1. Yes, it is somewhat hypocritical, and I have no problem admitting it.
2. Football is a game that I have loved watching for decades. Now new research has shown the adverse health effects. We are in a transition period, where people are still new to the idea of CTE and the long term effects of concussions.
3. As a player I always knew there was a decent risk for broken bones, ligament damage, etc. and I was ok with that as a player (and fan). But as a parent, you think differently about it. You protect your kids more than you would protect yourself. I watch kids do things that I would not let my kids do. To each his own.
4. I watched Evel Knievel jump motorcyles as a kid. I watched cliff divers jumping in Acapulco. I liked it and enjoyed, but that doesn't mean I would want to do it myself, or witness my children do it!
"....noted how much better both Washington and Campbell have become each week during the season."
To me, this is the single greatest difference between RR and Hoke. Hoke's teams seem to improve week in and week out, throughout the season. We never saw that in RR coached teams. Fundamentally we improve and get better as the season goes along.
Look at Laquan Treadwell, he could come into Michigan and be an instant star. We desperatly need WRs, and we have a top notch QB coming in with the same class.
IMO, losing Worthy and Cousins is a huge loss for them.
Losing their best player on offense, and best player on defense is enough. But when those two positions are QB and DT, and they are multi-year starters, winning many awards, and your team leaders, that is too much to overcome.
Most of what they accomplished on offense went through Cousins, and most of what they did on defense was predicated on having an outstanding DT.
For 2012, It will be 8 (or more in the box) against the Spartan running game, and Tom Gholston will now be the focus of blocking (double teams) for the offenses.
But looking at the list, I count 210 (including the multiple winners, which I think should count). For instance, AC won it three different years, so I would count that as 3 AA winners.
I think Harbaugh did want the Michigan job. It's just that something else came along, in the form of a better offer that was conveinent to take (can stay in the same home, same city, with a new baby).
I just think it is fishy, that Pittman chose MSU over Bama, Auburn, etc.
I just seems like a head scratcher to me. And I dont mean anything chippy towards MSU, but the kid had top football powers making offers, and he goes with MSU?
I hated that he allowed Pryor to get some digs in: "I Never lost to Michigan", "Chris Webber" and them discussing the Michael Shaw bump coming down the tunnel.
But I loved Gruden calling him out. Especially on the throw he made against Michigan two years ago, when Pryor was about to run out of bounds, threw it to a WR near the end zone, the ball fell short, but another OSU WR came in and made the catch.
Gruden: "Did you mean to throw it to that guy?"
Pryor: "Absolutely"
Gruden: "You sure about that, it looked like you were throwing to the other guy in the end-zone?"
Pryor: "When I scramble, I always have my eyes down field"
Gruden: "You better not be lying to me"
-------
Later, Gruden says: "What is that? What are you doing there with your hands? Is that an O? That is a weak O man!"
------
Gruden: "Look at your ball control, you're hanging that ball way out there when you run, not protecting it. Oh look, and now you fumbled it into the end-zone, and who saves you? Dane Sanzenbacher. You got the MVP of that game, what did Sanzenbacher get? Nothin!"
What pissed me off, was the Freep or Det News did something similar to this with the incoming MSU freshmen a couple of years ago. And they asked, why did you choose MSU over UM, and most of them stated that UM treated them bad, wasn't any good, or some other cheap shot/bad mouthing.
When in reality, only a couple of them were actually offered by UM.
I just thought it was in poor taste, for a newspaper to print such nonsense. And any incoming freshmen is going to say his school was the better choice. None of them are going to say, well, I really wanted to go to UM, but they did not offer me a scholarship.
All of this is just rumor that I've picked up off of other message boards:
A national media outlet (now said to be Sports Illustrated) is going to come out with a new story about NCAA Violations involving Tressel and Ohio State.
Claims are that there were paid vacations to players, recruits and their families, Illegal housing (as stated above) and cars to recruits, and other recruiting violations (I'm assuming that means $$$).
There was also Bernie Smilovitz on Channel 4 Detroit last night: Saying there were rumors in Columbus that Ohio State has been negotiating a buyout with Tressel.
They're not going to miss out on anyone late in the process. If a kid "blows up" and is really that good, UM/Hoke will find room for him.
But I think it is amazing how this staff has been able to thouroughly dominate in-state recruiting, and they haven't even coached a down yet. I thought it would have taken a year or two for the Hoke regime to get the ball rolling. With everything going on down there, UM might just win the state of Ohio in recruiting as well.
But it is important to lay your foundation and ground work in state and and in the mid-west. Then hopefully, they will be able to build on it and move out from there.
I'm all in for RVB. He is spot on with his comments.
That is fine if these crybaby former players did not like RR, but you still support your team, and you still support the current players. They had no say in choosing RR, and RVB was one of the one's that was there/committed before RR.
But I have this question: Why is Braylon the only former Wolverine in on these discussions? What about AC, David Terrell, Alexander, MCMurtry, etc? They don't get a say in the #1?
IMO: It was Anthony Carter that started this modern era #1 phenom among the WRs at UM. He should get the final say.
But Camp reports, along with new coaches, new scheme, new attitude, better work ethic, different training, maturity, players praise, all factor into it.
It's also dubious to bag on the kid relentlessly, when we haven't even played the Spring game yet. Like I said in my original post, give the kid a chance.
Also: I never mentioned Heisman's, or compared anyone to Charles Woodson (or Michigan's best DT). In Campbell's case, I am just saying it is pessimestic and unfair to characterise him like that. I just don't think we'll see "Cambell sitting in Kovac's lap"
There is just as much reason to be optimistic, the scheme change, the coaching change, the fact that he will be working exclusively at one position, the fact that he'll be on the field with Mike Martin, and as Brian stated, he has three coaches giving him more attention than anyone else.
Plus this:"I think Will's main improvement has been in his work ethic and attitude toward the game," Van Bergen said. "He's really come into his own as far as putting in extra time and paying attention to smaller details. He takes criticism well and he just keeps improving every day.
"His day-to-day improvement is probably one of the best on the team."
Hoke was asked if Campbell is expected to make an impact this fall.
"I don't think there's any doubt Will can do that, and you see signs of that," Hoke said. "We have to get a little more consistency. I like how Will has come to work every day, I like how he's thirsting for some knowledge. When I say that, I'm just talking about the fundamentals of playing the position and being a tackle in there on defense. I like the progression. I think we've got a ways to go in all areas, but I think Will's done a good job."
Sorry, But I feel Brian is overly critical and too pessimistic on Will Campbell. Especially hearing some of the reports that we have on Big Will in camp.
But seriously, I'd meet him, just as I'd take advantage of the opportunity to meet Meyer, Saban, Carrol, or any high profile coach. It's just a cool thing to do.
Imagine a Michigan fan 40 years ago, that got to meet Woody Hayes. It would be a story he could tell his kids and grandkids.
Maybe one thing OSU should do, is stop issuing the gold pants.
How does OSU get away with this anyway? I know teams can earn rings for championships, but giving away jewelry for one game, just seems counter to the whole climate of the NCAA.
To my knowledge, Michigan does not give out jewelry for any games, just championships.
Hannibal: "I don't see anything new and damning in this story."
Hannibal, think about it. Tressel's excuse for not telling his bosses, was the safety of his players and that he did not want to blow a federal investigation.
Now we learn he did tell someone, just not his bosses. How is telling Pryor's booster, not going to jeapordize the investigation. How is telling your bosses, going to comprise it?
In Tressel's corner: he didn't lie to anyone's face and he didn't follow up his transgression with an otherwise minor violation that proved he'd learned nothing, then score another violation in March—ie, now.
under Page 3, item i., "Signed the NCAA certificate of compliance form on September 13, 2010, indicating he has reported any knowledge of possible violations to the instution."
I'd think (hope) that if Michigan was involved in any upcoming major violations story, it would have been already discovered during the NCAA investigation.
GERG was incompetent, but lets also remember that he was being forced to use a system that he had very little familiarity with. And lets also keep the perspective that the 2010 defense was young, inexperienced and decimated with lost players (both injuries and attrition).
One thing that always bugged me about RR, was that he hired both Shafer and GERG without ever coaching a game with them, or having any other professional expereince with them.
At least with Hoke, he knows his Assts. and Coordinators well, and they know him. At least all these guys have worked together and been on other staffs with each other.
Recent Comments
Couple of points....
1. Yes, it is somewhat hypocritical, and I have no problem admitting it.
2. Football is a game that I have loved watching for decades. Now new research has shown the adverse health effects. We are in a transition period, where people are still new to the idea of CTE and the long term effects of concussions.
3. As a player I always knew there was a decent risk for broken bones, ligament damage, etc. and I was ok with that as a player (and fan). But as a parent, you think differently about it. You protect your kids more than you would protect yourself. I watch kids do things that I would not let my kids do. To each his own.
4. I watched Evel Knievel jump motorcyles as a kid. I watched cliff divers jumping in Acapulco. I liked it and enjoyed, but that doesn't mean I would want to do it myself, or witness my children do it!
1997- Homecoming, it was the only game I went to that year, and I'm so glad I went!
"....noted how much better both Washington and Campbell have become each week during the season."
To me, this is the single greatest difference between RR and Hoke. Hoke's teams seem to improve week in and week out, throughout the season. We never saw that in RR coached teams. Fundamentally we improve and get better as the season goes along.
I think her hat is the wrong color maize.
Look at Laquan Treadwell, he could come into Michigan and be an instant star. We desperatly need WRs, and we have a top notch QB coming in with the same class.
Did Sports Illustrated inadvertantly flip UM and MSU in their rankings? Every other poll I've seen, has UM around 8-9-10 and MSU in the teens.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings
http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25
I really thought that 2007 was going to be the year for a run at the National Championship. Boy, was I wrong.
I thought this was going to be a thread about Sarah Palin.
Someone please delete this thread, or at least change the name!
Change it to "who to root for this weekend, or something like that, please!
IMO, losing Worthy and Cousins is a huge loss for them.
Losing their best player on offense, and best player on defense is enough. But when those two positions are QB and DT, and they are multi-year starters, winning many awards, and your team leaders, that is too much to overcome.
Most of what they accomplished on offense went through Cousins, and most of what they did on defense was predicated on having an outstanding DT.
For 2012, It will be 8 (or more in the box) against the Spartan running game, and Tom Gholston will now be the focus of blocking (double teams) for the offenses.
100% In favor of this! You'd think it would be better for the students as well, so that their season is only going on during one (standard) semester.
Minnesota did not cheat
Is he throwing that ball 60 yards from one knee?
ESPN stating that he was throwing 80 yards (upright)!
What happens when he gets a fat beer belly?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michigan_Wolverines_football_All-Americans
Lists 126 All Americans
But looking at the list, I count 210 (including the multiple winners, which I think should count). For instance, AC won it three different years, so I would count that as 3 AA winners.
I wish we could re-write the last three seasons of Michigan football.
But we are where we are, and I am perfectly happy with our coach. We have the right man for the job!
So now MSU has links to the two biggest College Football scandals of the summer: Ohio State and Miami.
Hmmm.
Sebastian the Ibis, such a tragic hero.
I think Harbaugh did want the Michigan job. It's just that something else came along, in the form of a better offer that was conveinent to take (can stay in the same home, same city, with a new baby).
Want to bet they are making this stuff up just to try to hold onto Dunn?
Want to bet they are making this stuff up just to try to hold onto Dunn?
Want to bet they are making this stuff up just to try to hold onto Dunn?
F'n EPIC!
Shane kind of looks like a young Jimmy Harbaugh
We make a recipe very close to this, but we cook them on the grill.
Just put the ingrediants in aluminum foil and cook. You can do them per person to make it easier.
I just think it is fishy, that Pittman chose MSU over Bama, Auburn, etc.
I just seems like a head scratcher to me. And I dont mean anything chippy towards MSU, but the kid had top football powers making offers, and he goes with MSU?
I hated that he allowed Pryor to get some digs in: "I Never lost to Michigan", "Chris Webber" and them discussing the Michael Shaw bump coming down the tunnel.
But I loved Gruden calling him out. Especially on the throw he made against Michigan two years ago, when Pryor was about to run out of bounds, threw it to a WR near the end zone, the ball fell short, but another OSU WR came in and made the catch.
Gruden: "Did you mean to throw it to that guy?"
Pryor: "Absolutely"
Gruden: "You sure about that, it looked like you were throwing to the other guy in the end-zone?"
Pryor: "When I scramble, I always have my eyes down field"
Gruden: "You better not be lying to me"
-------
Later, Gruden says: "What is that? What are you doing there with your hands? Is that an O? That is a weak O man!"
------
Gruden: "Look at your ball control, you're hanging that ball way out there when you run, not protecting it. Oh look, and now you fumbled it into the end-zone, and who saves you? Dane Sanzenbacher. You got the MVP of that game, what did Sanzenbacher get? Nothin!"
(Might be a little OT)
What pissed me off, was the Freep or Det News did something similar to this with the incoming MSU freshmen a couple of years ago. And they asked, why did you choose MSU over UM, and most of them stated that UM treated them bad, wasn't any good, or some other cheap shot/bad mouthing.
When in reality, only a couple of them were actually offered by UM.
I just thought it was in poor taste, for a newspaper to print such nonsense. And any incoming freshmen is going to say his school was the better choice. None of them are going to say, well, I really wanted to go to UM, but they did not offer me a scholarship.
I think Tressel has a Master's degree as well!
All kidding aside, Dantonio really looks aged in that photo.
I think last season really took it's toll on him, obviously.
Pick out clothes for the event?
For what, a funeral?
All of this is just rumor that I've picked up off of other message boards:
A national media outlet (now said to be Sports Illustrated) is going to come out with a new story about NCAA Violations involving Tressel and Ohio State.
Claims are that there were paid vacations to players, recruits and their families, Illegal housing (as stated above) and cars to recruits, and other recruiting violations (I'm assuming that means $$$).
There was also Bernie Smilovitz on Channel 4 Detroit last night: Saying there were rumors in Columbus that Ohio State has been negotiating a buyout with Tressel.
Caution, these are all just rumors for now.
True, great recruits now will probably not help much this fall. But lets also remember we have been playing a lot of freshman.
Also, recruiting is the life-blood of any program.
They're not going to miss out on anyone late in the process. If a kid "blows up" and is really that good, UM/Hoke will find room for him.
But I think it is amazing how this staff has been able to thouroughly dominate in-state recruiting, and they haven't even coached a down yet. I thought it would have taken a year or two for the Hoke regime to get the ball rolling. With everything going on down there, UM might just win the state of Ohio in recruiting as well.
But it is important to lay your foundation and ground work in state and and in the mid-west. Then hopefully, they will be able to build on it and move out from there.
IMHO, Wayne State is the #2 school in the state. They have a huge Medical research center, a complete Law school, great engineering, etc.
I'm all in for RVB. He is spot on with his comments.
That is fine if these crybaby former players did not like RR, but you still support your team, and you still support the current players. They had no say in choosing RR, and RVB was one of the one's that was there/committed before RR.
The team, the team, the team. Period.
Yeah, that is a 180 from the way he treated RR.
But I have this question: Why is Braylon the only former Wolverine in on these discussions? What about AC, David Terrell, Alexander, MCMurtry, etc? They don't get a say in the #1?
IMO: It was Anthony Carter that started this modern era #1 phenom among the WRs at UM. He should get the final say.
Camp reports alone, yes it's dubious.
But Camp reports, along with new coaches, new scheme, new attitude, better work ethic, different training, maturity, players praise, all factor into it.
It's also dubious to bag on the kid relentlessly, when we haven't even played the Spring game yet. Like I said in my original post, give the kid a chance.
Also: I never mentioned Heisman's, or compared anyone to Charles Woodson (or Michigan's best DT). In Campbell's case, I am just saying it is pessimestic and unfair to characterise him like that. I just don't think we'll see "Cambell sitting in Kovac's lap"
Was that in 2010 or 2009? You do realize that most of his snaps have come on special teams, and he played part of career as an O-lineman, right?
There is just as much reason to be optimistic, the scheme change, the coaching change, the fact that he will be working exclusively at one position, the fact that he'll be on the field with Mike Martin, and as Brian stated, he has three coaches giving him more attention than anyone else.
Plus this:"I think Will's main improvement has been in his work ethic and attitude toward the game," Van Bergen said. "He's really come into his own as far as putting in extra time and paying attention to smaller details. He takes criticism well and he just keeps improving every day. "His day-to-day improvement is probably one of the best on the team." Hoke was asked if Campbell is expected to make an impact this fall. "I don't think there's any doubt Will can do that, and you see signs of that," Hoke said. "We have to get a little more consistency. I like how Will has come to work every day, I like how he's thirsting for some knowledge. When I say that, I'm just talking about the fundamentals of playing the position and being a tackle in there on defense. I like the progression. I think we've got a ways to go in all areas, but I think Will's done a good job."From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110412/SPORTS0201/104120425/Brady-Hoke-notes-improved-work-ethic-of-U-M’s-Will-Campbell#ixzz1JQexexXb
Sorry, But I feel Brian is overly critical and too pessimistic on Will Campbell. Especially hearing some of the reports that we have on Big Will in camp.
Give the kid a chance.
Bring lots of hand sanitizer and Dawn dishsoap.
But seriously, I'd meet him, just as I'd take advantage of the opportunity to meet Meyer, Saban, Carrol, or any high profile coach. It's just a cool thing to do.
Imagine a Michigan fan 40 years ago, that got to meet Woody Hayes. It would be a story he could tell his kids and grandkids.
Maybe one thing OSU should do, is stop issuing the gold pants.
How does OSU get away with this anyway? I know teams can earn rings for championships, but giving away jewelry for one game, just seems counter to the whole climate of the NCAA.
To my knowledge, Michigan does not give out jewelry for any games, just championships.
Hannibal: "I don't see anything new and damning in this story."
Hannibal, think about it. Tressel's excuse for not telling his bosses, was the safety of his players and that he did not want to blow a federal investigation.
Now we learn he did tell someone, just not his bosses. How is telling Pryor's booster, not going to jeapordize the investigation. How is telling your bosses, going to comprise it?
The article states:
In Tressel's corner: he didn't lie to anyone's face and he didn't follow up his transgression with an otherwise minor violation that proved he'd learned nothing, then score another violation in March—ie, now.
But here's the thing:
http://ht.cdn.turner.com/si/images/2011/03/08/Ohio_State_NCAA.pdf
under Page 3, item i., "Signed the NCAA certificate of compliance form on September 13, 2010, indicating he has reported any knowledge of possible violations to the instution."
I'd think (hope) that if Michigan was involved in any upcoming major violations story, it would have been already discovered during the NCAA investigation.
Here's to hoping were safe!
GERG was incompetent, but lets also remember that he was being forced to use a system that he had very little familiarity with. And lets also keep the perspective that the 2010 defense was young, inexperienced and decimated with lost players (both injuries and attrition).
One thing that always bugged me about RR, was that he hired both Shafer and GERG without ever coaching a game with them, or having any other professional expereince with them.
At least with Hoke, he knows his Assts. and Coordinators well, and they know him. At least all these guys have worked together and been on other staffs with each other.