football

I started this as a response to the diary by maizeonblueaction, but I figured it would get more play on the main board. I'm interested to find if anyone cares to defend the B1G acquisition of Rutgers and Maryland. I feel like cable contracts with the BTN are not the end all, be all factor as to whether our forray out east will be successful.

I'm not as sold on BTN bound TV sets being the sole reason to branch into populace areas. Sure, that's a huge focal point for now, but it's not the only thing. When speculating on decisions, there is a general trend to underestimate those who come to said decisions. It's easy to poke holes in most arguments, as there are very few 'no-brainers'. Sure, there are stupid people everywhere, but by and large the people who have cash to back up their decisions have proven themselves in some facet. It is presumptuous to assume that a rag tag group of message board patrons have out-thunk a group of people who make insane amounts of money to assure that even more insane amounts of money and power are retained by said group.

I can list a few other items that should not be overlooked in the event that TV channels are no longer bundled.  These are listed from the perspective of CFB, but can also apply to other sports in some cases...

1. Recruiting. This is not to be undersold. Higher population equates to more talent that can be swayed into staying home. In this instance, the Nebraska coup was a net drain on the conference. Sure, Nebraska will hold onto some of their recruiting territories in Texas and out west, but most of their kids will need to be cherry picked from the midwest. We have one more heavyweight eating from the same piece of pie. Conversely, New Jersey and Maryland are hot states for football recruiting. Though the schools may be lightweights, they've brought more pie to our party! In a way, bringing them into the fold helps mitigate our fat uncle Nebraska. ( I swear this is the last time I analogize high school recruits to pie. It's creepy.)

2. Word of mouth. Even if we can't edge our way into the TV sets of the entirety of Baltimore, DC, and the greater NYC area, getting our foot in the door creates a starting point. If mouths start talking about the Big 10 in those areas, they have the power to spread our gospel like a targeted plague. You can even speculate that if Rutgers and Maryland benefit from the status of being in the Big 10, they will be able to raise the profile of their teams and compete on a national stage, bringing even more relevancy.

3. Lamestream media coverage. I despise the term. But the mainstream media will parrot what it thinks is best for self preservation. When ESPN sees that the large demographics are now more tuned into B1G interests, it will cater to that demand. More curious eyes means more exposure. More exposure means more curious eyes. I guess this dovetails with number 2 on my list, but it stands as a potential point.  The antithesis of this is the NHL.  It is, by all means, a great product.  But Bettman and lockouts and unwarranted expansion that dilutes the product caused a lot of casual fans to turn away.  Now, ESPN couldn't take enough pay to touch the league, which threatens to further nichify the sport.

4. Access to coastline. In the event of Civil War II breaking out between the B1G and the SEC, any military person recognizes the basic need of coastline. Nobody likes to be landlocked. Laugh now, but crazier shit has happened.

rivals release the rest of their 250 today.  here are some players with michigan interest or commits.  perhaps someone else can tell us if these players' rankings moved since the last iteration of the 250.  (everyone listed here is ranked 101-250 b/c the top 100 was covered yesterday).

• 118, commit Mason Cole
• 127, potential target PA S Montae Nicholson
• 128, commit Michael Ferns
• 154, potential target PA WR KJ Williams
• 181, commit Bryan Mone
• 229, target Parker Westphal

a few other notes:

• Speight not in their top 250
• Neither is Bunting, who we expected to climb
• Marshall, Bunting, Speight, Ways and JBB all got 3 stars.

I know there was some speculation that he might come here, but it looks like he is going to NC State: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9296290/former-arkansas-qb-brandon-mitchell-transferring-nc-state. This means we are probably not going to take a transfer in this class.

No idea what this will be called (Lions Bowl? Motor City Bowl Part Deux?), but the Pizza Bowl  is on the way out.

Detroit Lions expected to start new bowl in 2014, likely B1G vs. ACC, at Ford Field sources told @espn. Would eliminate Little Caesars Bowl

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) May 21, 2013

Update: The Pizza Bowl folks don't seem like they will go quietly into that good bowl night just yet. They are looking at moving the game to Comerica Park.

Yes. I realize that it is still May.

Yes. May is still somewhat far from September.

Yes. I am a bit psychotic for working on wallpapers for the upcoming season so...early.

Yes. I'm expecting my second child in July and will most likely lose all free-time and sleep I currently enjoy.

That being said, I am really excited about this year's Under the Lights game and all the wonderful wallpaper ideas I have for this year's edition.  Because of "Yes" #4, I am trying to get as much work done early as I can.  Naturally, I will have to do some work DURING the season, but I'm hopeful I'll be AT the ND game this year, and thus will not have time for my normal insomniac-like last-minute wallpaper post.  So there you have it - my full justification for posting this wallpaper now.

Actually, this wallpaper was intended as more of a "poster" feel.  You could slide an Adidas logo quite nicely onto it, IMHO, and it could pass for part of their promotional material.  I liked the idea, even if it is predictable, and I think it turned out pretty well.  Let me know what you think.  The next UTL2 wallpaper I work on will most likely feature a chicken.  Just sayin'.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.  As always, a mobile version will follow within the next few days.

EDIT: Fixed the blocky font.  Man, I really need to proof my work more closely.

EDIT 2: Added two mobile designs.

Light It Up, Again. (Desktop - 16:9)

Light It Up, Again (iPhone 5 - Mobile)

Light It Up, Again [Broken Edition] (iPhone 5 - Mobile)

- JonValk

5 star DT Eddie Vanderdoes is rumored to not be enrolling at Notre Dame:

Bruce Feldman ‏@BFeldmanCBS 17m

Could be good news for #UCLA. MT @SacBee_JoeD: Lot of speculation 5-star DT Eddie Vanderdoes may not be headed to Notre Dame after all

This continues the trend over the last 4 years or so where some of the top recruits at Notre Dame have either never made it onto campus or transferred within a year:

2013: 5 star Eddie Vanderdoes

2012: 5 star QB Gunner Kiel, 5 star CB Ronald Darby, 4 star WR Davonte Neal, 4 star CB Tee Shepard, 4 star WR Deontay Greenberry, 4 star OL Taylor Decker, 4 star WR Justin Ferguson

2011: 5 star DE Aaron Lynch

2010: 5 star DE Chris Martin, 4 star OL Matt James, 4 star RB Giovani Bernard, 4 star DE Blake Lueders

2009: 4 star WR Shaquelle Evans