One of the nice things about following Michigan football history is that many of the biggest names in the history of the sport seem to cross paths with Wolverines at one point or another.  Consider Michigan’s battles against Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Archie Griffin, and more recently, Vince Young and Tim Tebow. This morning I learned that Doc Blanchard, Army football’s great back, died at home in Texas.  The 1945 Heisman trophy winner was 84.  From 1944 to 1946, Blanchard and Glenn Davis formed a nasty backfield that helped the Cadets roll to a 27-0-1 record. Fritz’s Crisler’s Michigan men squared off against the Army machine twice, in 1945 in New York and again in 1946 in Ann Arbor. The first battle was held at Yankee Stadium on October 13, 1945 and the Cadets rolled through Crisler’s men 28-7 in front of nearly 63,000 fans.  The next day the Chicago Tribune declared, ‘ARMY WHIPS MICHIGAN’ and started the game summary like this: Michigan sent its young football men on a man’s errand this afternoon in Yankee stadium..” It’s a man’s game.  And the two biggest men of all were Blanchard, who ran off tackle for a 69-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Davis, who added a 70-yard score in the fourth.  Between them, they covered 370 yards on the…

Props to Ace over at the shiny new The Wolverine Blog who put together a nice compilation of Tate Forcier’s highlights from last Saturday’s spring game: Follow MVictors.com on Twitter

A look back at this special week in our lives.  A photo essay, if you will:

FEED ME! What?…..We’re done?  :( OK, assuming Sam Webb’s correct, the prospect of Greg Paulus coming to Ann Arbor is gone.  There’s not a whole lot to doubt Webb, who must have access to folks close to the program to get the info he needs, and recall that Webb was the main guy telling everyone to chill when Will Campbell said Michigan was off his list. What I still haven’t heard is who nixed Paulus’ plans to consider Michigan?  Was it Paulus or Rodriguez?  If Paulus, that’s one thing.  But if it was Michigan I guess I’d like to know what changed. Or should we just forget this ever happened? Fine.  Now I’m done. Can anyone tell me where I can get some of that Leopold Bros. gin?

Michigan insider Sam Webb of gobluewolverine.com just relayed a message to WTKA 1050AM’s Ben Holden that the Greg Paulus story is over.   Per Webb, who called into show minutes after sending the message to Holden: “The latest with Paulus is there is no more Paulus.” “I always thought it was a look and see situation.” “It was more of an insurance policy and one at this point, Michigan has turned the page on.” “It officially ends their courtship of Greg Paulus.” Webb thought it was “possible” but not “probable” that Paulus would come to Michigan before he learned today that it won’t happen. “I don’t care how good he was coming out of high school, that is something that’s tough to overcome.” “No one said he had a good workout with the Packers.” I know Webb has folks very close to the program, but he never explained how he confirmed this information. Update: OK, Webb’s website simply says “Sources indicated late Friday afternoon that the Michigan football program is no longer exploring the possibility of adding former Duke PG Greg Paulus to its fall roster.”

Goodness gracious.  I just caught this and unfortunately the auction is up in a few hours.  For sale on eBay is Charles White’s Heisman Trophy, won in 1979: Michigan fans know White for his phantom touchdown in the 1979 Rose Bowl, one of the worst calls ever. Shipping?  Just $5!  Dude, might want to add the optional insurance. The auction ends Friday evening – hurry!

Press conference question Fake Rodriguez answer What did you offer to Greg Paulus? I offered him a chance to join our team, work-out with our players this summer, and a chance to compete.    And I know you guys don’t like to talk about it, but the young man genuinely wants to continue his education and what a better place to do that than here at Michigan Did you discuss the possibility of playing time on the 2009 team? We discussed the opportunity to play for Michigan.  I told him he’ll have the opportunity to compete for playing time like anyone else. By the way,  I reminded him he’d be joining us a little late in the game so he’s got his work cut out for him. What did you tell Tate Forcier, Nick Sheridan and the rest of the quarterbacks? The same thing I told them when I recruited them and when we’re recruiting other quarterbacks.  I’m offering people a chance to compete and ultimately players earn their playing time.  I’m not handing out any free passes for playing time.  We’re never really going to stop looking for new players, we can’t, and they understand that.  If they don’t they shouldn’t have come to a school like Michigan. Tate Forcier spoke to the Daily and indicated he was in the…