Recent Comments

instead of "exits." Oh well.

Good luck to them both.

Magnus, your evaluation is based 100% on his highlight reel(s)?

I ask because I assume the coaches focus more on camp performances, which allow them to see how the player performs against better competition, and to evaluate things like coachability, which can't be determined until you've actually worked with the player.

That's not to say that Magnus's evaluation isn't legitimate, or appreciated, just that it's based on a very particular data set.

and I think that you're right about Toronto and Montreal being pretty good destinations. Two things: the SkyDome (now called the Rogers Centre) is a crap stadium, in my experience. Also, although Toronto and Montreal are nice cities I'm not sure that most people think of them as attractive destinations. I didn't until I had been to them.

and downvoting something, which is purely negative. I think that was mGrowOld's point.

Kill it.

behind the SEC and the Florida schools in the ACC, at least according to ESPN. Notice that we're the only B1G school with more than one ESPN 150 recruit; below are all the schools with more than 1.

Caldwell said Robinson will be used at RB, slot WR and KR. #jaguars

— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) April 27, 2013

O'Halloran is a Jags beat writer for the Florida Times-Union; Caldwell is the Jags' general manager. Another interesting nugget:

Caldwell said "lack of speed" on roster jumped out at them when they got here.

— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) April 27, 2013

EDIT:

Caldwell -- using Robinson as Wildcat QB a "possibility." #jaguars

— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) April 27, 2013

The Jets drafted Campbell with the intention of using him at guard.

— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) April 27, 2013

and in gif form:

@aceanbender GO AWAY I WANT MORE COMMITS

— Austin Roberts (@Lofter4) April 25, 2013

@aceanbender never come back, don't ever come back.

— David S. (@youtoepea) April 25, 2013

AND

@aceanbender I want you to come back in Moe Ways than one ...

— Mike Wilson (@SpartansOrDie) April 25, 2013

all top-150 on ESPN. Tremendous.

She was a very effective president. (Time magazine certainly thinks so). The Michigan Difference, which was mostly under her tenure as president, raised $3.2 billion (more than its $2.5 billion goal). But she can't serve forever, either:

Appointed in 2002, Coleman is the fourth-longest-serving president in U-M's history. James B. Angell served 38 years, followed by Alexander G. Ruthven at 22 and Harlan H. Hatcher at 16.

A quick search on Rivals' database yields the following states of origin for Boise State commits. Almost half of them are from California. More than half are from California + Texas. Only 15% are from Idaho.

Ann Arbor (MI) Gabriel Richard WR Blaise Stearns looks better than most walk-on wideouts - youtube.com/watch?v=Mal1Wr…

— TouchTheBanner (@TouchTheBanner) April 16, 2013

by calling teachers "minions in an overpopulated academic department." Look, university professors work incredibly hard to give students a valuable education. Calling them minions is hitting below the belt.

I love college football and it brings me a lot of joy but I'd rather have a degree from a good university with a bad football team than one from a football factory that doesn't have good academics. The beauty of Michigan is that we can have both.

Total slop.

As an American living in Canada I hear a lot of stupid anti-American comments. Just let it slide. Fools will be fools.

Plus, I don't think Michael Scarn meant anything by it. Just a friendly jab.

when there is an injury, I think.

I agree that a straight ejection is problematic (as opposed, say, to giving a player a warning before ejecting him if he repeats the violation). I would guess that the NCAA's logic is that although the rule will result in some questionable calls and suboptimal results in important (and not-so-important) games, the rule will change the culture of the game in the long run. (To be clear: I'm not saying that I approve of this logic).

Also: “Jerseys must have clearly visible, permanent Arabic numerals measuring at least 8 and 10 inches in height front and back, respectively, and be of one solid color that itself is clearly in distinct contrast with the color of the jersey, irrespective of any border around the number.”

Would this have affected our Outback bowl unis, I wonder? That would be OK with me.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/0ap2000000144820/Robinson-laces-up...

Previously, the position of the player at the snap changed whether or not the player could block below the waist legally.

...Is what the NCAA article (link) says.

Beginning in the 2011 season, these were the rules:

Blocking below the waist is illegal except on scrimmage plays in the following instances:

• Wide receivers more than seven yards from the center at the snap of the ball can block below the waist only against a player facing him or toward the nearest sideline.

• Running backs/receivers in the backfield and outside the tackle box (the area five yards on either side of the center) or players in motion can block below the waist only on players facing them or toward the nearest sideline.

Players on the line of scrimmage within seven yards of the center are still allowed to block below the waist anywhere on the field.

Lily livered ref at Celtic. Juventus defensive wrestling should have resulted in at least one penalty. Apply the laws ref. stain on game

This is a pretty accurate read on what I saw and heard in ND:

In North Dakota, people went to the polls on June 12 to vote whether to retire the “Fighting Sioux” mascot. However that vote turns out, it may be a temporary decision. A group called the Committee for Understanding and Respect has been circulating petitions for a second referendum that would change the state constitution to declare the University of North Dakota (UND) forever be known as the Fighting Sioux. In years past, supporters of this mascot have produced t-shirts with what appears to be an Indian having sex with a buffalo. Nothing helps make your point like a little sexual marginalization.

All of this requires a bit of a history lesson.In the year 2000, the board of regents at UND voted to retire the offensive mascot. In stepped their biggest alumnus, financially speaking, Ralph Englestad. Mr. Englestad, who had just donated 35 million dollars to build a new hockey arena, immediately fired off a letter to the University president stating he’d pull all funding from the school forever. In short order, the school reversed its stand on the mascot. Money talks, and sometimes it apparently screams and hollers. 

Who is, or was Ralph Englestad you ask? (He passed away in 2002) He was a Las Vegas casino owner who collected German, and specifically Hitler memorabilia. He was fond of throwing Adolph Hitler birthday parties. He had a painting of himself in a Gestapo uniform with “Love, Adolph” written in the corner. Yes, this drips with gargantuan amounts of pure unadulterated irony. And yet, it does follow a pattern if you care to connect the dots.

as Dave Brandon put it in his interview at 11 Warriors:

If we were to go to 10 conference games, which some people are suggesting with 14 teams and, certainly, there is merit to that, you avoid the five and four imbalance.

But now you’ve only got the flexibility of scheduling two non-conference games and if you want to play seven home games both of them have to be at home. When you do that, you really put us in a position where we really can’t go on the road to play a big BCS opponent because they aren’t going to schedule you on a one-and-done. They’re going to want to play a home-and-home.

So the consequences of going to 10, when overlaid with the fact that you have to play seven home games, really puts Gene and me in a position where we won’t be traveling to play non-conference away games. I, personally, am concerned about that. Part of what our fans and college football fans want to see are these great intersectional rivalries that can develop or just good matchups.

That's some time from now!

Since you beat me to the punch, Leaders and Best, allow me to include some info I had on my post (which mods should feel free to delete):

A 2013 WR prospect, he's unranked to Rivals and 247, a 2* to Scout.

Without further attrition, we have 18 spots for next year (per TomVH). Better to get a solid player in 2014.

That's what my father (who's a mathematician) always says.

Where'd you go, man? Glad you're back.

Notre Dame is similar to Michigan in terms of academics and football profile but has had especially bad coaching and coaching transitions lately. Ohio, perhaps? They have not had anything equivalent to the RR transition, and you might imagine that there are fewer academic casualties there.

In any case, one of the mods decided to lock down the thread late on a Saturday night, and so what? We found out the truth the next day. Is this really something to get upset about?

RT @JerryHinnen: C'mon, they have to "In the Weight Room" and "In the Community"

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061212aaa.html

"The success and acceptance of the Desmond Howard 'Legend' recognition led to conversations with the family members who had retired jerseys, several of whom were never recognized or celebrated in the appropriate manner," said Brandon. "The Ford, Kramer and Oosterbaan families want to see their family member honored in this way. We have yet to have any discussions with the Wistert or Harmon families. This program is about tradition and legacy and this is a unique way to recognize these great Wolverines." (emphasis mine)

But the quote also makes it seem likely that discussions with the Harmon family would occur.

That would be wild.

many more bizarre interviews with Kristi Malzahn:

http://deadspin.com/5868492/heres-the-bizarre-kristi-malzahn-interview-s...

(Embed doesn't seem to work.)

RT @younghopkins I love the U. of Michigan & everything it means to be a Michigan Man. I look forward to getting my degree.

Does this mean that he's left the team but not the University?

Corrected, and I agree that Skip Holtz's firing is not surprising (so I took it off the thread title)

LA Times reporter named TJ Simers accused Mora of it at a press conference in a way that was very unprofessional (link to story). Here is the video:

I'd guess you don't. Let's let the coaches -- who know him and his situation a lot better than any of us -- decide how honest or dishonest he is and was and what decision is appropriate. 

Language!

but it's not his fault (I presume) that all of his quarterbacks tore their ACLs this year. Maryland's dealt with unbelievable injury issues this year. Already in August, Testudo Times was saying that Maryland had angered the football gods...

From CBS:

O'Brien compiled a 40-35 record in his six seasons as coach with a 22-26 mark in ACC play. This year, the Wolfpack finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in conference games. They placed third in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State and Clemson.

O'Brien was quick to point out that the last three seasons of NC State football were among the winningest in program history, but the swift move from athletic director Debbie Yow suggests the Wolfpack want to be competing for ACC championships.

That seems unlikely, unless the ACC is gutted further...

but thanks. Like I said, it had more to do with emotional investment. I still had time for other leisure activities. And like I said, I now regret it. I now spend a lot more time to go to games every year.

I know, shame on me. I regret it now. (On the other hand, it paid off career-wise).

EDIT: Link

evidently. Also, the ND ship had not yet sailed. (I bring this up because many reports emphasize that the B1G got ancy when ND affiliated itself with the ACC in all sports but football, sort of).

and that seems to be a dealbreaker... so far. UVA would make sense based on how expansion has gone thus far.

it sounds like he was answering a question about whether he was an NFL prospect, and he is quoted as responding, "I couldn't care less. That's what you guys are paid to write about and talk about." I presume he then said, "I'm paid to win games."

So my interpretation is that he mistakenly used the same construction to contrast his role with that of reporters. It's an understandable mistake. Still funny, though, especially his attempt to recover from the gaffe.

concerned this video. His response?

•  "I think each and every week you evaluate people on their performance."
•  "The people that give us the consistency in their performance, that's who's going to be on the field."

Va Tech bloggers do not seem impressed with Beamer's responses.

after the late hit was called on Heitzman (I think), which upset me, so I left the live blog. This is not a complaint against the moderators, who do a great job, so there must be a lot of garbage that doesn't get through them. That upsets me even more, though.

and was under the radar as a recruit.

One of the best live bands I've ever seen -- I saw them in Austin, TX in 2000.

I never liked Mars Volta; Sparta was OK.

The remainder of Michigan State's season is a choice between not going to a bowl game and helping Michigan make the Rose Bowl.

Beautiful.

http://deadspin.com/5953194/the-nfl-was-completely-fine-with-smash+for+cash-bounty-programs-16-years-ago

The beaver thing starts about 3 minutes in.

Bellomy did the right thing by throwing it long. But he did it because it was a free play.

Among other things, I'd assume that if the injury were bad, we'd have seen Marvin Robinson much earlier in the Illinois game.

Michigan 45, Illinois 3

and Fitz runs for 153 yards.

let me google that for you: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=archie+collins

The first link: http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/collins_archie00.html

"A Detroit native, Collins spent four years as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Southeastern High School (2006-09)" where Hankins went to high school.

See: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/archie-collins-has-done-it-again

(1/2) Rewatching some Baylor/WVU. WVU's CB coaching awful. BU's 3Q TD to Williams, Jenkins, decent corner, 10yd cushion, backpedals 6 times

(2/2), takes a false step inside, then turns 180 around and is in trail position on Williams (a 1st rounder). Just odd footwork coaching.

WVU really thin at CB and BU a nightmare matchup in that regard, but IMHO very poor coaching of CBs was main (not only) culprit of bad D

Maybe WVU will always be cursed with having bad DB coaching...

Good stuff from @mgoblog (http://mgoblog.com/content/picture-pages-nd-shift-belly-defeat …); outside zone to RB would've been great on 1st play. On 2nd, RB must ignore PA fake & block

Strike while the iron is hot!

to put their players in a position to succeed. Hoke was right when he said in the postgame conference that the players and the coaches have to do a better job. Perhaps Brian should have written "Blaming it entirely (or primarily) on execution is horseshit."

http://smartfootball.com/defending-spread/tcus-inverted-veer-option

In the typical veer play from a spread set, the line blocks down and double-teams the defensive linemen on up to the linebackers. They leave the defensive end unblocked (except when they run midline veer, in which case it is a defensive tackle) and read that man. If he steps down for the runningback, the QB just gives the ball and steps around him. It is just the old first-read of the triple option adapted for spread sets.

In the inverted veer:

The runningback runs a sweep or outside zone action laterally. If the defensive end takes him, then the quarterback shoots up inside the defensive end. If the defensive end sits for the QB, the runner should be able to hit the corner. Remember, the defensive end is often the hardest guy to block, and especially so when you want to “reach” him to seal the corner.

I just saw someone link to it on Twitter and thought that people would want to see it (assuming that there are people here who don't follow these things).

I guess it's the guys at www.maizeandbluenews.com? It's on their YouTube feed.

the President does:

when he was 33 years old, playing a position that values the kind of athleticism that tends to fade after your 20s. I really think you could make an argument that Woodson is one of the best defensive players of all time.

-- I think. (I'm no expert).

Per the NCAA rules committee:

Blocking Zone

ARTICLE 6. a. The blocking zone is a rectangle centered on the snapper and extending five yards laterally and three yards longitudinally in each direction.

b.  The blocking zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone.

RATIONALE:  Defines the area where players are allowed to clip (9-1-2-d) and block in the back (9-3-3-c).  No change from the current rule.

 

EDIT: Here is the rule from the NCAA rulebook (section 3, article 3, b 2 c 1):

1. Offensive players who are on the line of scrimmage at the snap within the blocking zone (Rule 2-3-6) may legally block in the back in the blocking zone, subject to the following restrictions:

 

(a) A player on the line of scrimmage within this blocking zone may not leave the zone and return and legally block in the back.

 

(b) The blocking zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone (Rule 2-3-6).

The video following the "What was Fitz supposed to do?" is the Funchess jump ball TD.

Hope said the initial MRI reading revealed “there was some damage to the ACL, a potential tear if you will, but still not 100 percent sure of the final evaluation of it."

Marve, a sixth-year senior, has suffered two ACL injuries to the same knee, most recently in 2010.

“Anytime you’ve had a couple of ACL surgeries, your MRI can be a little muddy to read anyway,” Hope said. “The extent of it we’re not exactly sure yet. Regardless of the extent of the injury, he would have a chance to come back and play this season. We have our fingers crossed it’s not as serious as it has been in the past and he can still come back and play this season.”

Hope said he saw Marve earlier Monday and “he was walking OK.”

Here's the link

It would help if they could block some.

Also, Nebraska clearly has a problem tackling Johnathan Franklin. They bounce off him like defensive players in Tecmo Bowl. Maybe Franklin is in "excellent."

and seem not to understand the basics of what is happening. (Gus Johnson and Charles Davis). For example, Nebraska ran a triple option on 3rd and short, and Martinez gave to the FB when he should have kept. Charles Davis started going on and on about how it's not good to give the ball to the FB on short yardage because he can't get enough momentum... as if the play was designed to go to the FB instead of being an option.

with Barry Sanders and Cory Schlesinger. They'd have had to draft or pick up like 5 option QBs from college, but he was convinced it would have been awesome.

but not to play in the B1G championship game (or any postseason game).

Alabama was a very good football team, but Alabama did not have the success they had solely because they were bigger, faster, or stronger. They had it because we didn’t play technique and we didn’t tackle.

As a coach I’ll be dead honest with you. [Air Force] is an offense that put 500 yards rushing -- I don’t care who you’re playing, getting 500 yards is a lot of yards. Playing a wishbone first of all makes you be unbelievably sound in technique and assignment. If you slip up one time it can be a big play. So that’s a concern.

You know that they're itching to say "Leviticus Payne".

He was 1st team Big East last year. According to Scout we offered him.

but Cullen Christian has been in there.

especially Brian.

#thisisjustridiculous

As reported here: http://www.gazette.com/sports/players-142701-air-five.html

Brian, like the rest of us, is doing his best to understand the plays and why they might not have worked. None of us claims to be authorities. (Actually, those who do make some kind of claim, like Magnus, are sometimes mocked and dismissed, unfairly, I think).

So what else should we do? Blindly believe in the perfection of Borges so long as he is our OC?

I'm interested in football, and how it works. It's why I read Smart Football and MGoBlog and BWS. If you don't agree with Brian or the two Chrises, that's fine, but I don't think it's appropriate to mock them for making an effort to appreciate and understand the complexity of the game.

But I don't see much of substance in this post. I mean, isn't Brian entitled to think (if he even does) that a run-first spread (whether it's RR's or Chip Kelly's) is the tactically best? And isn't he entitled to think that it is the best with respect to Denard's skill set? You obviously disagree but I don't see you advancing any compelling argument. In fact, I see the opposite: you assert what you need to prove, namely that

the biased thought process leads to unfair or incorrect assumptions.

I didn't think we had a chance in this game but it still hurts to watch the team get totally dominated and manhandled in every single possible way.

I guess different people just react differently... there are those for whom "Fever Pitch" (the book, not the movies) makes perfect sense, and those for whom it doesn't. But it surprises me that one side can't understand why the other side reacts the way that it does...

1. Brandon became AD in January 2010 (per Michigan Daily.)
2. Michigan-Alabama announced October 2010 (mgoblog), with rumors in August)

on 47 plays against UConn. Yes, that's 1.255 yards per play. Here's a link to the box score.

Tom Brady, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, and Scramble McScrambleson. Apparently 'ROLL TIDE' was the most common answer.

he recognized the screen, beat the block, and was held. He couldn't make the tackle, but that was in part because the offensive lineman was holding him.

(link)

... since he might miss the Michigan game.

but actually you can see that the text of the person in the red shirt behind Obama reads correctly ("1878"):

We could also play at Wesleyan College, which has the oldest continuously used football field in the US... and set up a double-header against Wesleyan College to avenge our 6-14 loss to them in 1883!

Space would be... limited. Capacity is 5000.

and for the complete rundown of AIRBHG's activities: http://www.hawkeyenation.com/forum/football/44730-airbhg-complete-saga.html

he couldn't understand the lukewarm expectations for Demens' senior year, and that based on his performance last year, we should be excited about Demens this coming year. (Not to start a Demens v. Harris comparison per se).

On the other hand, how well Demens can play this year is probably the most dependent on  how well the defensive line plays...

After I read Three and Out I wanted to buy Twin City socks but I couldn't figure out which specific ones the football team used. 

or should have been. The Freeh report (chapter 10) makes it clear that Penn State failing abysmally at maintaining oversight of the football program and compliance (with, e.g., the Clery Act).

Institutions have rules and regulations, and mechanisms to monitor and enforce them, in order to prevent executives and other power-brokers, no matter how honest and rule-abiding they may seem, from wrong-doing. Penn State allowed the rules and the mechanisms to lapse on the theory that Joe was honest and in control. So although I agree with you that in some respects this is unique to Joe Pa -- Penn State will obviously never trust any other coach in the same way now that this has happened -- I do think that it is a University problem. The leadership of the Athletic Department and the University decided to gamble on Joe Pa, and they lost.

The NCAA, it seems to me, is interested in punishing institutions. Hence sanctions are designed to punish the institution rather than individuals (see, e.g., USC). In that respect, punishing Penn St as an institution for institutional failings makes a lot of sense.