ESPN - Michigan's with JJ and the Penn State matchup
There are two ESPN articles (not paywalled) that have Michigan related information.
One is about JJ and why he raises Michigan's CFP ceiling. Here's the link: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/34777688/why-quarterback-jj-mccarthy-raises-michigan-college-football-playoff-ceiling
The second article is about this weekend's key games and Michigan v Penn State is second on the list, behind the Bama @ Tennessee game. Here's the link: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/gamedaykickoff101322/college-football-week-7-alabama-tennessee-penn-state-michigan-highlight-biggest-games
The perspectives about JJ are similar to what many of us have been discussing in other threads. Hopefully, you'll find them to be decent reads.
Go Blue!
October 13th, 2022 at 10:05 AM ^
Thanks for posting...
As an aside, and not related to the thread subject, I go back to the early week debates about Clemson jumping us. Anyway, the SEC - uhh, ESPN - talking heads on one of the daily radio shows (Off Campus - don't listen, it's gone off a cliff without Mark Packer) listed their 'Teir 1 teams' as the three usual suspects, but then included Clemson and UTenn. They put Michigan at the top of 'Teir 2'. Whatever... Both Clemson and UTenn have played pretty well, but I don't see them comparing to Michigan.
Anyway, thought was relevant since they put the #1 game as Bama-UTenn. Shouldn't surprise anyone...
October 13th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
You aren't kidding about Off Campus on ESPNU Radio. Why they didn't renew Mark Packer's contract is a mystery. His show was fantastic and as you said, it's gone off a cliff since he departed.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:23 AM ^
Packer is fantastic. I've grown to like Jacob Hester and dare I say, Bobby Carpenter is pretty good when he's on there. That time slot with Packer is not replaceable, but Hester and Carpenter do bring some pretty good insight since they both were great college players and played in the NFL.
Maybe give them some time to grow on you. They are nowhere near as shitty as EJ Manuel or Ryan Leaf.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
i thought you meant billy packer.
October 13th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
Todd Packer
October 13th, 2022 at 3:36 PM ^
No. Peter's little brother from Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:55 PM ^
I loved when he moonlighted as a miniature golf color commentator
October 13th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
I’ve caught the meathead radio a few times and have to say Carpenter is actually a pretty funny guy. Shame on me, I never realized (or just don’t remember) he played for the Lions
October 13th, 2022 at 10:20 AM ^
Bama at Tenn is the #1 game of the week. I don't think that is even debatable. Not sure if you are saying it shouldn't be.
As far as the tiers go, I wouldn't put Tenn and Clemson in that 1st tier just yet. I also don't think we have seen enough yet of Tenn, Mich and Clemson to distinguish them from each other. That will obviously play out, with a lot of knowledge to be gained this week for all three.
So much buzz about Tenn this week that I think Bama drills them (especially if Bryce Young) plays. I'm not sure Tenn is ready to handle all of these expectations for a program that has been irrelevant for a long time. The best thing for Tennessee this week would be to stay away from all of that rat poison the media is spewing.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
counter punt .... TN hasn't beaten Bama since 2006 i believe
we broke the OSU / B1G title curse last year. it may be TNs year this year.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
Well if Tennessee wants to do that, they're going to have to
A) More than likely beat Georgia, and do it on the road. I don't see Georgia tripping up more than once on their schedule, if they do at all.
B) They will have to beat Alabama, at a bare minimum, in the SEC Title game. That's who either Georgia or Tennessee will see there, and you can take that to the bank. This week's game won't derail Tennessee's CFP hopes if they lose (as long as its not a blowout), but that will make winning on the road in Athens an absolute necessity. They drop that game, its over.
Heck, they could beat Alabama this weekend, and if they lose to Georgia later in the season, it might be over for them then as well. They'd have to finish out at 11-1 and hope for some chaos elsewhere, like multiple two-loss conference champions.
My point here being: Tennessee has a much harder road to hoe than we did last year. All we had to do was get past OSU. Tennessee has two giants to slay. And they may have to slay one of them twice.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
Perkis,
I wish Conference Championships meant something in playoff team selection - we know they don't - which leads to interesting what if scenarios.
So, in the SEC, this is what comes to mind at the moment. Bama, with Bryce Young, wins a close one this weekend against Tennessee. Then, Tennessee defeats Georgia in a few weeks and wins the SEC East. Then, Tennessee defeats Bama in the SEC CCG.
I could imagine "everyone" claiming three SEC teams belong in the four team CFP - Tennessee, Bama, and Georgia.
Does the SEC have good teams this season? Sure, they do. But, IMO, neither Bama nor Georgia are playing as effectively as they have in recent seasons.
It should be an interesting Saturday for college football.
October 13th, 2022 at 1:02 PM ^
I think he was just saying that maybe it's TNs year to beat Bama this year. But yeah, TN has a very tough schedule with both Bama and UGA on it. That'd be like us having to play OSU twice.
That said, if TN beats Bama this weekend and loses to UGA but UGA wins the SEC, TN would have a good argument for being an 11-1 selection. In fact, I would bet very good money they'd make the playoff if their only loss is to an SEC champ UGA.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
Depends on what else happens around them at that point. I do think they'd need some help. They would need multiple 1-2 loss conference champions, I'm thinking.
Not sure what would happen between having to select, say, a 13-0 USC and an 11-1 Tennessee? Or a 13-0 Oklahoma State or an 11-1 Tennessee? The Pac-12 and Big XII race will heavily influence whether or not a second SEC team gets in. And then can't forget about Clemson. They're through probably the toughest part of their schedule already so if they're undefeated or even finish 12-1, they might still get in over Tennessee.
October 13th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
Clemson and UTenn certainly do compare to Michigan in just about every respect. They are not in a tier above Michigan with the top 3 teams though.
Tier 2 is Michigan, Clemson, UTenn....and I would argue Texas as well (with a healthy Ewers, which isn't that hot of a take, they're ranked 4th in FPI, 4th in Sagarin, etc etc). The order of those teams isn't clear at this point. Clemson and Tenn definitely have better wins/better SoS but Michigan has won every game relatively comfortably.
October 13th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
Tennessee looks legit, wouldn’t shock me if they beat Bama this weekend
October 13th, 2022 at 10:16 AM ^
I think we should be prepared for Tennessee to beat Bama and us to beat Penn State and we will drop in the polls to keep Bama in the top four or five and jump Tennessee up. Unless we win convincingly I doubt if they give us the benefit of the doubt. That’s just the way it seems like it’s trending. Going to come down to the last week in Columbus. No way the Big Ten gets two teams in the playoff this year. Plus gotta watch UCLA and USC and how they are trending.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:35 AM ^
Mayor,
I read a number of articles about College Sports, especially football. And, in one of the ESPN CFP projections - one writer projected three SEC teams to be in this year's CFP.
After week 4, Chris Low, the ESPN contributor - picked Georgia, Bama, Tennessee, and the Bucks in his CFP projection. The fact that he picked three SEC teams caught my eye - but, IMO, is also some of the "press" directed to the SEC. The top of the SEC is good, though - on the field - Georgia and Bama have not looked like the world-beaters they've been in the past.
The current (after week 6) ESPN projection is pretty consistent - Georgia, Bama, and the Bucks are in every one of the 14 contributors projection for the first three teams. The fourth team selection is primarily Clemson (11 votes), with a Michigan, USC, and Oregon each being noted as the fourth team by one contributor.
This might be a year when it's "difficult" for the CFP Selection Committee to pick four teams. The Pac-12 might be interesting - especially, if USC wins at Utah this weekend. Michigan controls its own fate - if they win out, I would find it hard to believe they wouldn't be selected for the CFP. But, that's eight weeks away.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
My money is on uga/bama/vols, um/osu/psu, Clemson, Texas.
October 13th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
Your money is on a 4-2 Texas team to do what exactly? Because if it's to make the playoff, I'll take your money and give you great odds.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:06 AM ^
Wow! I think it’s absurd to even consider that one conference could get three teams into a playoff. I think two is a reach in my opinion even if there are two good teams because most likely they would’ve either played in the regular season or in the conference championship game so that would essentially be a playoff game. With that being said I agree that it will most likely be Bama, Georgia, the winner between us and the bucks and either Clemson or an unbeaten Pac 12 team. We do control our own destiny but I believe we’re going to have to win out. Meaning I think if we lose one game but beat the bucks and go 12-1 it’s a possibility that an unbeaten PAC 12 team or ACC team could knock us out. Highly unlikely to happen but you just Gotta be prepared to think that way.
October 13th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^
As far as an undefeated PAC-12 team jumping a 12-1 Michigan, its possible, but a lot of it would depend on who that loss was to. Let's assume its not OSU, because I don't think there's any plausible scenario where Michigan loses to OSU but still goes to Indy. OSU is not losing twice.
Let's say Michigan drops a very close game to Penn State this weekend and that is their only blemish. Meanwhile, Penn State loses two very close games to OSU and, say, Minnesota, but still finishes the season hovering around a 10-12 ranking. Michigan then beats a #1 or #2 OSU, hamblasts whoever they play in Indy.
Looking at UCLA's schedule, if they go undefeated, I think they'd get in over a 12-1 Michigan. They would've beaten a USC team that's ranked around 5-6 at the time, along with beating a potential top-10 Oregon team on the road, along with winning their conference (maybe beating USC again in the Pac-12 title game). Michigan would have the best win of the bunch, but UCLA would have more quality wins against ranked foes, and they probably get the nod.
With USC, they don't have Oregon on the schedule, and outside of UCLA their toughest remaining game is this weekend at Utah, who has fallen a bit flat. Would be a great booster, but not like winning on the road in Eugene.
Again, Michigan would still have the best win, but USC would have more convincing wins, in terms of quantity of them. But I think deciding on USC or Michigan would be more up in the air.
I'd rather USC just lose to Utah, UCLA lose to Oregon, and we can then just forget this whole charade.
October 13th, 2022 at 1:10 PM ^
In fairness, Bama, Tenn and UGA are 1, 2, 3 in that order in ESPN's Strength of Record metric, which has been highly predictive of CFP participants.
I don't think it's sustainable because those teams all play each other (and possibly twice) but they have the best three resumes in CFB right now. And credit to all three for playing some decent to very good teams in the non-conf (Bama at Texas, UGA v Oregon and Tenn at Pitt). The SEC gets some heat about non-conf schedules, often deserved, but those teams at least challenged themselves this year.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:56 AM ^
UCLA looks really tough this year, but I think SC’s run ends Saturday in SLC.
October 14th, 2022 at 5:25 PM ^
I wish we played them this year like we were supposed to.
October 13th, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^
Tennessee is not beating Bama.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:37 AM ^
I completely agree that it should only be one Big Ten team in the playoff. Sure, some crazy scenario could have a lot of teams lose one or two games and a one loss Michigan team moves up to 4, but really, what have we seen from the Big Ten to warrant giving us two slots?
This isn't fixed until we get a real playoff. The four team scenario plays into the current recruiting disparity, and it's unfortunate that a Michigan USC/UCLA Rose Bowl is now a poor consolation prize if we lose to Ohio.
I hope we can enjoy this awesome run of Michigan football for what it is, because it makes fall a lot of fun (especially with my Seahawks struggling). God I hope we beat the Bucs, but I'm gonna cheer for us in Pasadena if we don't. Go Blue!!
October 13th, 2022 at 11:02 AM ^
whidbey,
I am certainly enjoying this run of Michigan football. There was a lost decade (or more) - and, these teams are so enjoyable to cheer for. Their play on the field - their part in the community - the approach to NIL, these are all reflective of their character.
Your point about two B1G teams in the CFP is accurate. I don't see it happening this year, and in the expanded 12 team format, candidly, I'd be surprised if the B1G doesn't place at least two teams in that format regularly.
My biggest gripe with the CFP Selection Committee is the lack of importance on conference championships. It's something I've stated before - and, with a four team playoff - it really is nothing more than a beauty contest.
If you ask me what scenario concerns me the most, it's this. Bryce Young doesn't play this weekend against Tennessee, and Tennessee defeats Bama. The pundits will be saying - "Well, if Young played, the outcome would be different." Bama is very good and has been for a decade or more - but, under Saban they have always been given the benefit of the doubt.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
Exactly! The whole SEC worship and the ESPN nepotism has gotten out of hand. Perfect example of how they get Tennessee and Alabama in, which leads to NIL - Tennessee recruiting windfall, which leads to even more 5 star recruiting disparity and yada yada yada.
The 12 team playoff gets Michigan or Penn State or (arggh) Sparty in along with OSU and allows us to compete with the Bucs and SEC come recruiting time. It's really the only way I see us saving our favorite sport from losing any reasonable sense of competitive balance.
October 13th, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
(I don't mean Sparty this year LOL)
October 13th, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
whidbey,
I think I certainly understand your point about the Spartans and a 12 team playoff format this season.
But, truth be told, thus far in the season - I am very happy with how effectively the B1G team in EL is playing. I've stated this before - I don't want them - or their coaching staff - to change a single thing. Keep doing what you're doing. Hopefully, I'll have this same feeling in three weeks.
October 13th, 2022 at 1:20 PM ^
Why do you say there's no importance on conference championships? Granted there are no extra points for those being a trophy game but those games have certainly counted when evaluating teams whole bodies of work.
In the first year of the CFP, OSU made it on the strength of their destruction of Wisconsin in the Big ten title game which enabled them to jump TCU and Baylor who didn't play a title game.
In 2015, MSU-Iowa was a play in game.
I could go on an on about how winning conference title games put a team in or knocked a team out.
I can't recall a wrong decision that the committee has made when evaluating a teams full body of work. The most controversial was OSU over PSU in 2016 but PSU just didn't deserve it after losing to Pitt and then Michigan by 39. Their losses were a lot worse than OSUs one loss and their wins weren't as good either.
Bama in 2017 was next but can you put a two loss OSU team that got blasted by Iowa in over them? I don't think so. I like that the whole season matters. That's what's great about college football (but will unfortunately that'll end with the 12 team playoff).
October 13th, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
TruBlue,
Respectfully, you cite some conference championship games where a conference winner "jumped" over other teams. I certainly accept that with five Power conferences, at least one conference champion will not participate in the CFP. That's part of the issue with just four teams.
You cite 2016 - which, I agree with; however, our perspectives are different. Penn State defeated OSU that year - so, it was a "head to head" win. PSU won the division and the B1G conference - yet, the Selection Committee determined that OSU was the "better" team. If so, the head to head becomes meaningless, as does the conference championship.
My feeling has always been that if a conference is represented in the CFP, or the BCS that preceded it - the first team selected from that conference MUST be the conference's champion. If not - why both having a conference, since the selection becomes - "even though the lost to them, they are a better team." I do not accept this premise - win the game. It's just that simple.
There were several other occurrences - two that come quickly to mind are during the BCS period. In one of them - Nebraska was defeated by Colorado 62-36 during conference play. Nebraska didn't win their division or the Big 12 conference, but was still selected to play in the BCS, where the Huskers also lost 37-14 to Florida.
Another was LSU vs Bama. LSU defeated Bama by a score of 9-6 in Tuscaloosa, and during the game Bama missed field goals, etc. Bama did not win their division, did not play in the SEC CCG, and - was selected to play LSU again in the national championship. Bama was given a "second bite at the apple" - and defeated LSU in the NC game. My view here is - they played head to head - Bama missed field goals and lost. Bama should have made their field goals and won on their home field. It was essentially a "do over" for Bama.
Football is a one-game thing, it's not a best of five or seven series. Individual games need to count - and, those include head to head matchups and conference contests.
If a quick comparison is made with baseball - does it matter if a team wins by playing "small ball"? Is that "small ball" team as exciting, or glamorous as a team that wins with the long ball? Perhaps not. But, if the small ball team defeats a long ball team, what can be said? I, for one, would say that the small ball team was better on that given day, or in that series.
Anytime subjectivity enters an equation, the variability associated with the outcome changes significantly. People will say - Georgia's the defending NC and Bama has an incredibly talented team which always excels in the CFP. My perspective is to remove the subjectivity. If it's a beauty contest - let's call it that. Bama has has an incredible run, and Georgia in 2021 was very impressive. But, it's 2022 - and, watching those two teams on the field, well - IMHO - they don't look quite as impressive as they were last year.
I look forward to the end of the four team CFP process, and though I would prefer an eight team playoff instead of twelve; I hope the teams that earn their way in to the playoff will deserve to be there.
October 13th, 2022 at 2:56 PM ^
If so, the head to head becomes meaningless, as does the conference championship.
But this assertion just isn't true. Those games weren't meaningless. They were each one game in a season of 13 games and that factored in. They just weren't enough to overcome two bad outcomes (one VERY bad outcome) when OSU had wins at OU vs a very good Michigan team (the one that blasted PSU).
Those games aren't meaningless. But like I said, they don't matter extra. They count as 1/12 or 1/13 of a teams body of work and I personally like that because it means every game matters.
You can't go by the mantra of "win the game" but then only count certain games more than others. PSU didn't "win the game" vs two teams on their schedule in 2016. If you do want to impose the rule that you have to win your conference, I think that's a fair suggestion. It also makes more games on the schedule meaningless, like the NFL (games after you've clinched a division for example).
We do call it a beauty contest. No one is denying that. It's literally incumbent of the committee to pick the four best teams. Not the four with the best record, not the four best conference champs, just the four best and if you look at the numbers they actually pick the teams with the best resumes moreso than those that would be favored on a neutral field so actually results on the field have mattered far moreso than talent or "beauty".
I completely disagree with your assertion that it matters what style of ball you play. Georgia was a defensive juggernaut with a walk-on game manager last year. You don't have to be an elite offensive team, per se. You just have to beat good teams and it helps to beat them more convincingly than not. Name a team you think had a deserving resume but didn't get in because you think they didn't have a favorable style of play.
My biggest issue with expanding the CFP is that it will render The Game a lot less meaningful. Last year the stakes were HUGE. Loser went home. If the playoffs were even eight teams both teams would have been in already (same was the case in 2016 and 2018). That changes the tenor of those games dramatically.
Currently, The Game is often a de facto quarterfinal, which is awesome! Soon, it will often simply be an exhibition game.
You could potentially start seeing NFL style ends to seasons where teams comfortably in the playoffs simply rest guys for their last game or two to keep them healthy for the playoffs. College football is great precisely because every game matters. Larger playoffs make that not true.
October 14th, 2022 at 8:52 AM ^
TrueBlue2003,
First, let me say "thank you". I realize the effort and time associated with capturing thoughts and maintaining a conversation via a thread like this. So, though we may disagree on certain points, I really enjoy the dialogue / exchange and your perspectives.
Perhaps the crux of the issue is - who are the four "best" teams, and what the definition of "best" actually is. IIRC, there was a conversation about the definition of who the four teams in the CFP should be, and whether "most deserving" should be included as selection criteria.
My view is - conference championships should matter. And, whatever criteria are used to determine a specific conference's champion - that the first team from a conference to be selected to participate in the CFP must be that conference's champion. If not, why bother determining a conference champion.
People will make an argument that essentially states - if two divisional champions in a conference meet - and one team is undefeated with the other team being a three loss squad and, the three loss squad wins the game, the three loss team is "undesirable" or "not as deserving". My perspective, which you may disagree with is: the three loss team is the conference champion.
You note that the conference championship game is just another contest in a twelve or thirteen game season, and should be weighted equally to other regular season contests. We have a different perspective here. The two teams that meet in a conference championship game earned their way to that game through their play on the field. And, a one loss team that may have been very good through the season, but lost a conference game (such as the Bucks to Penn State) did not have to play in that 13th game.
One item where you may have misunderstood my point of view - or, where I may not have been clear enough about - is "style of play". Candidly, I think there are a number of ways to "skin a cat" or win a game. I don't think it matters whether you have a "game managing" QB with a stellar defense, or an offense that can light up the scoreboard every possession. The one thing that matters is - who won the game? Either approach can win - and, I would hope that I appreciate what it takes for any given team to execute a game plan and win with their style of play.
You accurately point out that the 12 team future format will, most likely, decrease the importance of the regular season finale against the Bucks. And, having attended last season's game against the Bucks - it was, without doubt, as great of a game and environment as one could have hoped for.
Perhaps the criteria associated with the 12 game format will be clearer. I'm a fan of conference play and conference championships and have never embraced conference expansion, which IMO will just muddy the waters further as 16 (or more) team conferences are created.
FWIW, my wish would have been for an 8 team playoff. The Power 5 conference champions are "in", one (or more) Group of Five champions are "in", and the remaining At-Large team(s) will be selected by the Selection Committee. So, the Selection Committee would determine which Group of Five team and any At-Large selections.
One final thought about the 12 team CFP structure as I understand it. I am a supporter of on campus games. I am not a fan of byes, because that is subjective and they could "expand" to 16 teams over the same four week period. So, if they expanded to 12 (which I believe dilutes the regular season) - the expansion to 16 would also take four weeks and include other At-Large teams subjectively, just as the 12 team format would.
Enjoy this weekend's game and the remainder of the season. Go Blue!
October 13th, 2022 at 5:51 PM ^
Thing is, Bama can mail it in all year until the SEC champ game where they can earn a few style points against Georgia or Tennessee. They did that last year, their Oline was pretty weak all year with Bryce Young being great, but even the Auburn game one week before they blasted Georgia, they looked weak at Oline and anemic offensively, and only won like 14-10 or something against a mediocre/bad Auburn team. Bama has just earned the benefit of the doubt every year and they will until a team from another conference, in the first round of the playoff blasts them away in a blowout.
I predict this will happen: Bama loses this week to Tennessee minus Bryce Young, then runs the table and wins the SEC champ game in either a rematch with an undefeated UT team or against UGA. 1 loss SEC champ Bama gets in the playoff, and then the committee pushes hard to make a case for 3 top 5 SEC teams to all get in the playoff as they only lost to each other. Bama, the SEC champ, one loss East division champ UGA or UT, and one loss East division runner up UGA or UT. They basically just want the mini NFL to play each other over and over again, despite the fact that other teams deserve a shot to unseat these SEC teams. Don’t be surprised to see multiple UGA/Bama UT/UGA and Bama/UT matchups this year.
This obviously creates a self refueling recruiting cycle for the top few SEC teams, and then the rest of the SEC teams can act like they are a part of the success of Bama/UGA/UT as they always do, and they too will steal some recruits from up north based on ESPN SEC bias. The SEC was already good on their own, but the media train of ESPN has increased their popularity and inflated their value to recruits. Let’s just hope the likes of Joel Klatt and Fox, combined with an expanded playoff can do the same in the BIG10 outside OSU in the coming years.
October 14th, 2022 at 8:57 AM ^
J, great comment. Thank you.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
Interesting that the JJ article references Klatt some and DiNardo extensively. Maybe a product of the new collaborative TV contract?
I don't recall ESPN giving FOX and B1G commentary so much platform in an article.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
One thing, after the JJ article... if PSU is blitz happy on 1st down like they expect, JJ is exactly the type of QB who will punish them with 1st down scrambles and broken-play chunk completions.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:08 PM ^
In theory. In practice those scrambles and broken plays have been pretty up and down (some good, some very bad).
October 13th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
This games gonna be a battle. I wish it was a 3:30 or even better, a night game so I could be half in the bag and not as nerved up. Instead I’ll be sober, for awhile anyways, and losing my shit in a good or bad way. As much as I don’t know what this Michigan team is, I feel the same way about PSU.
October 13th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
will likely miss most, or all, of the PSU game as my wife's cat is being put down at 1 pm saturday (in home euthanasia ... he's like 18 years old).
i am spending friday night building a casket for the little guy and saturday digging a grave, making a gravestone, and consoling my wife. i am not a cat person whatsoever, so for the last 18 years we've simply existed together, but it's the least i can do for my wife's lil buddy.
pets are great. losing them sucks
October 13th, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
Sorry man. My wife rescued an inbred (literally) puppy from the pound 7yrs ago and just found out the dogs got cancer. This dogs teeth were rotted from the time it was little and had the breath of a landfill but my wife loves this dog more than life. She’s been crying and sobbing since Monday. I on the other hand have a black lab beagle mix who’s mine. Coolest dog ever. It literally looks like a full sized lab on beagle legs. Goofy as hell. When this dog dies I’ll be a wreck. I wish you and your wife the best.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:08 PM ^
We had a rescue beagle named Sally. Great pet. I loved it when she howled whenever we grabbed the leash and went to take her outside for a walk. She got cancer too. We went the expensive surgery route, but the cancer came back. Sad, sad day when we had her euthanized, but it was best as she was in constant pain.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:04 PM ^
Sorry to hear about the cat. Good on you for the gravestone. Pets are family members.
October 13th, 2022 at 7:02 PM ^
Loved the articles. Thanks for the link.
Strongly agree that McCarthy is gradually learning the playbook, and doing more and more and more. I believe he will eventually get to a point where he is able to pass accurately down the field. When Roman Wilson is back, and JJ gets his touch back, this will really open things up massively. With the run game having our OL and Corum, Edwards, and JJ running, with the short and intermediate pass game, and with the long pass game, I think Michigan could actually compete with the SEC in the CFP.
To me, the biggest thing is beating OSU, in Columbus, this year. If that happens, it puts us in a place where we should be able to recruit at the same level going forward. Plus it breaks the narrative they love to spew about Michigan winning once every 10 years.
October 14th, 2022 at 9:03 AM ^
Stephen,
I agree with most of your comment. About recruiting, hmmm, I am not sure. Should Michigan find a way to reach the CFP, especially, with a win in Columbus - the recruiting profile should rise.
At the core of recruiting, and this still irks me, is the NCAA support of the SEC / ACC which essentially said - you (the B1G) can't hold camps very far away from your campus. This creates a greater challenge to introduce the program to prospects in a talent rich part of the country.
Michigan was successful last year because they talent level was "good enough" to compete (and win) the B1G, with a solid game plan, and very good execution. Michigan's staff also has their criteria to identify prospects and, their criteria is not anything I would disagree with.
My wish, which will most likely remain unfulfilled is, that the NCAA wouldn't capitulate to the SEC / ACC and allow a coaching staff that is willing to travel in the off season to conduct camps all over the country, would be permitted to do so.
Go Blue!