Rivals Radio UM & Big Ten Expansion
On my drive to work I listen to yesterdays Rivals Radio Show on it they had Gerry Ahern (Yahoo college sports editor, I had no F'in clue) talking about the two things we love the most. It's all rehashing but it's Methadone for this poor bastard who loves this place for keeping this addict going till September. If you can't get the link I'm sure one of the MgoBadAsses can do a better job than me and will help out (Magnus). Sorry for the spelling errors and grammar in advance.
Highlights
Self imposed sanctions: 2-3 scholarships', shorter practice time, probation.
RR job security: more pressure due to recent events.
Replacements: Les Miles, he's not as attractive anymore. Jim Harbaugh, UM will mend fences and build him a better bathroom. He can/does recruit nationally and last year's team was straight Old School UM ball (t. Gerhart)
Expansion: All to get ND. Big Ten will wait to pressure ND. Expand to 14 and wait out other league expansions to get ND.
Ah hell just listen to it. Have a good day all.
http://www.rivals.com/radiostream.asp?SID=1135&TYPE=WM&cl_key=5524
Gerry Ahern used to be the Sports Editor at the Lansing State Journal. Do with that info what you will.
The real question is "did we used to work for the Freep?"
They have Uber SEC guy Paul Finebaum hosting a show where he goes through the minutae of Vanderbilt's 2-deep, and the callers are pretty much what you'd expect from "Cletus in Nagahocheekee" which provides some chuckles. But I will give Finebaum credit in that he does know his southern recruiting and whenever a yocal calls up to ask why Cincinnati or West Virginia would make a great Big Ten team, he does make the point that as much as it hurts SEC fans to hear it, the Big Ten is not going to take a school that is not part of the AAU and does not have a Top 100 USN&WR type ranking because the Big Ten is a top academic conference. He then has to endure 15 minutes of calls from Bama grads who own their own landscaping business or 5 Taco Bell franchises to explain why their education is top notch and ROLL TIDE.
+1: "Cletus in Nagahocheekee"
+1 (if I could): "... 15 minutes of calls from Bama grads who own their own landscaping business or 5 Taco Bell franchises to explain why their education is top notch..."
Since you could only give WiE one prop.
I also gave a +1 to you, because you wanted to give him +2. I agree, his tome was inspired.
How does he know that David Brandon, who can be fairly said to idolize Bo, will ignore the fact that Harbaugh basically said that UM didn't exhibit academic integrity while Bo was coach? If anything, I think Harbaugh is less likely as a replacement candidate with Brandon as AD.
Let's hope it's moot anyhow, because a replacement coach means that things have continued to be in the shitter for RR and the program. Do not like that scenario.
up for the Wolverines this year. Many posters have given excellent reasons that this team will perform better, and it should show on the win column. I'm not worried about RR"s job, and I really think this team will do well this year. One of my concerns is that of the three things mentioned as self imposed punishments, probation is mentioned. Could this mean no bowl game this year if we qualify? That would really suck for just not counting stretching time over the summer.
This whole fiaso is a bunch of BS, and I feel like Brandon will over-react because he's new. He wants people to know he doesn't mess around... If we did nothing - then the NCAA would do nothing. Look at USC. Nothing will happen to them and they bought a house for a players' parents, a car for a player, and rented housing for a third. ALL WE DID IS STRETCH BEFORE WORKOUTS!!!! AAAAAAARRRRGGHH. Sorry, this just makes me want to punch a hole in a wall...
Maybe one next year which would be symbolic as we max out at 84 anyways. I do expect to lose some practice time and that trade off is usually 2 for 1.
I also expect to be back in a bowl game this year and hopefully put all the RR hot seat crap to rest once and for all. The 2011 team will have a ton of talent coming back (losing starters Shilling on O, and Ezeh, Mouton, and Woolfolk on D), 8 home games, and PSU drops off of the schedule. I would hate to change coaches with what is looking like a bright future on the horizon.
Strangely enough, a few less scholarships to offer may actually make them more valuable to the recruits as well as the program. A kid who's getting an offer knows that he's not getting offered by UM just because other school offered . An scholarship from UM means that RR thinks he's something really special.