I thought Wayne Duke was a pretty good B1G commish. Sure, he was around when we lost back-to-back AD votes to Ohio and went without a bowl in 1973 and 74. He, however, was the driving force behind allowing multiple B1G teams to go bowling, which allowed us to play Oklahoma in the 1976 Orange Bowl. Duke also cracked down on Illinois and Mike White.
As for last good AD, I liked Jim Hackett but he was really just holding down a spot. Bill Martin deserved the scorn for being on a yacht and not knowing how to use his phone when Les Miles' agent called. But given what came out later about Les and blonde interns, maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Martin at least hired Amaker (who was a great hire at the time, just didn't work out) and then Beilein. Too bad Bo didn't stay longer. He fired Freider after he took the ASU job but wanted to coach in the NCAA. Moeller was an excellent hire who sadly had a terrible night at The Excalibur.
Some time ago, someone posted the link to the Bo to TAMU story (early 1982) - I was a FR in the MMB. Bum Bright, who chaired the TAMU BoR, worked through the Cowboys staff connection with Bo to pitch the deal. Bo was adamant about not playing to the pay-for-play crowd. I'm not sure he would have been as successful there as Sherrill. From 82-89, Bo won 4 B1G titles, so glad he stayed after all. Sherrill got TAMU three SWC titles in a row.
While the SWC was the worst offender, the PAC10 had half the teams (including USC + UCLA) suspended from bowls in the 1980 season. Mostly for academic fraud (forged JC transcripts, no-show classes from a diploma mill). We played and beat the true champion Washington in the 1981 RB, but would have played them anyway even if USC or UCLA had won the conference.
That's the ironic Catch 22 of the UM Admissions vs. NCAA. It doesn't matter if you had enough credit hours at your previous school. How you "lose credit" for all the work you did seems silly. I expect a better NIL in place within 2-3 years, hopefully sooner. I'm not sure any real progress will be made on admissions since they are managed by the College Dept (College of LS&A, etc.) and don't answer to the Prez very much (accept in cases of misconduct). It would take some hands-on and prescriptive "legislation" by the BoR to force any real change.
Amazing analysis and commentary. I would also add that ADs (Canham, etc.) also had big role to play in the 1970s. They had the ear of the College Presidents. CFB became a big business in the 1970s after being mostly a nice distraction in the 1960s and prior.
I was on an engineering internship in Fall 1984 in Houston when the SWC was probably still near its peak. I watched a lot of games on TV and also read a lot of newspapers. That league was as crooked as it could be, with only Rice (SWC's version of NW) not somehow getting into trouble.
I befriended a TAMU student during that time who told me about all the shenanigans going on that everyone on campus knew about but no one did anything to stop. Instead of Bo, who would NOT have played the pay-for-play game if he had left for TAMU, Jackie Sherrill was as crooked as a three dollar bill.
Poor TCU finally had its best year in ages in 1984 (8-4) but their star running back Kenneth Davis accepted money from a booster (along with a few other team mates) and Jim Wacker suspended him and the others and voluntarily reported this to the SWC and NCAA.
I was at that 2015 NW game with a college friend who has since passed from ALS. Returning the opening KO was incredible. Even with the sick loss the next week and the blowout to an angry Ohio team, 2015 was definitely a good season to re-set the program. 2016 was like 2006 all over again with the great start and awful finish.
The last home loss was 2019 vs. Ohio. The last time we went three years in a row w/o a home loss was 1970-72. We didn't have a home loss in 73, but the 10-10 tie. I'm hoping we can put up another great home season. From 70-74, we had all wins but for the one tie to Ohio.
From a different angle, the two most "important" losses - that is losses that forced a change for the better, were:
2020 home loss to an MSU team that had committed 8 turnovers in an ugly loss at home to Rutgers. Rocky Lombardi looked like 2009 Drew Brees in front of a bunch of cutouts. This loss started us into a nasty funk. It made Jim finally shake up the staff and bring in McDonald, Hart, Clink, etc. I remember going to the party store after the game and talking with an MSU fan who wanted to know if we could give JH a lifetime contract.
2021 loss at MSU. A gnarly loss. Overturned TD strip sack. Too many FGs. Sloppy tackling (though KWIII is the real deal). The team leaders (Hutch, Ross, etc.) were vocal that the locker room would not tolerate sulking and let the season collapse. That was our last B1G and regular season loss.
Since the 2021 win over UM, Sparty is 12-17. We're 33-2.
Without the 2021 Snow game over Ohio, nothing else would have mattered. It was profound in so many ways to beat them - the way we did (almost 300 yds rushing). That may be the 2nd biggest win in UM history, trailing only the 1969 24-12 over Ohio that put Bo on the map.
I consider #2 the win at Ohio in 2022 - proved 2021 was not a fluke. Also, it was JJ's first big win where his passing (3 TDs, plus one rush TD) made a difference. The rivalry had clearly turned in our favor.
A lot of other games could be #3 but the Rose Bowl win in mine. Hearing how we "gasped" when we found out we were playing Bama. Having to put together a great drive with a tipped pass being key to tie. I'm not so sure Nick retires if he had won that game.
An underrated win was at PSU in 2021 - we had to rally to win a white out game. That kept us alive for the B1G.
Like it or not, this was NOT an NCAA vendetta against Michigan, but 100% directed at a guy they despised. UM let them save face by agreeing to this wimpy penalty. It's all in the past now.
The NCAA has always been a petty, arrogant, dictatorial bunch. It is dying, but it is far from dead. When it comes to disciplining schools and coaches, it still has enough power to recklessly do damage. Warde did exactly the right thing since his HC had moved on. Let's focus on 2024 and beyond.
The NCAA will probably wait until sign-gate is over and announced another settlement with UM that includes a fine. Just because we are on probation doesn't mean this second case adds weight. We were not under probation when sign-gate came out. They are totally independent. JH is going to get some kind of show-cause combined just because the NCAA needs to fletch its dying muscles a few more times. But he'll be laughing it off at 16MM/yr in sunny LA.
Philly fans were definitely rough. While an undergrad in UM ChE in mid 1980s, one of the grad students was a Philly guy and huge baseball fan. He told me the only people the fans didn't boo were: Pete Rose (Charlie Hustle), Larry Bowa (another hustler) and Steve Carlton (any guy who wins 27 in 1972 for a team that lost 97 in a shortened season deserved the best).
Was at a Brewers - Red Sox Twi night DH in 1983 (it was 19 for beer in Wisconsin so my friend and I, both 20, drove from Chitown to the game and sat in the bleachers drinking 1.50 Old Styles or something). I didn't know at the time that Ted was actually at UM for a short period of time. When each Brewer player stepped to the plate, they would play a theme song with a few notes. Ted's song played on the organ - with the note parallelling "hail-to-the-vic-tors." It was cool hearing that in Milwaukee!
ONE player from the 1955 Brooklyn WS Champs is still alive - the great Sandy Koufax. But I don't think he made Roger Kahn's wonder book on the team (have read that book several times).
Loved the Running Redbirds in the 1980s. Amazingly, they went to 3 WS in the 80s and all went 7 games. They got screwed by Don Denkinger in Game 6 1985 and could have won a 2nd title. The 1987 Twins seemed a team of fortune and won every home playoff/WS game.
He started his career as MLB manager for a really bad 1973 Texas Rangers team that had been forced to start a HS grad and #1 pick David Clyde as an appeal to fans.
NCAA wanted Harbaugh period. He won on the field, where it matters. Charlie Baker confirmed that we won fair and square (no vacating anything). NCAA will slam JH with some kind of "show-cause hell" that will never mean anything. He's done with CFB and will outlive the NCAA. We got great memories, title gear, forced Nick into retirement, got to celebrate FB's 2nd biggest title (behind only Lombardi trophy), etc.
PS - loved Rockford Files even as a HS student in Livonia in the late 70s. Two GREAT James (Garner and Harbaugh).
This season was a massive WIN-WIN for Jim and the fans. He got the trophy and then a chance for the biggest FB trophy of all and 80MM/5 yrs. His agent can try to crap on everyone but it's onward and upward for Sherrone and THE TEAM!
Totally fine with how UM has handled this post-Harbaugh's exit. And I don't really care what his agent is saying either. His agent is trying to boost his reputation with other potential coaches who may feel they need someone who will fight for them.
I will always love and appreciate everything Jim has done both as a player (21-3-1 over last two years with 6-0 combined vs. ND, MSU, Ohio). and a coach. He was the QB my senior year in 1985 when we beat ND to start the season, beat MSU 31-0 in EL (I was there), and closed the regular season with an exciting win over Ohio. Then a comeback bowl win vs. Nebraska.
As a coach, 40-3 and three B1G titles and a NC. I would have loved him back but he also was in Minny on signing day after 2021 and then told Warde "this wouldn't be an annual thing" but then talked with Broncos after 2022. Reportedly, the hold-up in his contract (at least one of them) was that he had to agree to not go NFL-shopping after the season.
Love the guy but we needed to move on and this settled the deal for the current staff and team.
To me, the Tennessee NIL case is totally different from this case. NIL has been backed by a unanimous Supreme Court opinion in 2021. The NCAA tried to skirt this opinion with pissy interpretations of the court ruling (punishing Florida, FSU, etc.) - Charlie Baker probably figured it would lose again in the courts and just drop the case.
Federal Courts don't usually get into the "disciplinary process" of institutions like the NCAA unless there is an alleged violation of Civil Rights or Title IX laws. Like it or not, they probably had the "authority" to discipline JH even though he did nothing to deserve an L1 and even the L2 were a crock. This is a horribly warped and biased organization and has been for decades. Dating back to the Steve Alford charity sorority calendar days in the 1980s (suspended for the Kentucky game), followed by the Prop 42 eligibility requirements that heavily impacted Black athletes. In the 1990s, they had the BS loss of eligibility rules for Curtis Enis when he accepted clothing from an agent for an awards ceremony. Finally, O'Bannon of UCLA challenged them and won in court.
The B1G and SEC can put an end to this blood-sucking organization any time and should.
No surprise here - the case has been dismissed without impacting the team going forward very much. I doubt the recruiting limitations will impact us much at all - it's about NIL more than in-home visits. We're frigging CFB champions - NCAA Prez Charlie Baker said so.
Perhaps someone can re-cap the timing. Did the "crime(s)" happen in early 2021? Did these allegations come to light in 2022 after Dudek left?
This "statement" by the NCAA shows they were clearly trying to bench JH for perhaps all of 2024, or at least the 1st half of the season (JH would have missed games vs Texas, USC, and Washington).
Total BS but the NCAA is a dying snake that is using its death rattles.
obvious a dose of sarcasm here in the original OP. Nobody in the NFL cared a bit about burger-gate nor sign-gate. JH got us a long-awaited NC, 15-0. Plus a QB likely to go into Top 5 now. He's getting 80MM/5 yrs, got to interview and decide who his boss was going to be at LAC. Plus, he got to live like hero Jim Rockford by the beach in an RV. Glad for him and glad for Sherrone.
It's clear the NCAA is waiting for a boring Friday afternoon in June to "close" these BS investigations with only a show-cause for JH (he's done with CFB anyway). I've learned that companies and governments like to announce "closure" on things like this on a Friday afternoon so it is out of the news cycle by Monday.
The population of Utah has doubled since 1990, almost 3.5MM now. We visited SLC for vacation in 2011, also driving and spending some time at national parks in WY and ID. Was a very nice town and quite scenic when you drive up to where Utah's CFB stadium is located.
If they kept the Jazz name from NOLA, then no reason not to keep the Coyotes.
Newton is definitely a good consolation prize if a better choice at DB doesn't drop down to our spot. I would love to get Cooper D from Iowa but figure he's going to cost too much in trade to move up.
Funny thing is the sleepover ended up being for a kicker who never fully lived up to the hype (Nordin had some big moments and other missed kicks) - only to miss a sleepover in Northville two years later where the best PK is all of UM history (Jake Moody) resided.
He will always be a champions player and coach here!
JH got us a title, 3 B1Gs, 3 wins over Ohio and 15-0. Plus 49-0 win at East Landfill. He deserved the right to go and shop around after all that - glad he's getting 80MM/5 yrs and got to interview candidates to be his boss at LAC.
Can't wait until we have him back for a game during an LAC bye week.
As the Stallions situation got really weird (the sidelines photos at CMU), I talked to a rational (yes there are some of them) MSU fan as well as a few other fans who felt it was a bunch of smoke and mirrors until the CMU photos. Paying two someones on your own dime to sit across the field during the IU-Ohio game and tape the signs on their phones - don't tell me that hasn't been done by our rivals, at least for upcoming big games. Little Tony P wimped out under pressure. My question is: what would Jim Devany have done?
I was at The Horror with a college friend and fellow UM ChE grad (who passed away 5 years ago from ALS). We scored first rather easily and then they hit the slant to the track star to tie. After that, Henne was pretty shaky. My friend told me in the 2nd quarter that it looked like Chad was hungover. It was a noon start - I doubted that since usually the team is under tight control but who knows? (Chad did have a great ending to his career with KC). After the game, Lloyd admitted that he pulled Mike a few times because he had stiffed up (back?) and wanted to give him a few breathers too.
The players may have farted around that week, but this 100% on Lloyd's assistants. Lloyd rightfully accepted the blame after the game, but we were totally unprepared in all three phases for this game - w/o Hart we would not have even been in a chance to win. Other than Fred Jackson, the entire staff got canned after the season and not a coach ever made it to a high level again (same happened to Hoke's staff except for the back-stabbing (twice!) Greg M)
I've witnessed too many examples where someone is being (or suspects being) cheated on and the steps they go through to find out more. This is what The Weiss situation seems like. Perhaps he suspected someone on the staff or in the Ath Dept of cheating on him. The FBI gets involved a lot more these days anytime there is hacking or illegal access to a public school network.
Mike Hart? Just hoping it was some physical and/or mental health issues that can lead his to good treatment and some time off.
As for Moore, others have already explained the (likely) situation. Whether he really needed to sit was questionable, but this was part of a compromise that was supposed to "free Jim Harbaugh" that the NCAA infractions committee, blinded by hater-tots toward JH, decided to renege on the 4-game deal.
He will not drop past #12 (Denver) so I doubt he'd experience an Aaron Rodgers or Will Levis moment. Maybe he just wants to hang around with his family and enjoy a BBQ day in the backyard.
It would have been great seeing the VIkes trade up to 5 to draft him and then have the Sharty and Bucknuts fans seethe in envy.
The only person actually convicted was Mark Fuhrman, who lied under oath about not using racist slurs but was then busted when his braggart tapes to a reporter were released. Once the Fuhrman story broke, most of us figured that OJ was going to get off, whether he was truly guilty or not.
Amazingly, the Lions won that game vs. Buffalo. OJ was literally 100% of their offense. Bills back-up QB (Gary Marangi) went 4-for-21 for 29 yards and a pick. That borders on the level with Russell Bellomy at Nebraska, but Russell wasn't on an NFL payroll.
Can't see us playing there - if nothing else, the networks will push for a game at Soldier Field or even Wrigley. Same for Ohio at NW this coming season. Too bad if the stands are 80% Maize or Scarlett.
I remember watching full replays, with commercials, from two games in the 1980 season (Purdue at UM as well as Rose Bowl win over Wash). OJ was probably the first Black athlete to get a lot of positive vibes from mostly white America (Joe Louis did too but before TV ads). By 1980, he was flying like Superman in the Hertz ads, vs. his hurdling in 1978. He even said "I'm not Black, I'm OJ"
Hard to believe that the Chase is almost 30 years ago. Remember taking a nap after dinner and waking up expecting to see Rudy T's Rockets beating the Knicks, only to see a car chase.
Sorry - totally disagree. Caitlin was to Iowa like Iowa was to SC hoops. This was men's 1988 Finals, expect the better team (OU back then who lost, and SC who won this time) ended a title
Matt Prior was the 2nd pick behind recent HOF Joe Mauer in 2001 when the Twins worried they couldn't sign Matt. He was highly lauded too but burned out his arm and ended with 42 wins.
Prior was primed to be the winning pitcher too in the 2003 MLB playoff game that would have sent the Cubbies to the WS before the "Bartman" happened,
Bobby had a great agent when he signed with the Mets after 1991 season. As did Vince Coleman who got the Mets to give him a huge deal after 1990. The latter is known for throwing firecrackers into a crowd leaving a Dodgers game. The former for calling the press box to complain during a game about being charged with an error.
Ah yes, Sidd Finch. I was a senior at UM walking home from another long day as a ChE student from the Dow building on North Campus in April 1985 and dropped in for a six pack at the Blue Front on Packard St in A2. Saw this amazing article about Sidd in the latest SI and had to buy it. Only to find out his 150+ mph fastball was an April Fools prank!
Forget the UAW and Fain, MLBPA starting with Marvin Miller in the late 60s is the best at getting the best for its members. No one else gets this deal - I'm OK since I have a good minor league team in town where I can sit and watch BB for 10 bucks behind the visitor's dugout.
We should have learned what happened after his dad (Cecil) signed a huge long-term deal. Absolute money corrupts absolutely. I'm all for the ballplayer to be millionaires playing for billionaires. But Prince making 24MM/yr - thankfully we got the Rangers to take most of it off our plate.
That TD run was part of a game where we were unranked and beat a ranked BYU team. It took 6 more years before we finally reached major success but loved that guy for his work ethic.
John Wooden is about the greatest CBB coach ever (who can match him) but also a great guy who graduated from Purdue and was named national player of the year in 1932. Retroactively, the 1932 Purdue team is recognized as NCAA champs, before a tourney was around. His book "Pyramid of Success" is legendary too.
I'm friends with a PU grad who even pulled for us in 89 NCAA with Fisher. His wife is a MSU grad too. I'm certain he pulled for us vs. both Bama and Washington. FWIW.
Ryan Walter will be canned in two years. He's an LA guy who played at Colorado. Got a lucky break and will be proven to be trashed soon enough. Matt Painter = class act.
I worked with several Purdue Engineering grads prior to retiring from Dow a few years ago. Top notch people who also told me a hoops title was more important to them than a CFB title, thanks to John Wooden's legacy as a HOF player at Purdue.
All-in for Purdue. Matt Painter is a class act. Full stop. Ryan Walters is a Colorado "grad" under Gary Barnett - please STOP hating Purdue hoops because of a dickhead CFB coach who will be fired after two more 4-8 seasons.
I'm also in the "time for Warde to go voluntarily" camp but it won't happen unless he has something bigger to advance into - like Little Tony's B1G job.
What IS nice about this exit and Dusty's hiring is that both NIL and admissions have come into focus publicly, and not just on this blog. Warde is finally being forced out of the stone age - and probably feels the heat from Santa too - and HAS to do something for NIL.
Admissions? Maybe a few tweaks on the margins (which is not good enough but better than nothing). Unless things have changed since my student days in the 1980s, the Prez really doesn't have much control over the Schools of LSA, Engineering, etc. The Deans run their schools like fiefdoms. The faculty are fiercely loyal to the dean, as are the individual admissions offices. I don't see either Warde nor Santa going to war there to change things.
He's already coming to terms with his exit. Lots of good insight and I'm glad he did this interview. It probably helped him to begin putting this into the past and focusing on his future - I expect the NBA may be calling later this year but hope he doesn't come back until 25-26 for his health.
The game has completely changed with NIL and the portal. Just like Saban had enough, some coaches will decide it's time to leave. Dusty taking 25-35% of his time just managing the NIL and getting funding from rich alums and lots of smaller donations from other alums shows me he was a great choice across the board - not just as a coach, but also a builder.
I'm now hoping Jace stays and is a good locker room presence for his last year. He wasn't THE reason Juwan got fired, but the Sanderson stuff showed he must have thought he was too good to do what he was told. It has to be humbling to have your name out there again, and not in a good light.
Hopefully, in a few years, Dusty has us back in the Sweet 16 and large crowds are back in Crysler. It would be fitting to finally get the Fab Five back and re-hang those banners.
Recent Comments
I thought Wayne Duke was a pretty good B1G commish. Sure, he was around when we lost back-to-back AD votes to Ohio and went without a bowl in 1973 and 74. He, however, was the driving force behind allowing multiple B1G teams to go bowling, which allowed us to play Oklahoma in the 1976 Orange Bowl. Duke also cracked down on Illinois and Mike White.
As for last good AD, I liked Jim Hackett but he was really just holding down a spot. Bill Martin deserved the scorn for being on a yacht and not knowing how to use his phone when Les Miles' agent called. But given what came out later about Les and blonde interns, maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Martin at least hired Amaker (who was a great hire at the time, just didn't work out) and then Beilein. Too bad Bo didn't stay longer. He fired Freider after he took the ASU job but wanted to coach in the NCAA. Moeller was an excellent hire who sadly had a terrible night at The Excalibur.
Some time ago, someone posted the link to the Bo to TAMU story (early 1982) - I was a FR in the MMB. Bum Bright, who chaired the TAMU BoR, worked through the Cowboys staff connection with Bo to pitch the deal. Bo was adamant about not playing to the pay-for-play crowd. I'm not sure he would have been as successful there as Sherrill. From 82-89, Bo won 4 B1G titles, so glad he stayed after all. Sherrill got TAMU three SWC titles in a row.
While the SWC was the worst offender, the PAC10 had half the teams (including USC + UCLA) suspended from bowls in the 1980 season. Mostly for academic fraud (forged JC transcripts, no-show classes from a diploma mill). We played and beat the true champion Washington in the 1981 RB, but would have played them anyway even if USC or UCLA had won the conference.
That's the ironic Catch 22 of the UM Admissions vs. NCAA. It doesn't matter if you had enough credit hours at your previous school. How you "lose credit" for all the work you did seems silly. I expect a better NIL in place within 2-3 years, hopefully sooner. I'm not sure any real progress will be made on admissions since they are managed by the College Dept (College of LS&A, etc.) and don't answer to the Prez very much (accept in cases of misconduct). It would take some hands-on and prescriptive "legislation" by the BoR to force any real change.
Amazing analysis and commentary. I would also add that ADs (Canham, etc.) also had big role to play in the 1970s. They had the ear of the College Presidents. CFB became a big business in the 1970s after being mostly a nice distraction in the 1960s and prior.
I was on an engineering internship in Fall 1984 in Houston when the SWC was probably still near its peak. I watched a lot of games on TV and also read a lot of newspapers. That league was as crooked as it could be, with only Rice (SWC's version of NW) not somehow getting into trouble.
I befriended a TAMU student during that time who told me about all the shenanigans going on that everyone on campus knew about but no one did anything to stop. Instead of Bo, who would NOT have played the pay-for-play game if he had left for TAMU, Jackie Sherrill was as crooked as a three dollar bill.
Poor TCU finally had its best year in ages in 1984 (8-4) but their star running back Kenneth Davis accepted money from a booster (along with a few other team mates) and Jim Wacker suspended him and the others and voluntarily reported this to the SWC and NCAA.
But, 3rd base swears it was just "one bad half in Ann Arbor" :>)
I was at that 2015 NW game with a college friend who has since passed from ALS. Returning the opening KO was incredible. Even with the sick loss the next week and the blowout to an angry Ohio team, 2015 was definitely a good season to re-set the program. 2016 was like 2006 all over again with the great start and awful finish.
The last home loss was 2019 vs. Ohio. The last time we went three years in a row w/o a home loss was 1970-72. We didn't have a home loss in 73, but the 10-10 tie. I'm hoping we can put up another great home season. From 70-74, we had all wins but for the one tie to Ohio.
From a different angle, the two most "important" losses - that is losses that forced a change for the better, were:
Since the 2021 win over UM, Sparty is 12-17. We're 33-2.
Will never forget sitting in the South EZ with my college RM and watching Ohio's final drive go awry in 2021 and realizing we slew the dragon.
Couldn't afford the 2024 RB but loved watching it and probably aged a full year in just one afternoon.
Without the 2021 Snow game over Ohio, nothing else would have mattered. It was profound in so many ways to beat them - the way we did (almost 300 yds rushing). That may be the 2nd biggest win in UM history, trailing only the 1969 24-12 over Ohio that put Bo on the map.
I consider #2 the win at Ohio in 2022 - proved 2021 was not a fluke. Also, it was JJ's first big win where his passing (3 TDs, plus one rush TD) made a difference. The rivalry had clearly turned in our favor.
A lot of other games could be #3 but the Rose Bowl win in mine. Hearing how we "gasped" when we found out we were playing Bama. Having to put together a great drive with a tipped pass being key to tie. I'm not so sure Nick retires if he had won that game.
An underrated win was at PSU in 2021 - we had to rally to win a white out game. That kept us alive for the B1G.
Like it or not, this was NOT an NCAA vendetta against Michigan, but 100% directed at a guy they despised. UM let them save face by agreeing to this wimpy penalty. It's all in the past now.
The NCAA has always been a petty, arrogant, dictatorial bunch. It is dying, but it is far from dead. When it comes to disciplining schools and coaches, it still has enough power to recklessly do damage. Warde did exactly the right thing since his HC had moved on. Let's focus on 2024 and beyond.
The NCAA will probably wait until sign-gate is over and announced another settlement with UM that includes a fine. Just because we are on probation doesn't mean this second case adds weight. We were not under probation when sign-gate came out. They are totally independent. JH is going to get some kind of show-cause combined just because the NCAA needs to fletch its dying muscles a few more times. But he'll be laughing it off at 16MM/yr in sunny LA.
Philly fans were definitely rough. While an undergrad in UM ChE in mid 1980s, one of the grad students was a Philly guy and huge baseball fan. He told me the only people the fans didn't boo were: Pete Rose (Charlie Hustle), Larry Bowa (another hustler) and Steve Carlton (any guy who wins 27 in 1972 for a team that lost 97 in a shortened season deserved the best).
Was at a Brewers - Red Sox Twi night DH in 1983 (it was 19 for beer in Wisconsin so my friend and I, both 20, drove from Chitown to the game and sat in the bleachers drinking 1.50 Old Styles or something). I didn't know at the time that Ted was actually at UM for a short period of time. When each Brewer player stepped to the plate, they would play a theme song with a few notes. Ted's song played on the organ - with the note parallelling "hail-to-the-vic-tors." It was cool hearing that in Milwaukee!
ONE player from the 1955 Brooklyn WS Champs is still alive - the great Sandy Koufax. But I don't think he made Roger Kahn's wonder book on the team (have read that book several times).
Loved the Running Redbirds in the 1980s. Amazingly, they went to 3 WS in the 80s and all went 7 games. They got screwed by Don Denkinger in Game 6 1985 and could have won a 2nd title. The 1987 Twins seemed a team of fortune and won every home playoff/WS game.
He started his career as MLB manager for a really bad 1973 Texas Rangers team that had been forced to start a HS grad and #1 pick David Clyde as an appeal to fans.
NCAA wanted Harbaugh period. He won on the field, where it matters. Charlie Baker confirmed that we won fair and square (no vacating anything). NCAA will slam JH with some kind of "show-cause hell" that will never mean anything. He's done with CFB and will outlive the NCAA. We got great memories, title gear, forced Nick into retirement, got to celebrate FB's 2nd biggest title (behind only Lombardi trophy), etc.
PS - loved Rockford Files even as a HS student in Livonia in the late 70s. Two GREAT James (Garner and Harbaugh).
BTW: didn't traitor/squealing rat Dudek get dumped by MSU (NT-MSU) a year ago. Never hire a snake. You'll get bit in the balls.
This season was a massive WIN-WIN for Jim and the fans. He got the trophy and then a chance for the biggest FB trophy of all and 80MM/5 yrs. His agent can try to crap on everyone but it's onward and upward for Sherrone and THE TEAM!
Totally fine with how UM has handled this post-Harbaugh's exit. And I don't really care what his agent is saying either. His agent is trying to boost his reputation with other potential coaches who may feel they need someone who will fight for them.
I will always love and appreciate everything Jim has done both as a player (21-3-1 over last two years with 6-0 combined vs. ND, MSU, Ohio). and a coach. He was the QB my senior year in 1985 when we beat ND to start the season, beat MSU 31-0 in EL (I was there), and closed the regular season with an exciting win over Ohio. Then a comeback bowl win vs. Nebraska.
As a coach, 40-3 and three B1G titles and a NC. I would have loved him back but he also was in Minny on signing day after 2021 and then told Warde "this wouldn't be an annual thing" but then talked with Broncos after 2022. Reportedly, the hold-up in his contract (at least one of them) was that he had to agree to not go NFL-shopping after the season.
Love the guy but we needed to move on and this settled the deal for the current staff and team.
To me, the Tennessee NIL case is totally different from this case. NIL has been backed by a unanimous Supreme Court opinion in 2021. The NCAA tried to skirt this opinion with pissy interpretations of the court ruling (punishing Florida, FSU, etc.) - Charlie Baker probably figured it would lose again in the courts and just drop the case.
Federal Courts don't usually get into the "disciplinary process" of institutions like the NCAA unless there is an alleged violation of Civil Rights or Title IX laws. Like it or not, they probably had the "authority" to discipline JH even though he did nothing to deserve an L1 and even the L2 were a crock. This is a horribly warped and biased organization and has been for decades. Dating back to the Steve Alford charity sorority calendar days in the 1980s (suspended for the Kentucky game), followed by the Prop 42 eligibility requirements that heavily impacted Black athletes. In the 1990s, they had the BS loss of eligibility rules for Curtis Enis when he accepted clothing from an agent for an awards ceremony. Finally, O'Bannon of UCLA challenged them and won in court.
The B1G and SEC can put an end to this blood-sucking organization any time and should.
No surprise here - the case has been dismissed without impacting the team going forward very much. I doubt the recruiting limitations will impact us much at all - it's about NIL more than in-home visits. We're frigging CFB champions - NCAA Prez Charlie Baker said so.
Perhaps someone can re-cap the timing. Did the "crime(s)" happen in early 2021? Did these allegations come to light in 2022 after Dudek left?
This "statement" by the NCAA shows they were clearly trying to bench JH for perhaps all of 2024, or at least the 1st half of the season (JH would have missed games vs Texas, USC, and Washington).
Total BS but the NCAA is a dying snake that is using its death rattles.
obvious a dose of sarcasm here in the original OP. Nobody in the NFL cared a bit about burger-gate nor sign-gate. JH got us a long-awaited NC, 15-0. Plus a QB likely to go into Top 5 now. He's getting 80MM/5 yrs, got to interview and decide who his boss was going to be at LAC. Plus, he got to live like hero Jim Rockford by the beach in an RV. Glad for him and glad for Sherrone.
It's clear the NCAA is waiting for a boring Friday afternoon in June to "close" these BS investigations with only a show-cause for JH (he's done with CFB anyway). I've learned that companies and governments like to announce "closure" on things like this on a Friday afternoon so it is out of the news cycle by Monday.
The population of Utah has doubled since 1990, almost 3.5MM now. We visited SLC for vacation in 2011, also driving and spending some time at national parks in WY and ID. Was a very nice town and quite scenic when you drive up to where Utah's CFB stadium is located.
If they kept the Jazz name from NOLA, then no reason not to keep the Coyotes.
Newton is definitely a good consolation prize if a better choice at DB doesn't drop down to our spot. I would love to get Cooper D from Iowa but figure he's going to cost too much in trade to move up.
Funny thing is the sleepover ended up being for a kicker who never fully lived up to the hype (Nordin had some big moments and other missed kicks) - only to miss a sleepover in Northville two years later where the best PK is all of UM history (Jake Moody) resided.
He will always be a champions player and coach here!
JH got us a title, 3 B1Gs, 3 wins over Ohio and 15-0. Plus 49-0 win at East Landfill. He deserved the right to go and shop around after all that - glad he's getting 80MM/5 yrs and got to interview candidates to be his boss at LAC.
Can't wait until we have him back for a game during an LAC bye week.
As the Stallions situation got really weird (the sidelines photos at CMU), I talked to a rational (yes there are some of them) MSU fan as well as a few other fans who felt it was a bunch of smoke and mirrors until the CMU photos. Paying two someones on your own dime to sit across the field during the IU-Ohio game and tape the signs on their phones - don't tell me that hasn't been done by our rivals, at least for upcoming big games. Little Tony P wimped out under pressure. My question is: what would Jim Devany have done?
I was at The Horror with a college friend and fellow UM ChE grad (who passed away 5 years ago from ALS). We scored first rather easily and then they hit the slant to the track star to tie. After that, Henne was pretty shaky. My friend told me in the 2nd quarter that it looked like Chad was hungover. It was a noon start - I doubted that since usually the team is under tight control but who knows? (Chad did have a great ending to his career with KC). After the game, Lloyd admitted that he pulled Mike a few times because he had stiffed up (back?) and wanted to give him a few breathers too.
The players may have farted around that week, but this 100% on Lloyd's assistants. Lloyd rightfully accepted the blame after the game, but we were totally unprepared in all three phases for this game - w/o Hart we would not have even been in a chance to win. Other than Fred Jackson, the entire staff got canned after the season and not a coach ever made it to a high level again (same happened to Hoke's staff except for the back-stabbing (twice!) Greg M)
I've witnessed too many examples where someone is being (or suspects being) cheated on and the steps they go through to find out more. This is what The Weiss situation seems like. Perhaps he suspected someone on the staff or in the Ath Dept of cheating on him. The FBI gets involved a lot more these days anytime there is hacking or illegal access to a public school network.
Mike Hart? Just hoping it was some physical and/or mental health issues that can lead his to good treatment and some time off.
As for Moore, others have already explained the (likely) situation. Whether he really needed to sit was questionable, but this was part of a compromise that was supposed to "free Jim Harbaugh" that the NCAA infractions committee, blinded by hater-tots toward JH, decided to renege on the 4-game deal.
He will not drop past #12 (Denver) so I doubt he'd experience an Aaron Rodgers or Will Levis moment. Maybe he just wants to hang around with his family and enjoy a BBQ day in the backyard.
It would have been great seeing the VIkes trade up to 5 to draft him and then have the Sharty and Bucknuts fans seethe in envy.
The only person actually convicted was Mark Fuhrman, who lied under oath about not using racist slurs but was then busted when his braggart tapes to a reporter were released. Once the Fuhrman story broke, most of us figured that OJ was going to get off, whether he was truly guilty or not.
Amazingly, the Lions won that game vs. Buffalo. OJ was literally 100% of their offense. Bills back-up QB (Gary Marangi) went 4-for-21 for 29 yards and a pick. That borders on the level with Russell Bellomy at Nebraska, but Russell wasn't on an NFL payroll.
Can't see us playing there - if nothing else, the networks will push for a game at Soldier Field or even Wrigley. Same for Ohio at NW this coming season. Too bad if the stands are 80% Maize or Scarlett.
I remember watching full replays, with commercials, from two games in the 1980 season (Purdue at UM as well as Rose Bowl win over Wash). OJ was probably the first Black athlete to get a lot of positive vibes from mostly white America (Joe Louis did too but before TV ads). By 1980, he was flying like Superman in the Hertz ads, vs. his hurdling in 1978. He even said "I'm not Black, I'm OJ"
Hard to believe that the Chase is almost 30 years ago. Remember taking a nap after dinner and waking up expecting to see Rudy T's Rockets beating the Knicks, only to see a car chase.
Interesting how HALF of the league (7 teams) have made it to the finals, only UM twice.
Other than Purdue (I don't hold anything against Matt Painter because the FB coach is a douche), I was happy to see all of the other teams lose.
Sorry - totally disagree. Caitlin was to Iowa like Iowa was to SC hoops. This was men's 1988 Finals, expect the better team (OU back then who lost, and SC who won this time) ended a title
Matt Prior was the 2nd pick behind recent HOF Joe Mauer in 2001 when the Twins worried they couldn't sign Matt. He was highly lauded too but burned out his arm and ended with 42 wins.
Prior was primed to be the winning pitcher too in the 2003 MLB playoff game that would have sent the Cubbies to the WS before the "Bartman" happened,
He might still be, but starting to wonder if we should have just kept Matt Manning in the bigs and not paid Maeda 24 MM for 2 years.
Just hoping Max Clark is in the bigs in 2+ years.
Bobby had a great agent when he signed with the Mets after 1991 season. As did Vince Coleman who got the Mets to give him a huge deal after 1990. The latter is known for throwing firecrackers into a crowd leaving a Dodgers game. The former for calling the press box to complain during a game about being charged with an error.
Ah yes, Sidd Finch. I was a senior at UM walking home from another long day as a ChE student from the Dow building on North Campus in April 1985 and dropped in for a six pack at the Blue Front on Packard St in A2. Saw this amazing article about Sidd in the latest SI and had to buy it. Only to find out his 150+ mph fastball was an April Fools prank!
Forget the UAW and Fain, MLBPA starting with Marvin Miller in the late 60s is the best at getting the best for its members. No one else gets this deal - I'm OK since I have a good minor league team in town where I can sit and watch BB for 10 bucks behind the visitor's dugout.
We should have learned what happened after his dad (Cecil) signed a huge long-term deal. Absolute money corrupts absolutely. I'm all for the ballplayer to be millionaires playing for billionaires. But Prince making 24MM/yr - thankfully we got the Rangers to take most of it off our plate.
He can thank the late Marvin Miller, first major MLBPA union Prez in the 1960s. He made it where players cashed in on big deals.
That TD run was part of a game where we were unranked and beat a ranked BYU team. It took 6 more years before we finally reached major success but loved that guy for his work ethic.
John Wooden is about the greatest CBB coach ever (who can match him) but also a great guy who graduated from Purdue and was named national player of the year in 1932. Retroactively, the 1932 Purdue team is recognized as NCAA champs, before a tourney was around. His book "Pyramid of Success" is legendary too.
I'm friends with a PU grad who even pulled for us in 89 NCAA with Fisher. His wife is a MSU grad too. I'm certain he pulled for us vs. both Bama and Washington. FWIW.
Go Blue!
Ryan Walter will be canned in two years. He's an LA guy who played at Colorado. Got a lucky break and will be proven to be trashed soon enough. Matt Painter = class act.
I worked with several Purdue Engineering grads prior to retiring from Dow a few years ago. Top notch people who also told me a hoops title was more important to them than a CFB title, thanks to John Wooden's legacy as a HOF player at Purdue.
All-in for Purdue. Matt Painter is a class act. Full stop. Ryan Walters is a Colorado "grad" under Gary Barnett - please STOP hating Purdue hoops because of a dickhead CFB coach who will be fired after two more 4-8 seasons.
I'm also in the "time for Warde to go voluntarily" camp but it won't happen unless he has something bigger to advance into - like Little Tony's B1G job.
What IS nice about this exit and Dusty's hiring is that both NIL and admissions have come into focus publicly, and not just on this blog. Warde is finally being forced out of the stone age - and probably feels the heat from Santa too - and HAS to do something for NIL.
Admissions? Maybe a few tweaks on the margins (which is not good enough but better than nothing). Unless things have changed since my student days in the 1980s, the Prez really doesn't have much control over the Schools of LSA, Engineering, etc. The Deans run their schools like fiefdoms. The faculty are fiercely loyal to the dean, as are the individual admissions offices. I don't see either Warde nor Santa going to war there to change things.
He's already coming to terms with his exit. Lots of good insight and I'm glad he did this interview. It probably helped him to begin putting this into the past and focusing on his future - I expect the NBA may be calling later this year but hope he doesn't come back until 25-26 for his health.
The game has completely changed with NIL and the portal. Just like Saban had enough, some coaches will decide it's time to leave. Dusty taking 25-35% of his time just managing the NIL and getting funding from rich alums and lots of smaller donations from other alums shows me he was a great choice across the board - not just as a coach, but also a builder.
I'm now hoping Jace stays and is a good locker room presence for his last year. He wasn't THE reason Juwan got fired, but the Sanderson stuff showed he must have thought he was too good to do what he was told. It has to be humbling to have your name out there again, and not in a good light.
Hopefully, in a few years, Dusty has us back in the Sweet 16 and large crowds are back in Crysler. It would be fitting to finally get the Fab Five back and re-hang those banners.