From Twitter to tees: Athletic directors will put Michigan-Michigan State rivalry on the golf course
CHICAGO — What started as friendly trash talk on Twitter will conclude with banter on the golf course.
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon and Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis sat across from each other during a portion of the Big Ten Conference spring meetings at the Palmer House Hilton, and between business discussion their combined idea for a golf challenge took shape on the social network.
Dave Brandon
Hollis initially came up with the idea for a golf challenge between two teams: one of Michigan grads captained by Brandon and one of Michigan State grads led by Hollis.
“It started as playful banter, as two, there’s not a lot of athletic directors at our level who tweet,” Hollis said. “That was the whole impetus for this whole thing starting.
“But it’s turned into something that’s friendly competition and formulating teams to try and win.”
Brandon and Hollis started tweeting about their teams during the meetings. Brandon has already selected former Michigan kicker Jay Feely. Hollis selected Ryan Brehm and Jack Newman, who played in the 2009 Masters.
Needless to say, the 1:30 p.m. event at Eagle Eye on July 25 is going to be competitive.
“My job is to beat Mark Hollis,” Brandon said at an Associated Press Sports Editors meeting in Midland last week. “I’ve got to bring three guys who will beat his three guys.”
The two are enjoying going back and forth, including interrupting conversations because another idea pops into one of their heads. The rules have changed often for the event, although Brandon said last week he expects to play a four-person, best-ball format.
And the goal for this goes beyond Michigan and Michigan State. Hollis said he spent time at this week’s spring meetings trying to coax other athletic directors to form teams in future years.
“We both have a vision of what does the future look like. And we’ve already been talking to other ADs in the Big Ten about potentially making it a conference-wide event next year,” Hollis said. “If you look at some of the names like Luke Donald (Northwestern) or the Nicklaus family at Ohio State, it could turn into a pretty cool event.”
And if you’re curious, Brandon is up in the selection process. And Lion Kim, who played in this year’s Masters, is still available for the Wolverines.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
Meangoblue
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2 p.m.
Have I ever told everyone about this one guy that I know. Well he said that when this golf outing takes place he is going to flatten the tires on Mark Hollis' golf cart and cover his club handles in vaseline.
golfer
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
i think this is really really kool. what a fun thing to do between schools. they could get a throphy made up and the winner keeps it for a year. open it up to the public and see how big it gets. i would go just to see them laugh at each other.
1st Down
Fri, May 20, 2011 : 10:57 p.m.
If Brandon challenges Ohio to a golf match...beware because Ohio will pull out all of the $ and bring in aging Jack Nicholas as a ringer and outfit their entire threesome in matching sweater vests, and plus4s rolled up to show their matching calf tats.
1st Down
Fri, May 20, 2011 : 10:54 p.m.
Note to Brandon: Sink him like a 2 foot put...and don't replace any divots that you gouge out of the green.
DMoney
Fri, May 20, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
There has to be some worthwhile charity (in the state of Michigan) assosciated with this event. I'm willing to donate X amount of dollars for every hole that Michigan wins. Heck, Michigan can select a charity and Sparty can select a different one. Just know that this rivalry can turn into a worthy cause for two in state charities... DMoney
treetowncartel
Fri, May 20, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.
Is John Junker going to be there? What a tough gig these guys have.