• Tea Leaves into Divisional alignment (Dave Brandon audio 08-20)

      WTKA broadcast live from Schembechler Hall this morning and Sam and Ira did a solid segment with AD Dave Brandon.  Topics ranged of course, but Brandon also addressed some tough questions about divisional realignment, particularly where Ohio and Michigan might fall. You can hear these and all the WKTA podcasts here, or click below, in two parts.  He gets into the division realignment questions in the second part: [display_podcast] Notes: A few key quotes on divisional realignment. When asked if he were making the decision, would he put Michigan and Ohio State in the same conference division?  Brandon paused then answered. "No." Sam asked, "Why?"  Brandon:  "Because we’re in a situation where one of the best things that could happen, in my opinion in a given season, would be the opportunity to play Ohio State twice.  Once in the regular season and once for the championship of the Big Ten. Sam asked about whether they would hold the tradition to keep that the last game of the season.   Brandon:  "I think there’s a distinct possibility that that game will be a later game in the season, but not necessarily the last game of the season.  And that’s simply because…I don’t think the coaches, or the players, or the fans, or the networks or anyone, would appreciate that match-up to…

  • Swing to Cure Diabetes Event (Recap, Photos)

    Hewlett welcoming everyone to the event An excellent event put on by former Michigan QB Rich Hewlett as today he held his 2nd ‘Swing to Cure Diabetes’ event benefitting the U-M Comprehensive Diabetes Center and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).   Coach Lloyd Carr and Cathy Schembechler were the honorary co-chairs once again. Joining Carr and Schembechler amongst the golfing groups were coach Jerry Hanlon, broadcaster Jim Brandstatter, former NFL coordinator Sherman Lewis, and several of Hewlett’s former U-M teammates.  A couple years ago Mrs. Schembechler donated a football that sat in Bo’s TV room signed by Bo and Don Canham for the silent auction.  This year she brought something quite unique – a handwritten set of talking points (on a manila file folder) that Bo would use during public speaking events.  It sold for nearly $1,000 and I was able to get a shot of it from the winner, here’s just a clip: Coach Carr made it around the course to meet and take pics with most of the golfing groups but not mine :( .    A couple more photos from the day: Coach Hanlon donning his “We Stayed” lid   Brandy with Cathy Schembechler before we teed off     My favorite hole on the course

  • Free Press: Miles spoke with Martin, Coleman Friday

    Mark Snyder just reported on Freep.com that Mary Sue Coleman and Bill Martin did indeed speak with Les Miles last week. He doesn’t cite any direct sources. Two quotes from the article of interest: Miles had a phone conversation Friday morning with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and school president Mary Sue Coleman, according to several people with knowledge of the call. …. While the call between the two sides did not identify Miles as the leading candidate for the coaching vacancy, it did give them a chance to interact formally for the first time and to discuss a number of issues previously handled through intermediaries. He did get one slightly interesting quote from one of Coleman’s people: “We’re not going to be discussing anything about recruiting (a new coach) until after the announcement is made,” Coleman’s spokesperson, Kelly Cunningham, said today. While we didn’t see what the question or comment was that prompted this comment from Cunningham, what does she mean by “the announcement”? What announcement? The phrasing is peculiar here because it’s not like anyone is aware of any type of pending decision in this process, thus, an announcement. If this is true, apparently Martin and Coleman didn’t have the LSU AD’s blessing who said today: “I’d be under the assumption that the permission to speak to Les…