Marcus Ray on 97.1

Submitted by jtblue on

Marcus Ray live on the air with Mike Valenti on 97.1 representing the leaders and best

Anyone else listening?

 

raleighwood

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.

da3mite

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. 

1974

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.

BlueinLansing

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.

1974

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?

nyc_wolverines

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.

Mitch Cumstein

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?

raleighwood

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.

 

Jasper

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.

BigBlue02

October 14th, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^

Don't forget that the Ryan mallett coming back wasn't the NFL draft pick Ryan mallet, it was a true sophomore that looked inconsistent. He would have been light years ahead of threet/Sheridan, but starting a true sophomore with a less than stellar completion percentage behind a patchwork offensive line isn't the best recipe for success.

Also, I'm not sure why anyone would think the decimated defense is a "meme." It actually happened. To Michigan. It isn't fake. It is the statistics of what happened to the defense at the end of the Lloyd Carr era and the beginning of the RichRod era.

crum

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.

kurpit

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.

JimLahey

October 14th, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^

I don't understand how you can actually take pride in the way he is presenting himself. He's a complete moron, barely coherent and extremely arrogant. Neg away, I'm calling a spade a spade, though.

Jasper

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 ...

Jasper

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?)

FoundersFella

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. 

Section 1

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.

Bando Calrissian

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.

Bando Calrissian

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.

Section 1

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.]

HHW

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.

jtblue

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

almostkorean

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!