010 - Steve Clarke seg2 041526

The episode opens with a sponsored segment for Brighton Ford, promoting a lease deal on the 2026 Ford Explorer. The hosts then break major news: the incoming University of Michigan president, Sivirud, has been diagnosed with brain cancer and will not assume the role. Instead, he will serve as a professor at the Law School and special advisor to the Board of Regents, while interim president Dominico Grasso remains in office. The hosts express deep sympathy for Sivirud, emphasizing the emotional toll of receiving such news at the peak of a dream career. They discuss the lengthy and complex process of selecting a new university president, noting it could take until fall or even next spring. The conversation shifts to Michigan basketball, with a debate on whether the program now qualifies as a 'blue blood' after winning a national championship. The hosts explore the evolving nature of the term, citing historical success, cultural perception, and recent performance, while contrasting Michigan with programs like Indiana and Ohio State. They also examine Michigan State’s status, highlighting their past glory but recent struggles, especially in the NCAA Tournament and transfer portal recruitment. The episode closes with a brief mention of weather damage to Yost Field and a plug for the Stacking Benjamins podcast on inflation.