unverified voracity
notre dame
lacrosse
lane kiffin
holmes onwukaife

Unverified Voracity Is Taking The Over Comment Count

Brian

Site note: The number of people who have breached the 20-point barrier that puts people in special roles seems like enough to implement a first moderation step around here: n00bs can't start forum threads, though they can reply to them and comment on whatever. I'm a little worried this might cut off some useful stuff but the recent trend of people signing up and trolling needs reigning in. Consider it experimental.

Also, I'm watching a DVRed copy of the Brazil-USA game in about ten minutes, so content will be a little late this afternoon.

Nonwukaife. So… yeah. TX DE/LB Holmes Onwukaife tried to commit to Michigan a couple days ago but has apparently been denied. Earlier in the year the Travis Williams situation prompted some navel-gazing around these parts, with the upshot being Rodriguez's offer cannon giving me the heebie-jeebies, but this doesn't bother me that much.

Williams was told to wait for other guys to make decisions, basically, which means his offer was not actually an offer. Onwukaife saw two guys commit to his position, then was told the "barn is full; how about middle linebacker?" That's unavoidable, and Michigan tried to make room for him by offering to recruit him at another position.

What does bother me a little: 1) I wrote up a "Hello: Holmes Onwukaife" post which is now useless and 2) in the course of it I convinced myself I liked him a little better than Paskorz. C'est la vie.

Say what, son? Mike Brey, head coach of the fightin' flameouts at Notre Dame:

Notre Dame Mike Brey joked Tuesday that he knows of a surefire way to make certain the Fighting Irish don't have another midseason swoon like last season.

"If we could play in the Big Ten, maybe that would help us a little bit," he said.

Help you do what, exactly? Notre Dame was 1-2 against the Big Ten last year with the win against conference punching bag Indiana and losses against middle-of-the-pack Ohio State and eighth-place Penn State. Big Ten bashing is so ingrained these days that it gets invoked even when it makes zero sense.

Adventures in unwise bets. At Blogs With Balls I saw Orson Swindle pick up a slider, see that it had a tasteless slice of American cheese on it, panic, and then attempt to offload it on a cast of thousands. So I know this to be true:

We hate cheese. It’s not lactose intolerance, but rather a lifelong dislike so intense that our sister used to chase us with pieces of it. We can’t eat it on anything, and the smell of it cooking will drive us out of a room.

So this seems exceptionally unwise:

if Lane Kiffin is still coach at Tennessee in three years, we volunteer to eat a 6 oz piece of cheese on film to commemorate the occasion. The exact variety shall be left up to relevant experts, though really if Joel wants us to eat limburger so ripe it can hold up liquor stores at knifepoint after hotwiring a car, that’s what we’ll eat, even if we end up vomiting up a spleen over it. That’s how convinced we are that Kiffin will fail.

Three years? I, like the rest of the sports blogosphere without a closet full of dayglo orange, am convinced that Lane Kiffin is going to break John L Smith's records for hilarious failure, but even John L Smith lasted four years at State. Maybe if Kiffin was inheriting an unwrecked car, and maybe if he was at a place that had a quick trigger finger, this would be plausible, but, man… it's really hard to get fired in three years.*

*(I'd like Notre Dame fans to know that I excised a terribly funny Willingham-at-ND cheapshot here. Let's hold hands and get ice cream.)

Lacrosse fight. Black Shoe Diaries posted a thing about how Michigan was screwed if they took their dominant club lacrosse program varsity, which Varsity Blue responded to, which brought forth a BSD riposte, and, well, here we are. The main bone of contention revolves around if Brother Rice is freakin' awesome or not, and if Michigan can sustain a competitive lacrosse program on the backs of local talent.

I'm just, all, like… when has Michigan had trouble recruiting privileged kids from New York? People call Alice Lloyd "Lloyd Island," after all. If Michigan has a varsity lacrosse team they'll probably suck up their share of recruits and be competitive.

Etc.: The USA's World Cup bid has slashed 27 venues from its list, but Michigan Stadium is still standing; add Florida State to the teams that run the 4-3 under Greg Robinson is installing at Michigan.

Comments

InterM

June 19th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^

I didn't realize that, as an elite member, I'd get this great new avatar! Also got the secret decoder ring -- it's cool how it translates from 20 different languages, including WLA. Oops, was I not supposed to reveal that?

Joined: 01/16/2009

MGoPoints: 2257

wooderson

June 18th, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^

Not that I really feel the need to start a thread anytime soon, but I think that quantity of posts doesn't always equal quality. For instance I think the guy that started the thread about "DonSmell" last week doesn't really need to be moderating anybody anytime soon....

Joined: 07/28/2008

MGoPoints: 343

los barcos

June 18th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^

just realized im not a fan of the point system. i dont consider myself a n00b, though i joined in march ive been reading since last year. anyways, because i cant create a forum topic...any thoughts on the US's big loss to brazil? i didnt see the game, but it sounded bad and the us now is 0-2. bradley was on the hot seat already, is he safe now? im kind of disappointed now in what has become US soccer. i thought 2002's run to the semifinal would be the stepping stone to world success but it looks more like an aberration....

Joined: 03/27/2009

MGoPoints: 10797

NJWolverine

June 18th, 2009 at 12:34 PM ^

The crux of BSD's argument is that Penn St.'s proximity to elite lacrosse players alone means we can't have a good lacrosse program. That's laughably insane, of course. But it speaks to the inferiority complex they feel vis a vis us. We're a better school, we have better athletics, but hey, they're closer to the east. As an aside it speaks to their general insecurities about being in the Big Ten generally. The simple fact is that Michigan can get players anywhere they want. Whether it's Florida for football or California for softball, it doesn't matter how high or low profile the sport is to the program. Penn State doesn't want Michigan to branch out of the midwest because they fear that it will hurt them (and it probably will). This has always been the case in football, where Michigan is expanding even further recently, but can be the case in plenty of other sports. As far as NY goes, yeah I agree there are tons of them on campus, alone with Jersey guys like myself. There wouldn't be an adjustment issue. And in today's day an age where you can just fly, it's pathetic to rely solely on proximity to gauge where you get your players. A lot of my friends in NJ went to Penn State. It's a pretty crappy school. It's one of those schools that might have been okay during boom times but now you have to be outstanding to get anything decent after graduation. Don't feed the fire for these guys. They know and we know that deep down we're better.

Joined: 08/31/2008

MGoPoints: 840

Tim Waymen

June 18th, 2009 at 1:07 PM ^

Sporting News this week wrote that the Big East will be the 5th best major conference next year, with who else but the Big 10 at #1. But I don't need SN to tell me that though. This past year the Big 10 was not very far behind the Big East, and it was only the beginning. The Big 10 might have the best coaching in the country. Thad Matta might actually be the worst coach in the Big 10 (I know, bold statement). In the coming years, Beilein and Crean will have better, experienced talent that fits their system. Izzo always does. Likliter might someday. Brey could barely compete with these guys. Suck it, and suck it hard.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1973

Michigan Arrogance

June 18th, 2009 at 1:11 PM ^

Penn State can't help but feel inferior The crux of BSD's argument is that Penn St.'s proximity to elite lacrosse players alone means we can't have a good lacrosse program. That's laughably insane, of course. But it speaks to the inferiority complex they feel vis a vis us. We're a better school, we have better athletics, but hey, they're closer to the east. As an aside it speaks to their general insecurities about being in the Big Ten generally. The simple fact is that Michigan can get players anywhere they want. Whether it's Florida for football or California for softball, it doesn't matter how high or low profile the sport is to the program. Penn State doesn't want Michigan to branch out of the midwest because they fear that it will hurt them (and it probably will). This has always been the case in football, where Michigan is expanding even further recently, but can be the case in plenty of other sports. As far as NY goes, yeah I agree there are tons of them on campus, alone with Jersey guys like myself. There wouldn't be an adjustment issue. And in today's day an age where you can just fly, it's pathetic to rely solely on proximity to gauge where you get your players. A lot of my friends in NJ went to Penn State. It's a pretty crappy school. It's one of those schools that might have been okay during boom times but now you have to be outstanding to get anything decent after graduation. Don't feed the fire for these guys. They know and we know that deep down we're better.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 35448

bronxblue

June 18th, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^

I agree about the proximity argument - UM has been able to recruit football and basketball players from California, Texas, Florida, NY, etc. for years. If you want to play lacrosse, UM is as good a place as any. If anything, I think UM obtaining varsity status would simply hurt the recruiting at places like UVa and Syracuse, which would recruit kids with similar academic and geographical preferences. And let's not overlook the fact that lacrosse is still pretty much a middle-class+ sport, so those athletes are the types of kids who come from families that would (a) be willing to foot some of the bills for school if necessary, and (b) just as likely to consider UM for school with or without the varsity option. As for our first recruit, I like this kid:

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171032

Magnus

June 18th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^

I'm reading a lot of complaining about the points system, but I'm not seeing a whole lot of solutions. If you don't have a way to fix it, it's somewhat pointless to just say "I don't like it." (I know there were a couple people who offered very vague solutions, so I'm not talking to you.) If you've never posted before or you're just earning your first point now, I seriously doubt you're going to be negatively affected by being unable to post a forum topic. Like someone said above, there's no perfect way to police the internet.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 165915

mspeters

June 18th, 2009 at 2:13 PM ^

(I know there were a couple people who offered very vague solutions, so I'm not talking to you.)- backhanded complement meter = pegged I think length of membership is as logical as anything. Or maybe you have to pass a UM or mgoblog quiz before being activated to post? beat barwis in arm wrestling if your IP originates from OH/east lansing/southbend?

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 38

WolverBean

June 18th, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^

is to find a troll and interview him/her. I have no idea why people troll, and so I can only guess in the dark as to what kind of system will block or discourage it. Any trolls out there care to respond? What makes you tick? Why do you do what you do? Do you even know that others consider you trolls? Isn't every Michigander who lives south of Mackinac a troll, and so by banning trolls, do we ban our own home base?

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1959

RDDGoblue

June 18th, 2009 at 3:54 PM ^

I guess that I just want to express my general dislike for the points system. I have been a member of the board for quite a while now, I participate in the liveblogs for almost every football game, and try to make all of my contributions relevant and non-idiotic. The issue here is that I do not tend to feel the need to inject my worthless 2 cents on every thread in existence on the board. If others say what I feel like I need to say, then I let it be and do not clutter the thread with a veiled "+1" post. However, now if I do feel that I have information or an opinion worth sharing, even though I have probably filtered myself more than most posters from posting a crap thread, I am unable to share the information or opinion that I finally feel is worth sharing. The trouble with this system is that it encourages n00bs to "grind posts" so that they can fully use the board. I know that there is not an easy solution, but I believe that this new system is a regression from the old one. Magnus, I really like your line of thinking generally, and I hate to not have a better solution to the issue than my "new system stinks, bring back the old one" idea. However, that is where I am at. Maybe once I get enough points from spewing posts out with a little less restraint, I will feel differently.

Joined: 09/07/2008

MGoPoints: 1824

Super Unknown

June 18th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^

That's the only time I've ever posted "+1," but I had to. I do like an alternative join-date factor, however, a post minimum could spark more involvement (and yes, more "+1's"). If I really wanted to start a topic, it would not take long at all to rack up 20. Unfortunately, this also goes for trolls as well. It's kind of like a lock: it only keeps honest people out. An motivated troll will find a way regardless of the preventative measures.

Joined: 09/05/2008

MGoPoints: 162

dabadeeblue

June 18th, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^

Unfortunately, this also goes for trolls as well. It's kind of like a lock: it only keeps honest people out. An motivated troll will find a way regardless of the preventative measures. and +1 to you, sir.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 112

WolvinLA

June 18th, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^

If Michigan Lacrosse went varsity they would be badass after not very long. If any midwest school can pull east coasters, it's Michigan. Throw in that the state of Michigan is getting much better at lacrosse on the high school level, and I think we would be quite competitive. The midwest is really starting to catch up to the east coast in lacrosse, we're not there yet, but it's getting there. Only a matter of time.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 875

matty blue

June 18th, 2009 at 3:46 PM ^

two options: a) if you're married to a point system, do it with some form of rankings. all you need is a full-time person that gives each post a certain number of points based on grammar, lucidity, and the lack of "get off my lawn" mentality. brian, you just spent a week learning how to monetize this thing, you've got to have additional financial resources lying around to pay this person...hell, if you're hiring someone anyway, just have them moderate every post. hack the trolls and keep the good ones around. or do it yourself. what else do you have going? b) three words - points per letter.

Joined: 08/01/2008

MGoPoints: 39150

bronxblue

June 18th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^

I think the point system should work. I know people are bummed out about not being able to post some diaries early on, but I think most people who are going to invest in a community are going to be want to check it out a bit and get a sense for the expectations of posters before jumping right into it. The time limit would probably not work as well as people expect - as others have noted, people will just sign up and wait the 30 days or so (and right now, what would they post?) but then troll the boards come football season. Having been a member of Digg for some time, the part I hate most is that power users have basically dominated what gets posted there. Same with Reddit. I like the fact that MGoBlog is a pretty open community, where most people can post without fear of immediate buryment from the community. At the same time, some moderation for newcomers should be used.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171032

BiaBiakabutuka21

June 18th, 2009 at 5:06 PM ^

I have been reading the board for quite some time now but only recently started posting. I only post when I have something to say. I generally just read the boards. It really did not take very long to accumulate 20 points without trying to do so. If you want to have the ability to post a thread or diary, just reply "Agreed" to a few more posts than you normally would and it really won't take long to reach 20 points. Nothing is more annoying than a poorly written and thought out thread by a person who just stumbled on to the board. Granted, posters like McFarlin will probably reach 20 posts pretty quickly as well, but at least this system allows for a possible banhammer before they reach 20 posts.

Joined: 05/21/2009

MGoPoints: 1781

thevictor22

June 18th, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^

I think the system is pretty good as it stands and probably will prevent some people from trying to troll. My suggestion (and I think Brian or some other people mentioned this before) is to keep the 20 point requirement to create new topics, but allow for people to lose points if people feel a post doesn't live up to the expectations of this board. Maybe everyone over a certain number of points (100?) would be given the right to give a poster a -1 for a post. If a certain number of -1s are given for a specific post (say 5) the person loses a point. The person could continue to lose points if more people continue to give it -1s, which could possibly be cancelled out by +1s or something like that. Eventually, with enough negative points, members could get "suspended" from posting for a certain period of time and could end up getting banned after a certain point. Since there is no way I could have come up with this myself, I'm sure similar ideas have been posted somewhere, but I feel this is the best possible system and hey, I get a point!

Joined: 01/10/2009

MGoPoints: 49

mspeters

June 18th, 2009 at 10:02 PM ^

Perhaps the best solution is also the most common. Brian should appoint several moderators like any other forum. No need to pay them, maybe give them a free shirt once mgostore opens back up (why oh why was i too stingy to buy a shirt back then...stupid...stupid!) A-HEM. sorry. Anyway, no need for a complicated BCS-esque point formula, as this doesn't have to be so difficult, does it?

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 38

Flood

June 19th, 2009 at 12:28 AM ^

No moderators beyond Brian/TomVH is all I ask. Do me sideways with points requirements- yeah, maybe I should have chimed in more over the past year- but I don't know if I like the idea of anyone else having ultimate control of forum content.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 313