Eaten Alive...

I hate Notre Dame. I hate everything that they stand for. And I most especially hate the way they think they are College Football. As I watched the press conference today I had to turn it off because the atheletic director shared those exact thoughts. As he went on about how Notre D ame Football competing for National Championships is great for the game and his university. Nobody gives a damn about Notre Dame.

I'd contest that Notre Dame being good is good for Notre Dame and Notre Dame only. Sure when they're good more people pay attention. We all know them. The Gerber family or about any Catholic you know. "Notre Dame is going to murder you're squad on Saturday" and you respond, "Who's playing QB for the Irish?" and they have no response. They watch their Irish and couldn't tell you who their competition is. These great seasons only generate money for the Irish, there's no benefit to the country full of much better stories.

So on a cold day in November the Golden Dome sits tarnished again. No longer the center of the College Football with no one but themselves to blame. The Independent status that they hold so highly, the multi-million dollar NBC deal, the alleged "extremely high" academic standards. They make them easy to hate. Independence is ignorant these days. The only teams left Independent are not good enough to be in conference. The NBC deal only estranges them from the youth of today. Nobody's watching the NBC game of the week anymore like the 1970s, kids care about the SEC, BigTen, Pac10, and Big12. Those are the big boys, wanna play with 'em then play 'em. In each of those conferences there's a team with high standards, but they somehow manage to field competitive teams without using it as an excuse.

Go on Notre Dame pay your way out of a mistake. And go make another. Take Brian Kelly, another offensive mastermind without a knack for the other side of the ball. Call up Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops. They'll agree that they're in much better position than a trip to South Bend could ever put them in. Notre Dame isn't the pinnacle of sport anymore, time to accept it and move on cuz Rudy aint commin back.

The Other Side

I've had my time to reflect over the disappointing 21-10 loss suffered by my beloved Wolverines last Saturday.  While the disappointment will never be acceptable, I found an eerie calm about myself as I awoke from my drunken stupor on Sunday.  There was even a sense of joy.  Back to this later; first, my thoughts about the game.  We need bullets!

• The defense played surprisingly acceptable.  Part of this was going back to the secondary of Floyd/Warren/Woolfolk/Kovacs.  I felt that this was the best option all along because you can always give safety help to JT Floyd, the same safety help that was utterly worthless with Jordan Kovacs playing deep instead of Troy Woolfolk.  Kovacs is an acceptable player near the line of scrimmage, so this played to our strengths.  Also, Kevin Leach for Obi Ezeh was a substitution that had to be made.  Obi is at a crossroads in his career at this point.  On the one hand, he has not had more than 1 year under a defensive system since he has been here.  On the other hand, he has not shown the instincts to be a consistently good linebacker.  Don't even get me started on his coverage skills.  So what will the staff do with him?  This is one of the biggest questions going into the spring.  You can't just waste a 6'4 250 lb guy like him on the sidelines.  I look for them to give him the option of playing a DE position of some sorts, where his instincts will not be as big of a hindrance.
• Wow, did the Greg Banks/Will Heineiger substitution package ever bite us in the ass?!  Seemingly every time Ohio State made a big play in the running game, Banks and Heine were on the field.  Banks has been about typical of a late Lloyd Carr recruit: mediocre, unathletic, and generally uninterested.  However, at least he hasn't been collecting splinters like Adam Patterson, who was beaten out by the walk-on Heineiger.  Hopefully another recruiting class will lead us to have a little more depth on the DL next year.  I count Martin, RVB, Roh, Sagesse, Campbell (who played really well Saturday), Herron, and a redshirted Anthony Lalota as guys that could contribute.  This is still not where you want to be as a D1 team, so Heineiger will likely see some time again next year.  This is where an Obi Ezeh move possibly comes in.  
• It's safe to say that I love Roy Roundtree.  He has the one thing that you love in a receiver: production. He might not be the fastest or biggest guy, but he finds a way to get open and when he is thrown the ball he never drops it.  He reminds me of a smaller Jason Avant in that regard.
• Patrick Omameh is going to be something special on the OLine.  Where he excels is when he is in space, as I saw him absolutely murder Kurt Coleman on a couple of downfield blocks.  His play as a RS Freshman leads me to believe we can pencil him in at a starting spot somewhere on the line next year.  That gives Omameh, Schilling, a returning Molk (hopefully), and then two spots that will be up for grabs.  Of all the positions on the roster, OLine has the most potential, IMO.  Guys like Ricky Barnum, Taylor Lewan, and Quinton Washington are high-ceiling type guys who should be ready to step in and contribute (Barnum especially - tempered expectations on the other two as just RS Frosh).
• I'm going to miss Brandon Graham.  Nothing more needs to be said.
• Vince Smith is going to contribute here for four years.  He finished with a great two games against the two stingiest run defenses in the conference.  He doesn't need the biggest hole in the world to get positive yardage, and not just because he is Freshman Year Andy Kardos in size.  He also has that uncanny Mike Hart ability to turn a 4 yard loss into a 4 yard gain.  I like the way the kid plays, and he never backs down.  
• Tate had a great game from 20-20, but a lousy game backed up (sweaty palms) and in the red zone.  Michigan moved the ball better than I thought they would, and a lot of this was due to Tate making plays.  Of course, it was disappointing not to get into the endzone, but THE GUY IS A FRESHMAN! Name me the last freshman quarterback that was any good consistently.  Was he in over his head?  No doubt in my mind!  HE'S A DAMN FRESHMAN! PLAYING AGAINST OHIO STATE! One of the best defenses in the country.  But if you can say that you didn't see glimpses of positive play in that game than you are flat out lying to yourself.  Even the great Tim Tebow only had 2 plays that he ran as a freshman.  Colt McCoy didn't even play as a freshman.  Sam Bradford red shirted.  On and on and on.

So am I disappointed in how this season played out?  You are damn right I am.  The pessimist says we caught breaks and got lucky against Notre Dame and Indiana.  The optimist says we made plays in those games to win the game, and also were a play away from beating Michigan State and Iowa on the road, as well as Purdue at home (that was the game that hurt the most).  There are always two sides to a story.  My side is this: Rich Rodriguez had to dig himself out of a hole that no Michigan fan will ever begin to understand.  71 scholarship players out of the 85 limit.  The depth isn't there yet.

Back to my joy on Sunday.  Saturday against Ohio State was the biggest recruiting weekend Michigan has ever had.  Over 100 prospects poured into The Big House to watch the game.  For the people that say Rich Rod doesn't recruit defense, just wait until the chips fall from last weekend.  The talent we will have on the field in 2-3 years is going to be incredible.  Mark my words.

NRTTS
Coach Deuce

Sitting Around...

So here it is, the day we thought wouldn't happen til atleast the third week of December. The offseason. While the rest of the world figures a turnaround is going to happen we sit. We sit and think. What just happened over the last 12 weeks? Did we see an improvement? What are we to expect next year?

Lets call a turd a turd here. This team started out 4-0. That's 2 wins from bowl bound and in a position to start thinking January bowl. And Delaware St was on the schedule. And we proceeded to lose every game except DState. Wow. There's no way we shouldn't be bowling. While I always walking into the BigHouse looking for a win, no one was surprised by the outcome yesterday. This was a team playing their game against a team that still doesn't know what their game is or if it works.

While all the experts say, "They won 5 games compared to 3 last year and looked better on offense." They were. At the beginning of the season. Then this team digressed beyond belief. I feel like if this was Lloyd Carr it would be unacceptable. Tate Forcier went from all world to one of the worst games I've ever been witness to. I know he's a freshmen, but he played like he was in over his head these last few weeks.

My feeling on the improvement of this team is that they didn't improve but got more "breaks". We shouldn't have beat Notre Dame, we got lucky there. Got a replay to go our way against the Hoosiers for the first time in what seems like forever, and played Delaware St. So I drop 2 of those 3 and here we are a more fortunate 3-9 and last place in the BigTen in 45 years. The BigTen is awful...the worst in a really long time and our Wolverines are the worst of it. Awesome.

Next year. Saying "next year" in November is unacceptable. Getting out of the preseason unscathed is not as important as competing in the BigTen. This team HAS to win 9 games next year and be in the title hunt. Otherwise, I'm sorry, pack up your shit and get out of the office. And I'm the ultimate pessimest anymore. A team that can't put it in from the 10 yard line cannot compete in this Conference. If major violations are found then I'm not sure he has a next year.

The Gate

Fair Warning

There will be no predictions post tomorrow.  These have been bad karma ever since I started doing them.  Tomorrow is fair game for anyone that would like to post their thoughts on The Game.  I will leave you with this, a preview of how Michigan should play on Saturday.

NRTTS

Coach Deuce

Remembering The Day

The day will live in infamy.  November 17, 2006.  The day before the biggest game in The Game's history. 11-0 and #2 ranked Michigan was rolling into Columbus to face the 11-0 #1 ranked Buckeyes.

That Friday was like a dream.  The Oak Harbor Rockets were in the midst of a playoff run that would send them to the state semifinals.  I was in full Coach Deuce mode at this time, still wearing the Coach Oz shorts that had led the Rockets to their 13-0 start in the cold of November.  The football weekend was unprecedented.  Cloud nine would not accurately describe my state of mind during this time.  After all, what could be better than playoff high school football and the greatest Game of all Games?

Then I heard the news of Sports Radio 1130 WDFN Detroit.

"Legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler has suddenly passed away today at the age of 78."

Shock.  That is the only word that I can use to describe how I felt at that moment.  It was as if I had simultaneously been hit by a stinkface by Rikishi and a big splash by King Kong Bundy.  I literally had to pull over to the side of the road to gather myself.  The situation was just a complete overload at that time.

I mean, Bo and Woody single handedly built this rivalry up to what it is today - game by game, recruiting battle by recruiting battle.  These two generally did not like each other for the simple reason - they were on opposing sides during the 3rd Saturday in November.  Suddenly, the last piece of that part of the rivalry was taken from us.  And only one day before the biggest moment the Rivalry had seen..well, ever.  It was too surreal to even believe.

My mind raced to what the ramifications of this would mean.  Bo meant more to Michigan than anyone can possibly imagine.  During his memorial at The Big House, Lloyd Carr delivered one of my all-time favorite lines about Bo.  "It was my first year as head coach, and I was sitting in my office doing some work and Bo knocked on my door and asked if he could come in.  I thought about it for a millisecond, and realized I could hardly say no.  After all, the BUILDING is named after him."  And in a nutshell, that is what Bo Schembechler is to Michigan.  Every coach from here to eternity will be compared to Bo in some way.

He was gone.

The buzz around the party the day of The Game was something to behold.  It was as if the passing of a legend  brought together the Hatfields and McCoys.  It would be like Vince McMahon and Steve Austin hugging it out in the middle of the ring during the peak of the Attitude Era.  Each person had a different story about how Bo and Woody made this rivalry special.  We all realized if it wasn't for these two men, we would likely not be here today.  They made this day special.  A day we all look forward to as if it were a regional holiday.  On That Day, only one thing matters.  The outcome of The Game.  Suddenly, the biggest game in it's history just got  even bigger.

We all know how this one turned out.  That wound does not need to be pried open again.  Had Troy Smith been 6'3", and not 6'0, the ballgame may have had a totally different outcome.One thing stood out in my mind about that day, though.  Before the game, 105,000 fans stood on their feet and honored a man that they all hated for the vast portions of their lives.  It was called RESPECT.

For that one moment, Michigan and Ohio State fans joined together and honored one of their own.  It is what makes this day so special.  I could not imagine being a Notre Dame fan, Michigan State fan, Wisconsin fan, and having to watch this rivalry from the outside.  Nothing compares to it, and it is almost here again.

RIP Bo Schembechler

NRTTS

Coach Deuce

1969

Forty years not so long ago for some of us. Remembering times when it was said to me, "Michigan!, Are you stupid?" And my Dad would say to me, "Actions speak louder than words. Bide your time, things will change." Then, in late November, when it looked to be impossible, things DID change. Listening to the radio (WOHO Radio) a voice shouted, " Little Barrry Pierson takes the punt at the 38. He's at the 50...40...30...10, tackled at the 4 yard line." One play later, Michigan scores and takes the lead. Yes! Over OSU! A team that had been called the greatest of the century and had won 22 games in a row. Could this be real, I thought? It is only the 2nd quarter. Many a prayer was said over the long remaining 2 quarters but in the end, it happened. The greatest upset in college football history. 24-12 MICHIGAN. When it was all said and done, my Dad said, "Times they are a changing" and change they did.

For the next 40 years looking back at this rivalry I was told many times, "Michigan doesn't stand a chance in hell" But, over the years, someone has risen to the occasion. A walk on quarterback, Brian Griese, a running back with a funny name, Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka and a bunch of other no-names.

So after a heavy hearted season, I am back to praying. I feel this is our turn around time. Someone will rise to the top and be the leader and the best.

A side note... humor of the game. I played softball with a group of guys for over 20 years. We would all get together for the game. The year, 1976, OSU at home. As we all meet at the home of OSU fan, Roger Place. My Dad, age 70 was the oldest there. He didn't wear Michigan on his sleeve like I do. Surrounded by Buckeyes just before the game, Roger tells us how he has a bet with a guy in Ann Arbor on the game for $100 bucks. And he's getting 21 points. My Dad and I exchanged knowing looks that, as usual, Roger was full of shit. The game starts slowly.... 0-0 first quarter. Midway second quarter, Jimmy Smith catches a long punt from OSU and starts to dodge Buckeyes going up the field. Just then, my Dad jumps from his chair yelling, "Run you SOB, Run!" After a 40 yard return, he is tackled and an OSU fan looks at my Dad and says, "Joe, that's Michigan." My Dad said, "Who do you think I'm rooting for, you Asshole?" Complete silence. I was laughing inside. 0-0 at the half. Third Quarter, Michigan scores on the opening drive 7-0. No problem, Roger says. Later 3rd quarter, Michigan scores again 14-0. BUT NO, WAIT, FAKE KICK 2 POINTS. MICHIGAN 15-0. Roger's not smiling. 4th quarter. Greatest running back from Ohio scores for Michigan. (Rob Lytle #41) 22-0 and the final score. Roger loses and said not a word during the whole UCLA v. USC game. Dad and I laughed all the way home. I have more stories than time so I'll stop here. M GO BLUE!

No Russian.

Like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 there is a disturbing scene ahead and I'm willing to let you pass it. There is profanity, bad english, and an overall disturbing feel to the following post. If you feel you're comfortable to do anything to feel raw emotion of a fan getting kicked in the balls for the 7th straight week, read on after the break....





You may look at the timestamp and realize "Hey, it was still the third quarter, and any Michigan fan would still be watching and hoping for a victory." FUCK YOU. Thats what I'll say to anyone who questions my fandom. Ever.

Not only is that my mantra to anyone who questions my dedication to this team, but its also become the mantra of this Michigan program. You don't give up nearly 500 yards passing last week and on pace to beat that out this week. Michigan Football as a whole has looked directly into your television, right into your living room, and right into our souls and said "FUCK YOU."

Fuck you Michigan Fan, we're not going to figure out how to defend the pass, the run, or show up in any way that doesn't make you think of high school football. We're not going to turn around on a gauranteed fade route, we're not going to make a play when our team and fans need it the most. We're not going to figure out how to defend a pass over the middle against a team known for running the ball. And when we sell out on that run, we're gonna allow a 30 yard run. Fuck You Michigan fan, Fuck You. But remember we're young, and we're getting better, and someday we'll be really good. Someday we'll learn how to come out in the 2nd half better than the 1st not worse. Who the hell knows when this tired mantra will run out. Who knows when we'll be good, cuz we don't even have flashes of it.

And we're supposed to take it. We're supposed to sit there and watch our hearts get run over, and gasp for breath every time a QB drops back to pass. We're supposed to get out of bed on Saturday, get ready for a game, and give everything we have to a team that goes out and doesn't look like they give a shit. This team gets picked apart worse than any other bad BigTen I've ever seen. Wisconsin did what ever they wanted, they ran, they passed, and Michigan didn't do anything...It was demoralizing.

I've sat here wondering why I'll make the trip to Ann Arbor next week. Why will I be boiling pissed when I see a shitload of red in my stadium? Why will I give a shit when OSU runs out of that tunnel? Why will I get chills when I look up into a gray November sky and look down on a green field of Maize, Blue, Scarlet, and Gray? Who gives a shit, because they certainly don't. But I will, because thats what I was born to do. The real maize and blue faithful will show up, watch on TV, and from their spots in the Michigan universe, they will have put more in than any player has this season.

At the beginning of the year I bought my shirt. ALL IN FOR MICHIGAN it read, but that was it, I bought it, I bought in, and Rich Rod, Bill Martin, and everyone else in this administration went ALL INTO THE BANK. Nobody out there is all in, they don't even have a toe in. Nobody gives a fuck.

So with this post I say Fuck You team on the field, You are not Michigan, you and last years team will someday be erased from the history books. You're careers lacked anything that resembled anything Michigan has stood for. So on the 21st, put you're helmets on one last time, run out the tunnel one last time and touch MY banner, go through the motions one last time, and get the fuck out. You don't deserve a bowl game, you don't deserve to represent your university to the country. You deserve that cold walk across the diag with glares coming from the people walking by. You are nothing.

This has been brewing all week long, since Dad told me about a moment from last weeks game. "On 3rd and long, the players are motioning for the fans to get up, and we did, it was loud. Then they forgot to cover the TE, and gave up 1st and 10." And it wasn't the same old BigBob in his voice. It wasn't the same "Oh, well." My dad had gone from the "Good Example" in the crown during my younger days telling me "You guys put too much into it" into the guy who was standing right next to me yelling and screaming like a crazy maniac the last 3 years. It was refreshing, at one moment at the beginning of this revelation I remember looking over with Brian, and laughing to eachother, because he was the only one screaming like a madman. But Purdue finally did it. It had taken the man I learned my passion from and demoralized him. There's no reason for this, there's no reason for men to put there reputations and sometimes health on the line for a bunch of 20 year olds playing a game. But we do, and we will. Because thats what we're supposed to do. And starting now, it's OhioState week. And somehow someway we will beat the Buckeyes.

GO BLUE!!!

Prognosticating 11-14 (Quick Style)

Time for another edition of prognosticating, where I make an ass of myself against the spread.  This will be a quick and dirty edition of prognosticating, as I don't have much time.  Last week I was 2-3 against the spread, as LSU and Michigan choked away games they should have easily covered in.  I will take solace in the fact that I knew Iowa was going to lose sooner or later, I just didn't think Northwestern would be the ones to get them.  My overall record is a very Margaretta football-like 3-7, but one big week can put me back above the .500 mark.

Michigan State (+3) at PURDUE

Chalk this one up to nothing more than the fact that I hate Michigan State more than I hate Purdue.  Just barely, though.  Keep it up, Danny Hope.  Don't let last week's whooping of Western Michigan fool you, Michigan State is still a mediocre football team.  That being said, Purdue is equally as mediocre, but they have a talent for winning games they have no business winning.  I think Joey Elliot leads the Boilers to not only cover this, but win it outright.

OHIO STATE (+16.5) vs. Iowa

Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi is out for this one, which would usually spell doom for any offense.  Not this one.  I think with a week of preparation, any QB would be more productive than Ricky "Pick Six" Stanzi.  The guy is more turnover prone than Jay Cutler, which is saying something.  (Cutler is the biggest bust this season, hands down)  The thing that gives me caution about this one is that the Ohio State defense is really, really good.  I just don't see Ohio State being able to put the kind of points up they are going to need to cover this one by 16.5.  Give me Iowa.

Texas (+23.5) at BAYLOR

Murder city.  Texas all the way.

ILLINOIS (+5) vs. Northwestern

I'm all aboard the Juice-Train, as he continues to try and salvage his pathetic senior season.  I'll take the Zookers over the smart kids, and I'll even give the five points.

WISCONSIN (+8.5) vs. Michigan

The John Thompson Bowl, as Wisconsin tries to gain some measure of revenge as they remember that Michigan somehow beat them last year.  Of course, Michigan is in disarray in all sense of the word, and Wisconsin is their usual bland but effective selfs.  There are two major wild cards in this game for Michigan.  1) Denard Robinson is likely going to start and 2) Mike Williams will finally see the bench, as Brandon Smith will likely move into his role as an 8th guy in the box.  If Brandon Minor is not healthy, which I doubt he will be (after all, can you really expect a player to play 2 games in a row?)  Denard brings another option to the offense.  If Michigan can get some zone read going, then I like the move because Denard is a legit threat to score and make big plays on that play, unlike Tate.  As far as the other move, I say it is about damn time.  Brandon Smith may not have a future as a safety (LB), but in this game he will be a perfect fit.  John Clay will be ready to go, so Michigan is going to have to stack the box and play some man-on-man coverage on not only the outside receivers, but the TE's.  Smith and Stevie Brown present pretty good matchups for Michigan...well, better matchups than Mike Williams vs. anybody.  This is about as tough of a call as you can get, but I can't pick against my Wolverines. MICHIGAN WILL COVER, because...what the hell, why not?

That is all for today, one more week until The Game!

NRTTS
Coach Deuce

You know what they say about athletes with big heads...

Hello friends. I would like to embark on the lighter side of NRTTS, today. It is often said of superstar professional athletes and other celebrities that they have big heads, meaning they have a large ego that they can not keep in check. In the sports world I first think of TO, Kobe, OchoCinco, etc.

However, with this post I would like to start a discussion on which athletes REALLY HAVE huge heads. I'm talking about the players that look like Ken Griffey Jr. on the Simpsons when he couldn't put the nerve tonic down (See Above). So often in the world of sports, athletes are measured. The set of diagnostics includes height, weight, 40-time, bench press, NFL shuttle, NCAA Football 10 injury rating (Brandon Minor), reproductive fertility (Shawn Kemp), and the list goes on. But I think hat size, or the size of one's dome, should come into play when these athletes are rigorously tested.

Here are my favorite athletes with Head Size of 85 and above:

Sheldon Williams (Boston Celtics)

This guy is notorious for having a large head/forehead, and for being ugly, but attractiveness I will save for another post. I think Matt Groening and the rest of the Simpsons creative team went into the future and used Sheldon as a model for their balloon headed Ken Griffey Jr. in the "Homer at the Bat" episode.

Jermaine O'neal (Miami Heat)

Jermaine has one of those heads where it looks like all his facial features are on the bottom half of his face, not unlike Marta Diehm at age 2. When he wears a headband, which he always does, he still has 50% of his noggin stickin out the top of it!

Kevin Mench

A former rangers platoon player, Mench supposedly wears a size 8 1/2 hat! It is also known that former teammates bestowed upon him the nickname "Shrek". You could only be treated to a cap this big if you happened to catch one of Ryan Price's games (I kid because I care, Price).

Barry Bonds

Not too much commentary required here. His stock on the list of great melons has risen exponentially over his career.

Feel free to comment on any other cranially gifted athletes that come to mind. Be on the lookout for these guys who look like they are constantly in Goldeneye 007 for N64's "DK Mode". I don't know if the size of one's head leads to increased intelligence, creativity, or awareness. But I do know:

You've just been D'ed up!

-Stefan The D.

The Sports Elite

Another week, another Michigan loss.  Wednesday is usually the day when I come on here and give reasons for hope and optimism that Michigan will snap out of its funk and get that elusive 6th win to become bowl eligible.  Not this week though; that act has become a bit tired.  I do not want to run the risk of sounding like a broken record.  Everyone knows Michigan's defense has enormous holes in it that will not be filled this year.  Everyone knows that Michigan's offense relies heavily on Brandon Minor, who may have the worst injury rating in all of the NCAA.  None of this will change for the rest of the year, so lets take some time to explore something else that has been on my mind.

At some point, when you have watched or played enough sports, you fall into a category that may or may not be a positive thing: The Sports Elite.  This is when you know (or think you know) enough about sports that you can carry an intelligent conversation with another sports elite.  You watch SportsCenter regularly, probably listen to some type of sports talk radio, and frequent websites like ESPN.com, SI.com, or sports blogs that interest you (like NRTTS!).  I consider myself to be in this class of sports fan.  Sports have been a part of my life for so long that they are second nature by now.  When I turn on the TV, I immediately go to ESPN to see what is on.  When I fire up the computer, some kind of sports site will be the first visited.  I don't wear this as some kind of badge of honor.  Rather, this is what interests me the most so I choose to be knowledgeable on as many subjects as I can.

Now to the meat of the post.  Once you enter this zone, you cannot go back.  I will forever know the names of Trey Junkin, Carlisle Holliday, and Stanley Jackson.  The image of Jason Gingell getting that fateful FG blocked against App State will always haunt my dreams.  The start of the NFL Draft will always get my blood pumping.  These are just facts that will remain with my for the rest of my life.  I would have it no other way: sports are what get my blood pumping - what gets me through the week.  There is one downfall to being a Sports Elitist, though.

Talking to the Non-Sports Elite about sports.

I don't know if it's because I wear a lot of sports team apparel or if I have a giant sign on my forehead that says "talk sports with me," but people inevitably make it their pastime to engage in a sports related conversation with me.  Within 10 seconds of the conversation, I can tell if I am talking to a SE or a NSE.  It is the latter that really annoys me.  It is a painful experience to try to talk sports with someone who has no idea what they are talking about.  Think of it this way: I don't go up to Craig Krenzel and talk Molecular Biology with him.  I realize that his major is something really hard because Brent Musberger told me so about 439 times.  Rather than embarrass myself entirely by trying to act like I know something about Molecular Biology, I would just keep my mouth shut and not talk at all.

Case in point.  The apartment complex that I live in offers a free shuttle to and from campus on weekdays.  The driver of this shuttle (which is just a big van, Bang Bus style) is an old guy, probably retired, who wears an assortment of straight billed caps (LA Raiders - not Oakland - BGSU, and Florida Marlins).  At the start of the year, the talk was limited to "Did you see X play Y this weekend?" and then some analysis on what he saw during those games.  It didn't annoy me at first, but I could tell he was a NSE right away.  After all, the week after the USC/OSU game he kept telling me how it was amazing how "UCLA kept having such good football teams" and how they "keep hammering Ohio State".  Okay, driver, just give it up.  His in depth analysis of the game was how he couldn't believe how "them California guys just kept getting right in there, while Ohio State couldn't do that".  Sigh.  I would just agree with him and count the seconds until the shuttle arrived to its destination.  It has continued to get more and more painful as he has become more comfortable with talking sports with me.  This week, he again told me how UCLA has had such great teams and how "them Nebraska guys sure are something else".  The doozy of it all was when he proclaimed that "Ohio State always completes that one deep pass every game not matter what". UGGGGGH.  I know it makes me a bad person that I loathe listening to this guy talk: after all he is just trying to do his job.  At some point though, I just want to launch into an in depth rant about how UCLA has really fallen off the map ever since Cade McNown and Jonathan Ogden left campus, and how USC has really taken over the state as the premiere football powerhouse.

Another example.  Those guys sitting behind us at the Michigan game who proclaimed that "Tate Forcier is awful" and doesn't deserve to be in the game.  This is the same guy that would not stop pointing out that Donovan Warren wasn't playing press coverage.  Every play it was "Look at him! What the hell! Why is he so far off! *Warren proceeds to walk up to press coverage pre-snap* Look at Woolfolk! He is off! What the hell! That is just bad coaching!"  I wanted to turn around to the guy and call him out for the idiot that he was, but that would really serve no purpose other than to get into an argument you just can't win.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is if you know you aren't really knowledgeable about something, just try to avoid it.  I don't go around talking about the merits of the proposed health care system just because I don't really know, nor care, much about it.  If there is ever any doubt whether you are or are not a Sports Elite, tread lightly.  Don't try to overdo it and impress somebody, because you will just end up looking stupid.

NRTTS
Coach Deuce

Michigan, my Michigan

I was at the game on Saturday. Another heartbreaking defeat. I was pissed more than I normally am, more than the Gate has ever seen me. As we started down the aisle for the long wait to get out of the stadium, a gentleman looked at me and said "In 2 years, we'll be great." I replied, "Yeah, in 2 years we'll win games 50-48! I say, that's bull crap, you win with defense. Ask Bo or osu. As we moved another few feet, a so called Michigan fan dressed in his maize and blue yells across to his friend that he'll sell his Michigan-Ohio State ticket for $10. His friend replied, "Why for $10?" He said, "This place will be filled with Buckeyes in 2 weeks." Which, as pissed as I was, I turned to this supposed Michigan Fan and said "It's because of asshole season ticketholders like you that sell your tickets that I have to sit by MSU, PSU and OSU fans for these big games in my own stadium. " He answered, "You gotta make a buck when you can." If these people can't stand by the team when we are losing, they might as well stay home when they are winning. They are no fan of the University of Michigan. If you're a season ticketholder not going to the game, sell your ticket to a U of M fan, not a foe!

Prognosticating 11-7

So Week One of my Picks Against The Spread did not go exactly as I planned.  I found one thing out for certain, though.  THESE GAMES ARE FIXED!  First, Ohio State was favored by 44 - they win by 45 as New Mexico State's quarterback Threet's it into the end zone for a defensive touchdown..  Iowa is favored by 17.5, and is getting their lunch handed to them by Indiana.  Then one play single handedly changed the momentum and outcome of that entire game.  This play made 1997 Nebraska's "Kick Play" blush.  Instead of being up 28-7, the score is 21-14 and the rest is history.  Iowa would go onto win by 18 POINTS, covering the spread by a half a point.  The next two I don't have a good excuse for, because Michigan and USC both got their Double Decker's with Special Sauce handed to them.  However, Penn State saved the day by covering the 17 point spread, and beating Northwestern by 21.  That sets my record at a putrid 1-4 as we move into the home stretch of the Big Ten season.  On with the picks!

MINNESOTA (+7) vs. Illinois


Minnesota, minus Eric Decker, somehow beat the Michigan State Spartans last week on a late touchdown, and this week they are matched up against the Fighting Illini, fresh off their beat down of Michigan.  I'm not sure which Minnesota offense will show up in this one, as they had been struggling bad without Decker, only to lay 45 on Sparty last week.  I feel like last week was a mirage, as they just don't have the play makers to consistently score points.  Illinois, on the other hand, has a ton of play makers, led by Juice Williams.  If Juice can somehow picture Minnesota with winged helmets, then he will likely throw for 200 and run for 100 more. I like Illinois to cover in this one, with a possible outright win not out of the question.

IOWA (+16.5) vs. Northwestern


One of these weeks, Ricky Stanzi is going to cost the Hawkeyes a game.  You just cannot keep throwing 5 interceptions a game and expect to win.  The amazing thing is that he did exactly that last week against Indiana.  Can you imagine how bad Michigan would lose right now if Tate tossed 5 interceptions in a game?  I digress, as Iowa stays at home against a Northwestern squad that is pretty mediocre.  They hung with Penn State for a half last week, but then got blown out in the 4th quarter.  Iowa will be riding pretty high after their come from behind miracle last week, but I like Northwestern to cover the points, with Iowa still winning the game.

PENN STATE (+3.5) vs. Ohio State


The game of the week in the Big Ten, as the Buckeyes roll into Happy Valley to take on the JoePa's.  Last time the Bucks and Nitts hooked up, Terrelle Pryor fumbled a quarterback sneak and was later seen crying on the bench.  This time, Pryor heads into Happy Valley, where 105,000 fans will lay into him for spurning the home-state school for the hated Buckeyes.  This game hinges on which Terrelle Pryor shows up.  If Pryor makes plays with his legs and does not throw the ball into double and triple coverages, the Buckeyes have a shot.  Even if he does that, they still have a shot because their defense will likely keep them in the game.  That said, I think Darryl Clark and the PSU offense are coming into their own right now.  If the PSU O-Line can give Clark time, he can find holes in that that Ohio State defense.  I like Penn State to cover in this one, on the strength of some key Pryor turnovers.

ALABAMA (+7.5) vs. LSU


The Mad-hatter takes the Bayou Bengals into Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide, in what is Alabama's last true test before they match up with Florida.  LSU has been getting by on smoke and mirrors offensively this season, which is not something you want to say when you have Alabama's defense standing across from you.  However, Alabama has also been struggling offensively through the air, as QB Greg McElroy has been inefficient and turnover prone.  I look for Les Miles to pull out all the stops in this one - Fake FG's and Punts, trick plays, and some Wildcat stuff with freshman QB Russell Shepherd.  Will it be enough to win?  I don't think so, but - I think it will be enough to cover the 7.5 as Alabama's offense will also struggle to score points.  I'll take LSU.


MICHIGAN (+6) vs. Purdue


I have all kinds of bad feelings about this game.  First, Purdue has been the most Jekkyl and Hyde team in the Big Ten, with a win over Ohio State and near wins over Notre Dame and Oregon, but also a 38-0 loss to Wisconsin last week.  Which Purdue team will show up?  For that matter, which Michigan team will show up?  Brandon Minor supposedly had his best week of practice this week, which bodes well for the Michigan offense as they try to get back on track.  RS-Freshman Patrick Omameh will likely see time at guard this week as Mark Huyge moves back out to his more natural RT position in place of an injured Perry Dorrenstein.  How will Omameh handle his first extended time in a game?  Also, will the defense continue to give up big plays?  Purdue will run the football effectively if Michigan is forced to play two-deep safeties.  One thing I will look for is can the Michigan defense generate some turnovers?  It has been three games since the defense has had one, so I think this is the week for at least two takeaways.  Also, Michigan has never lost with me in attendance, so that streak will have to continue.  I like MICHIGAN to cover the six, and beat the Boilermakers making them bowl eligible.

Other news around the sports world:

• So baseball season is finally over, as the Yankees finally live up to their billing again.  If I have said it once, I'll say it a million times; it will be a sad day for Yankee fans (and fans of baseball in general) when Mariano Rivera decides to hang up his pinstripes.  It is amazing how he has dominated the game with one pitch (the legendary cut fastball).  Major league hitters know what is coming, yet they still cannot hit it.  It was also really awkward listening to Hideki Matsui give his MVP acceptance speech in Japanese.  You would think after 8 or 9 years in America he would be able to give a couple sentences in English.  
• Things get even more comical in Berea, as GM Randy Kokinas is supposedly escorted out of Browns Headquarters.  I give Eric Mangini one more week of bad football before he is fired.  This begs the question: who do Browns fans want as their next coach?  Bill Cowher would be an obvious choice, but would he really take over this pathetic franchise?  
• #15 Michigan basketball (wow, that feels good to say in the pre-season) starts their season tonight with an exhibition game against Wayne State.  It should be an exciting year for the Wolverines, as the Big Ten is loaded.  I will go into more detail about this team as football season draws to a close, but I expect this season to be a roller coaster.  With trips to Kansas, Utah, at home against UConn, and a run in the Old Spice Classic, the Wolverines will have a challenging non-conference slate to go along with the grueling Big Ten.  At one point, Michigan will most likely be ranked outside the Top 25, but I expect nothing less than another Big Dance trip (I'm thinking Sweet Sixteen and more this year). 

That is all for today.  Hopefully the picks go a little better this week, and Michigan finally gets that elusive 6th win.

NRTTS

Coach Deuce

It's coming

I don't know how much its hitting the airwaves around the country, but behind enemy lines there's a developing story concerning THE GAME. Reports have been made official that the Buckeyes will come out of our tunnel looking like the Atlanta Falcons (There is no truth however to the rumor that Pryor will wear #7). In a "tribute" to their 1954 team and the pockets of Nike, the Buckeyes will wear an alternate uniform as part of Nike's "Rivalry Series". While I'm not the biggest fan of Adidas and Michigan, I'll say that I'm thrilled we didn't get lumped into this crapfest with the Buckeyes

This photo taken by Brandon Smith

former Buckeye with more access

than The Gate.

On that cold November Saturday I'm supposed to be standing there, watching the boys in Blue warming up with a smile on my face. Then out of the corner of my eye should be a sparkle and my blood should start to boil. On a bit of a sidenote; the sparkle has gotten brighter as apparently OSU has adopted a 3 year old with glitter to paint their helmets this year. But with these new uni's it'll look like some damn equipment manager for PSU for got they striped the helmets blue, and not red.

While the bottom line on that cold afternoon is a Michigan W I do wish the administration from the enemies side would've looked back a couple of years at the precedent these schools set together: WE WILL NOT COMMERCIALIZE THIS RIVALRY. Next year maybe the Bucks will bring on an all black jersey.

I know one person who dreams of the day Michigan comes out of the tunnel with a yellow jersey. I for one dread it.

Lord in Heaven...

You'd think this post would be about the all the sudden not so mighty Wolverines. But its not, I've fallen into that numbness that Michigan Football drove me to last year. Why put my heart and emotional stability into something that even the players don't give a shit about? Unless something drastic happens in the next coming 2 weeks I'll see you during THE WEEK.

Instead I'm lying here on the couch, getting ready to take a nap with Outside the Lines playing on the TV. There are days when this show is boring as all hell, thus the nap, and there are days when there's some good stories on there. Today was one that just pissed me off.

Picture this:

Oak Harbor Little League, AKA "The Show" not that Graytown AA stuff.

Len "Time Blue" Gerber sends his 1-20 team out into the field to start another inning against yet another lineup his boys are ill equipped to defend. On the first pitch "Unnamed Pitcher" takes a come backer off his head and goes down as the ball trickles over to the third baseman. Unnamed Pitcher is out cold and is life flighted away from game, he doesn't come out of surgery and is pronounced dead. Oak Harbor comes together as a town and makes for a heartwarming story about a town brought together for a cause to get rid of aluminum bats in Little League.

It happened in 2002 in Montana where an 18 year old was drilled with a pitch off an aluminum bat. I gotta agree that baseball should be played with a wooden bat so that's not what motivates me to write this change of pace article. Somehow in the last 7 years somebody found enough evidence to show that the manufacturer of the bat was at fault here. A jury agreed and awarded the family $850,000...

And of course Bob Ley agrees with this whole mess. But could someone with a logical mind please explain to me why in the hell a bat that's made to Little League Specs, allowed in a game, and used in its intended matter is the reason a guy is gone?? Isn't their still the waiver that sports can involve injuries and possibly death anymore??


DISCLAIMER:

I in no way expound my knowledge of Wood vs Aluminum bats because of my vast playing days of the Nation's former Past-Time. I in fact was one of those guys that just "Came out here to Fuck Around" as Len put it after banging choppers off the blacktop at us. So I cared about the difference in bats about as much Deuce cares about the state of the U.S Soccer Midfield but I feel like this is total crap the Louisville Slugger is $850,000 lighter on their Balance Sheet.

I know the OHLL story was a bit weak, but anyone who was there for that year would know exactly the power of "Time Blue"

DEATH

I never do this.

I am always one to take the time to let something digest so that my perspective isn't jaded.

Not this time.  I have too much frustration that needs to come out, and there are two therapy's for it.  1) Heavy drinking 2) A dose of the truth.  So let's get right down to what happened in this embarrassment.

Safety Play
I hate to sound like a broken record, but the safety play is what holding this defense back.  With two competent safeties, Michigan would have a ...dare I say this...good defense!  Mike Williams has consistently been about as bad as you can be, and his play tonight was worse than anything Stevie Brown ever put up while he was playing back there.  Hey Mike, YOU'VE GOT THE QUARTERBACK!  A coach can only put his players in the best situation to succeed, and Greg Robinson consistently put Mike Williams in a position to make a tackle on Juice Williams, only for Williams to play undisciplined football and totally screw the rest of his defensive peers.  The Jordan Kovacs Experiment just shows you how bad defensive recruiting has been the past three years.  Cissoko? Gone. Artis Chambers? Gone. Quick, name another safety that Michigan signed in the 2007 or 2008 recruiting classes.  You can't!  This is what put us in this hole that we are in right now.  So the question is do you play the freshman?  Michigan has Vlad Emilien playing special teams, so if he doesn't at least get a look next week I will have my first real beef with Rich Rodriguez.  Thomas Gordon should not have the redshirt taken off at this point for three games, because chances are he will not be any better than Kovacs or Williams at this point.  You cannot mortgage the future of the program for three games.  JT Turner failing to initially qualify this summer is damning this team in so many ways.  With Turner having a full fall camp, he would at least be ready to contribute allowing Troy Woolfolk to keep playing safety, and Jordan Kovacs to play the "in the box" safety, where he at least can make a difference and PLAY DISCIPLINED (unlike Williams).

OFFENSIVE PROBLEMS
I am done giving anyone a pass on the offense.  It is time for people to be held accountable, and that includes the quarterback.  This team makes too many mistakes offensively to be good consistently.  Tate looks like a little schoolgirl whenever there is a rush in his face.  He needs to learn that he cannot run around the pass rush, rather he has to step up in the pocket.  Teams have scouted him and know that he is going to try and escape through the outside.  Would we even be having this problem if Roy Roundtree didn't look like me in the open field?  I can't totally fault Roundtree, he made a great play for an offense that didn't have anyone else doing anything.  What really pissed me off was the goal line stand.  WHERE IS THE FIRE?! Carlos Brown looked like he had two broken legs in that series of plays.  It really hurts this offense that Brandon Minor is not healthy.  On Minor, he must have really been dinged up because he was only in there on pass protection situations.  So without Minor, Molk, and Martavious Odoms, it could be said that Michigan was without their three best offensive players.  Those three bring an attitude to this offense that isn't there when they are not playing.  Still, being stopped 4 times in a row is on the PLAYERS.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
This is what I want - no, NEED - to see from Rich Rodriguez.  Total accountability.  I want to see a pissed off coach that will not accept the effort he got from his team.  Every job needs to be up for competition in practice next week.  The only people that should be safe are Brandon Graham, Donovan Warren, Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, and Stevie Brown.  Outside of them, I see nobody that has a fire for playing the game of football.  I want to see Mike Williams, Tate Forcier, the entire OL, and the coaching staff held accountable for what they are doing on Saturday.  The reality is that Michigan has a very winnable game at home against Purdue next week.  I want to see a f'ing attitude from these players that hasn't been seen since Western Michigan.  It starts with the head coach.  Heads need to roll in practice next week, or else Rich Rodriguez will lose any semblance of respect that he had with the players and with the fans that still support him.  For the people that want his head: Rich Rod didn't get caught from behind, Rich Rod didn't get stuffed 4 times in a row, Rich Rod wasn't too slow to take a proper angle on a running back, and Rich Rod wasn't out there to fire up the troops when they needed to be.  That is on THE PLAYERS!  Somebody step up and get in somebody's face!  This is Michigan.  Any pansies that are left on this team should have gone away with Lloyd Carr.

This coming week is the most important week in the Rich Rodriguez era.  The ball is in his court to respond with passion.  Your move, coach.

And for god sakes NRTMFTS
Coach Deuce

Prognosticating 10-31

This weekend brings all the ghouls, goblins, and most importantly, slutty police officers out in full force as college campuses across the nation celebrate Halloween, aka Excuse To Dress Like A Hooker Day.  I have never really been a big Halloween guy, mostly because I am too lazy to get a good costume, but also because Halloween usually falls on a Michigan football Saturday.  The most memorable Halloween moment happened in my first year at Kent State.  Down by 17 with 7 minutes to go against Michigan State, Braylon Edwards decided to single handedly win the game in what is now simply called "The Braylon Game."  I was almost ready to turn the TV off and start the festivities until reserve FB/TE Brian Thompson recovered an onside kick that reinvigorated my hopes.  The rest is history on that one.

So what will this Halloween bring to the world of college football this year?  I'm trying something a little different here this week, as I will be picking 5 games against the spread and keeping a total to be updated through the rest of the year.  I always like to think that I could make a good sports better, now we will find out.  Onto the picks! (Home team will be CAPS)

IOWA (+17.5) vs. Indiana


I really hate that Iowa is starting to get national title talk.  The absolute worst scenario for the Big Ten would be for an undefeated Iowa team to sneak through the rest of their Big Ten schedule, into the National Title game against Florida, Texas, or Bama, and then receive the inevitable 35 point beatdown.  Iowa is not that good.  Do not get me wrong; Iowa is a good football team.  However, if they are put up against any of the three teams I mentioned above they would be overwhelmed like Dane Sanzenbacher in the NFL.  Iowa simply does enough to get by.  I have already heard comparisons of Iowa 09' to Ohio State 02'.  One huge difference: NFL talent.  That Buckeye team was loaded with NFL talent, while this Iowa team trots out a bunch of overachievers who do not make mistakes.  I like Iowa to win this game, but I will take a very improved Indiana team to cover the 17.5.

Penn State (+17) at NORTHWESTERN


This Penn State team will be trouble for the rest of the Big Ten as the year goes on.  They are starting to get healthy, with All-American LB Sean Lee rejoining Navarro Bowman and That Guy With The Awesome Mustache  to make a very formidable linebacking core for Linebacker U.  The offense got on track last week against Michigan, and Darryl Clark is showing signs of being the best QB in the Big Ten again.  I think Penn State runs the table the rest of the way out, and will be in Pasadena for the second straight year.  I like them to cover here against Northwestern, riding the momentum they gained last week with that spanking they gave Michigan in the Big House.

USC (+3) at OREGON


This one is going to be insane.  Last time USC played in Autzen Stadium, the Duck crowd set a national record for decibel level in a stadium.  I fully expect that crowd to match the intensity, as this game is essentially the Pac-10 title game.  The game will depend on how QB Matt Barkley responds to this crowd.  A huge advantage for him will have been to gone into Ohio Stadium and won earlier in the year.  Make no mistake though, Autzen is not Ohio Stadium; it's better.  Oregon has the best home field advantage in the entire nation, and the Ducks will be fired up and sporting some crazy new uniform design.  That being said, I do not think Oregon has the "Ducks" to compete with USC right now.  I like USC to win the game outright on the strength of a big day by WR Ronald Johnson.

OHIO STATE (+44) vs. New Mexico State


The Buckeyes get their cream puff for the year, as the mighty New Mexico State Aggies roll into Columbus.  This game (like the Delaware State game for Michigan) is the unfortunate result of the Big Ten refusing to go to a round robin schedule, while still having to add the 12th game.  I expect no trouble for the Buckeyes in this one, as they will simply try to stay injury free.  That 44 point spread is a tough one to call for a Jim Tressel coached team.  I am going to take NEW MEXICO STATE to cover the 44 point spread with a late touchdown against the scrubs.

Michigan (+7) at ILLINOIS


This game will swing Michigan's season one way or the other.  With a loss, the distinct possibility of 5-7 comes into play with remaining games against Purdue, at Wisconsin, and home against Ohio State.  Illinois put one on Michigan last year, with Juice Williams having a typical spread QB against a Michigan defense day.  However, Juice has struggled this year, and will split some time with pocket passing QB whose name escapes me now, but is much less scary than Juice Williams.  The Illini play-action passing game is what scares me in this one, as our safeties have been less than stellar against this all year.  If Michigan can avoid giving up the big play in the passing game, than I think they can stifle this Illinois offense.  Offensively, Michigan must establish a consistent running game and AVOID NEGATIVE PLAYS.  These plays have killed Michigan in the last couple games, with holding calls, illegal formations, and 3 yard losses effectively killing drives.  Also, the receivers need to get rid of their inner Brian Ceraldi's and catch the damn ball.  That being said, I think Michigan comes out and takes care of business against a reeling Illini squad, covering the spread and winning  by a couple touchdowns.

That does it for this post, hope everyone has a good Halloween weekend.  After Saturday, only 21 days until The Game.  Start getting pumped, and...

NRTTS
Coach Deuce

The Freshman 15

It happened.  The one thing all Michigan fans were hoping would somehow pass them by.  After all, it doesn't happen to every freshman.  Maybe Tate Forcier could be the one "hot girl" who doesn't go to college and gain that trusty 15 pounds of Natty Light and Taco Bell in the first year.  Maybe he could be the picture of success, guiding Michigan to an unlikely BCS bowl berth on the shoulders of his heady play and late game heroics.

Or maybe he could end up being like 99% of freshman that enroll and play early in the FBS, struggling come midseason as teams study film and exploit tendencies.  This scenario seems the more likely of the two as Michigan comes through the middle of the season into the homestretch.  Teams have figured out that a Tate Forcier that is comfortable and making plays outside of the pocket is a quarterback that is a legitimate All Big Ten candidate.  To counter that, teams are forcing Tate back inside the pocket (something PSU did tremendously by spying with future NFL linebacker Navarro Bowman) to make the 5'10" Forcier see over his 6'5" offensive lineman to make plays.  The result has been spotty at best for Michigan.  Sometimes, Forcier is still able to elude the pocket and have success.  However, oftentimes he gives up on the pocket too easily and averts his eyes from his receivers down the field to the oncoming pass rush.  This throws off the any  semblance of timing he could have with his receivers, and has thus made the passing game very limited.  (Ed note: it does not help when Kevin Koger, Martell Webb, and Kelvin Grady routinely drop catchable passes)  One thing is clear: Forcier has gained that Freshman 15.  Maybe it was all the early season hoopla surrounding his memorable game against Notre Dame; maybe it was the late game heroics against Indiana and MSU (even in a losing effort).  Whatever it is, Forcier has to realize this and reassess where he is at.  He needs to look at the pot-belly that got a little to big and start going back to basics.  He needs to hit the Rec Center for some pick-up basketball, or maybe go out for a nice jog or else he will be in danger of being passed over for the next crop of good looking freshman that come to Michigan.

I have confidence that Tate has been humbled and will do anything he can to become the player he was early in the season.  Even through the hysteria of the 4-0 start, Michigan fans had to have a sneaking suspicion that things would come back down to Earth.  When the season started, I said Michigan would be go as Brandon Minor goes.  Well, Minor has not been completely healthy for one single game, and if you throw in the season ending injury to David Molk than it seems two of our three (Forcier not included..although he could be re: the shoulder injury) best offensive players are not playing.  I do not profess to know how the rest of the season will turn out.  Can we beat the remaining teams on our schedule? Absolutely.  Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Ohio State have all looked very beatable at one point or another in the season.  Do I expect us to beat them all? No.  I think we lie somewhere in the middle.  If we go 0-4, the disappointment will be immense.  Let us not speak of that fate again.

Other notes from around the sports world:

• Boubacar Cissoko has been booted from the Michigan football team after a violation of team rules.  Supposedly this means that Cissoko had academic trouble, i.e. he was missing classes, as well as having team troubles, i.e. he was missing workouts.  I was hopeful that this was going to work itself out, as Cissoko actually saw time against Penn State.  Whatever the case, look for Cissoko to end up at Eastern Michigan with Johnny Sears and the rest of the Ron English All Stars. 
• It is amazing how a 38-0 win over Minnesota can calm the waters in Columbus.  Suddenly, Terrelle Pryor can play quarterback again and should not be moved to wide receiver.  That is, until his next Vince-Young-in-the-NFL-type-performance (hopefully against Michigan).  Like I have been saying all year, they can really play some defense.  It is amazing what a couple of safeties can do for your team.  Kurt Coleman has been making plays all year in the back end for the Buckeyes, and I long for the days when Michigan will actually have a playmaking safety.
• Is it time to start talking baseball now?  The World Series is upon us now and the Indian fans will be forced to sit through Sabathia vs. Lee in Game One.  For most cities, this would be torture.  For Indian fans, it should be expected.  In an alternate universe, Rick Vaughn and Eddie Harris probably started opposite each other in a 1991 Yankees vs. Phillies series.  
• I find it comical that A-Rod is all of a sudden a true Yankee.  Who even remembers that he was outed for steroid use earlier in the season?  
• Whatever happened to the Michael Vick in the NFL storyline?  This one disappeared faster than "Who Raised The Briefcase?" in the ladder match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince/Shane McMahon.  Thus far, he has had as much impact on the Eagles season as Barry Horowitz had on the WCW World Championship picture.

That is all the time I have for today.  Sorry for the lapse in content last week, but as the others have said I was very busy.  Should be a proper preview post for the upcoming weekend in college football on Friday, and as always..

NRTTS
Coach Deuce

Which Way Do We Go?

First the guest posters on this site owe the Coach and our loyal fan base an apology. Last week said Coach called upon us to help him out as he would be unable to put out any updates last week. We failed...we got lazy, we rested on our laurels, we thought, "Eh, what's one week...."And for that I say "We're sorry, Stefan The D. and I failed you."Now onto the real meat of this post...

I've spent the last three days, hell the last month on a voyage trying to figure out where our team is heading. We left September and we were looking for flights to Pasadena. Now as October comes to a close November looms. November is what college football is all about. November defines where you've been and where you're going in the future. November is the time to decide Which way do we go?

With trips to Illinois and the always strange Wisconsin there's a bit of trepidation for the this fan to turn the calendar to November with only 5 wins. While I firmly believe we should get a win this Saturday over the Illini I also realize our defense has more problems than a Steven Threet led offense. Anything can happen in the next 4 games at this point I wouldn't be surprised an another bowl-less year. Pissed, but not surprised.

I would be surprised if the offense can carry us through a late 4 game stretch the way it did to start the season. The injuries have just become to much, the weight of 10 defensive starters is just to much for the small framed Forcier. This defense has killed us and if Rich Rod's track record shows us anything its that D isn't nearly as important to him as putting up a gazillion points.

These last few days have also lead me to wonder if the "Wait til Rich get's ahold of all that talent Michigan can pull in" talk was misplaced. Can he get that "talent" that right now I'm not even sure exists? The reason we were loaded with talent previously could be attributed to the system we were using. Anyone, at any position, can be a star or NFL prospect in the pro-style system, but in this new scheme there are only QBs and RBs. And they're not really NFL prospects. So why would top talent come play for a terrible Defensive school and an Offense that only showcases 2 or 3 players?

Prognosticating 10-17

Brian Kelly is a damn good football coach.  What many of you may not know is that in his previous career, he was a world class play-by-play man in the wrestling industry known as Jim Ross (he also makes a helluva BBQ sauce).  In his short tenure at Cincinnati, he has turned the Bearcat program from an also-ran in the Big East, to a contender on the verge of being relevant in the national title picture.  Now, a lot of the success that Cincy is having is due to playing in the Big East.  When a road game at South Florida is your biggest hurdle for success, you know your conference is thin.  However, Cincinnati has done all it can up to this point - played the teams put in front of them and beaten them soundly - so if they finish undefeated, without two SEC or Big XII teams also finishing unbeaten, they SHOULD be given the chance to play in the Mythical National Title Game.

So what separates Brian Kelly's squad from Rich Rodriguez's squad?  After all, Brian Kelly was the choice for many fans to follow Lloyd Carr.  He had mucho' success at Grand Valley State, winning a couple national titles, and had equal success at Central Michigan.  Now, he has brought legitimacy to a school that hasn't turned out a decent athlete since Kenyon Martin.  The biggest and most obvious difference between these two schools is experience, especially at the quarterback position.  Redshirt Senior QB Tony Pike has led the Bearcat offense to explosive numbers in the first half of the season, finding Senior WR Marty Gilyard for much of his success.  When Pike went down with an injury last night against South Florida, Redshirt Sophomore Zach Collares stepped in and led the offense the rest of the way.  The spread offense schemes that Rod and Kelly run are similar, with Rod's leaning a little more to the running spread, so the main difference is that the Bearcats have someone who can legally drink a beer running their offense.  I know it is hard for fans to wait for the future, but GOD DAMN WAIT FOR THE FUTURE!  You see what this Michigan offense can be (times 1,000 with the athletes Rodriguez will bring in), so just sit back, strap in, and know that good times are coming.  In the meantime, root for the Bearcats, because another legitimate Ohio team is something Ohio State hasn't had to deal with since.....well, ever!

Now onto this weekend's games...

USC at Notre Dame


This is a really interesting game.  On one hand, Jimmy Claussen is getting hype as a Heisman Trophy candidate after beating no one in particular.  On the other hand, USC continues to break in a freshman quarterback.  If WR Michael Floyd were healthy, I would like the Irish to win this one in a shootout.  Without Floyd, Pete Carroll and his defensive staff can really key in on TE Kyle Rudolph and WR Golden Tate (Taint - trademark Mrs. Stefan The D).  Anytime the Trojans get extra time to prepare, they come out with an incredible game plan.  Michigan fans know this all too well after the many prison rapes we have received from Carroll and the Boys in the Rose Bowl.  My gut feeling is that this one is going to be a two touchdown game.  I think USC gets pressure on Jimmy Claussen, forcing him into a few mistakes and capitalizing on turnovers.  QB Matt Barkley will have WR Ronald Johnson back (another name that makes Michigan fans want to slit their wrists over not getting), so their offense should be able to score on the porous Irish D.  I see this one as about a ...

USC 38 ND 24


Ohio State at Purdue


Can someone please check the Ohio State offense for a pulse?  This is getting pretty ridiculous; they haven't had a good offensive output against a non-MAC team since Michigan last year.  Okay, that still means they haven't had a good offensive output in a while since Michigan was a lower division MAC team last year.  Can Jim Tressel make up his mind and decide what offense he is going to run?  He keeps showing some spread offense principles, trying desperately to get Terrelle Pryor to realize his potential.  The problem is that he has limited playmakers around him.  WR's Carter and Posey will be good someday, it's just not today.  They are young, and the Buckeye tailbacks are about as explosive as a Natalie Portman fart.  That leaves all the pressure on TP, and if teams can contain him in the pocket then the Buckeye offense really struggles.  They need to get that fixed, because the defense plays lights out, but not every team will give them two pick sixes and a punt return for a touchdown.

Ohio State 24 Purdue 7


Delaware State at Michigan


This is exactly what the Wolverines needed at this point in the season.  With the schedule moving to twelve games, Michigan does not have a bye week *theoretically* this year.  An ideal situation would involve Michigan jumping out to a huge early lead, mixing in Denard and Tate, and then letting Denard have the rest of the reps for experience.  If the Wolverines are going to be successful the rest of the way, Denard must become more comfortable in the offense.  Mark my words, Tate Forcier is not 100% healthy, and he will continue to get banged up as the season goes along as teams try to force him into bad decisions.  If (maybe when) he goes down, Denard has to step in and be the weapon that the coaching staff knows he can be.  Another thing I will be looking for in this game is the performance of the running backs not named Minor.  While Delaware State is definitely not an elite opponent (in Division 1-AA even), I would like to see Michael Shaw, Vincent Smith, and Mike Cox get some opportunities to show that they can play against some competition.  Shaw has proven that he has the ability to become the next go-to-back in this spread offense, so I am anxious to see how he responds to more opportunities to carry the ball.  Naturally, this one will be a blowout, so much more analysis at this point would just be redundant.  I will stray from the norm and actually make a score prediction this week.

Michigan 51 Delaware State 10


That does it for this edition of Prognosticating, feel free to weigh in with your opinions and as always...
NRTTS
Coach Deuce

QB Controversy

"Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'.  That's God damn right." - Red - Shawshank Redemption


Down by 9 with roughly seven minutes and change to go in the fourth quarter against Iowa, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez must have had Red's famous line from Shawshank running through his head.  To that point, he had seen his freshman quarterback Tate Forcier struggle against an Iowa defense that had knocked him around, confused him, intercepted him, and generally beaten him for 3 1/2 quarters of football.

It was time to get busy living, or get busy dying.  So he made the call.

*IN MY BEST RE-ENACTMENT OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE SCENE*

Rod (as Manager Lou Brown): Gimme Robinson!
Offensive Coordinator Calvin McGee (as Catcher Jake Taylor): You want Robinson?
Rod: I know he hasn't done very well in these situations, but I got a hunch he's do.

Of course, Forcier would be playing the part of crafty right hander Eddie Harris, who had engineered a gem up to that point.  He had simply run out of gas.  And I feel the same way about this situation.  Forcier had engineered a first five games that had any Michigan fan dreaming of the Heisman Trophy's he would put up when he was older.  WHEN HE WAS OLDER.  At this point, he was far from the finished product that we envision.  Even in a loss against Michigan State, he was putting the ball on the numbers, but was a victim of many drops.  Against Iowa, he resorted to the scramble far too early, leaving his receivers to try and read him, rather than run the routes (many of which were open!).  You could see Rodriguez visibly upset at Tate multiple times when Forcier would get the snap and look for the first available scramble.  He was not going through his reads; he was simply playing in his own offense.  We had to expect this kind of game would be coming.  It had been too good for five games for there not to be some kind of road bump.  So when Iowa stayed in their two-deep safety look the entire game - daring Forcier to beat them through the air - I knew it was likely to be a long night.

Which is why I contend it was a smart move to go to Robinson.  Rodriguez had "danced with the girl he brought" for as long as he could, and it was time to consider other alternatives.  Michigan was having tons of success running Brandon Minor and Michael Shaw - even Forcier had some success on some zone-read plays, although many times he kept the ball when he shouldn't have.  For as much success they were having on the ground, it was equally bad through the air.  I give much of the credit to the Iowa defense.  They are a smart, hard-nosed, disciplined bunch of guys that will make you "snap it again".  They will not give up big plays through the air, and they counted on being able to make the tackle on Tate when he kept the ball.

So "Shoelace" Robinson was the clear move.  In his first series, he marched the Wolverines down with efficiency, both on the ground and through the air.  Suddenly, Iowa was back on their heels with another weapon to worry about.  When they played their 6-in-the-box Nickel look, they got shredded.  The only problem for Michigan was that the time was running out.  After the first score, which took almost 4 1/2 minutes, the Wolverines tried an onside kick, a questionable decision.  Unsuccessful, the defense did what it had been doing all year - it gave the offense the ball with a chance at the end of the game.  So it was with a minute and a half that Coach Rodriguez made the decision that many Michigan fans have been jumping all over.

I'll admit, at the time I was one of those fans.  Tate was the one that had led us to so many comebacks through this season, he should be the one out there!  Predictably, Robinson made a freshman mistake and threw an interception.  The rest is history.  So should Tate have been brought back?  Like I said, initially I was in the "YES HOLY HELL!@#!#@! YESS!!@ WHY COACH ROD!@????" camp.  Now, I'm firmly in the other camp: Robinson was the choice.  Here are the reasons:

• It was clear that Coach Rodriguez was upset with Tate for many of his decisions throughout the game.  The troubling thing was that when they showed some of the interactions on the sidelines, it appeared that Tate was trying to make excuses for his decisions.  Not a good thing.  Being coachable is the number one priority for a freshman quarterback.  Tate was clearly making some bad decisions, he needed to know that there were consequences for them.  He is not a senior 4 year starter - he is a freshman and he has a lot to learn.  I actually compare this situation to one many Michigan basketball fans saw last year.  It was a road game against Iowa, and star player Manny Harris was having a turd of a game.  Michigan was firmly entrenched on the bubble at this point - the season was still in doubt.  So when the Wolverines forced overtime, many of us thought that Manny would turn it around and lead us back to a win.  When overtime started, Harris was on the bench.  There he stayed for the entire five minute period.  Afterwards, John Beilein said it was a coaches decision not to play Manny.  This had many fans up in arms; how can the best player sit when it is such an important game?!  Come to find out that Manny had been pouting on the bench the whole game, and did not take to coaching too well. So Beilein made a decision FOR THE PROGRAM.  No one player is above the program.  The result?  Michigan finished strong down the stretch with a rejuvinated and humbled Manny Harris leading the way.  Similarities to this?  You betcha - Michigan Football and Tate Forcier both took a step forward with this situation.
• Was there any belief that on this day Tate was going to lead Michigan back?  Can any of you honestly say that Tate looked good during the game?  Against Michigan State, he had at least given us and idea that he had a pulse.  No such pulse was present during this game, which is why Rodriguez made the decision.  
• The X's and O's called for this decision.  Robinson is much (MUCH) better runner between the two.  With Iowa only playing the 6-7 in the box, Rich Rod had to exploit the weakness and hope for Denard to break off a big play.  To anyone that has seen him play in practice and in games, they will tell you that Denard can break a big play from anywhere with his legs.  He showed that he could lead the offense to a score after the first drive, so it was only fair that he get the chance to lead them to a win.  Remember, all they needed was a field goal.
• What if Tate would have gone back in and failed?  How many would then be calling for Rodriguez's head because he took Denard out?  Experts would be crying about how Rodriguez is too loyal to Forcier, and how he isn't giving Denard a chance.  

This is all relative to one thing: wins and losses.  If Denard had led Michigan to a game-winning drive, then he and Rodriguez would be the hero.  That is not how it happened, though, so this program has to live and grow with it.  The only criticism I have with the coaching staff was not going to Robinson sooner - but even this is a criticism that comes in hindsight.  The old saying is that hindsight is 20/20, and that cannot be any truer than it is in this situation.  

So relax, Michigan fans.  We are still growing at the quarterback position.  Neither of these guys is going to have a perfect season.  Hell, come next year neither of these guys may even be starting.  But before you go and rip on Rich Rodriguez for his decision making, take some time to think about how the game played out.  Like I said, I was one that was furious at Rich Rod for not playing Tate.  After some perspective, I am firmly in the other camp.  Some may still disagree, but I am in the camp of "In Rod We Trust". 

NRTTS

Coach Deuce