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Amen.

That is all.

I am disappointed but also looking forward to next season.

Dignity

23-8 for the good guys

You have to admit that was pretty brutal

I was watching the game without much feeling, but that play did result in a chuckle. After that I was all about the Dantonio melt down watch (though I prefer Kelly's melt downs—ND wins there too)

I only watched the first half

But State was nowhere close to equal to ND, much less outplaying them. If you're looking at game stats, garbage time yards should be backed out. TOP also doesn't say much if the opponent is constantly working with a short field and getting chunks of yards at a time. State's defense was pretty abysmal, especially compared to what they have fielded in the recent past.

And their offense was just that. The biggest surprise for me was LJ Scott. The one good run I saw him have ended with the fumble at the one-inch line. Bottling him up is key. Lewerke can keep plays alive but suffers from horrible decision making.

The only thing that will keep the game against State close will be the hope on State's part to salvage their season.

Agreed

The defense is elite and can win games on its own, but it will not be able to carry the team the whole season. Need the offense to more consistently move the ball and avoid turnovers if only to win tfield position. No matter how good this defense is, short fields and a lack of production from this offense will sink the season.

After watching a bit of both games

I don't see how MSU makes it a game against Iowa. The Hawkeye defense played incredibly well despite the offense not giving them much time to recuperate. MSU's d-line and linebackers couldn't do much against ND's run, so I'm expecting Iowa will see more success on offense. 

Wow, I'd forgotten how big a hot head Bobby was

Coached some great Indiana teams and put together a really astounding legacy, but man oh man did he have rage issues. I believe this was one of many chairs to mistakenly wander into his field of vision

Eating crow?

Does that constitute cannibalism?

Is it...

Cart... horse or horse... cart?

Actually need to play some ball before making a call like this

But…

Did you factor in the loss of life at the hands of the African diamond industry?

I don't get where the "over-rated" comes from

Just because you keep saying it, doesn't make it so. In what way is the defense over-rated this year? They are giving up an average of 10 pts a game, averaging south of 90 yds per game rushing including 168 to AF yesterday (which by the way is pretty much all AF does) and are averaging 7 pts a game on their own. 

Wish you had something else to say

Not just with the septuple post here, but your other posts elsewhere. Care to provide something more than a score and a baseless statement about the defense's performance to substantiate your prediction?

Perhaps he was referring to the number of plays?

Because the 12 play, 24 yard drive could ostensibly be considered a "long" drive, maybe? But then there's that "numerous" qualifier…

I agree, the defense was very good and especially so given the rarity of the scheme they went up against. I was concerned about their being too aggressive, but that did not play out. My only real complaint are the two ill-timed penalties that gave AF a new set of downs.

Can't really criticize UM dropping to eighth

But I do think USC and Penn State are over-rated. Looking forward to both of those teams taking a dive in the polls soon.

Some records...

I would prefer to see stand. With the red zones woes thus far Remy's mark is definitely in jeopardy. 

My first game too

I launched out of my seat when the pass went up, watched Desmond laid out for it, but couldn't see whether or not Desmond reeled it in. The roar that shook the Big House helped clue me in that it was a good thing. A very good thing.

BTW — we're getting old. 26 years!?! 

Hmmm…

I'm not so sure you're being sincere about the Debbie Downer bit. My sense is the defense did a remarkable job of maintaining discipline. Two big plays and minimal points to a scheme that's intended to punish teams that lose contain. A few less penalties would have made things even better. If I'm worrying about anything against Purdue, it's the offense's ability to complete drives—definitely not the defense. 

Amen…

It was ugly in a lot of ways, but at least it did not result in an epic fail. A bit of humility early on will hopefully maintain focus. It definitely provides a lot of fodder for the coaching staff.

Thank you

I mainly lurk here and rarely comment, but felt I needed to login to say thank you to Brian Seth and company. This is a big painful undertaking that will certainly encounter a hiccup or three. But it will be worth it. Thanks for all the hard work on top of keeping the blog content current.

Big get this early in the recruiting cycle

Hope he's an able recruiter. Lots of big targets this cycle and a little help from the lead recruits would certainly help. Go Blue!

Thankfully the weather here is Seattle

Has been wonderfully cooperative. Perpetually rainy, cold and dark. As much as I hate it I was hoping it would be a shitty weekend. #takeone4team

His 69th was on Friday

My fave radio station here in Seattle, KEXP (kexp.org) played a tribute to him in honor of his birthday and the new album. And are now playing another tribute to him this morning. Huge loss. RIP

Welcome Mr. Crawford!

Nice to get some west coast talent and hoping we get more soon. Go Blue!!

Um…

I assume you are trying to make some kind of point that's not completely based in ignorance, but it's not coming across and making you come off as a bit of an ass.

Agreed

And since it sounded familiar I looked back on past comments. Here's one I posted in 2013…
"Grammar corrections are not an issue for me. I do think there is a certain "standard" this site pride's itself on and is the reason I come back to it time and again. (Seriously, no matter how bad you may think some of the comments here may be, just head out to other sites and read through their comments… not pretty). The correction replies do become a problem though when they devolve into gamemanship. It's the gamemanship which seems to be the more characteristic form of replies on a lot of threads these days. Instead of adding to the dialouge, many responders (whether they are kings of the internetz or plebes) seem to be vying to one up one another in an attempt to prove wit and author the next meme. Sometimes it's hilarious and appropriate, but more often (or perhaps just more recently?) it's become tedious and way too predictable."

I know this does not match up specifically with what is being discussed here, but it did make me think about whether or not the alpha-element or perception of devolution isn't always there in some form. Perhaps it's just cyclical?

All while clapping…?
Too soon

All while clapping…?

Too soon Brady.

Thank you

Appreciate the thorough answer. Like so many things, despite all the preparation, practice and repetition it comes down to the mental game—toughness and confidence. Hopefully they can start the season by executing well to create some positivity and build from there. After last season I can not (do not want to) fathom a way that they could be anymore demoralized.

Thoughts on how the coaching switch…

…will affect player development? I know nothing about coaching, but am hopeful about Nussmeier's pared down scheme and the prospect of players more quickly gaining competency and confidence with it. Which seems consistent with your view of the bowl game. But do you have any thoughts or concerns about the affect coaching consistency may play on development this year—does a coaching change at Nussmeier's level (i.e. when Funk is still there) really affect player development beyond the scheme change?

It's a mythical beast…

Along the lines of a unicorn or chimera, but more fantastic thus rarer.

It's safe to come back?

The disappointing season coupled with comments going commando kept me in lurk mode for much of the year. Thank you Brian & Co

Grammar corrections are not an issue for me.

Grammar corrections are not an issue for me. I do think there is a certain "standard" this site pride's itself on and is the reason I come back to it time and again. (Seriously, no matter how bad you may think some of the comments here may be, just head out to other sites and read through their comments… not pretty). The correction replies do become a problem though when they devolve into gamemanship. It's the gamemanship which seems to be the more characteristic form of replies on a lot of threads these days. Instead of adding to the dialouge, many responders (whether they are kings of the internetz or plebes) seem to be vying to one up one another in an attempt to prove wit and author the next meme. Sometimes it's hilarious and appropriate, but more often (or perhaps just more recently?) it's become tedious and way too predictable.

Woo!! Happy JP day to us all!

Woo!,

Nice pickup for Hoke and UM sports

Certainly helps with my ennui today as I await to hear Trey's announcement. Welcome Drake! Go Blue!

Nope, not cheated

But after the '89 NC, the talent amassed in '91 seemed to bode well. I'm not saying my expectations at the time were realistic (and the sebsequent years have certainly underscored that), but there was no sense of entitlement just a healthy dose of youthful naivite. I certainly don't want any money back. If anything, I wished I had more at the time to take in more especially with how fleeting the moment ended up being.

Maybe you're right and I am sounding overly harsh

I am not stating that two consecutive trips to the Finals was in anyway a failure and really did not mean for this tangent down memory lane to detract from Trey and this year's team. It's really more a matter of how out of whack expectations for the Fab Five seemed to get (perhaps just in my circle?) after such a wildly successful freshman campaign. It's a product of early success and an incredibly talented group of players had many (again at least my friends and me, which seemed like everyone at the time) thinking a NC was more or less a given at some point over the following three years.

That said, comparatively this year's team has much more realistic expectations for me and the larger fan base. Maybe it's my age, but I've been sketptical about the youth of this year's team and have been pleasantly surprised by the great play of so many. Trey is the man and his potential departure after this season will leave a gaping hole, but we are also stacked with a much deeper, more balanced bench of team oriented players.

I love the idea of Trey taking his place among the Michigan greats, but I selfishly hope that he pulls a Lewan and surprises everyone with another season of brilliance.

Yeah I was (am) very aware

As I said above I was a freshman when they were. I was a freshman at Michigan and a huge fan. After the disappointment against Duke expectations for the subsequent years weren't about a better season record or making it back to the title game. Those were taken as givens. A title was expected. Losing to Duke again and falling short against UNC and Weber leaving after getting so close again, but not quite, was a huge disappointment to me and just about every single person I knew who cared. I am not saying they weren't good. They were. But they weren't good enough with the expectations set their freshman year.

Yeah, they were an amazing class

Too bad they couldn't live up to the sky high expectations at that time. I was a freshman the same year they were. Losing to Duke in the finals just stoked expectations for the following years, but the class started heading for the NBA before they could top their freshman season.

Weber wasn't around long enough

And had to share scoring with Rose and Howard while he was here. I was surprised that Rose wasn't on the list so I checked it out and he had 19.9ppg in '93-'94 the same year Howard cracked the list. So close

Yeah, I was just having a little fun

Put on my Coach Jackson glasses and thought it was amusing to think of Wheatley Jr possessing comparable speed as his dad and playing running back at his size. Pairing that with Norfleet in the backfield would be ridiculous in every way imaginable. One could run under the table and the other through it.

His dad was the first Michigan recruit I ever got excited about

Helps that I'm class of '95 and all sure. But Tyrone Wheatley was an absolute stud in HS and a terror in college. His son sounds similarly gifted, just faster and bigger… Fred Jackson must be doing cartwheels at the prospect of having a 6'6" 260 lb back who's fast than Bolt.

I think others have alread said as much, but I feel old. No matter, it would be wonderful (and a bit trippy) to see his son in a Michigan uniform. Go Blue!

If LSU is his dream school what are Michigan's chances?

Has he shown much interest to date? I know his name keeps popping up regarding targets for Michigan and as a target into which the coaches seem to be pouring  a lot of energy, but I have not seen anything attributed to Adoree' that leaves me all that hopeful. From what I have heard and in a comparison of measurables, between Adoree' and Peppers I think Michigan stands a better chance of landing Peppers (you provided Hoke waits a season to leave for the NFL)

This assumes LSA can run a 40

But based on the prodigious content in LSA's posts I'm thinking not much time spent on the track… congrats LSA. Hope you'll still find time to keep churning out your well considered posts.

Agreed, but his current size is pretty well suited to LB

If we're talking 6-2 and 220 to 240, he's the size of Ryan or Demens. I'm not familiar enough with his game to know if he has the speed and lateral movement to play LB at Michigan, but he has the size. The issue I see is if be packs on too much more weight and does not grow and lacks or loses his quickness. I'm thinking he's enough of an athlete to give it a go though and won't balloon without stretching some too.

It's especially not relevant when considering the rule changes

That recently went to committee. Two of the rules specifically deal with players' numbers—one requiring officials be notified of number changes occurring during a game and the other disallowing two players on the same team and at the same position from wearing the same number. To help those keeping score at home, this means its pretty common for more than one player to wear a particular number. So much so that the NCAA already has rules in place and is considering additional rules to govern the many instances where this already occurs. It's a non issue and that's the reason you are catching so much flak Decatur.

Actually, I'm not sure where Michigan is recruiting him

Rivals and Scout both seem to focus on his skills at RB. But if he wants to play both RB and ILB, I'd be fine with that too. Good size and speed already.

Damn!

Yes please. But I am a bit skeptical that Michigan can land him having just picked up Green. Not that I'd complain mind you.

You know

Michigan and Ohio once fought over the strip of land in which Toledo is situated. Ohio lost.

Whaaa!?

Working on a holiday?!?

Bloogers are caused by the southeast's humid environment

Bloogers are caused by the southeast's humid environment

Fuck!

YES!!