Thanks to user WolverinesFTW who posted the interview between M grad Dana Jacobsen and Rich Rodriguez on ESPN’s First Take this week, enjoy: Elsewhere: * Looks like Michigan Football Saturdays already posted this youtube, nice hustle. * Yost Built on the 10-1 Michigan hockey win in the CCHA. * Autumn Thunder puts down the photoshop and takes a shot at the practice of live blogging.
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Stadium area Residents Fed up with site Noise
The lead story in today’s Ann Arbor News [see Battle brews over Big House noise] it looks like the Stadium renovation project is starting to wear on the local residents. Here’s a few key items raised in the piece: – As a university project, the renovation isn’t governed by local laws. Typically construction can take place Monday-Saturday 7am to 9pm. The stadium construction runs seven days a week from 6am to 10pm in order to meet the goal of completion before the 2010 season. – The city administrator is arguing that noise that carries beyond the bounds of the stadium should be governed by city law. – The Ann Arbor City council will take up the matter on April 7th. Takes: – Ann Arbor is a liberal town, people are vocal and I guess I’d like the process to run out a little bit so we don’t find out that a couple residents are the only ones complaining. – Many if not most homeowners live near some type of noise, be it a highway or major road, train tracks, airport, whatever, and most of us have to deal with some form of construction noise from time to time. I can understand folks getting a little concerned about three years straight of construction. All this said, I’m guessing it’ll be tough…
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Great Win!
Any tournament win is a good one, and congrats to Coach Beilein and company for taking down Iowa and getting out of the kiddie pool into the main draw. Can they challenge #1 seed and Big Ten Champion Wisconsin? They’ve sure given them two decent games this season, first losing on January 2nd at Crisler 70-54 after overcoming a 20 point deficit and getting within eight. Then the Blue led by Manny Harris’ 26 gave Bo Ryan and the Bagders a good scare in Madison, falling 64-61 just three weeks later. Some related links for you: – Check out Michigan Sports Center for a recap of Iowa and for tomorrow’s game they’ll have a Live Blog. – Varsity Blue also did Live blogging, albeit only for the first half. – UMHoops says it was fugly but it’s a win.
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Was ‘The Victors’ Ripped off?
Great question posed by fellow blogger Tim of Varsity Blue, who commented on my eBay Watch post on the 1904 sheet music of Elbel’s The Victors. Tim Says:I’ve heard that “The Victors” was in fact a tune that was ripped off (at least in part) by Elbel. As resident historian of the Michigan blogosphere, do you have any insight on the matter? Tough question to answer on a Michigan blog by an alumnus and Victors Club member who named his blog “MVictors” and considered naming his son Victor (went with Fielding). But it’s a good question. Yes, some maintain that the tune to the The Victors was more than inspired by a song published earlier in 1898 titled ‘The Spirit of Liberty‘ by a gent named George Rosey. Based on what I’ve read [if you think sports bloggers lean nerd, take a stroll on a classical music message board] there is a range of takes on this. They vary from there’s really nothing borrowed from the Rosey tune, it’s just sour grapes or anti-Michigan people taking shots at what many consider the greatest fight song ever composed. Besides, this school of thought goes, it’s not like these songs were on everyone’s iPod so did Elbel even have access to it? Others say that portions of the tune sound similar but…
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Second Biggest House
Yes, news is out that the current size of the Big House will shrink, at least until the renovation is complete in a few years. It’ll make Penn State’s Beaver Stadium the biggest for that period. Reaction: – Glad the University came to an agreement with the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America and the US DOJ. I heard awful stories about some of the issues with access for fans with disabilities at the stadium and I’m glad something was done. – While I like the distinction of having the stadium with the largest capacity, I realize we can’t keep up the arms race forever. – I’m begging for a Les Miles backer to declare “Thanks for nothing, Rodriguez”.
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The Mountaineer Romp 1904 (Michigan 130, West Virginia 0)
In October of 1904 the Wolverine squad faced off with the team that every college football fan would love to see visit Ann Arbor in the next few years...the West Virginia Mountaineers. On October 22 coach Fielding Yost took on the team from his home state and beat them like they just sued him for $4 million. Make that $5 million. The Wolverines won 130-0 in front a sparse home crowd.
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New Stadium Construction Photos
On MGOBLUE.com now.
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Der Komisarek
Don’t miss Sports Illustrated’s piece titled ‘Big Banger’ on former Michigan icer Mike Komisarek. They’ve included a graphic that proves once and for all that the current Montreal Canadien is the toughest man in the NHL: And SI.com didn’t forget about where he honed his craft and got a quote from Red: During his two years at the University of Michigan, walk-ons hopeful of playing for the Wolverines would have to run the Komisarek gantlet. He remembers unloading on the newcomers, helmets and sticks flying as in a cartoon brawl. Says Michigan coach Red Berenson, “I’d have to say, ‘Mike, take it easy on your teammates. The enemy comes this weekend.’ “ Good to see some props to the rougher element of the NHL that we all used to love. Alles klar, Herr Kommissar Bettman? Mini eBay Watch: The University of Michigan Dance Marathon group is raising money and selling some cool items on eBay right now including a coach Berenson autographed stick, a football signed by BOTH Lloyd Carr and Rich Rodriguez and a host of other cool stuff. Check out their auctions here.
