On air with Hondo Carpenter of the prolific Spartan Nation this evening.   Of course talked a bit on the big game, the fan hype, how much this means to Michigan and of course, about #16. Here’s the audio: [display_podcast] . As I told Hondo, I give Michigan the edge but I could see it going either way.  Related: Monday with Hondo (audio from earlier this week)

Here’s the next entry in ‘This Week in Michigan Football History’ to be played Saturday on WTKA 1050AM’s Key Bank Countdown to Kick-off pregame show before the battle against the Spartans. This time we head way, way back to one of my favorite years.  It all started on October 9, 1909 when Fielding Yost and his ‘Yostmen’ faced off against the Case Rough Riders.   A few notes on this one: Note I called the score of the Syracuse game as 44-0.   One of the highlights of doing history on this site was discovering the extra point in the score of this game.   I convinced the great folks at the Bentley Library to change it from 43-0 based on my findings – full story. I quickly dismiss the Notre Dame loss in the clip but it was a pretty big deal at the time for Notre Dame.  It’s rumored that during this game the nickname, ‘Fighting Irish’ was hatched, and at the end of the year, the distinction of ‘Champions of the West’ was heavily debated as either belonging to Michigan or the Irish.  And yes, Yost tried to convince folks Michigan didn’t take the game seriously, as if it were more like a scrimmage or practice.  More here. The Penn game and the support of the crew of the U.S.S.…

mgoblog I try to catch the Red Berenson show on WTKA Tuesday nights when I can.  There’s always a great line or story that makes it worth the listen and this week was no exception.   Here’s the very last segment of the show where host Ira Weintraub asks Coach Berenson about recruiting players like Swedish phenom Carl Hagelin: Two notes: Gotta love Red mimicking the conversation between he and Boris in Berenson’s Saskatchewanese. I actually met Boris last fall.  He came to a party a friend threw for the Wisconsin game.  I was told Carl Hagelin’s dad was going to show and I had a picture of this old, fair-haired Swede in my head.  Boris shows up and he’s really not much older than I am.  Things that happen as you approach 40.   Anyway, the hockey team was struggling and I asked Boris what the problem was.  He offered up a single sentence (paraphrasing): 90% effort isn’t good enough.  Hearing this I put down the handful of Cheetos, drove home and tore off 9 semi-perfect push-ups.

[ed. 10-6 8:28pm   Noted Hondo also has traditional radio affiliates.] Are you familiar with Hondo Carpenter’s work?   He runs SpartanNation.com and broadcasts live on the web and across his affiliate radio network from 6-9 ET on his show, Spartan Nation Radio.  You can listen live via this link. It’s very interactive with callers, tweets, emails, etc. and the guests he books are outstanding—coaches, former and current players, recruits, and media.  I think Michigan could use a show like this in the evening and I wouldn’t be surprised to see something pop up in the next couple years. Anyway, I’ve been on a few times now and Hondo asked me to join him on Monday night at 8pm. We talked a little bit on the rivalry, a lot on Denard Robinson, a bit about Brock Mealer (I know the accident happened in ’07, not sure why I said last year), a prediction and even a little more about Denard.  Check it out: [display_podcast] Much of the talk about town is who has more "on the line" in this game.   Hondo didn’t ask me about this but if he had I would have said something like this.   Traditionally that answer is easy, it’s Michigan State.  This year I think Rich Rod and Michigan have much more on the line and I think…