Positives from SpyGate
In the long run this debacle may benefit Michigan Football.
1) Michigan leadership, including President Ono now understand how much hatred there is from other members of the Big Ten. Knowing who is against you is valuable. Michigan can be more careful in any negotiations with the Big10 or ny other member of the Big Ten. For instance, I'd want much more specific language in terms of process for any type of disciplinary action included in the B10 bylaws
2) We now know there was a coordinated effort by OSU, Rutgers & others to help other teams win vs Michigan. The program should go away from signs and push hard to get helmet communications.
3) I think it's likely that the narrative will turn and it will make OSU look bad. The NCAA hasn't seen any direct connections with the PI firm and OSU but based on the facts I'll be very surprised if there isn't a connection that is eventually found. If it is proven, really makes Ryan Day look like a sore loser.
4) Michigan should negotiate more aggressively in terms of revenue sharing- if all the other teams and institutions want to F Michigan over, Michigan should negotiate very aggressively to receive a share of profits that more closely aligns with the TV ratings that Michigan produces.
5) ESPN/Atlantic has revealed itself as a very biased & anti-Michigan news publication. ESPN should be given nothing - no free seats, no place to do a show, no sideline reporters, etc.
6) Almost assuredly Warde Manuel needs to go. With the B10's approach Michigan will need a more combative & media savvy AD than whatever skills Warde has.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
It would be great if we refused gameday a spot on campus for the Game, and refused any/all ticket requests from espn. It’s time to get real petty, folks.
on a related note- does anyone know where osu stays in town??
November 7th, 2023 at 5:23 PM ^
No way, put them on the golf course in the middle of all the drunk tailgaters to get booed and have all the tasty signs visible up in the background.
Give 'em one ticket: for Desmond.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
That and require every car to have a minimum one bullhorn to enter the golf course that Saturday. Blast them every time someone speaks.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:36 PM ^
I think the first time gameday was here (a very long time ago), they were actually up on the Quad in front of Rackum Graduate Library. I say stick them up there again. See who shows up and let them have their show (and don't give any tickets to the game).
November 7th, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
I think many of the last Game Days they have been on Ingalls Mall next to Hill Auditorium in front of the Burton Tower.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:02 PM ^
They were on Ingalls Mall for a ND game. They were on the Diag when we played MSU in 2015. Not sure about other locations on central campus.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:25 PM ^
I thought they did 2 locations - one near Rackham for the pre-game and then another one near the stadium for broadcasts closer to/during the game
November 7th, 2023 at 7:45 PM ^
I say stick them on north campus
November 7th, 2023 at 6:56 PM ^
They set up on Pioneer’s corner across from Michigan Stadium for The Game in 2003
November 7th, 2023 at 7:45 PM ^
Fuck that, stick em in piedmont
November 7th, 2023 at 6:22 PM ^
Fuck that don’t let them on Michigan property… why the fuck would you want to give those hacks airtime on the Michigan campus
November 7th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
fire alarms pulled.
Bomb sniffing dogs.
All at 2 AM day of game.
then again at 4 am
November 7th, 2023 at 5:42 PM ^
Back under Tressel there was a year where OSU stopped our bus to have dogs and police go through it.
November 7th, 2023 at 7:52 PM ^
Good thing the B1G has that bastion of sportsmanship waving the banner for them.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:37 PM ^
So basically south quad every weekend?
November 7th, 2023 at 6:55 PM ^
nah, I slept thru a fire alarm at South Quad once. Not loud enough
November 7th, 2023 at 5:38 PM ^
Yes, OSU players will be in the stip clubs and rave parties, naturally.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:41 PM ^
Last time OSU was in town, I received a VIP package of 4 tickets, flights, hotel and spending money courtesy of the OSU Athletic Department. It was through one of OSUs corporate boosters.
We, and the OSU team, stayed at The Graduate.
Never had more fun sitting with a bunch in f OSU fans.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:04 PM ^
It's too bad those hotels hold rooms for opposing teams. Would love for them to have to stay in some ratty LaQuinta an hour away.
November 7th, 2023 at 7:05 PM ^
Except there are no LaQuintas around here. Maybe a dilapidated, bed bug infested Motel 6 would suffice.
November 7th, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
Put 'em at Rynearson.
November 7th, 2023 at 8:18 PM ^
Probably contractual on Big Ten TV contract
November 7th, 2023 at 11:03 PM ^
I would love that, but I don't see it, unless Ono seizes the athletic department through emergency powers or something.
November 7th, 2023 at 11:04 PM ^
This won’t happen unfortunately because it’s all about money 💰 and plus Warde is the AD.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:19 PM ^
7) Harbaugh scares the shit out of everyone.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:33 PM ^
They hate him, they can't beat him, it's making them foam at the mouth, and I love every fucking second of it.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^
It isn't hatred, they're skeered of him.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:19 PM ^
Everyone keeps saying how inaccurate ESPN has been without actually, you know, stating the provable inaccuracies. Right now a lot about this story is unresolved. So ESPN might have reported a lot of inaccuracies, but it might not have. People should be more careful about calling for boycotts etc about something that is far from settled.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^
It’s more the fact that they are not reporting both sides of the story and calling for extreme action in the form of punishment.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:57 PM ^
They are now. Rittenberg and TomVH. Thamel (the clown) is still silent.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:22 PM ^
Thamel knew other teams had our signals before releasing one of his over-the-top, won’t anyone think of the children hackjobs. That’s enough for me; fuck him/espn/everyone
November 7th, 2023 at 5:23 PM ^
dooood, are you dense? no offense, asking for a friend.
if you look at ESPN/Thamel coverage and think "wow, that seems like fair reporting", well, then you need some help. Call 911 immediately, they can get to you quickly.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:31 PM ^
Rather than just being obnoxious, you'd be more successful in your reply if you simply answered the question. This suggests you don't actually have answers.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:44 PM ^
Ignorant troll!
November 7th, 2023 at 5:51 PM ^
au contraire, my friend - I think my reply was quite "successful".
also, your question was answered, if you think about it.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
You don't have to even be inaccurate to show bias. Here is the current ESPN.com front page- do the headlines underneath the two stories look accurate and unbiased?
November 7th, 2023 at 5:33 PM ^
But those are opinions. I disagree with them, too, but there's a difference between opinions and actual factual inaccuracies. People are entitled to opinions, but not facts.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^
You are an idiot!
November 7th, 2023 at 5:59 PM ^
I was in your corner for a while, but 3 strikes and you’re out. Everyone seems to know the score but you.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:44 PM ^
Well thats like just your opinion man.
November 7th, 2023 at 9:59 PM ^
You’re just not getting it, dude. I’d sleep on it if I were you.
November 7th, 2023 at 11:06 PM ^
I think you're wrong OP, but as somebody who has been on r/cfb eating downvotes over the past couple weeks, I respect a guy who is going to say what he's going to say, even if he knows he's saying it to a hostile audience.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:56 PM ^
To add to that, when Paul Finebaum and Rece Davis need to do a segment explaining why the media isn't out to get Michigan, you know they are.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:30 PM ^
It’s irresponsible reporting that doesn’t meet journalistic standards. All the early reporting showed they had very little information, so their reporting was in the form of, “We don’t know if Michigan did X but if they did Y, that’s highly illegal and should be punished to the full extent.” And then social media would run with “Michigan did Y! Death penalty!” And then they would report, “Fans and coaches are outraged and calling for the death penalty.” They essentially created the story and sensationalized it for weeks.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:31 PM ^
This situation is 100% proof of the media being influenced by the bias of the ownership.
2-3 days before the MSU game when it all 1st broke open, 99% of people (everyone but THamel, bascially) said it was NBD. Finebaum was like, 'eh it's fine. This stuff happens'
ESPN basrely said shit. Then a few days later, the tenor of ESPNs talking heads from top to bottom changed. Like they forgot the B10 wasn't partnered with ESPN anymore (now it's FOX/NBC remember). They got their orders to hit this story hard.
You hear limited shit and reasonable takes from everyone from Fox/NBC: the TV partners of the B10. But ESPN, the TV compeditor, is pushing this story like it heralds the end of days.
This is why people don't trust the media.
November 7th, 2023 at 10:09 PM ^
Very true. Finebaum's flip was really striking, since nothing had changed to suggest any involvement by Harbaugh between Finebaum's two positions.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:38 PM ^
So you work for Disney/ESPN, I take it? My employer is subject to a lot of online hate, so I get it.
The guy used anonymous sources to make outlandish claims, without providing sufficient context to evaluate them. He intentionally misled readers, and ESPN has absolutely run with it.
November 7th, 2023 at 5:42 PM ^
Mackbru has to be a Buckeye plant or just a complete troll. Look at the history of his comments. Or maybe just a complete ignorant simpleton.
November 7th, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
They’re not mutually exclusive!