the just released schedules were a flat-out statement that the B10 doesn't believe SOS will matter in playoff selection
Michigan & MSU
CHEERING FOR SPARTY?
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Yesterday, when sitting through a boring lecture on managerial accounting, I stumbled across an ESPN article titled, "Cheering for MSU from Ann Arbor", discussing how fans at Local Ann Arbor bars were being filled with people cheering for Sparty... I read it and I instantly threw up in my mouth.
Now I am not a Michigan student, or grad student, alumni nor will I ever be, But I was born and raised on M... Too me Ann Arbor is a sacred place... Look, I understand, the whole automobile crisis, the down economy, and the just natural crappy nature of the state, but after being held down by the shackles of what I reference as "The worst fall of my life" my shit talking to my friends who attend MSU is nominally subdued and I am left hearing irrational Spartan fans continuously telling me how M football is over and how much they loved beating M and will continue to do so for years to come. These are the same friends who expect me to cheer for MSU? I find that quite ironic. What does it matter that the game is played in Detroit? It has no baring on me nor do I think it should on anybody else. I am not a spartan fan I don't root for them against Ohio State I don't root for them ever... I am indifferent, but to actually verbally acknowledge any inkling that I want MSU to win is unacceptable to me. Even on a lighter note I rooted against Sparty for the fact that anytime anything cooler then a cow shitting ignites a riot. I was slightly concerned for my friends safety..What are your thoughts? Am I wrong or justified on my stance... Sorry for any rambling class sucks...
Sparty on Sparty Violence
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Just wondering when the last time a Wolverine shot themselves.....and....can anyone loan Herbstriet or Spielman a piece?
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8866348?MSNHPHMA
(Please God, just let us be competitive next year so I can focus on positive, Michigan things.)
Dealing With Sparty
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Man, I can't believe you haven't figured out Sparty yet and how to deal with them.
Quit trying to refute their claims, quit trying to splain why it isn't a big win for them!
TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING SPARTY SAYS!!!
Yup, this will actually piss off sparty to no end. It is so cool to watch them sink back into oblivion when you say, "You're absolutely right -- it was a great win, you deserve all the credit, those T-shirts are fabulous, can you get me one?
You see, they want us M fans to respond. When we don't -- we totally F them up!!
Brandon Minor's "Touchdown" Catch... a full review of the NCAA Rulebook
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So, I was confused as the rest of you when Brandon Minor's apparently incomplete pass was ruled a Touchdown after a video review. I bought the ESPN commentary during the play, but thought I'd look into it more. The article mentioned by Bryan does look at the Rule Book, but only at one part. I decided to kill way to much time and read the whole thing.
I'll start with my conclusion, to spare you the reading: Minor's catch was in fact a Touchdown. Now, to the evidence.
We start with the basics (all quotes are from the NCAA Rulebook, downloadable in PDF here http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=387):
"Field of Play
ARTICLE 2. The field of play is the area within the boundary lines other
than the end zones.
End Zones
ARTICLE 3. The end zones are the 10-yard areas at both ends of the field
between the end lines and the goal lines. The goal lines and goal line pylons
are in the end zone, and a team’s end zone is the one it is defending (A.R.
8-5-1-X and A.R. 8-6-1-I)."
Based on this rather simple explanation, we come to the understanding that the End Zones are special areas on the Field considered separate from the rest of the Field of Play. Additionally, the pylons on the goal lines are in the end zone.
Now, let's take a look at passing:
"ARTICLE 6. Any forward pass is completed when caught by a player of the
passing team who is inbounds, and the ball continues in play unless completed
in the opponent’s end zone or the pass has been caught simultaneously
by opposing players. If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by opposing
players inbounds, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the passing team (Rule
2-2-7) (A.R. 2-2-7-III and A.R. 7-3-6-I-IX)."
This rule specifically makes a difference between catches in the end zone and catches in the rest of the field of play. Minor was inbounds when he caught the ball, having left the ground from the Field of Play; when he landed out of bounds, the play was already over, because he touched the end zone first.
"ARTICLE 7. a. Any forward pass is incomplete if the ball is out of bounds by
rule or if it touches the ground when not firmly controlled by a player. It also is
incomplete when a player leaves his feet and receives the pass but first lands on
or outside a boundary line, unless his progress has been stopped in the field of
play or end zone (Rule 4-1-3-p) (A.R. 2-2-7-III and A.R. 7-3-7-I)."
Further evidence: the ball was firmly in control by Brandon Minor; his progress was stopped when he hit the goal line pylon; the goal line pylon is considered part of the end zone. Thusly, Brandon Minor scored a Touchdown to confuse us all.
This makes sense, right?
UM vs. MSU pink slips
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OFFENSIVE PLAYER WHO SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB
Darryl Stonum, WR. Stonum has done virtually nothing as a freshman. He dropped a TD pass in this game. His lack of involvement in the passing game is probably at least partially due to the fact that Threet throws inaccurate deep balls. However, Laterryal Savoy is a better blocker. Despite Savoy's poor receiving abilities, if neither Stonum or Savoy is going to make a play in the passing game, the better blocker might as well be in the game.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER WHO SHOULD KEEP HIS JOB
Brandon Minor, RB. This is my chance to say "told ya so" to all the Minor doubters. Since before the season, I was clamoring for Brandon Minor to get carries. He should have been the starter from the first game. Eight games into the season, he's averaging 5.1 yards per carry (compared to McGuffie's 4.1) and has the year's longest run (36 yards) outside of Threet's 58-yarder against Wisconsin. He has 5 rushing touchdowns on 51 carries, which means he scores a TD on approximately 10% of his carries (McGuffie has 3 TD's on 115 carries, approximately a 2.8% clip if my quick mental math serves me correctly). On top of that, Minor is the team leader in receiving TD's with two, despite catching only five passes; McGuffie, Koger, Hemingway, Moundros, Mathews, and Shaw each have one TD. Minor's averaging 11.8 yards per reception. He's also an excellent blocker, as evidenced by his pancake block against MSU's defensive end on Threet's TD run. Some of you will point to his injuries and fumbles as reasons why he hasn't received more playing time. Regarding injuries, if he's healthy enough to play, he's got to play. It's true that reduced practice reps might be detrimental, but it's probably not any more hurtful than playing a less able player. And in regards to the fumbles, I agree that fumbles are a serious concern. Teams that lack talent can hardly afford to turn the ball over. On the other hand, teams with poor offensive lines can't afford to play a running back who can't break tackles, either. Neither McGuffie or Minor is a "perfect" player, but who is? You have to let players make mistakes. Just like you don't yank a QB after one interception, a fumble or two shouldn't spell disaster for a running back, either. I realize a 17 carry, 55 yard day isn't the best game to brag about, but a) I was too busy last weekend to post and b) Minor still scored two of our three TD's yesterday.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER WHO SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB
Steve Brown, FS. For God's sake, Steve Brown. For God's sake. For. God's. Sake. I had high hopes for Steve Brown. I really did. I watch him run and he's fast. I see him body slam people to the ground on special teams and I cringe. The kid has some sort of mental block or confidence loss when he's at free safety. I don't know what it is, and I don't know how to fix it. I feel bad for him, because I always hear good things about him and I honestly think he tries hard and feels bad when he screws up. But the screw-ups are mounting too quickly for the coaching staff to ignore anymore. I was watching the game at the bar yesterday, so I was distracted a little more than I wanted to be. But he missed an easy tackle on former walk-on Blair White that led to a 61-yard TD pass. He was also the one targeted on the long pass down the left sideline (to Mark Dell, if I remember correctly) where he was in position but just failed to find the ball and make a play. Brown isn't completely useless, since he did make a sack and force a fumble. However, his shortcomings are too significant. I don't care who they put in there. Normally, I'd say Michael Williams, but Williams got a concussion in yesterday's game. Charles Stewart. Move Morgan Trent to free safety and plug in Cissoko at corner (Trent was benched for stretches, anyway). Artis Chambers. Insert Mouton at SS and move Harrison to FS. Hell, burn JT Floyd's redshirt and plug him in there. Something. Anything. But if Brown isn't going to improve (and at this point in his career, I have a hard time picturing significant improvement), the coaches need to start grooming someone to take over the position. The offense will improve in 2009 with every significant player returning. But the defense will have a maximum of two seniors in 2009, and both of those guys are defensive ends (Brandon Graham, if he doesn't declare for the NFL, and Adam Patterson). On such an inexperienced defense, we can't afford to have such horrible safety play. Get a youngster some experience now.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER WHO SHOULD KEEP HIS JOB
Brandon Graham, DE. He played like a man. He had three sacks yesterday and now has eight for the year. He shouldn't have guaranteed a victory against MSU, but at least he backed up his words with his own play. When I saw Ringer break free for what turned out to be a 64-yard TD run and I saw Graham gaining on Ringer from behind, my heart started to palpitate. I had visions of Shawn Crable from the 2007 game against MSU. Alas, Graham came up a little short, but it was an excellent effort on his part and it showed what kind of a physical specimen he is. If he's not there already, he might become Michigan's best defensive lineman of the last twenty years.
