Unverified Voracity Requests Drum-Off Comment Count

Brian

Drumline, go.

I would watch a halftime show that was a you-got-served style drumoff between bands. Yes sir.

It's almost like this was not well thought out. Michigan's three million dollar billboard is an eyesore the city would like to turn off.

Ann Arbor officials are planning to ask the University of Michigan to decommission its new digital billboard outside the Big House.

City Council Member Christopher Taylor, D-3rd Ward, and other council members argue the large marquee on East Stadium Boulevard is too big, too bright and too distracting to drivers with its continually changing messages.

You may be wondering why the city is bringing this up after the thing was installed, they were obviously not consulted and don't have to be. Whateva, the U does what it wants:

The university does not have to follow the city's local ordinances or obey council requests. Nonetheless, the council members behind the resolution are hoping the university will hear the community's concerns and respond.

"It just doesn't seem very appropriate," Higgins said of the billboard. "We talked about the size (as part of the city's sign ordinance), and that just so far exceeded any size that we thought was really feasible within the city limits."

Does anyone ask anyone else about anything before just doing it anymore? If I show up at Michigan Stadium next year and it's upside down, will anyone have a rationale, or at least a document indicating that there was a 15 minute discussion about the pros and cons of such an undertaking? (PRO: rain can't get in so easily. CON: have to invent anti-gravity to play football.)

Foh1SME[1]

SCORCHED EARTH

Well, that was inevitable. Miami gets three scholarships docked for the next three years. No bowl ban, various other minor penalties. After the NCAA screwed up that investigation harder than Nevin Shapiro screwed his ponzi investors, this was always going to be a wrist-slap compromise that wouldn't send Miami to the appeal/sue route, and lo, it is so. QED: the NCAA put together a record-shattering 102-page document to mildly annoy a program they savage as being basically without compliance in the report.

It's worth noting that Miami self-imposed two years of bowl ban, which cost them a berth in last year's ACC Championship game, and a bunch of players were suspended. It did cost them something.

Obligatory: the NCAA is stupid and their rules are unenforceable and pointless and most of those rules should be put in a blender for the benefit of players, society, common sense, and most importantly Michigan, which has an alumni base with gobs of dough and a department that actually has, you know, compliance activities going on.

Ann Arbor Skyline. Finally, the mysterious name of Ann Arbor's newest high school is explained:

Stauskas and Caris LeVert sharing the backcourt is not "out of the realm of possibility," per Jordan.

That is from WTKA's eight-o-clock hour this morning, on which Michigan's basketball assistants appeared and sent every Michigan basketball beat guy scurrying to their twitter to live-tweet it.

If this actually comes to fruition, holy pants that is a huge lineup: LeVert, Stauskas, Robinson, McGary, Morgan/Horford, or stick Irvin somewhere in there. No one under 6'6". It'll be a sideshow with Walton and Spike around, but what a sideshow.

In general, the coaches sounded excited about LeVert in particular, who's up to 185 and apparently showing enough point guard skill to warrant some run at that spot. He is the kind of guy—young, skinny, still growing—who can be a totally different player in year two.

Same as it ever was. Hockey got some pretty horrible officiating in New Hampshire over the weekend, no call worse than a Derek DeBlois stick-lift that was somehow judged a penalty shot. Berenson on that:

A man may dress like a cowboy and smell like a cowboy but he can't ride a horse.

The Big Ten ain't fixing the gibbering pack of maroons that's available to ref games.

Exit. Farewell to Burgeoning Wolverine Star, which hangs up its spurs. Chris of BWS acquired a reputation as something of a downer, but… uh… on many counts he turned out to be right. (See: offensive line.) His play breakdowns were consistently worth arguing about. He'll be missed.

Entrance. If the previous news leaves you feeling sad, here is Fergodsakes, which is ramping up their coverage entertainingly:

Young (Michigan Alum) David Alan Grier?

Pictured: Michigan Offense, rediscovered

First off, this reference to Spielberg's "Hook" (1991), a landmark achievement in Giant Crocodile cinema technology, was not at all random, and will be of use later in this piece.

A possible future. A leaked PDF that was accurate enough to forecast a Michigan/UCLA series in 2022 and 2023 also indicates Michigan may be playing a neutral-site game against Florida in 2017. Neutral probably means Atlanta, which wouldn't be neutral but would at least be easy to get to. If Will Muschamp doesn't kill Orson by then that would be fun.

Other games it may reveal: UCF in 2016, pushing back a Ball State game, Air Force in 2017—ack option football—and SMU in 2018, all home games.

I subscribe to your newspaper. I subscribe it up. Jeff Goodman toured six of the top programs in America a few days back, hitting Kansas, MSU, Indiana, Oklahoma State, Louisville, and another school I can't figure out from the italicized preview bit. The most impressive guy Goodman saw?

Michigan's Glenn Robinson III was the most impressive player of anyone I saw on the trip. GR3 will see more time at his natural position, small forward, this season. The 6-7 Robinson has added weight and become more athletic.

The questions regarding the son of the "Big Dog" were about his perimeter shot and ability to put the ball on the floor. Robinson buried deep jumper after deep jumper and appears far more comfortable at the 3-spot in John Beilein's offense. It's still yet to be determined whether this aspect of his skill set will translate in games, but it's a good sign with Robinson more assertive on the offensive end. If he can gain a consistent jumper to go with his athleticism, he'll almost certainly be a lottery pick.

That would be excellent. Robinson attended the same camps McGary did over the summer; the buzz from them was that McGary was a beast and Robinson tended to fade into the background, as he is wont to do. I've been expecting an incremental leap in GRIII's game with Stauskas and McGary picking up more of the usage slack left by Burke as a result. Any indicator that Little Big Dog is going to eat is an encouraging sign.

On pace. Jeremy Gallon was the fourth-leading receiver in the Big Ten last year with 829 yards. Through seven games this year he's already exceeded that total with 831. To break Braylon Edwards's single-season receiving record of 1330 yards Gallon needs to average 84 yards a game—well within reach, especially if Michigan retains the pass-orientation they showed against Indiana.

Booker not looking too good. Devin Booker took a visit to Missouri over the weekend, and this is maybe not so good:

Booker visited both Kentucky and Michigan State on the weekend of Sept. 6-9 and went to Michigan on Oct. 5. He arrived back in Mississippi Sunday after the first of consecutive trips to Columbia, Mo., with plans to return to this weekend when his father, Melvin, is honored along with the rest of Missouri's 1994 Big 8 championship team.

A couple of Kentucky folk have flipped their predictions to Mizzou on 247, FWIW.

Etc.: Pahokee eating update. Also an update from Maize and Go Blue. Ups and downs of Brady Hoke. This happened forever ago, but my gawd James Murphy. The Ducks are the reason John Gibson never showed up at Michigan. OH SF Javon Bess, a plan B for Michigan as they wait on Booker and Blackmon, commits to MSU. Here is the weird halftime show.

Comments

MGlobules

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^

people's complaints are worth registering, the city simply needs to pass an ordinance. Get the will of the people, if it's there, behind the thing. And if Dollar Dave Branding is smart he will choose his battles.

Would not be so hard, from the U's side, to turn it off during heavy traffic, slow the image flow, etc. to ameliorate. . . 

Aesthetically, those things suck and definitely are a distraction. Not sure why the whole world, including every bar, restaurant, and doctor's office in the world thinks I want to watch TV 24/7.

Lotta positive glimmerings from the bball side. . . 

Bando Calrissian

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:02 PM ^

There's nothing the city can do. Like the article says, the University can pretty much do whatever they want on University land. They aren't beholden to city ordinances, like the one the City Council passed in June regarding digital billboards.

So, yes, the city did something, but it doesn't matter. The University's going to University.

thisisme08

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^

Count me as one who hates giant digital billboards.  There is one located on M-20 outside of the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant and it lights up the sky(road) from miles away.  I like to think of it as a giant bug zapper, drawing "moths" to the light (casino). 

If that intersection wasnt dangerous enough, the brightness of the sign/frequent changes of the ad's when combined with rain/sleet/snow makes it impossible to see if the road is clear ahead.    

M-Wolverine

October 22nd, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^

Consider the traffic flow, the lack of accidents seems to stand out more than anything. It's certainly not even in the top 25 most dangerous in the county.

http://www.annarbor.com/news/report-ranks-washtenaw-countys-25-most-dangerous-intersections/

And I don't get "impossible to see the road" stuff; just don't look at it.

Now ugly, unnecessary, badly placed...I won't necessarily agree with all of it, but have at it. Fair knocks. That it's going to cause accidents....well, without any data that it has caused even one (it has been up awhile) I'm just going to assume that is political posturing.

M-Wolverine

October 22nd, 2013 at 4:47 PM ^

Probably my lack of knowledge of that area as how M-20 would be a intersection, though it certainly could be, like M-143 being Michigan Avenue with lots of intersections. Though that's a roundabout way to hate on Michigan's sign.

M-Wolverine

October 22nd, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^

But a handful of city council people making a political play with nebulous logic isn't really a great way to make your case. Particularly when they're smokescreening their actions that HAVE caused accidents.

I can see us going to a big lineup at times, but I won't be holding my breath on LeVert as starting point guard for any length of time.

Sorry to hear about BWS, but I'm not really surprised. He was really down on the whole escapade at the Spring Game gathering, but I'm not sure if anyone took it more seriously than just being general negativity. But he obviously isn't doing it as a knee-jerk reaction to anything.  

The Goodman thing is an asuming paragraph if you didn't remember his name from this report coming out earlier and you start thinking the list is supposed to be footbal powers.

The John Gibson/Grand Forks thing link requires a subscription.

mgobaran

October 22nd, 2013 at 12:55 PM ^

Went down to see the comments, some people are certain that the goal is fake. 

Then this beauty popped up,

 

you won at the wrong football, michigan. fix your shit.

NiMRODPi

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:01 PM ^

Didn't have any sort of opinion on the sign outside the stadium, I pass it a couple times a week. I guess now I do. Never found it distracting or an eyesore. I don't understand people. You're driving, don't look at it. Are we seriously so helpless against its mysterious power that we MUST look at it while driving?

If there's something to complain about, how about starting construction over by Packard/Stone School right at the end of August when you had the entire summer to do this?

Wee-Bey Brice

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

Booker to Mizzou does not bode well for us if it pans out. We have been leaning on the "If Booker/Blackmon chooses UK the other comes to M" theory for a while now and if Booker goes to Mizzou that still leaves Blackmon's spot at UK wide open and us with Javon Be... Wait.. CRAP!

ChicagoBigHouse

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^

I think highlighting the drum line would be an excellent way to kick up the entertainment at the game without pumping in music.   Nothing says college football to me like the drumline, gives me chills when I hear it at the beginning of the season!

Section 1

October 23rd, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^

to think of the skill / dedication / talent / spirit / intelligence / hard work of the Michigan Marching Band, in comparison to the trashiness / obnoxiousness / lowest common denominator ordinariness of canned "stadium rock."

It is confounding to me, that the actions of the Michigan Athletic Department, which is just about the best position of all to appreciate the Michigan Marching Band, is so dismissive of the band's involvement in games.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

October 22nd, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^

Let's not give Miami a bunch of credit for self-imposing bowl bans.  I'm not as impressed as the NCAA.  In 2011 they announced this on November 20, one day after becoming eligible at 6-5.  They did the exact same in 2012.  In other words, rather than take any chances early and possibly ruining a very good season, they waited until they knew they weren't missing out on much.  And by taking them one year at a time - and waiting until most of the recruiting cycle was over - they never took the intended recruiting hit.

Rather, they clevered their way out of the brunt of the sanction.  This was similar to when FSU had a bunch of key players suspended for the first two games of the season based on that academic scandal that wiped out a whole bunch of Bobby Bowden's wins, and then hastily rearranged their schedule to play a pair of the worst I-AA teams they could find during the suspensions.

avendittelli

October 22nd, 2013 at 3:41 PM ^

Miami got absolutely killed in recruiting because of the uncertainty regarding potential future sanctions. Not sure how you can say "most of the recruiting cycle was over" by late November, especially when Miami had to flip guys in January and February. Just my opinion.

BTW I remember your site, I used to have my own MIami one a few years ago, and you were one of the first to come around, so a belated thanks for that.

MinWhisky

October 22nd, 2013 at 5:41 PM ^

~50 years ago UofM featured the "Anvil Chorus" line-up that was more impressive and went to the NCAA final again UCLA:

  • Bill Buntin, Center, 6'7" 245 lbs.
  • Oliver Darden, Forward, 6'8" 235 lbs.
  • Cazzie Russell, Guard, 6'5" 215 lbs.
  • Larrg Tregoning, Guard, 6'5" 200 lbs.
  • George Pomey, Forward, 6'5" 200 lbs.