How many times in the last half of the season did the offense drive 50+ yards and then fail to score? How many games might have been more competitive if the offense could stick in a touchdown on the opening drive? The yardage was great, but the red zone success on opening drives in the last six games--to my memory--was not high. I think vintage UM football--crushing blocks, power running--works better in the Big Ten. Games are won and lsot by points scored--not by scintillating scampers between the 20 yard lines.
Where have you been Boutros? Are you out recruiting 270 pound fullbacks and 320 pound tackles?
The new luxury boxes will keep sound in but will likely reduce punting distances. Rumor has it that Dollar Bill installed giant fans that will blow in Michigan's favor at key kicking moments.
I agree that Hurt Locker is by far the best and Kathryn Bigelow should also win. When one considers the limited budget (no sets were used!), there is no doubt that Ms. Bigelow wrung more out of less than any of her competitors. Your article in the Daily was excellent--thanks for linking that. Good luck!
Hopalong Boutros, a 6'8" running back with 4.3 speed, just decommitted from Bucknell. They would not let him play wearing the big cross. He is the "mystery recruit." RR is set to visit him in Zagreb this weekend. Keep your fingers rossed--rumored to be a nephew of our own Big Boutros. Could he be running back number 400,001?
When he signed a letter of intent, I thought he would beat out Mike Hart. Injuries, fumbles, and incumbentitis short circuited his career. Now we are seeing the skills we should have seen three years ago: speed, instinct, ball protection, and desire. Has R Rod brought this out, or did Carlos just mature on his own? Kudos to a powerful speedster. Go Blue.
and he finds this:
Code of Ethics for American Society of Newspaper Editors
ASNE Statement of Principles
ASNE's Statement of Principles was originally adopted in 1922 as the "Canons of Journalism."
The document was revised and renamed "Statement of Principles" in 1975.
Preamble
The First Amendment, protecting freedom of expression from abridgment by any law, guarantees to the people through their press a constitutional right, and thereby places on newspaper people a particular responsibility.
Thus journalism demands of its practitioners not only industry and knowledge but also the pursuit of a standard of integrity proportionate to the journalist's singular obligation. To this end the American Society of Newspaper Editors sets forth this Statement of Principles as a standard encouraging the highest ethical and professional performance.
Article I - Responsibility.
The primary purpose of gathering and distributing news and
opinion is to serve the general welfare by informing the people and enabling them to make judgments on the issues of the time.
Newspapermen and women who abuse the power of their professional role for selfish motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust. The American press was made free not just to inform or just to serve as a forum for debate but also to bring an independent scrutiny to bear on the forces of power in the society, including the conduct of official power at all levels of government.
**********
It is as if some of the Michigan community--press, fans, pundits--have wanted to humble Rich Rod. He is a proud man and has accomplished much in life.
Many have opined that he is too unpolished for urbane Michigan. But what has happened to him is unfair--a real blind-side attack that shows little regard for accuracy and scant knowledge of the actual rules. Brian's comments capture the feelings of many who may have had doubts about Rich Rod but resent the unfairness of the attack on him and on Michigan. Now is the time to rally around a man who has shown us in his tears that he does care. And rally around a school and its traditions of hard work and decency.
Remember what Bluto said -- let's do it:
D-Day: War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.
Bluto: Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.
Bluto: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough...
[thinks hard]
Bluto: the tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!
[runs out, alone; then returns]
Bluto: What the fuck happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...
Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.
D-Day: Let's do it.
Bluto: *Let’s do it*!
Thank you for the excellent financial analysis.
I was one of the alums who opposed the improvements for fear that the "purity" of the Michigan Stadium and the Michigan experience was being compromised. I was wrong. Any facility needs upgrading. This is a clever way to have a few high rollers pay disproportionate sums to benefit the masses. The analysis is very persuasive.
When I was a very young lad--over 50 years ago-- I ran the ticker tape from one room in the Michigan Stadium press box to the announcer, who then broadcast the Slippery Rock score to the fans over a PA system. Such a primative technology. But the fans would roar in collective amusement and delight. Today, every fan has an IPOD or Blackberry and has no need to rely on the antiquated ticker tape for information. But we fans still need to roar in collective amusement and delight. That is the essence of the Michigan Stadium experience that must be preserved.
It matters not whether the scoreboard is manually operated or lit up with millions of pixels; it matters not whether skyboxes are perched over the masses; it matters not whether there are ten urinals or a thousand. What matters is that 100,000 plus believers gather on Saturday and, with goose bumps of expectation, roar in collective amusement and delight for the Meechigan Wolverines. Go Blue!
Nice post.
We hope that this year's team will be better. We expect this year's team to be better. We want this year's team to be better. We are told that this year's team will be better.
And yet there is fear. It eats at you. Another tussel with Tressel. The Fat Man and the Irish loaded on offense. Sparty confident after last year's drubbing. And worst of all: the fear that Western can do what Appy State and Utah did.
What emotion dominates? Hope or fear? They come and go, biologic twins. Confidence overcomes uncertainty...until you let up. And then the nagging doubt returns. Can we be good again?
There is only one way to resolve the tension. We must play. We will cheer. And then we will know.
Excellent analysis. Let me offer one more thougt. This is much more than a cheering section boost for the one game. This also gives Penn State a huge recruiting boost in the Mid-Atlantic region. The State of Maryland has many top prospects and Penn State regularly nabs some of the best (e.g.,Derrick Williams). This development promises to push their recruitment successes even higher. Illinois fans can't be happy with this development--the DC area has been good to the Illini (e.g., Arrelious Benn from Dunbar High).
Just heard a report from an "inside source" that the entire coaching staff today had untied shoelaces. Fred Jackson actually had taken his shoes off. Is this a sign about who the first string QB will be?
Big Boutrros: Can't help but notice that you always note the right music for the moment. I hope your marching band proposals will be heard this fall. The Marching Band will help the Wolverines' return to glory!
I was a sophomore when Bo came in, living with many of the players recruited by Bump Elliot. RR is no Bo. The "fat guys" Bo inheirited (e.g., Brandstatter) bought into Bo's message and performed very well. He was able to reach them, using different tactics for different personalities.
As you suggest, I will extend RR the courtesy of this year. But I am very concerned with all the turnover--two more today--which signals to me that he lacks the breadth of personality to motivate the variety of young men in the program. He strikes me as one dimensional, and thus not a Michigan man.
As to your recitation of evidence about the departed--I think it proves the point I suggested. You can try to justify each one of them, but you cannot ignore the team as a whole: the turnover is both significant and corrosive.
Any way, this is better than debating health care. Go Blue!
The chicken little reference makes no sense. In that fable, an acorn hits Chicken Little, who then thinks the sky is falling. Here, we have an apparent drug dealer recruited to play quarterback for Michigan. Doesn't that bother you? This is more than an acorn.
Every time someone leaves the program, we hear excuses--lazy (Boren), racist (Kurt W), we-gave-the-kid-a-try (Feagin), did not fit system (Clemons, Threat, O'Neill), etc. Collectively, the picture is not good. The team is not "The Team" as in Bo's days. It is a incoherent collection that seems desperately assembled and coached.
We paid $4 million just for the right to sign him as a coach. We have a right to expect that the investment will pay off, not just in wins, but in maintaining the pride and prestige of the institution. I do not have a pitchfork in my hand--but I do have my eyes and ears trained on the program.
I just received my Frozen Four Tickets for Verizon Center. Both semifinal games are played the same day. If you leave the building after the first, you must get your hand marked to return for the second--you can't simply use your ticket. So I doubt that a ticket from a losing semifinalist fan will work.
Go Blue.
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How many times in the last half of the season did the offense drive 50+ yards and then fail to score? How many games might have been more competitive if the offense could stick in a touchdown on the opening drive? The yardage was great, but the red zone success on opening drives in the last six games--to my memory--was not high. I think vintage UM football--crushing blocks, power running--works better in the Big Ten. Games are won and lsot by points scored--not by scintillating scampers between the 20 yard lines.
Where have you been Boutros? Are you out recruiting 270 pound fullbacks and 320 pound tackles?
Code of
We hope that this