Michigan Football 101

Submitted by cstalionsuofm on

Michigan Football 101

Welcome to Michigan Football 101

! We are now counting down the days until Michigan and Alabama throw down in Dallas at the Cowboys Classic! What an experience it is going to be! Until that day, we will take a look at why Michigan Football is so good. In this series, similar to College Football 101, there will be:

 

  • Top 40 current players
  • Top 10 coaches
  • Top 15 games
  • Top 25 players
  • Top 10 Miscellaneous

 

Here we go...

101. Brandon Graham

(25th Player)

Brandon Graham went to Crockett Vocational Tech (Detroit) in high school. He started on the defensive line as a sophomore and made honorable mention that year. As a junior, he was a linebacker, offensive guard, kicker and punter. He led his team to the state championship but fell up short. Not only did Brandon have 91 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and made the All-State team, but he had a 3.8 GPA. As a senior, he had a similar year leading his team to the championship but losing once again. Graham was a captain in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and won Player of the Year in the state of Michigan. The next year, he played for the University of Michigan!

Although Brandon Graham was recruited as a linebacker, he switched to defensive end where he backed up a certain someone whom we might read about later in Michigan Football 101-- LaMarr Woodley. Graham played a little defensive tackle as well. Before the 2007 season, he got in a little bit of trouble with the law. Once he cleared all of that out, and sadly after the loss to you know who and Oregon, he became the starter. He recorded 3.5 sacks against Notre Dame in his first game as a starter. By the end of his sophomore year, he finished 7th in the Big Ten in sacks and forced fumbles.

Unfortunately, Brandon had to deal with Rich Rod. Even though Michigan had a terrible record both years, Brandon Graham did everything he could in his junior an senior seasons at Michigan. Even though it was a bad year, there was one bright game-- or bright 2nd half I should say-- in 2008. I will say it was the best game I attended in the Rich Rod era. Michigan was down by 19 at halftime and came back to win thanks to 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles from Graham. By the end of his junior year, Brandon had 10 sacks and 20 TFL, which led the Big Ten. In his senior season, Brandon Graham had 26 tackles for loss and won the Big Ten Player of the Year. To top his career off at Michigan, he was a first team All-American. He also won the MVP in the Senior Bowl with 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forces fumble.

Currently, Graham is playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was drafted 13th overall in the 2010 Draft. He recorded his first NFL sack against the Lions and hurt his knee against the Cowboys late in his rookie season. He underwent surgery and played a bit towards the end of last season. He should be good to go this year.

Brandon Graham was stuck in an unfortunate time at Michigan, but still came out a Michigan Man. He was recruited and coached by Lloyd Carr and learned a lot in his career. He was the leader of the Michigan defense and has carried on his talents to the NFL. Best of luck to him, and GO BLUE Brandon!

Here are a few video links of Brandon Graham to check out:

Brandon Graham Big Hit against State

Brandon Graham Touchdown

Brandon Graham 2009 Highlights

Check back in tomorrow to see what #100 is. Only 101 days until we BEAT BAMA!

Happy Gilmore

May 23rd, 2012 at 1:07 AM ^

OK, so at least this 'series' will be a little more interesting than your other one.....but you clearly have way too much time on your hands - find a job

Jasper

May 23rd, 2012 at 6:35 AM ^

I like the idea of this. I really do. One of the least enjoyable exercises on MGoBlog, though, is beating the dead RichRod horse. You went and did it in an unbiased manner:

"Unfortunately, Brandon had to deal with Rich Rod."

Then,

"He was recruited and coached by Lloyd Carr ..."

Why not just present the awesome Brandon Graham?

- - -

If you're going to talk about coaches:

* Acknowledge that RichRod brought us Denard. (For all those whose feelings were deeply hurt by all the losing, it would be OK, too, to call Rodriguez a net negative. Hard to get away from that ...)

* Acknowledge that Lloyd's last three recruiting classes ('05 to '07) were substandard and led (Rodriguez coaching & player development, for what they're worth, aside for a moment) to a historically bad streak of NFL drafts. (And, yes, there's no doubt that Lloyd was a net positive.)

Valiant Victor

May 28th, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^

Hearing you saying this makes me excited. Because imagine the potential of a highly rated recruit coming in and devolping and playing for Mattison for four years. And not to mention the competitive nature that Hoke has brought in the fold by saying that you're job is on the line every day and you must represent Michigan and be accountable to your team. Man do I get a warm fuzzy Michigan defense feelin from that!

 

ChopBlock

May 23rd, 2012 at 9:53 AM ^

...how many days it'll take before this guy is negbanged back under 100 and can't post anymore.

Negbangs on the OP still DO count, right?

bdsisme

May 23rd, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^

If you're going to continue this, at the very least combine the two -- no need for two posts every day, just make one that has both the college football entry and the Michigan entry.

TESOE

May 23rd, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^

This is the karmic kickback. The neg bombs are duds and then...there is this.

Hmmm... it is not all bad. The energy is good. The english, perspective and voice are horrific. Does this degrade the experience? I have to say - maybe. I agree you don't have to click...but the depth and scope of these posts demands response where the time it takes to do so is lacking.

Some things rub off by proximity. Fortunately that is a two way street. I try to keep my dog from rolling in filth, but the places he has taken me have been historic.

I wish the OP well. I kind of look forward to where this process will take him/her...because I think it will be a good place.

Please refrain from RR bashing, Michigan Man meme idiocy etc...most everyone who goes there doesn't know what they are talking about. At least wait until you go to said institution and learn a few things.

Most of all read. Read more. Write more. Re-write the most. Think before touching a keyboard.

Thanks for the off season content. I will read it when I can...(because it is here.)

I only comment here to justify my neg. I feel it is incumbent to do this - at least initially. Ultimately it is as effective as the door close button on an elevator (though occasionally those work... or... at least the door closes.)

RakeFight

May 23rd, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^

You'll keep me reading if you drop a little of the editorializing (rich rod suck, etc) and maybe a few of the exclamation points.  Think of yourself as a reporter, not just another fan with a computer.

dmblue

May 23rd, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^

I think i'd prefer just a list of the 25 best players in your opinion and why.  

Listing stats on a year by year basis and telling his story from high school on is information few people will care about and nobody will remember.

Rasmus

May 23rd, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^

Google tells me that "Connor Stalions" plays football and basketball at Lake Orion (MI) high school. He was a freshman in Fall 2010. He scored 11 points in a varisty basketball game in January of this year.

Connor: A+ for balls, but listen up. This site is populated by mostly college students and graduates in their 20s and 30s, with a fair number of older folks. If you want to write for this audience, you're going to have to work hard to improve the quality of your writing and, most importantly, to come up with something original to say. Otherwise, you'll be eaten alive.

Rasmus

May 25th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^

But he should be encouraged to work at it and improve the quality of what he's doing, no? Especially if he wants to get into Michigan, yes?

Keebs

May 25th, 2012 at 3:18 AM ^

Did you really google the OP's username in an attempt to discredit them? And, if what you say is true, did you basically out this person to the entire MGoCommunity? It seems the OP is far more mature than you are.

Rasmus

May 25th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^

His name is right there in all of his posts, where it says "by Connor Stalions" in his photoshop montages, which are nicely done -- I didn't out anyone. I simply did a Google search for that name, to see if he had a blog or something.

It's his choice to use his real name in his posts. I use my real name around the Internet as well, in places where I want to be taken seriously, where it's important that people know I'm not hiding behind a username. If Connor wants to do that here, then more power to him. There's nothing wrong with it. He could end up writing for this site in a few years, for all we know.

Be careful with those knee-jerk reactions. You could hurt yourself.

chitownblue2

May 23rd, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^

The crowd doth protest too much, in my opinion.

This writing isn't great, but this series will be more uselful than roughly 60% of the stuff here.

UMFootballCrazy

May 23rd, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^

Now there is something I can agree whole heartedly with, although I believe you are kind in your estimates.  But if the OP's stuff is simply MGoClutter at best, what does that say about the 60%+ of the rest of the stuff it eclipses?  At least when they clutter up the MGoBoard, they don't promise us 101 piece series.  It is the scope of his ambitions, I believe, that garners the protests.  One louse post or two can be endured.  But when he promises to dominate the sidebar for 101 days, it crosses a line somewhere.

willywill9

May 25th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^

Well your signature is spot on.  It's simple, if you don't like it, don't read it.  I'll take anything Michigan related at this point.  I can't believe how negative this thread has become.  This is the only piece I've seen from the OP, but it really isn't as bad as you all are blowing it up to be.  Really, i'm quite confused at the reaction thus far.

To the OP, keep at it, some of the folks on here will give you good, constructive criticism.  Hopefully you have thick skin, and if you really enjoy writing, keep with it.  You will only get better.