The Free Press is now saying that word that Greg Paulus visited Michigan yesterday and is considering playing for Rich Rodriguez is a April Fools joke? On April 14th? Really funny. The original Freep headline read: ‘Ex-Duke Point Guard Paulus may play football at Michigan’. The new headline reads: ‘Greg Paulus’ Michigan football workout reported as April Fool’s Joke’ and includes this: Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Fox Sports as an April Fool’s joke. We apologize for the mistake. Hilarious. What’s odd about the Free Press retraction is that there’s no retraction on the FoxSports.com piece that broke the story, at least not yet. This rumor spread like wild fire, boiling all the way up to Dan Patrick’s tired radio show prompting a poll question: What a circus, man. Update (a few minutes after posting this): My nerves, now the Free Press is retracting the retraction, going back to the original heading with the following note: Editor’s note: We have talked with an editor at Foxsports.com and have learned this story is true as reported. Again, apologize for the mistake. Update #2, around 12:30pm: Freep has now pulled the retraction editorial note with this: Editor’s note: Story updated at 11:31 a.m. Already busted, homes. Related: Carty weighs in on this, including the eligibility rules. One more take…
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FOUR-see-eh, FOUR-sear, FOUR-see-er
Can someone clear up the pronunciation of Tate Forcier’s last name? I thought fans and media settled nicely on the French-ish “FOUR-see-eh”, which is backed up by the pronunciation guide listing for his brother Jason in the 2006 Weekly Releases: But then I heard the podcast of former AA News columnist Jim Carty (who probably takes such things seriously and must have bumped into brother Jason on his beat) who on WTKA Monday referred to Tate as “FOUR-sear”. Ben Holden did the same today on WTKA’s Big Show. Then I stumbled onto this on mgoblog, where Brian’s uber-assistant Tom VanHaaren recently was asked this question in the comments of a blog post. Clear as mud: User ‘MH20’: ..BTW, did you ask Tate off the record how his last name is pronounced? TomVH: Yea I actually did, and it didn’t settle anything. He said it’s either For-see-ay, or For-see-er. He said either pronunciation is fine. I think he says For-see-er though, FWIW. That’s how I’ve been pronouncing it when I read it to myself on here.
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A Hard Combination to Beat (1905 Michigan Football)
Another vintage Michigan football item showed up this week on eBay, this time a post card celebrating Fielding Yost and his fine 1905 squad. The team is assembled in a line with Yost in the middle, standing on a large sign in the shape of a football that reads 'Western Championship'. Atop the photo is a block letter title, 'A HARD COMBINATION TO BEAT'.
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Kampfer, Tropp Zapruder Film (Stills)
At least as of this morning, the video I posted of the mauling of Steve Kampfer at the Michigan-Michigan State hockey game last night seems to be the only one out there. Here are a few stills in a little higher quality than the YouTube item:
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“Sweeping Cuts” at WDFN, Stoney & Wojo Gone!
What a shocker! WDFN 1130AM, the leading voice for Detroit sports radio, cut most or all of its local talent including the prolific drive-time standby, the Stoney and Wojo Show. Obviously, I’m stunned. The show, which features Mike “Stoney” Stone and Detroit News columnist Bob “Wojo” Wojnowski, had been the go-to show in Detroit since its debut in April 1995. Wojo’s paper got the scoop and quotes from the hosts: “It’s a really sad day because I loved working at that station,” Wojnowski said. “And I know a lot of Detroiters have loved listening to the station for the past 14-15 years. It’s just another sign of the times, a very sad sign.” Said Stone: “I will miss it terribly. People tell me the show meant something to (them). That’s amazing. Hopefully, somebody will want to pick up ‘Stoney and Wojo.” This site has (had?) a relationship with WDFN on its Michigan football page and I’ve swapped emails with WDFN program director Rona Danziger in the past. I sent her an email tonight hoping for some reaction. Included in the cuts was solid mid-morning man Sean Baligian (of ‘It is what it is‘) who apparently didn’t learn of the cuts until after this morning’s broadcast. Said Baligian, “..we’ve all been hearing rumors for a while that something big was going…
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Stoned Wisconsin Badgers say, “I was there” (1981)
Here’s a look at an interesting pin commemorating Wisconsin’s 1981 victory over Michigan. Certainly, no one in Madison would produce a trinket today for a regular-season victory, but keep in mind that Barry Alvarez wouldn’t arrive for another decade and Badger football consistently had a place at or near the bottom of the Big Ten. The lowly Badgers and hadn’t defeated the Blue since 1962 and in the previous four meetings, Bo’s Wolverines outscored Wisconsin 176 to zero. Michigan was riding a nine-game win streak (including Schembechler’s first Rose Bowl victory) and that was enough for the pollsters to slot the Wolverines #1 in the preseason poll. This seemed to be an ideal opponent for the opener, held September 12, 1981, and Michigan came in as a 19 point favorite. Over 68,000 pickled fans witnessed the historic 21-14 upset. Longtime sportswriter Jack McCallum was on hand for Sports Illustrated: Last year Wisconsin didn’t score a touchdown until its fourth game. On Saturday in Madison, against a Michigan team that hadn’t yielded a touchdown in 5 games, Wisconsin scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and the gamer—on a 71-yard pass play. Quarterback Jess Cole throwing to Tailback John Williams—in the third. “This win is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Coach Dave McClain. The issue? Michigan’s new…
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New adidas Coaches Gear?
Fight fire with fire, the cure for Sweatervestitis: Yikes. Receiving this from your grams would tie a nice bow on a miserable year. Speaking of the holidays, are you 100% guaranteed to receive a Michigan related gift every year? [poll id=24] Related: More stuff from eBay: * Someone’s selling Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense playbooks on eBay man! Bollocks. [Hat Tip: Spawn of MZone] * You can own the website domain, images and content on UMICHFOOTBALL.com for $499, here’s the auction (with free shipping!).
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Leachapalooza: The Best of Rick Leach (WTKA 12/9)
I waded through the audio of Rick Leach in studio at WTKA 1050AM this week and boiled it down to a eleven noteworthy clips, each about a minute, give or take. You can download all the clips here for your 2009 road trip and tailgate mixtapes. Here you go. Be patient, the clips need to download for you to hear them. Oh, and is it me, or does Leach have a borderline WWE voice? On the Les Miles hire and some of the “garbage” that went on: When Don Nehlen called Leach and what that meant to him: Contrasting Michael Rosenberg’s perspective, on how Bo would support Rodriguez: Click here for the rest of the clips:
