I think Utah is a very good team that has a great set of coaches and game plans extraordinarily well. Having said that - the two best teams in the country are Florida and USC. A game between the two of them would have been great for the 'Ship. I am unsure about Utah's speed (even though they clobbered Alabama). I think Utah would give both those teams a good game, but I just couldn't see Utah beating USC on a neutral field.
I think USC is the best team out there this year to be honest. But Florida will win this game, and that will be that. Oklahoma is a good team but Florida is too fast for them I think. I just see a game very similar to what WVU did to Oklahoma last year.
Dan herron is really good actually - great combination of size and speed. He wasn't Beanie size, but he will torture us too. And you will have to listen to repeated chants of "Boom" and announcers calling him "Boom" Herron constantly.
I will no longer f with Magnus - he is officially right on all topics. 6'3 240 lbs officially makes you universally correct.
Does anyone else want to see Magnus and Will Campbell in a dance off?
I have to agree with Magnus and say the Pryor thing is getting ridiculous. He needs help in terms of footwork, point of release, and general mechanics that can't be denied - nor is his ability to look of safeties or decision making adequate in the passing game. The former however can be changed (even if the later can't). And the kid is a freshman, runs like he's is on air, and is very difficult for a single tackler to bring down. Basically he is Pat White and Vince Young in one quarterback and will be tough as hell to stop for at least two of the next three years. The biggest detriment to anything he will do is Tressel. Seriously, how do we lose to this guy every year. I am befuddled. It was obvious Texas was starting a young secondary - that you needed a pass first quarterback - yet in obvious passing downs most of the game he had Pryor in chucking the ball (see how much better their offense was once he started interchanging the two quarterbacks and put Boeckmann in on passing downs). He had Pryor on the first two point conversion through an out route, by far his worst throw. On top of that he's blitzing with 30 seconds left on the 40 yard line with only a safety over the slot receiver who has been destroying you all game. The Texas offense feasted on blitzing all year - just bizarre. Year in and year out he has amazing talent. And year in and year out - he doesn't win the big game. And is not a talent differential - it is a coaching differential.
But I digress - I think Terrelle will become a more complete package, he will never materialize as a pro quarterback (he will be a great pro at some position for sure on the field) but he will be a dangerous college quarterback who will torture us in years to come - mostly because he will learn to throw a slant and a serviceable out and people will have to respect his feet enough to let players slip past in coverage. Troy Smith had better mechanics (actually far better mechanics) as a passer when he came to college, but he couldn't run and didn't have running instincts like Pryor has - it will be really interesting to watch him grow the next three years.
Jelani Jenkins is a prototypical NFL linebacker and he is going to college. By the transitive property of awesome, you probably want him to be in another conference in a galaxy far, far away rather than discussing whether he is overrated. Almost surely we do not want him to go to Penn State, for he could potentially end your life like Darth Vader by purely staring at you.
Yeah - FYI he isn't overrated and he is amazing and he will not be going to U of M.
You know - I agree. I am happy he is a cyborg Wolverine robot from the future brought to crush mere mortal Buckeye quarterbacks here on earth. And frankly, I laughed my ass off once he started doing that dance when the host said, "your dad things he's Big Will" and then Will started showing off the guns. That guy is going to be a blast to watch for the next four years. And I guarantee you there are going to a be few rich alumni donating just because he committed ( me in that mix). A lot of us needed to see that show of faith from a legitimate in state talent (well I didn't - I believe Rich was a great hire, and will go down as one of the best coaches Michigan has ever hired but there have been a lot of alumni that are really grumbling behind the scenes - it is ugly). He is a great kid, from a great family and I am psyched he is blue. He always was but even I got worried right at the end when he went for the LSU hat. Uggh - off to sleep. Awaiting video patiently - the chonga will deliver no doubt.
We have a history and propensity of recruiting or attracting underperforming DT's at Michigan. Why - I don't know. When you are so physically imposing maybe there is no need to maximally try. I am going to chalk up his performance to a cross between relevance and general lack of interest. Will pretty much plays when he wants to play. It is part of his nature and his personality. In college I suspect you will see him dominate in big games and disappear in irrelevant ones. He will learn technique and balance and those types of things, but the fire and aggressiveness is just something you have that is part of your nature. There is no anger really in the way Will plays unless it is a challenge. He really is a big goofy kid - he was that way when I met him, and I think that is how he will always remain. More professional with time, but enjoying his life. Trust me - you won't think he is a bust when you seem him dominate OSU - you will only be perturbed when he does his best Gabe Watson against Northwestern.
Unsure why Brian chose to sanction you other than for insipid douchebaggery. That being said - I didn't see your original post, so it is hard for me to determine the level of douchebaggedness your post may provide.
We need the Chonga to do a Will Campbell montage with Get Jiggy With It playing in the background - it might put the blog balance back in place
Age or IQ - either or both? Or do we do the Michel Oher here where if you are older than 18 you can have an IQ lower than 18 or take an "online" BYU class on "Books with Pictures" to get your IQ high enough to post here?
All could work - bring on the Phil Collins!
Terrelle Pryor is not a good passer yet - there is little doubt about that. His form is horrible, he doesn't plant his feet, his mechanics are more whipshot than anything else. He is not a prostyle quarterback, nor will he ever become one to be honest. There is just not enough arm strength or zip in his passes - plus he cannot throw the dreaded out route which separates men from boys in the pros. And if you don't think it cost them a game - then you probably need to rewatch the Penn State game. Forget about our game where I could point to multiple poor reads on his part. The Penn State game was abysmal by Pryor. He will not be a pro quarterback of any value (maybe another athlete but not quarterback), nor will he be as good as Troy Smith (that's right - I said it - Troy Smith could always throw the ball, make good reads, and was very accurate - from the time he stepped on campus actually - he suffered from what Tate does - he was not prototypical size).
Having said that, I would still take him to be my quarterback in a spread option. He will be in some bizarre conservative offense where he runs more than he throws at OSU. By the time he is a senior he will be torturing us with the naked bootleg, and other pocket movement reads but I am unsure how many deep bombs this guy he will be throwing. This was the same thing that plagued Young, but Texas moved him in the pocket and did a done of naked bootleg action (as all of us remember from David Thomas having a million catches against us). Pryor is a taller Vince Young, and that makes for a dangerous college quarterback in the right system. The spread option would have been the ideal system for him however. Sorry he didn't choose to go with that system - he will regret it in the end.
The otter is the "man whose name cannot be spoken", aka "Thor", aka the "guy in the directory who may or may not be going to Michigan" aka "The Big Jokester" aka "Cass Tech Hero" aka "The Soup Can of Destiny"
We will not mention his real name for it will cause Mass Hysteria, Panic, the Biblical Plagues of Egypt, destruction of precious recruiting and ranking status, and the Rapture where we who are the good and Champions of the West will face Lesticles and his evil army of undereducated 4th down bayou mutants. He is our modern day Candyman - if we say his name three times in a mirror, we will be attacked by a ghostly apparition that will haunt our running backs in Big Ten - SEC match ups for time and eternity.
Or - you can just go to the front page and scroll down approximately three Bryan Cook entries and you will find "The Otter" true identity. Good luck and god bless. And please - WHATEVER YOU DO - do not mention his real name to anyone, ever!
Not denial - realism. One recruit does not make or break this team, this a very solid recruiting class - there will be some last minute pulls as well that will surprise us and not many high profile drops going forward (Dequinta Jones being the only one I see jumping ship). I would be SHOCKED beyond all belief if Will Campbell ends up anywhere but Michigan. He is a great kid, and frankly a really funny kid (I met him at a Cass Tech alumni dinner - low key, affable, and really funny). This is a big joke to him, and all of our panic responses are even funnier in the grand scheme. I think he will put on a variety of hats at the same time and then painfully reveal Michigan. And if I'm wrong - I welcome open ridicule from everyone. But this isn't denial, it's a true belief that he is coming here. I feared Beaver would leave, and I fear Jones will leave. They committed very early and are not near the school and really have no affiliation (mother, brother, father, sister who went to the school). Everyone who has left is logical - including McNeal, Newsome, Fera and Beaver. We will lose Jones as well. But not Campbell. Greaves to me is the unknown - he has no reason to want to come here but if Oklahoma wanted him badly, they would be more aggressive pursuing him and they haven't been. This is why I think Greaves comes and Jones goes.
Having said that - it could be pure conjecture. Irrelevant I suppose as he is not here, but the explanation seemed far more plausible that his mom saying anything. TCU is a more visible program than Tulsa and closer to home. His explanation (and having been 17 myself once) seemed very reasonable to me.
Don't search the internet - this is from a west texas alumni source. It maybe pure conjecture even on his part, but I found it to be a credible source (he was also the one who told me that Sam McGuffie actually had clinically relevant depression and may need medication for treatment, which made me understand his decision to an even greater degree). The alumni donor network gets a lot of information. Take it all with a grain of salt as the dissemination of information is pretty democritized in the age of the internet. The alumni network is also good at telling you information after the fact (ie. the detective work behind information where only sketchy details are available).
I would be shocked if he didn't go to Michigan - I think this is shot back to us for stealing his thunder and it being in the newspapers. I don't think this guy is dumb and I think he is giving us a run for our money.
If he was to choose one of those schools, I would actually think it has to be Miami. Weather and Randy Shannon are too very good reasons to go somewhere else. But he is going to Michigan and all of this is his way of screwing with us because - frankly - they guy had one joy like all of his boys have who are big time recruits and getting to wait right till the bitter end to build up the drama and then tell us. We killed that by being jerks and outing him. So frankly, either way it goes, we deserve it. I am actually looking forward to his announcement at the AA game. Should be fun and anticlimactic
Epically funny and sad what we do to these recruits. PS: Beaver has gone to Tulsa because of a girl - period. TCU has a very large need at quarterback and wanted him badly. He left Michigan to go to Tulsa - only two reasons:
1) You will start today and are the man for all time
2) Your girl is going to go there, you are 17, you totally love her and think she's the one, and you will do anything for the chick.
Sad if the real reason is the whole "my word is stronger than oak" thing that they pulled on Shavodrick - say what you want about his decision but it is grossly poor form to recruit a young man without being honest about where you as a coach are going to be at the time of his enrollment (especially if knowingly you were already leaving)
I saw the video - and the whole thing seems fishy. First of all, taking Michigan out of the running now is completely idiotic. It makes zero sense. These guys love the attention - you think he would take Michigan out of the idiotic hat ceremony early and get barraged by calls from fans, idiots, family members, miscellaneous morons. I think he is absolutely screwing with the fan base. He could barely prevent himself from laughing at the interview. He has known for a while that he is going to Michigan. Plus when USC stops recruiting you, then you know something is up. They pursued RoJo and Nick Perry till the bitter end (landing them both) - Pete Carroll isn't just going to concede what is probably the best recruit in Michigan because he doesn't have a need (which he does). Panic is you must but this appears to be a young kid smart enough to know he can really jerk us around.
It doesn't at all - you're right. Sam hates leverage - most of his real estate deals have always been heavy cash. He made a ton of money off the last real estate bubble investing in residential apartments. If he can survive this, he will go right back to that pattern. It's a shame because he is a great guy, like most U of M alumni donors I have had the privilege to meet and know. But everyone was telling him to leverage and he eventually was swayed. He has wanted the Tribune forever, and paid heavy leverage to beat Blackstone to the punch. Problem is newspaper print ads are losing revenue faster than you can imagine. Increasing share of a decreasing market - down the tubes. Sam is a great guy and all Ross grads should try to reach out to him because he really makes time for Michigan alum.
I'll ask Fred the next time I see him but my suspicion is the Shea scoreboard is 50/50 at best now to make to A2. This is a bad situation as he might have to sell his ownership interest to cover his capital call. The problems are just beginning.
I know Fred pretty well - he was an LP in our firm. He really got jobbed like quite a few wealthy michigan Alum (the Ross family, and Sam Zell to name a few) - Madoff defrauded a lot of people. They could never explain any part of their fund, other than returns and the fact that it was closed ended - effectively making it invite only. I listened to the presentation once, and there was no actual asset that they invested in.
To the point at hand, Sam Zell heading towards bankruptcy is going to hurt Crisler a lot more. Most of the money has already been allocated for Crisler but there are a few huge donors who are facing capital calls - which could be a real problem.
CGC - would it be better if Georgia Tech was recruiting him? Then the post would be "Johnson has bad feeling about Beaver after last night" - feel free to insert (pun intended) appropriate or inappropriate joke in one's head.
I will admit Greaves, Beaver and Campbell are the three I feel the most unsure about. Barnes who was my fourth is already a decommit. Campbell because of Ronald Johnson and Nick Perry, Greaves because of Oklahoma and Beaver because of Texas Tech. Once these teams collective bowl seasons are done, they will come after our recruits with impunity. Hopefully we can withstand the onslaught.
I don't think he's the biggest homo (Liberace is probably the biggest homo, according Guiness Book of World Records based on sphincter diameter) but he is a pretty big homo. I think this is why he is going to Ohio State - for a chance to be the starting center. Or to become Mr. Plow.
"What's that name - it's Mr. Plow, that name again - it's Mr. Plow"
He does eat cock like it's pizza apparently.
And Brady Quinn is obviously gay as his Metrx commercials have all but confirmed. He probably pounds a few protein shakes after doing the deed - from his partners anus.
Ok - follow up question, who would eat whom on a deserted island without any other source of food than human flesh? Granted Weis maybe more athletic but methinks that Mangino may be more driven to kill and consume as he is more dependent calorically on food to survive
8-8 in the big ten tournament could get us there - these are two very quality wins. The Big Ten will actually be very strong this year (MSU, Purdue, OSU, Minnesota).
The most important player today (and many may laugh when I say this) was Jevon Shepard. No bad shots, great, great defense on the wings. You will see the 1-3-1 function so much better with him covering the wings. I will also say I was very impressed with Kelvin Grady. I can hardly wait till this kid becomes a junior and he and LLP are back there handling the rock. This team will become a go to destination for hot recruits in the future. And remember how you felt today when the UM football team has it's signature win next year. I am predicting now - WE WILL BEAT OSU NEXT YEAR.
Tom VanHaaren's own personal groundhog's day - where every statement on recruiting prospects is forced to be rehashed. "uhh did Will Campbell commit today? Uhh, how about today? Hey if I call him Big Will, can you then tell me he committed today?" I know you said no word yesterday Tom and logic would dictate you would tell me when you know but uhhh did he commit today?". The fact that you keep telling us great information in the face of this douche tard is a testament to your love of the program.
degree when I was there. You could actually just get LS&A emphasis. It was the equivalent of kinesiology back in the day. I don't know if the catch all degree is there anymore to be honest. But I didn't mean it to be insulting. I meant it to state the generic Michigan student.
If I was drunk, I would have written sad poetry about my ex girlfriends, talked about plot twists and ennui on Battlestar Galactica, waxed rhapsodic on how private equity especially in the medtech sector has never known a better time than now, and told everyone about any odd sexual proclivities I have (don't worry - they all involve chicks). No, that was actually a well patterned response (albeit with capitalizations for emphasis, a trademark for me) from a passionate fan of all things Michigan and a big donor to the school. I have bit my tongue because I never interfere in the rights of fans to complain, but the continuous barrage of nearsightedness could not go unrecognized or admonished. If you were at the Northwestern game (I went down to the field in the second half, one of the benefits of donation) it was brutal cold where your lungs filled with ice. Yet these kids were playing their hearts out. For Rich Rod. Not giving up - which is what you build a team on. These freshman will remember what this felt like, they all came from successful high school programs and they will never want to feel this way again. They will be back, I guarantee it.
Someday if you guys want to know, I will tell you about Bill Martin. I wasn't asked about the recruiting of the coaches, but I know Bill and some of the other donors well enough. Say what you want, but they love Michigan (and sailing and golfing and other things real estate investors love for inexplicable reasons). We believe in Bill - we think he has a tough job. This is a very difficult fan base to appease. They are intelligent, successful, aggressive and demand results immediately. The problem for some of these fans is that we aren't going to radically course correct just because they are temporarily upset, and nobody in the upper echelons of the school is abandoning ship (especially captain Martin). So if you hate Rich, I have news for you. Get used to a lot of him, because he is going nowhere.
I concur - I think critiquing strategy is within the right of every fan. Misguided as it may be, it is a right. Like breathing, voting, guns and religion. But vitreolic statements about how distasteful the product is, how everyone needs to go, how much the team proverbially sucks is not constructive and frankly insulting to those who actually care about this team. I've watched every game this year (attended Northwestern). I am a huge donor to the school (a tremendous amount of money every year). I cherished my time at Michigan and as an investor in my day job, I've seen ups and downs. But I will tell you I would have a taken a bath in my personal life if I ever abandoned an asset class just because it underperformed. If the underlying asset is solid, it will recover. I believe that about Michigan football and have put my money behind it. I feel badly for the fans who really care because their rage is justified at those who will predictably decry the team now but reappear next year or the year after when the team becomes competitive again. I saw it last year with the basketball team. I watched every game last year of basketball. I attended only one game last year but I was appalled to hear students (STUDENTS!!!) yell Beilein needs to go! They will be at Crisler this year cheering. This infuriates me (though admittedly maybe I shouldn't care - they are after all just kids and don't know better). You can criticize the coaches for play calling, but for talent? For fumbles? For the economy? For credit swaps? Let us give the team support and the benefit of the doubt.
Could the defensive play calling be better on third down? ABSOLUTELY - ridiculous to rush three people when this is your best position group. But I don't coach nor have I ever played football. Give this coaching staff the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure they know the teams deficiencies and weaknesses better than we ever will.
The basketball team kept getting better (except for the final game against Wisconsin) and I knew this year they would be good. I saw the football team do the same this year. They will be good and someday great. And at that time, it becomes like the fall of communism. Everyone who supported the system and persecuted those who fought against the system, embrace the new economy. I find that unfair. And that is what my anger is directed against.
Fired from a team that hasn't won a big ten championship since 1967. He did such a good job he never got another coaching job. He would have performed sexual favors for AD's in Division II schools to get a job, but he was not quite qualified to coach or provide sexual favors. Ergo he is on ESPN. Those who can't do, teach Lee. Congrats!
Caserm10 - stick out your chest because you are a man my brother! Every other douchebag that criticizes this team at all, you consume the same oxygen I do and that upsets me. A real fan sticks through the tough times. And I'm going to make another point (and this is for Buckeye who by definition is an idiot having graduated from the state school version of Devry but sadly also to all the "Michigan" fans and I use the air quotes). Are you playing for the National Championship this year Buckeye? Is that happening? Are you psyched about a quarterback who runs like a gazelle but throws like a girl? Aren't you pissed at all that you have a coach who recruits better than anyone except Pete Carroll but can't beat any real competition outside of the Big Ten? Yeah, you beat a Michigan team that lost to Toledo - please pat yourself on the back. This team has as their coach the man who invented the modern spread option. You have the man who copied wearing the sweater vest from Bing Crosby. And to the faux Michigan fans who want to complain about a lost season and lament, "Oh if only precious Lloyd was here or Les Miles we could go to the Carquest bowl - OH DEAR GOD, WHY WON'T YOU LET US GO TO THE WEEDWACKER BOWL LIKE THIS TEAM DESERVES - OH JESUS IF NOT FOR RICH RODRIGUEZ AND HIS HORRIBLE OFFENSE THAT HAS WORKED AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL HE HAS EVER TRIED IT, WE COULD GO TO THE CHIQUITA BANANA BOWL", WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? Did you expect a year where we would go 7-5? Where the world would sit there and say, "hey, michigan is great - look at them go 7-5". WE BROKE IT ALL DOWN THIS YEAR - WE CHANGED EVERYTHING INCLUDING HOW WE ATE, HOW WE PRACTICED, HOW WE PREPARED AND HOW WE WORKED OUT, WE HAD GUYS WHO WERE PISSED BEING HERE AND WILL BE GONE - WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUARTERBACK ALL YEAR - WHAT DOES THAT EQUAL= DOGSHIT
Do what the real fans have done; EXCEPT THE SHITTY YEAR - TOOK IT - BREATHED IT - LIVED IT. We saw how the team has improved. DO ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE UTAH GAME - THIS OFFENSE WAS HORRIBLE. Until today we had led at halftime for multiple games in a row. They learned to run, learned to block with a converted defensive tackle, and churned out yards with freshman at every skill position and NO QUARTERBACK. Not even a running back who is a quarterback - THEY HAD NO QUARTERBACK. THE DEFENSE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO RUN 90% OF THE TIME - yet we still gained yards. You cannot tell me that there weren't some phenomenally well designed plays with poor execution. HELL EVEN NICK SHERIDAN HIT A FEW WHEEL ROUTES TODAY AND HE THROWS LIKE A 6 YEAR OLD KID (and god bless him for that).
To the faux michigan fans - JUST GO THE F AWAY! GO AWAY! You went to Michigan (maybe), you got a degree in something LSA (maybe), you saw Michigan football for the first time (maybe) and now you're an expert. WHy waste your time and ours bitching about the team and RichRod. Why not just spend your time learning how to crochet, or attempting to discern your elbow from you ass. Because there are enough of us WHO GOT PNEUMONIA AT THE NORTHWESTERN GAME BUT STUCK IT OUT TO WATCH NICK SHERIDAN THROW MOONBALLS TO ANYONE WHO HAD HANDS to build a real fan base. WE DON'T FUCKING NEED YOU - GO BACK TO YOUR UNDERGROUND DWELLING. REMERGE WHEN BEING A FAIR WEATHER FAN IS POPULAR AGAIN. SUPPRESS ALL THE GUILT AND THE SHAME AND SUDDENLY REAPPEAR SAYING I TOLD YOU SO. Because we know that is what you do. But deep down you and I both know the truth. You are no better than a Buckeye fan. May that truth haunt the rest of your days. Thank you and have a nice day.
Secondly here is the reality of being a senior at OSU. Number one almost certainly if you aren't going to the pros you will not have a job. Your alumni network is poor, and frankly the degree didn't mean much to begin with (sad but true). There are so few donors of wealth that are OSU grads that they have the hardest time with fundraising for hospital clinics and buildings of any big ten university campus. So imagine being the OSU seniors coming back one last time to get to the national championship game. And then losing, and then losing again. And then being irrelevant and getting excited pretty much by a meaningless game against Michigan. This is your season and it has been your career. You have been blown out in games that matter, you forego riches only to lose again. Frankly, as bad as our season is, imagine being OSU. This season has frankly been a horrific disappointment. And as long as Tressel is there they will continue to over recruit and underperform as there is nothing about his play calling that is exceptional.
We have been insulted, humiliated, destroyed physically and emotionally. We have been told we aren't Michigan, that we are pathetic and that we are weak. We will have a year (and I cannot tell you when) when we will destroy EVERYTHING WE SEE! WE WILL OWN EVERY KINGDOM IN FRONT OF US! WE WILL SHOW NO MERCY TO ANYONE THAT GETS IN OUR WAY! WE WILL RUN UP THE SCORE AND HAVE AVERY HORN SCORE THREE TOUCHDOWNS!! This is what drives me, for I know failure is not an option at Michigan. This is not what our institution is, this is not what I donate to every year. Rich Rodriguez is angry and that anger will be turned outward, and everything in his path will be burned to the ground. Will you be there "MICHIGAN MEN" when that happens?
I am shocked that not only is the officiating so bad this year that they miss the call; they then look at the replay and proceed to miss the call again. They have the benefit of hindsight and choose to ignore it. This is the equivalent of dating a completely psychotic girl who burns everything you own and repeatedly calls your current girlfriend to tell her how lousy in bed you are, and you get the option through some rift in time to be able to decide to redo the decision of dating the psycho and you choose to date her again because for whatever reason her psychosis was "inconclusive" to you. UGHHHHHH!!!!!
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