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Recent Comments

Date Title Body
I do not think Burgergate is…

I do not think Burgergate is over for Harbaugh or Mars.  The NCAA press release specifically says "One former coach did not participate in the agreement, and that portion of the case will be considered separately by the Committee on Infractions, after which the committee will release its full decision."  The implication seems to be that Harbaugh is continuing to fight.  

I remember one time, an…

I remember one time, an opposing player (I can't remember which team) took a cheap shot from behind on Jed Ortmeyer, knocking him out.  When Gassoff saw Jed go down, he jumped on the player from behind and began raining blows down upon his head.

After he graduated, he apparently went on to become a Navy SEAL.  

Take it for what it is worth…

Take it for what it is worth, but Jake Hefner, host of the "Chargers Unleashed" podcast, reported last Friday that Sam Webb reported that Minter "has informed players that he will joining Jim Harbaugh as the new defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers."

As others have speculated, perhaps the delay is because McDonald is also making a play.  

The torch has been passed…

The torch has been passed and the future is bright! Forever Go Blue!

"And when we play as a team,…

"And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan."

Last year, as a result of…

Last year, as a result of the bowl game opt-outs, the NCAA said that players could participate in postseason games (including conference championship games, bowl games and CFP games) without it counting against their four-game limit for a redshirt.  They extended the rule to this season as well.  

To be eligible for the NFL…

To be eligible for the NFL draft, players must have graduated high school at least three years earlier.  The alleged basis for this requirement is player safety, i.e., it isn't safe for an 18-year old to play against much older athletes.  Maurice Clarett sued the NFL for an antitrust violation, challenging the elgibility rule.  He lost.  Presumably, a maximum eligibility rule could be enforced under the auspices of player safety for 18-year old freshman.

Additionally, there are university positions that are only available to students, including graduate student instructors, work study positions, etc.  Graduate student instructors are probably a better comparison because they, generally, both have their tuition paid and receive a stipend (and an undergraduate who is not progessing toward their degree is not going to pay tuition just to have a work study job).  Graduate students who are not making progress towards their degrees are asked to leave their graduate programs and would, therefore, be inelgibile for employment in those positions moving forward.  

True, but releasing this…

True, but releasing this information now may have some benefit.  If (and admittedly it is a big IF) a a main stream media outlet starts running with these facts/rumors this week, it may create a distraction for Ohio State heading into the Game.  The same sort of distractions our coaches and players have had to deal with for the past several weeks.  

In the 2007 documentary…

In the 2007 documentary narrated by Liev Schreiber ("Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry"), Spielman said that he wanted to go to Michigan, but his dad forced him to go to Ohio State.  

 

https://youtu.be/Su2MNL9NdD8

 

On October 7, 2022 (i.e.,…

On October 7, 2022 (i.e., the day before the 2022 OSU/MSU game), the OSU Football Team Student Video Manager sent a Venmo charge to an Ohio State Football Video Assistant for "Materials to destroy TUNst."  Michigan is so in their heads that they can't even say "MSU."  

The Big Ten's letter to…

The Big Ten's letter to Michigan announcing Harbaugh's suspension said, 

It is rare and outside the NCAA’s typical protocols for the NCAA to disclose information about an active investigation to institutions other than the institution under investigation. However, the NCAA stated and believed that the disclosure was necessary due to the unprecedented scope of the then-alleged scheme, and because of the significant impact the impermissible scheme could have on competition during the current football season. It was also extraordinary that the NCAA president arranged for and participated in the call, underscoring not only the severity of the allegations but the immediate impacts.

I am not sure that it was…

I am not sure that it was too late, but the narrative stopped to soon.  If this post is correct (and I have no reason to doubt it), then "UM did share some of the more egregious info with the B1G and NCAA over the years, who chose never to act."  In my opinion, some of those details should have been publicized by this point to set a narrative of selective enforcement by the B1G and to bolster a legal argument that any punitive actions by the conference at this time are arbitrary and capricious.  

Agreed.  Isn't the most…

Agreed.  Isn't the most likely scenario that a school who was aware that Stallions was Michigan's sign decoder (I believe multiple schools, including OSU, claimed to know this as of last year) saw that he purchased tickets in their stadium and sent stadium security (or someone from the investigative firm posing as stadium security) to check out those seats?  If they found one of Stallions's "assistants" in that seat filming the game, they could ask the assistant to come with them and intimate that the assistant was in serious trouble if they did not cooperate.  Either not appreciating that he/she was not really in that much trouble (WaPo suggested that the assitants included students) or not wanting to be bothered any further, the assistant might have cooperated and given them access drive where the video was to be uploaded.  Given that Stallions and his buddies were already sharing the "Michigan Manifesto" as a Google Doc, it is clear that he was maintaining a Google drive, and it seems likely that he would have asked his assistants to upload the video there.  Based on everything that has come out, this just seems like the simplest explanation to me.   

While it is not in New Haven…

While it is not in New Haven county, the U-M Club of Fairfield County will host a football game watch party at The Blind Rhino - South Norwalk (15 N Main St, Norwalk) for you to gather and cheer on our Michigan Wolverines.  This event is free and open to all alums, friends and fans. 

Our dedicated area is the stage - that is our viewing area. Seating is first-come, first-served.

I realize it is about a 40-minute drive (or a 50-minute train ride), but it is the closest Michigan watch party that I know of.  

Michigan State fans are…

Michigan State fans are seething at your disrespekt! 

Thanks!  The link in my…

Thanks!  The link in my email from them was dead. 

From the U-M Club of…

From the U-M Club of Northern New Jersey (UMNNJ): 

We worked with Rutgers to secure discounted parking on campus for the game. Where you decide to park depends on how much you want to pay and whether you are coming to the club tailgate or not.
   
If you are coming to the UMNNJ Tailgate, we recommend parking in the Black Lot on Bartholomew Road for $20.
   
There is also discounted parking available at Jersey Mike's Arena (83 Rockafeller Road, Piscataway, NJ) for $10. (While you can purchase parking at the arena on gameday, it will cost you $25 instead of $10!) Also, parking at the arena will require you to take a free shuttle bus to get to the stadium and tailgate.

SHI Stadium is indicated in the middle of the map in between the Red and Brown parking lots.

Jersey Mike's Arena parking is in the upper right corner of the map, next to the orange P. There is also a shuttle logo near the parking lot indicating the pick up spot and route.

The Black Lot is where the black P is in the middle of the map.

The yellow P is the location of the UMNNJ Tailgate.

If you require ADA accessible parking, please call the Rutgers ticket office at 866-445-4678 (GORU) beginning on Monday 10/31 at 8:30am to reserve an accessible space.

 

Does the fact that Mel is a…

Does the fact that Mel is a government employee play any role here?  Even though he is no longer under contract, he is reportedly still doing his job and would presumably be getting paid for it.  Despite Brian's suggestion that he is an "at-will" employee, it is my understanding that government employees cannot be fired without due process (a firing without due process would be an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment).  If he disputes the findings in the report, doesn't the University have to take undertake the proper procedures to ensure he receives due process before he is fired?  To me, this seems the most logical explanation for why he wasn't immediately fired and why it has taken over three months to get to this point.    

To be clear, I am not defending him or suggesting that he shouldn't be fired, but I think, as a government institution, the University may have to jump through a lot more hoops here than people realize.  Also, should a further investigation clear him (I am not suggesting this is likely, just considering the possibility), he would remain as Head Coach, so I could understand the school waiting until any subsequent investigation was completed before releasing the initial report (i.e. to avoid the PR nightmare that they are currently in).   

The NYC Club uses Lady…

The NYC Club uses Lady Liberty for the I and has a Michigan take on an NYC classic.

Regular Offering

Lori Laughlin (Aunt Becky)… https://twitter.com/bookmaker_eu/status/1105499893483880448

 

Literally a train

Dictionary.com defines "train" as ...

 

noun

 

1.
Railroads. a self-propelled, connected group of rolling stock.
2.
a line or procession of persons, vehicles, animals, etc., travelingtogether.
3.
Military. an aggregation of vehicles, animals, and personnelaccompanying an army to carry supplies, baggage, ammunition, etc.

Definition 2 seems to fit.

No Antitrust Exemption for the NCAA

There are two main antitrust exemptions when it comes to sports.  The first is that Major League Baseball has a historical exemption.  Essentially at the time of the first Supreme Court decision on the issue, MLB was not considered interstate commerce and, thus, there could be no violation of the Sherman Act.  In subsequent cases, the Supreme Court has followed precedent with respect to MLB, but has refused to extent the exemption to other sports.

The second antitrust exemption applies to any employer who has to negotiate with unionized labor.  Labor law carves out an exemption allowing employers to negotiate with unions.  These negotiations would otherwise violate antitrust law.  This applies to all employers who negotiate with unions (e.g. automakers negotiating with the UAW or the NFL negotiating with the NFLPA).  This exemption is the reason the NFLPA had to decertify to file an antitrust suit against the NFL.

No NCAA exemption exists.  In fact, the NCAA has been found to violate the Sherman Act.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_v._Board_of_Regents_of_the_University…

A hyper lab and a pensive rescue dog

Maizey McGary and Parker Horford

The Michigan Ticket Office

The Michigan Ticket Office sent out this picture of the obstructed view.  Can be pretty bad for some seats.

 

Gutsiest move I ever saw, man

[Devin] makes an aggressive vertical move and defeats him with a missile.   The encounter was a victory, but we show it as an example of what not to do.

 

Compromise?

Maybe the Yale Bowl in New Haven would be a good compromise.  I believe it seats 65,000 and is only an hour away from UConn.  Plus it is a college stadium instead of an NFL stadium.  

New Stamford, CT Watch Location

The Fairfield County Alumni Association has a new official Watch Party Location: Coalhouse Pizzeria, 85 High Ridge Road in Stamford in the Bull’s Head Shopping Center.  ( http://www.coalhousepizza.com for more info.)

 

Also, for those in Northern Fairfield County who don't want to drive all the way to Stamford, Barnum Publick House, 1020 Broad St. in Bridgeport (http://www.barnumpublickhouse.com) will be showing Michigan games.