Frank Beckmann to retire after 2013
Frank Beckmann, the legendary voice of Michigan Football, has announced his retirement effective the conclusion of the 2013 season.
There actually was a Michigan CD around 1995 that had stadium-style songs mixed in with Michigan play calls. The last song was Hail To The Victors.
So many Michigan men retire on odd-numbered years, for the potential to have their last regular season game be a home victory over Ohio State.
Bo went out in '89, Lloyd retired before the 2007 Ohio State game, and now all of these guys are retiring before a potentially historic 2013 season.
It sounds like both sides made a deal here. Beckmann needed to leave, and now he can go out "on his own terms."
....what was the name of Beckman's sidekick before Brandstatter??
August 9th, 2013 at 11:00 PM ^
Thank God he will be gone. The only worse shill of an announcer is George Blaha. I have done a lot of travelling around the country and the the State of Michigan has been stuck with two of the most inept announcers around. Good ridance and I only wish it was effetive immediatley.
...Coach Hoke was one of the ones who led the charge for Frank to go.
August 9th, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
Of course a lot of regents wanted Beckmann out. Everybody knows that. They are Democrats, not football experts. They are serious partisan politicians. Just look at how they handled the GA unionization issue in LS&A. The Democrat regents are serious, hardball politicians. And they knew who and what Frank Beckmann was.
But Frank wasn't fired by the Regents.
The real question raised by this dope of an internet troll is whether Brady Hoke demanded Beckmann's ouster. There's no quote to that effect from Hoke. There's no named source who says so. There's no unnamed source, identified by position and with a good reason given for anonymity, who says so.
I. Call. Bullshit.
Prove it. Anybody; prove it. Prove, that Brady Hoke demanded Beckmann's ouster. Give us evidence. I think it is rank bullshit, to suggest that Brady Hoke was worried that Urban Meyer would use "Beckmann" against recruits where OSU was competing with UM. Bullshit. anybody who wants to prove this story, have at it.
I do know that there are some Democrat-loyalists in the Michigan Athletic Department. Lloyd Carr. James Stapleton. The entire fucking Michigan faculty. Mary Sue Coleman.
But not Dave Brandon.
I call bullshit.
August 9th, 2013 at 11:11 PM ^
It's about brand management, Dave Brandon's biggest issue.
If a public face of the school does something horrendously controversial and embarrassing, on any level, in this media climate, they will be gone.
The Michigan brand has always been a high priority for Brandom, for better or worse. That's what the Alabama game was last year, that's what the night games are designed to be, that's what the new marquee outside Michigan Stadium is.
This story, when it broke back in May, was not reported as "Frank Beckmann Makes Racist Comments." It was "Michigan Football Play-By-Play Voice Makes Racist Comments". Or simply, that Michigan tacitly approved of everything.
Here's the Deadspin article - http://deadspin.com/it-took-a-while-but-michigan-decides-that-fried-chicke-510612333
Michigan's mentioned in the headline, not Frank. Michigan Stadium is pictured, not Frank.
Dave Brandon does not want the image of Michigan Football, or Michigan, tied to ignorant comments. And neither does Coach Hoke, or anyone involved with the school.
This isn't a liberal conspiracy to oust a conservative. This is a move to keep a valuable brand from getting prominently linked to racist comments.
August 9th, 2013 at 11:32 PM ^
Hell, Deadspin defended Michael Rosenberg!
http://deadspin.com/5351207/the-michigan-fans-jihad-against-michael-rosenberg
Until Rosenberg's Freep story exploded into a pink mist.
It's the perfect story for Deadspin.
And of course it is all laden with politics. But we don't need to argue politics. Or, more correctly I'd say, "political correctness."
My specific gripe is with the assertion that Brady Hoke insisted on Frank Beckmann's termination. Somebody has got to ask that question of all of the principals. Beckmann, Brandon, Hoke, IMG, WJR.
August 9th, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^
Brady Hoke is all about accountability.
He mentioned it when he got here.
He mentioned it when suspending guys for violations.
He mentioned it when discussing the Manziel situation.
"Hoke also maintained that accountability of the individuals on his football team is one of the program's top priorities, and has been for as long as he can remember.
August 10th, 2013 at 1:08 AM ^
All that coach-speak blather from Hoke.
Just tell me exactly what Brady Hoke said, and did, with specific regard to Frank Beckmann.
I personally don't have a problem with Frank Clark getting a one-game suspension after a felony conviction. But our rivals noticed it. I sort of think that they want to hold Brady Hoke "accountable" for that one.
Because I don't believe any of this crap about Brady Hoke supposedly demanding Frank Beckmann's resignation for recruting purposes versus Urban Meyer. And I want some proof; some confirmation. You're not giving it to us. You can spare me all the general Brady Hoke press releases.
August 9th, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^
Gregg Henson is a bitter asshat with no inside knowledge of any sort.
August 10th, 2013 at 1:12 AM ^
The correct replacement, obviously, is Al Randall.
The only replacement is Al Randall.
August 9th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
With all due respect, I could not disagree more. I think Shepard is absolutely one of the worst PBP I've ever heard. It's amazing how differently people can hear the same thing.
August 10th, 2013 at 9:27 AM ^
Yep. Great voice, terrible PBP guy. It's a chore trying to figure out what's going on if you turn on a Shepard broadcast in the middle of the action. He never gives you enough information.
August 10th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
August 10th, 2013 at 12:37 AM ^
Love his work, sad to see him go, good for him
August 10th, 2013 at 1:03 AM ^
August 10th, 2013 at 1:14 AM ^
I didn't blame the Beckmann resignation on Michigan's left-wing faculty, or the Democratic majority on the Board of Regents. I didn't "blame" anybody.
This Gregg Henson character did, sort of. And he very specifically attributed it to Brady Hoke. I didn't do any of that.
I don't know how anybody could doubt the natural animus between Beckmann and the Regents. There are better, local reporters than Gregg Henson who reported that some Regents (White? Bernstein? Deitch?) wanted Beckmann fired. Well, duh. Surprise. They are in a political war with the likes of Frank Beckmann.
August 10th, 2013 at 9:08 AM ^
2) As a result of saying stupid things, he will not return as a football announcer who announces games for the University of Michigan.
3) Everything else is irrelevant.
August 10th, 2013 at 9:37 AM ^
But... Michael Rosenberg! Democratic regents! Rabble rabble!
It takes a certain amount of gall to defend Frank Beckmann on this one in any way, shape, or form. If Hoke wanted Beckmann out and wanted to wait until after the recruiting season shook out, that's a pretty valid explanation, IMO. Also note Michigan announced this thing late in the afternoon on a Friday. You don't do that in the media world unless you want a story to get buried in the weekend. The signs are all there.
August 10th, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
I can't wait until Brady Hoke gets asked the question, directly, on video. "Coach Hoke, what discussions did you have with anyone else in Michigan Athletics regarding a termination of Frank Beckmann's role in Michigan broadcasting?"
August 10th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^
Then you can rant about that journalist, too. Give me a break.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
or on what basis you are attacking me.
I didn't make up the part about Democrats on the Board of Regents making strong complaints about Beckmann; your favorite paper reported that.
I didn't make up the story about Brady Hoke pressing for a resignation from Beckmann. Gregg Henson did that.
Frank Beckmann says that the column controversy had nothing to do with his resignation. If in fact Brady Hoke demanded Beckmann's resignation, somebody should ask Hoke about that. Then Hoke can answer. Why would I complain about a journalist doing that? It is the very question that I am suggesting.
I'll add something: I can't help but be amused by the people who actually want this to have been a punishment-firing for Beckmann. After 33 years of flawless professional perfomance behind the mic for Michigan. Just more insane political correctness out of Ann Arbor.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
August 10th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
August 10th, 2013 at 1:02 PM ^
August 10th, 2013 at 2:29 PM ^
Oh, well, if some dude who says he isn't racist says nobody should have been offended, I guess that settles it. Thanks for letting everybody know that you've figured out what the correct reaction is. I'll bet all the people who took offense will soon recognize that they ought to apologize for their foolish and incorrect emotional reactions to Beckmann's stereotyping.
The most offensive part of Beckmann's stance, to me, was his attempt, disconnected from reality as it was, to frame the García/Woods thing in such a politically charged way. His claim that Tiger Woods made a "choice" to take offense is representative of the politically charged, disconnected framing.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
Doing so seems to me to be completely contrary to Hoke's personality. I could see him being upset, but that's far from the same thing as agitating for his removal.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^
Beckmann was asked to resign or retire by the school, and that this particular wrong-headed column--while seemingly well-written was the cause. And that is to check the archives when Beckmann has been asked when he might consider leaving this job and see if he gave even a hint of a possible date. I cannot recall him ever suggesting one.
And what's more I've heard him say that he loved doing this work more than anything else.
So, If indeed, he were forced out, then he probably negotiated a departure point that makes sense for both sides in finding his replacement, which won't be easy regardless of his politics and personal issues with certain folks. You don't replace a legendary voice that easy.
I mean an anthropological argument in support of a stupid statement by a PGA golfer against Tiger Woods who didn't need defending, is ridiculous for a variety of reasons that need not be explored even if this were purely a racial argument, which it's not.
It was petty and more about competition. And it begs the question why Beckmann felt compelled to write a column on it to begin with. So, if this were the trigger, then he's got no one else to blame.
The universiry's position on cultural inclusion and opposition to racism has already been tested in court, a historical point of view that echoes from the time of Gerald Ford to Bo Schembechler. Political correctness nothwithstanding, why burn your ships to save the empire from off-season embarrassment. If it seems like a slick corporate shakeout, maybe it is. Again, the only accountability here is cause and effect. I mean even Gordon Gee talked to much out of school for his own good.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
I don't think this is about politics. I think it's about racism. Michigan has a very diverse fanbase politically, and obviously it's their desire to be apolitical in the booth, as any athletic department should be. I believe it was Michael Jordan that said "Republicans buy sneakers too." For years, Frank's politics have been a non-issue and honestly, I believe they are still a non-issue. He doesn't rant about socialists and liberals inside Michigan Stadium and I don't listen to his non-sports broadcasts on WJR.
The point here is that Frank wrote an (or approved a ghostwritten) article in a major newspaper that claimed that African-Americans were wrong to be offended by fried chicken and watermelon jokes. That's racist. Even if he didn't mean for it to be, it's racist. Even if YOU think people are "too sensitive," it's racist. At worst, it's overtly racist. At best, it's an older man from an older generation and an older culture being tonedeaf to issues of racism in America. Neither are good.
Michigan does not want, nor should they accept, racist statements associated with their University or Athletic Department. Whereas Frank can be politically anonymous in the play by play booth, it's far more difficult to "take back" statements that are racial in nature. No amount of apologizing makes up for the damage done. It's just not a situation the University wants to be in.
Obviously this all assumes that Michigan made the decision for Frank to "retire," allowing him to claim it was his idea. I believe this is a likely scenario.
August 10th, 2013 at 6:47 PM ^
Nothing that Beckmann wrote came even close to racism. What he wrote, was insufficiently subservient to the modern American collegiate view of diversity sensitivity.
I hope that we can take Frank at his word, in his saying that his column was a non-issue. The fact that parts of the youngish/millenial/Obamabot demographic at MGoBlog seem to cheer Beckmann's retirement as some sort of punishment for his sins against political correctness is more revealing of the demographic than Mr. Beckmann.
The University had the chance to formally punish and/or sanction him back in May. They didn't. They condemned the choice of words. Beckmann apologized for having caused some to take offense.
I really don't understand why everybody's political views have to be hidden. Lloyd Carr is a Democrat; I wouldn't mind -- and I might actually enjoy the relative clarity -- if Carr and President Coleman and many others were a bit more transparent about their politics, if anybody's politics are going to be made into an issue. As Frank Beckmann's politics have been made into an issue. Entirely away from his 30+ years of flawless professionalism in connection with Michigan football.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
No one's politics are being made into an issue.
Frank Beckmann said something that's ignorant and racist, and was disciplined accordingly. It doesn't matter what his political views are, he said something incredibly dumb, and got in trouble for that.
Unless you are claiming that saying blatant racism is an inherent core truth of conservatism, Frank was not let go for anything conservative.
Remember, Bo was a conservative, and he treated everyone exactly equal.
http://kellylytle.com/2013/02/11/lessons-from-a-coaching-legend-respect-and-equality/
This isn't an issue of politics. This is an issue of basic respect.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:18 PM ^
Nothing that Beckmann wrote came even close to racism.not surprising
August 10th, 2013 at 8:29 PM ^
I think you're making my point.
August 10th, 2013 at 8:50 PM ^
Beckmann's "fried chicken" column was unforgivable. It wasn't a liberal/conservative thing, it was ignorance, plain and simple. Even Beckmann realized it and apologized, but too late. I don't know how much it had to do with him leaving, but he's one person we don't want associated with Michigan football anymore. So long, Frank. We'll try to remember the good times, before you decided to become Limbuagh-lite.
August 10th, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
Talking around Ann Arbor today, it sounds like this went down in May:
- Frank writes an idiotic column for the Detroit News, that goes viral with the Michigan name attached.
- The university is notified of the column by shocked alums who saw the thing online, or saw it linked to online. The latter group of non-locals are taken aback at what the football announcer does for the rest of the year.
- Michigan contacts Frank, who gives the "I didn't write that, an assistant did" excuse. The athletic department calls BS on that. At this point, Dave Brandon, Brady Hoke, and Jim Brandstatter are in the picture.
- One side wants Frank gone, the other side threatens to claim that any firing is due to Frank being a conservative, et cetera. An immediate dismissal would have resulted in some people going out to burn bridges, which the athletic department did not want.
- The highest level of athletic department staff write the apology, which Frank immediately tries to soften as much as possible. There's a reason why that column does not actually include the words 'sorry' or 'apologize'.
- Michigan sends out its own statement, now even more angry due to the non-apology.
- At some point after that, with Frank intractable, the retirement compromise is agreed upon.
If a certain side decides to burn bridges with this, there is no reason why a replacement (temporary or permanent) can't be put in the booth this year. That leading candidate would likely be Matt Shepard, given his relationship with Michigan over basketball broadcasts.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
Michigan contacts Frank, who gives the "I didn't write that, an assistant did" excuse.
If this was actually what he said, he should have been fired on the spot. Academics get their entire careers and reputations destroyed if they are caught plagiarizing. Michigan can afford to hold all of their employees to the same standard.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:29 PM ^
He would've been fired if the column in question were an actual thing for the school. If the column actually was plagiarized, that's something for the Detroit News to handle.
This excuse has come up before in certain political circles, for the same kind of rhetoric. It's always ended up being a thinly-veiled excuse.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
I sort of wish Frank Beckmann really did have academic tenure. They couldn't touch him.
By the way, he's not a University employee; he is an IMG media contractor.
In further news from the Culture Wars, 2014 will see elections for the Regent seats now occupied by Julia Darlow and Katherine ("Katrina") White. The Board of Regents currently operates with a 6-2 Dem majority. Turn those two '14 seats around, and it becomes a 4-4 split. With two more Dems, Larry Deitch and Denise Illitch, defending their seats in 2016.
August 10th, 2013 at 11:59 PM ^
There is no such thing as Culture Wars. Your schtick is growing thin, and increasingly off-topic.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:29 AM ^
Who the fuck cares about any of this?
August 11th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
you are really trying too hard to defend a known racist.