Thanks Dave Brandon: Personal Attention

Submitted by Shalom Lansky on

My dad and I went to the game Saturday but somehow we missed the commemorative pin giveaway.  My dad and I have gone to many games together but this one, a rededication, seemed to carry more significance.  My plan was to frame the game ticket, a picture of dad and me at the game and the pin and give it to my dad as a gift, but I didn't have the pin!  I wasn't sure who to contact within the atheltic dept. so I went for the top and emailed Mr. Brandon at 11 a.m. yesterday, he responded at 11 p.m.

Here is the exchange:

Dear Mr. Brandon,

My father (Class of '51) and I (Class of '03) were in attendance last weekend at the season opener/rededication and I must say the Big House looks wonderful and rejuvenated. Though I've moved to New Orleans I fly in at least twice a year to go to games with my father, a season ticket holder of 15 years.  My dad and I have been to many classic games together but this one was extra special to attend together because of what it symbolized, the beginning of a new era of Michigan football.  On the way to the game my dad told me about his Freshman year at Michigan (1947!) and the Mad Magicians and his road trip his senior year to Columbus to take in the Snow Bowl.

The reason I write to you is because I wanted to do something special for my dad, I plan on framing our tickets along with a picture of us at the game  and the commemorative pin, however, we never received our commemorative pins!  I'm not sure if the athletic department has any spares but it would mean a lot to me if the athletic department could send two pins to me (or my father) so that I may include them in my gift to my dad.

If you would be so kind, please send the pins to:

[My address]

or if you'd feel more comfortable sending them to the address of the season ticket holder, my dad:

[his address]

Sincerely, a proud Michigan alum (from a family of proud Michigan alumni),
[Shalom Lansky]

HIS RESPONSE:
 

[Shalom],

 

I am sorry you didn’t receive your commemorative pins.

 

We will be happy to send you two pins….they will be sent out ASAP!

 

I am glad you enjoyed the game.

 

Best wishes to you and your Dad….

 

Dave

Many of us speculated that as AD he probably doesn't answer his own email or has canned responses (which seems likely re: hotly contested issues such as moving The Game), but it seems unlikely that the subject matter of my email had a canned response ready to go, it also seems unlikely that he has aides responding to admittedly "trivial" emails at 11 p.m.

Just wanted to put it out there that for a man with a strong pimp hand, he seems to be a good guy.

Blazefire

September 10th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^

I would not be surprised if during most of the year, they have at least a couple people on hand in the athletic dept 24-7.

That said, David Brandon DOES choose his own aides, so, they are an extension of his being. Either way, he's awesome, whether it was actually him or a metaphysical manifestation.

DenverRob

September 10th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^

I want to believe that it was him, so it was him.

Thats class by all parties.

I will be coming back for the MSU game. Some of my most tresured memories are M games with my dad.

I am 26 years old now and my first game ever was 1991, Desmond Howard striking a pose (was in the endzone). From that point forward I bleed blue

jgunnip

September 10th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^

I've seen Brandon up in his office that over looks the corner of State and Hoover numerous times past 10pm since he took the job. It's hard to miss really since it's the only room in the building with the lights still on that late.

 

Cool story.