The Associated Press finally released their preseason poll, with Michigan absent from the top 25 (the 36 votes for the Wolverines placed them 32nd). The Vegas Insiders were waiting for the AP before to releasing theirs, and they did today with Ohio State tops just ahead of Georgia who is #1 just about everywhere else. Michigan didn’t make the VI poll either. Related: The Bucks easily top the MVictors Power Index as well, which compares the Big 10 and Notre Dame. I’m looking for someone to represent the Irish in the Index. If you have Notre Dame ties and you’re interested in participating, drop me a note.
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eBay Watch: A Proper Tailgating Vessel
A short edition of eBay Watch, this installment featuring this beautiful American made Chevy 4×4 with a limited edition paint job: Thanks to Matthew for forwarding this link. Right now this chick magnet has no bids with a starting price of $999.99. Here’s the full auction. My only beef? I would have insisted on the winged helmet design at least on the front of this sled, but I’m a romantic. If you hurry, you can test out this beauty at one of the biggest tailgating venues on the planet, the NASCAR race down tomorrow down at Michigan International Speedway just 40 or so miles from Ann Arbor. And speaking of the Sprint Cup series, did you know that current points leader Kyle Busch is a Michigan football fan? I did; I remember the piece they ran on ESPN or somewhere showing his tour of the Big House last year. Busch describes how it started in USA Today this week: Although he is from Las Vegas, young Busch is a big University of Michigan football fan. U of M is about 40 minutes away from MIS in Ann Arbor, Mich. “My brother (Kurt) moved up to Michigan years ago to run in the Craftsman Truck series and he went to a Michigan game,” Kyle recalled. “He bought me a Michigan sweatshirt…
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Michael Phelps about town
In case you missed the NBC clip of Phelps swimming, eating, and sleeping in Ann Arbor, check it out: If you recall, Phelps showed up at the Penn State game last season. I caught him walking up my section presumably to refuel at the concession stand given the NBC piece. My description: Today Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps was seen in the first half donning a Mike Hart jersey and a Detroit Tigers lid. If it wasn’t Phelps it was Screech which is still kind of cool. And now I’m officially a putz. HT: Chris Burke at MLive. Related: Olympic pride palpable in Canham Natatorium.
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Bo’s Helmet Stickers
Despite being nearly a decade and a half since the winged helmet was adorned with these appendages, the topic of the helmet stickers, decals, or “achievement awards” still comes up on occasion. Despite some claims that Woody Hayes started the tradition in Columbus, this is not so. Bo Schembechler actually launched this tradition in the mid-1960s at Miami of Ohio. He used little hatchets. He continued the tradition at Michigan when he joined the Wolverines. Here’s a look at Don Moorhead‘s “Riddell TK-2 impregnated sunflower gold-colored shell” helmet compliments of umichfootball.com: Nice pass Don, here’s another lemon for you Moeller continued the tradition but Lloyd nixed it. Why did they stop? No, I don’t think it was “Just to keep a clean look” as asked by mgoblog user Casa Grande. It’s also not true that Carr thought the decals were “lame” as I’ve seen on a message board or two. More likely is that Carr dropped the stickers to take the emphasis off of individual achievement and onto the team concept. Related: No, I’m not going into an investigation on who originally owned this helmet. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Garland Rivers. Also Related: Looks like the Buckeye Blog ‘Eleven Warriors‘ has pimped my eBay Watch idea. It’ll be a regular feature on the site. He did give proper credit…
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Bo Merlot
Bo Merlot. You didn't ask for it, but you got it. The details:
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Michigan Preplay starts August 28
It’s no secret that Michigan Replay died this year and this evening on mgoblue.com they announced the new format. It’ll actually be called ‘Inside Michigan Football’ and will air on Fox Sports Detroit on Thursday and be rerun on Friday’s at midnight on ABC: “The title of the show is exactly what it will be,” said producer and director Patrick McLaughlin. “We will have a level of access that few programs in the country allow. We’ll be at every practice, in the locker room and behind the scenes every football Saturday. This will truly be an inside look at Michigan football.” I won’t miss the old format and I’m really not looking forward to the new. What I will miss is that funky theme song: [display_podcast] They certainly won’t be able to use that theme anymore but here a couple suggestions for Preplay: Elsewhere: Jim Carty’s practice notes from today revealed some nice nuggets: On Sam McGuffie and Michael Shaw: McGuffie and Shaw are two guys that will not be redshirted – they’ll play,” the coach said. “They’ve done enough to convince us that they can contribute as freshmen, and I think as much mentally as physically. The biggest drawback for a freshman coming in is, can they mentally handle the schemes and the pace, all the things that go…
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A-Rittz Drops Factoids
Another post-worthy mention coming out of Adam Rittenberg’s ESPN Big Ten Blog: Dan from Minneapolis writes: Adam, you pointed out the unique nature of first time coaches in the UM – MSU rivalry. I also wanted to point out uniqueness about first time coaches in the UM – OSU rivalry. Aside from Cooper, going back to WW Hayes, first time coaches have WON their first meeting in the series. Correct me if I am wrong but that is quite impressive Adam Rittenberg writes: You’re correct, first-time coaches have fared well in the Michigan-Ohio State series, perhaps because the games typically are played later in the season when coaches have a better feel for their teams. Woody Hayes lost his first meeting with Michigan, 7-0, in 1951, but Earle Bruce beat the Wolverines in 1979 and Jim Tressel did the same in 2001. The Buckeyes went through four coaches during the 1940s who went 1-2-1 against Michigan. Michigan hasn’t had a coach lose his first game against Ohio State since Harry Kipke in 1929. Kipke’s first game, interestingly enough, was played midway through the season on Oct. 19. Rich Rodriguez will have a tough task to keep Michigan’s run alive, but it helps that the game is at the end of the season. Next, Dave Dye of the Detroit News drops…
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SI’s Top 10 Michigan athletes of all-time
You’re sick of lists I’m sure, but this is worth a look for the photos alone. SI has been rolling through a list of the top ten athletes at big schools, now Michigan is up. Here’s its take and the breadth of sports they covered is appreciated: 10. Glen Rice (basketball, 1986-1989) 9. Jennie Ritter (softball, 2003-2006) 8. Brendan Morrison (hockey, 1993-1996) 7. Barry Larkin (baseball, 1983-1985) 6. Tom Dolan (swimming, 1994-1996) 5. Desmond Howard (football, 1989- 1991) 4. Cazzie Russell (basketball, 1964- 1966) 3. Charles Woodson (football, 1995-1997) 2. Tom Harmon (football, basketball, 1938-1940) 1. Bennie Oosterbaan (football, basketball, baseball, 1924-1927) Why Oosterbaan? Here’s their take: Considered one of the greatest athletes in Michigan history, Bennie Oosterbaan was a three-time All-America football player, a two-time All-America basketball player (who led the Big Ten in scoring during his senior season) and a baseball player. Turning down professional football for religious reasons, Oosterbaan went on to coach football, basketball and baseball at Michigan. In his first season as head football coach in 1948, he led the Wolverines to a national championship.
