Stadium boards approved

The University Board of Regents approved a $7.9 million multimedia project proposed by the Athletic Department on Friday.

Two video scoreboards - comprised of a video screen and adjoining scoreboard - will be installed in Michigan Stadium for use this coming football season. Crisler Arena will receive a four-sided videoboard and a media production facility with Internet capabilities.

Athletic Director Tom Goss said the videoboards and production facility will allow the University to broadcast sporting events throughout the world via the Internet and television in some areas.

"It gives us an opportunity to move Michigan into the future," Goss said. "I believe it will also give all of our sports the opportunity to be exposed around the world."

Goss said athletic department officials plan to have the project completed by September.

The video scoreboards will allow spectators to view instant football replays, clips of Michigan athletic history and additional game information that cannot be displayed on the current scoreboards.

"I think when you look at the way our society is, we get bored very quickly," said Tom Cecchini, athletic department director of marketing and communications. "This is an opportunity to keep interest throughout the entire game and enhance every (aspect) of the game itself."

Regent Dan Horning (R-Grand Haven) said the new equipment will enhance the athletic experience for Michigan fans.

"I think it will be an added value to our fans and to our alums and other interested parties," Horning said.

Regent Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills) said most people will welcome the technological advances.

"There may be some purists that don't like this change in the experience, but I think, for most of us, to see replays will be spectacular," Deitch said.

University President Lee Bollinger said that replacing the old scoreboards does not threaten the nostalgia associated with Michigan athletics and Michigan Stadium.

"What classifies as tradition and simply the way it has always been ... is a matter of judgment," Bollinger said. "I personally don't see a decade-old electronic scoreboard as an important piece of the tradition of Michigan football."

The scoreboard replacement fits in with the current 5,000-seat expansion of Michigan Stadium, Deitch said.

"The time is right for this and we're doing it in a tasteful manner," Deitch said during discussion about the project. "I whole-heartedly support this decision."

Also at Friday's board meeting, the regents unanimously voted to make Larry Warren - interim executive director of University Hospitals and Health Centers - the hospital's permanent director.

Warren thanked the regents for the opportunity.

"From my vantage point, to lead is recognized as a jewel in this country," said Warren, adding that he plans to work with Medical School Dean Lorris Betz and other health professionals to bring the health system to new levels of quality.

"The current dean and I are intending to move to a level of performance excellence that is unprecedented," Warren said. "We'll do that through team efforts, looking at our processes. Essentially, we're trying to improve upon our foundation as a learning organization."

Gilbert Omenn, executive vice president for medical affairs, said that after he spoke about Warren with medical colleagues across the country, he found out "how sought out and respected he is."

Omenn said Warren has an excellent rapport with individuals from various facets of the medical community.

"Larry has performed admirably in this role in the last 21 months," Omenn said.

"He is well known and highly respected nationally," he added.

Warren's appointment was brought to the regents after being unanimously approved by the health system's executive board.

In addition to Warren's appointment, the board approved George Kenyon as the College of Pharmacy dean. Kenyon's appointment is effective Sept. 1.

- Daily Staff Reporter Jennifer Yachnin contributed to this report.

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