[LOCKED] Harbaugh invites Obama honorary team captain

Submitted by Rodriguesqe on

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/201…

No politics is a good rule to keep in mind here.

From a football perspective - Obama is likely very popular amongst most of the kids we recruit and building some ties to a President re-inforces what we are as an accademic institution. 

From recruiting, I view this is a big score.

MOD EDIT - This one is starting to go in all sorts of directions that it shouldn't. It was a nice bit of news, not political in the least really by itself, but alas....the search for nice things begins again. - LSA

Bando Calrissian

June 17th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^

Security issues have changed significantly since 1994, when Gerald Ford had his number retired. I remember there being some additional security, but not anything too extreme. These days, good luck--if this indeed happens (and I hope it does), I almost have to think security would make it just about prohibitive. Even former presidents have huge details and significant security procedures.

Gucci Mane

June 17th, 2017 at 6:31 PM ^

This thread is fun. I think we should let politics run wild on this board ! Just as long as it stays in isolated threads.

AA Forever

June 17th, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^

But this thread is a microcosm of why it may not have been such a great move by Harbaugh to politicize the honorary captaincy.  I think a lot of Obama, but no matter how cool it is to have any former President in that role, is it really worth honking off a significant portion of the fan base?  Because that's what's likely to happen.   Just in this thread, you've got people who should all be supporting the program now hotly divided, and to what end?

bronxblue

June 17th, 2017 at 8:57 PM ^

Most of this is empty bluster. If Obama is named an honorary captain, people will boo a bit and then forget about it a week later. It's like the people who complained about guys not standing or otherwise following protocol during the national anthem. Nothing happened in the end because people forget. Hell, i despise Donald Trump with an intensity unknown to man, and if he was named an honorary captain I'd call him an asshole and then move on, because my fandom is in the team, not a PR event.

Perkis-Size Me

June 17th, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^

As cool as I think it would be to have the Obamas be honorary captains, I'd normally say that Harbaugh should stay away from current and former politicians. Even disregarding the fact that Michigan is a highly liberal university and that Obama is a highly popular figure there, why run the risk of alienating sections of the fanbase, or especially some potential donors? Especially given the current divisions our country is facing on all political fronts. Of course, Harbaugh has NEVER been the type of man who gives a shit about what anyone thinks of him or his decisions. And I doubt that inviting Obama onto the field would generate a lot of problems for Harbaugh. Now if he invited the current commander in chief, I can't say that would be the same. That I think would generate problems. Still, I'd say Harbaugh should just play it safe and stay away from politicians. Invite Hugh Jackman instead and have him go full Wolverine on a guy running around in a Brutus costume. I'd pay good money just to see that alone.

enlightenedbum

June 17th, 2017 at 7:53 PM ^

He had it at 70%.  There was a late shift the polls missed both campaigns attribute to the Comey letter.

Anyway, 70% means 7 out of 10 times his model had Clinton winning.  Saying we should ignore his model because his model was wrong is like saying you should never go for it on 4th and 1 because teams only convert about 2/3 of the time.

Are You Not En…

June 17th, 2017 at 7:54 PM ^

But as someone who leans more right than most I LOVE this. Obama, regardless of political beliefs, is a really cool dude and I'd love to see this. Heck, and on a political note, I'm down with Mao Zedong as an honorary captain if it means we increase our chances of winning that NC. #politicslol