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Yale, after losing to lowly…

Yale, after losing to lowly Brown in the regular season, needed a buzzer-beater to beat Brown by one point in the IVy league tournament final.  They were very lucky also that Brown missed two free throws seconds before the winning basket.

Perhaps the UM Board of…

Perhaps the UM Board of Regents needs to hear from the fan base about a potential Warde extension.  If I am not mistaken, two UM board of regents members  would normally be up for re-election this year: Ron Weisner and Denise Ilitch.  Correct me if I am wrong, but  assume that would be in Nov 2024.  They could be the first (but not the last) to be held responsible for Warde's extension, if it occurs. 

https://regents.umich.edu/regents/

Why didn't Warde more…

Why didn't Warde more aggressively investigate OSU's possible role in the "private investigation" that led to the sign gate accusations?

I don't know.  Maybe it's nothing.  But 2 of the CFP board members are OSU grads.  Are they the ones that choose the CFP chair and members?

https://www.cfp.net/about-cfp-board/board-of-directors

Illini were continually…

Illini were continually backing down the UM defenders and getting easy points in the paint.  Among other things, that suggests UM is poorly conditioned.  Maybe that is one reason for Sanderson's frustration with the culture under Juwan.

Do you know why Shaw hates…

Do you know why Shaw hates Harbaugh?  If that is true, then the Chargers would have another reason to interview Shaw---to find out more about Jim.

That's one more reason to…

That's one more reason to pull for Vrabel.  He's one of the few OSU alums I actually like.  He made a crucial QB pressure vs St Louis to force an interception by Ty Law.  This led to a 20-17 victory for the Pats and TB12's first super bowl win.

Dear Jim

Please stay!  If…

Dear Jim

Please stay!  If you stay, I will give you my first-born child.

On a brighter note, the…

On a brighter note, the Monday forecast in Houston would seem to favor a running vs passing attack.

Thunderstorms during the evening, then skies turning partly cloudy overnight. Low 41F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Thanks for the information. …

Thanks for the information.  I did not suggest that  medical conjecture would be the way to go in deciding Juwan's future.  But it could at least carry some moral weight---so that the press is less inclined to portray him as just a bad person..  Also, as I said, his doctor might have information that would be more than conjecture.  Juwan could have had other neuroloogic symptoms---as well as CT or MRI findings--- coincident with the observed behavioral changes.  At the same time, I would do not suggest that should determine how Juwan's actions are treated by an administrator.  The welfare of the progam, not just Juwan, is at stake.

 

Does anyone know if Juwan…

Does anyone know if Juwan had unusual trouble controlling his temper when he was a player at UM or in the NBA?  If his problems started mainly in the last few years, I wonder if they could be due to neurologic problems---which often occur in patients with the condition he had surgery for (aortic aneurism).  I wonder if he had any other neurologic symptoms prior to his surgery.

If there are indeed cultural…

If there are indeed cultural problems with the team, is this partly due to Juwan’s behavior?  Some patients who have had heart problems, like Juwan’s, also have problems regulating their emotions.  They may react disproportionately to confrontations.   This may be because heart disease may be associated with structural or chemical changes in the brain.   Likewise, getting angry so easily may itself contribute to their cardiovascular or cerebral problems.  If so, I would be concerned about not only about the program’s welfare but Juwan’s too.  I care what happens to him as well as the program.  And there are treatments for people who---through no fault of their own---have trouble controlling their emotions.  Before we lose important team contributors, like Sanderson, maybe something can be done.

I am sickened by the turn of…

I am sickened by the turn of events, do not understand it, and wish UM had not capitulated.  

What little comfort I can find is in recalling what happened in deflategate.  Although the situation differs in many ways, recall that Tom Brady took a 4 game suspension, even though the injustice was palpable.  One big difference is that he took it at the beginning of the season, to avoid having it come late and interfere with playoff games.  Harbaugh is taking it at a very risky time.    

Still, Brady and the players' association did not let the matter drop.  18 months later they took the matter to court but lost.  I vaguely recall that his case was not judged on the basis of whether he did anything wrong but on some kind of procedural issue.

Ultimately, when Brady and the players' association lost, they could have appealed to the Supreme Court.  But even if they knew that Brady's innocence could be proven, maybe the courts only cared about whether the NFL's procedures were acceptable.  Everyone knows that Brady won the Super Bowl anyway the year he was suspended.  He found a way to respond to the charges and prove others wrong.  At this point, the players hopefully have resolved to do the same.

https://www.nfl.com/news/tom-brady-suspension-case-timeline-0ap3000000492189

 

FWIW

Sagarin has UM #1, OSU…

FWIW

Sagarin has UM #1, OSU #2 by a clear margin: 2.11 pts (by contrast there is only 9/10 of one point separating #2 OSU and #3 Ala).   Ga has the worst SOS in the top 10, UM is #9, OSU #7 (so much for their “strong SOS” argument used by the CFP).  http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

The Massey composite ranking also has UM #1 with 37 #1 rankings among individual polls.  OSU is a distant #2, with only 11 #1 rankings. https://masseyratings.com/ranks

Such a myopic view!  Where…

Finebaum has such a myopic view.  Is he that dumb or is he dishonest?  Where should I start?  As I recall, Harbaugh had an even greater improvement when coaching Univ of SD.  Also at Stanford.  Stallions was a toddler, if he was even born.  Similar improvement in the 49ers job, long after the NFL put headsets in helmets (1994).  It takes a while to build a team that had been underperforming.  Getting new players, new coaches, coaching up the players.  Sheesh!

I said "my guess is yes"…

I said "my guess is yes" based on the fact that 2 of the four teams last year had one loss.

 

I am not saying it is a good…

I am not saying it is a good idea, but I wondered what would happen if the players threatened to sit out the Maryland game.  If we beat PSU and OSU, we still go to the B1G title game.  With one forfeited loss to a poor team and  wins over good teams, would we still make the CFP?  My guess is yes but it would probably hurt our seeding.  Would it be worthwhile, at least as a threat?  How much pressure would the networks bring to bear if the threat was just for the MD game?  Would they threaten to sue the B1G for damages? Would the threat itself have the desired effect?  And  in so far as the NCAA is our future threat, could the players broaden their protest, saying that it is also because they are being cheated out of revenue sharing---something Harbaugh has advocated and which may be one reason why the NCAA is scared.  Would they fear that such a case could end up in front of an unfriendly supreme court?  Could the players sue for damages, when one of their only advocates is being punished unfairly?  

On third base, Ryan Day…

On third base, Ryan Day tried to "steal" home.  Now he's being called out.

Thanks for the correction. …

Thanks for the correction.  I did not remember correctly.

I wonder if the NCAA would consider that a "lie"?

Although I agree about the…

Although I agree about the implausibility of the recent accusations, I disagree that Brady cheated or Harbaugh "lied."  A lot of people would be in jail today if not remembering something was "lying."  Likewise, if you read the scientific analyses of the accusations against Brady, you apparently do not remember it yourself.  But rather than indicting you for such "lying," let me assume you never read these analyses,  The link below from an MIT scientist, proves that the balls were not abnormally deflated.in the NFL's deflategate analysis.  Rather, to reach the desired conclusions, they hired a company that doctored graphs, made faulty assumptions and conducted erroneous analyses.  Many teams of scientists---not just from MIT---looked at their work and concluded it was worthless.  Meanwhile, the NFL conveniently destroyed evidence at odds with their desired conclusions. 

https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/10/04/tom-brady-deflategate-

Indeed, if you read further analyses, you will find that the NFL, on the recommendation of a highly partisan staff member, had hired an unethical firm to investigate deflategate.  The firm had three members who had just left the now-defunct company of Arthur Anderson, which lost its license and dissolved in shame after destroying evidence implicating Enron---a company soon to become bankrupt from the scandal.  The new company that the executives joined also became one that contracted with cigarette companies to falsely "prove" cigarettes were not harmful (talk about "lying")..

Oh, and how did Brady do that year without "deflated" balls?  He went on to win 4 more Super Bowls with multiple SB MVP honors.  I hope our current team remembers this and finds the same motivation that Brady did.

We need to know what the…

We need to know what the consulting firm was.  James Stapleton ran a consulting firm, didn’t he?  Even if that wasn’t the firm, we need to critically evaluate the firm’s practices.  When the NFL hired a outside firm for “deflategate,” they chose one with multiple top executives having just come from Arthur Anderson, a firm found guilty of shredding evidence, leading to the loss of their licenses, dissolution of the firm and the bankruptcy of Enron.   The firm also had represented cigarette companies to “prove” that cigarettes were not harmful.  Likewise, their “evidence” about the deflation of footballs was found by MIT scientists and many others to be worthless, based in part on “doctored” graphs and inaccurate analyses.

It could take a year or more…

It could take a year or more for the NCAA to gather all the so-called "facts" and hear UM's appeal.  A delay in providing support would invite more damage to the reputation of Harbaugh and UM.  

I suggest that each of us…

I suggest that each of us copy your post and send it in some form to each of the regents as well as Santa Ono.  Does anyone have their email addresses?  

From Wilkipedia:

In…

From Wilkipedia:

In December 2007, the Star-Ledger reported that Schiano spoke with University of Michigan athletic director Bill Martin "for quite a while" on December 5 about the head-coaching vacancy at the school. Two days later, he withdrew his name from consideration…

In 2016, after two seasons coaching Berkeley Preparatory School and sending two players to Davidson College in North Carolina, Schiano was hired by head coach Urban Meyer to serve as defensive coordinator/associate head coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes football program

While the Ohio State defense struggled in 2018 after losing defensive end Nick Bosa, Schiano took on a larger role, helping then interim head coach Ryan Day during head coach Urban Meyer's suspension

In 2016, a Philadelphia court released documents in relation to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal revealing testimony from Mike McQueary stating that Schiano was aware of the abuse by fellow assistant coach Jerry Sandusky

On November 26, 2017, the University of Tennessee was set to announce Schiano as the head football coach. However, due to a social media campaign including state representatives, alumni, national and local sportswriters, fans, and gubernatorial candidates, unhappy with Schiano's tenure at Penn State during the child sex abuse scandal, Tennessee backed out of the deal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Schiano

The effect of this "leak" of…

The effect of this "leak" of a vague unsubstantiated charge is to change the narrative.  Otherwise, announcers on Saturday would be talking more about MSU and Tucker.

The Red Sox had the curse of…

The Red Sox had the curse of the Bambino  The Cubs had the billy goat curse.  What curse have the Lions had?

 

Brock Purdy (tmr irrelevant)…

Brock Purdy (mr irrelevant) was a 3* recruit.  Same height as Jadyn 6'1"

https://247sports.com/player/brock-purdy-46039503/

True, although there are a…

True, although there are a number of ways schools do use endowment funds, there is also a lot of hoarding.  The attached link points out that they could use some endowment funds to enroll more students.  But that would decrease the status of elite schools---which keep their status in part by excluding students. 

So, it is entirely possible that some schools would not use the excess AD revenue to benefit students and the larger community.  That goes back to my earlier point about holding each elected Board of Trustees accountable.

    https://www.marketplace.org/2023/02/17/what-do-elite-colleges-do-with-all-that-endowment-money/

Thanks for the clarification…

Thanks for the clarification.  An economist might then ask: Do the handful of athletic departments with a positive net revenue  contribute any of their excess revenue to the schools themselves (which often pay employees much less than they could make in the private sector)?   

Shouldn’t they?  They are supposed to be non-profit entities.   The AD’s could not exist without the school, not the reverse.  They use the school’s brand.  Any excess revenue given to the school could reduce the school’s tuition, raise the salaries of their often poorly paid employees, and decrease their need for tax revenue.*

Moreover,  the poor decision about Tucker made by the AD and Board have brought more shame to the school.  This may decrease donations the school may have otherwise gotten (usually  helped by the AD).  It might even decrease the willingness of families to pay tuition to the school.  The AD and Board have made the school a laughing stock---just think of what Tucker was doing.  The shame the AD and Board have created have thus decreased the value of the university brand.

  *Or is the cart driving the horse?  As the Univ of Oklahoma president once said: “I want our university to be something the football team can be proud of.”

Depending on the resolution…

Depending on the resolution of legal matters, MSU is potentially on the hook for $71 million for Tucker's salary (after subtracting the contributions of the two major donors who helped pay the salary).  If there are 4 million households in Michigan on the hook for most of this salary, that would be up to $18 per household...

I'm sure this estimate is vastly oversimplified.  But aren't many  Michigan residents pissed about having to pay any  taxes to cover Tuck's absurd salary?  Aren't they pissed at MSU's state-elected Trustees, who must have indirectly enabled the colossally stupid hiring decision (and possibly leaks compromising MSU's legal position)?  Shouldn't these taxpayers have a right to question the salary committed to a future coach?

Not only did UM look much…

Not only did UM look much better than OSU.  UM's opponent was actually ranked higher preseason.  ECU was 10 spots higher than Indiana (#84 vs #94 per Sagarin)

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

Observations: In the AP poll…

Observations: In the AP poll, #2 UM is closer to #1 Ga than #3 OSU is to UM.  Also, OSU leads #4 Ala by only 2/1000 points.  In fact, if you combined the results of the AP and Coaches' polls, OSU would be #4, slightly behind #3 Ala.

Granted, these are only preseason polls..  But one fact is not.  It has been roughly 1,353 days since OSU last beat UM..

Unconfirmed reports suggest…

Unconfirmed reports suggest the truly horrific nature of the hazing:

Being forced to watch replays of every game from the 1-11 2022 season.

/s

Signed: 

A Northwestern (and UM) Alum

Jalen's next job?.  Jalen…

Jalen's next job?.  Jalen said he would "absolutely coach (college bb) "someday."   

https://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-basketball/former-michigan-basketball-player-jalen-rose-said-hell-100-percent-coach-someday/

Saturday Night Live recorded…

Saturday Night Live recorded his class reunion (at Harvard, played by Will Ferrel).

His girlfriend says: "I still have that 400-page love letter you sent me."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCr-lLVHPw0

Maybe he should join AA. …

Maybe he should join AA.  They have an excellent emergency roadside assistance program. 

It's called AA  AAA.

I agree.  Thanks for the…

I agree.  Thanks for the info.

I'd like to hear more about…

I'd like to hear more about how and where this crash actually occurred.  Brian Hartline has a  history of peculiar unexplained crashes in the wee hours of the morning, then referring the matter to his lawyer..

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/13/brian-hartline-flees-scene-after-car-accident/

https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/more-sports/looks-like-brian-hartline-got-drunk-crashed-and-gtfo/20337758/

MSN's newsfeed is terrible…

MSN's newsfeed is terrible....so much clickbait.   They were not only posting negative things about Harbaugh and UM but the opposite for OSU.  Example: One title suggests an OSU star has a shocking decision!  What?  The article says he is not transferring. Why? Because OSU is so great.  No matter that he never suggested he was transferring in the first place.

Sounds like a made-up propaganda piece from OSU's public relations firm---to whom they pay a bundle. I changed my home page so I no longer have to see the MSN newsfeed.

 

Truth is, George Washington…

Truth is, George Washington III had to leave OSU when he told them: "I cannot tell a lie."    /s

Sagarin still has us with…

Sagarin still has us with the toughest strength of schedule in the nation. 

http://sagarin.com/sports/cbsend.htm

(PS when we play Indiana in Indy, that shouldn't really be considered a "neutral" court).

Guess who has the #1…

Guess who has the #1 strength of schedule out of 358 teams (per Sagarin*)?

Yup

It's UM.

If the NCAA were rational, UM would be in.

*Other polls may differ (the NET rating is #6) but all of them will have UM near the top, especially after the OSU game and the BTT.  

Stauskas has a real chance…

Stauskas has a real chance with the Celtics   The team recently has improved its defensive roster but still needs more outside shooting.  Also,  Aaron Nesmith and Jalen Brown sprained their ankles this week and will likely be out  at least for Sundays game vs Brooklyn (Nesmith probably longer).  So, Stauskas will likely get some extended play this week.  One poster here said his second year is not guaranteed ---though the second article below says that’s “unclear”. In any case, he may have to show his skills pretty fast.  With teams already jockeying for playoff position, minutes may be harder to find as time passes.

Here are the upcoming nationally televised games.
March 6, 1pm vs Brooklyn  ABC

March 13  3:30 pm vs Dallas ABC

March 16  10:00 pm @ Golden State ESPN

March 30   7:30 pm   vs Miami   ESPN

April 7         7:30 pm   @ Milwaukee  TNT

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/nba-rumors-celtics-signing-veteran-nik-stauskas-out-g-league

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2022/03/04/celtics-nik-stauskas/

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/bos

There have been many…

There have been many interesting and valid comments here on Harbaugh’s behavior.  But how about the AD’s?  While  Warde Manuel faced a difficult fiscal problem in 2020, he created a public relations disaster with Harbaugh’s contract revisions.  Cutting Harbaugh’s basesalary by 50% with reduced buyouts essentially invited him to leave.  The media portrayed the offer as punishment for his performance, ignoring that it was only half a season and occurred during the most deadly and life-altering pandemic in more than a century.  That year, some key players sat out .  Some assistant’s were probably more preoccupied with preserving their own lives than teaching how to block and tackle.  .

Harbaugh too must have seen the offer as insulting, given the salaries of other coaches with credentials far less than his (5th all-time win pct among NFL HC’s, not to mention making the SB, his record in resurrecting multiple college programs  and himself being a Pro Bowl NFL QB).  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think other staff---including Warde Manuel himself, who signed onto a new 6-year contract--- had salaries cut only 5-10% for a year---not 50% for many years (I wonder if Harbaughs gift of his “incentive” pay to AD staff was partly to highlight the apparent inequities).

Yes, Harbaugh’s salary incentives may have motivated better performance and staff changes this year.  But for this short-term gain, UM now pays significant  long-term costs.

 

MSU getting in bed with…

MSU getting in bed with Caesar’s reminds me of ex-OSU QB Art Schlichter, who finally got out of prison 5 months ago.   While at OSU, his pathological gambling grew.  He bet a lot on sports, including college FB as well as college BB.   OSU denied knowledge of this.  But he was reportedly seen several times with Coach Earl Bruce at the track (Bruce denied they were “together”).

I’ve got nothing against gambling.  But it's one thing for a coach to set a bad example for kids.  It’s another thing for a state-funded university to do so.   What message is MSU sending by  getting in bed with Caesar’s?  And think about what could happen when college sports funding depends on organized gambling.  Think about it.

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/10/sports/schlichter-a-pattern-of-gambling-that-began-in-his-youth.html

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2021/08/31/ex-colts-quarterback-art-schlichter-released-prison/5668539001/

 

While this is an important…

While this is an important topic, OP should make it clear that this is OT---it is NOT the Adrian Arrington who played WR at UM.  It is someone of the same name who played DB at Eastern Illinois/  https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2013-01-04-ct-met-college-concussion-20130104-story.html

Beyond "acting like an…

Beyond "acting like an asshole idiot", Urban apparently admits “he had too much to drink."”  Given that he apparently acts like this often now---having multiple conflicts with players and coaches--- I wonder if Urban has a real alcohol problem.  It’s not just that he was filmed with a strange woman in a bar.  Alcohol can cause: 1. Anxiety 2.  depression and 3. Insomnia, all of which he’s admitted in the past.  He also has admittedly abused ambien (a sleep medication). And anxiety can be a sign of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. 

Of course, maybe it’s just a coincidence that he has had all these problems.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/florida-football/urban-meyer-opens-mental-health-florida/#:~:text=Meyer%20said%20he%20struggled%20with,where%20you%20can't%20think.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/10/04/urban-meyer-bar-video-gropes-womans-butt/5994743001/

I realize you aren't…

I realize you aren't proposing this as a good ranking method, just one that produces interesting results, given its simplicity. Clearly, it does not directly consider SOS and win pct.   It rewards teams that may have losses but seek to impress via massive yardage totals and blowout wins of weak opponents with tough schedules.  According to a broad cross-section of 25 different computer polls, OSU isn’t  #2 in the nation---It’s  #2  in Ohio.

https://masseyratings.com/cf/compare.htm

Beyond natural abilities,…

Beyond natural abilities, motivation is one of those crucial intangibles---not just in athletics but life in general.  It’s not easy to evaluate.  But after 198 draft picks overlooked the GOAT, I wonder if the NFL has wised up.  Motivation certainly played a huge role in Brady’s success.   

Among the teams you say…

Among the teams you say would go undefeated, only 3-loss Wisc had a clearly tougher schedule than UM.  Iowa had only a very slightly tougher one (Sagarin Rank #18 Iowa  vs. #21 UM). 

Also, if a team had an 80% chance of independently beating each of UM’s opponents, it would still have only a 32% chance of actually going undefeated.  Even if a team had a 90% chance of beating each UM opponent, it would still have only a 58% chance. 

I invite you to use SOS ratings than Sagarin if you like.  But in any case, the chance that all the teams you listed would go undefeated, like UM, would be vanishingly small.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

I share your dream.  But the…

I share your dream.  But the best bet to get TB to come to AA regularly would be to have him set up a TB12 training facility in the area.  Apparently, that business---and acting?--- is what he plans on pursuing after his playing career.

https://www.sportscasting.com/will-tom-brady-ever-become-an-nfl-coach/