Sunday podcast release!  Great weekend!

The Purdue guy wasn't offside though.  He actually timed it perfectly.

Have Brian and Seth considered flipping UFR responsibilities to test the Sklar hypothesis?

I thought Alex being back on the post game pod last week would mean he’s back on them for good. Alas

On Henning being in more: I know some folks who are well acquainted with him who have indicated that he has been voicing some consternation about his lack of opportunities as a true receiver. With Wilson out, I’m wondering if that factored in to his seeing the field more than Anthony. Sort of an “okay, if you think you can make something happen, let’s see it” kind of thing. 

I can't find the highlight but if you watch the safety right after Corum puts his jock strap on the field, he starts clapping and nodding towards Corum. "Mike Hart but fast" is so good, he has opposing players acknowledging it during the game!

Calling my shot early: he gets his wheel route in man coverage this week against Penn St

I only read the summary, but Corum isn’t Barry Sanders.  But re-watching the game I can’t think of the last Michigan back to run like that.  I kept say that’s not quite as magic as Barry Sanders.  But g*d d@mn it is reminiscent of Barry Sanders type of moves.  

This was not a game of two halves that the MGoBlog boys would have you believe.  Being at the game, I can tell you with absolute certainly, the tipping point of the game was when the stadium piped in "Pump it Up" and us in the visiting sections informed the home team, "You got to Pump it UP!".

.... also Memorial Stadium (IU ed.) has gone full Sparty.  While the stadium itself is lovely (they make up for lack of size, by selling tallboys), they fill 1/3rd of their big screens with ad-space and the PA blasts loud music up to the snap when the visiting team has the ball.  On at least one drive where Michigan started a drive back by the band, the PA played the piped-in up to the snap, then the band blasted a few bars into the play.

Here is what dignity looks like courtesy of Kirk and Louann Van Houten:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw3AghZHCdk

Another fun listen!  Alas, I'm to complain that Brian needs dynamic leveling on his mike.  He's back to trailing off to near silence when he finishes 'routine' sentences, or has several sentences strung together.  He's fine when excited, but he goes from blasting ear drums to barely being audible.  Granted, what he whispers isn't making or breaking the podcast, but it does get frustrating when you can't hear half of what his statement is!

I still haven't watched the game (just highlights) but what the hell was going on with the refs?

FYI the motion that Harrell was doing that resulted in a penalty is called “wiping his nose”. As a slang term in contemporary rap it means to rob or kill someone, but I wouldn’t read too much into it. The term has become extremely popular in rap, and the resulting dance move of wiping your nose has become ubiquitous in rap music videos, Instagram, and TikTok. No ill will behind the gesture, just a kid emulating dance moves from his favorite rappers.

EDIT: example here for anyone that is still confused https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HR3FLTCpRZ4

Re: Okie

Sometimes, sometimes, it all comes together.  He washed out of Alabama and probably wasn't engaged there, but it's not like he wasn't getting coached.  It's easy to forget we're talking about a bunch of very young twentysomethings.  Every now and then, the maturity side catches up and on occasion you get to see years of coaching and lessons all finally come together and a guy just blows up.

I really, really doubt that Okie learned everything he's applying now in "two weeks of fall camp".  More likely, all the knowledge was already there, but his maturity needed to catch up to it.

Re: Harrell

I agree with the take that NO, it's not fair, it's not right.  No, the nose-wipe is not a penalty, it shouldn't get called.  But. . . you play for Michigan.  The refs are hunting you.  Finish the play, get off the field.  If you do anything after a play, you might get flagged.  You can't say you don't know.

I really wonder why Brian insists "it's not a penalty" with this officiating.  He knows better!  B1G refs suck, they absolutely suck, but everyone knows they suck.  You can't pretend you live in a world where B1G refs don't suck.  You can't really control what your opponent does while you're trying to tackle, but you have full control over your post-whistle behavior.  So get off the field, celebrate later.  You fucking know what will happen if you hot dog around B1G refs in a Michigan uniform.

Donavan Edwards is ALWAYS open!

Nice bit of inside baseball at the end there, Seth.  Enjoyed the peek behind the curtain!

Interesting commentary here about Michigan approaching the level of Ohio State in the sense of separating themselves from the rest of the conference. The issue I have here is we have to take into account scheme and play-calling in interpreting this. Unfortunately, until Michigan improves further at focusing on a team's weaknesses for the whole game, they will be generally be struggling in games where they should be putting teams away.

Two years in a row, OSU has destroyed Michigan State by relentlessly attacking their weak secondary. On the other hand, Michigan stuck to its gameplan and we know the outcome last year. Granted, one could argue (as I would) that they should have won that game -- but in any case, it was a close game, and it didn't need to be. This year, I hope we see a plan more like the fourth quarter versus Indiana -- then the MSU game could be a lot less stressful.