Another follow-up to my May 20th eBay Watch post on the 1986 Rose Bowl ring, and the follow-up post that uncovered the likely original owner. Proving once again that while the Michigan football family is vast, it’s a tight group and word gets around pretty quick, here you go: * I was contacted by member of the 1985-6 Wolverines. He called Allen Bishop and they eventually got on a three way call with Garland Rivers and talked about my post, the ring and lord knows what else. * He confirmed that this was Bishop’s ring but the circumstances of how it ended up out of Bishop’s possession and eventually on eBay were not disclosed. * I was informed that former players and coaches can actually order replacement rings from Jostens as all the original specs are on file. A few takeaways here: – I respect Bishop for not wanting to get into details on how the ring ended up on eBay. The possibilities are endless and I know that many players give their rings to family/friends especially if they have rings from other seasons. All in all it’s really none of anyone’s business but Bishop’s as to how it may have got here and if he doesn’t want to disclose that’s cool. – I’m going to send Coach McCartney’s wife…
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Top Ten Tailgating Schools
Lists dominate college football posts and pages this time of year, and I caught a link to this one off of SI on Campus. TailgaterMonthly.com, which was website idea #57 of the guys in Knocked Up, produced its list of the top ten campus tailgates. Your collective efforts earned a respectful spot in the top five: Number 5: Michigan Ann Arbor is always a good place to catch a game. They’ve got good people who are knowledgeable about the game and who are happy to invite you to the party. Good food and drinks ranging from beer to bourbon (if you need to get warm quick) are supplied in mass quantity and there are plenty of tailgating activities to take part in. Start the day off right with some Ladder Golf and Corn Hole, two games that are great for tailgates. Elsewhere: Check out Varsity Blue’s info on the ‘opportunities’ to get your spot in the new renovated stadium. Brochure snapshots included.
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Is this Garland Rivers’ Rose Bowl Ring?
Garland Rivers – mgoblue.com As a follow-up to my May 20th eBay Watch post on the 1986 Rose Bowl ring. The seller pulled the auction in order to provide some more information about the ring, perhaps to fetch a little more dough. The updated auction description offered more on the size of the ring, weight, etc., along with a few additional photos. [see the auction here]. The seller also dropped hints as to the identity of the original owner: We have researched a little regarding the player named on this ring it is our understanding that this player was a starter for Michigan during the regular seasons in which he played as well as in the Rose Bowl. He also played in at least one other Bowl Game with Michigan and that he held a team (Bowl) record for well over 10 years. Digging into the records on the 1986 team on the Bentley Library site, you obviously can narrow the list down to the starters in the Rose Bowl, then look to year before and after to find a player that started multiple seasons. Digging further, I reviewed the current Michigan individual Bowl record holders per the Capital One Bowl media guide published in late 2007. One name jumped out to me: All-American defensive back Garland Rivers. He meets…
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Open Call for Stadium Help
The athletic department bought a quarter page ad in today’s Ann Arbor News announcing “Football Stadium Team Members Needed”. They did the same last year if you recall. I’ve heard the stadium has stepped up its demands on ushers, extending the time period they’re asked to be onsite and working (both before and after the games). This may have caused a few folks to bag it in the last couple years thus the need for more help. They also might need a few folks to guide people around the construction. If you are interested in tearing tickets and escorting pickled fans out of the stadium you are asked to gather at the Junge Family Center on Saturday June 7 at 9am. For more info you can dial 734.647.9760. I couldn’t find more info on mgoblue.com, but I did find this interesting poll: Yes, people hitting mgoblue.com tend to lean Maize and Blue. I love that Kentucky got some votes. Why don’t they just ask, ‘Which school has the best helmet in college football?” UPDATE: Found it, more from mgoblue.com.
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Airing of the Sports Talk Show Caller Grievances
Brian at mgoblog recently raised his beefs with the nerdosphere. As someone who listens to his fair share of sports talk radio in Michigan I’ve got a few problems with you people: 1. Any mention of your athletic prowess When dialing up your favorite show you’ve got to resist the temptation to cite your credentials based on your work within your sporting “world”. In the last 2 weeks I have heard no less than 5 guys mention “I play softball” as if that gives them some special perspective in the sports topic of the day. Please stop. 2. Referring to your conversation with the call screener This is a growing trend: dudes getting on air and starting up their take with, “as I told the screener”. First off, there really is no actual screening happening on Michigan-based sports talk radio shows. You could dial up and say your going to talk about Richie Cunningham’s free throw form and you’ll get through. Second, no one cares what you told the screener just get on with it. 3. “I’ll hang up and listen” I heard Seinfeld break this down one time, but no one cares about your elaborate near-term plans. 4. Reluctant Agreement Can’t stand this one either. Very common on Stoney & Wojo’s show on WDFN. Callers have an annoying tendency…
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Bo Unveiled
From mgoblue.com, a local artist donated a great painting of legendary coach Bo Schembechler to grace the lobby of Schembechler Hall: Well done. The artist is named Johnnie Dew, a self-taught Ford retiree who’s got some mad skills. Check out his website. According to the photo gallery there were a few distinguished guests at the unveiling including Cathy Schembechler, AD Bill Martin, and check out former head coach Gary Moeller posing with Rich Rod:
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Shand v. Martin case Going to Trial
AD Bill Martin’s motion to dismiss the case brought against him by former WTKA morning show host Dave Shand was denied today. U.S. District Court Judge Julian Abele Cook, Jr. published the following decision today: “Martin’s motion to dismiss must be, and is, denied. The Court finds that Martin is not entitled to qualified immunity at this stage of the proceeding. Furthermore, Shand’s First Amended Complaint has sufficiently set forth a claim upon which relief may be granted. Martin’s motion for summary judgment must also be, and is, denied in its entirety. The Court finds genuine issues of a material fact exist with regard to each of Shand’s claims.” Shand’s complaint against Martin is summarized in the order as such: The complaint, as amended, alleges that Martin informed the management at WTKA on April 19, 2007 that “he would not allow” the radio station to cover a charity golf match at the University of Michigan if Shand was assigned to cover the event as a broadcaster. Shand also contends that Martin threatened to terminate WTKA’s right to broadcast the University of Michigan football games unless he was fired as a broadcaster with the radio station. Several days later (April 23, 2007), Shand was relieved of his duties at WTKA. The court order provides a view into some of the documentation…
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M Man goes Farley
Keeping with the tailgating theme. While you definitely want to have a good time at any tailgate, you don’t necessarily want people recalling your sloppiness the next day let alone months later. If you’re not concerned about that do this: I love his boy telling him, “Do it!”, right before he sets down the runway. And the bystander asking, “What the hell was that?”. All told it was a pretty ballsy move – you really don’t know what’s going to happen once you get airborne.