A few cool things planned for Saturday as the athletic department honors the military during the Illinois game: Members of the Wounded Warrior Project and Gold Star families of Michigan will line the tunnel as the Michigan football squad takes the field. The MMB will play a medley of military sounds from each branch and will be flanked by two 65×120 foot flags, held by members of the U-M ROTC and Student Veterans’ Association. Four T-38s will perform a fly-over. How to Help At gates #2 and #8 on Saturday, folks will be collecting items for the Afghan families and troops: For Afghan families: they request new or used winter clothing, coats, hats, gloves, Michigan clothing (nice!), pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, children’s books, generic bifocal lenses, blankets, small toys, stuffed animals. For the Troops: black socks (Jalen’s got those), deodorant, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, gum, protein bars, Ramen noodles, canned meat, trail mix, and new or used DVDs or video games. You can also leave handwritten cards and letters. If you can’t make it they’ll be taking donations in the lobby of the ticket office at 1000 S. State Street between 8:30am and 5pm starting Monday 11/1 through Friday 11/5. Tim Hortons is donating up to 720 pounds (46,000 cups!) of coffee. When they mentioned this I saw a big…
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Restoring Yost
Those in town may have noticed some crews working on the outside of Yost Ice Arena again this year. It raised an eyebrow from me, given the issues they had last season which caused the postponement of a game and given the timing—why would they be working on it during hockey season? Fear not. I spoke with Matt Trevor in hockey media relations who told me the work is simply "masonry restoration and cleaning." Trevor advised they did some of the work over the summer, and continue to work their way around the building. I also noticed the cement ‘M’ in one of the corners was removed: I asked Trevor if they were <gulp> changing any of the design. Once again, fear not. "They’re just cleaning and restoring what’s there," he told me.’
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Same here
Iowa 38, Michigan 28.
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Cowherd Hits Ann Arbor Today
Photo from Sean @ SBNation Detroit This morning ESPN radio host Colin Cowherd will do his 10-1 EDT radio show from Ann Arbor, and later tape his Sports Nation TV show. Are you going? I’d love a few unique shots of the goings on if you are able. Cowherd and the Michigan blogging community have an interesting relationship thanks a well-publicized scuffle with the MZone, a very popular sports/pop-culture blog that disappeared a few years ago but has recently triumphantly returned. What happened? Cowherd ripped off material on an M Zone post but didn’t bother to mention where he got it. (And Yost and crew are aware that Cowherd is in town and have put the lock down on fresh material.) It wasn’t a trivial incident as Cowherd to this day points to the MZone as why he can’t reply to listener emails. Clip from January 2009: [display_podcast] Over the years I’ve become a fan of Cowherd’s radio show but can’t get with the TV show. (I saw him dressed up and talking like a pirate the other day during a bit. I hope he’s well compensated. ‘Dance, monkey, dance!’).
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Feels Like This
Rich Rod postgame, making sure the clock still reads 0:00
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Crisp, Clean and no Michigan in between
[ed 8.17 – Got a call from Bruce Madej at U-M Media Relations on this. He advises that this logo is not “new” or a change and in fact, the Block M with the blue outline is used in certain media/TV situations and is still at midfield today. Madej did confirm that there is an effort to have a more consistent look to the logo. For the record.] I have a friend that does some work with the athletic department and he told me that this year he was provided a subtle change to the Block M design on his products. The previous version of the logo included an outline of blue around the M, and you’ve seen the older editions that have MICHIGAN across the middle. A rundown of the trademarked M images is found here. I spoke to Erin at IMG who confirmed that the athletic department is going with the all Maize look and that the move “was made when Dave Brandon, Michigan’s new Athletic Director, took office in March.” Voila: I guess it shouldn’t be a shock that one of Brandon’s first moves was to usher in a consistent look and feel to the iconic M logo. I like it. I like it a lot. What is interesting to me is that there wasn’t any…
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Rich Rodriguez Full Presser (08-09 audio)
RR: "Have any of you ever kissed a girl?" You know you’re getting old when driving over, the thought enters your mind that this "late" night press conference will be cutting into your precious ‘Antiques Roadshow’ time. Yikes. Full audio from this evening below. Follow MVictors on Twitter for live updates during press conferences this season. [display_podcast] Key takeaways/notes: RR called out "a handful of guys" that aren’t in shape. Wouldn’t name names. He didn’t name anyone beyond the "guys upfront" for being in exceptional shape. Coach Rodriguez wouldn’t comment on the WVU allegations, deferred to his previous statements. First practice in pads is Friday morning "full contact"; two-a-days start Sunday. All the quarterbacks took the first snap together, haha. "All three guys are competing." Said Devin is in "great shape". On the Woolfolk comments and Tate. "I’m glad our seniors are taking some ownership and leadership in this team." … "Tate knows he’s a lot of work to do to prove himself, not only on the field but off the field." On whether Tate is doing the right things to prove himself. "I don’t watch summer practices." Weeee. All the injured players in the from the spring are back 100% except Will Heiniger. Michael Shaw and some other players are still in summer school, into next week.…
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WTKA Moves Huge Show to 6-8pm slot, on delay
For those who listen to 1050AM WTKA may have noticed that the Dan Patrick Show has run the last couple days in the slot that used to be occupied by Michigan radio host Bill ‘Huge’ Simonson. WTKA has moved the Huge show out of the drive time slot and onto a 6-8pm window and on delay. I called the station to ask about the decision. Sounds like it came down to a ratings and perhaps a few complaints from listeners. While Huge is technically a local show, the frequent focus on Central Michigan athletics I think wore thin on some Ann Arborites. So they’re moving Dan Patrick into the slot. I didn’t hear Huge’s reaction to the show (because Dan Patrick was on!) and I didn’t hear the delayed show. I’m sure he’s pissed but sometimes radio hosts downplay setbacks like this. A few quickly scribbled thoughts: * I’m not a fan of the Dan Patrick show. To me, Patrick is still a witty teleprompter highlight reader and not a radio host. The cute frat boy towel whipping humor is really for the birds. * I’d prefer a local host, Huge included, cover this critical slot especially during football season. I still miss Dennis Fithian [MVictors interview] and without knowing the financials behind the decision, think it was a big…
