if Cardale Jones has a vote....
December 17th, 2014 at 1:13 PM ^
up to me, I would have yanked that kids scholarship.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
I mean not if he was still attending classes and getting grades to pass. I bitched to my friends about having to take a 4th semester of a language that I knew I wasn't fluent in just to get and LSA degree.
Yeah he looks dumb but just bitching about having to attend classes is not in any way a violation if he is still attending them.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
He would have to apologize publically for embarrassing the university and the team. And he wouldn't set foot on the football field until he had at least a 3.5 gpa.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
Did anyone else read where it said Cardale is a 3rd year sophomore? How do you do that other than Ohio State?
December 17th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
They do sometimes, there was big celebration for the peace corps during the anniversary of its announcement on the Union steps and Michigan peace corps alums were honored on the field as a group.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
Pre-Game Solar Car Drive Arounds
December 17th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
...at basketball. When U-M won $750K in the MAGIC Robotics competition in Fall of 2010, the team was presented with a ceremonial check at halftime during the following winter term. Solar Car has been on the field at halftime for football games, as well.
December 17th, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^
Nebraska has featured 1 min video clips making UNL academics part of the game experience.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^
"Knowledge is Good."
December 17th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
Thank you.