A note to prospects.
Can there be any doubt left that Rich Rodriguez is an offensive genius? In his first year of truly having moving parts on offense with some experience in his system, he’s taken two sophomore QBs into multiple UM record books, fashioned the Heisman front runner, and developed the Big 10’s most explosive offense.
To offensive prospects:
“Our offensive system takes players, many of whom have not been first team Blue Chippers, and makes them world class, even making Heisman discussions. Come to Michigan, join the most explosive offense in the country, have the most fun, in front of the biggest and best audience in the country, get one of the finest degrees of any major football program school, and give us the chance to do for you and your potential what we have done for Denard, Martavious, Roy, Daryl, Mike, Taylor, David, Patrick, etc.”
To defensive prospects:
“Look at what we have going on with the offense. They are explosive and our system has the stuff of national championships, but we are in dire need of help on defense. Come to Michigan to not only give yourself a chance at early playing time (look at how many freshmen are starting or in our two-deep), but to solidify the final piece of the puzzle that can carry us to glory. You are the lynchpin! You are the key to our true success. Oh, and don’t forget playing in front of the biggest and best audience in the country and getting one of the finest degrees of any major football program school. Oh, and did I mention we have wings on our helmets?”
September 27th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
'Nuff said.
September 27th, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
We will never need to punt. You might as well go to Sparty.
September 27th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Someone get this kid a megaphone and a soapbox...
September 27th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
And to those prospects interested in playing in the NFL, see the below for examples of what you can do with a Michigan football degree:
For information on what you can do with a Michigan academic degree, see below example:
September 27th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Don't forget that by combining the two you can become a US President, or if that doesn't work out, at least own an NFL Franchise.
September 27th, 2010 at 3:43 PM ^
You can also go to the moon, become a billionaire (with a B), be the voice of Darth Vader (!!), marry Hillary Duff and make HER sign a prenup, and play Major League Baseball with 1 freekin' arm if you graduate from Michigan.
September 27th, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^
Quite possibly the best post of the year.
September 27th, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^
a world-famous playwright. Okay, if that's not good enough for this crowd, a world-famous playwright who married Marilyn Monroe. And if they don't know who SHE is, tell them to ask their dads. Or grand-dads.
September 27th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
OSU will help you figure out how to run the McDonalds drive thru better if your career in corn management doesn't take off.
September 27th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
You don't need a degree to play in the NFL. Nonetheless a good layout of what we have produced.
September 27th, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
my favorite poster. Not gay, just a level of appreciation.
September 27th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^
Me likes this post +1
September 27th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
And you can establish the best college football blog in America.
.
Hoping that the recruiting flood gates open when RichRod's future is safe and secure as Michigan's coach for years to come.
September 27th, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
Can't see why we don't have several of the top LB prospects in America looking hard at Michigan this recruiting season. EARLY playing time cheap here!
P.S. I know we have Jones and might get Frost, both good gets. But a 5-star stud would be real nice.
September 27th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
You can also be President of the United States.
September 27th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
Also OUR HELMETS HAVE WINGS!!!!!!!!
September 27th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
It has been discussed that a number of top prospects are taking a wait and see approach and would like to see how successful Michigan is this year. So what is the prevailing wisdom of the board in terms of when the recruits in question will have enough data to make up their minds? Do they need the full season's worth of games or will they be convinced if Michigan runs to 6 - 0 or some other arbitrary record.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
Kids would proably like to see a guarnateed bowl and excitement around the program to think they would be playing for the same coach that recruited them. Their parents and other "advisors" would probably like to see the NCAA thing play out without severe penalties before they feel RR's job is fully safe. I take what David Brandon has often said at face value; there is no "magic number." Recruits, their parents, and their coaches don't seem to quite be sold.
The excitement generated by Denard Robinson and the way three QB's played and led the team to TD's on Saturday can't hurt, though. There's still plenty of time left until signing day, and I think we will see even more excitement generated before the season is over.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
How long these players wait will depend on how soon the first ones start to drop. Right now we're 4-0 with about 10 spots left in our class. If 2 weeks from now we're 6-0 and we still have 10 spots left in the class, a lot of these recruits might wait and see how we do against Iowa, and perhaps Penn State next.
However, if we beat MSU to go 6-0 and by then 3 or 4 guys have committed, I think fewer of the "wait and see" guys will want to wait and see, knowing their spot might not be there after a week or two. I've been saying this for a while, once the first couple commits come, most of the rest will follow shortly after.
Dee Hart and Zettel can take their time. Kris Frost as well, I'd imagine. But if you're not one of those guys when UM has 5 or 6 spots left, waiting much longer might be to your detriment.
September 27th, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
But defense wins championships. Let's hope we're all feeling this giddy a month from now.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:03 PM ^
That theory is ripe for being proven to not apply in all cases. Not that Michigan is anywhere near a national championship, I'm just saying . . .
September 27th, 2010 at 6:32 PM ^
...if he maintains the pose and stays injury-free.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
Teams win championships. One side of the ball isn't more important than the other - and the two work in concert with each other (along with special teams).
We had a great D in '97, but it didn't play that well in the Rose Bowl. Our offense won that game by repeatedly converting 3rd downs and keeping the WSU offense off the field until there wasn't enough time.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
I think there are a lot of kids out there that know this. They just want reassurance that RR will be there to coach them.
We will have a good season, and RR will get an extension. And then recruiting will take off.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:20 PM ^
A few of our alumni have carved out a decent living:
CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG, '72, is the writer and illustrator of "The Wreck of the Zypher," "Jumanji" and "The Polar Express.
"WILLIAM J. MAYO, MD1883, is the co-founder of Mayo Clinic.
JUDD WINNICK, '92, was on "The Real World-San Francisco." Winnick also wrote a novel, "Pedro and Me," and is a cartoonist.
LAURENCE KIRSHBAUM, '66, is the chairman of Time Warner Book Group, which is responsible for Warner Books and Little Brown.
RAOUL WALLENBERG, '35, saved thousands of Hungarian Jews by giving them Swedish passports during World War II.
IGGY POP, '63-'64, is a rock singer.
MADONNA, '78-'79, is a singer. She also appeared in "Evita," "A League of Their Own," "Dick Tracy" and "The Next Best Thing."
MIKE WALLACE, '39, HLLD'87, is a TV journalist for "60 Minutes."
JOHN PAPANEK, '73, is managing editor of Sports IllustratedJOHN PAPANEK, '73, is managing editor of Sports Illustrated
JOHN PAPANEK, '73, is managing editor of Sports Illustrated.
We also have had some luck in sports:
- JIM ABBOTT, '89, was a Major League Baseball player.
- GEORGE ALLEN, '47, MA'48, was an NFL football coach.
- JEFFERY BACKUS, '00, is an NFL football player.
- RONALD BELLAMY, '03, is an NFL football player.
- RED BERENSON, '62, MBA'66, was a former pro hockey player and U-M hockey coach.
- BUBBA BERENZWEIG, '99, is an NHL hockey player.
- STEVE BOROS, '63, was a manager of the San Diego Padres.
- JASON BOTTERILL, '97, is an NHL hockey player.
- ERIC BRACKINS, '01, was an NFL football player.
- TOM BRADY, '00, is a former U-M quarterback and now plays for the New England Patriots.
- DAVID BRANDT, '02, is an NFL football player.
- MICHAEK CAMMALLERI, '00-'02, is an NHL hockey player.
- MARK CAMPBELL, '99, is an NFL football player.
- DON CANHAM, '41, MA'48, was a U-M track star and U-M athletic director.
- ANTHONY CARTER, '78-'82, is an NFL football player.
- TODD COLLINS, '95, is an NFL football player.
- MICHAEL COMRIE, '98-'00, is an NHL hockey player.
- DONALD GLOVER CONRAD, MBA'57, was the owner of the Hartford Whalers.
- GREGORY CROZIER, '99, was an NHL hockey player.
- DAVID DEBOL, '86, was an NHL hockey player.
- CHALMERS (BUMP) ELLIOTT, '48, was a former U-M football coach.
- FOREST EVASHEVSKI, '41, was a football player and coach.
- BILL FREEHAN, '66, was a Major League Baseball player and a former U-M baseball coach.
- WILLIAM CLAY FORD, '44, is the owner of the Detroit Lions.
- CHARLIE GEHRINGER, '22-'23, was a Major League Baseball player.
- IAN GOLD, '00, is an NFL football player.
- JONATHAN GOODWIN, '01, is an NFL football player.
- BRIAN GRIESE, '97, is an NFL football player.
- JANET GUTHRIE, '60, was a racecar driver.
- STEVEN HALKO, '99, was an NHL hockey player.
- JAMES HALL, '99, is an NFL football player.
- JIM HARBAUGH, '86, was an NFL football player and is now the head football coach for Stanford University.
- TOM HARMON, '41, was a football player, Heisman Trophy winner and sportscaster.
- DREW HENSON, '02, is an NFL football player.
- ELROY HIRSCH, '44, was a football player and actor in "Unchained."
- DESMOND HOWARD, '92, was an NFL football player and a Heisman Trophy winner.
- JUWAN HOWARD, '95, is an NBA basketball player.
- JEFF JILLSON, '02, is an NHL hockey player.
- DHANI JONES, '00, is an NFL football player.
- BENNIE JOPPRU, '02 is an NFL football player.
- CATO JUNE, '02 is an NFL football player.
- THOMAS ARTHUR KEATING, '65, was an NFL football player.
- MIKE KNUBLE, '95, is an NHL hockey player.
- MICHAEL KOMISAREK, '00-'02, is an NHL hockey player.
- RON KRAMER, '57, was an NFL football player.
- JOSH LANGFELD, '01, is an NHL hockey player
- BARRY LARKIN, '86, is a Major League Baseball player.
- TY LAW, '92-'94, is an NFL football player.
- RICK LEACH, '75-'79, was a Major League Baseball player.
- DON LUND, '45, was a Major League Baseball player.
- BRIAN LUNDBERG, '85, was an NHL hockey player.
- BARRY MACKAY, '57, has been covering tennis for USA Sports since 1981 and was the network's first tennis analyst on its inaugural 1984 US Open coverage. MacKay earned the No. 1 ranking and the Amateur Tennis Player of the Year Award in 1960. He is the president and owner of BMK Sports Inc. a company founded to promote and run the Sybase Open in San Jose, California.
- LELAND MACPHAIL, 1907-08, is a former president and treasurer of the New York Yankees.
- TIM MCCORMICK, '84, was an NBA basketball player.
- REGGIE MCKENZIE, '72, was an NFL football player.
- TERRY MILLS, '88-'90, was an NBA basketball player.
- HAL MORRIS, '84, was a Major League Baseball player.
- BRENDAN MORRISON, '97, is an NHL hockey player.
- JOHN NAVARRE, '03, is an NFL football player.
- ROBERT NEDERLANDER, '55, JD'58, was a managing partner of the New York Yankees.
- STEVE ONTIVEROS, '80-'82, was a Major League Baseball player.
- BENNIE OOSTERBAAN, '28, was a football player and former U-M football coach.
- SHANTEE ORR, '99-'02, is an NFL football player.
- JED ORTMEYER, '03, is an NHL hockey player.
- CHRIS PERRY, '00-'03, is an NFL football player.
- DAVE PETRUZIELLO, '02, is an NFL football player.
- BRANCH RICKEY, '11, is a former president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey was instrumental in bringing Jackie Robinson to the major leagues.
- ERIC RILEY, '93, was an NBA basketball player.
- RUMEAL ROBINSON, '90, was an NBA basketball player.
- ALAN I. ROTHENBERG, '60, was president of the Los Angeles Clippers.
- JALEN ROSE, '92-'94, is an NBA basketball player.
- CAZZIE RUSSELL, '64-'66, was an NBA basketball player.
- CHRIS SABO, '81-'83, was a Major League Baseball player.
- CORY SARGENT, '01, is an NFL football player.
- JOHN L. SCHROEDER, '68, is a golfer.
- AARON SHEA, '95-'99, is an NFL football player.
- TED LYLE SIMMONS, '96, was a Major League Baseball player.
- GEORGE SISLER, '15, was a Major League Baseball player.
- TED SIZEMORE, '66, was a Major League Baseball player.
- LARY SORENSON, '76, was a Major League Baseball player.
- LARRY STEVENS, '00-'03, is an NFL football player.
- TAI STREETS, '95-'98, is an NFL football player.
- RICHARD STRENGER, '83, was an NFL football player.
- DAVID TERRELL, '98-'00, is an NFL football player.
- ANTHONY THOMAS, '01, is an NFL football player.
- RUDY TOMJANOVICH, '66-'70, was an NBA basketball player and a coach.
- AMANI TOOMER, '96, is an NFL football player.
- JERAME TUMAN, '94-'98, is an NFL football player.
- GARY WAYNE, '81-'84, was a Major League Baseball player.
- DICK WAKEFIELD, '39-'41, was a Major League Baseball player.
- TYRONE WHEATLEY, '91-'94, is an NFL football player.
- JOSH WILLIAMS, '00, is an NFL football player.
- MAURICE WILLIAMS, '01, is an NFL football player.
- FRED WILPON, '58, is the chairman of board for the New York Mets.
- ERIC WILSON, '00, is an NFL football player.
- CHARLES WOODSON, '97, is an NFL football player and a Heisman Trophy winner.
- GEOFF ZAHN, '68, is a former Major League Baseball player and U-M baseball coach.
- Bo Schembechler, HLLD'05, winningest football coach in U-M history
Thanks to U of M Alumni Assoc for partial list. (Mythical?) Flag on the moon. You get the picture!
Go Blue!
September 27th, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
NFL Player, currently playing in Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland, and St. Louis. Made of dreams.
September 27th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
September 27th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
John Papanek, so awesome he gets to be named thrice.
September 27th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^
Who's John Papanek again?
September 27th, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
LAURENCE KIRSHBAUM, '66 left Time Warner a few years ago to open his own literary agency. Unless he went back...
On the other hand, LAWRENCE KASDAN (I'd guess he graduated in '71 or so?), writer/director/producer, wrote "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Empire Strikes Back" (among other films), but most importantly is responsible for "The Big Chill" which shows the cast watching a Michigan football game on TV.
September 27th, 2010 at 7:10 PM ^
... you have to connect on a visual level.
We have COEDS!
... and even an OLD ALUM:
September 27th, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
whoas. where did that pic come from? half of them are tri-delts