The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
FROM OUR READERS "Shane Morris Concussion Incident" is the issue mentioned most often. Is that not something for which the football coaches and the medical staff are responsible? Correct me if I am wrong, but when Devin Gardner had to leave the field for one play because his helmet came off, Shane went back in because Russell Bellomy couldn't find his helmet (he had important play-calling duties on the sideline that did not involve wearing a hel- met). Yes, small, easily corrected mistakes were made, but I think the athletic director should be more concerned with how to finance, say, the women's rowing team if football ticket sales drop. There were complaints about Mr. Brandon being too aggressive in "advancing the Michigan brand." I read one editorial stating that he "would sell naming rights to his bedroom pillows if he could." This writer obviously has never run a business in the ultra-competitive private sector. Big-time university athletics is an entertainment busi- ness, and one would expect one of Bo's former players to be giving it 110 percent. I don't hear anyone in East Lansing complaining about all the money MSU is making on the now-ubiquitous dark green Spartan shirts. If you feel that Big House hot dogs are too expensive, don't eat them. The price will come down. Wolverine fans should be grateful for David Brandon's years of service to Michigan. Many magnificent facilities were erected and champi- onships were won in those years. It was a good example of his loyalty to his alma mater that he was will- ing to admirably "fall on his sword" to prevent further damage to the athletic department, the envy of the rest of the nation, that he worked so hard to build up. We should all hope that the U-M administration will be able to recognize another true Michigan Man to replace him. Thank you, Mr. Brandon! Lou Hoekstra Kalamazoo, Mich. Brandon certainly didn't elicit many ambivalent feelings, Lou. While there existed a host of issues with which dif- ferent groups carried complaints, you hit on an undeniable point. If Michigan football were winning at a high level at this point, the noise would have been muted if not silenced. HARD LOOK AHEAD Dear The Wolverine: The evidence of a program in decline cannot be refuted as mani- fested by disheartening losses. Not just losses, but embarrassing perfor- mances. I have great empathy for the players who have to endure the pain of those losses. We are told that Be Heard! Send your letters to: Wolverine Letters • P.O. Box 1304 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Or e-mail: jborton@thewolverine.com Letters may be edited for clarity or length.