Blake

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Date	Title	Body
1 year 1 week ago	39 = 27?	This is well said and exactly what I was thinking.  Beyond that, OSU needs more money because they have an incredible 39(!) varsity sports compared to Michigan's 27, so OSU needs to rely a lot more heavily on its football (and basketball) ticket revenue to fund the 12 extra sports budgets, scholarships, coaches salaries, etc. This is not a 1:1 correlation and Brandon is just searching for an excuse to raise prices again once another "premium" football season comes along next year with ND, Nebraska and OSU come to town. Regardless, I have resigned myself that college and pro sports are working their way to pricing fans out...it just depends on when the tipping point happens, but it's just dangerous to keep pushing yourself until you find out when you get there.
1 year 5 weeks ago	To be fair, I'm never quite	To be fair, I'm never quite sure how much influence that the Athletic Department has on these things. I mean, they do sign off on them, but I always felt that it's adidas that comes to them with all of the concepts. That's the only way some of these could ever see the light of day.  That blue one, with all of the adidas 3-stripes everwhere is just a walking billboard for the company.  I doubt I will ever buy any adidas apparel as long as they have the contract; they just don't get the Michigan brand at all.
1 year 8 weeks ago	It's Alabama...	I figured they banned it because the name hit a little too close to home for most people
1 year 24 weeks ago	Video	Not the greatest, but follow the directions and it works: http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/25485/1/minnesota-vs-michigan-live-stream-onl...
1 year 25 weeks ago	I have a family friend who	I have a family friend who had a son that decided to go to MSU and the Dad refused to write the checks to the school out of principle.  I figure that you have to appreciate someone who has such an unwavering moral compass that he is able to stand up for what he believes in regardless of the circumstances.
1 year 37 weeks ago	As of 2010- "In discussions" to return...	I read an article from the Slippery Rock athletics website that was written about the members of their team who came to the Wisconsin game last year and the article said: "The salute to SRU was the brainchild of UM Director of Athletics Dave Brandon, who has revived the tradition of announcing Rock football scores during Michigan home games. A special hooded sweatshirt with The Rock logo emblazoned in UM's Maize and Blue colors is also on sale through one of Michigan's licensed vendors. Brandon has also initiated discussions about The Rock returning to The Big House to play a game, according to Lueken." The entire article is here: http://www.rockathletics.com/news/2010/11/22/FB_1122101637.aspx
2 years 12 weeks ago	well, if it's anything like	well, if it's anything like football, they'll just name it the Mason-Berenson Cup.
2 years 13 weeks ago	Is anyone else having any	Is anyone else having any problems with the CBS streaming?  Mine has been saying "loading" for at least 15 minutes.
2 years 14 weeks ago	As it is, we are at the	As it is, we are at the critical mass of bowl games where there are barely enough eligible teams to meet the number of slots. Last year, only 2 schools (Temple and Western Michigan) were bowl eligible, but weren't invited to a game (Western, probably because of their poor attendance figures the previous year as Brian had mentioned).  All it would have taken would be for 3 schools to decline an invite based on financial considerations and these ridiculous ticket limits would have been front and center as one bowl would either have to back off on its ticket/hotel guarantees, or force the prospect of folding a few weeks before the game. As Zone Left noted, the real issue is that the power conferences need to take a stand and prior to signing agreements with these games, they need to force a removal of these guarantees.  As expansion consolidates more power to a few major conferences, one would think that a greater degree of leverage would follow because the drawing power of Big Ten bowl slot #5 is far greater than most of what the ACC, Big East, etc. can bring to the table.
2 years 16 weeks ago	Old v. New	Outside of Mattison, the difference isn't that great between what the previous assistants were making and the new staff.  Assuming Hoke gets $1.5M, the difference between the total staff salaries would probably be rather negligible. For the record, the top 3 assistants on Rich's staff were: C. Magee - $285k G. Robinson - $273k T. Gibson - 224.7k The rest of the coaches were getting about ~$185k except for Braithwaite at $135k, but you can see these (and the rest of your favorite Athletic Department personnel) here:  http://www.umsalary.info/deptsearch.php?Dept=Athletics&Year=0&Campus=
2 years 17 weeks ago	Did anyone else notice how	Did anyone else notice how Groupon incorrectly lists the gametime as 5:30 instead of 6:30?  Of course for Groupon HQ and other fellow Chicagoans like myself the tip is 5:30 Central, but last I checked Ann Arbor didn't fall into the CST. Looks like the new CMO is at work trying to look for creative ways to fill up Crisler.  As mentioned above, it's the same deal through the AD, but it does hit a different demographic of people not privvy to the Athletic Department's original messaging.
2 years 20 weeks ago	This just reminds me of the	This just reminds me of the time when George bought John Voight's car.  I'm sure Jerry spells his name with a "G" occasionally just for fun.
2 years 20 weeks ago	RE: Michigan Replay Music	I remember seeing an old Michigan Replay from the early 80s on WOLV-tv that used the Across 110th Street intro, but then I believe they went away from it for a number of years before bringing it back sometime into the Carr years.  This has to be a matter of public record.  We really need the Athletic Department to start putting up old Michigan Replay's on mgoblue.com for our viewing pleasure.
2 years 23 weeks ago	Guinness only counts people	Guinness only counts people who showed up as spectators (people who bought a ticket and were present in the stadium on the day of the game plus a few other non-ticketed personnel, such as the band). Michigan's attendance counts tickets sold (whether they showed up or not) plus the band, team, concessionnaires, ushers, media, etc. -- essentially everyone who would be present in the stadium. As far as the original number, that figure was what Guinness used to initially certify that the record had been broken and to have the presentation on the field during the game.  They were still totalling up final ticket figures at that point, but they knew that a record had been broken, so they felt comfortable announcing it and having a press release that the media picked up on.  (Granted, some in the media mis-interpreted the release to be the final attendance count, but it was still a works in progress) EDIT: Beaten by a few minutes...why do I write so much?
2 years 23 weeks ago	Even if Patterson was	Even if Patterson was contacted, would he really have informed anyone, let alone some random radio station?  He's trying to keep his own recruiting class in place, not lose goodwill with TCU, etc. so unless an offer is in hand, no potential candidate is going to say to the media "hey, Michigan called."
2 years 31 weeks ago	H.S. vs. College	The high school posts are wider than the college and pro versions, so they are wider compared to what we're used to on Saturdays. High School - 23 feet, 4 inches College - 18 feet, 6 inches I've also been curious how much extra distance one gets by using a tee on FG's like in the video.  So, if he can kick a 60 yarder with a tee, does that equate to a 45 or 50 yarder minus the tee?  Anyone with a kicking background know a rough estimate?
2 years 31 weeks ago	Looks like Brian may need	Looks like Brian may need to increase the MGoPoint threshhold for starting a thread again.
2 years 31 weeks ago	Sorry you didn't get the jist	Sorry you didn't get the jist of my comment.  All I was saying is that from a financial gift standpoint, there's only so much that the university would allow you to earmark your gift for.  In this case, Braylon was (correctly or incorrectly) allowed to earmark his funds to the most finite detail, which is what has created this debate. My point was that the university would gladly allow me to make a significant contribution, but there comes a point where goodwill and generosity turns into over-involvement and meddling with the way the organization is run (be it athletics/football or whatever).  I think Braylon getting over-involved with the way the coach runs his football team crosses the line by using his number scholarship leverage.
2 years 31 weeks ago	Scholarship endowments	For the record, the endowment for a scholarship is not $500k/year.  It's a one time $500k donation that because of the University investing the money and interest on that investment allows the scholarship to continue forever. The problem really lies with the Michigan Athletic Department allowing Braylon to stipulate to such a specific degree who would get his scholarship and essentially giving too much of a voice in the activities of a coach running a football program.  Instead, the AD should have allowed the scholarship go to a Wide Receiver (and it could have even gone to a WR of the choosing of his Foundation), but letting him tie it to a specific number goes too far.  I'm sure the university wouldn't let me endow a scholarship for the person who resides in my old dorm room and then get upset when the housing office selects someone who I don't deem "worthy" of the honor of residing in the hallowed halls of 5th Hamilton.
2 years 31 weeks ago	Purdue tix	The last time I went (around 2004), the Michigan section was behind the endzone in the open part of the horseshoe.  Purdue was pretty decent and came in with only 1 loss and I already had tickets, but I approached a scalper by the basketball arena just to see what the market was like and he had a whole fistful of tickets and from "negotiating" with him, it was definitely a buyer's market. Fast-forward to today: both teams aren't as good as they were back then, so, I doubt the game sells out (especially with an early kick time).  Worst case you should be able to buy them for face at the box office if you can't negotiate your way in for less.
2 years 36 weeks ago	Expansion	Since it sounds like you have the data, I'm curious...what are the numbers since State joined the Big Ten in the '50s?  No doubt that across the board, Michigan Athletics have been more dominant historically than MSU, but it'd be interesting to see a more apples to apples comparison.
2 years 39 weeks ago	Licensed retailer	It's interesting because a number of these shirts have been up for quite some time...and it's not like they're much different than the guys with the stands on the street who have ripped off a number of the designs for their own profit. I wonder if this has more to do with who is selling them and their relationship to the University as opposed to what is being sold.  To my knowledge, before buying Moe's, Underground Printing would produce t-shirts angled toward Michigan (like the MGoShirts), but never use any University trademarks.  Now that they run Moe's and sell licensed material, the University has more control to threaten UGP with revoking their agreement to sell licensed product like jerseys, hats, etc.  Perhaps a lawyer can speak to this more, but unless they go on a major cease and desist binge and shut down the shady push carts, then I think it's a targeted threat at a licensed retailer.
2 years 51 weeks ago	n/a	It's a video like this that truly captures the greatness of sport, and the reason why so many of us keep coming back.  Yes, sports may occasionally cause us agony and heartbreak, but that moment of euphoria shared with our friends and family, or complete strangers from far and wide is a thing of beauty and will never get old.
3 years 6 weeks ago	Stadium configurations	FA, you are my hero for bringing up the Polo Grounds.  I wish that park was still around because there definitely needs to be a stadium with a small cutout that makes it 485' to center. As for the L.A. Coliseum, they did host a Dodgers exhibition game a few years ago (attended by 115,300 people) in commemoration of the team's 50th Anniversary of their move to the west coast. (Note the giant net in left field to eliminate on the 200+ foot home run).
3 years 9 weeks ago	n/a	Mike Stevenson is the consummate professional. When I heard that they were replacing the Oosterbaan astroturf back in '01, I went to him with the outlandish idea that I wanted to see if they could cut me off a piece to use as "carpet" for my dorm room. He was more than accommodating, asking for the desired dimensions we needed and even giving us the '4' from the 40 yard line as part of our piece. Hopefully he has a happy phased-in retirement...and if he needs some turf for a dorm-sized room in his house, he knows who to call.
3 years 13 weeks ago	Just the Facts ma'am	And to think, I read the thread title and figured that maybe the Michigan Theater was having a "Joe Friday Night" and Judge Smails was a big fan of classic tv.
3 years 27 weeks ago	n/a	Keggy is the best mascot ever and it's disappointing to hear that he didn't make an appearance at such a crucial in-conference squash match, yet a man-parrot and a cartoon bear showed up to cheer on the team instead.
3 years 27 weeks ago	BCS = Collusion	There is no doubt in my mind that the powers that be colluded to match TCU and Boise together in the same bowl. Look at it this way: as the current system stands, the BCS is set up to create a monopoly between the 6 major conferences and the power brokers at the 4 major bowls. A playoff would a) force the revenue from these major bowl games to be more equitably distributed amongst all conferences instead of just the 6 BCS conferences and b) essentially reduce or eliminate the power wielded -and financial windfall- from the various bowl committees of these 4 major bowls. Because of this, anything that could possibly spark an even more heated debate of a playoff is bad for the bowl committees, who are the ones who select the matchup. Interestingly, the BCS could have had matchups of 1 vs. 2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10 if they went Cincy/TCU and Florida/Boise. However, if (God forbid) both of the non-BCS schools won against major conferences, the push for a playoff would be heightened even more and the playoff drum would keep beating louder, which is obviously bad for the bowl games. Instead, the Fiesta Bowl colluded with the other bowls to essentially eliminate the possibility of embarrassment faced by Oklahoma and Alabama from previous season, so they selected both Boise and TCU. Now we'll never know how good those two teams are because the bowl collusion forced them to play each other instead of major conference teams. Again, well done BCS.
3 years 28 weeks ago	n/a	What the heck FA? I go into the final weekend tied with you for 3rd with 138 points and I don't even make the chart?!?...oh, it's on now! :)
3 years 35 weeks ago	n/a	Now that we've moved on to a discussion of the best mascots, I think Dartmouth's "unofficial" mascot deserves special mention...I mean, he has his own Wikipedia page! -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keggy_the_Keg

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