My response to a column that Detroit News Columnist Terry Foster was included in his 2/11/01 Inside the Game feature.

Here is the original column I was commenting on and here is the Inside the Game column with my edited response.

Here is my complete response:

Terry,

As Webmaster of a Michigan Wolverine fan site I can tell you that season ticket holders are not happy about the proposed changes (especially seat licenses).

I do want to remind you that Bill Martin cannot (just as Tom Goss) arbitrarily raise ticket prices or institute seat licenses on his own. He must propose any changes to the UM regents for approval. You may remember that Goss really didn't get pillared about raising ticket prices until after he officially proposed it to the regents. And also recall that after the outrage ticket prices increases were rolled back.

Many fans are worried, but are taking a wait and see stance. UM seems to be doing some polling of UM season ticket holders in an attempt to find out exactly what changes they would accept. Last summer Bill Martin was quoted as saying that a $100 PSL would erase UM's deficit. During the last month people close to the Athletic Department have told me that numbers up to $250 have been considered.

Bill Martin has had an easy time of it so far. How he handles the next several months will be a huge test for him.

As for Tom Goss I gag on the following statement by Don Canham, "Everything he said was going to transpire has happened since he left"... Oh really? Where are the budget surpluses that Goss predicted for the last two years of his administration?

Regards,

Phil Callihan

Editor-in-Chief, UMGoBlue.COM- By Fans...For Fans

phil@umgoblue.com

P.S. Here is a copy of the survey that UM is sending out:

http://umgoblue.com/HTML/Football/01/01fballsurvey.htm

PSL Commentary:

http://umgoblue.com/HTML/Commentary/0001seatlicenses.htm

Go Blue!

Phil Callihan
UMGoBlue.COM- By Fans...For Fans
phil@umgoblue.com