October 14th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^
Marcus is slapping him around
October 14th, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^
don't like he just said RR was the only reason we lost the past 3 years, but other than that its nice to hear Valenti get slapped around
October 14th, 2011 at 4:13 PM ^
Marcus could be right. I'm guessing that if Brady Hoke was hired instead of RR back in 2007 that Michigan would not be on a three year losing streak against MSU right now. In fact, we'd probably be looking at a dominating defense and a very functional offense right about now.
Oh well, it's all in the past. We have good things to look forward to.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^
Hard to say that. It would have been a completely different situation for Hoke than it is right now (possibly better or worse). Even Hoke said himself that he probably was not ready for the job yet in 2007. He needed that San Diego State job for experience.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
"I'm guessing that if Brady Hoke was hired instead of RR back in 2007 that Michigan would not be on a three year losing streak against MSU right now."
I'm guessing that you weren't paying close attention in '08. I like Brady, and I think he has "met or exceeded" across the board, but '08 would've been a trial for any coach.
Trent et al. probably wouldn't have quit on Hoke like they did on RichRod, so I'm sure the defense would have been better. As well, Hoke wouldn't have had Tony Gibson messing up the administrative chain.
On offense, though? One returning starter and the worst quarterbacking UM has seen in the modern era. (Yes, I'm including Chris Zurbrugg in '84, in case anyone's memory goes back that far.)
No, I think the Spartans win in '08 even if Lloyd is coaching.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:26 PM ^
that if Hoke had been hired. Mallet and Boren would still have been around, there would not have been as much of an offensive implosion as there was and Ron English would likely have stuck as defensive coordinator so there would have been little to no change if defensive philosophy.
In 2008 under RR the entire team was learning a new system, under Hoke the changes would have been much smaller and less disruptive.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^
Yeah, and if RichRod had Mallet, things would have probably worked out better.
Mallet wasn't there, though. His off-the-field exploits, by the way, were chronicled here and elsewhere. No way is it guaranteed that he would've stuck around for Hoke. Lloyd didn't even like him.
As for Boren, are we sure that Brady would have put up with all the BS from that family? They don't seem like his kind of people.
Also, remember that Ron English wanted the HC job. Do you think he would have been perfectly happy working for Hoke?
October 14th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
What Mallet did and did not do off-field doesn't mean anything unless it impacts how he performs... the Pats thought enough of him to draft him and he made the team.... Bill doesn't suffer fools, even banned Ochocinco from tweeting after the Buffalo loss.... People can bust on Mallett all they want, but I root for all the Michigan boys and don't take pleasure in personal problems or choose sides.
October 14th, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
So when Hoke was hired the huge knock from this board was "oh no, here comes Lloyd ball with 3 losses a year". Now that fact that we all see that is not the case, you're attributing this difference to RR's tenure between Carr and Hoke? Is it not possible that Hoke actually brings his own coaching philosophies to the table regardless of who is predecessor is?
October 14th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
October 14th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that you're the one not paying attention. We're not talking exclusively about 2008. We're talking about the three years of RR's tenure......and no, I don't think that Hoke would have lost for three consecutive years.
Regarding 2008, contrary to the Decimated Defense meme, the 2008 team had a respectable amount of defensive talent. I think that five or six members were drafted in the NFL. How many other Big Ten teams can say that? The offense would have kept Mitchell and Boren. Threet could have been a serviceable QB (think John Navarre).
There's no way to tell "what could have been" at this point. All I know is that Michigan went almost 40 years without losing back-to-back games against MSU. I'm pretty sure that Hoke could have avoided the three-peat.
October 14th, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^
You might not be aware that, two years later, Threet was among the leaders in a bad statistic: http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/so…
You basically insulted Navarre there by comparing him (in any year) to the redshirt frosh Threet.
Really, what does it say that Nick Sheridan was neck-and-neck with Threet for that position?
On the other side of the ball, here are the future NFLers I can recall (and, no, I don't much care who, like T. Taylor, was merely drafted):
Brandon Graham; Stevie Brown; Morgan Trent; Tim Jamison; Jonas Mouton
Certainly not a bad group, but below historical standards. Only Graham can be considered a consistent impact player.
Anyway, it's all good in the hood -- MGoBlog needs absolutists like you to keep its flavor fresh.
October 14th, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^
October 15th, 2011 at 8:30 AM ^
Threet would have looked a lot better in a pro-style offense (like he did at ASU) and Sheridan would have been some guy on the sidelines holding a clip board.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^
Good lord, I didn't go to UM, but Marcus is being a little too arrogant, and everyone calling in sounds like a moron right now.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
Marcus being arrogant and callers sounding like morons is exactly what I expected
October 14th, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
Yes I am and this is great Radio. Marcus is over the top a bit but its very amusing.
I want him to go after Dantonio for calling the 2008 win at Michigan a "program defining win"
Seriously Mark D, you beat a 3-5 team on thier way to 3-9 and you call that program defining. That is exactly why you are Sparty.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^
Why is it that when MSU wins in 2008-2011, it doesn't count because Michigan is "down", but all UM's wins against MAC's JV team in 1889 count?
October 14th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
Who said it didnt count? I laughed because Mark D called it a program defining win. We were 3-5,
Have a good night sparty
October 14th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
There's a difference between simply counting a win, and counting a win as program-defining. We won't argue that those last three years count in the total, but when Dantonio takes pride in beating a 3-9 team, you know your program is weak.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:36 PM ^
Michigan does not call the wins vs. "MAC's JV team in 1889" program defining wins. They are just called "wins".
October 14th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^
i don't listen to those asshats that come on after karsch and anderson.
every once and a while i consider it and then after about 10 minutes valenti undoubtedly starts acting like an arrogant prick to everybody, so then i just get irritated and just turn it off.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^
Mike just said something along the lines of "you're not producing US presidents on the football field". I wish Marcus had been like "Actually we have".
October 14th, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^
October 14th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
I will go down with you. Its hard to stomach the way Marcus is acting.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
The guy was suspended for 6 games his senior season for taking money from an agent.
If some Columbus radio station was interviewing TP about an upcoming game right now I don't think OSU fans would be treating the guy like a hero.
October 14th, 2011 at 11:05 PM ^
Shh...Michigan fans live in a world where boosters, extra benefits, agents, criminal activity & academic indiscretions only happen at other schools.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
Remember that Sports Illustrated cover after the '97 OSU game? The one where Marcus is upending an OSU receiver (David Boston, I believe)?
I honestly believe that most of his reputation rests on that photo. Has any other UMich player gotten more love from a single picture?
He was a functional safety, which makes him a rare bird in Michigan football, but it's not like he was an all-star. It appears that he made a single NFL tackle:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RayxMa20.htm?redir
Yes, more than most of us, but some people seem to think he was right there with Chuck Woodson.
Right now, I wish he'd be quiet. Not sure why he always ends up on these shows ...
October 14th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
I see your SI cover and raise you Hello Heisman (both Demond and unintentional Denard editions).
Not to cheapen Desmond or Denard, but Michigan definitely has it's fair share of iconic photos.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^
Hey -- I loved the Heisman cover.
You may have missed my point. I don't remember saying that there weren't any other iconic photos.
In the case of Marcus Ray, the cover boosted his reputation considerably in certain quarters. With Desmond and Woodson, the covers merely complimented their all-star accolades. They didn't move the needle as much. (How could it have moved much higher?)
October 14th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
Relax people, Marcus & Mike are doing this for entertainment purposes. I find it hilarious.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
laying down on Marcus. If anyone else saw there Twitter beef the last few days this is nothing. Valenti wasn't holding anything back, and now that Marcus is actually in studio Valenti is backing down big time. I think it's sad, I wanted what I read on Twitter the last few days.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:12 PM ^
But here's a test. When the show is over, if I missed anything important -- any one single bit of news or information that is important, relevant or even interesting -- would somebody who listens to 97.1 come back here to tell us what it was?
I am guessing that this will be a very hard assignment.
My experience in both listening and (rarely) calling in to that program is that afterwards, you just want to take a shower and forget that you wasted your time.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:40 PM ^
Who cares? Sports radio is 95% entertainment and schtick. That's not new. Personally, I think it's funny, I don't take it too seriously, and occasionally just enjoy the spectacle. If Valenti is good for one thing, it's that. This segment was no different.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:56 PM ^
Do you also enjoy pro wresting? If Valenti qualifies as entertainment (even in an ironic sort of way) for people of your stature (a compliment, by the way), our society is in trouble.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:00 PM ^
Gosh, this really isn't some kind of indictment on western civilization. It's sports radio. Sometimes you just need some mindless background noise in the car or whatever. And Valenti is at least good for a few ridiculous laughs now and then.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:16 PM ^
Any answer to my question posted above? I'm honestly curious. Did I miss anything?
[And -- OT -- in the last installment of 03 Blue 07's Three and Out diary, I congratulated you on your successful effort to get a copy of the book, and posed a serious question to you.]
October 14th, 2011 at 4:17 PM ^
1. MSU graduates doctors that have to ask former Michigan football players what the prime numbers are.
2. MSU's inferiority complex is alive and well.
3. MSU fan's don't have a sense of humor.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
I know I should have expected disappointment but I was hoping for...
* Stories from the 1997 team
* Stories from actual games in the rivalry
* Something resembling analysis of tomorrow's game
Instead we got an hour of glorified elementary school level arguing - good times
Still love Marcus Ray though, an important member of the greatest Michigan defense I will probably ever see. Hope for the best for him
October 14th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
Odds that guy who called to scream at Marcus about Rhodes Scholars has an average of 10 posts a day on the RCMB: High.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
Everything besides actual sports on that radio station is just garbage. Well, I guess that could be said about any sports talk station.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:45 PM ^
Dr. Sparty asked what a prime number was. Marcus is like for real....1, 5, 7 and then I was sure he said 57......uh ho!!!! Tell me he didn't say 57.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^
Haha, that was hilarious. First because Marcus had some trouble naming some prime numbers. He did say 57 but was messing around although he did miss 2 and 3... To be fair, I probably would had trouble thinking of more than a few prime numbers on the spot like that. How often do you use them when not in school (or even in school) ?
Second, what kind of idiot thinks that being able to list prime numbers = smart? Apparently Sparty doctors. At least I'll be prepared if I apply to MSU med school!