Unverified Voracity Gets It Right The Second Time Comment Count

Brian

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[Eric Upchurch]

Malzone exit. Alex Malzone's long-rumored transfer is now official. This was foretold last year, when Michigan had a three-way QB competition in which Malzone was guy #4. He's graduating and will have two years to play somewhere else, so that's not the worst deal: a degree and a shot to see the field.

Why aren't various MSU honchos in jail? Larry Nassar was shielded from consequences for twenty years because of the upper management at Michigan State:

Nassar also worked at Michigan State. For two decades, the public university paid him, provided him with facilities, referred student-athletes from across the athletic department to his practice, showered him with awards, and even used his work with the Olympic team as a recruiting tool. This is despite the fact that, between 1997 and 2015, at least seven girls and women raised concerns about Nassar’s actions to authority figures at the school — including trainers, police, and MSU university officials.

Despite what Michigan State would like you to believe, a pedophile who allegedly perpetrated abuse on such an enormous scale cannot exist in a vacuum. So how will this prominent university and athletic department be held accountable for their involvement in the abuse of more than 140 people?

PSU people went to jail in shame. The institutional behavior here is just as bad. And yet. MSU is also facing a Title IX lawsuit that alleges MSU let Keith Mumphrey back on campus after supposedly banning him. And nobody cares about this! Graham Couch is too busy thinking up MLK day zingers to notice.

So much for San Diego. Per Brett McMurphy, Michigan is a "lock" to play in the Outback Bowl. There they'd get South Carolina, another 8-4 team with a thin resume. S&P+ thinks this is an awesome matchup for Michigan, as it thinks South Carolina is really a 6-6 team masquerading as an 8-4 team; they rank 67th, with an offense that's a bit worse than Michigan's and a mediocre defense. S&P+ would favor Michigan by 9 or 10, which is a huge statistical gap for a nominally even matchup against an SEC team.

Exit one thorn, one potential thorn. PSU offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead is the new coach at Mississippi State. This is a good idea, and not just because it gets him out of the Big Ten. Moorhead managed to put together a very functional Penn State offense without an offensive line. Other names in the Mississippi State search included Brent Venables and Jeremy Pruitt, which is refreshingly sane in a world where Tennessee is doing Tennessee things and Arizona State is interviewing Herm Edwards.

Speaking of:

Poor damn Purdue. Don't even get to have the 9-3 season before SEC teams start horning in on your best idea since Joe Tiller. If Tennessee does pull this off, an internet flash mob that hated the Schiano hire will get an excellent result because they revolted against a person just in charge of things.

ASU, on the other hand, should immediately fire their athletic director. He used to be an agent, which is insane to begin with, and one of his clients used to be Herm Edwards. The Herm Edwards who hasn't coached, at all, since 2008. The Herm Edwards who is 63. The Herm Edwards who says he'd keep Todd Graham's coordinators, virtually announcing he'd be a figurehead before the job even starts. Gob-smacking!

Here's a nice pat on the head though. Even Spike Albrecht thinks this is audacious, Moorhead:

Sources told FootballScoop that Moorhead targeted Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown to join him at Mississippi State, but Brown will remain in Ann Arbor.

That's from Football Scoop and thus may be total balderdash—remember when the guy behind it started trolling the message board?—but it's funny to imagine that conversation.

J: "Hey, Don."
D: "Yeah?"
J: "Feel like leaving Rashan Gary and eight other returning starters from a top ten defense to come to Starkville?"
*dialtone*

That's fine, because Mississippi State fans didn't want him anyway.

Hall transfer watch might still be on. Seth posted the news item about JaRaymond Hall staying but the statement itself is pretty noncommittal, noting he's "made no decision" on his future; Sam Webb still asserts that he did receive a release, which is almost always the prelude to a departure.

This reminds me of the time that I told everyone Sam McGuffie was going to transfer and then twisted in the wind for a week as he waffled on whether to stay or go. That suuuuuuucked, and I stopped reporting about transfers as a result. Dang people can change their dang minds, I tellya.

Might be a thing where he goes through bowl practices and makes a final decision afterwards.

Vicious Vic: the revengening! There was a great catastrophic despair in the MGoSlack when this happened:

Vic Viramontes, a dual-threat junior college quarterback from Riverside (Calif.) City College, announced on Twitter on Monday that he has verbally committed to the Gophers.

“I would like to announce that I am officially committed to the University of Minnesota! #RowTheBoat’’ Viramontes tweeted.

“I can’t wait to play for the Golden Gophers!’’ Viramontes also tweeted. ...

Viramontes, a freshman at Riverside and a transfer from Cal, passed for 1,868 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 1,346 yards and 21 TDs this season for Riverside, which lost in the SoCal championship game on Saturday. The Norco, Calif., native spent the 2016 season as a redshirt at Cal. He would have three seasons of eligibility remaining with Minnesota.

Viramontes is the quintessential Minnesota quarterback and is almost certainly going to start since Connor Rhoda's eligibility expired and Demry Croft is transferring after being suspended in week two for some sort of door incident he says he wasn't responsible for. The rest of Minnesota's quarterbacks were worse than Croft. Therefore: the Viramontes era.

Will be fascinating to see how he does.

Etc.: College football is popular amongst gamblers, and the Times is on it. Mississippi State even has Hugh-Freeze-exposing recruiting reporters. They're living right. Detroit one of four finalists for two near-term MLS expansion slots. If they don't get it this time around they'll try again for the next two.

Comments

Yessir

November 29th, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^

Good luck Alex!

Yeah Outback Bowl!  I like the Outback Bowl's commercials. Whats better than watching awesome food commercials while watching a bowl game?  I mean besides eating them. 

Dumb question... why doesn't Vicious Vic have to sit a year? 

Yinka Double Dare

November 29th, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^

Not just D1 to D1, I don't think you can move up levels either, but they're likely to let you transfer "down" - you can't transfer from FCS or D2 to FBS without sitting out a year (unless you're a grad transfer) but they will likely let you transfer from a FBS school to a different division without sitting out. Duncan Robinson had to sit a year going from D3 to Michigan, as an example of transfering "up" requiring the year out. 

It doesn't apply to JUCO, because the rule only applies to transfers between NCAA institutions. JUCOs aren't NCAA. 

dragonchild

November 29th, 2017 at 1:42 PM ^

The stupid thing is that it's not even a notable defensive play.  It was a busted protection.  We've literally had walk-ons do the same damage when getting through the line unblocked, because of course.  Running that on a loop will have more to do with masturbating to the image of Vincent Smith getting leveled than any appreciation of Clowney's talent.  Lewan and Clowney fought an epic battle over the course of that game.

Michigan hate-fest aside, it's like watching someone hire a 5-star chef just to order a burger, fries and soft drink.  I mean, free country and all, but there's more to football than bloodsport.

dragonchild

November 29th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^

It wasn't MSU molesting football players, or football players committing the crimes.  It was an MSU employee molesting gymnasts, football was not directly involved, so MSU doncurr.  Which is absolutely horrible.

freelion

November 29th, 2017 at 1:41 PM ^

Numerous sexaul assault incidents with football and basketball in recent years. Even the band director had to step down for some sexual stuff. Unfortunately the local media is complicit just like in Columbus so there are no repercussions unless criminal prosecution happens.

You Only Live Twice

November 29th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^

The extent to which MSU leadership circled the wagons around this pedophile is puzzling.  And for years.  President Simon's defense... "well, pedophiles are extremely determined and we can't stop them, so....."  so, shrug, that's it?  

Nassar is lucky he's only going to jail.  I'd like to see him have 5 minutes with each parent of all 140 victims.

MSU probably thinks that by getting rid of Klages, they erased any trail that might lead back to concealment of crimes by its leadership.  

NittanyFan

November 29th, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^

The school did commission a $1MM+ investigation into the school's handling of Nassar.  But they're not planning on releasing that report to the public.  They may get away with that.

Hopefully MSU alums, journalists and Michigan taxpayers do apply pressure to get that transparency.

I said this back in the spring - I do think Hollis and Simon lose their jobs over this.  But it's going to take a LONG time.  This case has nowhere near the "time pressure" of PSU/Sandusky (PSU had a football game the next Saturday, plus 100+ media folk in town, so things simply HAD to happen quick).  MSU will be a much slower burn of a story, with a decent chance the flame simply dies out.

Erik_in_Dayton

November 29th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^

My understanding is that Spanier was convicted of endangering a minor and that Schutlz and Curley pleaded guilty to that same charge.  I believe the conviction and guilty pleas stemmed from their failures to pass on reports of child abuse to child welfare authorities. 

Does Michigan law create the same duty for school administrators to pass on reports of child abuse? I assume so, but I don't know.

ijohnb

November 29th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^

would he know whether we are "lock" to play in anything, much less South Carolina?  Why would the Holiday Bowl want Iowa over Michigan, let alone Northwestern?  I am not sure I understand why this would be and I am not really taking McMurphy at his word here. 

In reply to by ijohnb

Pepto Bismol

November 29th, 2017 at 2:13 PM ^

Outback would get their choice of B1G school first.  Holiday wouldn't be taking Iowa over Michigan, they'd be taking whichever is left.

So in response to your first question:  McMurphy claims to have connections and info from the Outback selection committee, I presume.

ijohnb

November 29th, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^

would have to have connections within the BIG conference, not just the Outback Bowl.  Outside of the NY6, bowls send the BIG their preferences, but the conference actually decides what teams go to which bowl games.  There really isn't a "pecking order" in this regard.  The BIG considers a lot of things in their determination, including matchup and how often a team has been to a certain area for bowl games.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Holiday Bowl will ask for Michigan, particularly if Stanford is the would-be opponent.  It would not make a lot of sense for the BIG not to send Michigan to the Holiday for what would be a marquee matchup, particularly when Michigan has been in Florida the last two years.  Very few Michigan fans will travel to Florida for that game, but the Holiday Bowl would generate a lot of interest.  The Outback Bowl may want Michigan, but I'm not particularly sure they are going to get them.

In reply to by ijohnb

Pepto Bismol

November 29th, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^

Or maybe he knows that the Outback Bowl wants Michigan and assumes the school would prefer to play in a New Years Day bowl game instead of December 28th.  That's what I meant by pecking order. Bad choice of words.

So you're saying the B1G tells Michigan what game they're going to?  That seems... incorrect.  Not saying you're wrong, but that's news to me.  Michigan decides they'd rather go to Florida for recruiting purposes plus NYD exposure, plus Harbaugh wants nothing to do with the Stanford/Shaw storyline, and the conference is going to tell Michigan to eat shit and go to San Diego anyway? 

In reply to by Pepto Bismol

ijohnb

November 29th, 2017 at 3:02 PM ^

want to recruit California too?  There are players out there.  Michigan has already been to Florida the last two years and developed a big presense there.  And I haven't seen anything to indicate that Harbaugh does not want to play Stanford.  He is a competitive guy and I think he would welcome the opportunity.

And yes, all conferences are different.  For the BIG, the Playoff is locked into #1 BIG team, if applicable, the Orange (if invited) or Citrus is number 2.  After that, all of the bowl games send preferences to the conference with more than one team, in order.  The BIG does have the final say in who goes where.

Fox has the Holiday Bowl.  Michigan v. Stanford would be the biggest non-New Years Day bowl game out there, and probably get better ratings than many of those games on New Years Day.  I think McMurphy is pushing the Outback Bowl because he is pushing an ESPN agenda, and I don't think ESPN wants Fox to get that matchup. 

It is really suspect that he would call it a "lock."  I still see Michigan in San Diego.

In reply to by Pepto Bismol

ijohnb

November 29th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

did not read it first as a hypothetical.  I see now that it was.  But yes, the BIG makes the decision, not the school nor the bowl game.

I may be a little bit hyper about this.  Michigan v. Stanford or Washington in the Holiday Bowl would be awesome.  Michigan v. South Carolina in the Outback Bowl would be suckiest of all sucky possibilities and would be a game that I would barely watch.  I am just sincerely hoping that is not the outcome.

NateVolk

November 29th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

The Holiday Bowl might be intriguing to some fans. Put me in that category. Rarer venue and the matchup of major academic/athletic powers with Stanford. I think the players would get a bang out of a place most of them have probably never been.

But taking everything the gentleman is pointing out, I doubt Michigan has any preference for it and it makes more sense Michigan would much rather go to the Outback.

If the insider knows the Outback wants Michigan, the Outback presumably knows where it's slotted as far as possible teams it could invite and is lining that up.

The Outback bowl Michigan wanting it make too much sense. 

It's game that's been around for 30 years and it's hard to believe they'd pursue an arrangement which isn't possible.

 

In reply to by ijohnb

NittanyFan

November 29th, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^

The B1G has "promised" them at least 5 different teams over the 6 year period over the 2014-2019 seasons.  So far, they've gotten Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern.

Yes, they could get Iowa or Northwestern a second time --- but you know they'll be lobbying super hard for Michigan.  

The B1G has the same "promise" with the Holiday Bowl.  Holiday Bowl has gotten none of Iowa, Northwestern or Michigan, so sending U-M to Tampa and one of the West teams to San Diego prevents any repeat visits.

Of course, if OSU loses to Wisconsin there's a decent chance they fall out of the NYD6 entirely.  That, or a TCU win over Oklahoma that knocks PSU out of a NYD6 spot, may be U-M's best path to San Diego (OSU/PSU to the Citrus & MSU to the Outback).

oriental andrew

November 29th, 2017 at 4:11 PM ^

Outback must feature at least 5 different Big Ten schools over 6 years. Iowa was there to close 2013 and 2016, so they're out. Michigan was actually there to close the 2012 season and this would be the 6th season, including that one. I think that should mean that Michigan is NOT eligible. 

We can't have Michigan (2012, 2017), Iowa (2013, 2016), Wisconsin, and Northwestern over 6 years, as that's only 4 different teams. What am I missing? 

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback_Bowl#Game_results

Seems that would leave msu as the only reasonable option for the Outback, assuming psu, osu, and Wisco are all playoff or NY6 bound. 

That means the Holiday Bowl is in play for either Michigan or Iowa. After that, it's either the Music City or TaxSlayer bowls. 

EDIT: Well, if Nittany Fan (right above my post) is correct about the time period, my entire post is moot. Wasn't aware of a 2014-2019 timeframe on the agreement. 

NittanyFan

November 29th, 2017 at 5:33 PM ^

The latest set of B1G Bowl relationships began in 2014 --- you may be correct on the interpretation of "5 teams in 6 years."  That could mean (1) a rolling 6 years or (2) the 6 years immediately following the newest set of Bowl relationships (2014-2019).  Document isn't specifically clear on that point.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016…

In reply to by ijohnb

Jonesy

November 29th, 2017 at 6:23 PM ^

Nobody's going to care or remember that after a couple months it'll just be 8-4 Michigan beating 8-4 SEC South Carolina and that's a big win.

SlickNick

November 29th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^

So Vic is eligible right away?  I honestly hope he tears up the Big Ten...probably won't affect us anyways  seeing as we won't see Minnesota again untill 2020 (fuck yourself Delaney). 

Brodie

November 29th, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^

Which is hilarious because their like their new coach who went to college in New York City, has never worked south of DC, and only left the East Coast once previously... for Akron. And Mullen was a New Hampshire native whose only claim to the south was working at Florida

Kevin13

November 29th, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^

They will really want to redshirt him. I think right now Doyle would probably be a better candidate to play if needed in 2018. I think the depth chart would be:

Peters

McCaffery

Doyle

Milton/Walk-on and if we get this far down the depth chart probably a better bet to see a walk-on play to perserve RS.

UgLi Eric

November 29th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^

My question is for someone well connected or inside college football. Are attrition rates actually higher these days and since all I read is Michigan Football news, do we have higher attrition than the average program?

I am a 2004 graduate and followed Michigan Football closely during my youth. While we didn't have MgoBlog and great insider info, I did live in West quad, had direct neighbors on the team, and took many classes with players. During my time there, I don't recall there being close to this much roster attrition.