Previously:

August 2006

September 1 - Friday

It’s Christmas eve; football is almost here.

Unverified Voracity: Creepy Baby. Should be titled Links that Don’t Work. I would especially like to see the first one about Brian Kelly being crazy. What did that look like 10 years ago?

September 3 - Sunday

Game notes from the game 1 victory over Vanderbilt. Defense was very impressive, run game looked good, but the passing game was iffy.

September 4 - Monday

Somehow a game open thread two days after the game. Also included is a ‘M’ version of the Night Before Christmas.

Unverified Voracity: By S I Mean Herrmann with quotes about how much more simple and understandable the defense is this season for the players.

September 5 - Tuesday

UFR: Defense vs. Vanderbilt. English is better than Hermann.

English coaches like he's got a talent advantage. He swarmed Vandy instead of sitting back, waiting for them to make an error. Bend-but-don't-break is a rube's game suited for weaklings.

Woodley came in for a +12; Crable and Biggs each got +6s.

Blogpoll update. Tennessee is #1. Michigan is #9.

September 6 - Wednesday

Maxwell Pundit Week 1. Apparently, MGoBlog used to participate in a blogpoll equivalent of the Heisman. Brian’s top three are: Calvin Johnson, Garrett Wolfe, and Buster Davis.

Blogpoll week 2.

UFR: Offense vs. Vanderbilt. Things looked pretty good, except for maybe the right side of the line (Mitchell/Riley).

What did you like about the dawn of DeBord Era II?

Internet malcontents will be malcontents, but they did get a few of their wishes granted. Michigan's base formation was a three-wide set, something long desired by crabby message-boarders. The zone running game vastly reduced the prevalance of the fullback shuffle. The waggle re-emerged as a weapon.

Side note, it seems weird to me that Brandon Minor was in this game. I associate him with the Rodriguez years so much and forget that he was contributing two years before that.

September 7 - Thursday

Update on Brian’s work at AOL Fanhouse.

You’re on Notice: Week 2

An interview with CMU alum Brian Seymour about the upcoming game. It’s an interesting read with thoughts about the legacy of DeBord, Brian Kelly’s crazy play calling, and how a spread offense works.

A collection of links that Brian was not able to post during the last few days.

September 8 - Friday

Fearmeter: Week 2

I have a LeFevour and the only prescription is the most obvious reference available.

CMU Preview

Finally, three opportunities for me to look stupid Sunday:

• Jamison debuts and gets a sack.

• Morgan Trent emerges as the starter opposite Hall.

•  

• 27-14; panic spreads like wildfire.

•  

September 9 - Saturday

CMU game thread

September 11 - Monday

Blogpoll Ballot Week 2. OSU is #1. ‘M’ is #8.

Somebody submitted a ballot to the blogpoll with San Jose State on it. Brian believed this was done just to get attention and tossed the ballot. They weren’t happy.

You’re on Notice: Week 3

September 12 - Tuesday

Brian reviews film of Notre Dame’s game against Georgia Tech. His conclusions include: Brady Quinn isn’t that good, and ND played a very 2005 version of Lloydball.

Brian discusses the upcoming ND game with the House Rock Built blog. Lots of discussion on their mood for this game each year and about the history of the last few games.

Maxwell Pundit Week 2. Troy Smith #1 and Calvin Johnson #2.

September 13 - Wednesday

Brian reviews film of Notre Dame’s game against Penn St. His conclusions include: PSU’s coaching staff is dumb, Quinn is better but still not that good, and Victor Abiamiri is going to give Rueben Riley more problems.

Blogpoll Week 3.

UFR: Defense vs. Central. Good, but not as great as against Vanderbilt. Woodley got a +8, Branch +5, but Englemon -3.

September 14 - Thursday

UFR: Offense vs. Central. This is the first offensive UFR to use number grades. Kraus and Oluigbo both get +3, but Riley gets a -5. Brian admits it’s still a work in process.

September 15 - Friday

Brian does a podcast with House Rock Built. Apparently, he talked about when he puts on pants, which is ironic that he discussed this topic on the recent WTKA podcast (9/1/16).

Notre Dame Preview.

Finally, three opportunities for me to look stupid Sunday:

• Woodley is neutralized.

• Hart goes for 150.

• 27-24, Michigan.

A link to “voracity-type substance” on Brian’s AOL site.

September 17 - Sunday

Notre Dame game thread with gleeful update.

Notre Dame game Column.

Brady Quinn spent the day attempting to remember where he was, then quickly attempting to pretend he was anywhere else. Sorry, kid: there's no happy place on this field. There are only angry places filled with men named Crable, Woodley, Branch, and Burgess.

September 18 - Monday

Some great ND schadenfreude.

As disappointing as this loss is/was/will be, do not forget how Pete Carroll struggled in years 1, 2 and 3.

In year two, Carroll struggled to an 11-2 record and Orange Bowl victory over Iowa. In year three, Carroll struggled his way to national championship.

Unverified Voracity: Victory. With lots of perspectives on the victory, including victory sandwiches and how MGoBlog shirts can make you prophetic.

Brady Quinn for Heisman highlight video! But sadly it no longer works.

September 19 - Tuesday

You’re on Notice: Week 3

Maxwell Pundit: Week 3 complete with Brian talking in pirate lingo. One through three is Troy Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, and Lamarr Woodley.

UFR: Defense vs. Notre Dame.

Quinn lets it rip on the first play from scrimmage. Weis is such a genius. It catches us so off guard that Morgan Trent(+2) is in better position than Samarwhatever and can slow up a bit to impede his progress.

This was a dominating performance and 1997 comparisons are beginning to be mentioned. No negatives were given. Crable was +9, Hall +8, and Branch +7.

September 20 - Wednesday

Blogpoll ballot week 4.

Unverified Voracity: Victory Edition the Sequel is just what it says, lots more takes on Michigan’s recent win.

Blogpoll week 4.

UFR: Offense vs. Notre Dame. A few concerns about the run game, but with putting up 47 points, there are obviously few concerns. Manningham with +9 and Hart with +7. Long and Eckert both had -3.

September 21 - Thursday

Brian interviews two Wisconsin bloggers about the upcoming game. Nothing earth-shattering in hindsight, but it’s still an interesting read.

Blogpoll Roundtable looks at the beginning of the season and predicts where things will go from here.

Brian takes up the fight against bad journalism by shredding a piece from Matt Hayes.

September 22 - Friday

Nobody Expects Unverified Voracity. A backup Wisconsin LB will miss the game because he stole a moped. Also, ‘M’ hockey gets a commit from Chris Brown.

Wisconsin game preview.

Finally, three opportunities for me to look stupid Sunday:

• PJ Hill averages 2.5 YPC.

• Breaston scores.

• 24-6, Michigan.

September 25 - Monday

Wisconsin game open thread.

Wisconsin game column.

make no mistake: this was nearly as beat-down-errific as the Notre Dame game, except in this game Michigan won going away with a -2 in the turnover margin column* instead of a +4.

Also, this is very prescient to the 2016 season; not unlike “The Story: 2016”.

And thus severe cognitive dissonance in the Michigan fanbase. Stung by the Year of Infinite Pain and previous Years of Unnecessary But Thankfully Finite Pain, there is a hestiancy to predict anything better than 10-2, to envision horrible losses to teams with no business on the same field as Michigan (I'm looking at you, Penn State), to prepare for the inevitable hammer blow to the chest courtesy a wacky punt formation or foolish confidence in a slim lead or the plain bloody-mindedness of the universe. We hesitate. We don't want to go through that again.

And yet... this team is not last year's team.

(i.e. any team from the last eight years)

Analysis of recent MSU and OSU games. Drew Stanton is running more, and Troy Smith looked fairly pedestrian against Penn State.

Blogpoll ballot week 4: Brian. Auburn is #1, followed by Michigan and Ohio State.  

September 26 - Tuesday

UFR: Defense vs. Wisconsin. Another stellar outing by the defense. The line was strong, led by +12 from Branch, +7 from Woodley, +6 for Taylor, and +5 from Will Johnson.

Brian interviews Jay Mariotti. Really.

Maxwell Pundit Ballot. Calvin Johnson is back to top, followed by Alan Branch, and Troy Smith.

Unverified Voracity: Kamoku Rage because some UW player named James Kamoku was twisting Breaston’s leg after a punt return tackle.

September 27 - Wednesday

Blogpoll ballot week 4: official. Top three OSU, Michigan, and Auburn.

And a closer look at individual blogpoll ballots.

Brian has gotten a couple reports that Morgan Trent’s hand is broken.

Unverified Voracity Has No Catchy Title. The defense is starting to get some national hype, and Mike Valenti rants.

September 28 - Thursday

You’re on Notice Week 4.

UFR: Offense vs. Wisconsin. Another strong performance by Manningham, but there are concerns about DeBord’s playcalling, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Brian decided to ditch the +/- system on offense for now until he can perfect it.

September 29 - Friday

Morgan Trent rumors are now determined to be false.

Brian takes a look at the Minnesota vs. Purdue game. Their passing game looks terrible, running game is ok, and the defense is solidly meh.

Brian backs off his Morgan Trent rumor back off, so no one is quite sure what’s going on. You think Counter-Strike rumors are bad, this one involved someone passing along Trent’s IM away message.

Minnesota preview. Doesn’t look like they are going to pose much of a threat.

Finally, three opportunities for me to look stupid Sunday:

• Still many first-down runs into stacked fronts.

• Arrington scores.

• 30-10, Michigan.