"Go Blue Maize Rage Supports You" banner at Crisler

Submitted by DISCUSS Man on

Did anyone see this at Crisler today?

Is this new? Do the players go out and hit it?

It was right above the tunnel.

asstastic

December 14th, 2013 at 3:53 PM ^

It was over the tunnel that the visitors run out of, so Michigan did not touch the banner, and it was new today because the Maize Rage was sitting there because there was no band. 

bronxblue

December 14th, 2013 at 3:53 PM ^

I support anything that Dave Brandon could turn into a profit-generating entity, such as the "Maize Rage sponsored by Ortega Dip Supports You" banner.

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^

the award for the dumbest comment of the day goes to....

 

DB is setting us up for the future of college atheltics by giving us a brand and all we see is a businessman. I don't seem him making money off of these type of things. He is doing this for the school and its athletes. Sure he has made some mistakes with the seating and the prices but what hes made Michigan into outweights all of that. 

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^

How lost are you on Michigan that you think no high level coach will want to come here?

 

This is a point thats brought up a lot. I am actually curious as to why people think its all about him. Care to explain?

In reply to by MWolverine7

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^

I'm guessing you can back that game film statement up with proof? Great, would love to see it. 

Are you unhappy with Hoke? Is that why you wanted him to interview more candidates?

In reply to by MWolverine7

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^

So he watched film with the coaches once. Thats all we have to go on. There is no need to think that DB babies the coaches in order to push his own agenda on them. 

And my comment with the evidence regarding the film room statement was whether or not DB is the only AD that has ever sat in the film room and watched with the coaches. I'm  pretty sure he is not but I'm certain you'll look to fight me on that.

No one wins with a 7-5 record. Not the fans, not the coaches and certainly not the players. We have an entire offseason to work with our talented team and I believe the pieces are in play to make an improvement to 9 wins next year. 

 

 

 

Bando Calrissian

December 14th, 2013 at 9:47 PM ^

Wait, are you serious? It's well known Brandon watches game film with the coaches on the Sunday after every game. Not once. Every game.

If you don't know that, I'm not sure you've really been following this program very closely, much less Dave Brandon's performance as AD.

EDIT: From a Larry Lage piece from last month, just in case you still don't believe:

Hoke appreciates the support he gets publicly and privately from Brandon. The athletic director and former Michigan football player said he attends one or two practices each week and watches film with both coordinators the day after every game.

"That's always nice if you've got people who you work with that are positive," Hoke said.

Brandon, the man who fired Rodriguez and hired Hoke from San Diego State, said it wasn't easy to watch film of the game Sunday. He watched the offensive snaps with Hoke and coordinator Al Borges and the defense plays with coordinator Greg Mattison.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/michigan-ad-says-hoke-right-guy-lead-team

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^

I was aware of the article, just glossed over the fact that he does it every game. I thought he only did that after the MSU game. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. 

You could've done it a better way but thank you for calling out on my attention level to the entire program based on one missed setence. Shows great insight on your part. 

I'll still make the claim that I did earlier. As long as DB is not pushing his own gameplan then I am ok with DB watching all the game film in the world with the coaches. My other question to the orignal poster was to provide proof that DB is the only AD in the country that watches game film with his coaches. Maybe or maybe not to his regularity but in any capacity. Criticism without the larger context isn't very helpful now is it?

We have a unique situation in that our AD is from our school and even more has played the most popular sport at our school under one of our most iconic coaches. Not many ADs can use that claim at their school to allow them the right to watch game film with their Football coaches. Now am I wary of this practice? a little. I would expect DB to be the type to delegate. I would say that the passion he has for the team and the game maybe let himself get away with watching film. 

Since you have taken it upon yourself to call me out, maybe you can find some proof that DB is the only AD that has this game film practice?

Yo_Blue

December 16th, 2013 at 8:25 AM ^

Did you get all of your points on this single thread? Time to go do something productive rather than troll this topic with uninformed opinions.  Time to stop the TLDR attitude and actuall read something. If you can't see why you're pissing off people then keep on trolling because only the mods can stop you.

In reply to by MWolverine7

OMG Shirtless

December 15th, 2013 at 9:03 AM ^

I would be interested to see where you got your information that he is the only AD in the country who watches film with the coaches.  I highly doubt that is true.  There are just way too many athletic departments out there.  I'm sure there is another AD out there who's a big enough football fan who would love to take advantage of rewatching the game with the person who called the plays.

In reply to by MWolverine7

Frank Drebin

December 15th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^

Pretty sure I remember Pat Haden at USC saying he also watches film. I know USC is no Michigan to many on this board, but I am sure plenty of ADs with football backgrounds do this as well.

bronxblue

December 14th, 2013 at 8:12 PM ^

Well, the last time UM was looking for a coach they were turned down by a couple of major-name guys (Harbaugh and Miles were known, and I also remember hearing guys like Schiano and Peterson thrown around), and while Hoke has proven to be a good fit nobody else was knocking down his door after going 9-4 at SDSU.  

I think a big name coach would consider UM, but we saw how RR was treated and how prickly this fanbase can be.  Not all coaches are dying to go to a place with a shrinking recruiting base locally, a history of being resistant to change, and a fanbase that can be a bit fair-weather, especially when there are programs across the country that can offer similar salaries and amenities.  I think what we've seen the past half-dozen years is that UM is a good job and one people want to investigate, but like in recruiting UM can't just point at someone and tell them they are coaching here.  They have to compete for these top guys, and given their recent track record that hasn't always turned out great.

Yo_Blue

December 16th, 2013 at 8:28 AM ^

I think he is refering to the shrinking recruiting base in the state of Michigan.  While there are some very good players here, the quantity has been falling for a decade or so - population shift, emphasis on football in the south, etc.  I don't think his statement is out of line.

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^

Sure there are programs across the country that can provide similar salaries and amenities but they number in the single digits. We are not peforming up to par so obviously the prestige of the job has taken a hit. If we get back to some semblance of consistency and stablity,there is no reason to think that this job won't resume to becoming an elite job once again. 

Mr Miggle

December 14th, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^

about Brandon said he didn't consider anyone but Hoke. I think you are confused about Schiano. He was offered (and accepted before changing his mind) before RR got the job. Peterson? His name was barely mentioned in connection with the job. He certainly wasn't a serious candidate. I don't think Miles was either. He may have wanted his name out there, but I'd be very surprised if he was offered the job.

Pat Fitzgerald was supposedly contacted and obviously Harbaugh. .

Mr. Yost

December 15th, 2013 at 8:52 AM ^

Honest question.

And do you remember who Michigan even had a shot at when they hired Hoke? It was Hoke and Harbaugh...that's it. No one of substance was even interested.

Watch Texas...they're running into a similar situation and may have to settle for JAMES FRANKIN! Vanderbilt? REALLY?

That's just the times we live in, it's all about timing. Michigan and Texas had horrible timing. OSU had great timing.

OMG Shirtless

December 15th, 2013 at 9:01 AM ^

But but but he put a macaroni noodle in a parking lot the day before a game.  He's the DEVIL.  He punts babies on Saturdays. He kicks puppies on Sundays.  He pushes old people in front of traffic on Tuesdays.  Sitting in the back of a room watching a replay of the game at the same time the coaches would be watching film, makes him the worst person in the history of the world.  

BluePants

December 14th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^

Congrats on the upset win for your own award!

Dave Brandon is "giving us a brand?" Are you ill? Pretty sure Michigan was a national icon before Brandon and will be way after he's gone. Ask those players who's doing the real branding work.

Whether or not you agree with what he does, call it for what it is. He's aggressively attempting to squeeze the maximum profit margin out of absolutely every facet of the AD he thinks he can monetize. Seat cushions, GA student seats, ticket prices. Some say that's necessary to compete and be at the top.

Personally, I'm sure MSU enjoyed flaming our AD with the Rose Bowl ticket distribution & statement. And you know what? For once (and only once) I can't really blame them or even really disagree.

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 7:26 PM ^

So you would've been content seeing the out dated, archaic split block M everywhere? People give us shit as is because they think we focus too much on the past and our past success. Believe it or not, DB has transformed our image. Let me guess, you want an AD who twiddles his thumbs for a living?

 

He monetizes it for reason. Do you think he gets a share of the profits? He's doing it so that he can build better facilities to attract better recruits and make us more appealing. If you don't like it, stop financially supporting the team. Another individual will gladly take your spot. He's been smart enough to realize that there is more money to be made from our sports and he's used that to benefit the ATHLETES. So those players who are doing the "real branding" will get better facilities. You really don't see them complaning now do you?

You guys act like every dollar out of your pocket is going directly into his. 

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^

Great point. To hire great coaches you need money. To attract great recruits you need great coaches and great facilities. Too bad Football and Basketball aren't our only sports. We have numerous others to consider.

 

DB is not a leader? A fomer CEO at two multi national companies is not a leader? Might want to reconsider your definition of a leader. 

bronxblue

December 14th, 2013 at 8:15 PM ^

Bill Martin was doing just as much to improve facilities and the UM "brand" when he was the AD.  Nobody is saying Dave Brandon is a bad AD or isn't looking out for UM, but stop acting like he's cracked the Rosetta Stone of athletics by improving facilities and "benefitting the ATHLETES" by, I don't know, getting Beyonce to record a halftime speech.  

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 8:39 PM ^

Are you actually kidding? That Beyonce cameo made waves across the internet and got one of the biggest cheers out of the stadium that I've ever been a part of. 

Everyone seems to thinks DB is the devil of college athletics and you state that "nobody is saying Dave Brandon is a bad AD." 

bronxblue

December 14th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^

Ah yes, because the UM brand was so weak before he showed up.  Only when the great Pizza Baron stepped foot onto campus did the misbegotten Michigan name return to its proper stature as a national brand.

I was being a bit sarcastic, but acting like he has overhauled one of the most valuable brands in college sports is silly.  He's definitely brought a more "ambitious" thrust to the UM marketing department, but he has also found ways to alienate a large number of his customers and alumni.  He's a competent AD, but failing to bring school bands to national games, raising ticket prices under the guise of "adaptive" and "fluid" pricing, and failing to even maintain the veneer of "amateur" athletics doesn't make him a visionary.  And let's stop with the notion that UM would be in the stoneage without him putting hashtags on the field and putting a f'ing noodle in front of the stadium and skyrighting "Go Blue" in East Lansing.    

bronxblue

December 14th, 2013 at 8:17 PM ^

Oh yes, please jump to that conclusion from what I said.  

Listen, I get that you want to convince everyone that DB is a great AD and we are all blind to that brilliance.  But maybe, just maybe, he's not as perfect as we all hope, and for every positive he's done (improvements to Crisler, his handling of Stretch-gate, UTL, etc.), he's also screwed the pooch.  In summation, he's a human being who is performing a difficult job decently.  If you want me to concede anything more, you better give a whole much more information than your empty platitudes.

TheJoker

December 14th, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^

My goal isn't to convince that DB is the best AD in the country. My intention is to somehow decrease the shit that gets flung at him because he is doing what he believes is best for the athletic deparment.  

I made a conclusion based on your statements. You gave no evidence that you believed he did anything good for the school. 

panthers5

December 15th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^

I've read all of your responses in this thread, bravo. A good majority of these people have no clue what an athletic director does, nor how an athletic department opperates. Most of the people commenting on DB daily, are morons who have no clue what they are talking about and base their opinion on some stupid Bacon article saying other AD's don't watch film, only to go on the radio the next day and say he has no idea what other AD's do across the country. Brandon has revamped our outdated brand. Our facilities sucked from the 90's-early 2000's. They were old, outdated, and really just awful. We had old scorboards not capable of doing much of anything aside from keeping score. If you've been to the big house, crisler, or yost in the past 5 years, you can see the facility improvements. You can see things like under the lights changing the culture of the gameday experience at Michigan. Brandon is responsible for Under the lights I and II, Winter Classic, etc. He is doing a damn good job. I am a high school athletic director at a very large school in Michigan, and worked in college athletics, and our AD would sit in on football film review when I was there. It is pretty common place. I do it at the high school level. I do it for evaluation reasons, I am able to see what the coaches see, to see them come up with a game plan with the other coaches, how they are going to improve certain aspects of their skill development drills, and than communicate it and execute it during the week. I am able to see during the week if it is effective or not.

Bando Calrissian

December 14th, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^

...because the college game atmosphere is about what it sounds like on your TV.

Athletics made a poor choice here, no matter what you could here at home. Not only were they disingenuous with the question of ticket availability, but I'm wary of the precedent this sets. I can just hear it now: "We tried it once, and we thought it went really well, so..."

goblue2015

December 14th, 2013 at 5:42 PM ^

Piped in music made for awkward atmosphere throughout, DJ didn't have several cheers. Students went on to do them despite the lack of band. 



Many open seats throughout the stadium as well.This half of the lower bowl had over 90 unclaimed seats alone (can tell from pom-poms on the edge of the seat; pic taken halfway through 1st half). 



Hardly a "packed" Crisler vs. the #1 team

Link incase pic doesn't up load: http://imgur.com/ahtA1Gv







 



 

ilah17

December 15th, 2013 at 7:27 PM ^

We were considering buying tickets on stubhub last-minute, they were less than $20 each, but we weren't sure when we'd even get there because of the weather. And we live just 25 min away in Northville. I imagine more than a few fans felt like they had no choice but to stay home because of the weather. Unfortunate timing for our first big snow of the season.

thatsmyjam

December 14th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^

Totally agree. They tried to tell us it was because they didn't want to turn any students away, but they changed the atmosphere of Crisler. We had to sing our own DANCE! song I mean COME. ON. They could have sold less seats to the general public (especially to UofA, there were way too many of them! And no band to drown them out!) but heaven forbid they lose that revenue. 

I tried to pretend I was the band by yelling "HOORAY FREE THROWS" but it wasnt really catching on.