What a crock! This is so stupid and has to change. For these teams not to play at both places in a given season is a travesty. Via Mark Snyder on Freep.com. Michigan and Michigan State again play only once this season, on Feb. 10 in Ann Arbor – it’ll be televised on ESPN.
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Interview with Michael Rosenberg: Part II
Detroit Free Press sports columnist Michael Rosenberg’s first book, War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a time of unrest, will be released September 10. I sat with Rosenberg this weekend after the Utah game. In Part I, the focus of the conversation was on the book. In Part II, we talk about his recent column where he sharply criticized Rodriguez, some of this thoughts on the Utah game and the rest of the season and close with a few more thoughts on the book. In a column earlier this year you went after Rich Rod pretty hard, you called Rodriguez ‘bullheaded’, you characterized him as a ‘serial job shopper’. Has your view of Rodriguez changed at all since you wrote the column? Rosenberg: No. But let me clarify a few things here. I do think he’s bullheaded. I think in some ways I think that’s helped him in his career, but I think he’s bullheaded. My issue is not that he was looking at other jobs. My issue is that this is his alma mater, he’s telling them publicly and privately how much he loved it there, and he’s going to be there, he made a big thing about turning down Alabama, and he’s going to stay there and show you can win national…
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Rich Rod in Michigan Alumnus Magazine
The Alumni Association magazine Early Fall 2008 edition came out today, featuring Rodriguez on the cover. Funny, but he looks about 5 years younger in the cover shot, more hair, thinner…hmm, maybe this town is getting to him. Anyway, the interview with him is a bunch of softballs with one beauty: What are the chances of a home-and-home with West Virginia? RR: I wouldn’t think they are very good. Almost nailed him on that. And yes, I paid my Alumni Association dues and so should you, tightwad!
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Power Index: Week 1
Michigan dropped like a hot rock this week as might be expected, from alone in fourth with a 62.5 rating, to its present seventh place tie and a 44.3. A few comments on from the pollsters: Gilliam the Badger: “It looks like last year all over again. MSU can’t get out of their own way, UM stumbles in a disappointing opener, OSU, PSU crush inferior opponents. Most positive moves of the week? Minnesota managed to win a game, and Indiana is spending $40 million to finish their stadium. When does basketball start?” Biggie Munn the Spartan, when asked who impressed this week. “Northwestern…nice win vs. Syracuse. Their offense looked very explosive.” Schlimmy the Buckeye agreed with Biggie, “Northwestern- they were the only Big Ten team to beat a team from a BCS conference- so by default I give them the nod this week. Big Ten is off to a slow start as they go 0-3 in their “showcase games” for the week, Illinois is dropping quickly in my eyes as giving up 50+ point is simply unacceptable.”
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Interview with Michael Rosenberg: Part I
Detroit Free Press sports columnist Michael Rosenberg’s first book, War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a time of unrest, will be released September 10. There have been a few reviews of the book out there already, and from what I’ve read it’s getting high marks. Rosenberg sent me an advance copy and I burned through the 330+ pages in a few days. It’s a wonderful read, well written and meticulously researched. A quick scan of the acknowledgments and book notes reveal the breadth of interviews, videos, books, and news sources that Rosenberg poured through to weave the tale of this period. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry certainly plays a key role in this book but it’s more of a backdrop. Rosenberg unveils how each man and their teams both dealt with and were affected by the social and political turmoil of this time. Mixed in are some new stories and a fresh, deeper look at some of the old legends. For me, the most interesting elements of the book: * Rosenberg’s accounts of the various protests in Ann Arbor and Columbus during the period. * The insight into the mind of Woody Hayes – the guy is completely off the charts. * And apologies to my English teachers/professors but I was also re-introduced to and…
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Cancel your evening plans
I drove down State Street past the practice facility this evening (Sunday) at around 9pm. The lights were on so I took a gander…Rodriguez had the team out there in full pads.
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A Mild Train Wreck – Sights & Sounds (Utah 25, Michigan 23 2008)
Leaving the stadium I caught dejected defensive coordinator Scott Shafer outside section 22 gripping the handrails, head down drenched with sweat. He was waiting for the crowd to clear so he could get down onto the field and into the locker room. Shafer looked like someone just shot his dog; here’s a terrible photo but you get the idea: Obviously, this was huge emotional experience for all the coaches and players and you can understand if these guys were devastated. It was really ugly for most the game and if not for a few breaks and dumb Utah penalties this game could have been out of hand early in the second half. A few takes: I had a hunch we’d lose this game but not like that. A lot of people left the game midway into the fourth quarter when M was down 15 and I didn’t blame them, the game seemed way out of reach. RR’s got to find a way to run the ball. Can you imagine this team trying to hold a lead and eat clock? We’re miles from a Chris Perry 22 play drive that kills 11 minutes. Apparently the quarterback race wasn’t really close- Rodriguez said both guys might play but he didn’t want to put Threet in there or he would have in the…
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From the Inside: Construction photos
A few photos from inside the stadium Saturday. I got to the game pretty early but overall I hear they did a good job with the crowd control. There was much more room in the concourse underneath the new construction than it appears from the street, and it provided some nice shade and there was a good breeze blowing through. A few photos of the construction:
