Remember when the University of Michigan Wolverines were the class of college football? They are the NCAA's all-time winningest team, their uniforms are timeless classics and they had a reputation of playing the game (and winning) the right way.
Apparently, that U of M mystique has been replaced with garish profiteering that would embarrass a Las Vegas casino operator.
Detroit News: If approved by the U-M Regents at Thursday's meeting, Brady Hoke will be the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family head football coach effective March 1.
The family, which has donated to and supported various departments and schools at U-M, also has naming rights for the football locker room.
Not only does this idea make Michigan look low-rent and desperate for cash, but the "J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family" will be sorely disappointed to learn that literally no one who isn't on the university payroll will ever refer to Brady Hoke as the "J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family head football coach."
For their reported $10 million donation, the "J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family" would leave a more permanent and prominent legacy if they asked for the naming rights to a Michigan Stadium men's room.
Mark Dantonio is laughing so hard at you right now, Ann Arbor.
Also worth noting: While U of M gets $10 million, the "J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family" no doubt gets a sizable tax break for their donation, Brady Hoke draws a $4 million+ salary, but it would destroy the integrity of the college game to actually pay the players. Or even allow them to share in the profits from video games that use their likenesses.
