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I'm sure I'll get zinged for

I'm sure I'll get zinged for this, but I'll still make the argument ...

I haven't seen Z Irvin's name mentioned much on this thread, but it's quite possible that, assuming everyone else returns, Hardaway could see less minutes next year.  He did disappear at critical points in the season and his defense was suspect at best.  I am certainly not claiming to be prophetic, but two years ago I said Burke will make everyone forget about Morris; I am saying today, having seen this kid play a couple of times, Irvin will make the transition away from Hardaway less painful

Why wasn't Malik McDowell

Why wasn't Malik McDowell there? 

This is true.  As a teacher,

This is true.  As a teacher, whenever a student reports to me a possible crime, especially involving a minor, I always stop him/her, and remind the student that I am required by law to report any potential crime to my superiors.

What I don't understand is why both McQueary and Paterno put nothing in writing.  When I verbally report a potential abuse case (and I have had my fair share), I always send a follow-up email just to CMA.  You'd think McQueary wouldve sent an email that began with "Per our conversation ... here's what I saw; here's what I told you; here's what you said you were going to do..."

Bone heads

In case anyone is interested:

In case anyone is interested: AA Pioneer (Johnson) plays at CC (Godin and Shallman) on Saturday at 1:00.  Cass Tech (RJS and Richardson) visits DeLasalle (Morris) Friday at 7:00.

It'll be interesting to see

It'll be interesting to see what happens this weekend; AA Pioneer plays Godin and CC.  If Johnson goes off on this stout defense, I'll be sold.

Two other U of M commits injured as well

Per pay site.... RJS and TRich did not play this week.  Royce with a deep thigh bruise, and Terry with an ankle sprain.

I officiatiated this guy...

Granted I was working the umpire position against a really bad team (Thurston was up 42-0 at the end of the first quarter), but truth be told no one really stuck out, including Wilson.  I commented to my colleagues that Thurston was loaded with a bunch of athletes with really no beef eaters.

The one guy who I heard State has offered (or close to) is this kid Tommie Bush out of Michigan Collegiate.  He's the real deal.  No one could tackle or block this kid. 

Many of these players don't go to camp for a number of reasons, thus too many fly under the radar.  This may have been the case of Desmond Morgan who has quite the future for the Maize and Blue.

Great post as always.  I get

Great post as always.  I get the feeling that recruitment is going to take a hiatus for a few weeks.  These kids begin two-a-days soon, with the first scrimmage the 18th.  Everything will be ratcheted up a notch for the Notre Dame game, where it appears every recruit and his brother are attending.

I may have missed it, but any word on the Cass/FHH contingent?  Any Cass targets for 2013 attend?

What's interesting is that

What's interesting is that Ohio sites for the most part have Wormley in the top five best players in the state.  Buckeye Grove (threw-up a little in my mouth) has him as the fourth best player in Ohio behind Kalis #1 U of M, McMullen #2 Nebraska, and Pittman #3 MSU.  U of M now has 4 of the top 10 players in Ohio: Bolden #8 and Ringer #10.

Question

I read on a paid post that there are at least two 2013 prospects planning on attending: Ty Isaac, a running back from Illinois, and an offensive tackle (something) Bosch.  Yet I did not see them on any list of those attending the BBQ.  Are they still coming?  Are there others attending who are not listed?  What about the OT (something) Fox?  Just curious.

Just read from a site not to

Just read from a site not to be named that the Butler coaches already conceded Zak Irvin.  If we get him and McGary, we'll be Big Ten contenders for many years to come.

Will Campbell was a 5-star DL

Will Campbell was a 5-star DL stud out of Cass Tech.  I would love to see this kid finally live up to his potential and not be labeled a product of a very effective PR campaign.

One of my fond memories was seeing him play a district basketball game against U of D Jesuit (my alma mater).  On the floor at the same time were three U of M commits, all in different sports: Campbell in football, Jordan Morgan in basketball, and Dan Fields in baseball.  (Fields, Mr. Baseball that year, eventually signed a multi-mllion dollar deal to play for the Tigers.)  U of D won the game and Campbell, as it was painfully obvious, did not have a future in basketball.

Unfortunately Peat just

Unfortunately Peat just announced his top schools list and Michigan is not on it: Texas, FSU, ND, and Nebraska.

I'm not trying to defend

I'm not trying to defend Dantonio, but the true literary definition of a tragic hero (one who is destroyed by some flaw) actually fits Tressel.  To have Brandstatter use the term "heroic" the way he did doesn't apply to Dantonio's comments.

I would still ove to get at

I would still ove to get at least 1 Rivals 5-star guy fpr a little street cred.  If Kalis has a good season and stays injured-free, he should be given a 5-star rating by the end of the year.  Other than thatmaybe Magnuson?  During the Lloyd era, we were almost guaranteed at least 1: Warren, Burgess, Mallett, etc. 

Yet in terms of early 5-star guys, we appar to be on the outside looking in.  Hopefully this changes in the years to come.

The other guy that seems to be quite the anomoly is Wormley.  Sites in Ohio such as Buckeye Grove have him in the top five best players in Ohio; yet he's listed as only a 3-star.

I also noticed that T. Jones

I also noticed that T. Jones has not been removed from the 2011 depth chart by class from this site.  Is this an oversight or is he" medicaled"?

Penn State appears to be

Penn State appears to be leaking DL recruits.  One decommit and another had his scholarship pulled for academic reasons.  Too bad Michigan couldn't benefit.

Is Yerden that walk on from

Is Yerden that walk on from Portage (I believe) who broke the state dead-lifting record?  Just wondering.

Sam Webb just reported on

Sam Webb just reported on Scout that Stanford does have Michigan in his top group , and that he DOES plan on visiting.

Mauk visited today and then

Mauk visited today and then announced.  (Mizzo is really pulling in an outstanding class).

In something completely unrelated...

Per Josh at Rivals, Kalis is "thinking" about bringing the family to U of M this weekend. hmmmm.

I know this contradicts my last post but...

Due to immense pressure and poor play out of fan-favorite Brandon Inge, it is now rumored that life-long Tiger fan and heart throb Tom Selleck will be joining the team.

This is from the Penn State

This is from the Penn State Rivals site.  It's from an article from just three days ago:

Plus BWI is hearing Michigan is the reported leader for CB Wayne Morgan (5-11, 188) from Brooklyn, N.Y. and are in a battle with Penn State for the G&W Recruiting Report's all-Midwest FS Jarrod Wilson (6-2, 190) from Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio.

 

For what it's worth.

My Kespersky antivirus keeps

My Kespersky antivirus keeps sending me nastygrams, telling me I've been hit with something.  It starting happening after I posted a picture of two kittens while responding to a post whining how we're a bunch of meanies.  Damn him!

I was the back judge for your

I was the back judge for your home coming game against Ecorse (same day as the film crew was filming a scene from the movie Jinn).  I didn't take notice of Poet, but I thought your wide receiver -- the one who caught the winning touch down -- was pretty good.

I would probably consider

I would probably consider David Terrell and Jarod (spelling?) Bunch, first round pick from the Giants.  These two never came close to their college careers.

I would love to have him. 

I would love to have him.  But while we're on the topic of starnge twists, Penn State's Rival's page has Wayne Morgan still a Michigan lean.  I thought that ship had sailed.  Are they late to the party or is there a chance we land him?

My brother just bought five

My brother just bought five subscriptions and gave one to each member of the family.  What'd you do?  Break his knee caps?

Peter: "What am I going to do with 48 subscriptions to Vibe?"

I agree with O'Brien when he

I agree with O'Brien when he says that U of M is only going to take one big ugly (300+ DL).  As it stands, U of M is in good shape with DL's.  Don't let current weights fool you.  I went back and looked at all the DL's taken in the first round, what their orginal weight was and what their weight was when drafted.  Very Different.  Marcell Dareus was 277 in high school and finished at 319; JJ Watt was a 220 2-star recruit to CMU and finished at 290; Nick Fairly was 257 3-star OL and finished a 291 lb all-American DT.  Corey Liuget was 260 lb and finished a 298 DT; Adrien Clayburn was 247 and finished 281; Muhammad Wilkerson was a 255 DE and a finished 315 DT.  Finally, Cam Heyward was 264 and through numerous free cars and Tats, finished 294.

Granted all bodies are different and coaches can tell what kind of weight each person can add.  But with these natural weight progressions in mind, certainly Strobel, Godin (now listed as a 270 lb DT), and Wormley (assuming he commits) can and will grow into decent size interior DL's.  This also does not assume someone like an AJ Williams doesn't pull a Nick Fairly and move to the defensive side of the ball.

Michigan should have a dominant DL for many years to come.

Tom, is there any word on

Tom, is there any word on Thurston?  If you read the Nebraska Rivals site, one would believe that he's a Nebraska lean.  Could a Keenan and/or Olson commitment push Thurston away from U of M?  Thanks.

I'm a paying member to

I'm a paying member to Rivals, and I just read Notre Dame's article on Peat's visit.  Really there's nothing in there that leads me to believe that Peat is leaning to one school in particular.  ND interviewed his father who played for the Raiders.  Here's an excerpt:

When Notre Dame gets Peat on campus the goal will shift from showing the tackle how much he's wanted to proving the Irish program is where he can best reach his elite potential. The message received from the Notre Dame coaches will be key to getting Peat back for an official visit.

"That means a lot to us, just being able to call (Warinner), get him on the phone, plan a trip and feel out how they feel about Andrus," Peat Sr. said. "I tell my boys, you want to go somewhere where they believe in you. I said this to Todd (Jr.), that if coach (Bo) Pelini believes you can be the best defensive tackle in the country, that's all that should matter to you if you believe it. If he believes it, you believe it and you work hard, it can happen.

"You want to go somewhere where coaches identify talent and recognize that you can make a difference in their program, moving it in the right direction."

In short, Peat is not tipping his hat to any school he particulary likes.

Good job as always, Tom.  Do

Good job as always, Tom.  Do you get the feeling that this is going to be one of the best offensive line classes in recent memory?  Also, I haven't read much on Thurston out of Colorado.  Has that shipped sailed?  Or do you think Michigan still has the edge?

Question: How would it work

Question: How would it work if Banner commits to Michigan for football?  He said he wants to play basketball ('6.9).  Would that preclude Michigan from using a basketball scholarship for another player?

Doug Karsch on the Karsch and

Doug Karsch on the Karsch and Anderson show.  He mentioned that the same source who told him a week before Tressel resigned that ... Tressel would be out soon, mentioned the upcoming changes at OSU. 

I echo ryebreadboy's

I echo ryebreadboy's argument about the Ohio State.  There are rumblings that even more is coming out in the near future, and that the AD will be gone soon (replaced by Archie Griffin), and former OSU football players are pushing hard for a 100 percent clean slate.  Who would want to come to this train wreck knowing you won't play on New Year's day or possibly not on TV at all?

I would love a big wide receiver.  I still think (having officiated one of his games as the back judge) that Devin Funchess could play wide out in lieu of a tight end.  But having Stafford would really place a great deal of pressure on any opposing Defense.

What I really like about this

What I really like about this class is U of M did what  wanted to do in the state, forcing MSU to go places it's never been.  There really aren't any more highly touted players left to recruit in Michigan save for Aaron Burbidge, who I still worry is too much of an academic liability to take.  The next highest ranked player still on the board is Norfleet from King.  Yet others convinced me he is on the unhappy side of small for a Hoke running back.  Then there's the Battle Creek OL, yet methinks U of M is happy with the current and potential OL.

Oh, BTW, Dodson committed to Wisconson.  Let the OSU skids continue.

Rivals, IMO, does a fairly

Rivals, IMO, does a fairly decent job of predicting success.  Six of the top ten players taken in the 2011 NFL draft were five-star recruits.  Twelve of the first 32 players taken were four-star recruits, ten three-star, and only three two-star recruits (JJ Watt, Anthony Castonzo, and Muhammed Wilkerson). 

What worries me is offering guys who are barely on anybody's radar, them committing, thus scaring off high-end recruits.  Hopefully Michigan coaches are convinced Standifer and Gant are every bit as good as Morgan and Reeves.  Is Olson on par with Peats, Thurston, and Banner?

Tom,

Are you going to the

Tom,

Are you going to the Sound Mind camp to speak with any current and/or potential recruits?

Tom

 

Are you going to

Tom

 

Are you going to the Sound Mind camp to speak with any current and/or potential recruits?

I used to semi-respect Ari

I used to semi-respect Ari Wasserman, staff writer for BuckeyeGrove.  He at times seemed somewhat obvjective in his perspective of the OSU football program.  His most recent article on the Rivals site is titled "Pryor Becomes Buckeye Scapegoat."  Granted, the title itself implies that Pryor and, indeed, the OSU football program, is somehow being unfairly singled out.  He then, however, has a paragraph that I thought supports the notion of his objectivity:

Fair or not, Pryor's flashy entrance into Ohio State's practice facility (he showed up driving the fancy Nissan) was the last straw for many fans. It was almost a symbol that not even the undoing of one of Ohio State's most legendary coaches would be enough for the quarterback to think twice about how he arrived to the meeting.



OK, cool, he recognizes that Pryor's is a tool, and his selfishness is partly to blame for Tressle's undoing.

Wasserman then goes on to highlight several quotes from Pryor's attorney that alleges the SI article is "90 percent innacurate," because, as we all know, paid attorneys' quotes are a beacon of truth.  Wasserman then concludes with this little nugget:

For now, the negative press has turned Pryor into the scapegoat. Current investigations into his life could end up making those feelings justifiable, but for now they seem somewhat irrational. 

Tool.

Just curious...

I officiated this kid out of MLK named Dennis Norfleet, and I thought he was one of the most dominating backs I've seen.  I also see that some sites have him as high as the fifth best player in Michigan.  MSU has offered him, but Uof M has not.  Are the five backs that Mich has offered that much better than Norfleet including Dunn?  Academic issues?  Just wondering.

Rumblings about OSU

My sincere apologies for going off topic, but I was wondering if anyone else has heard the rumor about the May 31st issue of SI breaking another significant story about OSU football violations.  The rumblings have it a "9 out of 10" in terms of its impact.  Fingers crossed.

Saw Richardson...

My brothers officiated one of his games and came away extremely impressed with Richardson.  The opposing team refused to throw to Hallowell's side, so Richardson feasted, having two interceptions.  The kid's got swagger as well.  He almost had his third Int. on the opposing team's sideline.  Richardson looked at the coaching staff and boasted, "Oh, man.  I almost had me a pick 6!"

I also had the pleasure of officiating a Harrison game this year.  I vividly remember talking with my crew during halftime, and many of the guys were asking who this Funcess was.  He had two very impressive touchdowns.

Hoke is really starting to impress me.