Update on helmet stickers and #1 jersey

When is the #1 traditionally given? Is it normally a fall camp thing or spring? I just always assumed fall, so this seems odd.

Stonum got robbed.

/s (and maybe  bad taste).

we can atleast give TomVH the credit for re-tweeting it so all of us know...Thanks Tom

Bah...I kind of wanted the helmet stickers...

I'm not definitely not saying Roy Roundtree compares to the previous #1 jersey recipients or even Super Mario and A2, but I feel in this pro-style offense, he could definitely have a season where he has the numbers in the end that if he had been given the jersey, it will not be seen as a bad decision in retrospect.

I think this came from the DC Alumni event that just ended about an hour ago.  Confirming that Hoke did say there would be no helmet stickers and no #1 jersey this year.

Other notes and observations -

DB mentioned intent to expand Big House to 125K over time

Beilein stated that all feedback received is that D Morris will go first round

Michigan's new lacrosse coach was there as well as Red.

Hoke is very charismatic, but will probably never win a Toast Master's award.  A very nice, passionate guy, recognized Chris Floyd, who was in attendance.  Did the spiel where he explains how every Michigan team meeting begins ("good evening - response good evening, championship - response 42, years, response 132, Beat, response - OHIO").  Very nice guy, stayed around and took pictures with everyone that asked.  Understandably, he had the crowd eating out of his hand.

I was just at an Alumni Meet and Greet in Arlington, VA (like at 7 pm) with Hoke, Beilein, Red, Brandon, and newest coach John Paul. Coach Hoke was asked about the helmet stickers, one word response: "No."

EDIT:  And it looks like I got beat by a minute.

...Twitterstream by @stuartberlow that captured some of what went down at the event.

that should be a coach's decision. And I'm happy about the stickers; let's not be OSU. 

I asked Coach Beilein about the AAU stuff.  (The hook was Gary Williams tried to stay as far away from the AAU types as possible and now that he's gone, Maryland seems to be going in a different direction.)  He said you couldn't paint all summer basketball with the same brush; you can't punish the kid for the sins of others; but yeah, there were a few teams that you had to be carelful about.  And of course, Gary did it the right way.

But I was at the event as well and I thought it went well. DB, Hoke, Berenson and Beilein spoke well and the only time DB and Hoke shot someone down in the Q/A session was when somebody asked about Stonum's status--they weren't going down that path.

Personal note: Brandon was very patient with me as my camera malfunction and let me come back once I got it fixed to take a quick photo. Very impressed with all of them--our athletics are in good hands

Intros by Alumni types; Brandon introduces the coaches 1 by 1;Berenson, Beilein and Hoke give a talk; there was a lengthy Q&A; and then there's a reception line.  I was one of the last ones, so the crowd was thin and got a chance to have a brief chat with coach Beilein.

The twitter stream referenced above has most of the highlights.  Here's a few thoughts off the top of my head.  (I won't remember if these were in their talks or Q&A.)

Berenson said that the goal every year is to win the national championship.  (I don't think it was an intentional contrast with Hoke; no one remarked on it, though that's what occurred to me immediately.)  He then said, from there you work you're way backward: you try to get to the championship, the frozen four, in the tournament, win the league, etc.  He said that they thought they had a good team going into the season and was optimistic.  He attributed the success of the year to the senior leadership; those who were juniors will have to step up this year.  He also talked about how special Hunwick was.  He was recruited to be a 3rd-string goalie and never play.  Then injuries happened.  This year we'll have a 6-6 goalied and a 5-4 goalie.  We''ll all be able to tell who played.  He also waxed on about the Big Chill and how it was such a special event---made better by "hammering" Michigan State.  Someone asked about playing CCHA teams.  He said they wanted to; Michigan has 14 games outside of the Big Ten, and they'd like to help out.  But, he doesn't think they'll be taking too many trips to Alaska.  He said the same about Northern and Lake Superior, while mentioning Notre Dame and Miami.  [Editorial: I say play other Michigan teams.]

Coach Beilein's talk was kind of a tour the season.  They were optimistic about the team going in.  Starting 10-2 gave them some confidence, but then the Big Ten season kicked in.  Even though they were losing, he was happy with the team (though not happy with the win-loss record).  They were learning and getting better.  NU and IU on the road was tough.  But, then they beat MSU, got some confidence and got on a roll.  Who thought they'd be a basket away from going to the Sweet 16 and beating the "Dukies".

There were questions about Morris.  He went through the basic process and expressed confidence in Darius that he went through the right process.

He mentioned Maui and the fact that we're playing all these good teams.  Brandon cracked that coach is the only guy to complain about a trip to Maui in November.

Coach Hoke talked a lot about having character guys and players being responsible to their teammates.  To be honest, it's hard to remember because I think most of the readers here could guess what he would say.

Someone aked about the offense.  They're going to adapt their scheme to take advantage of Denard's special skills, but they will still run a pro-style offense.  Running a pro-style helps your defense in practice.  (I couldn't hear exactly how he explained it.  He seemed to be saying that practicing against a pro-style was more important for preparing for other pro-style offenses than would be true for other schemes.  But, I'm kind of guessing at this point; perhaps others can help out.

Things already noted:

No one will be wearing the #1 jersey this year.

No helmet stickers.

Brandon didn't even let him start to answer about Stonum.  That will be worked out.

Yes, we'll have a kicker this year.

Some of this is already noted:

Brandon asked for a show of hands on who wanted to keep playing ND vs playing other teams like USC, Alabama, etc.  I'd say the vote was 85-15 to keep playing ND.  Brandon said that in other forums, it's more 50-50.  He said too bad, if M stops playing ND, it's not playing USC, Alabama, etc.  He said that they changed the contract so that each team can opt out with 3-years notice, but he wants to keep playing ND.

He wants to play a 9-game B10 schedule.  But, it'll be hard in the short run as teams already have opponents lined up all the way to 2020.

The top of the scoreboards will line up with the top of the new structures.  As noted, he would like to fill in one end, and maybe the next AD can finish the other end.  That would bring capacity up to 125K.  

He said that with seat widening the Stadium will come dangerously close to not being the Big House.  He expressed thtat it was important to keep the stadium as the largest.

References to OSU's problem was limited to, "Oh something is happening down south?"

Plans for capital improvements to Yost (concourses and the like) go to the regents soon.  Brnadon feels good over their support.

One thing I forgot to mention in the Beilein post, was that someone asked whether the Crisler/development improvements were helping recruiting.  Beilein says that they had a virtual tour worked out for the recruits (Editorial: sounds cool), but now they can see parts of it live, so yes it helps.