All,
If you’re not a Michigan Super Fan
(which is about half of you!) you’re probably not going to get a lot of this
post simply because most of it is about Michigan Football history. Specifically, Michigan Radio history and people
that have contributed to the Michigan Football history and have enriched the
experience for everyone who is a Michigan Football Fan.
So, I apologize if you were
looking for more, but today is for “radio” and it really helped me
remember why I started this blog!!!
Monday, May 7th, Was A Special Day
Special “K”, a great high-school
friend, happens to have a long history with the Ufer family that owns
an insurance company in Ann Arbor. Bob’s
kids, Tom, Dave, Bob and Pam have continued to keep the “Bob Ufer Quarterback
Club” alive and well and this was the 71st event for the
club. The club raises money for
scholarships in addition to recognizing Michigan Senior Student Athletes
and their accomplishments.
They have continued to keep the
event going since Bob Sr.’s passing on October 26th in 1981.
With an Invitation from Special “K”,
I got a chance to have lunch with Tom and Dave Ufer and catch the first Thursday
round of the NCAA tournament with them.
During that lunch, Special “K” was invited to the Bob Ufer QB Club Golf
Outing at the U of M Golf Course and he immediately asked if I’d like
to join.
I instantly replied “You
bet your cotton pickin’ Maize and Blue heart I’d like to join!”
I shot out a quick text to
several of you and immediately received a reply from TJH stating that he and Ekitten
would be joining our 4-some on May 7th !!
May 7th came this past
Monday and the foursome was all present and accounted for. The first great part of the day was all the foursomes
getting a picture with a former Michigan Basketball player that,
frankly, nobody recognized until we were standing right next to him! Spike Albrecht was the special guest
on hand to kick the outing off right!
I’d like to say that we played a
great round, but not having a lot of rounds under our belts this season, we
didn’t fair that well. In full
disclosure, we finished 1-over (winners were 14 under!), but that’s not the entire
story.
We were having cocktails in the
reception area in the newly remodeled Clubhouse and the “Coach”
and his old man walked in! We jumped on
the opportunity to grab some pics and shake hands with the leader of Michigan
Football.
Jake Ruddock - Coach - E-Kitten
When we went upstairs to dinner,
we were assigned tables and a gentlemen sat down that I recognized, but I didn’t
know from where. I have had a lifelong curse of
NEVER FORGETTING A FACE and not being able to remember a name, in addition to
not being able to recollect where I might know that face from. I’ve hated it all my life and whenever I meet
someone today, I try to compartmentalize it and force myself to remember, but I
still am not that good…
Art Vuolo introduced himself and was
sitting across from us and telling some awesome Michigan stories. He commented that he produces video of Michigan
Football and behind the scenes video of Radio broadcasts. He also captures game footage and
includes the Band Show Halftime highlights. Basically, Art records everything Michigan!
The dinner concluded and the
awards were handed out. There was a lot
of emotion watching the future grads talk about what the Michigan experience
has meant to them and how their tenure at Michigan made them all better
individuals.
A list of the winners:
Senior Athlete Award Winners
Katelynn Flaherty – Women’s Hoops
PJ Ransford – Men’s Swimming
Gabby DeLoof – Women’s Swimming
Kyle Muller – Golf
Muhammad-ali Abdur Rahkman – Men’s
Hoops
Spirit Award Winners
Austin Hatch -Men’s Hoops
Carly Bennett – Field Hockey
Mike Wroblewski – Football
Jim Brandstatter – The Bennie
Oosterbaan Award
It wasn’t until I received
Art’s e-mail a couple of days later with links to his work that it dawned on me
when and where we had met. It was when I
was a student manager in 1988. There’s
usually a press day at practice before or on the day of the Spring Game. Beckman and Brandstatter were running around
interviewing coaches and there was this other dark haired, slightly shorter guy
running around with them. I
remember shaking his hand and catching his name and chatting briefly with this
high-energy dynamo when Beckman and Brandstatter started interviewing Coach
Moeller. (I was more or less Moeller’s
student Manager)
THAT’S where I knew Art
from! Of course, he looked a lot younger
and had darker hair!!! (And so did the
MMQ!!!!) It was 30 years ago this spring!!! A lot can change in 30 years, but
he was as much a bundle of energy then as he is now.
So, without further ado:
An Art Vuolo Tribute
Anyway, I’ve spent that last few
days going through a TON of Art’s videos (on youtube) and I will say that they
are comprehensive and can be quite entertaining!! Chances are if you’ve watched any Youtube
video with Michigan in a game, Ufer or otherwise, you’ve probably seen some of
Art’s work.
What I like most about it is that
he does a lot of chatting with the fans at tailgates and does a lot of behind
the scenes work with the radio personalities and the band.
When you read up on Art’s
history, he has accomplished more than you can possibly imagine and it’s all
because of his love for Michigan and Michigan Football. I’m going to post Art’s e-mail that he sent to
me here and let you read and feel for yourself how his love for Michigan runs
deep (staring with a link to Art’s Website):
Hey Russ,
It was great meeting you at the Bob Ufer Quarterback Club
event Monday night! As you probably figured out, I pour my heart and soul
into making great videos of Michigan Football, and have been doing so since
1979. It was a special night and I was blown away by all the recognition,
even though physically I was slipping fast. Tuesday I was sicker than a
dog, but I didn't want to delay any longer getting this out.
As promised here are a few links that will give you an idea of what I do with video and specifically at the Michigan football games. Check these out... BTW, if you just type my name into YouTube lots of stuff will come up. Type this one in: Jim Harbaugh talks to Art Vuolo for a 3 part 7 minute video that you will love!
This is my Michigan Football Hi-Lite Sampler from
2016. It's the UM-Penn State game and is tightly edited to just 12
minutes. This will give you an idea of how I do games each week.
Always with RADIO audio (much better) and all the stuff that TV doesn't
cover. BTW...this is the PSU game that we won!
Two days after the great honor at the
Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago, I did this UM opener at the 2015 Rutgers game in
Ann Arbor...I was just out of the hospital. I had lost a lot of
weight and was with Ann Arbor native and Chicago radio legend John Records
Landecker.
Here's an amazing video clip from the
UM vs. Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on New Years Day. Outrageous!
It shows why radio audio is better than TV, and why I always use the radio
broadcast on my games.
Lastly a great moment from May
2016 when they gave me the coveted Yellow Jacket Award at the 69th Bob
Ufer Quarterback Club Banquet. It was back when I was still dying my hair and
had glasses. After 39 years of archiving Michigan football, it's truly nice to
be appreciated.
Watch as much or as little as you care
to and let me know what you think of this stuff. I work hard to make
all of my football videos a really cool production. I make the whole season
available for just $189...less than the price of one UM-Ohio State
ticket! Pretty good deal. BTW, from this year I have seven really
great tournament basketball games; MSU, Purdue, Montana, Houston
(buzzer-beater), Texas A&M, Florida State and Loyloa! Radio audio is
from IMG College Sports with Matt Shepard and Terry Mills. Let me know
what you think of all this stuff and also if you'd like to get on board
for Michigan Football 2018.
My Best
& Go Blue,
ART
All of Art’s work received the
recognition it deserves from the Museum of Broadcast Radio in Chicago. Art’s work will be on display in the
museum. In Addition to that honor, Art
won the Maize Jacket Award in May of 2016.
On May 2, 2016 I was presented with The Yellow Jacket Award
at the Bob Ufer Quarterback Club Sports Banquet at Barton Hills Country Club in
Ann Arbor! It was totally unexpected and a huge honor for me. It's their most
prestigious award and I held up pretty well. Enjoy!
I found another GREAT
summary of Ufer looking through Art’s stuff that he contributed to as well (Credit
to Dr. Sap for this one)
I’d like to think that all Michigan
Men have a common bond and a common interest.
That is spreading the word of Michigan and everything associated with
this great university. It’s
without question that Ufer was truly an inspiration for me and
others have come along that have reinforced why I write this drivel in this
blog. To put things down so that
someone may stumble upon it years from now that’s looking for a different perspective
or how Michigan related to the rest of the world at any given moment in time. Regardless, Art has become another
inspiration and it was truly a pleasure meeting him!!
ETC.
Beaubien Named B1G Pitcher of the
Year
Huge honor for Frosh pitcher
Meghan Beaubien. Meghan’s Stats: 32
victories (against 3 losses) and an ERA of 0.90 and an opponent
batting average of 0.123 (I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that number!)
The B1G Conference named Beaubien the
Pitcher of the Year AND the Freshman of the Year!!! Meghan is also a finalist for the National
Player of the Year (named by the NCAA). Michigan,
nationally ranked at #12, probably has a
shot
at hosting an upcoming NCAA Regional in Ann Arbor. The BTN will be airing the B1G Softball
Tourney this weekend so tune in and catch some games!
And maybe part of Beaubien’s success
is that fact that she’s playing for the B1G COTY!!!!
Hutchins is B1G Coach of the
Year!!!
Hutch has won the B1G COTY for
the 17th time in her 34-year career.
Michigan was actually supposed to be in a “slight” rebuilding year, but
instead has gone 43-10 overall! Pretty
amazing accomplishment…
Once A Michigan Man, Always A Michigan Man
Moe Ways was a great football
wide receiving recruit that didn’t quite pan out at Michigan. But here’s a great story that shows you why
there’s men and then there’s “Michigan Men”.
Another Rivalry
Dies
In what can only be described as “Robbing the Fans that CARE!”,
the administrators at PSU have decided that Pitt isn’t worth their time when it
comes to football…But I’m sure the Nittany Lions fans will be tickled to death
when San Jose State or Akron comes to town!!!
I
hate that it all comes down to money in the end…
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