Great work this week, as always. Ready for a great season.
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Preview 2013: Wrap
Filed under:
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Well. It's done. This year's edition checks in at 41,191 words. If you had that in the pool, congratulations.
THE STORY: ALL TOGETHER NOW
After a decade trying to find itself, Michigan points itself to the future, united.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: I believe in Devin Gardner, so hard.
Running back: Also Fitz Toussaint. Not so much the other veterans, but have I told you about freshmen? They're all right at tailback.
Wide receiver: Yeah, they're short. So? They're damn good.
Tight end and friends: a panoply of blocky-catchy guys featuring one Devin Funchess, larger and ready to bust out.
Offensive line: It's like Ohio: rather good at the edge, increasingly depressing as you approach the center.
Questions and answers: Borges isn't perfect but he's probably good enough; reiterating Gardner squee.
DEFENSE
Defensive ends: I do not think Frank Clark is going to be an all-wrecking force. Better, sure.
Defensive tackle: All hail QWASH. Three-tech dodgy, but deep.
Linebacker: If Ryan is Ryan, these guys will be lights out.
Cornerback: War daddy up, Mr. Countess.
Safety: Thomas Gordon, and then… well… hmm.
Questions and answers: Novacs, mitigating that, the importance of hybrid space players, serenity?
MISCELLANEOUS
Special teams: a major strength if Michigan can just block and cover guys.
Podcast 5.0: Almost two hours of erudite chatter about socialism in the 19th century.
Heuristics and stupid prediction: Turnovers should be much better, only position shifts that are ominous at safety, 10-2 asserted.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
ELSEWHERE
Orson's season kickoff: "THE BUSINESS OF PROTECTION."
Holdin' The Rope: "Beginnings"
TEAM SPECIFIC HYPE
College football is a dichotomy of change and sameness. The players turn over at an alarming rate, even the most precocious slipping through our fingers almost before we've met them. But every year there's a Saturday where 110,000 file into a stadium Fielding Yost built, survey their view, hear the band, see the helmets, and think to themselves it's still here. All of it is still here. Thank God.
Life decays us all; the team is forever.
![7958850486_d712c26671_b[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/10e6e386aa67_E7AE/7958850486_d712c26671_b1.jpg "7958850486_d712c26671_b[1]")
Go Blue.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:27 PM
#2
Great work this week, as
August 30th, 2013 at 5:27 PM
#3
Whoa. That last part was
Whoa. That last part was cool.
August 31st, 2013 at 12:17 PM
#4
copy that
Nothnig wrong with the first 41,112 words, but those last 79 sent shivers -- glorious, happy shivers -- down my spine.
August 31st, 2013 at 1:00 PM
#5
*
Great work! This is the first year I've actually read most of the season preview material, depth chart breakdowns, etc. I feel almost embarrassed by how much I know about this team when talking with other fans. I am really looking forward to watching the games and knowing stuff like, "Oh hey, here comes Ojemudia the back up WDE."
To quote Faber: "Knowledge is good."
Go BLUE!
August 30th, 2013 at 5:34 PM
#6
Congrats on a great season
Congrats on a great season preview; bring on the games!
August 30th, 2013 at 5:38 PM
#7
The Eleven Warriors video is
The Eleven Warriors video is quite good.
Great content this week guys.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:38 PM
#8
Phenomenal work, Brian et al.
Go Blue.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:39 PM
#9
Jeez what fabulous prose. We
Jeez what fabulous prose. We are lucky to have this blog. Well done Mr Cook.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:38 PM
#10
"Life decays us all"
I don't
"Life decays us all"
I don't think "decay" is a transitive verb. Otherwise, pretty good.
August 30th, 2013 at 7:53 PM
#11
Poetic license, man
Poetic license, man
August 30th, 2013 at 11:19 PM
#12
Sure it is.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decay
(and http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/decay?s=t)
But even if not, so what? Good writing is good.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:42 PM
#15
41k words
you don't get paid enough.
or maybe, you do :)
either way, thank you for the great preview; it is almost too good to be presented in just one little week.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:44 PM
#16
Excellent stuff this week. I
Excellent stuff this week. I think we're headed for fun season. Lets savor it because who knows what college football is gonna be like in 5-10 years.
August 31st, 2013 at 1:03 PM
#17
*
It will be exactly the same, except for the flags hanging from their belts. Oh, and there will be a large Squirrel-Man dancing in the end zone firing Dominoes pizzas into the crowd.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:48 PM
#18
Great start to the season
Not great for my work productivity, but amazing to have so much content to read.
August 30th, 2013 at 5:50 PM
#19
Thanks Brian and crew...
Go Blue!
August 30th, 2013 at 5:59 PM
#20
Thanks Brian and
Thanks Brian and MGoStaff
August 30th, 2013 at 6:00 PM
#21
Great work on the preview! I
Great work on the preview! I don't know what I'd do without MGoBlog to satiate my Michigan football nerdom.
All three of those videos were awesome as well. The last one in particular gave me the chills.
Go Blue!
August 30th, 2013 at 6:01 PM
#22
#GBOD, em-effers.
#GBOD, em-effers.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:01 PM
#23
Great stuff Brian
And I must say to be fair, the video from elevenwarriors was an excellent addition.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:15 PM
#24
Fantastic previews and
Fantastic previews and fantastic hype videos. Can't wait for tomorrow.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:17 PM
#25
Brian: Fisher needs to work
Brian: Fisher needs to work harder.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:27 PM
#26
Season can't get here fast
Season can't get here fast enough. Just was highly irritated twice in a span of two minutes watching horrid television preseason talk. First I made the mistake and turned on espnu and what do you know they are showing the Clowney hit over and over abd over. UGH! Then I turn to BTN and there is some talk show with Jim Miller and two other guys. Talking about Jeremy Gallon the one dope questions whether he will be able to repeat his success being so small because I quote "last year on the other side was Roy Roundtree, a massive guy". WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Massive??? Do these guys watch the games? Ugh.
August 30th, 2013 at 7:03 PM
#27
It's terrible isn't
It's terrible isn't it?
Grateful we have this here domain where we can communicate in an intelligent (usually?) manner and aren't left solely to the vices of terrible television personalities spewing uninformed opinions and "facts" (i.e. the Roundtree mention that made your ears bleed).
August 30th, 2013 at 6:33 PM
#28
Ok venting aside. Great work
Ok venting aside. Great work by the entire MGoStaff this week. So much content, really helped the last week go by as painlessly as possible.
Possibly a dumb question. Will there be a Live Blog tomorrow?
August 30th, 2013 at 6:41 PM
#29
This is why...
MGoBlog is the only piece of journalism I read religiously. No matter what you write about, Brian, it's always enjoyable to read.
Of course when it's Michigan Football, well...
August 30th, 2013 at 6:44 PM
#30
Well done, Eleven Warriors
So stoked!
Brian - I love this place because of the depth and thoughtful insights and that this community is truly "a cut above."
Fire up! It's (almost) Saturday!
Oh -- and it is my anniversary on Saturday, too.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:56 PM
#31
Previews have been phenomenal
Previews have been phenomenal this week Brian/Ace. I was feeling some type of way you capping it off with a video taken from 11w until I watched it. And while I prefer hip hop (and gospel), and have never heard the soundtrack song, I can dig the sentiment
August 30th, 2013 at 7:28 PM
#32
I'd like to voice my
I'd like to voice my gratitude as well for this rampaged last 2 weeks. Great work. I'll be finishing HTTV tonight, also a hit. Thanks for all you do. Now let us all watch the beauty that begins tomorrow; College Football, played by Team 134 from the University of Michigan.
August 30th, 2013 at 6:59 PM
#33
Great job Brian,
and Spencer. I was almost crying during that piece.
August 30th, 2013 at 7:12 PM
#34
I'm sure you (Brian + staff)
I'm sure you (Brian + staff) get this all the time, but thank you for being the soul of Michigan. I am grateful for your work. Go Blue!
August 30th, 2013 at 7:12 PM
#35
That ElevenWarriors video
That ElevenWarriors video was great...In other news, I just heard Lou Holtz say something dumb enough to make me want to throw something and Mark May gave him the death stare, The football season has now offcially started!!!
August 30th, 2013 at 7:20 PM
#36
Life decays us all;
The Team, The Team, The Team is forever.
;-)
August 30th, 2013 at 7:37 PM
#37
You guys should turn all this
You guys should turn all this content into a bricks and mortar season preview magazine.
August 31st, 2013 at 1:08 PM
#38
*
What the internets provide, and what makes the preview so great, is that is was written just a few days before the first game. So much changes even from the start of camp. Which is why I disdain the bricks and mortar mags that publish in May or June. The situation is FLUID, man!
August 30th, 2013 at 8:26 PM
#39
Outstanding
Mr. Cook, I enjoy the content and its literary vehicle immensely. I propose we make our New Football Season Resolutions! In a nod to our blog founder, I resolve to respect the beveled guilt more this year as it is somewhat criminal to enjoy this professionally focused content for nill. I also vow to spend more time explaining the game and wonders of Michigan football to my nine year old son. Go Blue!
August 30th, 2013 at 8:30 PM
#40
There is always such great
There is always such great content on here, but the last paragraph of this entry might be the best thing I've ever read that embodies why I love Michigan and college football.
August 30th, 2013 at 8:39 PM
#41
That may have been the best
That may have been the best paragraph I have ever read in my life. Thank you all for such great and informative content during game week.
August 30th, 2013 at 9:08 PM
#42
Agreed.
All these people want to pay someone for being a star collegiete player. I get some of it... but 110K show up to see the QB @ Michigan play, regardless of name.
August 30th, 2013 at 9:50 PM
#43
Best week ever in the history of MGoBlog
Thanks for the great content, insight, and reflection to feed our irrational fascination with Michigan Football. The drive to A2 tomorrow will be rewarded with 3 hours of quality time with 110,000 friends. This is MGoBlog but more importantly This is Michigan!
August 30th, 2013 at 10:21 PM
#44
Bravo, bravo. BRAVO,
Bravo, bravo. BRAVO, BRAVO!
Make your donations, Mgoblog fans because there is nothing like this site in the whole CFB blogosphere. We are truly blessed by these guys that do this.
August 30th, 2013 at 10:35 PM
#45
Beyond awesome
Beyond awesome. Congratulations and thanks to Brian and the entire MGoCrew.
Re the ElevenWarriors video,which was great, does anyone have a link to a more extended clip of Woody throwing the yard markers in 1971? I have looked and have never found it. I understood that that game was not televised (OSU had a subpar year that year, finishing third behind Michigan and Northwestern (!) ) and I assumed that there was no video available. Obviously there is something.
August 30th, 2013 at 11:21 PM
#46
Great Job
That last paragraph was some of the finest writing I've ever read!
August 31st, 2013 at 12:00 AM
#47
The visuals on the 11W were great
but that emo whiny music was irritating.
Woody going apeshit on the yard marker was awesome. I was at that game and it was bizarrely comic in person to witness; it sort of presaged Woody's eventual sad end.
August 31st, 2013 at 12:24 AM
#48
Brian,
My boss hates you.
But i love you.
Thanks to the entire staff. 11W vid was a nice edition (edit: addition) and I enjoyed it. Real recognize real. This is the greatest sports blog in the history of the universe, and we are lucky to have it.
Last paragraph brought me back to 11 swans piece. Epic -in one of those few instances where the word is deserved.
August 31st, 2013 at 12:36 AM
#49
Thought you were ribbing 11W
but that video was a nice departure. Subliminal ohio brainwashing aside.
August 31st, 2013 at 7:10 AM
#50
Go Blue.
Go Blue, indeed.
August 31st, 2013 at 8:26 AM
#51
The Team The Team The Team
My family and I, all born and raised in Ann Arbor but now living down in Virginia outside DC, are up early this morning watching the hype videos, listening to the Marching Band on YouTube, and I can already taste the BBQ ribs I will be making in honor of the first game of the season.
Loved all the previews, MGoBloggers, but dammit I'm ready for some MANBALL!!!
GO BLUE!
