Unverified Voracity Excepts Van Earl Wright Comment Count

Brian

Brady, Bernie. Bernie, Brady. Man, local sportscasters never die.

Bernie's "Hoke impression" is… something.

Yes and no. Desmond Howard wants his number retired or a statue or something:

"You travel around and you see how a lot of these programs have retired jerseys of players who haven't even accomplished some of the things on the field like myself and Woodson have accomplished," Howard said. "It's just a way they try to honor their players."

At Oklahoma and Florida, for instance, Howard has seen statues of former players.

Howard says Michigan is now more receptive to change.

"You look at these things and you understand the tradition and the way Michigan has handled that in the past, but obviously, you kind of got to get into what's happening now," Howard said. "We're moving in that direction. Just like … the stadium — you update your stadium to keep up with the competition."

I'm not a fan of retiring numbers. I like seeing a guy out there rocking the #2 or #21 and being reminded of Howard or Woodson (and usually how much less good at football the current guy is than Howard or Woodson). I wouldn't mind a Ring Of Honor bit where they have the names in the stadium. With the boxes there's even a place to put them.

Statues are cheesy unless you are deceased, and sometimes even if you are.

Q: if there was an in-stadium commemoration thing who would be on it?

  • Obvious Heisman Guys: Harmon, Howard, Woodson
  • Essentially as obvious: Ford, Oosterbaan, Friedman, Carter
  • Fringe-y sorts: Braylon, Jake Long, Steve Hutchinson, Dan Dierdorf (someone from 1969 is a given, no?), Tom Curtis (all time INT leader, CFBHOF), Woodley, Graham (all time sack leader), Messner, Irons

I'd probably grab one guy from the 1969 team to go with the obviously obvious ones and call it a day. Add one name per year starting with Harmon.

Tatgate du jour. Another batch of FOIA requests have been responded to by Ohio State, and the results are as embarrassing as usual. Highlights from two articles:

  • Jim Tressel got an "unacceptable" on his 2006 performance review when it came to promptly informing compliance of stuff.
  • Tressel was specifically admonished to pay closer attention to the cars his players were driving after the Clarett business.
  • That was the last performance review Tressel got because Gene Smith started doing verbal reviews; Thad Matta continued to get written ones.
  • Ohio State's reviews that loaners were totally on the up and up were regarded as suspicious even by people in the department: 'Greg Gillum, director of football operations, wrote to Smith and Archie that car salesman Aaron Kniffin, who once worked at Maxton and later at Auto Direct, "is supposedly working on players' cars and sending guys to Auto Direct for loaners ... Our suggestion is that someone from compliance try to investigate whether this arrangement is valid."'
  • Ohio State "heavily" redacted the documents, including blacking out the number of cars purchased from one particular dealership.
  • One redacted Ohio State player was driving around a 75k vehicle.
  • The investigation into ten pairs of cleats claimed stolen by Pryor, Herron, and Posey reached a dead end after a random purchase of some old-model Pryor-signed cleats.

I'm not sure if there's any upshot here except the car stuff going further back to Clarett and the lack of reviews for Tressel. Pryor entering the supplemental draft when his stock is poisonous certainly implies the NCAA will find him ineligible for car-related hijinks Ohio State started right at and chose to ignore.

Strike while the iron is hot, which it is because you just breathed on it. The "Mankato" in Minnesota State Mankato seems likely to become useful instead of redundant, because DUCK

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Flames all up in here, all golfin' and stuff. Also this guy:

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Moorhead is a DII program with no hockey program… yet. They just announced today that they're looking for $37 million to start one and already have 15 in soft commitments. They're looking for the rest in the next three months; if they make it the WCHA will no doubt snap them up. And then everyone gets to play against the Dragons.

Mwahahaha. Rivals has just released its state rankings for Michigan, and Brady Hoke All Your Base Co. has secured five (RJS, Ross, Richardson, Funchess, and Godin) of the top seven. Michigan is heavily involved with the two others, Aaron Burbridge and Danny O'Brien). MSU's first commit is #8 Jamal Lyles, and it's a little surprising Ben Braden isn't ahead of him—he's been killing people at camps and I was under the impression he had a shot to move up to four stars. Maybe that was Scout.

Etc.: LSU is still oversigned by seven(!) in the middle of July. They've been "transparent" with the kids this time around, so at least the guys know two of them are totally screwed. Les Miles == NFW. Meanwhile, South Carolina people are upset because Spurrier didn't renew the scholarship of a track walk-on who got one last year. I'm high on the zealotry scale when it comes to oversigning but that one fails to stoke any outrage with me.

MVictors on old-timey polls. Dodd suggests college football's cleanup needs to start at OSU. Okay by me. Stewart Mandel's version of "Brady Hoke poops magic." Wojo on the open door in Ohio. Glenn Robinson hooping it up. No one closes the barn door or writes open letters like the Ohio State Buckeyes. The SBN ND blog is newly extant. Alex Massie likes the CFB blogosphere.

Comments

WolvinLA2

July 15th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^

If Braden jumps Lyles (totally possible) and we pick up O'Brien and Burbridge (also totally possible) we'll have the top 8 in-state players.  I don't know if that's ever happened.

EDIT:  The othere crazy/cool thing is no out of state Big Ten team has signed a Michigan player yet.  Now, I'd rather an in-state player sign with Indiana than Toledo, but it's nice to see all of the Big Ten calibur recruits have decided to stay in-state, up to this point.

HarBooYa

July 15th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^

I think if you win a Heisman, you get a statute or bust or something.  I think you also have to give A.C. and Bo one.

I am with you on the in stadium recognitions up to the fringe folks.  Beyond that, I like Long, Jansen, Harbaugh (even though he married Coach K's daughter and rooted against us in the tournament among other things). 

Braylon?  Really? 

 

WolvinLA2

July 15th, 2011 at 5:43 PM ^

Braylon was a Belitnikof winner, 3rd overall NFL draft pick, multiple record holder and arguably the best receiver we've had (at least in the top group with only AC and Desmond). 

He's been a little mouthy about stuff during the RR era, but he was an amazing player for Michigan.

WolvinLA2

July 16th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^

You also realize that most of the alumni and fans who would care were also on Operation: Submarine RR, right? 

And I agree with the douchey pro behavior, and although I don't think that should count since it's after he was a college star and everything, but if you take his after college behavior into account, so should also include the money he's donated to endow the #1 jersey and all that money he gave to Detroit schools. 

OJ's jersey is still retired at the Coliseum, and I highly doubt Braylon's actions will ever rival his.  I've had this discussion with my USC alum brother-in-law, no matter how much of an asshole OJ is, it doesn't change that he was a badass football player in college.

Are you one of those people who thinks Pete Rose shouldn't be in the HOF?

IncognitoWolverino

July 15th, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^

I'm split on retiring numbers. We already have some retired, and I think Howard and Woodson have earned it. But I would prefer if players who wanted 2 or 21 had to ask Woodson or Howard to wear it (but they won't always be around to give their blessing). So I don't know, but there should be something.

northdakotamaizefan

July 15th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^

If Moorhead state gets a hockey program going they are smack dab in the center of one of the richest areas for hockey talent. They are in northwestcentral minnesota if that makes any sense. I can tell you this because i live in fargo northdakota which is like ypsilanti to ann arbor they are right next to each other on the border of minnesota and north dakota. Fargo has a junior hockey team in town not to mention the talent in minnesota. I know people probably think they will be a pushover and they may be for a while but count on in 10 years them having a solid hockey team. That is one thing i definetly miss about living in Redford michigan every friday night i could make a drive to farmington hills or brother rice or walled lake western or westland these programs are decent high school football programs. Were as FargoMoorhead the talent here for football is really reallyy low the most talented football player they have had is a kid named Tyler Roehl Who i dont know if anybody ever caught the game of NDSU playing Minnesota Well Roel rushed for like 270 yards of something he is a fullback in the nfl now with Seatlle. I remeber being able to watch some really talented kids in michigan. There was one kid who i think if he would have been playing now would have made it big Frank Stanford played at walled lake western in 96.

Wave83

July 15th, 2011 at 5:36 PM ^

You will probably have to add Ron Kramer to the "Essentially as Obvious" list since they did retire his number.  (He was before even my time, so I can't vouch for him personally.)

I'm okay with retiring the numbers of Heisman winners, but I'm not really excited about it.  I agree with Brian that it is nice to see the numbers that remind us of earlier greats.  Besides, when you have 85 scholarships and don't (hopefully) ever use three digit numbers, you really can't afford to limit the pool anymore than we have already.

blueneverquits

July 15th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^

Made the all american team 3-times (unanimous 1st team in 1956, plus 1st team again in 1955 . . . no word on if flux capacitor was involved) . . . pretty good considering freshmen couldn't play varsity back then.

 

 

Bez

July 15th, 2011 at 5:42 PM ^

I'm sure Bernie's wife and kids like his impression.

In a way you have to hand it to him, he launched into that impression without pause.

HarBooYa

July 15th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^

According to Wikipedia (read: beware):

"To qualify for induction into the Hall of Honor, an individual must have "earned All-America recognition in a team or individual sport or, as individuals have established an NCAA, American or World record; won an NCAA title, or made significant contributions to the Michigan Athletic Department as a coach or administrator."[1]"

That said, there is a nice "Hall of Honor" sortable list here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan_Athletic_Hall_of_Honor

 

 

lhglrkwg

July 15th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^

more and more I believe that hoke is doing so well in recruiting because he is unfailingly confident in michigan and michigan football. i think that confidence really helps get people excited about michigan. no offense to richrod, but he always seemed a bit pouty and unsure of himself. i think hoke's confidence rubs off on recruits

YaBoyBlue

July 15th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^

I posted almost the exact same idea earlier. I like seeing kids out there in those numbers. I think it should be a great pre season competition to earn those numbers and motivation to live up to them. Kinda like #1.

I also love the Ring Of Honor idea. Des...you don't really need a statue. You will already be loved an remembered FOREVER. Same as Chuck. And I don't think Charles gives a damn. He's already a god. And worshipped for a lot more than football.

Jus sayin...imho

jmblue

July 15th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^

Van Earl Wright was awesome when he did Headline Sports for CNN.  At WDIV . . .  eh, nothing special.  I remember they screwed him over by not letting him cover the Atlanta Olympics, even though they were in his hometown.  I can't imagine how much that would suck.

bmdubs

July 15th, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^

the open letters written to Gene Smith - linked in the bottom of the post - are surprisingly intelligble and really helped me understand some Buckeye fans ARE upset at their school.. not all are blindly believing everything is on the up and up

BRCE

July 16th, 2011 at 2:29 AM ^

Jarrett Irons is definitely the weakest member of Brian's list. It's a fun topic, but obviously there wasn't a lot of thought put into this with the exclusions of Harbaugh, Leach, Wheatley, Hart, A-Train, etc.

Lot of names being tossed around here, but if you're going to have a ring of honor, make it exclusive. If you have to think about whether or not a guy should be on it, you have your answer - he shouldn't.

M-Wolverine

July 16th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^

Is 2nd all time in tackles. Considering 2nd ranked rushers and sack guys (and less) are being bandied about, he belongs. Now if you want to say almost none of them deserve THAT kind of honor, I agree with you that it should be for the truly elite, all-time, special.

strick23

July 16th, 2011 at 6:56 AM ^

I've always been a big fan of Desmond, but come on!....  What happened to "The Team, The Team, The Team"?  What would Bo think of Howards comments regarding jersey retirement? .......  I think we all know!

Logan88

July 16th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^

I had not yet read Dodd's piece on OSU and I found this bit at the end the most interesting part of the entire article:

(I can't switch to the other mode to apply the blockquote tag)

Smith, that Ohio State AD, basically said so himself last year during an interview with CBSSports.com long before the scandal broke. Smith was once a member of the infractions committee so he knows the drill. One of the NCAA's biggest conundrums remains how to penalize a school when the wrongdoers -- coach, players -- have departed. What, in essence, is fair?

"It's still an institutional issue," Smith said. "At the end of the day, the institution has to suffer."

Elno Lewis

July 16th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^

no more number retiring. statues? ok.

 

i like being reminded of the greats, as well.  

 

Desmond--you are not MICH.

 

chill

LB

July 16th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^

Mandich, for this: On the HBO documentary about the rivalry, Mandich says, “There’s an expression in German, ‘schadenfreude,’ which means, ‘joy in the misery of others.’ Forty years later, I feel schadenfreude – joy – that it still hurts the Buckeyes, what we did on that fateful November day in 1969.” and because those who stayed looked to him as their leader.

BlueGoM

July 17th, 2011 at 8:06 AM ^

"I'm not a fan of retiring numbers. I like seeing a guy out there rocking the #2 or #21 and being reminded of Howard or Woodson"

When you're watching the game you don't really notice, hey, there's no #98 out there.  I do notice, hey,  Vincent Smith is wearing #2, I hope he can live up to that number's legacy (or similar hopeful encouragement type substance).

I'm all for a ring of honor, or a placard somewhere in the stadium, or something like that.   I don't think I like retiring jerseys, in  a way it's a nice honor, in another way it makes the number disappear from view, and people's memories.

 

cazzie33

July 17th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^

... for a classy, striking salute to our great names from the past.

At each end of the stadium there are now six big, bare pillars supporting the new scoreboards. These cry out for wrap-around poster-like images of our icons. Maybe coaches at one end and players at another, whatever.

Can't you just see a squinty Bo and a posing Desmond and a glaring Yost and a torn-jersey Harmon filling these spaces and greeting the faithful? Check out the latest from michiganstadiumaerials.com and tell me you don't agree.

http://www.michiganstadiumaerials.com/construction-updates.html

Anybody with PhotoShop skills who could create an artist's rendering of what it could look like?