The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/50790
FROM OUR READERS the student sections were filled at the start of games with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Now, I think that Dave Brandon is fully aware of these facts, but that he can't comment and risk adversely af- fecting union relationships. Hence his somewhat vague reference to ongoing "discussions" to resolve the problem. Hopefully, the lunch schedule can be changed to 11 a.m. next year on Satur- days with early kickoff. Michigan stu- dents love this team and should not be disparaged like this. Those of us at the OSU game likely will never forget the joyful students storming the field and the reluctance to leave the stadium. Dick Harper Via the Internet From Our Web Site Editor's Note: We not only have inter- esting submissions in our mailbag, we also get daily input on our Web site, The- Wolverine.com. These comments can come from average fans, former play- ers and even parents of present players. From time to time, we'll include a sam- pling from the Web site to supplement the letters section. • [Michigan State] did a great job tak- ing advantage of the Rich Rodriguez fiasco and benefitted from OSU's early- season problems this year. Props to them for taking advantage. However, that window has now been slammed shut and they know it. — Cincinnati Wolverine • I still can't get over the Notre Dame game. I'm still pumped about it. It's been 96 days and I'm still amazed at the ending. I'm still pumped up. I still remember how nuts it was and no one wanted to leave. There was such great- ness. That game is why I love sports. Thanks team 132 for providing me with that for the rest of forever. And I still like that damn "Dynamite" song because of it. That song will forever bring back memories of that game. — miktimrob • Got a chance to see Brady Hoke speak in person last night. At the Michigan High School All State Dream team awards, which was at my work (The Dearborn Inn). I must say, I fall more and more in love with him every time he speaks — you can really see why the kids love this guy. A few side notes, Ben Braden is a complete mam- moth, just huge. [Mario] Ojemudia re- ally does look small, will have to bulk up. And of the non-linemen Royce [Jenkins-Stone] looked to be the most college ready, kid is pretty thick. Just my own observations — no profes- sional here. Also, I was amazed with Coach Heck [Jeff Hecklinski], maybe the most friendly of all the coaches that were in attendance. — ap3jags • If you are looking for a good U-M football book to read over the holi- days, I strongly recommend: Passing Game: Benny Friedman and the Trans- formation of Football. For some reason, Friedman has got- ten kind of lost in terms of just how big a star he was and how he impacted the history of both college and pro football. In the mid to late '20s he was dubbed the "Babe Ruth" of football. While he always gets listed as one of Michigan's greats, I don't think Michi- gan fans even realize just how good he was. If the Heisman Trophy had been awarded at the time he played, I think it is very likely he'd have won it in 1926. His name belongs right up there with Harmon and Heston, and is very worthy of the "Michigan Football Legend" status that Desmond Howard received this year. I don't really under- stand why his number hadn't been retired. I'm a little over halfway through the book (his U-M career just finished) and it is a great read. It really brings to life U-M football in the 1920s with Bennie Oosterbaan and Fielding Yost. — Shadowfax Hmmm. Lunch, or Ohio State-Michi- gan? Dick, we're speechless on that one. BEST WISHES FOR RODRIGUEZ Dear The Wolverine: Kudos to Brady Hoke, for his being honored as Big Ten Coach of the Year. More importantly, congratulations on a fine and successful season with only two road stumbles. But let's not forget who recruited the majority of these players. This season followed right in line with RichRod's four-year plan. He im- proved every year and would have probably won up to nine games. The defense may have still been pathetic, but the offense would have been, if anything different, better. RichRod got absolutely no help at Michigan. Everything worked against him, including the phony NCAA in- vestigation. RichRod was a fine man and a good Michigan man. No one felt worse about the team's shortcomings in his three years than he did. I hope he does well at Arizona. Dennis Mell Monroe, Mich. One quibble here, Dennis: when was the last time a football team won nine games with a defense that is, in your description, "pathetic?" SCOREBOARD SCRUTINY Dear The Wolverine: I am very proud of Michigan's ath- letic programs and facilities. They are staffed by people who are both effec- tive and gracious. Because of that I was surprised and somewhat embarrassed to see the Purdue locomotive spinning out of control, and Nebraska's corn exploding into bits, on the scoreboards at The Big House during those games this season. I understand and mostly enjoy the home team's crowd and student sec- tions when they "taunt" the opponent, but I don't believe that it is the same when the lampooning of the visiting team comes from the "official voice" of the host school. Our PA announcer regularly extends "a Big House wel- come" to the visiting team in what seems to be a genuine and appropriate tone, and it would be much more in keeping with the class of our program to not demean other teams in this way. That can become a "slippery slope" quickly. If it continues it won't be long before someone's effort to top last week, or to retaliate for what "they did at their place last time," will make it a less enjoyable experience for a visiting team's fans. I am certain that is not a goal of my university. Ted Bendall Via the Internet Interesting take, Ted. Thanks for weigh- ing in. Be Heard! Send your letters to: Wolverine Letters • P.O. Box 1304 • Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Or e-mail: jborton@comcast.net Letters may be edited for clarity or length. JANUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 9