Recent Comments

  I could go for that if a couple Bay Area teams are included. First choice would be Stanford, otherwise my regional pick would be Cal-Berkley. Think we could beat on ‘em 3 out of 4 years and get good strength of schedule from it.

 Everything I heard while in the south was focus for SEC was primarily in VaTech and one (or two at the time, pre-MO) of the North Carolina schools. (Maybe selling NCState to pull a TexasAM and become a bigger in-state player to UNC). They are very against expansion in states they already reside and have shown that throughout the years rebuffing discussions on GaTech returning. So South Carolina and Flodida expansion should be out for them also.

 Good point, and to make it even stronger we have UND.COM (The Official Site of Notre Dame Athletics ) adding even more significance to the historic value of the series prior to the 2012 game.    http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041912aab.html

{emphasis mine}

 The 2012 Notre Dame-Michigan game at Notre Dame Stadium will feature special recognition events based on Irish football history dating back to the first Notre Dame game in 1887 against Michigan.

 The Notre Dame-Michigan relationship qualifies as the original and oldest Football Bowl Subdivision rivalry.

 It's just the official site of Notre Dame athletics saying it is the first game they ever played and is the "original and oldest FBS rivalry". But what do they know?!?!?

Give it time; you will get to a “plus-sized” Mike soon enough.      /s

Actually, the toughest in the B1G may be the newest. Rutgers would yield a sword wouldn’t it?   /s

 I had thought UVa and GTech were prime previously, but doesn’t the assignment of rights clause the ACC is adding pretty much negate any availability of their schools to future B1G inclusion?

 No he doesn't.
 He's had a few Cap'n Morgans.

 Am not in the area now, but whenever I was the radio was immediately tuned from 97.1 to another station @ 2pm after Karsh & Anderson as I couldn’t stand the way they played their audience to incite people to call in. I have to admit even I was duped @ the very beginning of their show’s run 5-6 years ago.

 Doesn't really count as a "poach" technically, but of prior USC commits I'd sure like to pick up DE Eddie Vanderdoes.

 Agree, personally, I think the Irish are a greater rival than MSU. (And I grew up in MI) Thought Hart summed up my feelings fairly accurately as they are and have always been “The Little Brother”.

 La Jolla is great! Beaches of all types for miles right down to the San Diego city line, totally coastal and my favorite, clothing optional Blacks beach. Football sucks though, except for the football-sized chests in bikinis!  /s

 Agree, though as nice a fit as UNC would be, they are too entrenched in the ACC to leave at this point. Most of ACC officials are from UNC and their allegiance is very strong. Right now, if the ACC folds UNC will be the one “turning off the light as they leave”.

 GaTech has everything the B1G portrays as important for an added school; save one - geographic contiguity. This would not be too great if UVa is added though and the plum the Atlanta TV market brings is huge. I think everything awaits and hinges on what results spring from the ACC/Maryland buyout negotiation/lawsuit.

 Yes. Even with a medical condition, you are not able to utilize NCAA specified pharmaceuticals or therapies and still be eligible to compete. This policy is often confronted by physicians treating asthmatic athletes, as many effective therapies are banned by NCAA and international athletic agencies as they are steroidal in nature, provide a stimulant or increased lung function. They need to find something else to control the condition, that may be less effective, or the athletes realize they are not eligible to compete at some levels.

Interesting and thanks for the post OP.

 *Unsure what Cameron rhymes with?

 I have often wanted the same thing. Just a BS tag, Verbal Diarrhea, or just plain ole’ STUPID!

 Must be why State has offered a good kicker from Toledo this year.

 I never like to hear the terms “premature” and “Friday” night in the same sentence.

 Not that I'm fond of it, but here you go.

 To repeat what seems is the general consensus, Am happy for you, but sad for the rest of us. Good Luck and Fair Winds.

Yep. As I said “77” should be made a legend number! You have to love those number 77’s!

  Yeah, but that “don’t get hurt” can be an ass-biter. Ask Matt Barkley. Taylor definitely has a set of Iron Q on him. “77” should be made a legend number after this.

 Amen to that!  Can I have an AMEN!! 

 Anyone have further info on Graham Glasgow? He was a OL walk-on in 2011 with several offers elsewhere and was supposedly doing well according to comments last season by Lewan, however, I never noticed him on the field.

 Good answer, may also wish to throw in trying to keep a desired recruit by talking them into a “preferred walk-on” role rather than going to another school.

 But generally believe it’s just someone trying to throw a term on the process Seth has outlined. Now come the rigors instead of the ballyhoo.

 Why not? If he wins, Detroit would be more than happy to have him. Seems to me we had a LB who personified the franchise for years and was a total buckeye from head to toe plus never let anyone forget it. He was loved and still is for his grit and passion.

 To be fair to Mr. Hunt, he did lose the head coach that recruited him. So in essence his coach “de-committed” before he started entertaining the idea.

One is fairly mundane from bowl trip search, but got lucky with the other from a grocery delivery service and seems to fit right in with the trip

How about Barkley, he may have dropped out of top 10, would have been top 5 last year.

 Ok, 1 = Happy, 2 = Ecstatic, and all 3 is the best holiday present EVER!

 If three of those last names are in Green, Treadwell, and McQuay I will be very happy.

 From a UM Football purist point of view, I like it also. I’d love this to be the final divisions. Also preserves many rivalries and trophies.

 Politically, however, I can’t see this flying. Schools in the “outer” would complain that they have far greater travel expenses and fans having to travel greater distances.

 For the B1G, my bet is still on UVa, and if they can swing it around some possible “contiguous” rule GaTech. Can’t see Delaney letting those markets get away from him, plus they are both AAU members. (UNC would be nice but they are too tied to Duke to be solo and too tied to ACC to jump ship if it isn’t totally sinking.)

 So? If you have it, of course, you want to protect it no matter the size. Doesn’t matter if its an earthworm farm by a remote fishing lake in Medicine Hat, Alberta or supplying hot women to a brothel. If you have the monopoly, you do your best to keep it.

 The ACC will always be on shaky ground now as they got caught napping when the music started without a strong dance partner. They now find themselves the “fifth wheel” or solo single friend at a couple’s party.

 At one time several years ago, I seriously thought the Big12 would be the next to go “boom”. However, they pulled off the greatest coup pairing up with SEC in the SEC-Big12 game. That ensures their survival and firmly established them as “one of the 4 pre-superconferences”. ACC will now always be on the outside looking in; subject to break-up talk and continued departures until “super-conference equilibrium” is met.

 Not sure how much credence I give to your examples, Herm. Washington-St. Louis has an excellent academic reputation, as does Wayne State along with increased notoriety; much better than the schools you used as comparisons. Both include upper-mid medical schools and law schools. You can also cite renown and prestigious urban-area schools without D1 football to disprove your examples, including John Hopkins, Thomas Jefferson, Univ of Chicago, Depaul, William & Mary, NYU. Or any of the numerous urban programs that do very well for themselves in an city setting including; USC, Washington, Minnesota, Georgia Tech, and Cal-Berkeley is very urban, right next to Oakland.

 Neither. Wiped out to form a massive snowball down the mountain.

 I currently have another 2 years here in Ionia after I overheard someone proposing that.           /s

 Whew!  When I first read the title I thought it was another of our recruits visiting someplace, another Dawson-Conley situation.  doh!

To paraphrase Sheldon Cooper: "This is sarcasm, isn't it?"                /s

 Nah, as Bull Halsey would say, “This is just a good ole ass-whoopin’!”     /s

Go Navy! Semper Fi!

 It was to honor Edger Allen Poe’s, The Raven, as it was written while Poe was in Baltimore. Poe’s Raven can be quite menacing.

You realize Krewe is a very popular term there. It is what they call the “crew” or club that sponsor and make the Mardi Gras celebrations. Many join one and are also constant social clubs or party.

  I see UNC/Duke as the perfect foil to ND forming the bedrock for a conference or sustain a new “ACC”. ND would dominate in football with occasional success from UNC maybe Miami(FL). Duke/UNC dominate a strong basketball conference during the winter. The ACC is headed and pretty strongly supported by UNC so it will take almost a complete collapse to have them depart (and they still would probably be the ones that “turn out the lights” if it does close shop.) They will keep the leftovers from ACC (NCState/VaTech to SEC, FSU/Clemson to Big12) and from the Big East merging a conference of ND, UNC, Duke, Wake, BC, Pitt, Syracuse, Louisville, Miami(FL),UConn, Cinci, Houston, Navy, Memphis. (The last 5 are variable and I doesn’t account for new Big East like USF, Boise, SDState, SMU, Temple, etc.)

 All I ever get is an abject hatred for UM in all things - which I just don’t get. I have been born and raised a Wolverine fan, and alum, my HS coach moved on to there, as did relatives. "OH How I Hate" is something I’ve espoused, but I also respect their teams and I don’t ALWAYS want OSU to lose at EVERYHING. Actually, I want them to win except once a year, and especially during bowls. I want all the B1G to do well. As a strong OSU/B1G is good for us.

 If you do go 20 (after ND?), only other teams that make the Presidents happy would be Kansas or one of UNC/Duke (AAU members). UNC/Duke may be forced to re-eval how badly they want to stay together. Current trend on conference growth is all about “new markets”. They don’t base it on competition or rivalries, and won’t add two schools from the same state (Although UNC/Duke may just be the one time a conference does.)

 Personally, I think ND is not an option. They will stay by themselves as long as they can find a “conference” they can put together to give them some games during the meat of the football season and house their other sports. (I foresee a conglomeration of Big East & ACC leftovers.)

As did I. I always thought Purdue was a 2-horse race, Doreen and Butch Jones.

Looks like they got Jones'ed.    /s

Should amp up the in-state battles between Purdue and ND. 

 Being a bit generous with the “sometimes” aren’t you?

 Actually that is not correct. The VA politicians just wanted UVa to use it’s influence to get them in a more secure conference (ACC) when it looked like the BigEast was crashing.  (Correct me if I misunderstood, Wahoo.) They don’t have the leverage now. With both in the ACC they may have to fend for themselves; as I doubt one of the stronger conferences will take on both. IMO UVa will go to the B1G and SEC (which has already said it wants into VA) will take VaTech.

 Personally, I see the SEC snatching up VaTech and NCState now, and Big12 pulling in FlaState and Clemson. (I would have added Miami(FL) but their present issues may put a merger off. Only if it is mandated by FSU addition.)

 ACC could asphlode!

 True, not sure if that is a factor in assessing revenue but it could. (Heard it was just a poor contract negotiated by ACC.) One thing I am learning here on west coast, if UofM plays the early game I have a better chance to watch it than later as it doesn’t compete with the local teams. So ACC would suffer nationally there also, as it would be competing with all the Eastern Time zone games, which includes the B1G and SEC. The Big12 has less competition in the Central and Mountain Time zones.

 Have to remember with bowls also; they select teams that provide loyal fans to fill their stadiums as well as TV revenue. The fervent fans tend to travel more often, which tend to be in the south/Midwest.

 Doesn’t mean it is over, could return. Sounds like coaches and Conley agreed he needed a breather,  be free and explore. (Sounds like that what the Amish do.)  /s 

 Sorry, Wolv, love ya’ but have to disagree with ya’. It is also the level of the support. I lived in Iowa, Midwest, southeast, east coast, and now CA. The thing to remember is it is not the casual fan we are talking about here. It is the die-hard, support-your-team-at-all-costs, and the-week-revolves-around-the-game mentality. They ALL watch the games in those areas, men, women, children, grandpas, grandmas and even animals!! (ok, only the domesticated ones.  /s) That is what they live for. (Also, many of those mid/southwest schools tend to keep their graduates at home and more local.) They buy the tickets, watch the games, and buy the merchandise. They don't have the variety for entertainment. All of which generates revenue, fan base, and TV viewer-ship = $$$. That doesn’t happen here on the coast, and not on the east coast for college much north of the Carolinas.

 I like Kansas also, but what does it give us we don’t already have. We already passed on Missouri, which would have given us better markets. All I want from the Big12 is Okla or TX but that won't happen.

1.      Doubt if Texas goes anywhere, at least within next 10 years+.  It will take that long to realize the fruits of Longhorn Network, etc. They have developed an almost demigod-like mentality, similar to ND. They have virtually complete autonomy over what they do and are in a conference that will support it.

2.      If there is ever a “falling-out” between TX and Oklahoma that could be significant and may cause the Sooners to reevaluate and leave, other wise I can foresee Pac12 picking off maybe Texas Tech in a next round, strengthening their access to the fertile recruiting ground, and divvy up the football crazed state again, (maybe lessen UT influence for a future union).   It is really the Pac12’s only real play.

Denard isn’t on defense,… yet.  But who knows on Saturday!?!?   /s

 Agree. I am not saying LT won’t commit and would love to have him. Just used it as an example of the offer. I have no inkling either way with him. As everything I’ve heard indicates it will go down to the wire on NSD. Was there a time he came close; I hear there was; but IMO that doesn’t mean he moved on. I think he is a smart, thoughtful kid and wants to make the best decision on a major choice in his life.  I think he has his own timetable and will make the choice when he is absolutely certain and hasn't burned any bridges behind him.

 Totally agree it is not a punitive issue and though I have never been in the situation of hearing Hoke’s last discussion with a recruit as he commits (have been for another B1G), I do believe his policy is made clear. Which in my understanding you have enumerated: If you take another visit, you are no longer considered a “committed” recruit, doesn’t mean you can’t recommit and as Marcus mentioned the outcome of Conley will be interesting as I believe he has informed the coaches.

 Hope it’s true. As it’s going he may end up with an opportunity on the offense in the future. Which to my understanding is what he’d like.

 IMO a more accurate example of the relationship would be a Texas/TAMU, and sure looks like that is working out for TAMU. Maybe Sparty to the ACC would benefit them also.  

Wish it was the Cavs coming aboard instead of Rutgers.

lol I spit my soda out with this line,  Well Played!

 I love whoever came up with “Bunches of Funchess”. Even the kids say it here, “Look, it was caught by Bunches of Funchess!” 

 Always. Don’s counter-points are always spot-on.  

Yes, I love the potential of what Maryland brings to the table, lesser sports included LAX, Soccer, Baseball, etc. (and maybe even hockey)

 Totally disagree! Iowa State is a wayward step-sister to the Hawkeyes. Even the trophy sucks and is lampooned. (see Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Trophy) Went to Iowa for grad school and except for Floyd of Rosedale most Iowa students and staff members consider us to be their main rival and big game each year even basketball.  I never understood it and was amazed at the number of students that would tell me what a great rivalry Iowa and UofM were and the joy they had when they beat us.  I remember thinking how we didn’t even know they existed until the later stages of Hayden Fry or  Lute Olsen/BJ Armstrong.    (Although being in the stands next to Scarcelli’s dad when Houghtlin kicked that field goal was one of the suckier days of my life.)

That is always appropriate!

Don, Don, Don,… what are we to do with you? /s

 Now he’d REALLY be a good get, if he likes Detroit so much he wants Torii Jr. to switch and be a Wolverine WR.      /s

  I don’t believe she will have as much shipboard sea duty as you state because of her rating. She should only get Tender or Asst duty, as the Navy doesn’t allow enlisted women to be assigned to submarines yet. Also, I believe the commitment is longer for nukes, isn’t it?

 Personally, I am medical, but know several ex-nukes (3 EM and an MM). They got some great jobs afterward and engineering degrees.  Good luck. Fair winds!

I’m buckled up.  Good thing I was after that finish!!

Yeah, surprising how many people just don’t know when to duck while deployed or in the field!     /s

Actually, I think neither get it on Saturdays. Especially fall Saturdays both seem to be soulless.  /s

FWIW:  I have seen his stuff in a couple of healthcare journals. Works with “consulting groups” and does free-lance, I believe. Diamond doesn't appear to have a major ax to grind and is an education and healthcare journalist.  ( Taken from Advisory Board Company profile )

Managing Editor of the Daily Briefing a newsletter for a global research, technology, and consulting firm on health care and higher education.

Dan received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and serves on the D.C. board of Penn’s alumni chapter. His writing has also appeared in Kaiser Health News, Forbes, The Health Care Blog, the Baltimore Sun, and is contributing editor for California Healthline.

 Agreed, think it is a smart move by MN’s AD. When I lived there, they had serious attendance issues at games. Casual fans, (and every team has them, some more than others and MN is one with college football as everything is Vikes/Packers.) don’t know all the intricacies of college football, just want to see their team win. This gives them a strong case to win several at the beginning of the year and as others mention get more bowl invites. (Great! More money for UofM also!) More wins and bowls = more PR and more fans and more attending games. Doesn’t matter that more than half don’t know what conference UNLV, Missouri, UNI, VaTch, Temple, New Mexico, or Houston is in. To them a win is a win. They get enthused. They go to games, more ‘hot-dish’ tailgates, more support, and more revenue.

 It’s a great move by the AD to recognize it and have the chutzpa to follow the path he thinks is best for his teams.  Who knows; they win enough; he may just develop a winning culture again in 10-20 years, building confidence each year that they win significant games over better B1G opponents, get better recruits, and develop a more powerful Gopher program. (Iowa State has been doing similar, not playing quite as many weaker conference teams though.) Better than what they are doing now, languishing as a perennial doormat.

Wolv (or anyone)-

 Heard any talk down there about renewed interest in USC’s Khaliel Rodgers from MD? I have heard (in Bay area) he wants to take some visits elsewhere. As I remember he was very interested until OL filled up.

 I believe in previous responses given by Hoke he said; “If a commit takes a visit to another school, then we at UM do not consider him to be committed any longer.”

 He did not address if the scholarship is pulled or whether the player couldn’t then talk to the staff and re-commit later.

COTANGENT.  /s

 Don’t be shittin’ me, Turd.  (sorry, just always cracks me up to say that.  /s)

 Looks like we have a true controversy. I had always thought officially we were the Wolverine state and Great Lake State was just a marketing tag like Water Winter Wonderland, etc.

 Actually MSU textbooks list us as Wolverine State. Had helped a niece with some course work she has at MSU. (I know, poor kid, we all feel sorry for her. But she got a full ride, and she is still “blue” on the inside.) It was an upper level geography class with the textbook online:

GEO 333 - Geography of Michigan and the Great Lakes Region (link )

Other facts
Statehood: Jan. 26, 1837, the 26th state.
State abbreviations: Mich. (traditional); MI (postal).
State capital: Lansing, Michigan's capital since 1847. Detroit served as capital from 1837 to 1847.
State motto: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you).
Popular name: The Wolverine State.
State song (unofficial): "Michigan, My Michigan." Words by Douglas M. Malloch.

However, State of Michigan (in the Michigan State Facts section) officially lists itself as “Great Lake State” first:

Michigan.gov – Official web site for the sate of Michigan – States the opposite.

Michigan's State Facts ( link )

·  The name Michigan is derived from the Indian words "Michi-gama" meaning large lake.

·  The State Nickname is the "Great Lake State." Others include "Wolverine State" or "Water Winter Wonderland."

 In summation, we have a lot of facts but no real conclusion. I guess we really don’t know what we are.  /s

(Also the GEO333 text has some interesting and humorous items though understandably most look at wolverines fairly derogatorily in “Why are we supposed to be wolverines?”. link )

You can remember THAT far back, Herm?     /s

South Detroit is open, we could use that.   /s

 Love it. Thinking of the set-up that the upperclassmen must have vocalized as you approached the farm animals really made me laugh.   /s

 I think they are both great and done excellently. Just a comment on AF, you seem to have the M graphic in the targeting hud screen. I’d recommend switching the AF and M graphics, so Denard is taking aim at AF rather than UM.

 Otherwise, absolutely killer ideas and designs!

 Love how one of the analysts throws a bone to AIRBHG in "Bold Prediction":

Rubin: Iowa running back Damon Bullock makes it through the entire season without getting hurt, arrested or suspended. Forget bold -- that's downright batty.

 Just one step closer to what I have always thought since he got hired; Dorsey will end up at Arizona with RichRod. Am takin’ bets, anybody want some?

 True, but wouldn’t they then be called TCU?    /s

 Everything at PSU is going to be looked at in a different light. I feel rather sorry for them. Not the people involved but the students and all the other innocents that will have to deal with the fallout of the sickness and dearth of values that occurred there.

 Don’t know, maybe the OP’s got something. Maybe we should get the robot outside the defense coordinators office to remind him: “Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger, Greg Mattison!!”

 Don’t think you'll have a problem. Every carrier I’ve been on has had AFRTS broadcasting the big games, so you should get to watch it. Only question is time. Where ever you are located at the time the game is broadcast, so you may be watching in early morning. I rememer watching a couple of super bowls at 4 or 5am.

 Shouldn’t that read:

“ I got audited by the IRS and all I got TO KEEP was this lousy T-shirt!” ?

 Wonder where the pizza was from? True irony would have the delivery guy work for Domino’s or even Little Caesar.  /s

 It’s interesting debate. On one hand I can see missing some games as punishment and show that he has to be responsible. The judicial side of things

but,…

 If he was just an ordinary student, would he be prevented from participation in extracurricular events because of this? Would he be banned from theatre, music, or art if he was a fine arts major? Or even intramural sports, clubs or other activities? If you are talking scholarships; would you lose an academic, or artistic scholie from this event?

 As an undergrad, I had a couple of acquaintances that got arrested; one DUI and one, shall we say other items of intoxication, they were artists (theatre and painting/design) and both were allowed to continue to practice and participate, (in shows, competitions, etc.). Granted it was a few years ago, (ok more than a few), and the perception is different on these offenses today. They had to go to court also, and dealt with the judicial process, which will also decide Fitz and Clark’s fate, and punish or dismiss accordingly.

 Is it just the notoriety? Not trying to defend their actions, just hard to come down firmly on either side. These guys always get held to the standard; they shouldn't get extra benefits than ordinary students; shouldn't they get the same allowances?

My favs were the Czech beach team! Love tall, blonde women.

Dutch field hockey is awesome also!

 Gatorcountry (a UF fansite) has something similar that may interest you for comparison, Turd. They created a database with a ranking of each individual 2013 football recruit in each of the four major recruiting services: ESPNU, Scout, 247Sports and Rivals. They then come up with a composite score for each of the football recruits. Also they explain their methodology. Basically, it's an average of the four rankings with a slight scaled multiplier applied for players who are only ranked in one or two of the four services. (So again it uses the number a recruit is listed rather than some score they may attain in each service. Last Updated: June 19, 2012)  -    

   Composite Recruiting Rankings for 2013 football recruits

  I think you are pushing it to say Meyer is perpetrating some “ploy”. I doubt he really cares whether “he lost some head to head recruiting battle to MI” other than losing the actual recruit.

 I know several D1 coaches and they really don’t care about that. That is FAN speak.

 He most likely ascertained that Green wasn’t going to commit his way and figured it was time to cut his losses and utilize his resources toward someone else.

 Trust me, I am no Meyer fan, but coaches just don’t think like that. 

(And do I want Green,... "HAIL YES!")

 True.  IMO they told LM3 that they needed him to get off the fence and commit to a spot or a guaranteed spot would be used this weekend.  Something may open up later, but Hoke couldn’t guarantee it. So I am DEFINITELY ready to Buckle-Up!