October 7, 2006 marked the annual renewal of the Michigan vs. Michigan State football rivalry. Typically this would have been one of the busiest days of the year for former WTKA radio host Dennis Fithian, but he was not in Ann Arbor that Saturday. He was instead about 40 miles down the road at Comerica Park for his new employer WXYT ‘The Ticket’ radio. Somewhere during the second half of the 31-13 victory over MSU, the Detroit Tigers were finishing off the favored Yankees 8-3 for a trip to the World Series. Fithian was there to cover it all for his new station. In the brutal world of sports radio, things have worked out well for Fithian. Each one of the Detroit-area stations in that market have seen significant turnover in the last couple years, WTKA in particular. The very popular former Ann Arbor drive time host was kind enough to speak with MVictors about radio, Lloyd Carr, Drew Sharp and even about reheating pizza. Here you go: MVictors: Let’s get right into it. Do you have any ill will toward WTKA for the way your departure was handled? Fithian: There’s no ill will whatsoever. A lot of people thought I was let go because of comments about the basketball program, especially when they didn’t make the NCAA tournament that…
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Rodriguez radio blitz Part II: WTKA 2/15 (full audio)
More Rodriguez, this time on WTKA today. Pretty good quote on Tiller situation. Rodriguez said he “didn’t get the memo” regarding the gentleman’s agreement not to recruit committed guys. “We had to recruit Sam McGuffie until 9 o’clock that night because my good buddy Jeff Tedford at Cal was working him pretty good…I’m not mad at Jeff about it. That’s the business.” And he again confessed there’s no wizard hat nor is there snake oil. Also, he didn’t rule out having a night game. As far as the Spring game, he wants to have it April 12th and Ford Field is not an option. He did mention EMU’s Rynearson stadium is being discussed. (take: would love to have it there) [display_podcast] And in case you missed it, check out mgoblog’s post on the stealth open football try-outs for Michigan students held at Schembechler Hall this week. Very good stuff.
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Snake Rod? Don’t think so
So Purdue Coach Joe Tiller is mad at the new kid on the block. You’ve certainly heard his quote directed toward Rodriguez after losing verbal commit Roy Roundtree: “If we had an early signing date, you wouldn’t have another outfit with a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil get a guy at the last minute, but that’s what happened,” Tiller said. So many things bug me about this, some already said some not. First off, the suggestion that Coach Rodriguez is selling “snake oil” implies a RR’s master salesman selling a lie. Yes, he’s selling fantasies like Rose Bowls, the Rivalry, the NFL and Heisman trophies. Where does Rodriguez come up with this stuff? Tiller is selling the Old Oaken Bucket, giant percussion instruments and the Motor City Bowl. Second, it sure must have been some charming looking Wizard hat to conjure up that spell he put on the naive recruit. Rodriguez actively recruited for Michigan for THREE WEEKS…must have been some slick moves involved to change the mind of a verbal commit. Perhaps it had something to do with a receiver wanting to play in the Big Ten in a spread offense like Purdue’s, only better? For Tiller to put this on Rodriguez is weak. A charming way to welcome a new colleague in the league. Not…
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Recruit Brandon Smith wants 4 Buckeye scalps
WTKA and Sam Webb hosted their fifth annual Signing Day Extravaganza yesterday afternoon. They interviewed several players and coaches including Coach Rod. I caught some of the show on my 3 hour drive home from Lansing. My new hero? New Jersey recruit and now permanent Michigan Man Brandon Smith. During Webb’s interview Brandon Smith made four unsolicited references to beating Ohio State. The cocky multi-skilled Smith capped it off when he mentioned that a defining moment in his career would be his 4 wins over Ohio State! It was so great – I’ll look for audio but it was a beauty. He also is friends with Sam McGuffie and told everyone not to worry, that Sam would come around. Sure enough. Update: Second best thing that happened yesterday, Will Ferrell live at the Breslin Center on MSU’s campus. As Anchorman character Ron Burgundy, he did an interview with Tom Izzo and asked the Spartan coach if he was a legal dwarf.
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Michigan Outdoors Man
It’s always great to catch up with former Michigan players. I recently chatted with Captain Michael Tilmann II, defensive back for Coach Moeller from 1991-1993. While his playing career was hampered by two knee surgeries, he went on to found Tilmann Outfitters, a premium vacation and fishing charter service out of beautiful Manistee, Michigan. He’s highly regarded in fishing circles and has hosted several shows on The Outdoor Channel. He was kind enough to speak with me: What are some of your best memories of your playing days? Tilmann: You mean the best memories that I can share?! It’d have to be having Bo come to speak to us before big games such as the Rose Bowls, Notre Dame, and of course against Ohio State. The respect he commanded when he walked into the full team meeting room was unmatched! As far as the games, the highlights were the ’92 and ’93 Rose Bowls, each against Washington. We lost the first with Elvis but won the second with Todd Collins. Here’s a photo from Pasadena on the sideline with Bo: Have you always wanted to be a fisherman?Tilmann: Yes, I’ve always loved to fish and this has been a lifelong dream of mine. That said, I’m proud to say I received my BS in Education. I am a teacher first…
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Huge Show Interview with Rich Rodriguez (full audio)
Bill ‘Huge’ Simonson interviewed Coach Rod today on his Huge Show, aired throughout Michigan and on 1050AM WTKA in Ann Arbor. The show host mentioned the interview would be available on their website tonight. What’s the hold up? Here’s the full audio of the interview: [display_podcast] Simonson has been going off on Ann Arbor News columnist Jim Carty all day for his recent column where Carty suggested that Rodriguez should apologize to WVU and pay the $4M. He’s dedicated the entire show to this topic, repeatedly calling Carty and his columns “garbage”. UPDATE 1/18: Jim Carty fires back at Huge on WTKA this morning, I’m looking for audio. Also Carty’s latest column reiterates his take that Rodriguez should apologize. Here were a few of my notes from the Huge/RR interview as it happened: [The papers were removed] “in the middle of the day.” “I threw out some old game plans…Notes that I took…Some we ripped up, some we shredded” “The innuendo was crazy” “If there was any pertinent information it was left there.” “Why would I try to hide anything? I would never do that.” “I never said I would NEVER leave. It was never my intent to leave. I was right in the middle of remodeling my house.” “I did not call a single Michigan recruit until after I…
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Love for Coach Rod, Shaq
Coach Rod is receiving rave reviews with the fans and media for his bluntness and candidness. And he’s not stopping with the fans and the media. Remember the group of former alumni that met the team prior to the Notre Dame and Ohio State games, and all those that petitioned Bill Martin to consider Les Miles? Well, Rodriguez is working on something for them, from John Heuser in the Ann Arbor News Sunday: Wolverine reunion In an effort to introduce himself and his staff to former Michigan players, Rodriguez plans to host an event in Ann Arbor in February. “I want to meet all the guys that played here. I didn’t play here, so I didn’t know a lot of them. But I know how much pride they have in this place, and I want to meet ’em and talk to ’em, and I want to make sure all the former players feel welcome coming back here, and I think they will once they meet all the former players and staff members.” According to MVictors reader TC, the hockey game appearance went over big-time with the students. Apparently he didn’t just show up for an interview and to slap the puck across the ice. Here’s TC’s recap and take: Not only did he do a ceremonial puck drop he also…
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Relief: Beilein and crew down Wildcats
Congrats to the Coach Beilein and the hoops squad as they got off the schneid by taking down Northwestern 78-68 for their first Big Ten win. No word whether Coach Rodriguez did the mid-court shot at halftime. Apparently Beilein’s inspirational highlight DVD helped. Coach Beielin asked team manager and local guy Pete Burak to suit up for the game, but he didn’t play. Pretty cool. Seriously, what are you supposed to do about that? And in case the Indiana blow-out wasn’t out of your mind yet, the IU Blog Inside the Hall runs a little film session on Eric Gordon demonstrating the super frosh’s ridiculous range. The set? You bet: Crisler arena.