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The Beginning
After the well-documented late night statement from athletic director Dave Brandon, it appeared it wasn't enough for the student body and fans alike to take the pressure of the embattled Brandon.
It started with a message board post on MGoBlog. Combined that with a petition, the natives are restless.
"6 p.m., Tuesday. Be there," said the user.
An idea was born.
SO, 6 p.m. arrived. Well?
So this is basically the rally right now. Yes, that’s an OSU hoodie. pic.twitter.com/Mii9Ze5Xyn
— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) September 30, 2014
Okay. Maybe not that greatest start ever, but it started with this guy.
So the turnout grew just a bit. pic.twitter.com/QVflQiwFiR
— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) September 30, 2014
Then it got a little bigger.
Protest corgi. pic.twitter.com/v25gWY1nre
— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) September 30, 2014
Don't forget about the corgi. Hi, Adam Jacobi.
It’s 6 p.m. Chants of "Fire Brandon" have begun. (And now they’ve stopped.) pic.twitter.com/wfgNQJG4nq
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) September 30, 2014
There even was chanting!
Chant turns to "Down with Dave" as @umich crowd swells to nearly 1,000. pic.twitter.com/4asOGMwdR6
— Jeremy Allen (@JeremyAllenA2) September 30, 2014
Now the party has started!
Skipping to the Good Bits
With the throng of Michigan faithful in hand and chanting hatred of Dave Brandon, somewhat, things started getting good.
Students chanting "Done with Dave" as they march to President Schlissel's house. https://t.co/Xdr2qHN9HI
— Simon Kaufman (@sjkauf) September 30, 2014
Onward, to Mark Schlissel's house!
This is @DrMarkSchlissel's house. These are hundreds of students on his lawn. pic.twitter.com/2p44uozjsN
— Jeremy Allen (@JeremyAllenA2) September 30, 2014
This is where the crowd stayed for the remainder of the rally.
The sight from the doorway of @umich President's home. Not sure if he's home. @Local4News https://t.co/ylkBGx9DdV
— @Nightcam (@nightcam) September 30, 2014
They care about the players as students check to see if Schlissel is home by knocking on his front door.
New chant: "protect our players" pic.twitter.com/3oKxrzIxRA
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) September 30, 2014
There was a guy with a megaphone.
"I’m proud of our history. I’m not proud of Dave Brandon being a part of that history." pic.twitter.com/JDLSWXM7YE
— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) September 30, 2014
It continued for a while.
@umich protest has moved to the President's front lawn. #OhTheHumanity #FireDaveBrandon pic.twitter.com/86rXDijdI9
— @Nightcam (@nightcam) September 30, 2014
And then... It just died away.
No matter how short-lived this moment in Ann Arbor truly was, it goes to show you the power of the internet and social media. One little message board post, including the word-of-mouth advertising through Twitter and Facebook, it created this event.
Sure, in the grand scheme of things, two wrongs don't make a right. But it shows the student body is fed up and are demanding change. It shows that the students are ready to fight and are (mostly) united to a singular cause.
The fight has just begun.