Gov. Rick Snyder appreciates the 'Rick Snyder!' chants at Michigan basketball games
Gov. Rick Snyder, shown at a Michigan basketball game in December, enjoys when the student section chants his name.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Before Rick Snyder became Gov. Rick Snyder (R), he followed University of Michigan sports.
A Michigan graduate and longtime Michigan basketball season ticket holder, Snyder is a regular in Crisler Arena. One of his former staffers during his gubernatorial campaign, former Wolverines point guard C.J. Lee, is now on Michigan’s basketball staff as an administrative assistant.
In between talking with new Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and athletic director Dave Brandon on Wednesday, Snyder took a time to chat about a newer phenomenon in Crisler Arena — the “Rick Snyder” chant by the Michigan student section.
Q: When the Maize Rage chants your name, what’s your reaction? Gov. Rick Snyder: “I think it’s great. It’s fun. It’s part of the fun of coming to a ballgame. I appreciate they are interested enough here at a great sporting event that they care enough about politics and the future of our state.”
Q: When they did it the first time this year, were you taken aback a little bit? RS: “I was like, ‘Wow. Did I hear that right?’ I take it very kindly. Very supportive.”
Q: Would you ever watch a game from there (the student section)? RS: “Sure. I’ve had these seats for years and they’re great. I just don’t jump up and down as well as they do. I’ve never done it, but that would be fun some time to go sit with them.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
Dog Guy
Fri, Jan 14, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Students think it is cool to have a person, rather than a persona, as governor.
David Briegel
Fri, Jan 14, 2011 : 10:10 a.m.
He should go to a Hockey Game at Yost. They would really give him a fine greeting!
Dr. Rockso
Fri, Jan 14, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
Don't be silly homtown23 compare apples to oranges i.e. UM vrs Hillsdale. Also leave out the room and board. Some of the tricksters that post are a bit on the sneaky side. U of M LOWER DIVISION (Freshmen/Sophomores) $11,837 UPPER DIVISION (Juniors/Seniors) $13,343 Harvard Full-time StudentsPer Academic Year$35,568.00 I thought I would throw in an orange for the heck of it; Kalamazoo College AnnualTuition30,723 By the way you were inaccurate in your Hillsdale numbers: http://www.hillsdale.edu/admissions/financialaid/costs.asp
Doug
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 11:20 p.m.
Barnz - Ya better hope Mich. doesn't go the way of Texas. After years of fudging numbers and the like, the chickens have come home to roost, and it ain't pretty in the land of Geo. W. Bush. How does a $25 billion (yes, BILLION) deficit sound? See: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/opinion/07krugman.html
Doug
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 11:15 p.m.
Hometown23 - Good point. Plus, Hillsdale consists entirely of Palin-loving, teabagging cryptofascists. Not exactly how I want to spend 28K in tuition. But worry not: I'm sure at those in financial need can take advantage of scholarships funded by the the likes of the DeVos family, the Koch brothers, and Richard Mellon-Scaife
Terrin
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.
Mush Room: Don't worry the governor will discriminate and make sure Michigan gets a more then its share of the funds. You can't have Michigan pay its own way by dipping into its massive endowment fund.
hometown23
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
@Dr. Rockso U of M Tuition per Term - $24,167 (Fresh/Soph), $25,673 (Juniors/Seniors) Hillsdale College per Term - $28,490 (Accepts zero federal or state funds) Hardly 3x more expensive...
hometown23
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
@Dr. Rockso U of M Tuition per Term - $24,167 (Fresh/Soph), $25,673 (Juniors/Seniors) Hillsdale College per Term - $28,490 (Accepts zero federal or state funds) Hardly 3x more expensive...
Dr. Rockso
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
You must be JJJoking! Private universities don't receive government money and charge 3 times as much.
Dr. Rockso
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
You must be JJJoking! Private universities don't receive government money and charge 3 times as much.
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 6:08 p.m.
Government funding for scholarship programs is the reason why tuition is so expensive. Universities can charge whatever price they want because ultimately they will always have enough students to fill their classrooms because the government (tax-payers) is taking the bill. Government RARELY lowers costs for a good or service. The government is very good at raising and lowering prices by means of price floors and ceilings however the only way to lower costs is through increasing efficiency, something that the government has a tendency of making worse, through over regulation and taxation.
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 6:08 p.m.
Government funding for scholarship programs is the reason why tuition is so expensive. Universities can charge whatever price they want because ultimately they will always have enough students to fill their classrooms because the government (tax-payers) is taking the bill. Government RARELY lowers costs for a good or service. The government is very good at raising and lowering prices by means of price floors and ceilings however the only way to lower costs is through increasing efficiency, something that the government has a tendency of making worse, through over regulation and taxation.
bobd
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
I wonder if he had them long enough to be a friend with Ed Martin?
bobd
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
I wonder if he had them long enough to be a friend with Ed Martin?
Cash
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
Guess they hadn't read the daily Rick Snyder.com news.....er, I mean AnnArbor.com news... "Rick Snyder says universities will have to sacrifice" Open your wallets, students.
Cash
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
Guess they hadn't read the daily Rick Snyder.com news.....er, I mean AnnArbor.com news... "Rick Snyder says universities will have to sacrifice" Open your wallets, students.
Hailyes1
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
Lets rein in all the government sponsored funding for education that doesn't lead to an occupation.
Hailyes1
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
Lets rein in all the government sponsored funding for education that doesn't lead to an occupation.
Dr. Rockso
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
A new sheriff has come to town. Rick will cut support to universities. Raise the costs and reduce the opportunities for students to get an education. Still the students cheer the Rick on. It's KKKKKrrrrraaaaaazzzzzeeee! Everyone cheer on the Rick!
Dr. Rockso
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
A new sheriff has come to town. Rick will cut support to universities. Raise the costs and reduce the opportunities for students to get an education. Still the students cheer the Rick on. It's KKKKKrrrrraaaaaazzzzzeeee! Everyone cheer on the Rick!
Steve in MI
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
@NCW20 - looks like the captain has had some work done. :)
Steve in MI
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
@NCW20 - looks like the captain has had some work done. :)
InsideTheHall
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
Hey Mush, the kids get it. Michigan Men look out for Michigan Men. The Michigan "Mafia" is alive and well and open for business....and that is a good thing for the state.
InsideTheHall
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
Hey Mush, the kids get it. Michigan Men look out for Michigan Men. The Michigan "Mafia" is alive and well and open for business....and that is a good thing for the state.
jackson72
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Then again they may be chanting "Thank you Rick for helping improve the business climate in Michigan so there are jobs for us here after graduation" (although admittedly it doesn't lend itself to a very easy chant).
jackson72
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Then again they may be chanting "Thank you Rick for helping improve the business climate in Michigan so there are jobs for us here after graduation" (although admittedly it doesn't lend itself to a very easy chant).
Mush
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
With a $1.85 billion deficit next year and a campaign promise to cut revenue (business taxes) by at least $1 billion, you have to wonder what impact this will have on the state's $2 billion higher education budget. The Maize Rage chants may not be as kind next year.
Mush
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
With a $1.85 billion deficit next year and a campaign promise to cut revenue (business taxes) by at least $1 billion, you have to wonder what impact this will have on the state's $2 billion higher education budget. The Maize Rage chants may not be as kind next year.
NC Wolverine 20
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3 p.m.
Why is the Gov sitting with Capt. Kirk and Lou Holtz?
NC Wolverine 20
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3 p.m.
Why is the Gov sitting with Capt. Kirk and Lou Holtz?