LSAClassOf2000

October 27th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^

Wolverine Devotee is still an active user actually - he was neither sent to Bolivia nor banned, but he has kept a very low profile since Jon06's request was apparently denied, so he may indeed be lurking for the moment. In other words, if indeed tomorrow's post yields legitimacy, he is alive to see the moment. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130610

a2_electricboogaloo

October 27th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^

Here's the one I wrote up for that thread:

It's all from the Dave Brandon unverified email incident.  WD made a thread about an email DB sent to a fan—which he stated was from his aunt, or his aunts friend or something.  The email went viral (it got mentioned by Olberman on ESPN) but there was never verified and the FOIA request didn't turn up anything, so it looked like it might have been faked—either by WD (despite multiple claims otherwise) or a friend/family member of WDs.

So I think WolverineDevotee is lying low for a bit until the incident blows over—not unlike WolverineInABag did after the infamous RollDamnTide discovery.

Bonus! Here's the one GenericMGoBlogger wrote:

Wolverine Devotee posted a supposed email of Dave Brandon responding to a disgruntled fan who said that they were no longer supporting the university.  Brandon basically said something like, "Don't hit the door on the way out.  Michigan doesn't need fans like you... Have a good life."  Anyways, the story went semi-national as Keith Olbermann reported it on his show.  And a couple days ago, the FOIA request to retrieve the email was denied due to the fact that the email likely did not exist at all.  This prompted MGoBlog to consequently blow up and basically crucify WD as conclusions were drawn about WD faking the email.  The validity of the story is still up in the air, but since, WD has not shown his face.... er.... avatar.

 

Joined: 04/21/2011

MGoPoints: 9660

bronxblue

October 27th, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^

I said this when it happened, then with the FOIA, and now:

Who cares?  Does it change anyone's opinion about Dave Brandon (or one of his assistants) that he may or may not have sent a bitchy email back to someone?  Will it speed up a firing if this came to light?  So the bumbled handling of Gibbons' sexual assault, Morris's concussion fiasco, ticket price spikes, dwindling fan appreciation, a poor record on the football field, etc. aren't enough for the powers that be, but an email posted on a blog purportedly from the soon-to-be-outgoing AD (after an earlier post responding to an FOIA could not produce a record of it) is the straw that will break the camel's back?

At best this will drive traffic to the site and I guess that is good for some.  We (as a fanbase) just bitched out Dantonio for making a big deal about a stake in the field following a beatdown, but now we are driven to unearth the truth behind an email from months ago about a guy who is on the way out?  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171436

JamieH

October 27th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^

Yeah, most of MGoBlog already thinks Dave Brandon is a giant douchebag.   But this is the kind of story that, as has already been evidenced, gets picked up by news outlets and run with.  It crosses over from hardcore fans like us to the casual fans in the rest of the sports world.

 

I don't think The UM Pres. cares all that much if Brandon upsets the die-hard posters on MGoBlog.  We're a fanatical niche market who invests heavily in torches and pitchforks on a regular basis.  But when you have the petulant, childish emails of your AD basically telling fans (possibly alums?) to go f*** themselves being read aloud on freakin' ESPN?  That's a big no-no.

 

 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

bjk

October 27th, 2014 at 9:09 PM ^

to expose UM's FOIA-request régime in time to put it into the same rocket with David Brandon before we blast it into the sun.

Joined: 11/26/2009

MGoPoints: 3993

EastCoast Esq.

October 27th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^

Honestly, after seeing the email by Brandon to the other alum (about not driving on Stadium in order to not look at a scoreboard) in John Bacon's article, I'm less skeptical about the possibility that Brandon could have written such a tone deaf email.

WD should have been more cautious before posting the email, but it would be nice to see the kid get some redemption.

Joined: 07/16/2012

MGoPoints: 22968

bronxblue

October 27th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^

Good for WD to be vindicated, but I doubt that anything that is written up tomorrow will be irrefutable proof.  My technical background isn't in SMTP and IMAP servers and their logging capabilities, though with our exit nodes we keep a certain amount of information about certain web transactions but not enough for the type of conclusive evidence you'd be able to obtain without a search warrant.  But again, I'm interested to see what is shown tomorrow.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171436

jmblue

October 27th, 2014 at 9:15 PM ^

I'll say it: I don't care if this is legit or not, I'm tired of him and his near-pathological need for attention.  OK, his aunt or whatever got a snarky response from Brandon - that's not really a surprise.  Many people have reported the same.  Why are we sending a bunch of FOIA requests over this?

 

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102750

bjk

October 27th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^

WD has been branded a liar based on the official response. Based on the venom directed at WD, I think there are few who can say honestly they don't care. If the evidence is still obscured by devious practice at high levels, then it is the admin that has made a bigger issue out of this. Before we let the truth decide, we need to get to the truth. If people are trying to cover up the truth, then the cover-up needs to be exposed.

Joined: 11/26/2009

MGoPoints: 3993

bronxblue

October 27th, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^

One point - some of the anger directed at WD has to do with various other transgressions over time.  Some people went after him for this because internet, but he's not blameless in some of the vitriol.

 

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171436

bjk

October 27th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^

that well-acquainted with WD's history, so what you say may explain some of what I am seeing. In any case, it would be better for him to be chastened for something he actually did. (I understand he brought some of this on himself by not getting his ducks in a row before posting, but I bet even he didn't imagine he was writing for Keith Olbermann's audience.) I also assume that vindication in this case won't give him impunity for any future transgressions.

Joined: 11/26/2009

MGoPoints: 3993

Sac Fly

October 27th, 2014 at 11:57 PM ^

I'm sure the university broke the law covering this up. That's so much easier to believe than a 19 year old with a vendetta against Dave Brandon running with a fake story.

Joined: 04/03/2010

MGoPoints: 5981

pescadero

October 28th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^

Public institutions (whether universities, government agencies, or other) have a notoriously difficult time adhering to FOIA and other sunshine laws. I wouldn't be suprised if a number of the general policies regarding requests skirt or break the law.

 

Joined: 03/28/2013

MGoPoints: 12004

meatchoke

October 27th, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^

Jmblue, you come across as quite the asshat. Don't forget, this is a fan site. Say what you will about WD, but the kid is a die hard fan. I've enjoyed his posts and look forward to more. You don't like it? Leave. Take your ignorance elsewhere where your opinion might be worth 2 cents.


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Joined: 11/14/2013

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