Miami (Ohio)

I'm watching the MGoBlue.com video feed now (with the radio audio piped in), and have several comments.

First of all, this is pretty good coverage, at least compared to the alternative.

I see that the Miami players are entering and leaving the rink from the south end, rather than the north. Until I moved away and quit going to games in 2006, both teams used the entrance at the north end. When did this change? Are there new visitor facilities at the south end now? I recall that the "concourse" area at the south end really was mostly useless loading-dock type space.

During radio commercial breaks, we hear what Al Randall and Jim Hunt are saying off the air with their mics on. Just before Jim Hunt's second-intermission interview with Miami's injured Justin Mercier, Jim said, "Justin, how's the leg? They told me not to ask you about it, but I won't say anything on the air." And Mercier then gave him the full scoop "off the air."

After the interview, Jim was talking to his producers, and he said something to the effect of, "How was that? Yeah, LOTS better than the first one. [Greg Pateryn in the first intermission] When you don't know these kids sometimes you have no idea what you're gonna get on the air."

In the third period, Michigan appeared to score a shorthanded goal which was waived off. Porno-mustache Langseth reviewed the video, and the MGoBlue camera focused from the press box right down onto the review monitor rinkside. The ruling was that the puck was directed in with a Michigan skate, and the goal was waived off. From the video I saw though, it clearly looked to me on the slow motion the ref was looking at that it was a Miami skate that kicked in the puck. What are the rules about defensive skates kicking pucks in? Or maybe I just didn't see it correctly.

Someone had better buy Bryan Hogan a HUGE steak tonight. He made some absolutely ridiculous saves in the second period.

Apparently it is next to impossible to get UM-MU tickets through the Miami box office even for alumni.

Does the UM box office make single game tickets available to the public?

Whats my best bet for getting tickets to the game, and how much should I expect to pay? Is scalping a reasonable possiblity?

Are there decent accomodations in AA? I used to go to games all the time, but would just drive back to Toledo and stay with my grandparents.

Are there post game MGoBlog happy hour parties?

Will
"War does not determine who is right. It determines who is left"

OK, so we've already been over why UM is going to dispose of Utah in game one, now it's on to Miami (OH), when I'll probably sport the Worst State Ever shirt, just for fun.  Here's why UM is 2-0 going into South Bend:

Miami (OH) -- Sept. 6, 12:00 PM

First off, it's a MAC school, and despite Johnny Sears' best efforts, Michigan has a strict policy of beating these teams.  As for Miami, UM leads the series 4-0 (sweep!).  Did you know their team name is the RedHawks?  That's right, one word, with the 'H' capitalized in the middle.  WtF?  While emotionally, one could fear a letdown between the Utah and Notre Dame games, it won't happen.  It's no stretch to imagine the offense looking a little shaky in game one, so I imagine Rodriguez berating them constantly leading up to the Miami game, causing Boren to transfer from Ohio State, just to get farther away.

Miami's defense seems to be the strength of the team.  After playing Utah, with three new linebackers, Miami returns all three starters, and apparently they're good.  “That threesome is as good as any in the conference, and I don’t think that there are many who are better in all of college football,” coach Shane Montgomery said. Two things:

1. Miami's coach's name sounds like that of a country music star.
2. I know the midwest isn't known for its hot women, but this is far from the best threesome in the MAC Conference.

So they have good linebackers, big deal.  The offense won't need too many points to get us the win...

That's because Miami's offense is rotten.  No running backs of note returning, a shaky quarterback, and well...they're Miami.  Goal number three for Shafe's defense is looking pretty good for this game, whether it's by way of knocking the starter out, or a few turnovers.  Miami's starter threw seven picks in the last three games of '07.

This game may start slowly, but Michigan is just too good for Miami.  The RedHawks won't be able to move the ball, and Michigan's defense and/or special teams will score in Week Two.  Write it down.  Bring on the Irish!