Home
we had subs it was crazy

Primary links

  • About
    • $upport (lol)
    • Ethics
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • MGoStore
  • MGoBoard
    • MGoBoard FAQ
    • Ticket spreadsheet
    • Michigan bar locator
    • Moderator Action Sticky
  • Useful Stuff
    • Depth Chart By Class
    • Unofficial Two Deep
    • 2013 Offer Board
    • Crude Bug Tracking System
    • Third Down Stats
    • Diaries, Windows Live Writer, And You
    • Michigan Future Schedules
    • User-Curated HOF
    • 2013 Recruiting Board
    • Where To Eat In Ann Arbor
Home Forums MGoBoard

Navigation

  • Forums
  • Recent posts

User login

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

MGoElsewhere

  • @MGoBlog (Brian)
  • @aceanbender
  • @TomVH (Tom)
  • RSS Feed
  • iPhone App
  • Facebook profile
  • MGoKindle Store
  • mgo.licio.us
  • Brian @ TSB [Archive]
  • Brian @ AOL [Archive]
  • Sour Salty Bitter Sweet

Michigan Blogs

  • Big House Blog
  • Burgeoning Wolverine Star
  • Genuinely Sarcastic
  • Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
  • Holdin' The Rope
  • MGoFootball
  • MVictors
  • Maize 'n' Blue Nation
  • Maize 'n' Brew
  • Maize And Go Blue
  • Michigan Hockey Net
  • The Blog That Yost Built
  • The Hoover Street Rag
  • The M Block
  • The M Zone
  • The Wolverine Blog
  • Touch The Banner
  • UMGoBlog
  • UMHoops
  • UMTailgate
  • Wolverine Liberation Army

M On The Net

  • mgovideo
  • MGoBlue.com
  • Mike DeSimone
  • Recruiting Planet
  • The Wolverine
  • Go Blue Wolverine
  • Winged Helmet
  • UMGoBlue.com
  • MaizeRage.org
  • Puckhead
  • The M Den
  • True Blue Fan Forum

Big Ten Blogs

  • Illinois
    • A Lion Eye
    • Hail To The Orange
    • Illinois Baseball Report
    • Illinois Loyalty
  • Indiana
    • Inside The Hall
    • The Crimson Quarry
  • Iowa
    • Black Heart, Gold Pants
    • Fight For Iowa
  • Michigan State
    • The Only Colors
  • Minnesota
    • GopherHole.com
    • The Daily Gopher
    • I'm In Love With A Fringe Bowl Team
    • TNABACG
  • Nebraska
    • Big Red Network
    • Corn Nation
    • Husker Mike's Blasphemy
    • Husker Gameday
  • Northwestern
    • Sippin' On Purple
    • Lake The Posts
  • Notre Dame
    • The House Rock Built
    • One Foot Down
  • Ohio State
    • Eleven Warriors
    • Buckeye Commentary
    • Men of the Scarlet and Gray
    • Our Honor Defend
    • The Buckeye Nine
  • Penn State
    • Slow States
    • Black Shoe Diaries
    • Happy Valley Hardball
    • Penn State Clips
    • Linebacker U
    • Nittany White Out
  • Purdue
    • Boiled Sports
    • Hammer and Rails
  • Wisconsin
    • Bruce Ciskie

Links of Note

  • Baseball
    • Big Ten Hardball
    • College Baseball Today
    • The Baseball Zealot
    • The College Baseball Blog
  • Basketball
    • Ken Pomeroy
    • Basketball Prospectus
    • Midmajority
  • College Hockey
    • Chris Heisenberg
    • College Hockey Stats
    • Inside College Hockey
    • Michigan College Hockey
    • Hockey's Future
    • Sioux Sports
    • USCHO
    • Western College Hockey
    • CCHA
      • LSSU Hockey
      • Bronco Hockey Blog
  • Football
    • Smart Football
    • Every Day Should Be Saturday
    • Doctor Saturday
    • CFB Stats
    • Harold Stassen
    • NCAA D-I Stats Page
    • The Wizard Of Odds
  • General
    • Sports Central
  • Local Interest
    • The Ann Arbor Chronicle
    • Arborwiki
    • Arbor Update
    • Teeter Talk
    • Vacuum
  • Teams Of The D
    • Lions
      • Pride of Detroit
      • Fire Millen
    • Pistons
      • Detroit Bad Boys
      • Need4Sheed
    • Tigers
      • Roar Of The Tigers
      • The Detroit Tigers Weblog
      • The Daily Fungo
    • Red Wings
      • On The Wings
      • Behind The Jersey
      • Winging It In Motown
    • Michigan Sports Forum

Archive

  • May 2013 (50)
  • April 2013 (94)
  • March 2013 (104)
  • February 2013 (81)
  • January 2013 (93)
  • December 2012 (74)
  • November 2012 (142)
  • October 2012 (143)
  • September 2012 (107)
  • August 2012 (103)
  •  
  • 1 of 11
  • ››

Get Yer Tickets

Football Display Case

NFL Watches

Follow your favorite team with localtv-satellite.com: Click Here.

Site Search

Diaries

  • New
  • Popular
  • Hot
  • Raiding the B1G-er Big Ten: Recruiting Prospects in Maryland and Rutgers Territory
    The Mathlete - 18 hours ago
  • A Cynical Take on Why Expansion May be Dead for the Forseeable Future
    maizeonblueaction - 1 day ago
  • LIGHT IT UP, AGAIN. WALLPAPER
    jonvalk - 2 days ago
  • Using Rivals' Star Ratings To Look At Big Ten Football Recruiting: 2002-2013
    LSAClassOf2000 - 2 days ago
  • UMich NFL draft history, Part III
    blueheron - 3 days ago
  •  
  • 1 of 4
  • ››
more
  • Using Rivals' Star Ratings To Look At Big Ten Football Recruiting: 2002-2013
    LSAClassOf2000 - 795 views
  • More Milford Men Than Michigan Men: Comparing the 11-12 and 12-13 Hockey Teams
    MGoBlueline - 755 views
  • UMich NFL draft history, Part III
    blueheron - 726 views
  • LIGHT IT UP, AGAIN. WALLPAPER
    jonvalk - 587 views
  • A Cynical Take on Why Expansion May be Dead for the Forseeable Future
    maizeonblueaction - 489 views
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more
  • Big Ten Recruiting Rankings 4-30-13
    Ace - 81 comments
  • Using Rivals' Star Ratings To Look At Big Ten Football Recruiting: 2002-2013
    LSAClassOf2000 - 19 comments
  • A Cynical Take on Why Expansion May be Dead for the Forseeable Future
    maizeonblueaction - 17 comments
  • LIGHT IT UP, AGAIN. WALLPAPER
    jonvalk - 16 comments
  • Raiding the B1G-er Big Ten: Recruiting Prospects in Maryland and Rutgers Territory
    The Mathlete - 11 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

MGoBoard

  • New
  • Recent
  • Hot
  • Scouting Report: Jabrill Peppers
    9 replies
  • Awesome Uniform Timeline on MVictors
    8 replies
  • Baby’s life saved with 3D printed device at C.S. Mott
    17 replies
  • OT: Mott Takeover
    14 replies
  • Jersey Name Patches
    24 replies
  • ESPN's Luginbill Predicts Top 5 Impact Freshmen, includes Derrick Green
    63 replies
  • Initial 2015 Top247 Released
    52 replies
  • Lewan Makes Feldman's "Freak List"
    31 replies
  • NFL: Pro-Bowl Considers A Bounty System
    49 replies
  • Putting out the MGoBatsignal for.......the Michigan Stormtrooper!
    35 replies
  • OT - Brian Urlacher retires
    43 replies
  • OT - Official MGoBaby Thread (you got 'em, we want to see 'em)
    140 replies
  • Plaxico Burress is designing a men’s "luxury hosiery line"
    64 replies
  • BTN Tourney Baseball
    15 replies
  • OT: I love High School football
    39 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 7
  • ››
  • Scouting Report: Jabrill Peppers
    9 replies
  • Baby’s life saved with 3D printed device at C.S. Mott
    17 replies
  • Awesome Uniform Timeline on MVictors
    8 replies
  • OT - Official MGoBaby Thread (you got 'em, we want to see 'em)
    140 replies
  • Our footballs are made in the USA but not in Ohio
    29 replies
  • BTN Tourney Baseball
    15 replies
  • Jersey Name Patches
    24 replies
  • ESPN's Luginbill Predicts Top 5 Impact Freshmen, includes Derrick Green
    63 replies
  • Putting out the MGoBatsignal for.......the Michigan Stormtrooper!
    35 replies
  • OT: Mott Takeover
    14 replies
  • Initial 2015 Top247 Released
    52 replies
  • OT? Graduatin' Season. Who had the Worst Commencement Speaker?
    138 replies
  • 2015 QB Josh Rosen offered
    52 replies
  • Lewan Makes Feldman's "Freak List"
    31 replies
  • Plaxico Burress is designing a men’s "luxury hosiery line"
    64 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 7
  • ››
  • OT: Red Wings vs Hawks Game 3 Open Thread
    203 replies
  • How much do you really hate ohio?
    145 replies
  • OT - Official MGoBaby Thread (you got 'em, we want to see 'em)
    140 replies
  • OT? Graduatin' Season. Who had the Worst Commencement Speaker?
    138 replies
  • UM 2014 Conf schedule football
    123 replies
  • Brandon on Uniformzzz
    119 replies
  • Speight and TomVH on Peppers
    116 replies
  • OT: Red Wings @ Hawks Game 2 Open Thread
    114 replies
  • Prayers for Moore, Oklahoma
    112 replies
  • Alex Bars to Notre Dame
    96 replies
  • 5 star 2013 DT may not be enrolling at Notre Dame
    83 replies
  • OT: NBA Draft Lottery
    78 replies
  • ESPN 30 for 30 on the Bad Boys
    77 replies
  • Michigan Softball vs. Cal Open Thread
    75 replies
  • Michigan has #1 recruiting class on ESPN now.
    73 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 7
  • ››

mgo.licio.us

  • 2013 NHL Draft Prospect: Andrew Copp

    rundown of Michigan's riser

    0 comments
  • Michigan's key returnee: Glenn Robinson

    needs moar usage

    0 comments
  • Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell transferring to NC State

    so much for that

    0 comments
  • The B1G List: Ranking the State Fossils of the Big Ten

    This list is completely arbitrary and not a genuine analysis of the relative merits of state fossils.

    0 comments
  • Trey Burke turns to inner circle to prepare for NBA draft

    will be michigan's highest pick in a while

    2 comments
  • B1G assistant coach salaries on the rise

    money has to go somewhere

    0 comments
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. is motivated by his critics and doubters, and supremely confident in his ability

    I am only motivated by people who have no opinion about me.

    0 comments
  • Big Ten football procrastinates on parity-based scheduling, and nothing ever changes

    the just released schedules were a flat-out statement that the B10 doesn't believe SOS will matter in playoff selection

    1 comments
  • Michigan's Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary ranked inside top 20 on ESPN's 2014 draft board

    but I thought that draft was supposed to be incredibly loaded?

    1 comments
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. turning heads, viewed as a first-rounder by some teams, analyst says

    If you're gonna go please be in the first round.

    0 comments
  • Michigan-Ohio State once, Indiana-Purdue once? The Big Ten has to protect its hoops rivalries

    another delightful side effect of a 14 team conference

    0 comments
  • Beilein on transfers: All should have to sit a year, regardless of situation

    I disagree.

    0 comments
  • Julie Hermann takes over as Rutgers AD, won't try to spend like Michigan

    GOOD PLAN

    2 comments
  • Jay Harris says no to Michigan State, decides to become a rapper

    hahahahaha

    0 comments
  • The Difference Between A Good Fan And A Bad Fan

    thoughtful piece from Jacobi on middle finger lady

    3 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

Perspective from a Wildcat.

21 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
October 31st, 2009 at 9:45 PM
#1
WildcatBlue
WildcatBlue's picture
Joined: 08/09/2008
MGoPoints: 496
Perspective from a Wildcat.

The tab near the upper left says: Create Content.

I haven't utilized it much, and never when sober, because I recognize that I have had no content. On much of anything. Steve Sharik and (in his day) Coach Simmons had the X's and O's, Tom VH and others had the recruiting, Brian seems to have read Infinite Jest more recently than I have, so there were very few instances where I felt that I had something unique and valuable to contribute.

Which brings me to the lone category where I may be the MGoExpert: Northwestern football. Which has been decidedly OT up to this point, but in the aftermath of the Illinois debacle, in the painful shadow of 3-9, and on the day that my Wildcats played three quarters of great ball against the same Penn State team that a week ago shellacked Michigan, I finally have something to say.

In a nutshell: I know inconsistency, mediocrity, poor defense and the stabbing pain that results from being on the wrong side of a talent differential. Having cheered a team on the wrong side of that differential, I also know the manic joy of watching pure offensive genius overcome it. (exemplum fucking gratium UM-NU '00) so I also know the thrill of the underdog victory. I've known great coaching, and recognized it even without BCS, or even (too often, sadly) bowl invites.

In 2009, Brandon Graham, Donovan Warren, Mike Martin, Greg Mathews, Kevin Koger, every Michigan RB, and Zoltan Mesko have one thing in common: they would undoubtedly start for Northwestern. That's it. Both of NU's safeties (when healthy), at least one of NU's starting corners (and likely the other one as a nickel) would start for UM. Mike Kafka would be a profound upgrade at QB while Andrew Brewer, Zeke Markshausen, and even Jeremy Ebert would be welcome additions at WR, more reliable while perhaps less explosive than Hemingway, Stonum, and Odoms/K(lv) Grady. I love Craig Roh, but I'll love him even more if in three years he's 3/4 the player that Corey Wooten is now.

I say this not as a jab against Michigan's current roster, but as a plea for patience among fans. Everyone loves to say "ah, it's just Northwestern." No respect, no expectations. This bugs me as a Wildcat fan, but that's not what I'm getting at. You (we) are fans of a Michigan team that, at this moment, is approximately equal to, if not less talented than Northwestern. The 2008 Wolverines were a worse team than that.

My question is simple: how can you assume that NU is an untalented also-ran, and at the same time presume to judge Rodriguez on the results of the talent-challenged '08-'09 teams?

Given the state of cupboards and all, given the bizarre new normal where we expect true freshmen to save us from mediocre established veterans, I say RR deserves at least six years to prove himself. So far I've compared UM and NU emphasizing their current similarities, but the fact is that this is a once in a lifetime situation. The recruiting pipeline to Ann Arbor is deeper and more awesomefabulousterrific than it ever will be in Evanston. This is the nadir for UM, and it's all about talent. Give a Michigan coach the time to coach Michigan talent before he's judged by Michigan standards.

Go Cats,
and Go Blue.

Thank god they don't have to play each other this year or next.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
Tags:
  • MGoBoard
  • Coaching
  • Northwestern
  • Rich Rodriguez

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:51 PM | Excellent post, except the (Score:1)
formerlyanonymous
formerlyanonymous's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 13958

Excellent post, except the last line. I think Michigan would do fairly well against NU. I really wish they were on the schedule.

MGoPosts|MGoDiaries|Twitter|Email

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 9:53 PM | It would be a great game, (Score:1)
WildcatBlue
WildcatBlue's picture
Joined: 08/09/2008
MGoPoints: 496

but I didn't intend that line to be understood that way. I just meant that I love years where my divided loyalties aren't put to the test.

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 9:56 PM | Oh I know you didn't. I still (Score:1)
formerlyanonymous
formerlyanonymous's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 13958

Oh I know you didn't. I still couldn't help but thinking it. Just like when you said great game, I couldn't help but thinking one of the ugliest grudge matches ever. Sigh...

MGoPosts|MGoDiaries|Twitter|Email

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:02 PM | Sigh indeed... (Score:1)
WildcatBlue
WildcatBlue's picture
Joined: 08/09/2008
MGoPoints: 496

in hypothetical '09 UM versus NU I would bet on the under, drink too much of something fittingly mediocre (I'm thinking Pabst: history inversely correlated to greatness) and pray for no injuries.

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:04 PM | I wish Big 11 would follow (Score:1)
Catholepistimiad
Catholepistimiad's picture
Joined: 07/28/2009
MGoPoints: 12

I wish Big 11 would follow the Pac10's lead and play full conference schedule. Forever to remain a wish, to be sure.

"The most important of all was that of the Catholepistimiad, considered not as a University proper, but in its true character, a village school." Education in Michigan during the Territorial Period, Lucy M. Salmon, 1884.

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 11:35 PM | I don't! Right now, it (Score:1)
UMxWolverines
UMxWolverines's picture
Joined: 03/01/2009
MGoPoints: 5246

I don't! Right now, it doesn't look like they will do fairly well against anyone and northwestern is probably better than illinois

"Ohio is like a giant turd that Michigan just can't pinch off"

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 9:59 PM | I think Michigan would do fairly well against NU. (Score:1)
Don
Don's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 19215

I think it's time we stopped automatically thinking we'd do well against anybody from a BCS conference. We're really bad.


  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:03 PM | Touche. (Score:1)
formerlyanonymous
formerlyanonymous's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 13958

Touche.

MGoPosts|MGoDiaries|Twitter|Email

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:07 PM | Watching this team, I do get (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 28969

Watching this team, I do get the sense that the talent level just isn't that good. It's sobering. We're obviously very undersized, but we also don't seem particularly fast or athletic, either. (It seems like other teams' skill-position guys, for instance, have an easier time outrunning our defense to the endzone than ours do.) A lot of guys are going to have to put in a great offseason with Barwis to get themselves physically where we need them to be.

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:05 PM | thanks (Score:1)
MaizeNBlu628
MaizeNBlu628's picture
Joined: 08/21/2009
MGoPoints: 273

great post, that actually did help me put some things in perspective, and maybe help some of these others fans take a step back from the ledge...bad games do happen, especially for such a young/inexperienced team where they could go through a stretch of bad games

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:16 PM | Would have given you plus 50 (Score:1)
maizenbluedevil
maizenbluedevil's picture
Joined: 09/12/2008
MGoPoints: 2602

Would have given you plus 50 if I could.... great post!!!

 

CJK5H

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:27 PM | The world doesn't have enough (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
Sgt. Wolverine's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 3523

The world doesn't have enough athletes named Zeke.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

  • Login or register to post comments
October 31st, 2009 at 10:32 PM | We are spoiled (Score:1)
StephenRKass
StephenRKass's picture
Joined: 07/15/2008
MGoPoints: 4206

Michigan fans have taken for granted the skill of the players present. We have assumed it was our birthright . . . that we would always have better players than most all the teams in the conference, and as good as any in the question. We have been smug about our stadium, our University, our campus, our alumni base.

It is not just the players who make the teams good, but it is by far the most important factor. We are forced to have a much greater appreciation for the great talent differential that has existed between Michigan and their so-called competition.

I hope that these years will sober us, and remind us of how fortunate we Michigan fans have been. Not only have we been fortunate in the past. Before too long, when RR has a solid stable of strongly skilled players taking the field, the proper equilibrium of the football universe will return, and we will re-assume our right place in the world.

"It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." Vince Lombardi

 

  • Login or register to post comments
November 1st, 2009 at 12:16 AM | This post was... (Score:1)
WestCoastWolverine
Joined: 10/09/2008
MGoPoints: 768

just what I needed to read. Thanks. I hate to say this but Tate is making the kind of mistakes now that are absolutely killing drives and offensive momentum. I don't know how many times he was sacked when an easy dump off was available. Mentally, he's off right now. Add insult to injury, the O line is not making things any easier on him. RR tried like hell to Lloyd ball it today but the O just dug one hole after another and we couldn't climb out of them.

And the D. Oh the D. We can't cover and we can't defend outside runs very well at all. God help us when BG leaves.

Recruit like the wind, RR.

Hoke bitches...Hoke.

  • Login or register to post comments
November 1st, 2009 at 12:36 AM | Thanks for the pick-me-up (Score:1)
Ike
Joined: 02/08/2009
MGoPoints: 107

I just woke up here on my last day of what's been a fairly wonderful year in Korea, and watched the entire mess that took place back home on DVR. What should be a wonderful day of hope and joy and excitement is decidedly not so right now. I came here expecting to see the fan base in full melt down mode, and for the first time in the Rich Rod era, feeling a little unsettled myself. Your post along with the "Why I'm not Panicking" post from lunchboxthegoat have been exactly what I needed to read. I have to agree with his comment that I haven't seen anything schematically that suggests we're not on the right track, which is causing part of the frustration. But I never really thought to compare our talent to elite schools, and your post has really brought me back to earth. We still have a lot of holes, and it's going to take time to patch this program up. Thanks for the perspective. + a bazillion.

  • Login or register to post comments
November 1st, 2009 at 12:36 AM | "Give a Michigan coach the time to coach Michigan talent (Score:1)
M-Dog
M-Dog's picture
Joined: 07/06/2008
MGoPoints: 6368

before he's judged by Michigan standards."

Wow. Just wow.

Fantastic line.

M'Dog

  • Login or register to post comments
November 1st, 2009 at 1:02 AM | Good post (Score:1)
SysMark
SysMark's picture
Joined: 11/15/2008
MGoPoints: 5566

Well done and thanks, really enjoyed reading that. One comment - not sure that Kafka would be a "profound" upgrade over Forcier. That seems to be a bit of piling on a true freshman quarterback who seems to be hitting a mid-season wall, but a great post and I agree. Thanks.

  • Login or register to post comments
November 1st, 2009 at 1:07 AM | Thanks for your kind words, (Score:1)
WildcatBlue
WildcatBlue's picture
Joined: 08/09/2008
MGoPoints: 496

but I'm really not piling on Forcier. I think he'll be grand one day. I say that Kafka would be an upgrade because he's doing what he's doing (2nd in the Big Ten in efficiency, I think, too lazy to google after this many beers) without a real RB complement. He's no Basanez, Kustok, Henne or whathaveyou, but he's a true dual threat QB with a decent arm, good decision making, and a lot of heft that Tate (pre-Barwis) lacks.

Which is to say: he's not the ideal RR QB, but he's savvy and big and fast, and RR could do wonders with Kafka at the helm.

  • Login or register to post comments
November 1st, 2009 at 3:29 PM | Fact of the matter (Score:1)
MinorRage
MinorRage's picture
Joined: 11/02/2008
MGoPoints: 795

We have freshman qb's. Molk getting injured is the biggest injury we probably could have had happen and that has killed any cohesion our o-line developed last year and throughout the spring. Our D could be average but we're getting into situations where our young offense is putting them in a bad position regularly and they are definitely not good enough yet to compensate.

  • Login or register to post comments
Powered by Pressflow, an open source content management system
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.