Unverified Voracity Womp Womp Wuh Womp Eeeeeer Comment Count

Brian

Sponsor note. Are you thinking of doing a business? Are you sick of working at your business factory? Have you purchased a trench coat and a broom and found two like-minded associates willing to make a foray into the unknown?

hoeglaw_thumb[1]

Hoeg Law can help, because ye gods these things get complicated. Rich is currently doing a deep dive on term sheets that includes sentences like these:

You may have noticed in reading the above that we skipped over one bit of language included in the NVCA’s right of first refusal provision:

Can't say that I did, and in this I am reminded of that time I was presenting at an alumni club and someone raised their hand and asked what a "stunt" was. I explained; Hoeg Law will explain.

The "How Much Does Mike Onwenu Weigh" Game! Lookin' svelte, Medium Mike:

As a further demonstration of Onwenu's superdense construction, most of the contributors around here asked people with the misfortune to be around them how much this man weighs, given that he is 6'3". Prepare yourself for Price Is Right horns:

image

I do not know how much Onwenu weighs but… not that. Or within 50 pounds of some of those guesses. Is it weird that I might be more excited to see Onwenu start than guys like Evans and DPJ? I mean, I know what Donovan Peoples-Jones probably looks like on a football field: Braylon Edwards. I have no idea what's going to happen when Mike Onwenu steps on the field. Will they have to offer him snowshoes so he doesn't plunge through the turf? That sort of thing.

Chris Evans, coach. Dan Murphy catches up with Chris Evans's offseason undertakings, which are football and also football:

INDIANAPOLIS -- The little hand on the clock hanging in the gym at Ben Davis High School is creeping toward 8 on a Saturday night in May, and Chris Evans has lost track of the time. One of the parents lingering on the sideline gives him a friendly reminder that dinner hour is whisking past and perhaps it's time to wrap it up. He has, after all, been working with the boys since lunch.

"Oh man, OK. Next touchdown wins," he hollers at the pack of 10-to-12-year-old boys spread out in front of him, then gathers half of them in a huddle. Evans is wearing a blue-collared button-up shirt with his first name sewn on to a patch on his chest and a dark-blue block-M hat, just like the one his head coach Jim Harbaugh wears at Michigan. He's toting a dry-erase clipboard, and he's still using it to draw up plays 30 minutes later when the parents along the wall start making the glances toward their watches a little more obvious. "Last drive," he says. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Evans is trying to squeeze in every rep possible before tomorrow's 7-on-7 tournament, which they've been preparing for all month. Carrie Eller, whose son Gavin is one of the boys on the team, shakes her head and smiles.

"We knew what we signed up for," she says.

They signed up for a guy who signed up for Harbaugh and apparently… is Harbaugh? Caught in a time loop or Quantum Leap kind of situation?

Now I don't have to write this. A tip of the hat to Ty Schalter at the Comeback for rebutting a couple of doofy "Jim Harbaugh wears out his welcome" pieces:

Who, exactly, is Harbaugh “wearing out his welcome” with? Would that be his bosses now coping with full football stadiums, a huge Nike/Jordan brand apparel contract, and figuring out how to spend all of that revenue from the Big Ten’s massive new television deals? Jim Harbaugh may be the best investment Michigan has ever made.

Surely, it must be the underlings working under his tyranny? Assistants are just dying to get away from there. And look how he treats the staff. Inventing the “employee of the year” award and giving it to a custodian. Going out of his way to thank the stadium ushers. It’s an absolute nightmare in Schembechler Hall.

Fans. Gotta be the fans who are upset. One can hear their cries. “Please, Jim. Stop making Michigan one of the coolest programs in the country. Stop being so innovative and energetic. Stop trolling SEC coaches; no one wants that. Stop being relentlessly diligent at your job 365 days per year, seven days per week, 24 hours per day, and for the entire 60 minutes during games.”

Now I don't have to write this identical piece but with more personal insults.

giphy-downsized

this is what giphy usually gives you when you ask it for "Debord"

Anonymous coach quote time. Athlon's annual offer of anonymity in exchange for solid quotes dallies with the ridiculous

"Wilson sold his offense to try and get better talent in there. Besides Ohio State, we didn’t see an offense that had the kind of ceiling Indiana’s did. Mike DeBord runs something that’s as appealing as Wilson’s offense when it comes to recruits. DeBord is so efficient as a coordinator. His offenses show so much confidence and great timing on film. It was a great hire for Allen."

…before arriving at a couple of interesting Michigan bits…

"They want to outwork you. That was the whole satellite camp thing last offseason. He wanted to send a message to the SEC and other schools that he will outwork you to make up for any advantage you might have over Michigan."

"They’re scouting opponents better than anyone in our league. They’re at Alabama’s level of prep and analysis, and as they’ve started to fit talent you’re seeing the effects. It’s hard to surprise them."

…and digging a grave for MSU:

"They’re coming off conference title games, a Rose Bowl, and they’re not in on the top players in their own state in some instances. You can recruit against them easily.

"Jim Harbaugh’s success will directly impact how MSU recovers and maneuvers from here on out. This is a different league than the one Dantonio started in.”

The article contains a bunch of interesting stuff about the rest of the league, as well. An annual Read The Whole Thing.

MLS is happening? Wayne County exec Warren Evans has instructed his staff to focus on the Rock Financial offer to build an integrated criminal justice complex on a site away from the fail jail:

"The Rock Ventures proposal has more upside, less risk and a smaller financial gap than Walsh Construction's proposal. There are, however, many issues to resolve with Rock Ventures before I could recommend the approval of a contract to the County Commission and the County Building Authority."

Among the issues remaining are negotiations over the purchase of city-owned property for a new criminal justice complex built by Rock, and whether the Internal Revenue Service determines whether the county can use bond money left over from the Gratiot jail project to help pay for the Rock Ventures project a few miles north.

Still some hurdles but if they were insurmountable the county would not be proceeding in this direction. Assuming things don't get derailed attention now turns from a stadium plan to the bids currently competing with Detroit. A couple of media members with their ear to the ground think that Detroit is about to jump to somewhere near front of the line:

Sacramento has already broken ground on something destined to be their MLS stadium and is locked in; nobody else is.

This must be 2019 hockey commitment season. Guys are flying off the board left and right to just about everyone, and Michigan's collected another touted prospect in F Dylan Wendt:

He was a third rounder in the most recent USHL draft and the second-leading scorer at the NTDP camp for his birth year. Jeff Cox had him as a maybe for the NTDP:

Dylan Wendt, Grand Haven, Mich., Belle Tire 16U, Right Shot, 5’11”/175 - He’s physically mature and rugged so it’s hard to tell if he’s just dominating at this age because of that, but he’s still worthy of an invite. He has a hard shot and plays heavy on pucks. He can power his way into the scoring areas and wins a lot of battles below the dots. He has decent hands and vision.

He did not make it, but is on the U17 Five Nations team. Sounds a bit like Brandon Kaleniecki plus a couple inches. Now I can embed a very silly goal again:

I'm putting this down here because I'm not going to get invested in it. Canadian RJ Barrett was the top player in the 2019 basketball class. He is now the top player in the 2018 class, and he's going to take an official to Michigan:

Duke, Kentucky, Michigan and Oregon are considered the frontrunners to land Barrett and are expected to host him on an official visit.

Lurking right behind these four schools in his recruitment are Arizona, Kansas, Texas and UCLA.

That official visit is likely to turn into qualified optimism that results in a commitment to Not Michigan.

Etc.: It's weird that 78-0 versus Rutgers is apparently going down in history but here we are. That breathless CTE study in a more sober light. Unstoppable Throw-God Clayton Thorson? Tom Brady owns things. The Pac-12 will experiment with some 15 minute halftimes. Yes please. Hugh Freeze, creeper. Scouting Mo Hurst. UCF kickoff guy meets the long, stupid arm of NCAA law. Fred Jackson at Ypsi High.

Comments

schreibee

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^

Jim Harbaugh was, by various accounts, very abrasive to Jed York & Trent Baalke. They were/are incompetent, and in his view obstacles to his goals in SF.

They responded with anonymous gossip and backstabbing. They had to lay the groundwork to part with such a successful coach, that was their method. Jed continued to leak to his chosen media outlets right through the 2 subsequent coaches. John Lynch has said he told Jed point blank that he wouldn't take the job if it didn't stop, and will walk if it resumes.

The absolute genius masterstroke (which I just cannot credit to York, too clever) was offering to trade JH to the Browns and then leaking that he'd nixed it. This created an atmosphere that told Jim & the team that he wan't valued, and began the slide from SB to mediocrity his final SF season.

And I thank their tiny minds & hearts for it every day!!!

I was a diehard 49er Faithful for over 3 decades - right thru fighting some of you very people on here after JH/Schwarz dustup - but I spent the past 2 seasons rooting for them to lose every game. And they Damn near obliged!

With Baalke out, Jed contrite (for now - he's a Domer, it won't last!) and the Lynch/Shanahan regime in, I'll give them a try again this year. But I'm never stepping into that blight Levi's Stadium unless it's to watch Michigan play...

lhglrkwg

August 2nd, 2017 at 11:46 AM ^

usually all the big names in Michigan hockey are from Detroit and I don't know that I've ever known of Michigan getting a guy from anywhere west of Grand Rapids. Seems rare to even catch a guy from GR - Glendening is the only name coming to mind recently

Edit: Gettin' my WD on. A quick perusal of the Bentley database shows these are the only guys to play for Michigan from GR or west of it (not including BC & Kzoo here):

  • Clark, Justin (1996-1999) - Grand Rapids
  • Dufek, Donald (1974-1975) - Grand Rapids
  • Glendeing, Luke (2009-2012) - Grand Rapids
  • Hillman, Douglas (1941-1942) - Grand Rapids
  • Janecyk, Adam (2011-2014) - Ada
  • Nagelvoort, Zach (2014-2017) - Holland
  • Knuble, Mike (1992-1995) - Caledonia
  • Roach, Torrance (1930) - Grand Rapids
  • Switzer, James (1983-1984) - Spring Lake

So if Dylan plays here it looks like he'll only be the 3rd guy from far West Michigan (Muskegon, GH, Holland) to ever play for us. Weird.

Everyone Murders

August 2nd, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^

On RJ Barrett I understand where Brian is coming from, especially with Duke and Kentucky (and Kansas and UCLA) in the fray.  While insightful, this tack is unduly negative:

That official visit is likely to turn into qualified optimism that results in a commitment to Not Michigan.

What I choose to focus on is that Michigan will almost assuredly be Barrett's second choice.

Wolverine In Iowa 68

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^

I read that article and couldn't help think, "this kid is cut from the same cloth as Harbaugh."

He's going to excel at whatever he does in life, that's for sure, but I hope he continues in coaching, he's obviously got talent for working with kids, and the drive and desire to be great.

ramenboy

August 2nd, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^

Is that Michael Onwenu's bedroom?  He's got much better decorating skills than me, then. Back in school I had a row of different Sam Adams bottles and an Iron Maiden poster.

jmblue

August 2nd, 2017 at 12:30 PM ^

Mike DeBord runs something that’s as appealing as Wilson’s offense when it comes to recruits. DeBord is so efficient as as a coordinator. His offenses show so much confidence and great timing on film. It was a great hire for Allen."

My take is . . . slightly different.

newtopos

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^

As one of the guys firmly in the modern/spread/etc. offense fan club, I thought the same thing about DeBord (and still have my misgivings).  Maybe it's just an anomoly, but DeBord's offenses at Tennessee (on paper) actually don't look that bad.  FEI/S&P+ were actually pretty decent.  I did not look into them any deeper, but I was surprised at the numbers.

bronxblue

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^

I didn't watch a lot of Tennessee last year, but I remember their offenses being best when it was more open and QB-centric, which seemed to be the opposite of what DeBord liked to run. Their offense also turned over the ball laughably often in 2016 (26 TOs, including 14 fumbles), so I'm honestly not sure if he's a good coach or if he just had a lot of talent and they played high risk.

dragonchild

August 2nd, 2017 at 12:53 PM ^

Clearly the article has something against blowouts and low-scoring games.  I'm with them on the blowouts and some low-scoring games are certainly due to terrible offenses bumbling around -- M00N comes to mind.  But bad weather is a condition that changes the style of play to defensive, and sometimes it can be gloriously ugly in a good way.  Other times, two smothering defenses just won't yield to each other.

On the flip side, the list is completely devoid of shootouts, and here is where I beg to differ.  Sure, sometimes two unstoppable offenses put on a show, and casual fans sure love them some touchdowns, but as a defensive-minded guy it grinds my gears to see two clunky offenses combine for 100+ points because the defenses were even worse.  Some of the ugliest games I've seen were because the defenses were so undisciplined the OCs had trouble finding plays that didn't work.  If that's a show it's one that needs a gong placed on the midfield sideline.

El Jeffe

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^

So, if reports are to be believed, Hugh Freeze:

  • Watched a high school girl change her shirt in front of him;
  • Lurked while a high school girl changed her skirt;
  • Paddled (paddled!) a girl; and
  • Made a phone call (and probably more, if the word "pattern" has any meaning) to an escort service.

My question to the MGoBlogerati: if these four incidents are the tip, what percentage of the iceberg do they represent?

My guess: 1-2%.

reshp1

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^

These guys did some sleuthing and also found Freeze was not in fact in Tampa at the time of the escort call as he claimed, so the call would not have been for him. They further identified a recruit from the area that made a surprise flip to Ole Miss days after the call.

http://winningcureseverything.com/more-to-ole-miss-escort-calls/?utm_co…

Coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences.

yossarians tree

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^

I'm hoping for an MLS franchise in Detroit if for no other reason than to see these insufferable DCFC hipsters heads asplode on repeat forever. Seriously I once thought of the Rouge fans as a sort of cute novelty and by-product of the city's influx of every wits-end millenial from across the world with a dream of handlebar mustaches, seven dollar coffee, and ceramics-to-save-the-children, but the tiresome meme that literally ALL of the soccer fans in the area are loyal-to-the-death supporters of DCFC who live and die like their father's father just lights my hair on fire. The club has been in existence for about 5 years fergodsakes, and they carry one like its Tottenham Hotspur but grittier. There are LOTS of people in this area who would support professional soccer that would never go near that smoke-bomb infested shithole in Hamtramck that was old when my high school team played there 40 years ago. Aaaaaahhhhhh! Just another reaon why my bullshit meter is broken.

Image result for bullshit

jmblue

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:21 PM ^

When it was founded, I thought it was cool how the club went with a original angle, tying into the city's French heritage, but now . . . yeah.  I've had my fill of the whole "CITY TIL I DIE, TRUE SINCE 2015, YOU CANT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND" shtick.

I imagine the MLS franchise will be something bland, with another big cat mascot (Ocelots?  Jaguarundis?), but whatever.  

 

GoBlueTal

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^

In the etc. was linked Matt Brown's worst 10 games, and related the best 100 games.  The worst 10 loses all meaning when the best 100 has M going 0-8-1 overall.  M-OSU's best games were NOT '06 and '16.  M-PSU in '97 can't be outside the top 100 games all time - can.not.  Given that the #7 and #4 on the list (just very quick glance at top 10) are really mediocre games with amazing finishes - then M-ND from '12 should be in that group.  



Sure, I'm biased.  I'm also objectively smarter than Mr. Brown; M can't be listed as, "one of the establishment titans of college football" and not have a single win listed in the top 100 games all time.



Fail, Mr. Brown.  Brian, don't give credence to such nonsense.   

wolverine1987

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:35 PM ^

We all to often run off with headlines that actually don't reflect a fact based analysis. We still know way, way less than those headlines suggest, and unfortunately, lway ess than many players now believe baed on thse misleading headlines

markusr2007

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^

It's actually a damn good thing that Indiana retains the former DC Allen as the HC, and that they return 9 starters including the best LB in the Big Ten in Tegray Scales.

With the hiring of Mike DeBord as offensive coordinator, Indiana transitions from an offense that scores points quickly and keeps time on the clock to an offense that plays scared-to-lose, blows leads, can't stay on the field, and repeatedly sets 1st downs on fire:

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/10/8/9449203/tennessee-b…

That's what Debord did with 4- and 5-star athletes at Tennessee. He did the same at Michigan.

Indiana is simply not a college football program that can flourish with run-run-pass-punt.

 

 

newtopos

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^

Can't believe I'm defending DeBord (again, just based on numbers, having not watched these games), but after that article was written, Tennessee won all of the rest of its games (save a 19-14 loss to Alabama) that year, beat No. 12 Northwestern 45-6 in the Outback Bowl, and ended with an Offensive FEI number higher than Indiana (but a lower S&P+).  Last year, Tennessee's Offensive FEI and S&P+ were both significantly better than Indiana.  Maybe it was a fluke, but maybe he changed a little? 

Rufus X

August 2nd, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^

Defending Debord is forbidden.  At every conceivable opportunity, Mike Debord must be demonized and called a moron, even though he has had zero impact on Michigan football for a decade. He must be blamed for everything that is wrong in football and the world, including the Kennedy assassination.  Under no circumstances can be given any credit for the numerous All Americans he coached on the OL in the 90s, or the offensive juggernaut during the Henne/Long/Hart era, or that he was the OC in 1997's national championship team.  I hope this is the end of anyone defending Debord for any reason whatsoever.  

Rufus X

August 3rd, 2017 at 10:14 AM ^

I am not saying DeBord is a genius or even a above average coach. I just don't get the obsession some on this blog have with every career move he makes. He's been out of our program for 10 years... yet we still continue to see every minor news outlet's story that mentions him.  It's like he cheated on someone's sister or something.  Let it go.

The FannMan

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^

It appears your MLS take is based on an assumption that the government of Wayne County is acting in a logical manner.  However, there is nothing in the history of the world to suggest that Wayne County would ever act in such a manner.