Tradition Triumphs Over Money

OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I am glad to report that the University of Michigan and Ohio State have decided not to sell the rights to their annual clash:

Forgoing more than $1 million, Michigan and Ohio State on Wednesday walked away from a deal that would have renamed their annual football game the SBC Michigan-Ohio State Classic . . .

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said he and university president Mary Sue Coleman decided that giving a formal title to what has been known to generations of fans as simply "The Game" was unacceptable.

"The money was not the issue. We didn't even talk about the money," Martin said during a telephone interview. "It was a matter from president Coleman's perspective and mine in the final analysis that this was inconsistent with the values that we share with the greater Michigan family."

On Tuesday I lamented that this deal would add a layer of marketing to the game that ranks as one of the most important sporting events of the year, so I am glad the good people at Michigan nixed it. Some things are just better without the marketing, the hype, or labels. The Ohio State Michigan games stands on its own.

BTW, if you are a fan you should check out The 100-Yard War by Greg Emmanuel. It is on my reading pile so look for a report in the lead up to this years contest.