Public Enemy #1

Michigan fans have a new reason to get up for the games the next four years, and his name is Terrelle Pryor. Not only did he string out coach Rich Rodriguez and Michigan fans for months, he also chose the evil Ohio State Buckeyes as his landing place.

The college football season can’t start soon enough!

Filed under: College Football, Football, Ohio State, Rivalries, Terrelle Pryor, University of Michigan

Big 10 = Overrated

There, I said it. The Big Ten is the equivalent of the bully in the movie Christmas Story. He had a bloated sense of reality because he was physically bigger, but when push came to shove the more talented boy whooped his tail.

I finally realized last night that all of the criticism we’ve taken on our conference has been legitimate. If I were living anywhere else in the country I wouldn’t be as loyal as I have been. It was simply because I live in Big Ten country that I chose to think we were superior.

Well, I was wrong.

We have a couple of decent teams, but as a whole we stink. And we have a hard time competing with the rest of the world. But I have a feeling that’s all about to change. Ron Zook showed flashes of what we could do if we changed our style, and the hiring of Rich Rodriguez could be the point people look back and say, “This is when the Big Ten became relevant!”

Congratulations LSU and the SEC. You were (are) better… for now.

Filed under: Big Ten, College Football, Football, SEC, University of Michigan

Bowling Season

It’s that time of year again. The college football season is coming to a close in the way it always does—in bowls that change naming rights every five seconds. Navy and Utah kick things off tonight @ 9pm on ESPN in the famous San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

Here are the other bowls I’m looking forward to. (My picks in bold)

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Arizona State vs. Texas
December 27 @ 8pm – ESPN

Champs Sports Bowl
Boston College vs. Michigan State
December 28 @ 5pm – ESPN

Cotton Bowl
Missouri vs. Arkansas
January 1 @ 11:30am – FOX

Capital One Bowl
Florida vs. Michigan
January 1 @ 1pm – ABC

Rose Bowl
USC vs. Illinois
January 1 @ 4:30pm – ABC

Allstate Sugar Bowl
Georgia vs. Hawaii
January 1 @ 8:30pm – FOX

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
January 2 @ 8pm – FOX

FedEx Orange Bowl
Virginia Tech vs. Kansas
January 3 @ 8pm – FOX

Allstate BCS National Championship Game
Ohio State vs. LSU
January 7 @ 8pm – FOX

For a full list of bowls click here or here.

Filed under: Bowls, College Football, Football

The Game

Ann Arbor, Michigan | November 23, 1991

Only four other ends had won the Heisman Trophy, but that’s not what made Michigan receiver Desmond Howard’s 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State in 1991 so special. When Howard reached the end zone, he prophetically struck a Heisman pose.

» Michigan vs. Ohio State Facts

Filed under: College Football, Desmond Howard, Michigan, Ohio State

Tradition

I have a book in my library called Tradition. It’s a book about the University of Michigan, it’s football team, and Bo Schembechler’s memories of coaching there. It’s chock full of great photos and great stories. It will swell you up with pride for one of the most storied football programs in the country. It will also help you understand why we lost on Saturday.

You see, while tradition has a ton of great qualities, it also has it’s flaws. More often than not you’ll find the latter. In Ann Arbor, for as long as I can remember, tradition has given us pride and complacency. We seem to have a feeling that we can just throw our jerseys out on the field and win every week. We never try anything different, and never adjust to the changing landscape.

After attending church with a local football coach for a struggling team I have a hard time calling out coaches. But I really do think it’s time to cut our losses with Lloyd Carr, and get someone in here that will buck tradition, establish a sense of urgency, and actually win some games.

Congratulations Appalachian State. And thank you for opening our eyes.

Filed under: College Football, Football, Tradition, University of Michigan, Wolverines

Are You Ready?

We’re less than two days from kicking off the 2007 football season.

Beginning Saturday @ 12pm Eastern, the Michigan Wolverines take on Appalachian State at the Big House in Ann Arbor. Michigan is currently ranked 5th in both polls. I personally think polls are overrated—especially preseason polls—but I think the Maize and Blue will be out to prove a point this year. With 8 home games this year I’m pretty sure I’ll find my way into a couple. I’m going to do my best to get to the OSU game but, either way, it’ll be fun to talk smack with my new friends from Columbus.

Later on that day around 6:30pm the doors open for the 6th Annual MFL® Live Fantasy Football Draft Party. We’ll be indulging in another well thought out menu (this year will have an Asian theme) before gathering all our paper work and sitting before the draft board. Sure there are other ways of doing it, but I’ve always enjoyed using the classic chalk board and having a timer and peer pressure near by. And it’s always a good excuse to have Brandon fly in for a visit. After the deed is done we spend the rest of the evening talking strategy, playing video games and watching movies. This is the one weekend a year that I get a free pass to kick the wife out of the house—and I love her to death for her blessings on the event.

Five days later New Orleans and Indianapolis kick of the NFL regular season. Detroit has reason for hope this year, if only because it really can’t get any worse. I’m sad the most exciting football player since Barry Sanders won’t be on the field this year, but I’m confident a new star will arise, and my Sundays will continue to be the Sabbath God created.

Filed under: College Football, Fantasy Football, Football, NFL, Parties, Pig Skin

NCAA Football

Download This.

What you have here is an Excel file containing a beautiful 2007 NCAA Football Schedule. It breaks it down into conferences, so whether you’re a fan of the Maize and Blue of the Big Ten, or Florida International of the Sun Belt, you’re well taken care of.

You’re Welcome.

Filed under: College Football, Football, NCAA, Schedules

BCS Standings

I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on the final tally of the BCS. With all the hoopla every year, this year included, people are always saying the BCS doesn’t work. I happen to disagree and agree at the same time. The BCS didn’t fail this year, like every other year it was the failings of the human voters. Nearly all of them agree that the reason they didn’t put Michigan at #2 is because they said Michigan had their shot, not because Florida was better. They intentionally ranked the second best team as third because they didn’t want to see a rematch. That’s voter fraud and they should have their voting rights taken from them.

I can actually see an argument for Florida being in the game. I’m a rational person and think they came on strong late and earned a consideration. I just don’t want to hear some lame justification based on your need to see a different team play rather than see the two best teams play. Come January when Florida gets waxed and Michigan rolls over the extremely over-rated USC team and Wisconsin takes care of Arkansas and Notre Dame makes LSU wish they were in the Rose Bowl, then we’ll see some respect for the Midwest and the Big Ten.

This might be the only time in my life you’ll hear this but, GO BUCKS!!

Final BCS Standings »
Complete Bowl Schedule »

Filed under: BCS, College Football, Michigan, Venting, Voter Fraud

To Be Continued

The stars were aligned for the state of Ohio Saturday night. Even some lucky Ohio guy made out alright. All in all it was a game that actually lived up to its billing, and it was quite a billing. As a Michigan fan, I couldn’t ask for much more (other than a victory of course). Losing by three points to the #1 team in the country, at their place, while putting up 39 points on them. I’ll take that in a loss any day. I will give them the credit they deserve however. Troy Smith was the difference. That pass interference call was bad, but so was the helmet to helmet / late hit call. It came down to a couple of big plays and we didn’t get it done.

Now we have to sit and wait for the other teams to beat each other up. From what I can gather, USC has the only shot at leap-frogging us to get to the Championship. But they have to win out, and that includes a game against the Fighting Irish. I’m picking up my Notre Dame hat later this week.

With that said… Jim, Owen, Paul, Jess, Suzy, and any other OSU fans, congratulations… for now.

To Be Continued.

Filed under: College Football, Michigan, Rematches, The Game

The Game

After returning a punt for 93 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State in the last regular season game of his college career at Michigan, Desmond Howard struck a Heisman Trophy pose for photographers and cameramen. It was prophetic. He did indeed win the Heisman that year. He was one of only three wide receivers ever to win the award. Although he played for a team that emphasized the run, Howard caught 19 touchdown passes in 11 games as a senior and had 30 touchdowns in 33 career games.

That right there would be my favorite Michigan player of all time in my favorite Michigan/Ohio State game memory. It just doesn’t get any better than that. I’ve been relatively silent leading up to this game, but don’t take my silence as reserved judgement. I foresee a Michigan victory in historic fashion.

I was going to post a lot of Michigan/Ohio State game facts, but I found a few very nice websites that have done all the leg work for me.

Wikipedia.org/Michigan-Ohio_State_Rivalry »
USAToday.com – Numbers Tell The Story »
ESPN 360 »

Filed under: College Football, Desmond Howard, Michigan, The Game