The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ing his retirement at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign. However, this opportunity was too good to pass on. "I'm so excited to be able to come back to my alma mater and contrib- ute in this manner," said Dierdorf (1968-70). "This is the only broad- casting job that I would have consid- ered after retiring from the network television. It's a chance to return to the city where Bump [Elliott] gave me an opportunity to play for the greatest program in the world and Bo Schembechler made me a man. "I was always jealous of Jim calling games at Michigan and often said that one of my goals was to come back and call a couple of series with him. To work with one of my best friends, someone that I've known my entire adult life, is really special, and I'm looking forward to getting in the booth with Jim this fall." Brandstatter, the former All-Big Ten tackle who played for Schem- bechler from 1969-71, has been a fix- ture around Michigan athletic broad- casts since 1980. That year, he became host of Michi- gan Replay, the half-hour coaches show featuring Schembechler at the time, He's hosted iterations of the show featuring head coaches Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Rich Rodriguez and now Hoke (the show now titled Inside Michigan Football) down through the years. He's been in the broadcast booth for Michigan football games since the mid-1980s, serving as the color man for broadcasts. He's served in a simi- lar role with the NFL's Detroit Lions since 1987, and is looking forward to different duties now in the same booth for the Wolverines. "I'm really excited about the chal- lenge of moving to play-by-play," Brandstatter said. "I have huge shoes to fill, but I have learned so much from the great ones I've worked with and I can't wait to get started. And, it's Michigan football … it doesn't get any better than that! "Dan knows the game inside and out and is an outstanding broad- caster. First and foremost, he loves Michigan football, but he's also a good friend, a teammate, an NFL Hall of Famer, and we have fun when we're together. I just hope the listen- ers have as good a time as we expect to have broadcasting Michigan victo- ries this fall." Meanwhile, Michigan sideline re- porter Doug Karsch remains in place, keeping two-thirds of the crew from the last several seasons together. Karsch spoke with considerable ex- citement about the new team and the chemistry expected from it. "My first thought was, 'Wow!'" Karsch said. "Brandy is a true pro and Dierdorf has always been a great broadcaster and now, for him — this is personal. So you know he's going to be outstanding in that role. "One thing that is totally under- rated is the chemistry those guys will have in the booth from day one, since Jim and Dan go way back. That will be there from the moment Michigan kicks off against Appalachian State. That will make the broadcast more fun and feel seamless."