TomVH: A Few Quick Updates
Just wanted to give a little update so you don't think I'm leaving you hanging. Neither of the offensive linemen, Eric Olson and Adam Brisnowaty, committed on their visit to Michigan. I should be talking to both today, so I'll have more from them soon.
Fullbacks have been quite the talk lately, and it seems like if Michigan doesn't get one of the high end running backs like Bri'onte Dunn they could try to reel in a fullback. Utah FB Sione Houma is visiting this weekend, I should also have more from him later or after his visit. Most likely after his visit.
On the same note I spoke with Texas FB EJ Fatu and he told me that Michigan is in fact his top school right now. I couldn't get too much out of him like when he plans on deciding, but he said that Michigan is top for him because they're Michigan and it's a great school.
Another interesting note is that Cali OL Erik Magnuson will be on hand for the unveiling of the Michigan Throwback jerseys Friday night at the Big House. I'd say that's a pretty cool scene for a recruit and his dad to take in on their first trip to Ann Arbor.
I'll have more info as always in the Weekly Update. If you have requests you can put them in the comment section here.
but the throwback uniforms suck ass.
I'll live watching Michigan wear a throwback for one game. Some of you guys are just straight up bitches.
Also it was reported that the players like the jerseys, so I guess that is one thing going for them.
You know, which is nice.
Except it isn't a throwback Uni. It's a made up Uni with the word throwback attached to it.
You were expecting them to wear exact replicas from the 30s?
These are throwback jerseys as obviously they have a very heavy influence from the past. Get over it.
Think they're actually called "retro-style" which makes it sort of accurate.
<br>
<br>Just sayin.
"I bet you're a big Lee Marvin fan aren't ya."
P.S. Thanks Tom. You are awesome.
Are you gonna bark all day little doggy....or are you gonna bite?
Man, King of Belch/Barking Sphincter/Seam Ornery was caved. (Only visible on the app).
<br>
<br>Anyone want to start a pool for when he starts a new account and his new name is identified. I'll guess June 23rd.
SO's been caved? Yay! Can we take out BradyBeatsBama next?
If Magnuson doesn't commit and the jerseys are ugly I am blaming it on the jerseys.
I demand MOAR UGLY JERZEEZ.
/Post hoc ergo prompter hoc'd
by the number of recruits who think Oregon's jerseys are awesome.
Kids these days and their horrible taste.
/feels old at 26.
That's the thing. Oregon's jerseys are awesome. For them. Our identity is tradition, theirs is flashy jerseys. If Michigan decided sometime in the early 1900's that they were going to design new jerseys for each game, everyone here would be saying, "Hah, look at all those lame schools that have had the same one jersey for decades."
That said, I'm not going to let jerseys with striped arms ruin my day.
they look like walking highlighters. They're basically Zubaz.
you girls and your barbies...they're shirts. it doesn't matter.
If he recoils in horror from the jersey, we're forming a lynch mob right? AA Torch and Pitchfork sales have been sagging recently and I'm sure they could use the business.
Now serving Columbus!
I was wondering has Michigan offered any fullbacks for this years class, or as you stated, are they waiting to offer until the guys at half back come off the board? By coming off the board i mean, giving a solid verbal to another program?
http://mgoblog.com/content/2012-offer-list
We've offered 3. Houma and Fatu as well as Dominic Ramacher who committed to Oklahoma State.
I'm not to worried about us getting a high profile HB this class because we are already kind of deep at that position. I do think that our transition to MANBALL requires us to take a FB in this class.
Dear Magnuson, please commit and begin the O-Line of DOOM.
I like square faced Fullbacks
Samoan fullbacks
I mentioned this when he was offered but his father is the late WWF star Eddie Fatu, and his cousin is The Rock.
And you already said that we lead for him...so in fact you could say that he is smelling what Brady Hoke is cooking?
For those who didn't know, The Rock played football for Miami, back when he was just a pebble. DT, if I recall correctly . . .
I thought he played LB.
He did play DT for Miami(YTM). He got injured and was replaced by Waren Sapp. He also played in the CFL, but got cut two months into the season. Source is wikipedia.
his father (Eddie Fatu) may be better known to some as Umaga. Also, the kid has an Uncle who used to be a WWF star: Rikishi.
I love tailbacks of Samoan descent
P.S. Have we ever had any???
I don't think Michigan has had any of those players recently. At the risk of veering into the land of political incorrectness, I wouldn't mind seeing Michigan get on the Pacific Islander football train. To date, it's belonged almost exclusively to the Pac Ten schools, which is understandable when geography is considered.
Hawaii, then BYU and Utah rely heavily on Pacific islanders.
I think there's a lot of Mormons among the Pacific Islanders, explaining the BYU/Utah connection.
That's right,
Yeah this is definitely true. In fact, the Pacific Islands probably has some of the most devoted Christian people in the world. A lot of SDAs, mormons...They raise hell on the football field though.
Junior Seau, Troy Polamalu angle. U$C's been a Samoan pipeline in the past as well.
the mormon's missionized in the South Pacific with a great deal of success, in particular in Samoa and Tonga. The prevalence of islanders on BYU and Utah is no accident. Each Pac Ten school as at least one islander on their roster.
A samoan is 40 times more likely to make it to the NFL than an American.
http://espn.go.com/gen/s/2002/0527/1387562.html
Here is a list froma few seasons ago of the Somoans and Tongans in the NFL
SAMOAN
1 JONATHAN FANENE AS BENGALS DE
2 DOMATA PEKO AS BENGALS DT
3 PAUL SOLIAI AS DOLPHINS DT
4 JUNIOR SIAVII AS COWBOYS DT
5 ISAAC SOPOAGA AS 49ERS DE
6 REY MAUALUGA CA BENGALS DE
7 TALAVOU KELLY USA RAVENS NT
8 KALUKA MAIAVA HI BROWNS LB
9 TROY POLUMALU CA STEELERS SS
1 0 VINCE MANUWAI HI JAGUARS G
11 JUNIOR SEAU CA PATRIOTS LB
12 PITOITUA ROPATI USA JETS DT
13 SAMSON SATELE HI RAIDERS C
14 BRANDON MANUMALEUNA CA CHARGERS TE
15 AL AFALAVA HI BEARS SS
16 PISA TINOISAMOA CA BEARS LB
17 MATT TOEAINA CA BEARS DT
18 ROY MILLER WA BUCCANEERS DT
19 MIKE SELLERS WA REDSKINS FB
20 LOFA TATUPU MA SEAHAWKS LB
21 CJ AH YOU HI RAMS DT
TONGAN
1 HALOTI NGATA UT RAVENS DE
2 DAVID VEIKUNE USA BROWNS DE
3 CHRIS KEMOEATU HI STEELERS OT
4 FILI MOALA USA COLTS DT
5 FUI VAKAPUNA UT BENGALS FB
6 TAHI NAUFAHU UT VIKINGS FB
7 MAAKE MEOEATU HI PANTHERS DT
8 FENUKI TUPOU USA EAGLES T
9 DEUCE LUTUI USA CARDINALS G
10 MOISE FOKOU USA EAGLES LB
Interestingly, the players almost all come from American Samoa, as opposed to the separate nation of Western Samoa which is a protectorate of New Zealand. Western Samoans are very prevelant in the ranks of New Zealand's representative rugby teams including theAll Blacks.
Having played Rugby with many Samoans and Tongans, it is easy to see why they have had so much success in NFL and international Rugby. Athletically, they have amazing genetics, frequently with an unbelievable combination of size and speed. While many islanders play finesse style in Rugby (or some would pejoratively say soft) leading to a lack of great success in the 15 a side game there is never any doubting the physical skill and power of individual players, and much of that is likely due more to island culture. Indeed, the Western Samoa rugby side which is made up almost exclusively of New Zealand born and bred players has been a formidable opponent in the 15 a side game over the last 20 years.
I have followed international rugby for the better part of three decades and the best rugby player I have seen has been Jonah Lomu from New Zeland. There has never been a player of his size, skill, speed and power in the game since (and not many before from what I have seen in older footage). The man was simply amazing.
best player ever. Certainly, I will agree that his level of strenght and speed made him one of the most dominant wings of all time, but I could not clasify him as the best player I have ever seen.
Manti Te'o, the guy who gets pwned by Omameh, is also Mormon, but decided not go on his mission.
so I too could avoid political incorrectness. He is indeed Samoan-American, so i think we're in the clear here.
Tom, are the offers to Olson and Brisnowaty commitable at this point in time? Just sayin'.
The decision timelines for everyone probably make it so that it will just play itself out. There's a chance that there could be some overlap, but I think it should play out fine.
Tom, what are the fullback prospects saying about how they will be used in the offense? Also, how many fullbacks do you think the coaches want on the roster?
You are correct about the Mormon thing. Tonga and Samoa each have Mormon temples on the islands (also there are 2 in Hawaii and one each in Tahiti and Fiji). This is pretty significant considering the size of the populations there and that Mormons don't just build a temple any old place. For several years the onlt US temple west of the Mississippi was near Washington DC. There are 134 worldwide and 14 are in Utah.
Not that I'm all that into geography, but the last time I checked, Washington DC was East of the Mississippi.
There's a temple in Michigan, by the way, in Bloomfield Hills.
You can't call this jersey a throwback. It was never our jersey to begin with!!