With the upstart colonies of the new world flexing their muscles against their English oppressors, the United States of America was born. There were so many seminal moments during the formation of this new union, it's is hard to pick one or two events that stand at the top as the "one thing" that changed the course of history. There was so much written, battles were fought, rhetoric was hurled from either side, but it all culminated in a new nation formed out of a sense of fairness and equality ...
Jun 29, 2025•12 min•Season 7Ep. 13
In May of 1962, General Douglas MacArthur, one of the most decorated soldiers of his generation was named the Sylvanus Thayer Award winner by the United States Military Academy. The award honors those whose accomplishments and service to the national interests have exemplified the the academy's motto of "duty, honor, country." MacArthur was extremely honored by his beloved academy's honor and gave one of the most memorable acceptance speeches West Point has ever heard. In this episode, I do my b...
Jun 08, 2025•15 min•Season 7Ep. 12
When Chad Henne, a former Michigan quarterback and multi year NFL star retired from the NFL. he took some heat in social media after his last seasons as a back up in Kansas City to Patrick Mahomes. Chad retired on top of the football world with a Super Bowl ring ending a wonderful career. I read some remarks after Chad announced the retirement that he was an average quaerterback who made a lot of money and never won much til he was a back up. Those remarks in my opinion are stupid and don't refl...
May 26, 2025•5 min•Season 7Ep. 11
It was over 100 years ago when an athletic director genius and visionary named Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan had an idea. It was about intercollegiate athletics for all. One part of that plan was a massive football stadium that was far beyond the scope of anything that had been already constructed or was planned to be constructed. “Ambitious” would have been an understatement for Yosts’ plan. Yet, he believed so firmly, he saw it through. It is now an iconic venue that is recogn...
May 11, 2025•50 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Bits and pieces of history that are surprising come from all aspects of historic events. For instance, Robert E Lee, the South's greatest General in the Civil War tendered a resignation letter to his president, Jefferson Davis when the war was still raging. Davis wrote Lee back and refused to accept his resignation. The rest, as they say, is history. But, to experience the anguish of Lee's letter, and the encouraging reply of Davis gives a sense of the desperate time, but also the respect both m...
Apr 27, 2025•10 min•Season 7Ep. 9
On September 2nd of 1945, the Emperor of Japan surrendered to the Supreme Allied commander, General Douglas MacArthur of the United States. The event took place in Tokyo Bay on the deck of the United States battleship Missouri. It marked the end of one of the bloodiest and deadliest conflicts in world history. For this occasion, MacArthur was compelled by the events that brought the war to an end to speak about the occasion, and the significance it held for the entire globe. This episode of "The...
Apr 13, 2025•9 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Gambling has been looking for a foothold to invade the world of professional and college sports for a very long time. You can go back to the Black Sox scandal in major league baseball way back in 1919 as an example. But now, gambling enjoys seats in the front row. It used to be available only in Vegas or shady store fronts. Now they advertise for your bets on our TV's and radio's. Gambling is a major sponsor for the games they hope people will bet on so they can make their profits from the losin...
Mar 30, 2025•7 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain is one of America's literary treasures. Not only a great writer of classics like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Twain was an essayist, humorist and wonderful speaker. He would, and could converse on just about any topic. From politics, to the arts, to literature, to journalism, to history, Twain was never boring. With an acerbic yet playful style, he played his audiences and readers like a maestro, and had them loving every word by the time he was finis...
Feb 27, 2025•7 min•Season 7Ep. 6
A commentary on the fragile balance the NFL manages between its standing as the colossal giant in professional team sports, and the underbelly of its mega successful standing as a business beast. When the players that create the beast become expendable, despite their exemplary service, the business portion of the beast casts them away. Don't feel sorry for the players, they usually find their way to continued pay days, but make no mistake, business is king, the game just keeps it fed. Be sure to...
Feb 19, 2025•4 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Abraham Lincoln was one of two people asked to speak at the dedication of the cemetery in Gettysburg. The other speaker took more than 2 hours for his address, Lincoln's lasted a little more than two minutes. Despite the brevity of the remarks, they have lasted much longer than the other speakers by a mile. Hear the address, and the context surrounding this historical event in this episode. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of...
Feb 10, 2025•5 min•Season 7Ep. 4
The analysis of the game doesn't do this Lions loss justice. It's more about the dashing of the dreams of a fan base. This was the year all the past was going to be forgotten...instead, more heartache and hopes put on hold again greeted the proud franchise faithful in a playoff run that wasn't. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and hopef...
Feb 04, 2025•6 min•Season 7Ep. 3
My take on the Matthew Stafford trade from Detroit back 4 years ago. It's an open letter to Stafford. In many ways it's a thank you note to him for his great efforts in Detroit to make the Lions a winner. Even through it didn't happen, Stafford did everything in his power to make it work. jimbrandstatter.com, The Brandy Show podcast, @jimbrandstatter (X). facebook.com/jimbrandstatter76 Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topi...
Jan 15, 2025•5 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Grantland Rice takes sportswriting to another level. He brings a story about a football game to the literary world. A massive college game and four Notre Dame players achieve legendary statues in one day thanks to Rice and his beautiful description of the events that happened before him on a Saturday in October at the Polo Grounds in New York. The stadium is gone now, so are the players, so is the newspaper Rice was writing for, but the story he wrote lives on in the halls of college football hi...
Jan 07, 2025•14 min•Season 7Ep. 1
If you have ever been to Michigan Stadium for a football game, it is an experience. And nothing adds to that experience more than the impressive baritone voice that greets you on the public address system every week. The booming words, "BAAAAAAND...TAKE THE FIELD!" sends shivers of excitement and anticipation up the backs of every Wolverine fan in the building. For over 50 years that voice that delivers those words has belonged to Carl Grapentine. Carl is as much a tradition at Michigan Stadium ...
Sep 22, 2024•49 min•Season 6Ep. 5
As you enjoy the 2024 Michigan Football season, and revel in the memory of the 2023 National Championship team, don't forget that in 1997, Michigan was also atop the college football world with a national title authored by Coach Lloyd Carr and a group of Wolverines who would settle for nothing less than perfection. Newspaper reporter Mark Snyder was in the middle of that run as the beat reporter for Michigan at one of the Detroit newspapers. Some 20 years after the title, Mark teamed up with fel...
Sep 08, 2024•50 min•Season 6Ep. 4
One of the most important lessons I learned in my athletic life came from being part of a team. The importance of working together, and focusing diverse personalities and talents to focus on a common goal has been one of the most vital lessons of my life. I learned that from team sports. My college football coach, Bo Schembechler, was a master professor and I can never repay him the lessons he taught all of us who played for him. One of those who played for Bo, and learned those lessons better t...
Aug 25, 2024•43 min•Season 6Ep. 3
The city of Frankenmuth is a treasure in the State of Michigan. The village is a slice of Bavaria just outside Saginaw and north of Flint. Chicken dinners at Zehnders, the Bavarian Inn, and the and Bronners Christmas store dominate the quaint little spot amidst acres of farmland. But, tucked in with this German everyday Octoberfest is the Michigan Hero's Museum. It is probably the most unsung attraction in town, but it maybe the most impressive. Within it's walls reside exhibits that honor Michi...
Aug 11, 2024•43 min•Season 6Ep. 2
If you want to know the inside story on University of Michigan Athletics, you must listen and follow Sam Webb. The WTKA radio veteran broadcaster in Ann Arbor has built himself into an encyclopedia of Wolverine information. Whether it's football or basketball, or anything Wolverine related, Sam will give you the latest, the best, and the most accurate information. Things you want to know, and things you never knew are Sam's specialty. Over the years he has become the "GO-TO" source for all thing...
Jul 28, 2024•50 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Growing up in Detroit and its challenges Jerome's decision to turn down Michigan and Michigan State and go to Notre Dame out of high school Those college days at ND and his record against Michigan Getting drafted by the Rams in the NFL Learning about the game in the NFL The move to St Louis and the disappointment in management that had him seriously considering retirement Getting a new start and new career in Pittsburgh He was talked out of retiring the year the Super Bowl was in Detroit by his ...
Sep 15, 2023•53 min•Season 5Ep. 12
We talk abut the current change of environment in collegiate athletics with NIL, Transfer portal, etc Bruce talks about his impact on the Chris Weber post game story after Webers "time out" in the NCAA title game Bruce was in the middle of the Gary Moeller to Lloyd Carr transition in football which was a dicey moment for Michigan football The idea of a crisis manager doubling as a sports information director is appropriate in Bruce's situation The politics of an athletic department and it's beau...
Sep 01, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Detroit Lions hopes in 2023 The kicking game and the NFL pressure cooker for kickers The failure in San Francisco in the playoff that had Monte Clark praying on the sidelines The current NFL and the improvement in the kicking game The difference when he went to Dallas from his time in Detroit The players he played with and their efforts to be great The coaches he played for and their styles..what worked and what didn't Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of...
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Why even take the Michigan Athletic Directors job...Hackett was retired when he accepted the position. Comments on his predecessor, Dave Brandon The timing of leadership The importance of integrity Jim Harbaugh on his radar immediately The difficulties and requirement in hiring a Divison 1 head football coach The nature of loyalty Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may interest you. Tell your friends ...
Jul 31, 2023•29 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Topics explored include college athletics How playing football under Bo Schembechler aided in his progression to CEO positions The Ford Motor Company The automobile indistry The emergence and future of the electric vehicle revolution Steelcase and it's evolution when that business changed CEO strategies and planning The immense importance of computer chips and that industry and where it is primarily located Gazing into the future as a CEO guiding a company into a changing and uncertain business ...
Jul 15, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 8
A July 7th, 2023 event to raise awareness and funds for autism at Webers Inn in Ann Arbor. Jake Moody talks about his most pressure-packed kick in college. Jake Moody discusses the trust between a kicker and coach. Jake Moody talks about the practice and process a kicker must master to become one of the best in the country. Moody talks about the draft and his conversation with the 49ers when drafted and how he was surprised by it Xavier DeGroat talks about his reaching out to Jake to help his ca...
Jun 30, 2023•41 min•Season 5Ep. 7
The Jimmy Hoffa disappearance is still an open case Bo Schembechler was front and center in cleaning up steroid abuse, and crooked sports agents The messages Greg imparted on Michigan Football teams when asked to address the team by Coach Schembechler The GM executives family kidnapping Tracking down an armed killer near Escanaba The Ann Arbor Veterans hospital poisoning homicide cases The beginnings of investigating internet crimes Today's collegiate athletics is so different than the past...so...
Jun 16, 2023•53 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Betts frankly talks about a young black man's options out of high school in the mid 1960's The University of Michigan's unique draw that appealed to Betts, and ultimately got him to Ann Arbor Trying to keep the dream alive of playing quarterback as a young black athlete in the mid 60's Relating to his head coach Bo Schembechler who challenged Betts, and who Betts challenged right back Finding compromise between protesters and the administration during contentious times After graduation, finding ...
Jun 01, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 5
We talk about the amateur boxing ranks The life of a young boxer without any amateur experience. The tough road of a young pro..how to schedule fights Hanging out with world champions like Hilmer Kenty, Milton McCrory, Thomas Hearns and others Being managed by James Toney and Jackie Kallen A statue for Thomas Hearns The renewal of the Kronk Gym and it's legacy Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may in...
May 17, 2023•38 min•Season 5Ep. 4
We discuss Title IX and its effects on womens athletics We talk about her favorite players and favorite teams. Her start at MSU and then becoming an icon at Michigan. We talk about transgenders competing against women. We discuss rule changes she advocated to make womens softball a better game. Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and hopef...
May 01, 2023•49 min•Season 5Ep. 3
jimbrandstatter.com facebook: jim brandstatter 76 twitter: @jimbrandstatter Controversial calls from big game referees and officials Replay officials with questionable rulings dwindling supply of sports officials Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may interest you. Tell your friends to stop by to visit, listen and hopefully subscribe. This show was produced by Jim Brandstatter in studio's in Michigan ...
Apr 18, 2023•45 min•Season 5Ep. 2
There has been so much written and said about the Name, Image, and Likeness legislation in collegiate athletics, it was high time we tried to understand it. Former Michigan player Jared Wangler, and the son of Wolverine legend John Wangler is right in the middle of the NIL explosion. As a matter of fact, he is implementing payments, and NIL deals for Michigan athletes. So what is it all about. It seems to most of us in my generation that the money is flowing freely to college athletics, and the ...
Apr 01, 2023•44 min•Season 5Ep. 1
