I am from Walled Lake originally and moved to Scottsdale right after I got married (1995). My wife hated it. She missed the grass, trees, water, and changing seasons. We ended up moving to Grand Rapids 15 years ago. No family within three hours. 2 young kids. We love it here. Is it perfect, no.
Grand Rapids is a medium sized town in middle America. It has everything that big cities have except: tons of people, traffic, expensive everything, crime, major league sports, IKEA, chick-fil-a, in-n-out burger, and real strip clubs.
Its a great place to raise a family.
There are many excellent schools.
It's gray and cold in the winter. (I have to leave for a couple stints in the winter or I get depressed)
Spring, summer, and fall are tough to beat here.
Most people are actually still friendly.
Extremely benevolent and giving city.
Conservative? Sure, but that's not a bad thing. Even as a moderate.
Yes Amway is headquartered here. So what. I've never once in 15 years been asked to any meetings to sell it. Not an issue. Actually, the families that own it, give and give and give. They care about the community.
My wife and I talk about moving. But to where? And not before the kids graduate HS. Where is better? I like Phoenix and my mom has lived there for 20 years, but is it worth it to gain the sunshine to fight all the people and everything that goes with that? That's for you to decide.
The beauty of being young and without kids is that you could move here for a few years and if you don't like it you can leave. Even though Scottsdale wasn't the place for us, we are both thankful we gave it a try. You will be amazed at how much you will learn about each other, when you only have each other to lean on.
I look at the contract numbers being leaked as a bad sign. Reading Brian's take helps me off the ledge a little. But just a little.
Until I see Harbaugh standing at a podium in block M hat, I am going to keep my enthusiasum tempered.
The only reason to have these go public is because the deal isn't done. The way the search has been going, all signs were pointing to a done deal. Everything was perfectly quiet. I winced a bit when I saw the report last night.
Floating these out there gives the agent something to talk about, off the record of course, with NFL teams to gauge interest. There was really no reason to hear about an offer other than when he was introduced.
I am shocked. In so many ways. I appreciate that Dave is willing to respond to individual emails, but why?, if this is your "go to" response. I don't get it at all. The pattern here is fireable. If it was a random response, I could maybe accept it.
This is the leader of the athletic department at The University of Michigan. This is one of the leading universities in the country. This type of behavior does not represent "leaders and best."
This should be front paged and everyone should be forced to read this before being allowed to comment.
This team lacked leadership, and it showed by the end. It is painful to watch Michigan struggle, but this staff needs time to rebuild this program. Patience is a lost art of our society, but needs to be heeded. While Hoke may not be the end all be all coach, he understands what this program needs and if given time, will get the program righted.
I've been around here lurking forever and occasionally posing. This site has increased my football IQ a ton with all the insightful posters. I visit here multiple times a day, and it's really the only place to gain knowledge about UofM. The last six months have been brutal as the place has been infested by garbage, making the mgoboard almost impssible to read or gain any insight.
Michigan is at a disadvantage in recruiting because the school is full of "smart people" and not enough "regular" people. Which i'm okay with as Michigan respresents excellence and should be proud of that. It just means the pool of recruits is smaller.
As much as everyone hates the idea, it's going to happen - Raback it.
The way it is slowly being thrown out there, I firmly believe it's a done deal.
Everyone is going to freak out and it's going to totally suck, but ther powers that be don't want to see a back to back, that we all know is going to happen in the next few years.
I can already see it, Michigan v Ohio, October 25th, 2014. Under the lights, with Michigan in super 3D special addition throwback uni's, presented by Taco Bell. Concert at halftime featuring Nickelback. Wolvey the mascot stuffed animals to the first 10k in addendance.
Like 300+ other people are probably going to say - Thank You.
This post is spot on.
With everything that has happened over the past four years, this was the perfect ending to this long and tumultuous chapter of Michigan Football.
I was at the game, it was my third time in this series, the other two were the Biakabutka game and the Lloyd Carr 4th and 3 punt game, this one certainly was the best. Not because they won, but because these guys won. As we all know, they endured more than any other group at Michigan, and they came out with the season, and ending, they deserved and earned.
Before the game I was hoping that if Michigan won, that the field wouldn't be rushed and that we would act like we had been there before, but as I stood there and watched the students empty onto the field, it just felt right. This was about more than just beating Ohio, it marked the end of the worst of Michigan and ushered in a return to being Michigan. No more divide, just unity and representing the values that have made Michigan, Michigan.
Thank you Molk, VanBergen, Martin, Koger, Hemingway, Kovacs, Odoms, Denard, and all the others that stayed, united together, and gave it their all for the good of Their team and their University.
Obviously cheating hasn't been frowned upon, it has been a way of life down there. How else can you explain sure 1st round picks coming back for their senior year the last several years.
Tressel was a flat out cheater, and he was clearly good at it. I just don't think Mayer rolls that way. I could be wrong, but I think Michigan will be on a more level playing field with him over Father Tressel.
This is a done deal. They are not doing this behind Fickell's back as he will be the coach in waiting when Meyer leaves. I am sure Fickell has been involved in and is embracing this move.
As a Michigan fan, I like this move. Everyone can bash Meyer all they want, but I think he will come in and run a clean program. Something Tressel clearly did not do. As I understand it, the main reason Meyer really left Florida is because he didn't want to cheat like everyone else in the SEC.
If I had a bunch of extra free time I might go get the tax returns for the glass guy to see how his business has changed in the last 5 years. Compare it to similar business's to see if there is a spike in business that is out of the ordinary.
My guess is that even though the economy has been less than awesome, the glass guys business has dramatically improved. Not sure if you could correlate the two into a case against Pryor and the glass guy, but the appearance would be there.
If you look a the history of players that have stayed for their senior seasons, even though they were first round draft picks, it raises an eyebrow or two as to what is going on down there. I think there is an excellent locked down system where these players are being taken care of enough, that jumping to the next level isn't an urgency.
OSU is literally all many of these people live for down there, it is the only good thing they have going. They would walk in front of a bus to protect their beloved Buckeye's. Right or wrong.
I have only tried three times to write how I feel about Brian's thoughts on Hoke, but everytime I end up zig zagging in every direction on my thoughts, that no one would understand what the hell I was saying. I summerize:
1) Brian has every right to be frustrated about the Hoke hire. We've all seen this show before, it's very safe. This is a settle move for Brian, it says 8-4 is ok to him.
2) Michigan IS Michigan and it's different. It takes a "Michigan Man" to understand this. RR never really got this. RR didn't have to be from here to get it, but for some reason he never understood what Michigan is about. It's more than x's and o's, and w's and l's.
3) I didn't like the RR firing, but I love the Hoke hiring. I think Hoke "get's it" and where I think he will be different, is that he WILL go for it on 4th and 3 from the 35. He WILL try to win instead of trying not to lose. He WILL trust his offense to get the first down, and if not, he WILL trust the defense to stop them.
4) Hoke may not be the most qualified coach, but he was the most qualified coach for Michigan.
5) "This is Michigan for Godsakes"
I'm still all over the place, and could go on forever. There is a lot of emotion when it comes to Michigan and what it stands for, and it is difficult to think clearly when emotions are controlling your thoughts.
Hoke emerging from smoldering ashes weating a M shield and carrying a winged helmet, as the sun rises over the landscape, with a passing thunderstorm moving into the distance.
I would say, as purely a guess, that based on all the talk about Hoke going on right now, that he will be named coach.
WTKA, Brian, Greg at MVictors, etc. most of the talk is moving to Hoke, good or bad.
Smoke / Fire?
Don't shoot the messenger (guesser) please.
EDIT: Consider the Harbaugh stuff regarding Stanford or the Pro's. Leads me to believe M job may be filed already and is just a way to act like he is not interested anymore.
The OSU stuff blows me away. How does the NCAA clearly not see what everyone else in the world (including Buckeye fans) sees. I read the original story the paper (plain dealer?) put out, and in the comments below (which we know are not always true) was a Buckeye freaking out and claiming to know the guy giving out the cars, and how dirty he is.
WHERE IS THE F'ING NCAA???
I have several Buckeye friends, and i'm always telling them that they know deep down that the program is dirty. No way all those juniors who would be drafted stay in school unless they are being compensated in some way.
It's hard enough to compete with OSU on a level playing field, throw in all the "incentives" OSU has for it's players, and it's near impossible.
OSU is the Don of the midwest. It's like a tight mafia.
I remember when Rodriguez was hired. I was so happy that we would be blowing out the teams we were supposed to be blowing out. We were going to become Oregon in the Big Ten. Point a minute, spread and shread, it was gonna be awesome. Domination again.
Three years later and we are in no man's land.
I am mostly saddened by where we are today.
Lot's of blame to go around. Ultimately Mr.Rodriguez is responsible, but I really don't think he ever had a chance. Too many things went against him. I really hope he succeeds wherever he lands.
Next week, we start anew. Hopefully this time, we get the square peg for the square hole, and in three years we are talking about B1G championships instead of this crap.
I agree with what you are saying, it's just highly unusual in today's environment. Especially if the deal is complete as I am assuming it is. There is literally NOTHING out there and we are likely only two or three days away from finality.
Brian - I find it hard to believe that this isn't a done deal already. You are highly connected and on the inside here, and yet I get the feeling that you really don't know. That scares me. Is there some sort info stream you are getting but just can't say anything?
As someone who is the CEO of a company, there is no way that I would not have my guy in place before the firing, no way. I don't believe that in a situation like this you could possibly risk an actual coaching search, that possibly could result in another fiasco like the last one. The lack of noise on this though would say that a deal is indeed not done. This makes no sense to me. In this day and age, it is nearly impossible to go through this process without some leaks, and yet here we are with no leaks.
This is why this is so difficult to process. Is Dave Brandon so good that he can get this done with no noise at all? Not likely. So where are we? Are we really going to have a coching search in Mid-January? I certainly hope not, and can''t possibly imagine such a thing. If so, I have clearly overestimated Brandon as a savy leader.
If there is a firing, I expect an immediate hiring. Whomever it is, I believe will be the right and longterm choice. If not Harbaugh, please do not panic.
Ball State and San Diego State are not Michigan. Not big enough for the program, etc.
I think we could do worse. I think he "get's it" and would come in with the understanding of Michigan and what it takes to be successful here. Likely to surround himself with former players and coaches to rebuild the brand. Which is what Brandon is likely looking for. I'm sure that within 2 years here we look like "Old Michigan" and maybe that's what scares everyone too. Old Michigan was consistant, not awesome.
Recent Comments
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On a few things and he's always been extremely friendly.
Ty Hallock - coaches my sons football team and is great with the kids.
Scott Skiles - gritty.
Blaha, Kelser, Izzo, Magic, Neitzel, and Mateen.
I'm sure many more. Keep in mind that a large amount of these guys are Michigan bred. Got to root for the instate kids after college.
Grand Rapids is a medium sized town in middle America. It has everything that big cities have except: tons of people, traffic, expensive everything, crime, major league sports, IKEA, chick-fil-a, in-n-out burger, and real strip clubs.
Its a great place to raise a family.
There are many excellent schools.
It's gray and cold in the winter. (I have to leave for a couple stints in the winter or I get depressed)
Spring, summer, and fall are tough to beat here.
Most people are actually still friendly.
Extremely benevolent and giving city.
Conservative? Sure, but that's not a bad thing. Even as a moderate.
Yes Amway is headquartered here. So what. I've never once in 15 years been asked to any meetings to sell it. Not an issue. Actually, the families that own it, give and give and give. They care about the community.
My wife and I talk about moving. But to where? And not before the kids graduate HS. Where is better? I like Phoenix and my mom has lived there for 20 years, but is it worth it to gain the sunshine to fight all the people and everything that goes with that? That's for you to decide.
The beauty of being young and without kids is that you could move here for a few years and if you don't like it you can leave. Even though Scottsdale wasn't the place for us, we are both thankful we gave it a try. You will be amazed at how much you will learn about each other, when you only have each other to lean on.
Good luck.
I look at the contract numbers being leaked as a bad sign. Reading Brian's take helps me off the ledge a little. But just a little.
Until I see Harbaugh standing at a podium in block M hat, I am going to keep my enthusiasum tempered.
The only reason to have these go public is because the deal isn't done. The way the search has been going, all signs were pointing to a done deal. Everything was perfectly quiet. I winced a bit when I saw the report last night.
Floating these out there gives the agent something to talk about, off the record of course, with NFL teams to gauge interest. There was really no reason to hear about an offer other than when he was introduced.
I don't like coaching searches.
This is the leader of the athletic department at The University of Michigan. This is one of the leading universities in the country. This type of behavior does not represent "leaders and best."
This team lacked leadership, and it showed by the end. It is painful to watch Michigan struggle, but this staff needs time to rebuild this program. Patience is a lost art of our society, but needs to be heeded. While Hoke may not be the end all be all coach, he understands what this program needs and if given time, will get the program righted.
Thank you
thank you
thank you
I've been around here lurking forever and occasionally posing. This site has increased my football IQ a ton with all the insightful posters. I visit here multiple times a day, and it's really the only place to gain knowledge about UofM. The last six months have been brutal as the place has been infested by garbage, making the mgoboard almost impssible to read or gain any insight.
I hope this will help restore Mgoblog.
Mgoblog's popularity is killing it.
Michigan is at a disadvantage in recruiting because the school is full of "smart people" and not enough "regular" people. Which i'm okay with as Michigan respresents excellence and should be proud of that. It just means the pool of recruits is smaller.
Founders beer is waay overrated.
74-67 Minnesota - Tough to win on the road in the Big Ten. Michigan wins the rematch in the conference tournament.
Michigan - 34
Iowa - 16
Taking my 12 year old son for our annual game. Go Blue!
As much as everyone hates the idea, it's going to happen - Raback it.
The way it is slowly being thrown out there, I firmly believe it's a done deal.
Everyone is going to freak out and it's going to totally suck, but ther powers that be don't want to see a back to back, that we all know is going to happen in the next few years.
I can already see it, Michigan v Ohio, October 25th, 2014. Under the lights, with Michigan in super 3D special addition throwback uni's, presented by Taco Bell. Concert at halftime featuring Nickelback. Wolvey the mascot stuffed animals to the first 10k in addendance.
Ugh... curse you Dave Brandon
That is the funniest thing I have ever seen on here. My family is looking at my like I am crazy because I am laughing so hard.
This thread could be the best ever. Sorry Brian.
Like 300+ other people are probably going to say - Thank You.
This post is spot on.
With everything that has happened over the past four years, this was the perfect ending to this long and tumultuous chapter of Michigan Football.
I was at the game, it was my third time in this series, the other two were the Biakabutka game and the Lloyd Carr 4th and 3 punt game, this one certainly was the best. Not because they won, but because these guys won. As we all know, they endured more than any other group at Michigan, and they came out with the season, and ending, they deserved and earned.
Before the game I was hoping that if Michigan won, that the field wouldn't be rushed and that we would act like we had been there before, but as I stood there and watched the students empty onto the field, it just felt right. This was about more than just beating Ohio, it marked the end of the worst of Michigan and ushered in a return to being Michigan. No more divide, just unity and representing the values that have made Michigan, Michigan.
Thank you Molk, VanBergen, Martin, Koger, Hemingway, Kovacs, Odoms, Denard, and all the others that stayed, united together, and gave it their all for the good of Their team and their University.
Obviously cheating hasn't been frowned upon, it has been a way of life down there. How else can you explain sure 1st round picks coming back for their senior year the last several years.
Tressel was a flat out cheater, and he was clearly good at it. I just don't think Mayer rolls that way. I could be wrong, but I think Michigan will be on a more level playing field with him over Father Tressel.
This is a done deal. They are not doing this behind Fickell's back as he will be the coach in waiting when Meyer leaves. I am sure Fickell has been involved in and is embracing this move.
As a Michigan fan, I like this move. Everyone can bash Meyer all they want, but I think he will come in and run a clean program. Something Tressel clearly did not do. As I understand it, the main reason Meyer really left Florida is because he didn't want to cheat like everyone else in the SEC.
If I had a bunch of extra free time I might go get the tax returns for the glass guy to see how his business has changed in the last 5 years. Compare it to similar business's to see if there is a spike in business that is out of the ordinary.
My guess is that even though the economy has been less than awesome, the glass guys business has dramatically improved. Not sure if you could correlate the two into a case against Pryor and the glass guy, but the appearance would be there.
If you look a the history of players that have stayed for their senior seasons, even though they were first round draft picks, it raises an eyebrow or two as to what is going on down there. I think there is an excellent locked down system where these players are being taken care of enough, that jumping to the next level isn't an urgency.
OSU is literally all many of these people live for down there, it is the only good thing they have going. They would walk in front of a bus to protect their beloved Buckeye's. Right or wrong.
Easy to hate Duke. I think it's a smugness, or something.
Not big on hating on officials either, but this has been pretty bad, and allowed Duke to control the tempo and style of the game.
Is it going to be like that for Tressel - A lot of wins and big ten championships, but a big liar and cheater.
The fabricated five. Give me a fucking break.
Gritty play by ther boys so far.
If Duke plays defense (is allowed to) like this the rest of the tournament, i'm not sure they can be beat.
Michigan outplays duke the first 3 mins. and all I here is how great duke is. Awesome.
Havent's seen anything yet, Has there been an announcement?
Not gonna lie, this hire made me chuckle a little happy chuckle.
Congrats FuManBlue. May you use your freedom wisely.
Cheer up.
+1 to you because you need a hug.
Love it.
From -4800 to -2200 in less than a week.
Busier than Brandon. Impressive.
That is really, really, cool.
What is wrong with "Michigan Man"?
"This is Michigan for godsakes" was a quote from Brady Hoke in the press conference.
I notice a significant trent there from 2001 to 2006.
I have only tried three times to write how I feel about Brian's thoughts on Hoke, but everytime I end up zig zagging in every direction on my thoughts, that no one would understand what the hell I was saying. I summerize:
1) Brian has every right to be frustrated about the Hoke hire. We've all seen this show before, it's very safe. This is a settle move for Brian, it says 8-4 is ok to him.
2) Michigan IS Michigan and it's different. It takes a "Michigan Man" to understand this. RR never really got this. RR didn't have to be from here to get it, but for some reason he never understood what Michigan is about. It's more than x's and o's, and w's and l's.
3) I didn't like the RR firing, but I love the Hoke hiring. I think Hoke "get's it" and where I think he will be different, is that he WILL go for it on 4th and 3 from the 35. He WILL try to win instead of trying not to lose. He WILL trust his offense to get the first down, and if not, he WILL trust the defense to stop them.
4) Hoke may not be the most qualified coach, but he was the most qualified coach for Michigan.
5) "This is Michigan for Godsakes"
I'm still all over the place, and could go on forever. There is a lot of emotion when it comes to Michigan and what it stands for, and it is difficult to think clearly when emotions are controlling your thoughts.
Hoke emerging from smoldering ashes weating a M shield and carrying a winged helmet, as the sun rises over the landscape, with a passing thunderstorm moving into the distance.
I'm entering. If i win, i'm going up to Sharp and Rosenberg, grabbing both their heads, and slamming them together, just for funsies.
Just a bunch of point whores I tell you. Wait until you get double points for posting after the coaching search is over.
I still think Harbaugh has never been offered the job at M. For whatever reason.
I would say, as purely a guess, that based on all the talk about Hoke going on right now, that he will be named coach.
WTKA, Brian, Greg at MVictors, etc. most of the talk is moving to Hoke, good or bad.
Smoke / Fire?
Don't shoot the messenger (guesser) please.
EDIT: Consider the Harbaugh stuff regarding Stanford or the Pro's. Leads me to believe M job may be filed already and is just a way to act like he is not interested anymore.
The OSU stuff blows me away. How does the NCAA clearly not see what everyone else in the world (including Buckeye fans) sees. I read the original story the paper (plain dealer?) put out, and in the comments below (which we know are not always true) was a Buckeye freaking out and claiming to know the guy giving out the cars, and how dirty he is.
WHERE IS THE F'ING NCAA???
I have several Buckeye friends, and i'm always telling them that they know deep down that the program is dirty. No way all those juniors who would be drafted stay in school unless they are being compensated in some way.
It's hard enough to compete with OSU on a level playing field, throw in all the "incentives" OSU has for it's players, and it's near impossible.
OSU is the Don of the midwest. It's like a tight mafia.
Brian - Do you really think that this isn't a done deal one way or the other already?
I remember when Rodriguez was hired. I was so happy that we would be blowing out the teams we were supposed to be blowing out. We were going to become Oregon in the Big Ten. Point a minute, spread and shread, it was gonna be awesome. Domination again.
Three years later and we are in no man's land.
I am mostly saddened by where we are today.
Lot's of blame to go around. Ultimately Mr.Rodriguez is responsible, but I really don't think he ever had a chance. Too many things went against him. I really hope he succeeds wherever he lands.
Next week, we start anew. Hopefully this time, we get the square peg for the square hole, and in three years we are talking about B1G championships instead of this crap.
I agree with what you are saying, it's just highly unusual in today's environment. Especially if the deal is complete as I am assuming it is. There is literally NOTHING out there and we are likely only two or three days away from finality.
Brian - I find it hard to believe that this isn't a done deal already. You are highly connected and on the inside here, and yet I get the feeling that you really don't know. That scares me. Is there some sort info stream you are getting but just can't say anything?
As someone who is the CEO of a company, there is no way that I would not have my guy in place before the firing, no way. I don't believe that in a situation like this you could possibly risk an actual coaching search, that possibly could result in another fiasco like the last one. The lack of noise on this though would say that a deal is indeed not done. This makes no sense to me. In this day and age, it is nearly impossible to go through this process without some leaks, and yet here we are with no leaks.
This is why this is so difficult to process. Is Dave Brandon so good that he can get this done with no noise at all? Not likely. So where are we? Are we really going to have a coching search in Mid-January? I certainly hope not, and can''t possibly imagine such a thing. If so, I have clearly overestimated Brandon as a savy leader.
If there is a firing, I expect an immediate hiring. Whomever it is, I believe will be the right and longterm choice. If not Harbaugh, please do not panic.
If you are interested, CNBC will be talking Harbaugh in the next few minutes.
Ball State and San Diego State are not Michigan. Not big enough for the program, etc.
I think we could do worse. I think he "get's it" and would come in with the understanding of Michigan and what it takes to be successful here. Likely to surround himself with former players and coaches to rebuild the brand. Which is what Brandon is likely looking for. I'm sure that within 2 years here we look like "Old Michigan" and maybe that's what scares everyone too. Old Michigan was consistant, not awesome.