Michigan Men fired Vitale from his last coaching job with the Pistons. Give Vitale credit for switching gears and becoming a Hall of Fame broadcaster. Love him or not he created a memorable persona.
The negative comments Brian made about Sheridan and Threet were embarrassing. Their only crime was not performing to his expectations in a system that they were not suited to play.
High school basketball playoff game. BJ Armstrong was their point guard and the rest of their starters were 6'5"+. We lost in triple overtime by one. A future ND football player on Rice's team cheated to force the first overtime. Long story but we should have won with free throws at the end of regulation.
Two truths - both guys are passionate about Michigan and both guys are pretty big jerks. Since this is Cook's blog and most worship him please take a second and ask if it is ok to mock high schoolers ( especially guys who have decided to attend and play for Michigan's basketball team).
Thanks for providing solid reasons why Michigan should strongly consider adding another QB to the class while being careful not to knock the abilities of Malzone. Bonus points for no snarky comments about the new recruit's lack of stars. Maybe this blog is growing up. Keep up the good work.
"Balance" is being discussed at the highest levels. My personal feeling is that the "requirements" to compete for a National Championship in football are too high a price to pay. Michigan and the new University President have an opportunity to lead a broad discussion about balance between academics and athletics. In doing so it may shine a light on the negative attributes of the NCAA and schools that turn a blind eye to player payments and the like.
A lot of people including Brian Cook and mods on this board bad mouth the players. I've been banging this drummer for years and you guys refuse to understand that you contribute to the culture of negativism toward the players and coaches. Ask anyone that reads this board what Brian and the mods call Nick Sheridan.
Brian is more credible because of his hair style, clothes, and lack of respect of his fellow presenter? Most mature adults would have the opposite reaction. The alumni association should never allow him at an official event - he is embarrassing.
One more reason why this blog has no right to criticize the coaching staff or the AD. You guys can't even publish a single issue of a magazine without issuing a mea culpa. Keep living in your glass house and throwing stones. BTW, I know you read what I write and it bugs the crap out of you. How is your censorship working?
Except it would be nice if Nuss does so well that he becomes a candidate to replace Hoke in the future (after Brady wins some B1G championships and major bowl games).
MGoBlog's analysis and criticism of Michigan players and coaches needs to be taken with a huge grain of salt. By Ace's own admission he had next to NO experience evaluating football talent but that never stops anyone on this blog from posturing as an expert. Calling a 6'4" 215# college football player paper thin is a bit of a stretch no? Have a little more respect for these guys - try and remember that even a "pint-sized" former CT corner like Richardson could man handle you on your best day and his worst.
Not saying that we should worship the players but please understand that some of these amateur athletes are negatively impacted by what you write on the blog. Think about what your life would have been like if people who never met you made a career out of chronicling your academic performance (good, bad, & ugly) from your junior year of high school through college graduation on a website read by thousands of people. Years after graduation they would harken back to that chem exam that you failed for their own comedic effect and financial gain. Not cool right?
...the owner of this blog is a much bigger fan of his own opinion than he is of the University of Michigan and much of his writing is detrimental to the football program. If I were an opposing coach and wanted to negative recruit against Michigan I'd block quote a bunch of Brian's rants and show them to recruits and say, "Even the author of their most widely read blog thinks Hoke should be fired". Probably not a shock that I think Hoke is a very good coach and will silence his critics for good in 2015 but the naysayers will still hold sway this year.
100% agree about contacting recruits/players via social media or otherwise especially if the purpose I s to make a negative comment. All MGoBlog staff (looking at you Brian) need to apply the same discretion before making negative comments on the blog regarding Michigan players or high school kids. The snarky nicknames and comparisons to former players that didn't live up to expectations is a short step behind directly tweeting negative comments to someone. In some cases it is worse because it reaches a wider audience and becomes a meme on the blog.
I know you follow these things as closely as anyone so it isn't news to you but it is to me and probably others as well. Honest question - is the standard so high on this blog that you are expected to read and commit to memory everything that is posted? Even so, this is news because it confirms the recruiting battle is still neck and neck and Michigan still has a chance. For my part the last I read Thompson was more interested in MSU.
Brian - why do you keep this myth alive that Hoke's future is in doubt if the record improves this year? By your our admission they have 3 tough road games this year so 9-3 will be a solid performance and 8-4 doesn't mean the wheels are off. Michigan will have a favorable schedule and a very experienced team in 2015 so hold off on the hot seat meme until the middle of that season. BTW, if I were Meyer or Dantonio I'd tell Brian Cole and Mike Weber to read what you the MGobloggerati think of Hoke's job stability. With fans like you Michigan doesn't need rivals.
Everyone understands the implications of another 6 loss season so let's not dwell on it. You, Brian, and the rest of the Debbie Downers need to lighten up and hope for the best.
I bet one of the folks that negged you is the proud owner of MGoBlog. Did you get the memo about the glass always being half empty? The only "take" on things has to be negative.
I would like to know when exactly Coach Hoke found out that Gibbons was expelled and understood the reasons why. If it was before his "family matter" comment then I am in favor of this leading to a much deeper investigation. Since a new University President will be taking over soon there may be an opportunity to get this resolved by someone that can't be accused of giving orders regarding the situation as it unfolded. Personally, I don't care if Hoke was told by Brandon or anyone else to make the "family matter" comment - he needs to explain why he thought that was the right thing to say if he knew Gibbons was expelled for sexual misconduct.
But you have to be in the game to get fouled don't you? I know it is fun for the guys that prefer to play fantasy sports to imagine all the scenarios so lets add player substitutions to the list of variables.
Most of the number crunching in this post assumes that Michigan would have had the opportunity to put Johnson or Poythres on the line, right? I'd have to watch the last minute again but I doubt either handled the ball in the last 60 seconds. Calipari isn't the smartest coach but I'm sure he would have figured out that Michigan was intending to force them to the free throw line after the first of two required fouls to put them in the bonus. In a nutshell he would have screamed for the ball to go to the highest percentage shooters and not Dakari or Alex. Second stupid question - Brian did you ever play basketball at a competive level? If you did you didn't learn much because this stuff is 101 level in terms of strategy.
If this posts proves anything it is that the King of all Dipsh*ts will second guess every decision a Michigan coach makes. If Michigan had excuted the fouling strategy suggested in this post and UK hit two free throws and Michigan missed the last shot he'd be second guessing in the opposite direction. Life is fun and easy for critics that never have actually been in the real life situation. BTW, could someone remind us why Brian became a blogger instead of using his education to be an actual, ya know, engineer?
Brian - pretty sure you have stated in the past that you aren't a basketball expert so why do you have to ruin an otherwise decent post by whining about Michigan not trying a 2-3 zone? Oh, that's right, you can't help being a whiney douche. Do you really think you know it all?
But thinking about your Muppet fetish lets revise to 6. Thanks for reminding me that you are too young to have much recollection of Bo and the bulk of your formative years were spent watching Carr's teams. By all accounts you aren't Lloyd's biggest fan so what made you a fan in the first place?
Don't you think being a fan includes hoping that better days are ahead for your team? Instead you are always focused on doom and gloom. Please go back and read the crap you were writing about the basketball team a few months ago. You were down on the freshmen and not very happy with the rest of the team. You are lucky that you cater to a generation with a 30 second attention span. Doesn't anyone point out all the crap you write that you gloss over later when things turn for the better? Or do you and your mods make sure to delete/ ban all dissenting opinions?
BTW, did you watch the game live or record it because you needed to see a third rate country act instead?
What do you expect from a guy that would rather see "cowpunk" live than watch the Michigan basketball game. The team is in the home stretch to win the first outright Big Ten title since Brian was probably in diapers and his priority is Lydia Lovelace? Is there going to be a UFR of the concert? Cook is probably more excited about the new Muppet movie than the NCAA tournament.
Why was Michigan settling for jumpers rather than driving the lane when they were in the bonus in the second half? Although the team worked the offense and had some open looks they weren't falling so I was hoping to see more slashes to the bucket. Nik drew contact and got to the foul line once but didn't keep it up. Head scratcher unless the coaches told them to drive and the players just didn't follow instructions.
MGoBlog is always 100% accurate. There is a zero point zero percent chance that someone on this blog was wrong about the salary figures.
MGoBlog. - turning rumor into fact on the regular
Shut up about the freshmen not living up to expectations. They have barely started playing college basketball and you are trashing them. They will be fine except for having to deal the the unfair exceptations that you putting on them.
Brian is a coward with a keyboard. I would donate a large sum of money to see him put on a football uniform and try and play against the kids he criticizes. Let him run the Michigan drill against Demens or Ezeh.
This post is just a formal announcement that this site is an echo chamber. People can only comment if the blog staff "likes" them. Brian needs to understand that he is a jerk frequently and people have a right to point it out. Ignoring what people have to say is one thing, preventing everyone else from reading it crosses a line.
A significant amount of the content on this blog including Brian's comments above are akin to booing. Brian boos the players every week in his UFRs. He needs to take his own advice and just stop being a fan and shut down the blog. Of course he would have to start wearing pants more regularly and ease up on the snarky attitude so he could find other employment (how likely is that?).
Brian - Do everyone a favor (especially yourself) and stay home Saturday. Heck, you could even blog about what you did instead.
Since you admit you lack knowledge and understanding of offensive line play please refrain from suggesting that anyone pulls a trigger in the direction of any of the coaches.
While I'm glad Brian called people out for the comments regarding Teryn Savage (spelling?) he really needs go back and read his post about Jayru Campbell a few weeks ago. He essentially dismissed the notion that people were concerned about Campbell committing to MSU by saying the kid isn't a good enough player to worry about. Brian's comment wasn't necessary and was very dismissive of an underage kid. As Seth points out, MGoBlog is read by tens of thousands of people so it isn't a stetch to imagine that Campbell either read or heard that the founder of MGoBlog is mocking his abilities.
Please take this suggestion to heart - don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face; and if it is about a high schooler add in the kid's parents as well.
I think you are a goober all the time and It is safe to assume Al Borges could care less what you think of him. In terms of the players "biffing it", why don't you show the world your football skills sometime? Here is a challenge for you - I'll donate $500 to the charity of your choice if you put on pads and play tackle football for four quarters against some of the players you love to criticize or against the JV team at any local high school. The rest of us can create a UFR and debate about whether you suck or not.
Why does the MGoBlog staff think it is ok to perpetuate this kind of crap. Mouton was a solid player and an NFL draft choice. Would you ever call him Bad Mouton to his face? If the answer is no than don't publish it on the blog for thousands to read.
1) Now that you know EVERYTHING about football please try your hand at coaching
2) Since you are still in love with the spread and the most spread happy coach just change your blog to AZGoCats.
Recent Comments
"Balance" is being discussed at the highest levels. My personal feeling is that the "requirements" to compete for a National Championship in football are too high a price to pay. Michigan and the new University President have an opportunity to lead a broad discussion about balance between academics and athletics. In doing so it may shine a light on the negative attributes of the NCAA and schools that turn a blind eye to player payments and the like.
A lot of people including Brian Cook and mods on this board bad mouth the players. I've been banging this drummer for years and you guys refuse to understand that you contribute to the culture of negativism toward the players and coaches. Ask anyone that reads this board what Brian and the mods call Nick Sheridan.
The only thing I believe from Brian's "insider" info is that Bolden will start - if only to force Muppet Man to eat a lemon. $10 says he will welch.
College football is corrupt and the national championship is won by the team that cheats the most.
Most of the streets that surround campus (South U in particular) are trashy and need some investment.
Anyone that says "UMich" needs to delete it from their vocabular. If you want to abbreviate say, "U of M" or "Michigan" but never "UMich"
...the owner of this blog is a much bigger fan of his own opinion than he is of the University of Michigan and much of his writing is detrimental to the football program. If I were an opposing coach and wanted to negative recruit against Michigan I'd block quote a bunch of Brian's rants and show them to recruits and say, "Even the author of their most widely read blog thinks Hoke should be fired". Probably not a shock that I think Hoke is a very good coach and will silence his critics for good in 2015 but the naysayers will still hold sway this year.
But you have to be in the game to get fouled don't you? I know it is fun for the guys that prefer to play fantasy sports to imagine all the scenarios so lets add player substitutions to the list of variables.
More competition
Most of the number crunching in this post assumes that Michigan would have had the opportunity to put Johnson or Poythres on the line, right? I'd have to watch the last minute again but I doubt either handled the ball in the last 60 seconds. Calipari isn't the smartest coach but I'm sure he would have figured out that Michigan was intending to force them to the free throw line after the first of two required fouls to put them in the bonus. In a nutshell he would have screamed for the ball to go to the highest percentage shooters and not Dakari or Alex. Second stupid question - Brian did you ever play basketball at a competive level? If you did you didn't learn much because this stuff is 101 level in terms of strategy.
If this posts proves anything it is that the King of all Dipsh*ts will second guess every decision a Michigan coach makes. If Michigan had excuted the fouling strategy suggested in this post and UK hit two free throws and Michigan missed the last shot he'd be second guessing in the opposite direction. Life is fun and easy for critics that never have actually been in the real life situation. BTW, could someone remind us why Brian became a blogger instead of using his education to be an actual, ya know, engineer?
What do you expect from a guy that would rather see "cowpunk" live than watch the Michigan basketball game. The team is in the home stretch to win the first outright Big Ten title since Brian was probably in diapers and his priority is Lydia Lovelace? Is there going to be a UFR of the concert? Cook is probably more excited about the new Muppet movie than the NCAA tournament.
Yeah, I know you can still read this.
If a rival wants to turn a recruit away from Michigan all they need to do is read them some of the choice writing on MGoBlog.
Shut up about the freshmen not living up to expectations. They have barely started playing college basketball and you are trashing them. They will be fine except for having to deal the the unfair exceptations that you putting on them.
This post is just a formal announcement that this site is an echo chamber. People can only comment if the blog staff "likes" them. Brian needs to understand that he is a jerk frequently and people have a right to point it out. Ignoring what people have to say is one thing, preventing everyone else from reading it crosses a line.
While I'm glad Brian called people out for the comments regarding Teryn Savage (spelling?) he really needs go back and read his post about Jayru Campbell a few weeks ago. He essentially dismissed the notion that people were concerned about Campbell committing to MSU by saying the kid isn't a good enough player to worry about. Brian's comment wasn't necessary and was very dismissive of an underage kid. As Seth points out, MGoBlog is read by tens of thousands of people so it isn't a stetch to imagine that Campbell either read or heard that the founder of MGoBlog is mocking his abilities.
Please take this suggestion to heart - don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face; and if it is about a high schooler add in the kid's parents as well.
why bother