Michigan-Ohio State: Tinkering with a Classic

College football will do just about anything to make even more money, including destroy the Michigan-Ohio state end-of-the-season rivalry game. With two divisions and a championship game likely in the Big Ten, Jim Litke of AP reflects on the unappealing future of the big game:

The most likely realignment scenario involves putting the historic rivals in different divisions, then having them play in the middle of the regular season rather than at the end. That way, if they meet in the championship game, it won't feel as much like a rematch.

Never mind that few championship games are as memorable as even the clunkers Michigan and Ohio State have played over the years. When pressed, most coaches would concede they view championship games as necessary evils; they're the price a team pays so that its conference keeps a seat at the table for the Bowl Championship Series postseason galas.

But no one ever looked at Michigan-Ohio State that way. The lore that grew up around the game was testimony to that. Play it twice a year, even if the second time is for the league championship, and plenty of the air leaks out of both

WFUM Broadcasts No More

While UM-Flint explores the possibility of athletic teams, it's closing WFUM, the campus television station.

Laura Lessnau at Energy Publisher reports:

“We have been grateful for the support of our viewers and donors, and the dedication of our staff, but unfortunately WFUM has not been able to sustain itself financially, like many other businesses in this tough economy,” says David Lampe, vice president for communications. “And over the last several years, the university has been under growing pressure to reduce costs wherever it can in order to maintain its core commitment to the quality and accessibility of a U-M education. Under these circumstances, we decided it was best to withdraw from the public television business.”

Motown Money

It's about time Detroit had its own currency.
(Photo by Marvin Shaouni/Model D)