Sponsor Note. The Alumni association has a deal going: become a Life Member of the Alumni Association and score two tickets to a Michigan football game later this season against Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, or Ohio State, You'll also be entered into a drawing for field passes to select games. The Life Membership puts you first in line for exclusive athletic offers, travel opportunities, and discounts through Go Blue Rewards. Become a Life Member do it.

I thought "Dogg" stood for Decorous Owl Gazing Group. I cannot recommend this recent segment from The Michigan Insider on the topic of Isaiah Todd's recent visit to Kansas—which featured a Snoop Dogg performance that seemed like a middle finger to the NCAA—enough:

Kansas won some internet acclaim by leaning into the heel turn, but hurriedly backtracked once it became clear that the Kansas donor class was more of a Steely Dan crowd. AD Jeff Long:

“We apologize to anyone who was offended by the Snoop Dogg performance at Late Night. We made it clear to the entertainers’ managers that we expected a clean version of the show and took additional steps to communicate to our fans, including moving the artist to the final act of the evening, to ensure that no basketball activities would be missed if anyone did not want to stay for his show.

“I take full responsibility for not thoroughly vetting all the details of the performance and offer my personal apology to those who were offended. We strive to create a family atmosphere at Kansas and fell short of that this evening.”

I'm not sure what Kansas expected when several stripper poles were wheeled onto the court, but they are the national leader in not seeing things in front of their own eyes. Bifocals and a history of 90s rap for the entire athletic department.

As Matt wrote earlier in the day, Michigan is trending heavily for Todd. With visits over and a decision set there's not much ammo or time left for Kansas to flip Todd back, and it sounds like the Snoop show backfired with mom. A national Rivals analyst predicting Kansas and then flipping to Michigan seems pretty good.

Michigan's main competition may now be a year overseas; hopefully the lure of playing for a guy who knows the NBA inside and out will overcome the lure of immediate dollars. This is just another reason to hope NIL rights get restored to players, by the way—much easier to convince Todd to stay stateside if he can leverage his name and image with the Michigan fanbase.

[After THE JUMP: NIL bill rolls off the toungue]

The Blackwell suit is going to continue. Former Michigan State recruiting coordinator Curtis Blackwell is currently suing MSU after being a scapegoat for one of MSU's many sexual assault scandals a few years ago, and it looks like Dantonio is actually going to get deposed:

It's not clear how much Blackwell seeks in the other suit. He hasn't said, and attempts to settle via mediation were fruitless. Blackwell said he's as concerned about his reputation as he is money. …

Dantonio, 63, who has yet to be deposed — Blackwell's lawyers are suggesting between the upcoming Ohio State game and the following Wisconsin game — is trying to limit the scope of any deposition he gives, arguing the Robertson situation has nothing to do with why Blackwell was let go. Dantonio, who recently became the football program's all-time winningest coach also argues he shouldn't have to answer any questions about Nassar, and that his deposition should be limited to 3.5 hours.

Blackwell is also asserting that the Jones Day report MSU commissioned was largely a snow job to give MSU cover, which isn't even a shocking assertion before you consider that Jones Day is facing down two lawsuits for gender discrimination:

The complaint also describes a frat-house atmosphere at the firm. At one unidentified office, male partners allegedly kick off the firm’s holiday party by encouraging drinking in the office, followed by alcohol-fueled dancing, during which male managers “gawk” at dancing female associates for amusement. At another office, during a summer associate event at a partner’s home, after a female summer associate was allegedly pushed into the swimming pool while wearing a white dress, the male summer associate who pushed her was “applauded and high-fived” by leadership rather than reprimanded.

The complaint also called the firm’s efforts to provide support for women “window dressing”—a women’s affinity lunch group was allegedly mocked by male attorneys as an opportunity “to talk about women things and having kids.”

Hopefully Blackwell can clear his name.

Throw more picks! Many NFL interceptions are indistinguishable from incomplete passes, in terms of win probability lost:

41% of all INTs so far this year have cost the offense 5% or less of WP, which is such a small amount that it's more misleading to consider them INTs than just regular incomplete passes.

Think about what that means! 41% of INTs shouldn't be viewed as INTs!

— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) September 28, 2019

This is why the entire Michigan internet was like "it's fine keep doing that" when a bomb at Collins was intercepted by Rutgers. And why the wholesale lack of deep shots after Michigan's 51-yarder to Collins was so frustrating.

Keith Jackson, on the occasion of a football game. Always up for Keith Jackson:

This is how ABC-TV previewed the 1982 Michigan-Illinois football game. Love those old graphics & of course Keith Jackson was the best! Enjoy & GO BLUE!! pic.twitter.com/ppYxlumkee

— Dr. Sap (@DrSap4UM) October 7, 2019

This is part 3 of 3 how Keith Jackson & Frank Broyles started the telecast of the 1982 Michigan-Illinois football game. Loved how Bo waited & waited to take the field. Enjoy & GO BLUE!! pic.twitter.com/8HAPPF3BL7

— Dr. Sap (@DrSap4UM) October 8, 2019

FALLOUT. The passage of California's NIL bill has been a personally trying time for me, a person who is trying not to quote-tweet idiots on Twitter as much. Everyone gets asked, and for the most part the people whose salaries are vastly inflated by the veneer of NCAA amateurism—you will be shocked—are opposed to restoring name and image rights to athletes. Coach K, no dummy about the changing winds, is an exception:

Krzyzewski provided a prepared statement at the ACC's 2019 Operation Basketball preseason event on Tuesday, saying he supported the law and encouraged the NCAA to adopt a uniform rule.

"I don't -- and won't -- pretend to understand all the complexities of such a change," Krzyzewski said in the statement. "However, it is a sign of the times that we in college athletics must continually adapt, albeit in a sensible manner.

"While we have made significant progress in recent years, we have not always responded to the needs and rights of our players swiftly, and frankly, we're playing catch-up after years of stagnant rules. I hope and trust that not only will there be a plan to put the student-athletes' best interests at the forefront, but that we'll also have a firm plan for implementation at the national level."

A few other ACC basketball coaches are also on-board. Chris Mack supports the NIL bill in the most Rick Pitino way possible:

"I just hope that whatever happens isn't ramrodded down the NCAA's throat," he said. "I hope politicians don't drive it so hard and fast that there are unintended consequences without a lot of thought going into it."

uh

so

Is that intentional? It sounds like it's intentional.

Very much not on board is Mark Few, who yelled at the governor to "stay in his lane" and… fix homelessness and illegal immigration?

"He should probably stay in his lane - like I tell my players - and figure out homelessness. I think he's got a state that borders Mexico, and get that mess figured out."@ZagMBB head coach Mark Few didn't hold back when discussing @GavinNewsom with our @GoodmanHoops. pic.twitter.com/afbWTJ6nsg

— Stadium (@Stadium) October 8, 2019

I did not quote tweet this! Give me a cookie. I managed to not do this because I'm enjoying the impotent rage the NCAA is expressing now that they're so unpopular both red and blue state governments are planning on blowing their model up.

Tom Herman and Ed Orgeron also expressed their support, FWIW. It's only the AD level that's holding the line. And arguments like these are not going to be winners:

“As far as I’m concerned, universities should have every right to maintain an amateur model, and if you don’t like it, go to the [NBA] G-League. It’s up to you, but it’s a choice you can make.”

Not only does the NCAA not pay you, they also take away your rights.

No you can't knit that hat. As a reminder, this is the kind of thing the NCAA is prohibiting right now:

A business school student at the University of Utah, junior Britain Covey recently pursued and was offered an internship in sales. Then the NCAA told the Utes wide receiver he couldn’t accept it.

A compliance committee for the organization that oversees collegiate athletics nationwide told Covey the position would violate its policy on athletes prospering from the commercial use of their name, image or likeness.

“I had to actually not take an internship because it was a sales internship and people [within the NCAA] wouldn’t be able to tell whether they were buying the product because I was a good salesman or because I was an athlete,” Covey said. “That was frustrating.”

(Yes, that Britain Covey. The one from Harbaugh's first game. Yes, he has another year of eligibility. He took a mission. Yes, I might rename the Brooks Bollinger Eighth-Year Memorial Senior after him.)

I would have purchased this merchandise. Jordan Poole on the NIL bill:

New Warrior Jordan Poole said of the law, “I personally think it’s huge, being able to have big names, people ... being able to make money of their likeness ... I feel like it’s a huge step in the right direction. Just to have that pass in the state of California is huge for the game ... I know for sure I would have been using my name after that Houston shot.”

Etc.: OSU getting talked up as #1. /waves punt flag. NCAA does not care about academic fraud. Howard talks up Franz. Cam York isn't Quinn Hughes. QB sneaks are good short yardage options.