Turns out the WTKA afternoon show on Thursday was just as exciting as the morning show. Michael Taylor dialed up Jeff DeFran and went off on a spittle-filled rant, furious about the hiring of Curt Mallory over Taylor’s preference Corwin Brown. Clip: [display_podcast] . Obviously Taylor knows something about the matter and has been in touch with Brown, who Taylor says is “hurt”. The former M quarterback more than implies race was a factor in the hire and he’s pissed. One point – Taylor goes on and on about supporting Michigan letterman and how there’s a recent history of the administration spitting in the face of letterman. Of course Mallory is a letterman. And did you know that Brown, Taylor and Mallory were teammates on the 1989 squad, Bo’s last season? I like Taylor’s contributions to WTKA – on Sunday (where has he been?) and with the occasional phone call. One thing I always struggle with is Michael’s oft-repeated stance that his status as a letterman/former football player provides him the trump card over anyone’s opinion in all matters pertaining to U-M football. Come on. Speaking of qualifications [nice segue] I’m disqualified from commenting on Mallory vs. Brown since I joined a band of ten merry, pickled students who spelled C-O-R-N-F-L-A-K-E-S on our chests back at a game in 1992. …
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Hoke Juke Box (Sounds Galore)
Several clips from Wednesday’s introductory press conference introducing Coach Hoke. (P.S. I see the #Hokeamania runnin’ wild on Twitter and elsewhere but I’m not feeling it. I’ll try to get on board by Friday’s hockey game, especially if we get a taste of Hoke Score-O.) For your mixtapes and tailgaters: [display_podcast] Follow MVictors on Twitter (so I can stay ahead of Rothstein) Related: The Clans. The Factions. Defined A Fragile Piece of History: Big Chill Ice Dave Brandon joins WTKA and WDFN (audio 1-14)
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You Love Chucky
In 2007 as the search to replace Lloyd Carr commenced, I set up 24 candidates in a silly bracket . After the votes were tallied there was one man remaining: Jon Gruden. Three years later, two dozen more candidates squared off late last week and over the weekend. Once again look who’s the people’s choice: I understand the appeal (I guess) but still I’m a bit amazed this keeps happening. You love this man. Marry him. Full bracket: More on Death March Madness II here. Thanks to the thousands who voted. Thanks again to Christian Sack, (icefins26 on mgoblog, or guy who rocks the Zack Morris/AC Slater avatar) who drew up the seedings and prepared a quick summary of each candidate.
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Death March Madness – Final Eight (Vote Now)
It’s time for the regional finals of Death March Madness. Thousands of votes cast have brought these final eight competitors together. Still alive is 2007 winner Jon Gruden with whom people have an inexplicable love affair. You can view the results of the first two rounds and have a look at the 2011 bracket. For a berth to the final four: [poll id=52] [poll id=53] [poll id=54] [poll id=55] More on Death March Madness II here. Thanks again to Christian Sack, (icefins26 on mgoblog, or guy who rocks the Zack Morris/AC Slater avatar) who drew up the seedings and prepared a quick summary of each candidate.
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Turning Minutes to Hours
I have no gut feeling on what’s going to happen—I’ve had people tell me before the bowl that Harbaugh was pretty much a done deal, and for a while I’ve had word that discussions with Hoke were very serious. Prior to the bowl, the needle seemed to sway toward Harbaugh leaving Stanford and heading to Michigan. Now, the chatter seems to be the other way, with even a few speculating that he might stay in Palo Alto. Several folks close to the program, like Sam Webb, say all the talk at this point in nonsense. It’s not about the money, at least when talking Michigan vs. the NFL as Brandon will pay what it takes. I see Harbaugh as the type who’s going to value the better situation for himself and the people in his life ahead of the bucks. Guys who tweet out Gordon Lightfoot lyrics (and mean it) don’t chase dollars: If I’m Harbaugh I absolutely leave Stanford—you’ve got to move now and who knows what will happen in the next couple years. And I’ve always understood when college coaches head to the pros. No matter what happens at that level there always seems to be a high profile gig waiting for them back in college. I think Harbaugh’s a different kind of cat, as many of…
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Gator Bowl 2011 – Pregame Photos
I had a chance to hop on the field before the game. First off, it’s just a perfect day here – can’t say more. The EverBank Field gridiron appears to be in excellent shape – a couple gashes visible here and there but only up close. While I’m not natural grass expert I can safely say the grass is cut very tight—specifically 9/16” per Nick, the head groundscrew guy in charge of it all: Naturally Nick is a Spartan, having graduated from MSU’s prolific turf grass school. He’d much rather be in Orlando watching his Spartans battle Saban and crew, but he expects to be peppered with texts throughout the game for updates. Nick had the painful task, for a Spartan that is, of making this happen in the North endzone (but he did a nice job): Michigan’s end zone is North, the and the Wolverine players will be on the East sideline. Here’s a view looking South: Go Blue. And if you’re not on the Twitter, get on the Twitter, I already tweeted out photos an hour ago!
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Bill Yearby, Michigan All-American, Passes Away
Bill Yearby, an All-American defensive tackle for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1963-1965, died on Dec. 20th after a long illness.
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Signed WWJ Michigan Pigskin (1958)
Check out this vintage football signed by the 1958 University of Michigan football squad (see above) Above ‘UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN’ it is stamped ‘WWJ 1958’. The WWJ stands for longtime radio station WWJ in Detroit which aired Wolverine games for many years, including, according to the Bentley Library, what is believed to be the first live broadcast from a football stadium in 1924. The auction’s limited description doesn’t indicate why it says WWJ or when the ball was signed, but perhaps it was passed around during the annual bust held in December of that year after the rough season. How rough? Well, the Wolverines finished 2-6-1, losing their final four games, and prior to the finale against Ohio State coach Bennie Oosterbaan resigned. This probably didn’t help matters: There was no drama or transition period after Oosterbaan handed in his resignation. He stayed at the university and former star player and then assistant coach Bump Elliott took over effective January 1, 1959. Back to the ball, while it doesn’t appear to be loaded down with superstars, it does include Oosterbaan’s predecessor and current athletic director Fritz Crisler: And historians might recognize the name Harry Newman, the great quarterback from the early 1930s, but.. ..you might also notice the “Jr.” tagged on the end. That’s Harry Newman’s son who didn’t leave…
