SalvatoreQuattro

September 19th, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^

and obtuse. The hiring of Hoke, Crisler renovations, and the two UTL's were outstanding. The uniform experimentation, the seat cushion contrempts, the dynamic pricing, and now this crap. Brandon needs to bmore judicious with his decisions. 

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 78684

AtkinsDiet

September 19th, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^

The Crisler renovations were Martin in terms of fund-raising and most of the blueprinting. The hiring of Hoke is encouraging in terms of reaching a new level in recruiting but it's hardly a home run done deal in on-field results so far (not saying it should be this soon, but don't count chickens before they hatch).

So I guess he gets credit for the two night games against ND. Something that would not have seemed so impressive if previous ADs were not so old-fashioned about games that kickoff after sunset.

Conversely, Brandon's douchey behavior (including the month before he hired Hoke) constitutes a much longer list. He's bad for the university - period.

Joined: 01/28/2013

MGoPoints: 211

AtkinsDiet

September 19th, 2013 at 3:51 PM ^

You're naive as hell if you believe that.

Do things that cost 2-3k get approved with little to no Brandon oversight? All the time, I'm sure. But to think that a PR-obsessed guy like DB would not rubber stamp a move that is sure to make headlines is comical.

Joined: 01/28/2013

MGoPoints: 211

TheGhostofChappuis

September 19th, 2013 at 5:28 PM ^

I don't think it's comical at all.  I think it's probably true.  Brandon probably knew about the plane and knew the general task of the plane, but it would not surprise me one bit if the actual decision to go over Spartan Stadium was made by someone lower down.  The guy handles one of the largest athletic departmens in the country, and you think he's having conversations about where to fly the skywriter?  Unlikely.

Joined: 07/13/2013

MGoPoints: 758

AtkinsDiet

September 19th, 2013 at 3:54 PM ^

That is the part that offends you? That MSU is getting undeserving attention?

I don't care if that stunt is done in Columbus, South Bend or Tuscaloosa. It's obnoxious and not creative in the slightest.

Anyone who thought this was "cool" when they thought it was paid for by a fan has such awful taste. We attempt a lame troll job and "GOBLUE" is the best we can come up with?

Joined: 01/28/2013

MGoPoints: 211

EGD

September 19th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^

The concept of "coolness" is one of those elusive things that nobody can quite define.  But some anonymous fan just deciding to fly over Spartan Stadium and write "Go Blue" in the sky would have been cool.  It's not the actual words, so much as the idea of some guy deciding he's going to do that and then actually pulling it off.

Having the athletic department hire a professional skywriter really isn't the same thing. 

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

EGD

September 19th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^

That the athetic department paid for the skywriting over EL is hardly a "minor detail."  It goes to the heart Michigan's identity.

Is Michigan a school that pays airplane pilots to write "Go Blue" over Spartan Stadium?  Or is Michigan a school that doesn't give a rat's ass what's happening at Spartan Stadium?  

We're supposed to be the latter.  That's why we don't do sophomoric bullshit like paying skywriters to taunt the Spartans (or why we shouldn't do it, anyway).

 

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

MGoBrewMom

September 20th, 2013 at 1:40 AM ^

It said "minor deal". Its pretty minor. Yes. A minor deal. Talk to me about murder, starving kids, Detroit being broke. This is SKY WRITING, people! Its sports. Its rivalries. Its silly. The pot is stirred. Big. Deal.

Joined: 08/13/2009

MGoPoints: 22969

robpollard

September 19th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^

Michigan hasn't won a Big Ten title since, what, 2004? We also recently beat State for the first time in a few years.

We need to focus on ourselves and rebuilding the program so it is truly a nationally power again -- and stop worrying about "trolling" other schools. Particularly if that other school is State, which isn't exactly a national program we should consider our benchmark.

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 13966

langkyl

September 19th, 2013 at 4:00 PM ^

I responded to both these emails, but it's really not important. What is important, is that although they point to "waste of money"....I counter, that it's college football, and although it's semi-juvenile, it has brought attention to the rivalry, and good has come of it, in the form of donations.

"The athletic department did that and paid thousands. That is a DBag move of epic proportions and if I gave money to my university and found out they did that I would be pissed they wasted the money. Maybe they should have focused a little harder on Akron and not need a botched referee error at the end of the game to win the game. "

"The great part is I new all along who was responsible but kept my mouth shut to respect those involved... Thus the "matter of time" comment. Trust me, you are about the only UM Alum making light of this, especially since the UM Alumni Association has been challenged to match the donations to Ovarian Cancer that the Spartan Alumni Association raised mounting upwards of $30,000. As an Alumni, paying thousands out for a pointless prank derived by your own University Athletic Dept...? This isn't sitting well with Alumni Assoc donors nor any Alum for that matter. I am good friends with an Alumni board member and he has had better days.... Brush it off if you will, make light of it being harmless and say what you will but, with UM's performance against Akron coupled with #Skygate...Ann Arbor has seen better days "

 

Joined: 08/13/2009

MGoPoints: 328

kzooblue2016

September 19th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^

Thoughts on the timing? I would be fine with it on the day of a game against us. We do look really bad because of how it was not turned around us (not that it's a bad thing) and because it seems like a sort of Sparty thing to do.

Joined: 09/09/2013

MGoPoints: 606

Wolfman

September 19th, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^

and if one of our students sprayed temporary paint on any object anywhere, they would be facing a misdemeanor. If a scholarship athlete, revocation of same. The AD should be proactive here and dismiss whomever paid for that. The price alone should make it easy to find the perpetrator of such juvenile behavior.  It's a childish act and one hopefully not condoned by someone too far up the ladder.  That money would have put to much better use gasing up the vehicles for midwestern recruiting trips or the airplanes for trips to the coast and the east.  Embarrasing day for M athletics.

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

Cowboy Cody

September 19th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^

I realize that in the scheme of things it doesn't amount to a lot of money, but with seat license fees and high tickets prices for shitty opponents this expenditure rubs me the wrong way.

Joined: 05/30/2013

MGoPoints: 2747

DISCUSS Man

September 19th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^

Dave Brandon is turning into Vince McMahon. Soon Michigan will have a mascot and will charge and beat up the other teams. 

Joined: 12/08/2010

MGoPoints: 2640

bennis

September 19th, 2013 at 5:36 PM ^

During my last couiple years in Ann Arbor I remember seeing that in the sky a number of times.  It just wasn't this publicized, since it was in Ann Arbor on a game day.  Is it only a waste of money if it's done in east lansing?

Joined: 12/12/2008

MGoPoints: 57

robpollard

September 19th, 2013 at 5:51 PM ^

You both state why (to many people) it is a big deal:

- It was done in East Lansing (or darn close enough that people thought that's what they were doing). No one would have a problem if this was done in Ann Arbor.

Not the end of the world. But more rinky-dink stuff that makes UM look like a minor-league baseball affiliate.

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 13966