Photo credit: U-M Photo Services
Put away the ‘Key Play’ keys and pick up your maize ‘All in for Michigan’ towel. The details are below, and you’ve got to love that proceeds for the $5 towels are going to Mott Children’s Hospital where they are working on a football-themed play area for the kids. Perfect.
From the State Street press release:
The University of Michigan Football Program and the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital are raising awareness and funds for the "Champions for Children" campaign to build a new children’s and women’s hospital at the University of Michigan.
Maize towels displaying this year’s team theme “ALL IN FOR MICHIGAN,” go on sale starting Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Michigan Football Program’s annual Fan Day. Fans can get autographs and meet the 2009 Wolverine team from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Al Glick Field House, Oosterbaan Field House and the adjacent practice field behind Schembechler Hall.
Towels purchased at Fan Day are $5. Towels will be sold for $6.99 after Fan Day at the M Go Blue Shop, The M-Den, Moe Sport Shops, Dunham’s Sporting Goods, Dicks Sporting Goods, area Meijer stores, and The Pizza House on U-M’s campus. A portion of the proceeds from each towel will benefit the campaign to build a new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital.
The Michigan football program is earmarking funds raised through the towel program to help build a football-themed interactive play area at the new hospital.
Naturally, a nitpick. While the range on the shade of navy blue on U-M gear is fairly tight, you do get quite a wide spectrum of maize. This photo of Rodriguez is a great example. The towel is closer to the gold, kind of older school, his shirt looks like a highlighter and the hat is somewhere in between. Can we get a standard and stick with it?
5 Comments
Zach Evans
Graphic designer Liene Karels actually researched the historical maize and blue colors of the school, and it’s an interesting read! Check it out here:
http://www.ns.umich.edu/MT/96/Fall96/mta13f96.html
Miles
The towel is the second worst idea this season — right behind putting the “slogan” on the tickets. The slogan is contrived, and immature. Slogans come about from a quote after a game (a la Shock the World) not what some intern in the AD proposed. Not only that, but it doesn’t even rhyme.
It just shows you that our AD is so behind the times. Sort of like Grandpa trying to be hip, but you know he just doesn’t have it.
CN
I agree with Miles on the “All in for Michigan” slogan, which is mostly a dopey way of rephrasing the sentiment, “We cheer for this team,” and sounds like something from a high school pep rally besides. Plus, it seems to imply that those of us who like Michigan are not liking it sufficiently and need to up the commitment level in some unspecified way by being “all in,” whatever the eff that’s supposed to mean. Lastly, Michigan has a huge number of chants, phrases and traditions already — no need to come up with new marketing rubbish every season.
And I don’t even want to get into the heinous loyalty oath on the back of the 2009 official T-shirt. It’s like something Notre Dame would do, but worse.
BlueisUs
I agree with miles–though I’ll say this is the worst idea this season, not second worst. When I first heard of it a few months ago, I figured it would get squashed by somebody in the AD’s office who would recognize a dog when seeing it. But it went through. Unbelievable.
This towel is gimmicky, it’s like manufacturing spirit as if Michigan does not have any? Give me a break. Yeah, let’s schedule Delaware State, Toledo, App State, Eastern Michigan, Connecticut and have the coach say “Michigan football will be back. . . .we want to schedule a BCS team but not leave the confines of home. . . .” and then talk to us fans about spirit? I think they need their heads examined.
I hope NOBODY buys these towels and that it ends up lining bird cages throughout Ohio. All in for Michigan? Huh? How about No towels for Michigan. How about “Win at Michigan” then the fans will cheer loudly. How about no stupid stripes on towels or uniforms.
Loyalty oaths? Geez.
Kids Football Shirt
When I first heard of it a few months ago, I figured it would get squashed by somebody in the AD’s office who would recognize a dog when seeing it.Not only that, but it doesn’t even rhyme.