Pleasant surprises: Wyatt Shallman displayed good patience/vison, and looked like he might be able to contribute in this offense. Ways seem to be progressing nicely, though that may just be lack of depth. On the other side of the ball, it seems like Lawrence Marshall is being given plenty of opportunities to show what he can do. Brandon Watson should provide good depth in the defensive backfield as well.
Disappointments: Derrick Green did not impress, though to be fair his blockers didn't do him any favors out there. Also, Norfleet as DB was as bad as it sounds.
As expected: Smith and Darboh are good (not great) players who may be leaned on a bit too much at times. Butt is also a good weapon, but seems to disappear for stretches or be target on too many back-to-back plays. Malzone showed good poise for a true freshman, but will need time. For the defense, the returning starters/contributors looked good and the DTs looked to be a strength. Hill and Clark continue to show flashes at safety and should be servicable options depending on how they decide to deploy Peppers. Dymonte Thomas also popped up here and there, but left a bit to be disired.
Not enough data: Isaac, Speight, B. Cole, Bunting, the DEs, and the OL (as a complete unit).
TBD: Morris looked his best when picking on DB Norfleet, who was exposed all afternoon. Aside than that, his performance was a mixed bag at best. He still needs to work on dialing back the velocity on intermediate routes. The fall competition with Rudock will be interesting, but in my opinion Morris hasn't shown any reason why he shouldn't start the season at back-up again.
*edit: Looking back, this seems like ages ago. Amazing how much this team has developed in less than 1 year. Harbaugh.
I agree, The Long Halloween is an all-around excellent story, and probably my favorite. Year One and The Killing Joke are also right up there as far as essential Batman stories go, and Scott Snyder has been tearing it up in his current run.
While I'm on DC characters, I'd never really found Green Lantern to be that compelling. But I've gotta say, I'm really glad that I checked out the reboot by Geoff Johns and his War of Light arc (through Blackest Night). Those books have been really fun to read, and have certainly changed my mind.
As for Image books, I've got to recommend East of West. John Hickman's really got something great going with this apocalyptic sci-fi western. Also, Ed Brubaker's Cold War espionage story, Velvet, is yet another new title to keep an eye out for.
Ran the Detroit Marathon last year. For me, the Chicago Marathon delivers the best overall experience and sets a pretty high standard. The Detroit race is a bit more low-key, but is still worth checking out. As was mentioned by others, the best things about the Detroit course are front-loaded. Crossing over the Ambassador bridge into Canada (~mile 3) was awesome, and you couldn't beat the view. The course takes you along the river and around Windsor a bit before you hit the tunnel back to Detroit (~mile 8), making for a fun first half. As far as ID, I put my passport (which was required for registration and packet pick-up) in a ziploc bag and taped it to the back of my bib just in case. I didn't notice anyone getting stopped, but things were pretty tight around the boarder crossings.
It does drop off from there, though. The field really thins out as the 1/2 marathoners split off, and the general lack of spectators makes for some very quiet stretches across the back-end. I also agree with the other runners who said that the Belle Isle section was a bit uninspiring. Most of the course is flat, though, so the miles do tend to go by fairly quickly. One of the things that kind of annoyed me was the fact that a relay was being run concurrently, which was very noticeable towards the end of the race. As you're starting to hit the wall, you have runners who are just starting off their short leg - many of them flying past you as you are fighting to keep pace. While the added motivation of passing them a mile or so later was helpful, their enthusiasm was not shared by many that late in the game.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking the Detroit Marathon out at least once - even if you decide just to do the International 1/2 Marathon (first half). The two country aspect was very unique and it made for a fun homecoming.
Well, seeing how my avatar is extinct, I'll just leave you with a selection of quotes from 'Jurassic Park'. Strangely, it would not have surprised me to find any of these lines strewn across the inter-webs during an outbreak of MGoUniverse's collective schadenfreude...
On our Offense to date:
-"We spared no expense."
-"Don't you see the danger, [Al], inherent in what you're doing here?"
-"That is one big pile of shit."
-"Gee, the lack of humility before nature that's being displayed here, uh... staggers me."
-"Look at how much blood!"
-"Yeah, yeah, but your [coaches] were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."
-"You never had control, that's the illusion! I was overwhelmed by the power of this place. But I made a mistake, too, I didn't have enough respect for that power and it's out now. The only thing that matters now are the people we love."
On 'The Game':
-"Anybody hear that? It's a, um... It's an impact tremor, that's what it is... I'm fairly alarmed here."
-"Must go faster."
-"I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way."
-"Hold on to your butts!"
Unlike the dinosaurs, this season does not have to end in total annihilation. There's always a chance to spoil the party, boys!
6) Eastern (Time Zone) & Central (Time Zone), or simply keep the current names and reorganize them geographically; i.e., Leaders (Eastern) & Legends (Central).
8) Somewhat Important (*if these can be protected/guaranteed across divisions, it is not a deal breaker)
9) Somewhat Important (*see note from #8; i.e. Michigan vs. Minnesota)
10) Yes, increase to 10 games (*no more baby seals; realistically, 9 games would happen first)
11) Every Big Ten team qualifies
12) No
13) Divisions are not necessary for basketball; the conference schedule can be increased if needed.
14) Yes
15) Yes (*it is a brand)
16) Conference expansion for the sake of expansion alone is foolish. I support the recent move to add Maryland and Rutgers, though, as I believe that these additions will be beneficial to the conference in the long term. I would be less supportive of a move to 16 teams as I feel that it could damage the integrity of the Big Ten, and collegiate athletics as a whole. If this were to occur, however, I would hope that the Big Ten looks to the following universities as realistic candidates: Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, & Kansas. Each of these institutions fits the profile of a Big Ten school with existing AAU membership, geographic continuity, and academic and athletic excellence, while expanding the conference's footprint.
At first glance, the situation appears to be that Maryland is being proactive and making a play for B1G membersip as a way to generate more long-term revenue and visibility. Taking advantage of an opportunity to secure - or at least pursue - a coveted spot in a conference such as ours is a smart move not only for an athletic department, but for unversity leaders in general.
This is not unlike when Mizzou was inquiring about becoming our 12th member. They felt that the Big XII was moving in a direction that was not in their best interest, and they made a run at the conference that could offer them the most value and long term stability. When we said no (an unfortunate call, IMO) they moved on to the next best thing - the SEC.
Instead, we were able to land Nebraska, a university that had a good deal of football tradition, fit in nicely with the conference's geographic footprint, and (at the time at least...) had AAU membership. The one thing we missed out on was the opportunity to broaden the television market share - something that can bring added value to the Big Ten Network as an increased regional viewership = increased $.
Given the fact that we will not land ND - the only player within our footprint that we have yet to add - we should at the very least be open to the idea of new opportunities as we move forward. As we missed out on an opportunity to jump into the St. Louis market and fan the Illinois/Missouri flame (think St. Louis/Chicago rivalries), the only other markets that would make geographic sense would be: PA, NY, DC, & NE.
Pitt and Syracuse are starting fresh and heading to the ACC, so that ship has sailed. Temple? No. BC? Probably wouldn't come now that they've all but guaranteed their ND match-up as ACC members.
Rutgers? I have yet to be convinced that they would be able to draw any more network memberships or ticket sales from the NY marketplace than we already have been. Would a New Yorker be more likely to travel to Rutgers for a game against a middling Big Ten team than they would for a Big East match-up? I remain undecided about this one.
To me, though, Maryland is an intriguing prospect. 1) Fits geographically while giving Penn State some East-side support. 2) AAU membership. 3) If properly funded, their teams have the potential to be competitive in future years. MD basketball would certainly be a solid gain for any conference... 4) Would expand the conference's footprint into the DC market.
Despite the current state of their athletic department, I think that the Big Ten conference should take the time to consider adding Maryland. Such a conference jump would undoubtedly rekindle local interest in the team. The accessibility of Big Ten games could also be a major factor as the metro-DC area boasts a very strong Big Ten alumni base.
But as schools, like recruits, commit in pairs these days, I would like to see the conference make a run at UVA. I understand the initial appeal of Rutgers, but there have also been rumblings that Virginia was unhappy playing second fiddle to VT (think Texas A&M and Texas) during the last conference realignment session. And you have to admit, swiping both Maryland and Virginia from the ACC would be a coup.
I’ve been following mgoblog for a long time, and decided to finally contribute following the introduction of the new coaching regime. Seeing how yesterday’s events resulted in a collective ‘WTF??’ among much of the Michigan faithful, I felt that it is only appropriate to use my inaugural post as a way to get past it and move forward…
Positive #1: Restoring Michigan’s Public Image
The act of bringing in Hoke at this point appeases journalists of the misunderstood and over-hyped ‘Michigan Man’ criteria – so at least they can’t pull that card. Also, with his generally positive resume and little baggage we can seemingly move on from the negative commentary that dominated the past three seasons (warranted or not).
Positive #2: Recruiting (long-term)
It might take a while to get over the transitional hump as we turn from the recruitment of speedy, spread-happy athletes to those with more of a Man-ball mentality, but I have faith that with a little patience Hoke will try to adapt to what he has for the time being and find that it is not entirely a bad thing for him, or for Michigan football. He also should be an instant upgrade when it comes to drawing big time defensive prospects. Additionally, with the MSM appeased, we can rebuild our brand in our own backyard and in time return to the level of a nation-wide recruiting powerhouse that is a direct pipeline to the NFL.
Positive #3: Direction of the program
A wise man once said, “those who stay will be champions.” I have faith that those who buy into our new regime will be rewarded for their hard work and dedication. I cannot speculate as to what is best for the individual athletes, but one can only hope that jumping from the De-boring offense to the spread, and back to Man-Ball will not be as devastating a transition as we were forced to suffer through in 2008. I expect that Hoke (and Borges now) will be more than willing to take the ‘smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em’ approach and adopt a bit more of a hybrid look over the next few seasons, as opposed to trying to put a square peg into a round hole. It will take a bit of luck, and again – a bit of patience, but success is not out of the question for this team over the next few seasons. Hell, a win over MSU and/or OSU in ’11 would make Hoke an instant hero in AA!
Positive #4: Chance to make a splash with big-name (defensive) staff members
If done right, Hoke has the opportunity to build a staff that can squeeze the most out of the current roster, while also allowing our football program to reach its full potential in the years to come. DB said he was willing to pay top dollar for an elite coaching staff and it’s time to put up or shut up. Brady was by no means the sexiest candidate, but in many ways his assistants will be the ones who will make or break his career at UofM.
Positive #5: Hoke is a man with something to prove Regardless of all of the negativity surrounding him, I was a RR supporter because he was the Michigan coach. He stuck to his guns no matter what the media, grumpy fans, or former players were saying and turned our offense into a young force in the B1G…??!! (don’t get me started…) Nevertheless, I always felt that our teams under RR were lacking that Michigan swagger, or a cutthroat mentality – with the expectation of victory on every gameday. The dawn of a new era inMichigan football history gives Hoke the opportunity to rekindle those old expectations among his players, and to take advantage of the unprecedented low expectations of our football program to date. It has all the makings of a great comeback story for the Wolverines – and whodoesn’t like those?
Now, more than ever, we need to stand behind our coach, our players, and the administration behind them. Come on, Brady, build us a team worthy of Michigan! GO BLUE!!
Recent Comments
reddit: Point_Blanke
Baba O'Riley.
Maybe next year the strategy will be to conduct coup attempts on pipelines traditionally viewed as unbreachable.
Pleasant surprises: Wyatt Shallman displayed good patience/vison, and looked like he might be able to contribute in this offense. Ways seem to be progressing nicely, though that may just be lack of depth. On the other side of the ball, it seems like Lawrence Marshall is being given plenty of opportunities to show what he can do. Brandon Watson should provide good depth in the defensive backfield as well.
Disappointments: Derrick Green did not impress, though to be fair his blockers didn't do him any favors out there. Also, Norfleet as DB was as bad as it sounds.
As expected: Smith and Darboh are good (not great) players who may be leaned on a bit too much at times. Butt is also a good weapon, but seems to disappear for stretches or be target on too many back-to-back plays. Malzone showed good poise for a true freshman, but will need time. For the defense, the returning starters/contributors looked good and the DTs looked to be a strength. Hill and Clark continue to show flashes at safety and should be servicable options depending on how they decide to deploy Peppers. Dymonte Thomas also popped up here and there, but left a bit to be disired.
Not enough data: Isaac, Speight, B. Cole, Bunting, the DEs, and the OL (as a complete unit).
TBD: Morris looked his best when picking on DB Norfleet, who was exposed all afternoon. Aside than that, his performance was a mixed bag at best. He still needs to work on dialing back the velocity on intermediate routes. The fall competition with Rudock will be interesting, but in my opinion Morris hasn't shown any reason why he shouldn't start the season at back-up again.
*edit: Looking back, this seems like ages ago. Amazing how much this team has developed in less than 1 year. Harbaugh.
I agree, The Long Halloween is an all-around excellent story, and probably my favorite. Year One and The Killing Joke are also right up there as far as essential Batman stories go, and Scott Snyder has been tearing it up in his current run.
While I'm on DC characters, I'd never really found Green Lantern to be that compelling. But I've gotta say, I'm really glad that I checked out the reboot by Geoff Johns and his War of Light arc (through Blackest Night). Those books have been really fun to read, and have certainly changed my mind.
As for Image books, I've got to recommend East of West. John Hickman's really got something great going with this apocalyptic sci-fi western. Also, Ed Brubaker's Cold War espionage story, Velvet, is yet another new title to keep an eye out for.
Ran the Detroit Marathon last year. For me, the Chicago Marathon delivers the best overall experience and sets a pretty high standard. The Detroit race is a bit more low-key, but is still worth checking out. As was mentioned by others, the best things about the Detroit course are front-loaded. Crossing over the Ambassador bridge into Canada (~mile 3) was awesome, and you couldn't beat the view. The course takes you along the river and around Windsor a bit before you hit the tunnel back to Detroit (~mile 8), making for a fun first half. As far as ID, I put my passport (which was required for registration and packet pick-up) in a ziploc bag and taped it to the back of my bib just in case. I didn't notice anyone getting stopped, but things were pretty tight around the boarder crossings.
It does drop off from there, though. The field really thins out as the 1/2 marathoners split off, and the general lack of spectators makes for some very quiet stretches across the back-end. I also agree with the other runners who said that the Belle Isle section was a bit uninspiring. Most of the course is flat, though, so the miles do tend to go by fairly quickly. One of the things that kind of annoyed me was the fact that a relay was being run concurrently, which was very noticeable towards the end of the race. As you're starting to hit the wall, you have runners who are just starting off their short leg - many of them flying past you as you are fighting to keep pace. While the added motivation of passing them a mile or so later was helpful, their enthusiasm was not shared by many that late in the game.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking the Detroit Marathon out at least once - even if you decide just to do the International 1/2 Marathon (first half). The two country aspect was very unique and it made for a fun homecoming.
Well, seeing how my avatar is extinct, I'll just leave you with a selection of quotes from 'Jurassic Park'. Strangely, it would not have surprised me to find any of these lines strewn across the inter-webs during an outbreak of MGoUniverse's collective schadenfreude...
On our Offense to date:
-"We spared no expense."
-"Don't you see the danger, [Al], inherent in what you're doing here?"
-"That is one big pile of shit."
-"Gee, the lack of humility before nature that's being displayed here, uh... staggers me."
-"Look at how much blood!"
-"Yeah, yeah, but your [coaches] were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."
-"You never had control, that's the illusion! I was overwhelmed by the power of this place. But I made a mistake, too, I didn't have enough respect for that power and it's out now. The only thing that matters now are the people we love."
On 'The Game':
-"Anybody hear that? It's a, um... It's an impact tremor, that's what it is... I'm fairly alarmed here."
-"Must go faster."
-"I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way."
-"Hold on to your butts!"
Unlike the dinosaurs, this season does not have to end in total annihilation. There's always a chance to spoil the party, boys!
Double Post
Manti Te'o Joins Notre Dame's Long Tradition Of Bullshit: http://deadspin.com/manti-te.o/
1) Michigan
At first glance, the situation appears to be that Maryland is being proactive and making a play for B1G membersip as a way to generate more long-term revenue and visibility. Taking advantage of an opportunity to secure - or at least pursue - a coveted spot in a conference such as ours is a smart move not only for an athletic department, but for unversity leaders in general.
This is not unlike when Mizzou was inquiring about becoming our 12th member. They felt that the Big XII was moving in a direction that was not in their best interest, and they made a run at the conference that could offer them the most value and long term stability. When we said no (an unfortunate call, IMO) they moved on to the next best thing - the SEC.
Instead, we were able to land Nebraska, a university that had a good deal of football tradition, fit in nicely with the conference's geographic footprint, and (at the time at least...) had AAU membership. The one thing we missed out on was the opportunity to broaden the television market share - something that can bring added value to the Big Ten Network as an increased regional viewership = increased $.
Given the fact that we will not land ND - the only player within our footprint that we have yet to add - we should at the very least be open to the idea of new opportunities as we move forward. As we missed out on an opportunity to jump into the St. Louis market and fan the Illinois/Missouri flame (think St. Louis/Chicago rivalries), the only other markets that would make geographic sense would be: PA, NY, DC, & NE.
Pitt and Syracuse are starting fresh and heading to the ACC, so that ship has sailed. Temple? No. BC? Probably wouldn't come now that they've all but guaranteed their ND match-up as ACC members.
Rutgers? I have yet to be convinced that they would be able to draw any more network memberships or ticket sales from the NY marketplace than we already have been. Would a New Yorker be more likely to travel to Rutgers for a game against a middling Big Ten team than they would for a Big East match-up? I remain undecided about this one.
To me, though, Maryland is an intriguing prospect. 1) Fits geographically while giving Penn State some East-side support. 2) AAU membership. 3) If properly funded, their teams have the potential to be competitive in future years. MD basketball would certainly be a solid gain for any conference... 4) Would expand the conference's footprint into the DC market.
Despite the current state of their athletic department, I think that the Big Ten conference should take the time to consider adding Maryland. Such a conference jump would undoubtedly rekindle local interest in the team. The accessibility of Big Ten games could also be a major factor as the metro-DC area boasts a very strong Big Ten alumni base.
But as schools, like recruits, commit in pairs these days, I would like to see the conference make a run at UVA. I understand the initial appeal of Rutgers, but there have also been rumblings that Virginia was unhappy playing second fiddle to VT (think Texas A&M and Texas) during the last conference realignment session. And you have to admit, swiping both Maryland and Virginia from the ACC would be a coup.
Positive #1: Restoring Michigan’s Public Image
Positive #2: Recruiting (long-term)
Positive #3: Direction of the program
A wise man once said, “those who stay will be champions.” I have faith that those who buy into our new regime will be rewarded for their hard work and dedication. I cannot speculate as to what is best for the individual athletes, but one can only hope that jumping from the De-boring offense to the spread, and back to Man-Ball will not be as devastating a transition as we were forced to suffer through in 2008. I expect that Hoke (and Borges now) will be more than willing to take the ‘smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em’ approach and adopt a bit more of a hybrid look over the next few seasons, as opposed to trying to put a square peg into a round hole. It will take a bit of luck, and again – a bit of patience, but success is not out of the question for this team over the next few seasons. Hell, a win over MSU and/or OSU in ’11 would make Hoke an instant hero in AA!
Positive #4: Chance to make a splash with big-name (defensive) staff members
If done right, Hoke has the opportunity to build a staff that can squeeze the most out of the current roster, while also allowing our football program to reach its full potential in the years to come. DB said he was willing to pay top dollar for an elite coaching staff and it’s time to put up or shut up. Brady was by no means the sexiest candidate, but in many ways his assistants will be the ones who will make or break his career at UofM.
Positive #5: Hoke is a man with something to prove
Regardless of all of the negativity surrounding him, I was a RR supporter because he was the Michigan coach. He stuck to his guns no matter what the media, grumpy fans, or former players were saying and turned our offense into a young force in the B1G…??!! (don’t get me started…) Nevertheless, I always felt that our teams under RR were lacking that Michigan swagger, or a cutthroat mentality – with the expectation of victory on every gameday. The dawn of a new era in Michigan football history gives Hoke the opportunity to rekindle those old expectations among his players, and to take advantage of the unprecedented low expectations of our football program to date. It has all the makings of a great comeback story for the Wolverines – and who doesn’t like those?
Now, more than ever, we need to stand behind our coach, our players, and the administration behind them. Come on, Brady, build us a team worthy of Michigan! GO BLUE!!