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As much as Brian loves…

As much as Brian loves Medved, it really doesn't sound like he's on Michigan's board at the moment.

Reading this filled me with…

Reading this filled me with so much happiness. Welcome back, Ace, you've been such an important voice in shaping my relationship to Michigan sports over the years.

It's important to remember…

It's important to remember that while it was one of the best Indiana teams ever, it was still Indiana at the end of the day.

Strongly agreed -- Georgia…

Strongly agreed -- Georgia lost because they only put up 23 points, not because they allowed Bama to have 26.

Seems like Michigan might be…

Seems like Michigan might be best keeping Mikey on the outside and playing McBurrows at nickel, no?

Yeah, the big thing here is…

Yeah, the big thing here is that success rate only looks at success rate, not at how much above or below the threshold you are. It's one reason that SP+ from Bill Connelly also looks at points per play, which looks at explosiveness. Michigan was a little behind Penn State in overall success rate (though both had a lot of three and outs), but Michigan blew Penn State away in points generated, which shows up on the expected points added chart, pasted in from Gameonpaper.com

 

If you haven't seen…

If you haven't seen McMillions, I would recommend it highly based off of your list.

https://www.hbo.com/mc-millions

That's right, but they've…

That's right, but they've decided to do it such an expensive way that they won't let people even apply to be user testers.

Where is the watchalong…

Here's the Watchalong link for those like me who didn't know where to look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T9pwCMHeok

The Iowa fan I know who…

The Iowa fan I know who tracks it most closely assumes Brian as NFL assistant is the most likely outcome. 

The clipping wasn't clipping…

The clipping wasn't clipping, but I do believe it to be an illegal cut block, which is a new rule for the 2022 season.

This rule change was put in place this year, in part to avoid Grant Newsome-type injuries:

"1. Players aligned in a stationary position within 1-yard of the line of scrimmage within the tackle box may legally block below the waist in the tackle box on their initial line charge."

On a Zone Stretch, it's now basically impossible to make a legal cut block, as doing it legally requires an immediate cut after the snap while the ball is no further back than the QB holding it immediately after an under-center snap. The so-called free blocking zone is instantly gone on a shotgun snap, as once the ball is two yards into the backfield, it is considered outside the tackle box for the purposes of free blocking (it also makes blocks in the back instantly illegal).

For stretch and wide zone, since OL don't make an initial line charge when the ball is still in the free blocking zone, all cut blocks are basically illegal. It's not getting called consistently, and when it is called, it shouldn't be called clipping, but it's still a personal foul for 15 yards, so Iowa got a lot less screwed than everyone thinks.

I can't speak for Ben, but…

I can't speak for Ben, but the only real outcome is which book store makes money, Amazon or anyone else. Authors get an advance payment against future royalties before the book is published and then don't make more money until it's all paid off.

Only quirk I remember from when I was co-author on a book is that if you buy multiple copies from Amazon, it only gets reported as one copy to the NY Times Bestseller list, but that's unlikely to be an issue here.

I have to imagine it played…

I have to imagine it played a role -- he was targeted twice on the same drive, and the second one was absolutely disgusting (and Wisconsin fans booed the flag, which is really gross). He really never seemed the same after.

This is extremely accurate…

This is extremely accurate. Also solid are Indeed and Dangerous Man. 

The highlight that made best…

The highlight that made best use of the setting was definitely that fade to Cornelius Johnson. The way he slid on the snow leaving a streak was so iconic

It's impossible to overstate…

It's impossible to overstate how much Naz and the rest of the seniors have lifted this program to another tier. Prior to KBA coming in, the team had two trips ever beyond the NCAA first round (and not that many to the first round).

KBA got to the second round in her first year, and then it was a long string of WNIT appearances, including one championship.

Then Naz arrives. NCAA second round twice in a row, and now two sweet 16 appearances. Complete reset of expectations and the ceiling on the program.

I’m so excited about this…

I’m so excited about this. Harbaugh grew up as privileged as it gets in football as the son of a P5 position and G5 head coach, but he has spent his whole career providing opportunities for coaches without his connections. 

Having spent some time in…

Having spent some time in PNW winters, having it rain every day for 45 days is harder to deal with than a Michigan winter, at least for me. But if you buy the right rain gear and wear contacts instead of glasses, it can be just fine and not get in the way of many outdoor activities.

It also feels worse in urban environments than out in the woods, so I agree non-cities that are fairly short drives to an airport are ideal places to live, provided you can work from anywhere 

Warde's emphasis on Juwan's…

Warde's emphasis on Juwan's love of the university is very on point. Juwan was far and away the most excited fan at Michigan Stadium for the football games I've attended. Absolutely can't be faked.

Loved watching Diabate in…

Loved watching Diabate in the first half and TWill in the second. I would love to watch Bo Borowski get fired into the sun for calling that judo takedown against Hunter. Should have been a Block and a tech. 

He's an elite recruiter and…

He's an elite recruiter and special teams coordinator, and his TE groups have been better than the TEs with any other coach in the Harbaugh era. He's good.

Hart is still a huge upgrade as RBs coach.

There is no question to me…

There is no question to me that two years of development with Golden State is much better for Poole's long-term NBA success than 1-2 years with Michigan would have been, especially because playing with X was frustrating to him because he was almost never a primary ball-handler and distributor.

He was also clearly never going to develop on defense at Michigan. We can debate who's at fault in all of the above (Jordan definitely comes in for some blame there), but the fact is that going to top-level NBA franchise was the perfect way for him to elevate the flaws in his game.

There is no question to me…

There is no question to me that two years of development with Golden State is much better for Poole's long-term NBA success than 1-2 years with Michigan would have been, especially because playing with X was frustrating to him because he was almost never a primary ball-handler and distributor.

He was also clearly never going to develop on defense at Michigan. We can debate who's at fault in all of the above (Jordan definitely comes in for some blame there), but the fact is that going to top-level NBA franchise was the perfect way for him to elevate the flaws in his game.

Isn't Wisconsin 2-3, 1-2 in…

Isn't Wisconsin 2-3, 1-2 in the B1G?

Not a QB anymore in that…

Not a QB anymore in that situation. No special protections as a runner, which the pitch man remains unless he immediately goes down and removes himself from the play. 

The only FBS team that hasn…

The only FBS team that hasn’t absolutely demolished Northwestern is Duke. Duke is terrible and still won easily. Without smile Hankwitz as DC, the defense has absolutely fallen apart, and the offense is worse than usual. 

I’m feeling good about Moore…

I’m feeling good about Moore as OL/RGC coach, I think. This is a very smart scheme requiring smart, disciplined TEs and OLs. 

Is there no one in the…

Is there no one in the Michigan fanbase willing to apply parabolic principles to get the total flight path along the curve rather than the linear projection?

Thanks for everything, Brian…

Thanks for everything, Brian.

Take care of yourself, take care of yourself, take care of yourself.

None of this matters anywhere near as much. I've been really going through a mental health disaster for at least ten years that might finally be turning a corner, but it's only possible because I stopped doing what I thought I was required to. It was great hearing you on the podcast and reading this column this morning. But if those turn into perfunctory obligations again, take another step back. You've created a remarkable thing that, to your enormous credit, can continue regardless of your level of participation.

And Juwan will be back so soon.

Baldwin is a factor

Duplicate

Baldwin is a factor

Baldwin is a factor

Every reason? Other than…

Every reason? Other than football, basically everything about Tempe is more fun for a college kid than Tuscaloosa.

No doubt. He had Three…

No doubt. He had Three Musketeers facial hair at age 18.

Juwan's here at least as…

Juwan's here at least as long as his kids are in college. If he goes to the NBA again, it will be as head coach of Miami, most likely. By all accounts, Lakers ownership is a nightmare to deal with, and LeBron's insistence on dictating the assistant coaching staff (most notably demanding that Jason Kidd had to be on the staff regardless of head coach) makes it a much less desirable job.

Pat Riley's a big mentor of Juwan's, and I would be shocked if he recommended working to the Lakers given his own experience out west.

I’m not so sure they’re…

I’m not so sure they’re practical. How many horses did Patton ride in World War I and II? It was his own nostalgia for his time in the Pancho Villa Expedition of 1916. 

A lot of people seem to…

A lot of people seem to oppose the free market now that NIL exists.

Agreed. It looks better than…

Agreed. It looks better than I would expect, and I’d be fine with it for a game if they just get the stripes matching. 

Since Woj was the one who…

Since Woj was the one who floated that the Blazers were interested, this is as close to certainty as we will get. Great news!

Give him a big extension, though, Warde!

And on Scott Frost Day, no…

And on Scott Frost Day, no less.

As a Michigan fan who lives…

As a Michigan fan who lives in San Francisco, I was very skeptical about them taking Poole in the first round. His first year basically couldn't have gone worse. He was appalling on defense and his offense wasn't translating. Really started to feel like Stauskas pt. 2.

But he really turned it around after time in the G-League. The Warriors organization really helped him build his game, and he was a legit 6th man threat from the middle of his second year on. He's not Klay Thompson, but he did as good a job filling in that role on the team as anyone has in his absence. I really see him being a valuable piece for years and years to come. It's been fun to watch.

It’s insane to me that press…

It’s insane to me that press availabilities aren’t optional. There is no other field in which a private employee or individual (as opposed to a CEO or spokesperson) is required to provide open press conferences or lose money or even get suspended. 
 

Make it optional. I’m sure it didn’t used to be this way. 

I live in the Bay Area so…

I live in the Bay Area so watch the Warriors a lot. Last year, Poole was the worst version of himself. No effort at all on defense and taking a lot of really difficult shots and not making them.

After re-emerging from the G League this year, he's been really, really good. As another poster mentioned, he's been a top 3 scorer for the Warriors in their current win streak and has been a big reason why they haven't dropped a game since coming home from a rough road trip.

Most surprising, other than that his difficult shots are going in at a decent clip now, is that he is actually playing defense at a reasonable level. I've seen him lock up some very good guards in the last few weeks. Really has a chance to become the next Klay Thompson.

San Francisco-ish

 

IPAs…

San Francisco-ish

 

IPAs and other hoppy stuff: Cellarmaker, Alvarado Street, Humble Sea, Russian River, Ghost Town

Lagers: Kind of no one right now, but Russian River's stuff is very solid, and Ghost Town is doing some interesting stuff. Best lager brewer in the city is working at Laughing Monk, but it's hard to tell which beers are his recipe other than Alles Gut.

Stouts: Cellarmaker, Alvarado Street

Saisons and wild ales: Russian River, Sante Adairius, Urban Roots, Cellarmaker, Rare Barrel, 

She's only 56! She was hired…

She's only 56! She was hired at 23 straight from a grad assistant position at West Virginia. What a remarkable career.

Society has so, so much work…

Society has so, so much work to do in order to reduce the instance and harms of domestic violence. Way too many people convert their frustrations into physical harm on their partners, sometimes leading to this worst-case outcome.

It’s funny, I listened to…

It’s funny, I listened to the Brandon Quinn/Nick Baumgardner podcast yesterday, and they talked about the transfer point guard Michigan State just picked up. Most of the discussion was about how remarkable it is that Mike Smith gelled so seamlessly with this team at a new level of competition and a different style of play. 
 

The rest was about how hard it is for up-transfers in general to succeed. They struggled to name any in the Big Ten. Duncan getting overlooked again. 

When the search was on,…

When the search was on, Juwan was my pick. I knew, from his role recruiting the rest of the Fab Five that he would recruit better than Beilein. I had no idea just how great a CEO he would be once given the opportunity. So, so happy for him. 
 

I was ten when the Fab Five came around. Juwan was my favorite back then, in large part owing to his infectious positivity. He played with joy and inspired it in others. So special what he’s doing, and he doesn’t even have the crazy recruits on-board yet. What a special person. 

Postgame interview, first…

Postgame interview, first tweeted out by the beat writer for the Peoria paper.

https://twitter.com/itsallg_o_o_d/status/1365781925915488259

No, I'm very eager that…

No, I'm very eager that Michigan is going to play Illinois. I'm irritated by Brad Underwood (and many Illini fans) acting like Michigan went on its COVID pause just to avoid playing his team.  If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Juwan and the men's team aren't remotely scared of Illinois.

This game felt like Juwan…

This game felt like Juwan wanted to make KenPom look bad.