Slightly OT: ESPN recruiting article with irritating UM connection

Submitted by Don on

While we all wait breathlessly for news of Alex Kozan's decision, ESPN has an interesting article about Presidential involvement in recruiting. The player in question is Joe Washington, a Texas kid who committed to play for Oklahoma in the early 1970s.

The irritating UM connection in the article is the choice of photo. Out of all the hundreds or thousands of images that are surely available of Washington in action for the Sooners, which game do you suppose they choose to get a pic from?

The Jan. 1, 1976 Orange Bowl against Michigan, won by OK 14-6. It's not even a particularly compelling action shot, either.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7522643/recruiting-joe-w…

Alumnus93

February 1st, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^

First thing that came to mind after seeing Don's words where....  "Presidential involvement in officiating".....     I remember when Bill Clinton (as an alumnus) sat in the stands when a few of the Fab Five played Arkansas in Arkansas, and thought at the time, that it had an effect on the officiating, and that the safest bet in the world would've been to take Arkansas straight up to win.

bronxblue

February 1st, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^

Meh, not much there.  Honestly, I think the picture is kind of cool, and who knows why they chose it. 

I think it highlights how prevalent UM has been in football history.  You don't see Spartan helmets on any of these old-time photos.

burtcomma

February 1st, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^

Michigan had a team that was 8-1-2 with a freshmen QB rated at the end of the year the #5 team and lost a hard fought game to the 10-1 Sooners who finished #3 at the end of the year.

Not that bad of a game at all.....

blueskat

February 1st, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^

I've noticed this for years on ESPN. Everytime they show highlights of another team or player, they ALWAYS show them against Michigan, or against any Detroit team for that matter. I know MIchigan is always a big game for everyone, but I'm pretty sure there is a negative Michigan bias at the WWL.