Reading what was said and inferring from what was not said, I think it's probably time for me to move on from "I don't care much, because 2023 National Title". Put simply, this offense is concerning. Not much at QB, OL already banged up, no strong in-line TE, not much at WR. This pretty much leads me to maintain earlier thoughts -- as of right now, we are start-of-the-year 2023 Iowa on offense, plus a much more dynamic RB. Fortunately, we are better than 2023 Iowa -- and better than pretty much anyone else -- on defense, and that will keep us with a good shot at a decent record for the regular season.
Here's to hoping for portal magic, at least at QB and WR. Failing that, our shot at 10 wins is a Cade-level Tuttle or a much-improved Denegal.
His deep throws looked fine at the combine. Plenty of air. I think he's got the ability, and he was being coached to "put the deep ball where only your WR can get it", i.e. put it a bit long / away from the DB.
I'm thinking he'll be fine on that, after some good NFL coaching.
I've been a longtime golf fan, but none of the newer generation of players has jumped out to me to become a favorite, so I'll be rooting for an exciting day and an exciting finish.
I did put a bet on Morikawa to win, but for small change. Scheffler was minus odds to win, so no go there.
This game above all else showed the tremendous value of a goaltender that steals one, especially on the biggest stage. For the Caps, the goalie turned it up to eleven and became a wall. That's what it takes sometimes. This was a playoff game, and in the playoffs, the goalie has to come up huge. And he did.
What the Wings had to do was one of two things:
Play superior, A+ defense. Just shut everything down. But they don't have the horses for that. Players that could bring the team from worst in the league to middle of the pack -- not gonna name names but we know who they are -- are not skilled enough to get them over the hump.
Make it ugly and gritty and manage to get ugly goals. To find a way to get it done. And they couldn't do that -- they're not built that way. I was so happy when we finally got rid of Zadina.....but this team still has too many Zadinas.
So, most likely no playoffs, and that's probably a good reflection of where they are right now.
I will read this closely soon, but the important thing is that we should start every post with "Good afternoon (morning, evening), National Champions.......
Probably the biggest game of the year so far. Wings need to learn from last year and understand that intensity is the key. On the plus side, it seems like they took at least the physicality to heart against Buffalo.
Intensity and tighten up the defense. That's the recipe for a win.
Seconded....Zipper merge is the way, but people have to understand what's happening, plus, you know, put their ego aside for 0.05 seconds to make it happen. See my earlier comment.
An interesting topic.....tons of good comments already, and SRK pretty much nailed it for me.
In football and basketball, I have one team I actively root for, and that's Michigan. For football, I also like some of the Big Ten West teams and hope they do well. Purdue doesn't move the needle for me. So, eh, whatever.
Like others, I don't actively root for other conference teams to do well. It might impact our recruiting sometime, and it just seems weird to root that way. But I'm not rooting against Purdue like I would be rooting against OSU, MSU, or ND in everything.
Like others have said, Painter seems like a solid coach who runs a good program, so okay, cool.
But no, the implication of "will you root for Purdue so the conference gets a win", no way. We have seen how the conference feels about Michigan. National Championship notwithstanding, Michigan needs to find a way to have as much influence with the conference as OSU does.
Not this year, I fear. The defense (still troublesome) and goaltending (looks like it has rebounded some) both had difficult stretches at the worst time, and at the same time. That's a recipe for losing.
I'd say Lalonde has lost the locker room, but that's just a gut feeling. Just the fact that he's playing Petry so much tells me he needs to get fired at the end of the season.
OK....<deep breath> National Champs, National Champs </deep breath>
Reading between the lines here, we better hope that Tuttle is good to go for fall camp, or that we can grab a functional passing QB from the portal. No one is going to trash the QBs in spring ball, so yes, we are going to hear decent things. But, honestly, if Tuttle isn't good to go and we can't find a diamond from the portal, this offense sounds a lot like 2023 Iowa before All and their decent WR got injured. With a murderer's row of a schedule instead of the Big Ten West.
I'll hold off on a record prediction until fall camp, seeing what we have in Tuttle / portal QB or rolling with one of the others.
It's interesting that we are coming in as an underdog in this Frozen Four. The things that we have complained about for years -- randomness in single-elimination hockey games, etc -- could work in our favor this time. It's an uphill battle, but Barzo is playing better, and there's always a shot in this format. Hot goalie, puck luck, and starting to click at the most crucial times....that matters as much as anything when it's win-or-go-home.
I don't think there's been an NOA issued by the NCAA -- the one for CheeseburgerGate just came through, I think? As for the Big Ten, obviously Petitti got all the other schools together to decide what we did. Clown show.
Thank goodness it all worked out. Rod Moore intercepts to secure the OSU game. Blake and the OT TD against Alabama. The Don destroys Washington. National Champs.
Disagree on more complete/definitive. The only thing that makes it LOOK that way was a coaches' poll that was obvious bullshit and rigged to give Tom Osborne a lifetime achievement going-away present award. Everyone with a shred of intelligence knows that Nebraska would have lost to Missouri if not for an obvious kicked ball AND a phantom fifth down. Everyone with a shred of intelligence knows the coaches' poll was rigged.
Take that bullshit away and Michigan is every bit the consensus champion they were in 2023.
[EDITED to clarify -- On re-read, this post sounds aggressive toward CRG, and I didn't mean it that way. I just get fired up thinking about the "shared" title BS talk for 1997. My rant wasn't meant toward you -- just that situation in general.....]
The grass was always the greenest -- and Tiger Stadium had the greenskeeper "show" in the middle of the fifth inning. Our head greenskeeper, name escapes me, was a real showman. That was a bit of fun in the middle of the game.
Tiger memories -- 1984 of course....what a time to be 11 or 12 years old. Brought my glove to school seemingly every day that spring and fall. Meeting Steve Kemp, Champ Summers, Johnny Wockenfuss at the old stadium. Hell, even the dirty water hot dogs with the spicy mustard were great. As a recall, there used to be a guy out front selling warm peanuts, and we would get those, too.
The Ohtani stuff -- the most fascinating thing to me is how badly MLB certainly wants this all to go away, but I don't think it will.
Anyway, the Tigers might be a bit better than last year, and they might contend in a bad AL Central. I hope they at least improve and are entertaining.
Correct -- it's "satisfactory academic progress" toward a degree that matters.
Seth laid this out last year very well:
For an undergrad transfer:
Admissions admits transfer.
Department the transfer will matriculate into denies X number of credits. In addition, they do not fast-track the decision, letting coaches twist in the wind waiting.
Transfer would be in violation of the progress rule if he chooses Michigan and would be ineligible. Bye bye transfer.
So, the key problem here is at the departmental level.
Transfers that have had only one year in college have an easier time getting through this minefield, since their courses might be more likely to count AND there's more room/time to catch up.
Grad transfers don't have the progress rule to worry about.
TL;DR Academic departments at Michigan are putting up roadblocks to getting transfers that the majority of other schools have deemed archaic/unnecessary. Michigan has created its own disadvantage by not solving this issue. Harbaugh found an effective workaround focusing on transfers one year in or ready to be grad students.
I know nothing about most of this, but my hopes for the team and staff this upcoming season are:
Coaches:
Constructing a proper roster and building team-first culture.
Staying scandal-free on and off the court. No controversies.
Recruiting hard for '25 and beyond.
Bonus: Reaching out to Sanderson to return.
Players:
Playing hard -- especially on defense. Embracing team-first culture as built up by coaches.
Being mentally strong through what will undoubtedly be adversity this season.
Like the coaches, staying scandal-free.
That's it. I don't even much care about record. I'm just glad we're out from under an unfortunately poor situation and can move forward with our top candidate.
Recent Comments
Good evening, National Champions.....
Reading what was said and inferring from what was not said, I think it's probably time for me to move on from "I don't care much, because 2023 National Title". Put simply, this offense is concerning. Not much at QB, OL already banged up, no strong in-line TE, not much at WR. This pretty much leads me to maintain earlier thoughts -- as of right now, we are start-of-the-year 2023 Iowa on offense, plus a much more dynamic RB. Fortunately, we are better than 2023 Iowa -- and better than pretty much anyone else -- on defense, and that will keep us with a good shot at a decent record for the regular season.
Here's to hoping for portal magic, at least at QB and WR. Failing that, our shot at 10 wins is a Cade-level Tuttle or a much-improved Denegal.
His deep throws looked fine at the combine. Plenty of air. I think he's got the ability, and he was being coached to "put the deep ball where only your WR can get it", i.e. put it a bit long / away from the DB.
I'm thinking he'll be fine on that, after some good NFL coaching.
"Maybe......yes sirrrrr!!" Top-5 sports call of all time.
Good Sunday Afternoon, National Champions....
I won't be going, but I want to add my welcome to the Sherrone Moore era. May we continue to plow teams on offense and dominate on defense!
Go Blue!! (But also Go Maize, for this game!!)
I've been a longtime golf fan, but none of the newer generation of players has jumped out to me to become a favorite, so I'll be rooting for an exciting day and an exciting finish.
I did put a bet on Morikawa to win, but for small change. Scheffler was minus odds to win, so no go there.
Oggy Ogle-torp??
You hoard, so that you end up with a horde.
The best TV theme song is another Mike Post -- the theme for Hill Street Blues. They actually play that one on the Yacht Rock channel on SiriusXM.
Good afternoon, National Champions....
This game above all else showed the tremendous value of a goaltender that steals one, especially on the biggest stage. For the Caps, the goalie turned it up to eleven and became a wall. That's what it takes sometimes. This was a playoff game, and in the playoffs, the goalie has to come up huge. And he did.
What the Wings had to do was one of two things:
So, most likely no playoffs, and that's probably a good reflection of where they are right now.
It's all ball bearings now -- maybe you guys need a refresher course!
I will read this closely soon, but the important thing is that we should start every post with "Good afternoon (morning, evening), National Champions.......
Probably the biggest game of the year so far. Wings need to learn from last year and understand that intensity is the key. On the plus side, it seems like they took at least the physicality to heart against Buffalo.
Intensity and tighten up the defense. That's the recipe for a win.
Seconded....Zipper merge is the way, but people have to understand what's happening, plus, you know, put their ego aside for 0.05 seconds to make it happen. See my earlier comment.
Clicked on this to say exactly this.
Oh, and a lot of the drivers in Metro Detroit.
100% Agree. It's Tuttle if he's healthy. He's Cade or Cade-plus, and that's what we need to contend for the playoff.
I will take this trade off every single time. Every single one. Yeah the timing sucks, but we won it all.
An interesting topic.....tons of good comments already, and SRK pretty much nailed it for me.
But no, the implication of "will you root for Purdue so the conference gets a win", no way. We have seen how the conference feels about Michigan. National Championship notwithstanding, Michigan needs to find a way to have as much influence with the conference as OSU does.
Not this year, I fear. The defense (still troublesome) and goaltending (looks like it has rebounded some) both had difficult stretches at the worst time, and at the same time. That's a recipe for losing.
I'd say Lalonde has lost the locker room, but that's just a gut feeling. Just the fact that he's playing Petry so much tells me he needs to get fired at the end of the season.
Seriously, just make him an analyst right now.
I hope he has to change his name to TJ Dude.....
Watching the opener, and Gio Urshela is a great pick-up!!
This Meta will fix you.....
Iowa's offense tried to play with points module all season, and they pretty much broke it.
Came to respond to say exactly this. Good call.
He'll Brie an improved player under this staff.
OK....<deep breath> National Champs, National Champs </deep breath>
Reading between the lines here, we better hope that Tuttle is good to go for fall camp, or that we can grab a functional passing QB from the portal. No one is going to trash the QBs in spring ball, so yes, we are going to hear decent things. But, honestly, if Tuttle isn't good to go and we can't find a diamond from the portal, this offense sounds a lot like 2023 Iowa before All and their decent WR got injured. With a murderer's row of a schedule instead of the Big Ten West.
I'll hold off on a record prediction until fall camp, seeing what we have in Tuttle / portal QB or rolling with one of the others.
You know, the finger.....
It's interesting that we are coming in as an underdog in this Frozen Four. The things that we have complained about for years -- randomness in single-elimination hockey games, etc -- could work in our favor this time. It's an uphill battle, but Barzo is playing better, and there's always a shot in this format. Hot goalie, puck luck, and starting to click at the most crucial times....that matters as much as anything when it's win-or-go-home.
I would have liked to have seen Montana.....
I love it.....talk a lot of the year about a step back and being a bubble team...and BOOM.
Frozen Four again.....1997 vibes for sure.
I don't think there's been an NOA issued by the NCAA -- the one for CheeseburgerGate just came through, I think? As for the Big Ten, obviously Petitti got all the other schools together to decide what we did. Clown show.
Thank goodness it all worked out. Rod Moore intercepts to secure the OSU game. Blake and the OT TD against Alabama. The Don destroys Washington. National Champs.
Disagree on more complete/definitive. The only thing that makes it LOOK that way was a coaches' poll that was obvious bullshit and rigged to give Tom Osborne a lifetime achievement going-away present award. Everyone with a shred of intelligence knows that Nebraska would have lost to Missouri if not for an obvious kicked ball AND a phantom fifth down. Everyone with a shred of intelligence knows the coaches' poll was rigged.
Take that bullshit away and Michigan is every bit the consensus champion they were in 2023.
[EDITED to clarify -- On re-read, this post sounds aggressive toward CRG, and I didn't mean it that way. I just get fired up thinking about the "shared" title BS talk for 1997. My rant wasn't meant toward you -- just that situation in general.....]
Then you could have Signgate 2: Electric Boogaloo.
The real finisher was when Beilein powerbombed him onto the announce table. #onetwothree
They won the whole f**kin' thing.
Just like Michigan did!
Me too, it's why I clicked. History of basketball or something....
You sure it wasn't this Lou? Could have been Tire World....
The grass was always the greenest -- and Tiger Stadium had the greenskeeper "show" in the middle of the fifth inning. Our head greenskeeper, name escapes me, was a real showman. That was a bit of fun in the middle of the game.
Tiger memories -- 1984 of course....what a time to be 11 or 12 years old. Brought my glove to school seemingly every day that spring and fall. Meeting Steve Kemp, Champ Summers, Johnny Wockenfuss at the old stadium. Hell, even the dirty water hot dogs with the spicy mustard were great. As a recall, there used to be a guy out front selling warm peanuts, and we would get those, too.
The Ohtani stuff -- the most fascinating thing to me is how badly MLB certainly wants this all to go away, but I don't think it will.
Anyway, the Tigers might be a bit better than last year, and they might contend in a bad AL Central. I hope they at least improve and are entertaining.
Bad luck.....we sorta avoided it for most of the Championship run. Thankfully, Q-Jo decided to come back.
As far as Moore...let's have a full recovery. That's most important.
I was critical, and I think deservedly so. No apologies for that.
This was a nice job by Warde to snag our (presumably) top guy away from another program. Top marks. Nicely done.
That's the big thing -- no Bears, no Vikes, because I don't want to root against him.
Correct -- it's "satisfactory academic progress" toward a degree that matters.
Seth laid this out last year very well:
For an undergrad transfer:
So, the key problem here is at the departmental level.
Transfers that have had only one year in college have an easier time getting through this minefield, since their courses might be more likely to count AND there's more room/time to catch up.
Grad transfers don't have the progress rule to worry about.
TL;DR Academic departments at Michigan are putting up roadblocks to getting transfers that the majority of other schools have deemed archaic/unnecessary. Michigan has created its own disadvantage by not solving this issue. Harbaugh found an effective workaround focusing on transfers one year in or ready to be grad students.
…
Great post. Nice job here.
I know nothing about most of this, but my hopes for the team and staff this upcoming season are:
Coaches:
Players:
That's it. I don't even much care about record. I'm just glad we're out from under an unfortunately poor situation and can move forward with our top candidate.
Sounds good to me. Yoinking him away from the Louisville job -- even better.
GREAT job here Warde. I have been critical, but it sounds like he knocked it out of the park here.
But when you do find them, they are coming at you, twice your size, and they run faster than you.
Yes. No doubt. Who in the men's game is a "name" of that magnitude this year?
Especially when it appears to transfers that we will be running the ball >60% of the time, and throwing to TE/RB a bunch too.