The only football-related thing I can say today...

This is the email I sent to Michigan AD, Bill Martin this morning... I'll let you know if I get a response.
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Dear Mr. Martin,
I am writing to express my dismay at the recent turn of events with respect to our football program.

As a recent alumna of the University, this is my first year as a season ticket holder. Last year, I paid to have two tickets transferred into my name, and also purchased four new sets of season tickets. All total, I spent close to$3,500 on my Michigan tickets for this season, which is not an insignificant amount of money to a young professional such as myself. However, Michigan and Michigan football mean a great deal to me, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure my friends and I were in the Big House on Saturdays, cheering on our team.

Going into this season, in addition to renewing my season tickets and paying the PSLs for those seats, I had plans to donate more money to the athletic department, in the hopes of improving the location of my four season tickets. However, given the state of our program, I no longer have any desire to do so unless there are some serious changes made.

Additionally, in past years, along with my friends, I enjoyed attending at leastone away game per season. We viewed it not only as an opportunity to see some great football and but also to represent Michigan fans in the best light possible, even in hostile environments like the Horseshoe and Spartan Stadium. We've also attended the Rose Bowl, and considered going to several other Bowl games. However, given our recent lackluster and dismal performances on the road, we have decided not to attend an away game or a bowl game, until we know that our money and time will not be spent in vein. A simple look at Michigan's record in road-openers in the last eight years (1-7) should illustrate this point clearly.

While I appreciate what Coach Carr has done for our program and respect him as an individual, I am saddened to say that I think it is time for some wholesale changes in our coaching staff. This is our opportunity to stop the downward spiral that our team has been in for several years. If the Athletic Department acts quickly and swiftly, it can prevent us from hitting the kind of rock bottom that many major programs have experienced over the years. A program like Michigan is too important to college football and too worthy of having to endure that kind of embarrassment. We owe it to the generations of Michigan football fans and players to carry on the Michigan tradition of excellence.

More than anything, our team is missing a "killer instinct;" that "Michigan attitude" that makes us all proud to be Wolverines. Our team plays flat, especially on the road, a problem which, I believe, comes from the top down. I urge you to take a hard look at programs like USC and Florida for a fine example of teams who play hard, produce results, and also look like they're enjoying themselves out on the field. Games are actually fun for their fans and team, not just something they merely get through until the following week. Those teams and their coaches show the kind of spark that Michigan football teams and coaches haven't shown in more years than I can remember.

I still consider Michigan the best school in the country. We should expect nothing less of our football team. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
r