Tradition do you really care? Or just used against rival fans?
Ok we got the new uniforms and many have issue screaming tradition. I feel Michigan's tradition is first great academics, winning, winged helmet, block M and finally Maize & Blue. Many feel the uniforms are a tradition(though the away ones have changed many times before the past few years). My question and I ask for real honesty is if you really are about the tradition, or is it another point you make in an argument to be better then rival fans? Do you really care or just really care about winning the pissing contest?
Mod edit: Title changed. OP: If this doesn't capture what you're looking for go ahead and change my edit, but "Tradition" isn't descriptive enough. JGB.
December 19th, 2012 at 8:12 AM ^
You're talking about our culture. Why is it important? Well why do we make a big deal about anything other than food, water and shelter? We're symbolic animals and create meaning for the things we do because that's what makes doing them fulfilling.
Try going to a Lions game a day after a Michigan game and you'll understand exactly what football would be without tradition.
December 19th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^
This is a permanate change people, Brandon is simply adding to the "Michigan" brand. The changes and alt, uniforms help attract new money and fans. We have to be able to change and adapt. Recruits these day like the new flashy look and the changes that are going on. We're not Alabama we can't just go into a recruits house right now and say hey look come here and you are most likely going to win a title. The main thing is money, with all the new changes going on with the athletic deptartment money has to come from all sorts of places. This isnt about this one jersey, in future years this is going to be the norm; different unifroms, neutral site games, night games, changing apperal compaines to whoever is the highest bidder, etc. I'm not saying this is 100% bad but in the current age where money determines everything this is how it's going to be. We live in a world where college football coaches almost have more power than university presidents.
December 19th, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
December 19th, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^
...an annoyance to be trifled with during otherwise unavoidable occasions. This coming from someone living in ESS EEE SEE country, where I had to explain that yes, it is a big deal that Michigan plays its home games in the daytime (before 2011), and that no, no one ever thought there was anything wrong with that.
Tradition means you do something your way in spite of the way someone else might do that same thing. It becomes an identifiable trait that is recognized as being synonymous with you, not just among your colleagues, but among anyone else who knows anything about you. It matters.
It means that when you come in during the middle of "The Big Chill", even if you know nothing about the background of the movie, you recognize that it's Michigan playing in the college football game the characters are watching (Michigan football also makes a lesser-known cameo in "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" during a sequence involving a game being watched by...who else, President Ford).
So yeah, tradition matters...not because it's important to remind other fanbases who Michigan is (believe me, they're well aware and are likely tired of being reminded). Tradition matters because it's important that Michigan not forget who Michigan is.
December 19th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
December 19th, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^
Why hasn't Dave Brandon started selling advertising in Michigan Stadium? It would probably make Michigan more money than another new jersey for compulsive fans to buy. It would probably also create less of an overall backlash than changing the jerseys. (I mean how many places have no advertising in their football stadium? Surely Michigan can do the simple things to keep up with the Joneses AMIRITE?)
Note that I detest both Michigan's frequent changing of jerseys and the idea of selling advertising in the stadium. Yet it's baffling to me that the away (and sometimes the home) jerseys are fair game to change each week while advertising in Michigan stadium is taboo.
December 19th, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
Yes I actually care.
November 28th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
Nope, Brady Hoke's still the head coach. But keep trying!