1. We're going to a BOWL GAME!!!

2. A much needed confidence boost for our team and a good nights sleep for RR

3. Roy Roundtree pulled in 246 yards today! Not only did he set a Michigan record but probably opened DeAnthony Arnett's eyes to how WR's can be massively successful  in our offense too

So seeing as the day after tomorrow we are playing a pretty big football game against Illinois, I figured it may be appropriate to actually, you know, discuss this.  Here are some relevant statistics for the game Saturday:

Quarterbacks:

Overall Statistics:

Last 3 Games:

Michigan Stats/Rankings:

Illinois Stats/Rankings:

Illinois Injury Report:

So there you go.  Let's talk Illinois. Illinois has a tough defense but their passing offense is one of the worst in the nation.  Now our defense can certainly make anyone look good, but our team has a tendency to rotate on/off games.  I think this game is at least competitive with Illinois winning 31-28 due to some missed opportunities on offense.

Thread rules: no talk about NCAA rulings, Rodriguez's job security, or who should replace GERG.  

OK, I've been on the RR hate bandwagon since the Penn State loss. However, I've taken a breath and cooled off a bit.  

I think we may be in good shape at Michigan. Since the State game it's been three bad bad weeks. But we all no how this sport is, it's up and down, sentiments change quickly. We're favored in the next two games. We'll be dogs in the following two. If the season plays out in that manner, plus a bowl game, we will either be 8-5 or 7-6. Our Big Ten record will be 3-5. I think this would be enough, considering the potential we have, to stay the course. 

What would make this decision really easy would be an upset of Wisco or OSU and/or a bowl win. I think people underestimate how possible these things are. Yes our defense is horrible, but all it would take would be a couple opportune fumbles or interceptions and we could be in any one of those games. 

I don't know. I'm going back and forth. But after cooling off I'm going into this Illinois game cautiously optimistic. 

This weekly update will be a little sparse. Since there was a bye then an away game, there wasn't much that happened that I haven't reported already. This weekend should be a good one, however, with the Dr. Phillips clan coming to town.

If you ever have any tips you would like to pass along, please email me at tomvh@mgoblog.com. As always you can get more updates from me on Twitter, as well.

Illinois Visitors

As usual I will post this in a separate diary since the names will change as we get closer to the date. This is the only thing I'm going to say as far as everyone asking about a potential "secret recruit' visiting this weekend. I have confirmed he's coming, and I will let you know who it is when they give me the OK to tell you.

• Safety Roderick Ryles (6'1", 185 lbs, 3 Star): Currently committed to Arkansas, but he has said numerous times that anything can happen. If he likes this visit, I would expect Michigan to be a heavy contender.
• Linebacker Darryl Monore (6'1", 215 lbs, 3 Star): Darryl has not been offered by Michigan, but will be making the trip up this weekend. Currently committed to Washington State, he has said that basically means nothing and it's as soft a commit as you can be.
• Running Back Demetrius Hart (5'8", 190 lbs, 4 Star, Commit): You already know.
• Safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (6'2", 190 lbs, 5 Star): Alabama commit coming up for the second time. I was a little optimistic until I spoke with someone in Florida that I trust. They said Ha'Sean is definitely committed to Alabama, and it would be hard to get him away from that. We'll see what happens.
• Wide Receiver Chris Gallon (6'5", 205 lbs, 3 Star): Chris does not have an offer, although the coaches have told him they're reviewing his film. It seems as though Chris may be a back up plan for Michigan at wide receiver.
• Quarterback Nick Patti (5'10", 180 lbs, 2012 Recruit): Nick has consistently said that Michigan is one of his favorites.

Will Mahone

5'11", 205 lbs.

Running Back

Austintown, Ohio

Will Mahone was in Ann Arbor this year to watch a Michigan game already, and this week traveled to Pennsylvania to see the Penn State game. He got a two for one, as he got to check out both the Lions and Wolverines offense.

It's great to have a quarterback like Denard, we have a versatile quarterback, too, so that's good. (Michigan's) running back (Vincent) Smith looks like he's good too. They had a rough game, but they made a little comeback too.

Mahone plays in a spread offense now that uses a lot of read options, much like Michigan. The new recruiting rules have slowed down offers, but Will is still hearing from a good amount of big time schools.

Alabama, Penn State, Oregon, Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Michigan and Notre Dame are all still sending letters. I have an offer from Cincinnati, too.

While running back may not be a big priority for Michigan in the 2012 class, Mahone would be a good option.

Extra:

• Instate linebacker Desmond Morgan was offered, and will likely visit after his season is done. 
• A look at some potential 2012 QB recruits.
• Linebacker Sean Duggan committed to Boston College.
• AZ OL Cyrus Hobbi's coach says Hobbi is still trying to plan an official to Michigan.

I've been mostly successful this season at keeping my editorial voice out of the weekly wallpapers. However, this week poses several challenges in the "making fun of the opponent" category: a team with a Native American nickname and a program with no discernible traditions. Combine that with my utter disgust after Saturday's game and this is what you get. Actually, I had already finalized the concept for this Illinois wallpaper BEFORE the Penn State game and the original title was "They Be Illin'" but now it is me and you, fellow Michigan fan, who are doin' the illin'. I've changed the title to reflect how I feel at this point in the season; I was so disappointed after the loss at Happy Valley that I almost posted a completely blank wallpaper with the vow to continue posting blank wallpapers until the next win but, after three consecutive losses, designing these wallpapers is the one thing that helps me to move on emotionally (like art therapy).

That said, I haven't completely abandoned hope that this team can meet my original pre-season expectation of 7 wins and I'm firmly in the "let's wait until the last game is played before we cry for firings and lynchings and the like" camp. Here's to hoping that by late on Saturday afternoon we will all have moved on from illin' to celebratin' 6 wins and bowl eligibility.

I had several versions of this wallpaper bouncing around my head last week: everything from tackle twill letters on a retro track jacket to a blinged-out gold chain with diamond-encrusted letters ala Run DMC. I like where this ended up much better; the hoodie and lettering feel appropriately distressed and it gave me a very natural way to turn the last "I" into an apostrophe.

The image below is a preview only. You can get this week's widescreen, 4:3, iPad and mobile wallpapers at The Art. The Art. The Art!.

All of the 2010 Schedule Wallpapers

Season Wallpaper - Denard Robinson Action Figure

Game 1 Connecticut Wallpaper - Husky Puppy Piddles in Fear

Game 2 Notre Dame Wallpaper - Touchdown Jesus Says "No Good"

Game 3 Massachusetts Wallpaper - The $550,000 Cupcake

Game 4 Bowling Green Wallpaper - Wolverine vs. Falcon

Game 5 Indiana Wallpaper - Good at Basketball

Game 6 Michigan State Wallpaper - Sibling Rivalry

Game 7 Iowa Wallpaper - Maize is Blue

Game 8 Penn State Wallpaper - The Eyes Have It

Game 8 Penn State Wallpaper - JoePa Halloween Costume

Game 9 Illinois Wallpaper - We Be Illin'

Game 10 Purdue Wallpaper - I Think We Can! I Think We Can?

Game 11 Wisconsin Wallpaper - Cheesehead Cross Stitch

Perhaps you can answer this question for me. I'm utterly confused. Why did a delivery man just show up in OSU gear, including a shirt that said, "To Do List: Beat M; Beat I", Where M is a Michigan M and I is an Illini I. Where's that hate coming from? I didn't know Illinois mattered that much to OSU.