the just released schedules were a flat-out statement that the B10 doesn't believe SOS will matter in playoff selection
With This Army We Push Into Crimea
Filed under:
Hi. MGoBlog was a one man show, and then a guy I didn't know emailed me a bunch of stuff about how he was pretty sure Bryce McNeal was going to decommit given his Facebook status updates and wall posts. As per standard policy, I noted the information and didn't say anything about it since the tipster in question hadn't proven his mettle. Bryce McNeal proceeded to decommit, and Tom VanHaaren proposed he function as an MGoBlog recruiting correspondent using the magic of the internets (and, soon after, his phone).
I'd been thinking that social media was an untapped source of information and agreed, and soon started posting things like Anthony Fera chillin' with JoePa based on Tom's sleuthin' and talkin'. Tom set to providing a ton of valuable content and being the main force behind much of the news this site has managed to break in the last seven or eight months. It's surpassed all my expectations, and just goes to show that if you find someone with the right skill set and put them in the right spot, Good Things result.
So.
MGoBlog is absorbing Varsity Blue, and intends to deploy Tim Sullivan as an internet-aware beat writer this fall. We've talked with the athletic department—which has been shockingly open and helpful with all this—and Tim is good to go. Paul will also join up in a capacity we'll work out as we go along—he's got a "job" that requires him to "go to work". Formerly Anonymous' outstanding baseball content will be imported 99% untouched. Important: I will not be writing any less.
This represents quite a reversal from MGoBlog's previous position on being a primary source and requires some explanation. So:
I don't plan on being the guy. One: I'm bad at it. Two: I'm good at other stuff. I've spent four years developing an expertise that has nothing to do with the tasks commonly associated with sports journalism. That expertise has propelled this blog to a living and represents a nigh-insurmountable hurdle for any other organization to clear. Spending my time doing something other than that's pretty dumb. So I won't.
I'd like to remain insulated from the corrupting influences of access*, and this arrangement will allow me to do that, mostly. The threat of losing access for your content is unavoidable once you start to benefit from it, but this site has already positioned itself as a site that's usually in Michigan's corner. I know they monitor this site and others, closely. They have not mentioned any issues.
The Varsity Blue guys all bring valuable expertise to the table. Paul and Tim were longtime WOLV stalwarts and have a four-plus-years head start on me in the stuff I'm bad at. As you might imagine, they also can do stuff with video that is extremely helpful on the web. And FA has encyclopedic knowledge of Michigan baseball, again something I lack. They all can use bigger platforms, and by joining up they can use some of the institutional cred I've accumulated over the past four years.
I think it can work. I'm not sure if twentysomething beatwriter with an internet orientation who might ask questions like "what's the deal with that formation where Greg Mathews is covered up in the slot?" will bring a ton of value to the table but it's at least worth an experiment. I'm going into this with the expectation it will be a two-year trial on both the part of the AD and MGoBlog, one that might not work. But think it will be valuable.
Offloading a portion of the daily burden should allow me to focus on some other stuff. Mostly this refers to recruiting, which VB already covers with aplomb. I plan on handing off a significant chunk of it to them, which will give me some extra time to work on research-heavy posts and more columns and whatnot.
-----
This will also necessitate some changes as far as the presentation of information goes. Right now there's just a front page that gets updated 1-4 times daily and then the diaries and message board. More stuff will be hitting the front page now and we'll have to work to make that make sense for readers. I've always tried to avoid bombarding readers with way too much stuff to grok; that's going to be tougher now.
As always, try to bear with us—and it's now an actual us!—as we feel our way through this… undiscovered country. Spock.
Tim's first foray here is a trip to the Big Ten Media Days, where he will hopefully end up less pwned than I did.
*(I don't want to write something critical in UFR and have to worry about whether the player in question will give me the evil eye. And I don't want to get all friendly with another guy and pull my punches. Sportswriter bravado about facing down the subjects of your pieces is just testosterone.)
July 24th, 2009 at 1:34 PM | 
I am so
I am so
July 24th, 2009 at 2:42 PM |
Comrades...
Comrades...
in blogs...Have a shot of vodka and get back to work.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:39 PM |
There is an old Vulcan proverb....
There is an old Vulcan proverb....
Only Nixon could go to China. It doesn't actually mean anything in this context, but Brian brought up Star Trek VI.
Good luck to all involved, I think and hope this will work well.
Craig Barker || The Hoover Street Rag || Twitter
"The Michigan fanbase: a cynical, Eeyorish bunch even in the best of times."
July 24th, 2009 at 1:50 PM |
Congrats
Congrats
The best Michigan news/opinion site gets even better.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:52 PM |
Formerly Anonymous rocks my socks
Formerly Anonymous rocks my socks
i'm basically in love with him.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:37 PM |
my gf joined just to say that.
my gf joined just to say that.
that's just how big of a deal this is. but apparently she is only "basically in love with [me]." dammit.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:51 AM |
yeah
yeah
Pics or she's McFarlin.
(Note: No, not really.)
July 24th, 2009 at 2:51 PM |
i can't believe i'm perpetuating this string
i can't believe i'm perpetuating this string
fine. scratch that. how's "i'm REALLY in love with Formerly Anonymous"?
July 24th, 2009 at 6:00 PM |
that's a little too cute for
that's a little too cute for
that's a little too cute for these parts
Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick
July 24th, 2009 at 1:54 PM |
Oh boy.
Oh boy.
Oh boy.
Galileo was also chastised.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:55 PM |
Well done...
Well done...
...Now we have to worry if all of the power will go to Brian's head and he'll one day make the official MGoBlog language Swedish or something.....
No radio. Nothing of value.
July 25th, 2009 at 11:10 AM |
Or perhaps he'll make it
Or perhaps he'll make it
Or perhaps he'll make it Facebook pirate
A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato
July 24th, 2009 at 1:56 PM |
Yes.
Yes.
I have read this post, and it is good. I am well pleased. Carry on.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:56 PM |
TomVH
TomVH
I am still not convinced that TomVH doesn't make up all of his interviews.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:28 PM |
Do you actually have proof of this
Do you actually have proof of this
Evidence? Anything to back up this claim because I think that that would look bad for everyone involved in TomVH did that...
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
July 24th, 2009 at 2:53 PM |
If that post had been from a poster
If that post had been from a poster
With more than 20 points (like Dex, Chitown, Shock) then by all means yes I would understand the sarcasm but it didn't seem like humor to me hence why I always try to make my "humorous" posts extra special with a lot of exclamation points, bold type, etc so that it is not mistaken for a serious post.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
July 24th, 2009 at 2:34 PM |
How do you have 145 points?
How do you have 145 points?
How do you have 145 points?
Galileo was also chastised.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:55 PM |
Carefully
Carefully
That's how... Oh and I'm not a troll despite what my hair currently looks like (big poofy but not colored green/blue/purple just big)
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
July 24th, 2009 at 4:01 PM |
You went back to all of your
You went back to all of your
You went back to all of your old posts and gave them +1s?
Galileo was also chastised.
July 24th, 2009 at 5:59 PM |
i feel after his initial
i feel after his initial
i feel after his initial insanity tapered off, a lot of people felt compelled to reward him for posting sane stuff. i think in one thread he suddenly changes from getting all -10 per post to all +10...though he appears to be backsliding again
Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick
July 24th, 2009 at 6:51 PM |
How can I give myself +1's
How can I give myself +1's
If i'm -400???? I'm confused... Maybe you can explain this to me or maybe I'm just being an asshole...
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
July 24th, 2009 at 7:02 PM |
He's never had to deal with the indignity of being negative
He's never had to deal with the indignity of being negative
Also, not a logical thinker.
July 24th, 2009 at 8:00 PM |
I don't know any numbers
I don't know any numbers
I don't know any numbers below 20.
Galileo was also chastised.
July 25th, 2009 at 1:23 PM |
FYI
FYI
points you give yourself do not count
July 24th, 2009 at 2:50 PM |
The Truth Is...
The Truth Is...
... Tom actually interviews me for every interview. I've become very good at faking a 16-18 year old's replies.
I do character voices and everything.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:57 PM |
Good and Bad
Good and Bad
Makes my favorite Michigan site better. Makes my second most frequented site non-existent. Now, if we can only get Johnny to start publishing more frequently...
July 24th, 2009 at 1:58 PM |
Hey there MGoBlog "team,"
Hey there MGoBlog "team,"
Hey there MGoBlog "team," this sounds like a really awesome new combo and I just want to wish y'all good luck.
One incredibly minor suggestion moving forward: Brian, on the MGoBoard sidebar, you might want to make the "MGoBoard" text in the heading a link to the board itself. My guess is that most visitors use the sidebar to access the threads and never make it to the main board itself.
Again, best of luck.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:12 PM |
Try the bar on top that says
Try the bar on top that says
Try the bar on top that says "MGoBoard." That's what I use, I never look at the sidebar. It's a waste, just go to the board and you can see all the topics.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:32 PM |
I do that too, but why not
I do that too, but why not
I do that too, but why not just add a hyperlink too? Not everyone will be as familiar with the layout as you or I.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:50 PM |
+1
Agreed. I know it speaks
+1
Agreed. I know it speaks
+1
Agreed. I know it speaks more to my (lack of) navigation skills than the quality of the layout, but I didn't notice the MGoBoard link until just recently.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:00 PM |
I am pleased. Crimea is ours.
I am pleased. Crimea is ours.
I am pleased. Crimea is ours.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:18 PM |
The more the merrier
The more the merrier
My only concern is that I now have one less website to visit every day and may be forced to actually, you know, do work while at work.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:04 PM |
It takes stones to pass along
It takes stones to pass along
It takes stones to pass along a chance to sit in the press box on the basis of preserving the impartiality and integrity of content.
I'm looking forward to the format tweak.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:26 PM |
When you put it that way...
When you put it that way...
it makes Brian seem even cooler.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:07 PM |
So Tom VH got his start by
So Tom VH got his start by
So Tom VH got his start by doing something (FB stalking) that most of this board frowns upon. Good to know.
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:16 PM |
FTR, no one has frowned upon
FTR, no one has frowned upon
FTR, no one has frowned upon reading a recruits facebook page. What has been attacked is messaging or wall-posting a recruit saying "Hey Kyle Prater you should totally come to UM to Fuck.Shit.Up because I look at all your pictures and you look like you had a really fun day at the water park yesterday and I really want you to play football for us fuckyeah!"
July 24th, 2009 at 2:23 PM |
Nice post
Nice post
My exact thoughts as evidenced by my post that is slightly later in chronological order.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:24 PM |
I would beg to differ. I said
I would beg to differ. I said
I would beg to differ. I said that I had "befriended" M players in the past on facebook and was mocked for it. I also have simply shared information I recieved from facebook status updates of recruits and have also been mocked for that. So yes, they have actually frowned upon it.
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
July 27th, 2009 at 3:14 AM |
I agree with this. Sorry, but
I agree with this. Sorry, but
I agree with this. Sorry, but it seems to me that Tom did something creepy that had never even occurred to Brian so Brian offered him a spot as a contributor and then Tom did something even more disturbing and eventually gained some degree of access. I appreciate the interviews, but come on. Getting a kids email off Facebook is fucked up no matter how much you try to frame it as journalism.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
July 24th, 2009 at 2:21 PM |
I found
I found
that interesting as well.
However, to his defense, there is a difference between reading a players Facebook status and posting "Fuck shit up, come to Michigan" on his wall.
I think it is safe to say the latter is more frowned upon.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:36 PM |
I might as.....
I might as.....
I might as well address this. This started a big argument with WLA awhile ago, which is fine.
As Brian said, the stuff with Bryce McNeal was off of facebook (I'm 25, just moved to Arizona. I use facebook to stay in touch with my friends). That was before I thought about doing interviews, or anything like this. After I had emailed back and forth with Brian, I thought I might as well see if he wanted to add me.
He did. So, I then thought of what I needed to do to add value. Interviewing kids was my first thought. Initially, there were about 2 or 3 kids that I got email addresses from facebook (which is viewable off of their profile). Jeremy Jackson was my first interview. I contacted him via email, and requested an interview. He obviously said yes. We talked on the phone, and did the interview. Jeremy became a valuable resource to me. He gave me other recruits numbers, and email addresses, etc.
I noticed this was a trend, that the kids that were genuinely interested in Michigan were willing to help me out, and offer numbers.
There were then kids that I couldn't find in this network I built. So I reached out to AD's and coaches at their high schools. This was also successful.
After talking with these kids for awhile, they became comfortable with me. Some requested me on facebook, some told me to request them, since I'm still pretty young.
Like WolvinLA said, I don't write on their wall, or bug them about coming to Michigan. I've kept it professional, in that I don't try to convince them one way or the other. Some have asked me for advice, and a couple have actually contacted me about helping their friends get recruited. I'm in the process of helping them right now.
All of my interviews are conducted over the phone, despite what Tom Beaver likes to report when MGoBlog beats him to a story. I've actually been recording them for the past couple months, and will be adding (hopefully) the next interview I do in audio format.
Take from this what you will.
Tom VanHaaren I TomVH on Twitter I U Recruit I Email
July 24th, 2009 at 3:13 PM |
Tom
Tom
You have at least one fan over in the WLA clubhouse.
Keep up the good work.
Help My Friend Allison Fight ALS
MSU/IU at the JCB
July 24th, 2009 at 3:02 PM |
So does Tom doing it mean we
So does Tom doing it mean we
So does Tom doing it mean we can't mock it? I don't get it.
wolverineliberationarmy.com/blog
July 24th, 2009 at 2:08 PM |
I don't get it
I don't get it
Are they moving into your mom's basement, too?
ZING
July 24th, 2009 at 2:08 PM |
awesome
awesome
sounds like a great union.
i would only suggest that since you are going to be making some drastic changes already, that you also look at improving the MGoBoard.
Our community is really missing a first rate, go-to forum (not sponsored by a major recruiting site), one that I think MGoBoard could easily provide if only you changed the format and layout.
It's sad that mostly all of our rivals (even sparty) have a place for free, easy to use discussion and we don't. Again, not saying MGoBoard doesn't work, I'm just saying it could be better and much more robust.
Anyway, not trying to hijack the moment. Great move Brian and good luck to the new team!
-yvgeni
July 24th, 2009 at 2:24 PM |
I tried to get Paul and Tim
I tried to get Paul and Tim
I tried to get Paul and Tim to create VBulletin style forum a while ago. They did one in bbPro instead. /sadface. Maybe now that they are tied with Brian they can figure something out.
Brian, if the WLA is in your M&A plans, just note that I require stock options. Dex requires Zima, and chitown needs a safety harness to help him handle jack.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:33 PM |
I too wish for VBulletin,
I too wish for VBulletin,
I too wish for VBulletin, however I think there is some resistance due to That Other Site (RCMB), running VB. That, and emoticon usage here scares me.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:28 PM |
I forgot..
I forgot..
Oh and I forgot, TomBeaver called, he would like his job security back...
-yvgeni
July 24th, 2009 at 2:29 PM |
MGoBoard is pretty sweet. But
MGoBoard is pretty sweet. But
MGoBoard is pretty sweet. But I could see with all this new potential stuff showing up it could get fairly cluttered fast. If possible, maybe split the board up into multiple sections - like say one for recruiting, football, basketball, hockey, other sports and ot. I'm not sure how the board was made and how difficult this could end up being. Idealy could still probably keep the front page thing with the new posts or hot posts, but it would allow a bit more organization.
July 24th, 2009 at 4:53 PM |
I agree 100%. Brian, I think
I agree 100%. Brian, I think
I agree 100%. Brian, I think there is a big void right now for a BuckeyePlanet style forum. This would be a link jackpot. Keep it organized into folders and have threads for each recruit and player. Conscript MGoBlog denizens to serve as moderators and keep it professional and organized.
Your message board is nice, but it seems to lack the software horsepower behind BuckeyePlanet board, for example.
glad you used the word "grok" in a post. Bravo.
Also, this is good news. Wave of the future!