Via Michigan Sports Center. Details: …Sunday, Aug. 17, at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse and the adjacent practice field behind Schembechler Hall. The autograph session and opportunity to meet the 2008 Wolverine team will run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. EDT. The event is free and open to the public. Fans will be allowed to enter the autograph area starting at 12:30 p.m. More details at mgoblue.com. Will Barwis be signing? Related: Fan Day 2007: Mallett Mayhem
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Baligian loves HTTV 2008
WDFN mid-morning host interviewed mgoblog‘s Brian Cook, editor of Hail to the Victors 2008. Sean B. loves the preseason guide, you will too! Get a copy now before they are gone. Here’s the full interview.
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Foote to MSU: “y’all always gonna suck” (audio)
Continuing the roll of Michigan athletes, coaches and beat writers on the WDFN 1130AM Stoney and Wojo radiothon is former Wolverine Larry Foote. As usual, Foote came hard and came raw. He hit on a variety of topics including what it’s like working out with Mike Barwis, his Steelers, and like Jalen Rose yesterday, took time to blast MSU. Notes:– Thinks this team will “shock a lot of people” based on the conditioning they are going through.– He confirmed Barwis is “a psycho”, “a freak”, is “nutso”, and has “some screws missing.”– Said Tyrone Wheatley’s been working out just “testing it out.”– Said he “had a dream” about the Detroit Lions’ season. “9-7 and they make the playoffs.”– When asked the obligatory Brett Favre question: “he’s definitely being selfish.” For your ringtones and tailgate mixtapes, here’s just Foote’s message to the Spartans as he signed off, “Go Blue and Michigan State, y’all always gonna suck.”
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Michigan Fan Day? Probably
Update: It’s going to be 8/17, more info here. At the 2008 Michigan spring game, Rich Rodriguez was asked by an M blogger whether there’d be an opportunity to meet the players this year a la’ the Fan Day events during the past few seasons. Coach Rod said there would be something in August, in conjunction with the team picture day. He also mentioned the possibility of something else during the summer but that ain’t going to happen. Here’s the short audio clip from the spring game presser: [display_podcast] There hasn’t been an announcement yet but that’s not unusual. Scrolling through the press releases from last year it looks like the Fan Day was announced a couple weeks before it was held on August 25, 2007. I lobbed a call in media relations and asked about if this was going to happen. In Fort Schembechler form, the short answer I received was ‘maybe, no announcement yet’. I asked about where it would be held if it were a go, again, really nothing except for they’d have to see what facilities are available. My sense is that this is a go (it’d be foolish not to, especially after closing the spring game), it’s just a matter of making it official. Update: After posting this I got a note from Bruce Madej…
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Brian Williams Teases You
Apparently, NBC News anchor Brian Williams took aim at this town and your Wolverines during his commencement address to graduating Buckeyes last week. One Ann Arborite wasn’t happy about it and his letter was published in the Sunday News: Memo to Karl: While your passionate defense of our team and city is admirable, I think you need to lighten up on Williams. Switch things around and you’d be laughing away at the Buckeye jokes. You can view a video of the address here, the speech is lackluster as were the jokes aimed at Michigan. Williams said the Ann Arbor jabs were supplied by Tom Brokaw and another friend in the business. I wouldn’t have taken credit for the jokes either. So he gets a pass on that one. If you want to take shots at Williams I’d start with:* His comments about bloggers whom he feels are “on an equal footing with someone in a bathroom with a modem.” Is that bad? Maybe Cook and company will add Williams to their no-holds-barred quiz bowl challenge.* His George Hamiltonesque penchant for tanning, including the bizarre white raccoon-like goggle lines around his peepers: * His profession. Does anyone watch network news anymore?:
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Another Reason I Don’t go to Damon’s
Damon’s Grill is a decent spot to hit if you travel especially in a pinch when you need to see a game. A few years ago they opened a franchise on State Street just off 94 but I don’t think I’ve stepped in there yet. Last winter I considered stopping by to check out Coach Beilein’s show which is broadcast on location at the rib joint but after seeing this article, I won’t be visiting anytime soon. The Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Edition published this piece on a crisis affecting bargoers- the practice of shorting pints of beer. Sales of “falsies” or 14oz glasses are on the rise as the price of beer is shoots up. The article goes through the issue and how many beer lovers are reacting, going as far as trying to legislate away the practice as has been done in the UK for quite a while: In the U.K., the Imperial Pint (equivalent to 19.2 U.S. ounces) has been a government-regulated standard for several centuries. The standard requires use of official pint glasses — with the word “Pint” and the European “CE” marking — etched onto each glass. I mention Damon’s because they were cited as one of the 14 ounce offenders in the article. I’m sure this is a common practice at restaurant chains but…
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1986 Ring Saga, Update
Another follow-up to my May 20th eBay Watch post on the 1986 Rose Bowl ring, and the follow-up post that uncovered the likely original owner. Proving once again that while the Michigan football family is vast, it’s a tight group and word gets around pretty quick, here you go: * I was contacted by member of the 1985-6 Wolverines. He called Allen Bishop and they eventually got on a three way call with Garland Rivers and talked about my post, the ring and lord knows what else. * He confirmed that this was Bishop’s ring but the circumstances of how it ended up out of Bishop’s possession and eventually on eBay were not disclosed. * I was informed that former players and coaches can actually order replacement rings from Jostens as all the original specs are on file. A few takeaways here: – I respect Bishop for not wanting to get into details on how the ring ended up on eBay. The possibilities are endless and I know that many players give their rings to family/friends especially if they have rings from other seasons. All in all it’s really none of anyone’s business but Bishop’s as to how it may have got here and if he doesn’t want to disclose that’s cool. – I’m going to send Coach McCartney’s wife…
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Open Call for Stadium Help
The athletic department bought a quarter page ad in today’s Ann Arbor News announcing “Football Stadium Team Members Needed”. They did the same last year if you recall. I’ve heard the stadium has stepped up its demands on ushers, extending the time period they’re asked to be onsite and working (both before and after the games). This may have caused a few folks to bag it in the last couple years thus the need for more help. They also might need a few folks to guide people around the construction. If you are interested in tearing tickets and escorting pickled fans out of the stadium you are asked to gather at the Junge Family Center on Saturday June 7 at 9am. For more info you can dial 734.647.9760. I couldn’t find more info on mgoblue.com, but I did find this interesting poll: Yes, people hitting mgoblue.com tend to lean Maize and Blue. I love that Kentucky got some votes. Why don’t they just ask, ‘Which school has the best helmet in college football?” UPDATE: Found it, more from mgoblue.com.
