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Morris is still but a glimmer in the distance

The smart thing to do is for Michigan to take at least 1 qb in every class. 

Been wondering

There does seem to be "over recruiting" at some positions even when possible eventual position changes are factored in.  I believe this is a strong indication that Mattison and company are not overly impressed with more than a few of the players they inherited from RR & co.  The signs seem to indicate Hoke expects there will be far more attrition via transfer as the 2011 season progresses and concludes.

More speculation.

I read the JJHuddle thread (have a subscription) and will say that the title of that post is speculation.

 

The number of all-start

The number of all-start events a player may attend is usually regulated by the players state high school association here in the US. For example, in Ohio I believe they have a 2 allstar game limit. So I imagine what is being referred to is the limit whatever governing body Stauskas plays under places on such events.

Interesting topic.

Professional wrestlers... I seem to run into them all the time.

I rode in an elevator with Arn Anderson and Rick Orndorff. Turns out they had the hotel rooms across the hall from me.

Was enjoying dinner at Max & Ermas when some jerk bumped into my chair really hard. Turned out to be Lex Luger with his friend Sting. They were very nice. We were he only ones aside from the waitress they spoke to. They signed autographs for kids but otherwise played cards (hearts) and pretty much kept to themselves.

Met the (Reich)Steiner brothers in an airport and had a great conversation with them.

Sat across the aisle from Cheryl Ladd on a plane. Tried to talk to her but was all tongue tied and ended up deciding the better part of valor was to drink myself into submission as an excuse for embarassing myself.

Have met several professional baseball players and found most to be pretty cool guys - Chipper Jones was perhaps my favorite.

Best claim to fame was meeting and having the opportunity to speak with Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Joe Paterno all within about a two week period. I met Bo a handful of times after that and despite each encounter being brief, he always remembered me or at least let on he did. The most special time was with my young son in Schembechler Hall - we were just "sight seeing" and he shook our hands and made a big deal over my son.

 

This is a perfect example

The reaction posted is a perfect example of how Buckeye fans react to things. I don't believe the average Michigan fan really appreciates how over the top these people are. Having lived in Cowlumbus for 14 years I can attest to their obession with the buckeyes being religious in its passion and fervor. 

Next comes the spin.

There is no way they can simply wish Dodson (or Strobel) well and move on. They will have to rationalize why kids, whose virtues they previously extolled, became back stabbing traitors to buckeye nation overnight. These poor kids will have their good names dragged through the mud. Their houses will be egged. Their cars will be keyed. They will catch crap at school and be booed when they retake the field this fall. I have seen it all before... smh... it is bizarre and it is sad, but it is the reality of "buckeye nation"

 

 

I don't like the whole retro uni movement

I don't like the whole retro uni movement . Maybe that is why I don't have a specific problem with this design for Michigan's. 

It has Dave Brandon written all over it.

It's different and therefore will get people talking about "the brand".

It's controversial and therefore will get people talking about "the brand".

It will sell and might sell surprisingly well with the publicity it will generate. Probably sell better after  a Michigan win. My hunch is the players  and younger kids will LOVE it.

That said, the only sport that should entertain retro uniforms in baseball. Some of those Pirates / A's uniforms from teh 70's and 80's were really cool. The Red Sox white unis they wore recently with white caps and solid red socks up to the knees were cool.

God forbid anyone ever attempts to bring back the short shorts with long white socks look of 1970's basketball.

 

Just wondering....

Wonder about the possibility of a deep pocketed booster paying Pryor, say $100,000.00, to skip his senior season? He cannot be compelled to speak with the NCAA investigators now that he is no longer in school.

I am not saying this has happened.

 

 

Had offers from several Big 10 schools

http://www.limaohio.com/articles/lansing-6648-limavarsity-lcc-mich.html

He held a workout

He held a workout in May. Coaches from several colleges, including Michigan, were in attendance. I would have taken O'Connor over the other area product Maty Mauk in a heartbeat. 

Is this a sleep depriving loss for Michigan?

Hardly.

I reserve the right to re-evaluate that 3-4 years down the road .

Wish him good luck, except when playing Michigan.

Time to move on.

You snooze...

You snooze, you might well lose your spot in this class the way Hoke & company are recruiting.

What's your point?

What's your point.....smh ..... that OSU's f***up was greater than ours on some morality scale?

Not where I thought this was going

I figured you were going to speculate about Dantonio's history with Ohio State and if what is going on in the buckeye state was happening when he was there might it might be going on at MSU now.

I'm not sure the impact on recruiting short term. I mean, there will be some for sure, but I think long term the impact could be significant.  If the NCAA were to slap OSU with sanctions similar to what USC got - specificially a recduction and limitation of scholarships it could open Ohio up to a lot of programs. The state is already heavily recruited but even more top kids could leave for places like Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame not to mention other Big 10 schools, WVU. The real danger is SEC schools getting a foothold and siphoning off top tier talent out of Ohio. That would not only hurt the buckeyes but Michigan as well not to mention the Big 10 in general.

 

 

He was given a choice

He was given a choice, resign on his own or be fired.

buddhafrog sums it up well

That was a good post.  Short and to the point. And ohhhh sooooo sweeeet!

I am biased here

O'Connor is the guy I want to see in Maize and Blue.

What might help him is that he is a helluva kicker besides being an outstanding QB

Good post.

I basically agree.

However, I do feel that RR remains a part of the Michigan program and will forever.

It is painfully obvious that some will continue to wistfully dwell on the promise they saw during the RR era and truth be know, that's okay.

The focus does need to shift to the current coaching staff and the future of the program. That transition has begun, but there isn't an on / off switch that can flipped. Grieiving is a process that must be allowed to run its course.

A good season this fall would help. A great season would be even more helpful in helping people move on. But RR should not be forgotten, imo.

Always like Kiper

Always liked Kiper and found McShay to be an annoying foil at best.

I think McShay has picked up his game and now offers an informed counter opinion to Kiper - the two of them together "works" now.

Mock drafts are fun. The key is to not take them too seriously. The best anyone can do is make an educated guess the overwhelming majority of the time. The best prognasticators might get the top 3-5 selections correct any given year.

 

I see you are in agreement

I see you are in agreement with RR's attitude on this.  I respect that. Don't agree with it, but are entitled to your opinion.

Just being realistic.

1) Hoke wants to play "man ball" or power football and this roster has been built for the spread.

2) Depth along both lines is very thin. A significant injury or two in either of these units, but especially the DL, would be disasterous. And unfortunately injuries are common in football.

3) We were 7-6 last season and our best win was probably over UConn. Looking at the 2011 schedule I believe we should win 7 with a couple of games being toss ups and probably 3 losses minimum. I would take 8-4 going into the bowl game. A good season, but not a great one.

 

 

 

You raise a good point

I for one am not epecting a great season from Michigan football in 2011.

There exists a belief that had Michigan fielded even a medicore defense to go with last season's offense that the team might have contended. Now that Mattison is back and a defensive minded head coach is in place there seems to be an expectation that Michigan is back.

Ha!

What we saw in the spring game was very much a work in progress. I anticipate a winning season next fall but not a great season. This team will continue to struggle until the roster is rebuilt.

BTW, rebuilding the roster is the primary reason I was skeptical of the RR hire and yet pulled so hard for him to succeed. For if RR washed out, I knew it would mean another roster makeover and perpetuate the "rebuilding" of the program.

Hoke has a 6 year contract and I fully epect it to take at least 3 years to return to consistently contending for Big 10 and national honors.

 

I believe you are missing a point

Playing devils advocate with your argument:

If RR had come in and only lost 5 games in his first three seasons he would not have felt so threatened by what the former players represent.

I believe RR felt tremendous pressure to live up to Michigan. He came in confident of his methodology and went about molding the program into his vision for it. That was to be expected and was for the most part accepted at first.

RR was also naive and overconfidence, some might say arrogance, can have that impact.

Most, including former players, recognized that change was needed in Michigan football. It is important to remember the change most were advocating -> Les Miles, Urban Meyer, Mike DeBord and even Brady Hoke. What BM gave us was drastic change.

RR was doomed from the moment he was hired in some regards. Being the one to usher in such drastic change he was never, and I do mean never, going to be fully accepted at Michigan. Had RR and the spread enjoyed a bit more early success, had RR been able to field even a mediocre defense, the result would have been positive change in the sense that his successor could have been of his mold. That RR failed and did so on such a grand level gave Dave Brandon no choice but to move the program back towards where it was before.

Will the spread ever make it's way back to Michigan? Only if Hoke fails on the same level as RR failed will there be a chance for that to happen.

But leave no doubt, RR did not fail because of the spread offense. RR did not fail because of not being able to establish a healthy relationship with former players - he would have overcome that with winning seasons. RR failed because he fielded the worst defensive teams in 130+ years of Michigan football. The one thing he never embraced is one of the two things that have permeated Michigan since Bo arrived - Defense Wins Championships.

The other thing, of course, is The TEAM, the TEAM, the TEAM.  RR failed here too. This is really where the former players enter the picture. You might need to have been closely associated with the program to fully appreciate what I am about to write - once a member of The TEAM, always a member of The TEAM. 

Several former players

Several former players I know have stated they felt the previous staff was ambivalent towards them. That RR and his staff tolerated them but never embraced them or what they consider Michigan to be. More than one stated (and I paraphrase) that they were made to feel passe by RR and his staff.

It is not the "break from traditions" that was RR's mistake. No, it was the loss of continuity that permeated the program with each passing day of RR's tenure. RR's decision-making in this regard isolated his program from what is the very strength of the Michigan program.

Hoke has worked hard to bring the boys back to town and not only that, he wants to integrate them into the program. He has embraced the former players in a manner RR was not interested in doing. These recruits talk about the current Michigan players and how they are genuine, humble and sincere. Pay attention because some of them also talk about seeing the former players and how they act the same way.

Continuity. Tradtion, Family. These are the things resonating from Hoke's program and coaching staff. Not just Hoke, Mattison and Mallory,but the entire coaching staff. This is what is being embraced by the former players.

Now, you should not interpret my comments as being anti-RR. While I do feel RR made a poor decision in not educating himself about Michigan and embracing its rich and storied history on a level he might of I also feel Michigan never embraced RR as it might have. The truth is RR is a good football coach, a good man, but a terrible fit at Michigan.

If blame must be assigned for RR's failure it needs to be laid at the feet of Bill Martin (and MSC) for hiring him and placing in him an untenable position. Bill Martin should have known better and might well have. To his credit, I believe BM recognized and became caught up in the growing rift within Michigan that swirled about Lloyd Carrs management of the program, but instead of acting decisively as a leader should he allowed that coaching search to turn into a fiasco leading to the cop out hire of RR. And, yes, that is exactly what it was.

However, what needs to be addressed and promoted and even revelled in is this - Michigan is being reunited under Hoke (and Brandon's) leadership. There is a positivity about the program that has been absent since the latter part of the Carr era. The energy is coming back into the program and that bodes well for all of us.

 

 

 

Hour;y projected forecast.

Went to weather.cpm and looked at the hourly forecast for tomorrow. At game time they were predicting 30% chance.

Waiting on weather report

We will probably wait until late tonight or early morning to judge what the weather will be. Right now the game time forecast is 30% chance of rain. That's not too bad, but I still don't care to sit out in the rain when I can watch it live on the BTN.

One of my favorite Wolverines.

May Peace be with you and your loved ones Vada.

Exactly

It is the curse of the so-called fab five. It's like they cannot help themselves.

Very poor timing

Driving while under the influence is simply unacceptable. I lost a niece to a drunk driver - the guy was doing over 80 mph on an exit ramp and rear ended her stopped car. Beyond making an extremely poor decision his timing was poor as well. Call out Duke / Grant Hill & co. and get yourself arrested for DUI. Geesh.... just get a frigging clue.

 

That was a very good Michigan

That was a very good Michigan team. Wayman Britt, Ricky Green, Phil Hubbard.  They were unfortunate in having to go against that Indiana team that probably would have been undefeated for two consecutive years had Scotty May not broken his wrist.  Good times. Fond memories. 

Greg Robinson was in the wrong place at the wrong time

Good man. 

Good coach.

Good opportunity at Michigan gone horribly wrong thanks to RR meddling.

The defense will improve dramatically in 2011 and that will not be an indictment of Gerg so much as confirmation that no one bought into the flipping 3-3-5 to begin with. Mattisons's defense will be better because everyone - coaches and players alike - buy into it, believe in it and have confidence in it.

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My hunch is that The Vest

My hunch is that The Vest wants to coach through next season and then will resign before the NCAA finalizes its report and sanctions.

I got 10 in one of those

I got 10 in one of those sweet center sections. The email popped as a refresh and I jumped on it immediately. Lucky day I guess.

Which is exactly why

Which is exactly why they have zero championships to show for their time at Michigan. They never won anything. Their greatest "accomplishments" have little to do with actual basketball.

There is a difference

There is a difference between infamous and famous.

Seriously

Seriously,  the so-called fab fibe accomplished little other than to generate controversy and excitement that increased interest and revenue for a time. 

It is important to remember that the 1989 team won a national title. That should be the standard for Michigan basketball.

Instead, the "fab five" continue to create controversy and self-promote when their lasting legacy is having brought the Michigan basketball program to its knees.

A couple of points to be made, I know the basketball program was dirty long before the fab five arrived on campus. Prior athletes did not draw attention to themselves and were generally "smarter" than the fab five in how the went about their business. i also want to give Jalen Rose, juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson credit for owning up to much of their responsibility both good and bad. I believe they understand what it is to be Michigan men. Chris Webber, not so much - if he did, he would apologize for his actions. No, with Webber everything remains about Chris Webber first and foremost, not unlike the tat five selling off their rings and gold pants. Webber just doesn't understand.

Coach K?  Hell Jalen called him and his program out. Once he had a chance to watch the documentary after the tourney, what response did you anticipate he would have? The comments made in the documentary deserved a response and Coach K's were not out of line.

The face of Michigan basketball - Glen Rice, Marc Hughes, Terry Mills, Loy Vaught, Mike Griffen, Rumeal Robinson, et al. And right behind them Phil Hubbard, Ricky Green, Rudy T, Campy and Cazzie.  The fab five need to fade away. Just keep their mouths shut and go quietly about the business of restoring their image, let their actions speak for them.

 

One of mine is cinnamon colored.

Will try to post a picture of her.

OT

Is that a cinnamon colored husky?

Yes and now that the Cavs are

Yes and now that the Cavs are healthy again Manny has been inactive for recent games.

SIAP

Before Mr. Morris decides to try the NBA Draft he might wish to consult with Tito and Al Horford, Tim Hardaway and Joe Dumars. He has access to some people that could give him a realistic view of his chances at this point in time. Especially Tim Hardaway and Joe Dumars seeing how they played his position in the league. smh.

It is difficult to compare

It is difficult to compare O'Connor and Mauk head to head. Your obsevations on O'Connor are spot on. Besides being a fairly polished high school pro-style QB he is tough, humble, a leader and a great kid overall.  What people see in Mauk, besides the gaudy statistics, is his athleticism and play making ability. From a personality perspective Mauk is a complete opposite of O'Connor with Maty possessing a swagger and outward confidence that can be misinterpreted in a negative sense by some opponents and casual observers. I think the bottom line with both of these guys is that they play in solid successful programs and are "winners".

I stopped reading

Kenton's out of conference opponent was a state finalist.

The best arguement to bolster your position you missed entirely - Max Morrison, a DI signee, made a ton of plays as a receiver that helped make Mauk look good.

.

Yes, Maty's father is the

Yes, Maty's father is the head coach.

Yes, 2 point conversions and on-side kicks are a regular occurance.

Do they run up the score?  I would say, no. They have a style they play and they play it for 4 quarters. I have seen them back off on the on-side kicks when they game is in hand. I have seen them attempt to kick PAT's as well.

Mauk and O'Connor

I coach (not football) at O'Connors school and my sons play(ed) at a league rival of Mauk's Kenton teams so I perhaps have unique insight into these two players.

Mauk has gaudy numbers in part becase the only ruuning plays the Wildcats have are a QB draw and when Maty scrambles. They also utilized the on-side kick probably 90% of the time. Maty is mobile and very strong physically at this point. His brother worked with him this past season and I don't think it is coincidence that Maty really made some strides as a QB. This kid just makes plays. A concern is that Mauk is never under center and has not been his entire high school career. Scored his 1000th career point in basketball this weekend. A plus for Michigan is having former Wolverine TJ Osbun on staff at Kenton.

O'Connor already plays in a pro-style offense. He is a big kid with very good arm strength. A great kid with a great attitude and work ethic. Also a very good basketball player he helped his team to a state title last spring. He's a leader.His measurements are legit and at this point might be a bit understated.

Both kids have had their football teams in the state playoffs and made deep runs. Both are legit D1 prospects and would be great gets for Michigan. Because they play in drastically different systems it would not be fair to compare them to one another.

The Western Buckeye Leaque has been good to Michigan

Kenton plays in the Western Buckeye League and over the years the WBL has been very good to Michigan. Just off the top of my head...

Jim Young, Larry Smith and Mark Smith all got their start coaching in the WBL before eventually ending up at Michigan.

Mike and Mark Hammerstein, TJ Osbun, Mike Elston, Dennis Richardson, Jerry Burgei, Troy Neinberg, BJ Dickey all came out of schools in the WBL and played at Michigan. I am sure there are a few more.