John U. Bacon with a new article on Cokegate and the general malaise that's set in to the program.
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/road-saturday/201409/michigan-wolverine…
Once again he hits the nail on the head. The single most frustrating part about this whole situation is that it's making me indifferent to Michigan Football for the first time in my life.
Brandon needs to be fired before he irreparably destroys 135 years of tradition.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^
I wouldn't mind if Brandon was fired. But I have a feeling that he's aware of the backlash and that season ticket holders and students will get a pretty sweet deal next year, and possibly beyond.
September 26th, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^
No way. If he is still here after all this fallout he'll take it as a sign we're really not that pissed off. Giving us a fair deal is antithetical to Brandon's carefully cultivated persona.
I'm not yet sure about Hoke but Brandon's gotsta go.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
Our home schedule next year is pretty fantastic. There's no way Brandon is discounting those.
September 26th, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^
If you read Bacon's piece, the home schedule is only one part of the problem. As a former four seat season ticket holder, I understand exactly what John U is talking about. It got to me last year when the policy about seat cushions was instituted and then rescinded. It was a line in the sand that they crossed and when they did, I said screw it.
I love going to games, lousy schedule and all. I still buy tickets, but not season tickets, and I pay a fraction of what my season tickets used to cost. But something has changed for me. It's partly what I feel is the athletic department's gouging and partly the direction of the team, and that's not good.
September 27th, 2014 at 7:57 AM ^
Dave Brandon has a fiduciary responsibility to maximize revenues. And those revenues are used to fund a lot of programs for student athletes, as well as giving the revenue generating sports the resources they need to compete at the level we want to see them. The university is benefitting, not Dave Brandon.
Michigan football shouldn't be discounting tickets simply because someone wants to pay less. This year it feels like gouging because the team and schedule are down and the market value is depressed. Next year will be better for season ticket holders and they'll be attending games for less than they would pay on the secondary market.
Wins and losses are the reason for the Brandon backlash. If we were contending for a national title, no one would give a damn about seat cushions or noodles, and we'd be laughing at Sparty's paranoid response to the skywriting.
September 26th, 2014 at 1:20 AM ^
a hike in per game price and seat license with Ohio State and Michigan State both at home.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
Next year we have MSU and OSU at home. Season ticket sales will bump just because of these two games, and Brandon will smile knowing that he got away with jacking another couple dollars out of the fan base.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^
September 26th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^
Are you high? He'll probably force you to pre-order a year's supply of Domino's pizza just to be eligible to buy Ohio State tickets.
September 26th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
or chooses not to. I've stood up for him a few times, but for him to be so unaware or so indifferent on things like ticket prices and the atmosphere changes at the game is damning. He's done some good stuff, but I think he needs to go. He's only making the Big House experience worse
September 25th, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^
John U. gets right to his points very well as always, but...
UM was irrelevant and full of malaise in the years prior to Bo. The product was mediocre and there were always tickets to be had.
DB's blunders and insensitivity are accelerating the flight of the loyal ticket holders whose patience is being tested - but lack of big wins and bad losses are REALLY what is killing this program.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:53 PM ^
You are correct in that is how it used to be - Canham came in and did a lot of "promotional" things that in today's social media he'd get ripped on. But he did the most important thing a UM AD can do - make the correct football hire. Then nothing else mattered. Bo came in and said I am going to step on State's neck (who like now was actually very good in the 50s thru mid 60s) and I am going to meet OSU at the halfway line. Both those schools had major difference makers in their programs as coaches.
In a way it's almost a parallel period as the late 50s/early 60s. And for those of us under 50 years old we weren't around for that period so it's all new territory - this "sucking" thing.
September 26th, 2014 at 7:37 AM ^
The other thing that Canham did was stay out of the spotlight and stick to his swim lane. Bo was in charge of the football program and that authority went without question. Brandon seems to be so much more involved in day-to-day operation of the football program, it just makes me uncomfortable. It's like we have Jerry Jones running the U of M Athletic Department.
September 26th, 2014 at 7:48 AM ^
but, remember when he did all of those promotional things, he wasn't trying to fleece the season ticket holders and keep a streak alive.. he was building the "brand". So he did two things, he went out and hired the perfect michigan football coach, who had no ties to michigan.. (OMG, THE SHOCK, NOT A MICHIGAN MAN) and also tied that in with outstanding promotional things (advertising in Ladies Home Journal for example to get the original mgowife's involved) to build a brand. A brand of excitement and winning. That's the simple solution. Build a brand by winning and offering people a product that is commensurate with the price you are charging. That is a changing value proposition with HD TV's and wall to wall coverage on TV.
September 26th, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
September 26th, 2014 at 12:10 AM ^
Yeah. I've said it before here, no one would care about the AD shenanigains if this was a Top-10 team. This kind of goes around the whole business idea that DB has brought to the program. I feel like a lot of people (myself included) no longer feel like we're fans in the eyes of the Athletic Department, but rather just customers. If we're goign to be treated like that, then they can't expect absolute loyalty.
If a restaurant I liked started charging me more money, made the food crappier, and didn't listen to any of my input, I would sure as hell stop giving them my business. Obviously it's not completely the same for Michigan football, but the AD can't expect us to pay a ton of money for a mediocre product. They have to realize that when things get shitty, you don't increase prices. That's horrendous business and is why there have been massive drops in season ticket sales—at least amongst the students. I mean, why the hell should a student pay $300 for season tickets when he/she can get every game on the secondary market for half the price (/minirant).
If the product is good, then people wouldn't care about the "business" aspect that much (a few still probably would, but they'd be in the minority). However, a crappy product + mistreatment of fans = fans not buying tickets. Now if they could—and I'm goign to be bold here—treat us like "fans" and "alumni", instead of the cattle which DB herds into the Big House for money 7 times a year. People would still be upset, but not nearly as much as we are now—at least not at the AD.
September 26th, 2014 at 4:44 AM ^
Whether true or not, I used to feel like my season tickets were part of a larger relationship with the University, One that incorporated several generations of my family attending the school, several generations of my family owning season tickets.
Now, it's painfully clear to me that my purchase of season tickets is, in the eyes of the AD, a one-off transaction that needs to be revenue-maximized, because there's no guarantee that we'll be transacting again.
Brandon's experience is in marketing commodity products, and it shows.
September 26th, 2014 at 7:42 AM ^
Brandon's experience is in commodity marketing, and it shows.
That might be one of the most insightful comments I've read on this site in a long time and that's saying something. Many of us who work in or with Marketing organizations have made some pointed observations and critiques about Brandon and his gaffes but none seemed to quite hit the mark, mine included. I think you did it.
There are huge differences between managing the brand identity and promise of a pizza chain that mass produces its product and that of a storied legacy as much about family bonds (literally and figuratively) with the University as it is about sports heros. Even at the automotive OEMs, who mass produce all of their products, the marketing of Mustang and Corvette is handled by specialized teams apart from and quite different than those for Focus and Cruze.
Knowing that might not be Marketing 101, but it doesn't require a MBA, either.
September 26th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
Bingo. I've said more than once here that UM hired a guy who made his fortune marketing junk mail and cheap pizza, and it's no surprise at all to me that DB has made the decisions he's made. It's why I opposed his hiring from the beginning. We needed an Athletic Director, not a marketing hack.
September 26th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
Brandon is selling us shitty pizza. All he knows how to sell is garbage. So he is turning Michigan football inito the garbage he knows how to sell. And he's treating us like the cheap idiots who bought his garbage pizza.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
"No one would care about the AD shenanigains if this was a Top-10 team." That's what Brandon tells himself everyday as well, but it just isn't accurate.
September 26th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
and driving up prices as he continually denigrates people (it's emerging that he has been very shitty to a lot of people) can in no way be divorced from Ws and Ls. And it's disingenous to think that his strategy hasn't contributed to that, too. If he truly ignored Miles and Harbaugh because of ego, as alleged. . .
But his time is nearing, fast.
September 26th, 2014 at 8:37 AM ^
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September 26th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
This seems to be the general trend in sports though. In Cracked (yes, I know but they do some pretty good articles when they want to), they compared baseball ticket prices to rising inflation and found that they've exceeded that. I'm not sure that's a fair comparision though but still. I imagine when Illitch gets his new palace built, Red Wings prices will go up again. That doesn't account for the hidden prices we pay for these places in the form of taxes.
college sports should be different, I think. I actually want to hear the bands and the cheering fans and not some rock star urging me to pump it up.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
John U Bacon for AD!?!!!
September 26th, 2014 at 4:14 AM ^
Sure. Or Brian, Seth, Ace, Heiko, you, WD...I'll take pretty much any intelligent person who loves Michigan more than his own ego.
September 26th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
"Michigan has somehow created a world where loyalty is punished with price hikes, and disloyalty is rewarded with freebies."
truer words never written
September 25th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^
THATS MY FUCKING BROTHER CHARLIE (THE GUY WITH THE BEARD IN THE WHITE SHIRT) IN THE TAILGATE PICTURE. Those are all University of Michigan Dentists.
I was part of that tailgate for almost 30 years. Wow.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
Sorry - was excited to see my brother and the guys i hung with every home game for 30 years used in a picture on Yahoo by John Bacon.
And it made me a bit sad to think I wasnt in that picture. Cause if that same picture had been taken anytime from 1987 to last year I would've been.
September 26th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
razzin ya man.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:49 PM ^
Just read it all - we are biased here since we live it every day so "Oh I knew this" but for the guy in Florida or Texas or New York who is reading this and saying WTF is wrong with the program its an excellent overview. Most of this will be brand new - just as if I read an expose on what the hell has gone on at Miami (FL) or Tennessee now or Notre Dame 7 years ago.
Is "The Postgame" a popular part of Yahoo Sports? I had never heard of it until this article? Just wondering how many eyes will see it.
He touches on the danger that I see creeping in even here - apathy. If it is happening here it is happening in the general fanbase a lot more. And that's the one thing you don't want - much better to have disgust and anger than apathy. That was the Lions in the last 3 years of Millen.
Just another damning nail for Dave B.
September 26th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^
John U. talks about the ticket prices going down. With MSU and OSU at home next year I think prices may go up to get back what is lost this year. The question is, is the AD/BD that bold?
September 25th, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
He's bold. But even he can't be THAT bold. Right? Right?
oh god he's going to do it...
September 26th, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^
I think you overestimate the fan bases desire to see sacrifices of their football team done in the home stadium. If next season does not begin fast and positive you are going to see a sickening amount of green and red in the Big House.
Next year we begin @Utah and host Brigham Young. 2 teams that again you get no credit to losing to but are good enough to smack around an underachieving program that is lost.
Maybe there are way more S&M fans in the UM fan base than I think but if things dont take a major turn or a huge hire that excites people and they can live through a "7-5 season with name coach" the demand is going to be less than many assume. I am sure those games will be sold out - not sure how many UM fans will be there; I remember a certain RR OSU game at home where red was everywhere.
September 26th, 2014 at 12:57 AM ^
If this season doesn't turnaround, I think there will be another huge drop in season ticket sales. People are already staying away. You throw in 3, 4 or more losses this year and a lot of people will think 2 cokes is a to highof a price to pay for tickets next year.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
when they buy the Coke they came in for anyway, and post em up on craigslist and if they don't sell toss 'em in the trash.
It will be interesting to see if the NW endzone is any more full this weekend with Coke ticket holders. (They are down to $22 on stubhub. You can get Penn State tickets for face value.)
Brandon needs to go. He put the free range golden goose in a battery cage and has pretty much worn it out.
September 26th, 2014 at 8:48 AM ^
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September 26th, 2014 at 4:16 AM ^
More proud and stubborn than bold. He seems like the type of person who would never admit a mistake.
September 26th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
Bingo.
This is exactly why I disagree with the contentions being offered (including those in recently deleted threads) that "DB is very aware" of what the fanbase thinks of him and the silly/stupid things he's doing to ruin the product that Michigan fans hold so dear.
I think the opposite is true. The man's ego is so large, he truly thinks he can do no wrong. Look at how he responds to those who contact him (at least, the ones who aren't major donors); he's condescending and downright bitchy. I can personally attest that communications from others in the AD reflect this bitchy posture. No company, save maybe Comcast, treats its customers this way and expects them to remain loyal. And make no mistake, that's exactly what we are to him: customers, not supporters.
Even if he were aware of what the fans think of him and his actions, does anyone think he really cares? As you noted, he's far too proud and stubborn to let that affect him.
September 26th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
I know people who've been in meetings with him and the common assessment is that he's arrogant, imperious, and convinced he's the smartest guy in the room regardless of where he is. Guys like him are a dime a dozen in the corporate world.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^
Brandon should have a free Jack and Coke day.
Ahhh, alcohol eases the pain.
September 26th, 2014 at 7:39 AM ^
Black label?
September 26th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
Not when you're mixing.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:49 PM ^
"The [Michigan athletic] department now has all the credibility of Pravda, and half the charm."
Ouch, babe!
September 25th, 2014 at 11:57 PM ^
"including a 72-percent jump in administrative salaries [in 4 years]"
Yep, this guy definitely came from a Fortune 500 company.