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Date Title Body
Lifestyle Shock

Have lived in Boston many years for work. Salaries are very high here, but for my family our quality of life has certainly gone way down vs greater Chicago and Ann Arbor.

The good: good public schools, lots to do in general area (if traffic allows you to get there... mountains, ocean, lakes, museums and historical sites in the city), great job prospects and salaries

The bad: the people/culture (will explain below), high cost of living, pathetic housing stock (your $1M home would be a tear-down in somewhere like Birmingham, MI), high population density, awful traffic and general transit infrastructure even with subways (my 5.5 mile commute takes an average of 1 hour each way and train would be the same), the weather is bad (similar to Michigan, but a bad storm has a 20x worse impact due to population density and poor infrastructure), everything closes early (be prepared to take time off work if you ever have dry cleaning that needs to be picked up)

While people in Boston aren’t “fake”, it might be the least friendly city in the country. Much worse than NY in my opinion (and I don’t even like NYC). So many examples of outright rude behavior that was shocking for me coming from the midwest. The rude behavior includes customer service. I’ve been in counter service restaurants on multiple occasions where I was never greeted or spoken to by staff between ordering and paying. Probably normal for some fast paced east coasters but shocked me coming from the midwest.

In general, you can have a good life here if you spend enough and prefer high-density/city lifestyle. However, I will say that the city is bursting at the seams due a good economy and needs to make some serious infrastructure improvements to maintain a thriving city. Corrupt city officials and not in my backyard types fight against sorely needed high rise developments tooth and nail. Already a huge amount of income inequality, and I can’t imagine what will happen when lower income workers have to choose between relocation and a 2 hour commute.

This is a great story, and

This is a great story, and kudos to Hoke and Denard. But to your point, if the wins/losses trend (statistic) persists, the future BJ Youngs will be wearing green and white asking for Leveon Bell autographs.

This is false, my uniqname

This is false, my uniqname was 8 characters during my time from 2005-2010. I vaguely remember a limit, but it was certainly more than 7 characters.

May I also add, why do

May I also add, why do non-revenue athletes deserve such lavish facilities and special treatment (on top of free tuition) that the other 98% of students at the University don't receive? Plenty of students participate in extra-curricular activities that don't produce revenue for the school.

You do realize that

You do realize that non-revenue athletes receive this level of support due to the price gouging tactics of Dave Brandon? When the future donors dry up due to his mismanagement of the customer relationship with students, alumni, and fans, watch the world class support of non-revenue sports dry up. They won't be able to afford it.

You Are Insane

I'm sorry, but you are either extremely naive or insane if you think you can find 5 tickets for less than $200 to the biggest game of the year.

The issue with Crisler is that there is an extremely limited number of seats (around 13k) relative to the demand to attend this game.  That means scalped tickets, whether StubHub or outside Crisler will stay inflated.

Besides, the empty seats you saw during the UM v. Purdue game (the home one that took place several weeks ago) were likely in the student overflow sections.  Meaning those tickets were sold and the ticket holders did not show up.  It's not like there are blocks of unsold tickets out there, especially this year.

If you really want to go, pony up the cash on StubHub.  If you want to be cheap, no shame in staying home and watching on CBS.  Besides, it probably wouldn't be wise to bring small children to a game that will have such a rowdy and intense atmosphere.  Break them in with a Northwestern or non-conference game.

You Are Insane

I'm sorry, but you are either extremely naive or insane if you think you can find 5 tickets for less than $200 to the biggest game of the year.

The issue with Crisler is that there is an extremely limited number of seats (around 13k) relative to the demand to attend this game.  That means scalped tickets, whether StubHub or outside Crisler will stay inflated.

Besides, the empty seats you saw during the UM v. Purdue game (the home one that took place several weeks ago) were likely in the student overflow sections.  Meaning those tickets were sold and the ticket holders did not show up.  It's not like there are blocks of unsold tickets out there, especially this year.

If you really want to go, pony up the cash on StubHub.  If you want to be cheap, no shame in staying home and watching on CBS.  Besides, it probably wouldn't be wise to bring small children to a game that will have such a rowdy and intense atmosphere.  Break them in with a Northwestern or non-conference game.

You Are Insane

I'm sorry, but you are either extremely naive or insane if you think you can find 5 tickets for less than $200 to the biggest game of the year.

The issue with Crisler is that there is an extremely limited number of seats (around 13k) relative to the demand to attend this game.  That means scalped tickets, whether StubHub or outside Crisler will stay inflated.

Besides, the empty seats you saw during the UM v. Purdue game (the home one that took place several weeks ago) were likely in the student overflow sections.  Meaning those tickets were sold and the ticket holders did not show up.  It's not like there are blocks of unsold tickets out there, especially this year.

If you really want to go, pony up the cash on StubHub.  If you want to be cheap, no shame in staying home and watching on CBS.  Besides, it probably wouldn't be wise to bring small children to a game that will have such a rowdy and intense atmosphere.  Break them in with a Northwestern or non-conference game.

Weishar

I have no insight on where Weishar is leaning, or if Michigan would need him in the 2014 class.  

However, I went to school with Weishar's cousin (a Michigan graduate).  I know that he has been in this kid's ear for years about Michigan and they visited Ann Arbor together this past fall.  Take that for what it's worth, but I wouldn't think that he is an ND lean as suggested above.

Beyond Pathetic

You know your social life is pathetic when you go on MGoBlog to brag about getting a girls number after seeing Les Mis (with your dad).  Seriously, don't you have a friend you could call.  You sound like a 15 year old going on his first ever date.

(FYI, I don't have a problem with the thread.  I just think your "Cool Stroy Bro" comments about meeting girls at the movie reflect poorly on you.  Please make some real friends.)

Probably Not

More likely comes from having an unreliable walk-on kicker who burned them early in the season.

Also

WMU had 4 wins on the season, not 3.  Perhaps just the UMass - WMU result was wrong or maybe there are other games with the wrong result.

Data Issue?

Not sure where you're getting your data, but Western Michigan defeated UMass (in a blowout actually, 52-14). Might want to double check some of the results in your data set in order to get a more accurate metric.

I understand the math

Yes, Champions for Charity makes a very small profit.  However, you do not have visibility as to what makes up the operating costs that take up at a minimum $25 of a $32-36 entry fee.  Salaries for CFC employees are likely built into that cost considering their business model

Perhaps our AD believes that he can use existing resources (people already on salary, stadium resources, etc.) so that the margin funneled to charities will be much larger.

Read Brandon's Comments

It sounded like Brandon's decision to cancel the race had more to do with Champions for Charity's "for-profit" status than anything else.  However, I would not be surprised if his comments today about hosting their own race were damage control due to backlash yesterday.

I had read on a separate annarbor.com article that CFC takes approximately $25-30 of the $36 entry fee for costs and profits, while the remainder is funneled to the charities.  I'm sure Brandon, as egotistical as he is, believe Michigan could manage the race and donate a higher percentage to charities.

Anyways, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  For what it's worth, the CFC representative claimed that they offered to let the Michigan AD manage the race.

 
 
Associate athletic

 

 

Associate athletic director Dave Ablauf, who handles media and communication for the department, said the run no longer fit into the department's charitable mission.

"Really the decision in the end came down to our external focus," said Ablauf. The department announced last monththat it would begin partnering with the Special Olympics of Michigan for community service efforts. The first event of that partnership is the "Polar Plunge" at Michigan Stadium on February 23, 2013.

That partnership, Ablauf said, has become the department's priority. Ablauf said the run had become "a very challenging event... to fit into our stadium."

"We have our own private rental program, we're doing stuff with the special olympics and we have a lot of things we do now in the that stadium," Ablauf offered.

ok coach

The rest of us will discuss because it is interesting

Wrong

They're protecting Denard from being targeted in the future. Do you really want other defenses to know the exact injury Denard has?

Cool Story Bro...

Cool Story Bro...

Don't understand your

Don't understand your criticism of fans not sticking out these games. Weather was miserable and wet. It was tough even with rain gear and ponchos. I don't fault State or UM students for leaving early this week.

You do realize that the NCAA

You do realize that the NCAA has a rule that coaches can't talk about recruits that haven't signed a letter of intent, don't you?

Relax

3 weeks ago half of you thought the Tigers would miss the playoffs. Just one Verlander start away from the ALCS. Just hope Valverde isn't called on in the 9th.

Lloyd Brady Sighting

Anyone else notice the one and only Lloyd Brady taking center stage in the photo included with the e-mail.

 

 

no offense to Denard

but Matt Scott would likely start over him at Arizona. Don't forget the limitations RR had in 2010 with Denard. The 2010 offense struggled to score in the last half of the year.

Bad luck. You didn't deserve

Bad luck. You didn't deserve that, but take it as a sign from above that grown men shouldn't be wearing jerseys, especially Adidas/ Dave Brandon fusion atrocities.

Bloomington

Not sure what time the game is this year. If there is time, I would suggest making the few hour drive to Bloomington that night. Much better nightlife/ town at IU in Bloomington than West Lafayette. Nick's bar in Bloomington is fantastic. The W Lafayette bars (only maybe 4 of them) are geared towards college kids.

Really

Were the Yahoo! comments a little out of line? Probably

 

Are you being ridiculously oversensitive to a sarcastic piece of writing? Yes.

I'm really sick of this politically correct crowd.  If you don't like what someone writes, stop reading their work... and certainly don't link their work and give them more page views.

 

 

Does he really speak to them? From the sounds of it, he justs texts and tweets them. I agree, if he wants more credibility, he should reveal his identity.

Aquaman, Chet

Please no twitter/facebook/text stalking of any of these potential guys until after a committment is made. Don't want some creeper scaring them off last minute, badgering him for an interview.

Confused

Are recruits scared off by the guys we already have or is this just a matter of getting in too late? This one puzzles me because the kid is from Ohio, friends with Kalis, and would have a much friendlier depth chart at Mich. Also, the fact that he previously committed to BC means it likely isn't a weather thing. Oh well, on to the next one.

Perhaps

Perhaps you shouldn't bug these recruits every other day looking for a quote. As nice at is to have new content, it honestly doesn't clue us in on new information. Frankly, if this turns off Armani to Michigan...well, I think we have our scapegoat.

TL DR
Hoke

This why you continue to recruit Diamond, Garnett, and Kozan even though we're "full" at the position. Things like this happen all the time. Love the way Hoke recruits. This staff is so impressive.

Front Page?

This is ok content, but do these really need to be frontpaged?  This bumps down the Stonum story, which is clearly a huge deal and impactful to the future of the team.  Just seems like this kind of thing should be a diary.

Great Stuff

Everyone has beat me to it, but I have to give a ton of credit to Tremendous for filling the void as a true "free" Michigan recruiting hub. These guys are doing what TomVH did in a very short time. Keep up the good work, you definitely have gained one loyal reader. I've found myself heading to Tremendous first over this place when I need my recruiting fix.

Dodson?

Kyle Dodson, OL committed to Wisconsin. Weren't there rumblings of him potentially visiting M/ re-opening his recruitment?

Yet you took time out of your busy schedule to reply twice. Thanks for the insight troll.

No mention of the epic "Brian

No mention of the epic "Brian Cook Photobomb" thread from the weekend?  If this was Lloyd Brady or Facepalm guy that would've been frontpaged for sure.

/just sayin'

Sugar Bowl

So the Sugar Bowl is only paying out around $12 million this year instead of the full $34 million. If so, who keeps those profits? Seems like $20 million is a pretty good incentive to not take a non-AQ like Boise as an at large.

Troll alert

We Are Fans

Obviously for the players, we want them to focus on Nebraska. But as fans we can feel free to start looking to our biggest rivalry. I am so sick of other fans on this board telling us to focus "one game at a time." We speculate, we look ahead, that's the fun of being a fan.

Nebraska Fans

I always hear around bowl season how unbelievably well Nebraska fans travel. I guess we'll see first hand, but I'm sure Neb fans will flood the Big House more than any of our visitor fans to this point in the season. Does anyone know how well Nebraska fans represented at Wisconsin and Minny this year?

Good thing I care so deeply about points. You know what, I agree with you now. Rich Rodriguez should be the top candidate for every D1 job opening.

Perfect Fit

This way Rich can get embarrassed by Mississippi State every year

Perfect Fit

This way Rich can get embarrassed by Mississippi State every year

REAL Truth?

While I think Bacon's book is the closest we'll ever get to knowing the mess behind the past few years, there are quite a few things in there that may be stretching the truth a bit. It's not as if Bacon was completely impartial.

2009

The year in question is 2009 (not 2008), where, yes, we were 4-0 going into East Lansing

Carr

It's remarkable how far Lloyd set back this program with some of his actions (however, a more in control AD would have squashed that so the blame isn't all on him). Trying to block the Miles hire over petty jealously (wasn't Carr famously upset with Miles negative recruiting against him) and then undermining the coach that was hired. It's hard to fathom where we'd be talent wise on year 4 of the Les Miles regime.

Michigan Bar in Zanzibar?

Hey guys, I know this is off topic, but this seemed like the perfect thread to post in. My friend's cousin's girlfriend's father is traveling on business to Zanzibar this week and doesn't know a place where he can catch this weeks episode of "Inside Michigan Football" with other M fans. Anyone know a place (didn't see it on the spreadsheet)? Crazy right? This guy just loves the Hoke-Brandstater dynamic and can't go a week without watching.

Sorry for the double post

I think Hoke has changed the tide on the rivalry. Selling jerseys in Ohio is a good start...