The topic of conference rivalries came up on several occasions at Big Ten media days last week. You may have caught Minnesota coach Tim Brewster utter the following: “We haven’t played Michigan for the past two years,” Brewster said. “To me, I don’t see anything different there. Obviously the Little Brown Jug is a historical game and it’s been really important to Michigan and Minnesota for a long time … I just don’t feel like that game is in the same place as the Wisconsin and Iowa games.” A few thoughts here. Clearly the history of this game and its trophy means a lot to me and it seems to be a given that the Wolverines and Gophers will be on the opposite side of the soon-to-be-announced Big Ten divisions. This will mean that the teams won’t meet on a regular basis and the battle for the jug will be an on-again, off-again affair. I’m ok with this. If the conference moves to a nine game conference slate, Michigan will still face four of the six team in the opposite division anyway. The Jug game won’t be going away and when they do meet it’ll mean that much more. And heck, we’re running out of space on the crock anyway: Related, The Little Brown Jug Lore Series: Part I: What…
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Rich Rodriguez Full Presser (08-09 audio)
RR: "Have any of you ever kissed a girl?" You know you’re getting old when driving over, the thought enters your mind that this "late" night press conference will be cutting into your precious ‘Antiques Roadshow’ time. Yikes. Full audio from this evening below. Follow MVictors on Twitter for live updates during press conferences this season. [display_podcast] Key takeaways/notes: RR called out "a handful of guys" that aren’t in shape. Wouldn’t name names. He didn’t name anyone beyond the "guys upfront" for being in exceptional shape. Coach Rodriguez wouldn’t comment on the WVU allegations, deferred to his previous statements. First practice in pads is Friday morning "full contact"; two-a-days start Sunday. All the quarterbacks took the first snap together, haha. "All three guys are competing." Said Devin is in "great shape". On the Woolfolk comments and Tate. "I’m glad our seniors are taking some ownership and leadership in this team." … "Tate knows he’s a lot of work to do to prove himself, not only on the field but off the field." On whether Tate is doing the right things to prove himself. "I don’t watch summer practices." Weeee. All the injured players in the from the spring are back 100% except Will Heiniger. Michael Shaw and some other players are still in summer school, into next week.…
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Media (still) Banned from Practice
As speculated by many, it’s official. Here’s Dave Ablauf addressing the question of media access to Michigan football practices after tonight’s press conference: [display_podcast]
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Captain Schilling, Captain Moundros
Coach Rodriguez announced to the media tonight that the seniors met with him and suggested naming two captains before the season, and optionally picking game and two more post season captains. The team voted today and: Full press release from U-M Media Relations. Players Vote Moundros and Schilling Captains of 2010 U-M Football Team ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez announced tonight (Aug. 9) that fifth-year seniors Mark Moundros (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS) and Stephen Schilling (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS) have been elected captains of the 2010 football team by a vote of their teammates. Schilling will represent the offense and Moundros was selected as the defensive captain. “This team chose two worthy seniors to represent this program as captains,” said Rodriguez. “Mark and Stephen are great representatives of the University of Michigan, both as a student and football players. They will work with our other seniors to lead this team throughout the season.” A three-year letterman, Moundros will be a two-way performer for the Wolverines in 2010. He practiced at linebacker throughout the spring and is the team’s starting fullback. Moundros has recorded 15 special teams tackles during his career. He rushed the ball three times for 14 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 13 yards and one TD in his career.…
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Letterheader
A big thanks to writer/historian/all-around-good-guy/M-fan John Kryk for the idea and image of the early Yost-era “Foot Ball Department.” letterhead that now occupies the top floor real estate on this site. A couple of tweaks later there ya go. Rounding out your M library? It’s required so pick up Kryk’s wonderful Natural Enemies.
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The Case for Al “Ox” Wistert’s Hall Pass
[Ed. Guest post by writer/historian James D. Dickson – big thanks to James. Enjoy.] This weekend’s Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities mean two things – the return of football, every weekend from now through early February, and it’s time to start campaigning for the Hall’s Class of 2011. When the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee meets to discuss old-timers candidates for 2011, dominant Michigan and Philadelphia Eagles T Al “Ox” Wistert (’42) should be at the top of the list. Readers of this blog will recognize Wistert as the second in a trio of Wistert brothers from Chicago who all played Tackle for the Wolverines in the 30s and 40s. Though brothers Francis “Whitey” (1932-1933) and Alvin “Moose” (1947-1948) were the only two Wisterts to win national championships at Michigan, Al “Ox” did a lot of his damage in the National Football League. Still, the Wisterts’ dominance and lineage were so powerful in Ann Arbor that the #11 worn by the Wistert brothers will never be worn by another Wolverine. The Brothers Wistert But Al “Ox” was the one who established himself in the pros as well, joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 1943. World War II fans will remember the 1943 “Steagles” team, a wartime confab of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers that satisfied no one. Despite…
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Alabama-Michigan in Dallas in 2012?
According to Brian Cook, yes indeed: …But apparently it is happening. The contract is being signed Monday. Which is tomorrow. The following details are unconfirmed but of interest since they come from an established source: Game is happening because a desperate Jerry Jones “overpaid.” Michigan will be the nominal home team (important mostly for TV rights) and receive more money. There’s no additional game scheduled and there may not be. Jones might be well-positioned to provide some advice on HD scoreboards. More details are emerging this afternoon. Apparently, the teams are going to play for this trophy, to be presented on a Super Bowl-like stage at midfield by Jerry Jones himself after the game: VERY COOL. If true (still working on sources) this will knock the Paul Bunyan Trophy down a notch and compete with the Jug as the finest rivalry rack we compete for. It’s uncertain whether the history of games will be retroactive to the epic 2000 Orange Bowl when Tom Brady and crew took down the Tide in overtime. Not the First Time. On a serious note, it’s not the first time Michigan’s squared off against a big-name opponent on an iconic neutral site of a professional sports team. Check out those posts on Michigan’s battles against Army at Yankee Stadium in 1945 (vs. Doc Blanchard and…
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eBay Watch: Huggy Bear’s Locker (2000)
Many of you know the tale of former Michigan uber-recruit Justin Fargas. He came to Ann Arbor from California with huge expectations but things didn’t work out, at least here. He ended up transferring to USC and has carved out, to my surprise, a nice career in the NFL with the Raiders. Al Davis and crew released him in May; he’s currently a free agent. His pops is Antonio Fargas who played Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch. Huggy was played by Snoop in the 2004 S&H movie. Huggy bears So who cares? Well, fast forward to 2010 and Huggy and his son are involved in a current auction and it makes for the latest installment of eBay Watch. Up for sale is a lot containing some of Justin’s pre-NFL memorabilia including a few choice items he saved from Ann Arbor. As I’ve learned from watching Pawn Stars, if you rent a storage unit and fail to pay the bill, the owner can seize the items you stowed away and sell them off to recover damages. Per the auction description, that’s allegedly what happened here: I BUY STORAGE LOCKERS AT AUCTION WHEN THE OWNERS DO NOT PAY THE BILL. GOT ONE THE BELONGED TO ANTONIO FARGAS (HUGGY BEAR FROM STARSKY AND HUTCH) FATHER OF JUSTIN…
