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Kris Jenkins grandfather was…

Kris Jenkins grandfather was one of my middle school teachers.

Jamar Adams used to volunteer a bit at a youth group I was a part of. Class act guy.  

I was a victim of theft of Boubacar Cissoko. 

Just a sample size thing.

Just a sample size thing.

Cass Tech produces more D-1 players, so it might seem like more don't pan out because you remember their names.  As other posters mentioned, there are plenty that do.  Might even be a better hit rate than most schools if you really broke it down.

Bottom line is that the specific kids/players find their own success in college and it has nothing/little do to with what high school they were recruited from.

 

Yeah, exactly.  They're not…

Yeah, exactly.  They're not.  It's a statement of fact that Harbaugh knew.  Ok.  And he let it all play out the way it should, and the team and player parted ways.

But of course - the headline "Harbaugh knew" is buzz worthy.

Right.  Not sure this is…

Right.  Not sure this is helpful right now. An account created 20 hours ago, where you can’t help but notice that trend. 
 

Calling out sexual predators is important. And preventing future episodes can not wait.   But anonymous accusations about past transgressions, on TWITTER where anyone with an email can create an account and you can’t “fact check” these at all...

Turned him into? I know that…

Turned him into? I know that coaching and opportunity matters, but let's not pretend that the individual doesn't matter either.  Because on the flip side, Harbaugh "turned Lewis" into an All-American and Day 2 draft pick.  And he and Sherman have a major clash, but he must have "turned Sherman" into an all-pro NFL DB.

If any of this is true then Lewis is a little over sensitive.  If Crowell is offended by Harbaugh, I get it.  But they're all entitled to feel what they want to feel.  Just feel like it's stupid to stew over what are very minor transgressions.  

I think your #9 and #10 are…

I think your #9 and #10 are correct, though I think it helps illustrate how great this decade is with the fact that I found enjoyment in watching both those teams improve as the season went on.  Even the 14/15 team - got better challenged some good teams and got some wins when on paper we had no business.

 

#1 is easy. I'd have 2017/18 as #2.  The NYC Big Ten Championship, buzzer beater, and National Championship game is a run you can't easily top.  And while you love the Stausaks/LeVert/GRIII trio, the entire roster led by Wagner was an awesome, awesome group of personalities and talent.

That leaves 2013/14 at #3, and 2016/17 as #4; though these are very, very close. The midseason turnaround from "White Collar"  and winning the Big Ten Tournament was magic.  But the 2013/14 season was consistently better.

#5, I want 2011/12.  Big Ten Championship felt like our program had finally arrived.  It was success I'd never tasted before.

#6, I'll keep 2019/20 here as placeholder but it's gonna be tough to rank it now with so much potential to boom still left.

#7, 2010/11.  Loved watching Darius Morris, Stu/Zack, JMo. Material evidence of John Beilein growing the program.  Win @ Breslin.  The heights might not have been as high as everything above (or #8) but it was a fun season to be a fan of.

#8, 2018/19.  Obviously a 30 win season but getting swept by MSU three times and not winning either conference banner stings.  We lacked the chemistry of every team listed above.  It was bookended by Beilein leaving in a surprise move.  Ideally they stick here for me (because 2019/20) continues to separate themselves; but I laugh at the Miles Bridges Syracuse loss Big Ten Champions (empty banner, swept by Michigan) so I can't be totally proud of this season.  There was a lot of winning, but much more angst than any other season above because we fell flat in the biggest moments.

 

 

 

I agree with your overall…

I agree with your overall point that we should lay off Teske. The Big Ten centers are all legitimately good, and it’ll regress to the mean. He’s playing good ball. 
 

But I disagree with your premise that Beilein did him dirty or something. He wasn’t used as a stretch 4. He was used as a stretch 5. He signed up for that. He developed a ton with Coach B. He’s an unselfish player and I’m glad he’s a senior on this team - but he wasn’t a martyr. He was an underclass man, and now he’s not, and he’s a focal point. 

I can relate to this.  

And…

I can relate to this.  

And Winovich continues to come across as a really excellent kid (man?) and a wonderful representative of Michigan. 

No!  

I'd rather talk about…

No!  

I'd rather talk about Harbaugh needing to show more fire than Wisconsin, but less fire than Rutgers relative to the opponent (too much fire for just Rutgers).  He has my permission to do his podcast this week, though.  

Keys to Victory against Iowa:  We win if Harbaugh isn't wearing his transition lenses

Yeah it's possible they are…

Yeah it's possible they are.  On another message board a similar topic came up - Jeff Zuttah in 2003, not cleared by Michigan due to Sickle Cell Anemia (don't know the details).  Played at Stanford, and ultimately shut it down within a year.

Matt Falcon is another.  Ultimately cleared by WMU, but barely lasted for health issues.

Quintel Kent, who knows about him.

Bottom line is I think the doctors are generally looking out for the kids best interest and not part of "processing."  If another team wants to clear them, fine, as long as it's not life threatening - but it doesn't mean it's the "correct" or "right" move for the kid in the long term.  Of course there are probably examples of it working out for the kid too.

When I read this I think Jae…

When I read this I think Jae’Sean Tate. When Beilein offered him he didn’t fit the mold but Tate acquitted himself as a baller - size and positional mismatched skills non-withstanding. 

Is that a fair comp for Scooby? If you had to put your name behind it, does Scooby produce at the Big Ten level?

Stu was a good player here,…

Stu was a good player here, a good kid.  Decent follow on Twitter.  But he's kind of anti-establishment when it comes to college sports an the "cult" tendencies.  

I don't think he's wrong, but I think there's worse things than being invested in your alma mater or team you like.  Humans have been doing this type of thing since the beginning of time (segway: I'm reading the book "Sapiens" right now).  Stu can chill out a bit on those things if you ask me.  Borderline "too woke."  

I think that smart,…

I think that smart, trustworthy contractors, electricians, HVAC, plumbers etc... are worth their weight in gold and will continue to be.  And I can also see any of them being pretty cool if you liked to work with your hands.

 

 

 

This post is all fun and…

This post is all fun and games until Alabama moves down their recruiting board and makes a full court press on their #2 prospect at the position, Trevor Keegan.

People have strong opinions…

People have strong opinions on Mike Valenti and earlier this week with a whole segment on how FS1 has a corporate Pro-Michigan agenda because Skip Bayless(!) and Cowherd said some nice things about us LOL.  

Are you propositioning a…

Are you propositioning a threesome for anyone that didn't know that a unicorn is a "venture capital industry, a unicorn refers to any tech startup company that reaches a $1 billion dollar market value as determined by private or public investment."

Cause a/s/l and you're about to be a busy couple.  

Can we get a John Beilein…

Can we get a John Beilein hipster gif please?

When he got hired I…

When he got hired I predicted (in writing) that he would win at least 50 games in his 5 years.  That's my standard, and I'm sticking to it.  He inherited a 5 win team.  I wasn't expecting 10-wins in year one, but I don't think 8-wins in year three is reason to panic either.  I'll admit the 1-5 "rival record" is annoying, but we're literally two seconds and two inches from 3-3.  

28 wins through three years is plenty good enough for me.  Do other Michigan fans - but mostly media and opposition - remember what we were between 2008-15?!?  It's happening guys.  The rising heat on Harbaugh is coming from Michigan State and Ohio State campfires trying to make themselves feel a little bit better about the fact that they feel it too.  

We'll average at least 11 wins in the next two years.  50 wins in 5 years, and hopefully a Big Ten Championship and more as part of it.  Raback it.  

Weird

I’ll give you size because NFL loves measurable success but did any Michigan fan or coach see Mo Hurst give anything less than 100% effort 100% of the time?

Bittersweet

It's sweet to see the victims get their justice.  It's sweet to see the reign of terror fall.  

But bankrupting and embrassasing the second largest public University in the state of Michigan is not good for the taxpayers.

As a Michigan undergrad, I'm a 100% die hard Michigan fan and proud of my degree.

But I went to graduate school at Michigan State.  I can't hide from that, and it sucks having to answer questinos from third parties about how I feel about all this.  It's an embarrassment and a scarlet letter on my degree.  

Furthermore, getting into UofM is extremely competitive.  I sure hope my children can get in.  I'd be a proud father.  But if they don't, and my family (or another) can't afford a private school or OOS then it's a real shame to see what is objectively an average-to-above average university from a national standpoint - and one in the backyard - get completely ravaged.

But, if it's the way it has to be... Guess I just hope Oakland University, Western, or Grand Valley can take a step forward.  

Cool

He's definitely polarizing in our fan base, but live and let go I say.  The Fab Five was an incredible run and story and hope they will be acknolwedged as such in the future.  Especially considering what we all know is most likely happening aorund the country every year.  Cool too see Webber giving this small amount of love.  Wonder if Jalen reaches out again.  Real tragedy is what could have been a lifelong friendship fracturing over all this.  

As a Greek American

As a Greek-American, I'm wondering how Greek restaurants end up in the sentence along with morgues, and beauty parlots.  Maybe I should be offended, or maybe it's weird Brian being the weird Brian that makes this blog worth reading.  

Carry on, weird Brian.

Or Maybe

Or maybe they reinstated him and are hoping he gets bounced before the Elite 8 so they can be like - "Second Round?  Unnacceptable.  You're fired" and save $5 million bucks on firing him for cause.  

I'm being sarastic? 

We already have 10 coaches,

We already have 10 coaches, and here is my perception of the breakdown.

 

QB - Pep Hamilton

RB - Jay Harbaugh

WR - Jim McElwain

TE - Sherrone Moore

OL - Ed Warriner

Offensive Coordinator - Jim Harbaugh as the "true" OC; with plenty of feedback and whatever titles get assigned to Pep and other Jim

-----

DL - Greg Mattison

LB - Washington

CB - Mike Zordich

S - Chris Partridge

Defensive Coordinator - Don Brown (who will probably dedicate more of his individual time between DL and LB, since the secondary is well covered)

I've heard rumors and expect Mattison to be near the end of his road.  I think Washington to DL, Partridge back to LB, and Devin Bush ultimately getting his shot to join the staff with safeties is something we might see within 1-2 years.  But that's getting way ahead of things.

 

Whatever man

We could go 0-12 next year, or 12-0.  Yeah, 0-12 is highly unlikely and you could paint a scenario where 5-7 is a distinct possibility BUT -

Jim Harbaugh has had one bad season to offset a career of success.

We can reasonably expect improvement at literally every position except LT and QB.  We have three reasonable answers at QB, and you can point out dozens of team who can get by with average LT play.  So basically all we need is for awful to become average, but hopefully more.

You and your friend should relax and try to enjoy your summer.

Yup

Hope it's more of a dumb-drunk college move like Will Campbell dukes of hazzard slide accross a car, and not a stupid-drunk sexual predator move like Grant Perry or LTT.  

Here's a hot take prediction tough - alcohol was involved. 

Nice Stuff

Shows great vision, good ability to hit the cut back.  Definitely tripped up by a few arm tackles, but I can live with that if he's showing the ability to hit the right hole and put himself in position where an arm tackle is the difference between stumbling forward for 8-yards and getting 20+.  

On the other hand, yeeeeeesh some of our opponents played zero defense.

Quite the contrary

Most of the kids there DO pretend not to care about school.  The failure is in the public school system they grew up in, and a (potential) lack of support from family at home.  Many of these kids grow up never learning how to read as children, and fall farther and father behind in school and eventually learn to misbehave or "not try" because they're afraid to appear "dumb."  

Trying to toe the line of #nopolitics, but I feel genuinely sad for these kids and glad that people like "Miss Brittany" exist to help try and salvage the potential they have left at 18 years old.  

On the other hand, it's a bit harder to me to be truly sympathetic towards guys like Tate Forcier and Brian Cole.  I know that posters will invevitably tell me that none of us know what's going on in his world - and hopefully it is just a matter of transferring credits - but I know through a reliable grapevine that he haad a strong support structure growing up, and did enough academically at Saginaw Heritage (at minimum an above-average high school) to graduate and enroll early at University of Michigan.  

Hope this kid pulls it together for his encore of Last Chance U at MSU (NTMSU) this season.

Wow

The forgotten man on the roster with his first positive pub.  We've seen guys breakout from nowhere before.

On a related note, I think Jon Sanderson might be the most important member of our basketball staff aside from Beilein.  They're a perfect match.  

Beilien: "I'm going to recruit high character guys with basketball skill who are young for their grade, and look scrawny but have length."

Sanderson - "OK thx, give me 12 months."

Nice post

Nice post.  Interesting to hear that perspective.  For what it's worth, I have a  very close connection in the NFL world (agent/GM; take your pick) who doesn't feel the same about Peppers.  These guys are so scrutinized through the draft process that you'll uncover things you don't like about them, and hold on to that, whether it be an athletic deficiency or attitute that "rubs people the wrong way."

To echo other posters, he's definitely confident, definitely an alpha.  That quality is probably what made him so attractive to Hue Jackson, Don Brown, or Jim Harbaugh.  But I can totally understand certain teammates being turned off a bit.  I might be, myself.  I've heard no concerns about his ability to be a good teammate or any major issues about character (the vices that afflict all college kids non-withstanding; any athlete has shown their vulnerable to a blunder here.  Too hard to predict who will have "issues")

 

Peppers

For what it's worth, I also have a connection to an NFL agent who represents plenty of Michigan players and otherwise and he has slightly different opinions of Peppers. His confidence and swagger are part of his package. I can definitely see it rubbing people the wrong way, but it's also what makes him so appealing to others. Eye of the beholder I guess.

Nice post though.

Gut Punch

It's a gut punch, but in the big picture it's typically better to be an undrafted free agent compared to a 7th round pick.  More leverage with a signing bonus, pick from ~15 teams and schemes rather than 1.  

Usage

Read a recent article with direct quotes about his interest and fit at Michigan.  It seems like he's more than willing to get with the program and be a smart, efficient leader.  He acknowledges his usage rate was sky-high, and he was the subject of a defense's entire gameplan.  I was spooked by his FG% and shot rate so it was nice to his the circumstance and his desire to fit in rather than do more of the same if he ends up in Ann Arbor.

Ryan Broyles

Ryan Broyles was a third round draft pick after a bad leg injury and lived on like $60,000 per year while he played a decently long career, through more injuries. Now he's thinking ahead again with stuff like this. He might be the poster boy for fiscal responsibility. After being on scholarship for college I wonder exactly how much money the game of Football has been worth to him.

Hats off to Broyles.

Also - good job UofM

Huh

I thought that that Dakich scholarship video was stupid because what cop would cop in to a team meeting and read off a script to arrest a kid.  Just seemed phony from the beginning.

But apparently, cops do enter team faciilties to make public arrests.  Wow.

Smith

Feels like just last week (it was) that a poster estimated Smith's chances at making an NFL roster at 0%, lower than anyone on our team save Matt Godin.

Thought that was super harsh at the time and this seems to prove it.  Smith may not be a transcendent talent, but he has the "NFL" skillset - physical runner, pass protection, enough athleticism.  I compared him to Mike Tolbert at the time.  He won't ever make a Pro Bowl, but he's got the skillset to carve our a nice career as a change of pace back (to the league's influx of speed guys) or do better behind a great O-Line.

De'Veon Smith

I think you are a little hard on De'Veon Smith.  Fitz Toussaint, Thomas Rawls, and Mike Cox all made NFL rosters.  He may not be as athletic, but he has some NFL qualities.  I do think he makes a roster as a short-yardage, blocking running back.  Think Mike Tolbert.

 

Cool but

Cool but I think Charles might think it's cooler if you drink a few also.  You're not limited to just one bottle.

Butt

Butt is firm on the field, but has a definite soft side.

That's my first Jake Butt joke; had to make it happen before he graduates.  

What else?

What else has he done? Not a sarcastic comment, I'm just unaware of any other offense.

Not saying this is OK at all - but at least it wasn't a Mixon, and at least he was disciplined immediately.  

OK

Don't engage with players or recruits?  I agree, not really necessary.  But then again, recruits themselves are always asking for fans to "show them love" and what not so it's not quite black and white.  

I personally don't engage with them at all.  And obviously I agree that we shouldn't berate a player or their family.  But as far as engaging with a family, this seems like one of the most mild cases.  In the Social Media world, I think that players in their families might take a little responsibility too.  "Must be a fan of mediocricy" is what prompted Mrs. Wilson's reply?  Granted, Bruce didn't exactly ooze class in his rebuttal.

And also, I agree that our fan base has a brutal faction.  But it's not limited to us.  We just have more fans so our volume is greater, and therefore the effect might be a little louder.  

I think a more realistic solution to the "Don't Tweet at recruits or their families" is to not tweet them racist, violent, or crude things.  Beyond that I think the recruits and their families need to acknolwedge that the internet and the world is full of trolls and it's partially on them not to pull a Jamelle Hill and engage every tweet.  Ignorance is biliss, just be happy that your son chose a good program, and a good school and move on.

Just my two cents.  I was expecting a lot worse from this particular offense.

Speaking of this

I'd be curious to hear what Brian and the Mods have to say about the injury now.  I'm not gonna call them liars or get upset about it, but the whole "Speight broke his collarbone" story seems to have been broken by them and their souce.  TheWolverine refuted that, but acknowledged he was injured.  Harabugh refuted the break, but he's the coach and we can't really trust him to give us anything other than misdirection.  Hell - even Speight throwing on Saturday doesn't mean he's anywhere near OK.  I could easily see him going out for some soft toss just to give OSU something else to think about this week. 

So my question is - will MGoBlog double down on their original report (Collarbone break, season over) or is it not as bad as originally feared?

Yup

Jake Butt, Asiasi, Bunting, Hill, Evans, Ty.  OSU is a good team, but it's somewhat fortunate that we have excellent catchy-blocky guys to mitigate that CB strength.  Also screens and TE routes tend to be friendlier to a QB, so hypothetically helps O'Korn get in a rhythym (assuming he's the guy again next week).

 

 

Acknowledgement

Did you go to the game?  Or watch on TV? I wouldn't read much into the acknowledgement, that type of thing usually happens way before or way after a game.  Most players try to stay as competitive as possible during a game - or risk the wrath of hot takes by fans.  

Redshirt

I think that Donnal is better than he's given credit for, and though he'll come off the bench - I think he and Wagner form one pretty good center.  Hopefully they can sharpen each other's skills in practice.

Somebody is definitely going to redshirt, but I'm done guessing who.  They both have useful skills, but they're both gonna look like overwhelmed freshmen at times.  Whoever plays will tell us what the team needs more (bulk; boards vs. length; range).  

Thanks

I enjoyed that.

Yeah

Yeah, what'd they think?  That Lincoln, Nebraska would be a sexy destination?  Doesn't help that they're not exactly taking the West Division by storm.  

Wisconsin

Too early to eliminate Wisconsin. I think you're listing "legitimate" contenders (i.e not undefeated Nebraska, with a reasonably easy road to the B10 Championship) but Wisconsin has proved that they can beat LSU, crush MSU, and give Michigan a real game on the road. If they can beat OSU at home, they're right there.

Nope

I think we mix in some looks - but only for the purpose of giving Chryst and others something to think about. We'll stay rather vanilla this week. And if you see something interesting on offense or defense, and it doesn't work, I don't think we'd call it a failure as long as it's on film to set up the wrinkle we want to use against Wisco or MSU.

I expect to win handily. PSU people expect it too. Maybe close through a quarter but physically we pull away late. And I also expect to get a heavy dose of running game rammed down PSUs throats to try and solve some of our issues before Wisconsin.

NYC

I'm not sure what exactly it'll take, but I think he does end up in NYc to finish 3rd-5th.
Jackson, McCaffrey, Watson, Peppers, Fournette, Barrett, other SEC running backs, in that order.

If Michigan is in the mix for the playoff, Peppers will get a ticket. Our team success will help him since he's our face, and he's obviously be very responsible for the team's success