I'm probably making something out of nothing, but something took me aback a couple of days ago and I had to go back and listen to the podcast to make sure I got it straight.
I turned on WTKA on Tuesday morning (even though it’s all UMAA, it’s at least football talk this time of year), and the host Ira had on a couple of former #23 football players to signify 23 days until the start of the season - Jim Betts who played in the late 60’s, and a diminutive Jamie Morris, who played in the 80’s. They were joined by rah-rah boy Marcus Ray. I had heard about different factions within the UMAA football community, with the Bo’s first team kind of calling the shots when it came to alumni matters and pissing off everyone else, but I was surprised to hear a little bit of that animosity come through on the radio. Listen to the first seven minutes, or read the broader comments below.
http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=901&c=4701&f=4702883
Betts: The Michigan football Alumni Network is an organization that Jim Hackett and Jim Harbaugh finally agreed to support. For 13 years we’ve been pushing to have some kind of recognition for former Michigan football players. And it’s been a crapshoot. It’s important to not have this effort not be fragmented by different teams, eras, whatever. The organization is designed to help former football players in a number of ways, from career transition to business opportunities to looking at medical issues they might be facing.
Marcus Ray: So Jim, as the President of the Michigan Alumni Network, how has that been for you so far, and how do you try…
Jamie Morris: (laughing hysterically)
Marcus Ray: Jamie, you’re just laughing (chuckles)…
Betts: You can’t take this boy anywhere
Jamie Morris: I’m laughing because you were about to ask him a question and I really want to hear what he has to say….
Betts: Well wait until I finish and then laugh.
Jamie Morris: …and I want to hear what he has to say so I can jump in. Go ahead.
Marcus Ray: Jim, since you’ve been elected President, what challenges have you faced, how have you been able to expand and what players have you reached out to to help with your vision?
Betts: First of all, it’s not just me, it’s a leadership team. John Wangler is the VP, Dave Fisher is the Treasurer, and Jim Brandstatter is the communications director. So that’s the group that’s starting to help formulate the foundation for this organization. Our biggest challenge is to create a database that’s all-inclusive. We know that there are 25k former football players and we have contact information for only 1,400. We have to get that information so we can begin to network, throw out concerns, and do all that we have to do to make sure that each and every one of us has that opportunity to prosper.
Jamie Morris: Sounds good but here’s the deal…and I want to hear what he has to say but we have been trying to do this for a long time. We need to reach out to each and every football player. I think there’s a contingent out there that think that they were not included in a lot of things, I think we need to bring them together and it’s a great idea that’s not the first of its kind. I know that Bill Martin tried to do this and the previous administrator didn’t do a damn thing. But I think we’re on the right track. I think we need to get it up and get it started and we’re dragging our feet a little bit. I think Jim is headed in the right direction and I wish him all the best. It’ll be great once we can get all the factions together, we can’t just have one group deciding this, this, this. We need everybody to come together.
Betts: Didn’t I say that?
Jamie Morris: That was in layman’s terms. You danced around, I’m trying to help you out.
Marcus Ray: (trying to ease the tension) It’s football season, Ira!
Betts: Here’s the deal when you have “23s” in the room. OK, you’ve got 23 #1 (Betts) and 23 #2 (Morris). 23 #2 has always been challenged, you know…
Unknown: Vertically?
Betts: Well yeah and is somewhat limiting in terms of abilities to expand capacity to understand and realize, you know, certain issues.
***Now whether that was playful banter or not, I can't say for sure. But it didn't sound playful to me. The conversation sounded edgy and uncomfortable, and despite Ira and Marcus Ray trying to steer the conversation away from a potential train-wreck, the damage was done.***
I turned on WTKA on Tuesday morning (even though it’s all UMAA, it’s at least football talk this time of year), and the host Ira had on a couple of former #23 football players to signify 23 days until the start of the season - Jim Betts who played in the late 60’s, and a diminutive Jamie Morris, who played in the 80’s. They were joined by rah-rah boy Marcus Ray. I had heard about different factions within the UMAA football community, with the Bo’s first team kind of calling the shots when it came to alumni matters and pissing off everyone else, but I was surprised to hear a little bit of that animosity come through on the radio. Listen to the first seven minutes, or read the broader comments below.
http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=901&c=4701&f=4702883
Betts: The Michigan football Alumni Network is an organization that Jim Hackett and Jim Harbaugh finally agreed to support. For 13 years we’ve been pushing to have some kind of recognition for former Michigan football players. And it’s been a crapshoot. It’s important to not have this effort not be fragmented by different teams, eras, whatever. The organization is designed to help former football players in a number of ways, from career transition to business opportunities to looking at medical issues they might be facing.
Marcus Ray: So Jim, as the President of the Michigan Alumni Network, how has that been for you so far, and how do you try…
Jamie Morris: (laughing hysterically)
Marcus Ray: Jamie, you’re just laughing (chuckles)…
Betts: You can’t take this boy anywhere
Jamie Morris: I’m laughing because you were about to ask him a question and I really want to hear what he has to say….
Betts: Well wait until I finish and then laugh.
Jamie Morris: …and I want to hear what he has to say so I can jump in. Go ahead.
Marcus Ray: Jim, since you’ve been elected President, what challenges have you faced, how have you been able to expand and what players have you reached out to to help with your vision?
Betts: First of all, it’s not just me, it’s a leadership team. John Wangler is the VP, Dave Fisher is the Treasurer, and Jim Brandstatter is the communications director. So that’s the group that’s starting to help formulate the foundation for this organization. Our biggest challenge is to create a database that’s all-inclusive. We know that there are 25k former football players and we have contact information for only 1,400. We have to get that information so we can begin to network, throw out concerns, and do all that we have to do to make sure that each and every one of us has that opportunity to prosper.
Jamie Morris: Sounds good but here’s the deal…and I want to hear what he has to say but we have been trying to do this for a long time. We need to reach out to each and every football player. I think there’s a contingent out there that think that they were not included in a lot of things, I think we need to bring them together and it’s a great idea that’s not the first of its kind. I know that Bill Martin tried to do this and the previous administrator didn’t do a damn thing. But I think we’re on the right track. I think we need to get it up and get it started and we’re dragging our feet a little bit. I think Jim is headed in the right direction and I wish him all the best. It’ll be great once we can get all the factions together, we can’t just have one group deciding this, this, this. We need everybody to come together.
Betts: Didn’t I say that?
Jamie Morris: That was in layman’s terms. You danced around, I’m trying to help you out.
Marcus Ray: (trying to ease the tension) It’s football season, Ira!
Betts: Here’s the deal when you have “23s” in the room. OK, you’ve got 23 #1 (Betts) and 23 #2 (Morris). 23 #2 has always been challenged, you know…
Unknown: Vertically?
Betts: Well yeah and is somewhat limiting in terms of abilities to expand capacity to understand and realize, you know, certain issues.
***Now whether that was playful banter or not, I can't say for sure. But it didn't sound playful to me. The conversation sounded edgy and uncomfortable, and despite Ira and Marcus Ray trying to steer the conversation away from a potential train-wreck, the damage was done.***
