Michigan golfers lose in B1G AD golf playoff, plus notes on Austin Hatch and football scheduling
![B1GADGOLF.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/07/B1GADGOLF-thumb-590x391-84180.jpg)
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon smiles as he stands with Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis before the start of a the B1G AD golf challenge at the Eagle Eye Golf Club on Monday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
BATH -- A Domino's Pizza delivery man entered the dining hall at Eagle Eye Golf Club to personally deliver a pie to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon, the company’s former CEO.
Brandon opened the box to reveal a block 'S' made out of green peppers, courtesy of Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis.
Hollis got the last laugh of the day, too, when former Spartan golfer Ryan Brehm sunk a 20-foot birdie putt to win the B1G AD Golf Challenge on the first sudden death playoff hole.
BIG AD GOLF MATCH
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Michigan golfers lose in B1G AD golf playoff, plus notes on Austin Hatch and football scheduling
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Dave Brandon says stipend for athletes 'seems fair'; doesn't think Ohio State violations will affect discussions
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NFL lockout over, former Michigan kicker Jay Feely submits his vote from golf course
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Photo slideshow
“That was my best putt of the day,” Brehm said. “Timing is everything.”
The five-person teams made up mostly of former Wolverine and Spartan golfers -- plus former Michigan placekicker Jay Feely, a +1 handicap in his own right -- were both 9-under par after 18 holes of a best-ball format that counted the two lowest scores for each team on each hole.
Michigan parred the 19th hole.
“We would have loved to have won, but it was a blast,” Brandon said. “Getting these guys back in the maize and blue and to compete against Michigan State ... it was game day.”
The idea for the match originated in jabs traded by Brandon and Hollis via Twitter at the spring Big Ten meetings. The spirit of competition, and giving each other a hard time, prevailed throughout the day as the two athletic directors took light-hearted shots at each other in the clubhouse before the match, and via Twitter during.
![B1GAD_Feely.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/07/B1GAD_Feely-thumb-333x501-84182.jpg)
Pro golfer Andy Matthews, left, and former Michigan placekicker Jay Feely chat on the green during Monday's B1G AD golf challenge.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
After Brandon stuck the green (Andy Mathews called it the shot of the tournament) off the tee and made par on Eagle Eye’s par-3 island green 17th hole, he stuck around to see Hollis hit his shot in the water.
“I’m so glad I stayed to watch that,” Brandon said with a smile on his way to the 18th hole.
Michigan's Lion Kim, Feely and Mathews had also put shots in the water.
Hollis admitted his game wasn’t as strong as his counterpart’s, but was happy to see the match play out as it did.
“This doesn’t happen with people that don’t like each other,” Hollis said. “Hopefully we can keep this going for years to come.”
Said Brandon: "We compete nose-to-nose in a lot of sports, but we also work together really well and that’s the way it should be."
BRANDON ON AUSTIN HATCH
The NCAA granted Michigan special permission to communicate with the family of basketball recruit Austin Hatch following the plane crash that killed his father and stepmother.
That doesn’t mean the university cares to disclose any of that information.
“I think it’s far more important for the family members to disclose his health status and how he’s progressing,” Brandon said when asked of Hatch’s status. “We’re watching like crazy and we’re praying for him.”
UCONN OBLIGATIONS
The Michigan football team won its 2010 season opener against UConn and is under contract to travel there in 2013. As it stands, the game will be played in UConn's 38,000-capacity Rentschler Field.
"They really want to play that game on campus. I’ve had some preliminary discussions with them because, frankly, it’d be great if we could play at another (larger) venue on the East Coast," Brandon said. "But, for now, our contract is for us to travel, play on their campus, play in their stadium and that will continue to be the case unless there is further information that comes forward."
While the contract will be honored, don't expect it to be renewed.
"I don’t believe that we can or should go on the road for non-conference games when we can put 113,000 people in our stadium," Brandon said. "It's financially the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for our fans in terms of their ticket packages."
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Chad Williams
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Scary Wolverines dont wanna play road games because the only team you beat on the road non-conference is ND. Pathetic and with that statement shows why Michigan isnt the best... Your to worried about money to play say a USC on the road because you lose money, forget about respect lol. Penn State, OSU challenged themselves going on the road and the best michigan did was one neutral site game against bama.
Wally the Wolverine
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:26 p.m.
In fact, evry game should be played on our home field. I mean, ain't it a priviledge for visitors to be seen in our stadium? By the time he's finished making his mark here, they'll name it Brandon Field in Michigan Stadium. Go BLUE!
tater
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
Brandon will do anything to relive his glory days. I'm not sure why it is newsworthy, but I'll give it two on a ten scale for entertainment value.
15crown00
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 5:08 a.m.
Arrogance Plus
GoBlue2009
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.
How is that arrogance? It makes absolutely zero financial sense for us to play in that stadium.
Mick
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 4:32 a.m.
It would be great to move that 2013 UConn Game to The Meadowlands or The New England Patriots Stadium. Great East Coast exposure, maybe make it a prime time game. All the Alumni on the East Coast would certainly appreciate it. I can't believe we agreed to play in that small stadium in the 1st place, whose idea was that?