Been a Long Time Since People Have Talked Michigan BASKETBALL

Back in the day I used to follow them religiously. I actually liked college hoops. No I'm not talking just the Fab 5 either. I'm old enough to have been blessed with the days where the great National Championship team was here and Glenn Rice set the tournament record for points in what was it '89? Man they were big back then and then the Fab 5 came and they got as big as any college hoops team has ever been.

Then we lost it all because they say we cheated. The program was handcuffed for years and every lawyer from fayetteville nc business lawyer to the NCAA were the ones that got paid then.

Now? Many years after the crimes have been paid for we have a team that is 16-0, #2 in the nation, and 1 game away from the best start in U of M history. People are starting to care a little bit I think.

Still...there are a lot of people saying they haven't proven anything since they haven't beaten a top 20 team on the road yet. Next they play Ohio State on the road and this is called their first true test. #1 Duke just got beat by NC State so a win here puts them at #1 most likely.

Michigan Stinks, Michigan State Will Get Shaft As B10 Champs

Oh how things change in 5 years. Michigan under Lloyd Carr was still elite. They may not have ever been able to beat Ohio State, but they were perennial contenders for the B10 title, and everyone said he was too conservative. In comes Rich Rodriguez with his "new offense" and Michigan is a disaster for his entire time here. Sure they have a high scoring offense this year, but they have the WORST defense in the history of the school.

MSU was always the middle of the pack team that Michigan should guarantee a win from 3/4 time. Now I doubt Michigan will beat them again for 5 more years. MSU fans have found a fountain of anti aging products for their program.

MSU has had a great year. Only 1 loss on the road to Iowa. They even beat #5 ranked Wisconsin, but they will end up ranked lower than Wisconsin when all is said and done. Wisconsin beat Ohio State when they were #1, and they also have beaten Iowa, BUT they lost to MSU. Both OSU and Wisconsin are ranked above MSU right now.

It all comes down to the rankings and the rankings are wrong. When you lose to someone and have the same record it should not be possible to be ranked higher than they are. Wisconsin will be in the top 4 by the end of the say. Maybe higher. MSU may squeak into the top 8 or so, but that doesn't mean much for them and the B10 title.

Michigan Has a Little Trouble With UMass

Michigan is all over the national media because of Denard "Shoelace" Robinson now this year. With good reason as he combined for nearly 900 total yard from scrimmage through his first 2 games against UConn and Notre Dame. Today he got to face another of the cupcakes on U of M's early schedule in UMass. He still put up some stats, but Michigan's Achilles heel continues to be their porous defense.

Game was close at halftime, but the Wolverines took a 35-17 lead into the 4th quarter and looked well on their way to a 3-0 start to the season and fans dancing in the streets in sexy adult costumes. they even added 7 more to go up 42-17 early in the 4th. Then they were fighting for their lives by the end of it. UMass took 2 turnovers into the end zone (one after getting the ball on Michigan's 25) and orchestrated another 70+ yard drive to put 20 4th quarter points on the board.

Thankfully, they were able to hold off the 30 point charge and finish off with a win, but everyone that has watched them so far this year knows that their defense is brutal. Robinson could go for 600 yards against the likes of Ohio State and they still wouldn't be able to win the game at this point.

Jon Horford Commits to Michigan

I guess one of Horford's closest friends/relatives is a sellout. He told his mother and 3 other people that he decided to commit to Michigan and within an hour it was all over the place faster than a motorcycle accident lawyer when he sees a man flying through the air on the street.

Among those who found out from someone else was his brother, Al, currently a forward for the Atlanta Hawks.

Jon wanted to call Al later in the day to tell him.

“It’s crazy,” Jon Horford said by phone Friday afternoon. “Twenty minutes after I did it, I told my coach, a teacher at my school and, of course, Coach (John) Beilein, those are the only three people I told. And Al texted me 20 minutes after I did and was like, ‘Is this true?'

“I don’t know how he found out. Maybe my AAU coach called him, but I’m not sure.”

So...Who Is Ready to Fire Rich Rodriguez?

We all knew that after Lloyd Carr left, and at the same time losing a ton of talent to the NFL and graduation that the program was going to take a step back. On top of that we hired Rich Rod, who is a completely different kind of coach than anyone in Ann Arbor is used to. Using a completely different kind of offense that calls for a different kind of player. Almost anyone on the squad that was recruited by Carr at QB was pretty much going to be useless in this system.

See: Ryan Mallett who transferred to Arkansas this past year, and is putting on a massive show for everyone in a real offense. He only has a QB rating of 165.05 going into today with 2885 yards passing and 23 TDs to just for INTs.In fact Tate Forcier had 4 INTs in his game against Ohio State today.

After last season Rich Rod got a bye. Nobody expect much, and weren't disappointed when Michigan had their worst season ever. Now this season they started out 4-0. They should have been 6-0, and probably should have beaten Iowa as well. OF course they did not and have just lost to Ohio State in a game that Forcier threw 4 INTs. That makes them a laughable 1-7 in the Big 10 this year, and finishing with a 5-7 record. They finished the year losing 5 games in a row and 7 of the last 8. This is Detroit Lions territory. Where you would rather pop in a bluray movie than watch these losers.

The offense is a disaster, but not as bad as the defense. Of course they have kept them in most of these games they have lost with big stops at the end only to have Tate Forcier try too much and throw another pick. Then we have the other QB they call SHOELACE that runs about 2 plays when he comes in. Direct snap, run. Direct snap, run somewhere else. If he passes his INT ratio is about on par with Tate.

This is certainly a season to forget, but Rich Rod is unlikely to be fired, so we could be in for another disaster next year. You can say he needs more time, but when you have the kind of talent that Michigan is capable of putting on the field, and you KNOW they have talent even after Hart and Henne left, you have to make a bowl game by your second year. Rich Rod has lost some of these games by his own work. IT isn't all on the players.

Highlight of the season:

Against the Michigan State Spartans the Wolverines were forced to punt from inside their own 20. Instead of actually punting, the punter decided that this was a good time to run a FAKE. They did not get it, and actually lost yards. Apparently, the punter has the option to fake it if he thinks it is there. While you can try and blame the punter here, it is clearly Rich Rod's coaching that caused this bonehead play. Giving the punter the option to do this is bad enough, but not telling him where on the field he is allowed to do this is unforgivable. That is flat out a coaching error.

Rosenberg Confronted (Played by Hitler)

You knew it had to happen. Someone just had to get another one of these Hitler sports videos out there. This time it is a University of Michigan Wolverines fan. Instead of Hitler just being a fan of the team this team, he does something new. He plays the role of Michael Rosenberg from the Detroit Free Press.

Since this is a HOMER blog about Michigan sports teams I assume you know who Michael Rosenberg is, and why Michigan Wolverines fans have reason to hate him so much, but I will give you a little background anyways if you are just wandering in.

A few weeks back, before the start of the 2009 season, Michael Rosenberg published this article (Can't seem to find the pretty one, just this archive), accusing U of M head football coach, Rich Rodriguez of violating the rules NCAA regarding "mandatory football hours" for his players. Stuff like lifting weights too long, too many film sessions, and probably sitting in the spa and clogging up the spa filters they were there so long. This was all mandatory of course according to Mr. Rosenberg.

Since the release of the article, ESPN, and all the other media outlets started to talk about it like they do, and even started to (gasp!) actually do some fact checking. In the end it was accepted that the original article by Rosenberg was short on facts, and just long on venom for the coach he hated. He is now the butt of many jokes, and deservedly so.

So...without further ado...Rosenberg Confronted (Played by Hitler)

Thank You For Football

After the most disappointing season in recent memory for the Detroit Tigers we at least have football to look forward to. Yeah...I consider the Tigers season over. You can turn out the sconce lights on these guys. Devastating losses by a terrible pitching staff has torn all their hearts out I'm sure.

The Michigan Wolverines get started Saturday as the Rich Rodriguez era gets underway. The Lions play their final pre-season game tonight and hope to go 4-0.

You notice I don't mention any other state schools. I hate them all except WMU, where I went. WMU football is high school ball to me though so I don't follow the MAC and their bottom feeder rosters. You don't get career criminals like Randy Moss to play for MAC schools every year.

Anyways, bring on the football!

West Virginia University Athletics in Need of Inogen One

These guys need to take a step back, and take a deep breath with inogen one. These guys are berating Rich Rodriguez daily and going to cost themselves the ability to ever get a decent coach again. Rodriguez should probably just let it go too, but again he is out there saying that WVU reneged on verbal agreements and keeping the story fresh according to Mark Snyder on his blog at the Detroit Free Press. I guess reading anything about Michigan sports is better than trying to pretend we care about the Lions anymore.

Michigan Actually Wins a Bowl Game

The Michigan Seniors were 0-3 in Bowl games, and 0-4 against Ohio State in their careers. Lloyd Carr was coaching his last game in the Capital One Bowl against the Florida Gators. So...Michigan comes out with a fast paced offense and blitzing defense against Florida and hangs 41 on the defending champs. Instead of us falling a sleep in our platform beds during the game we actually got to see some excitement. Michigan played better than they had in maybe 2 years. It begs the question though: Where was this all year? Carr needed to retire. This game showed why. It was real apparent that they have the talent to win, and the speed in that game. Too bad it took until that game to see it really used. Welcome Rich Rodriguez.

Wolverines get Rich Rodriguez

May be the most sought after coach in the country. Labeled by many as the Grandfather of the Spread Offense. A total flip of the Michigan philosophy is what I see many people saying. Now the offense may be more dynamic than it ever has,b ut he isn't exactly a pass happy coach either. He has been a running coach many years, but one thing to note is that he has always catered to his talent. IF he has the talent to run the scheme one way that is how the scheme is going to be run. If his players don't cater to that scheme it is tweaked to run to the strength of those players. He's an innovator. Not a scheme guy by any means. He's a real coach. Time to pack up the cat furniture and get rolling into Ann Arbor. This should be an exciting hire. Long overdue.

Hot! Hot! Hot! Appalachian State is Hot! Hot! Hot!

The Big Ten Got Exposed

Looks like the Big Ten wasn't as good as I had thought. Ohio State was supposed to come in and just lay the wood to the Florida Gators in the National Championshop game, but instead got throttled instead. After watching USC pound Michigan and Florida destroy Ohio State, it is starting to look like the BCS is screwed up for an even different reason. At first I was miffed because the Wolverines got shafted by Florida to play OSU. Now I begin to wonder if the Big Ten is just pure crap. Their style of play doesn't seem to stay with teams out of the SEC, Pac 10, etc.

I guess there is always next year....

Michigan Wolverines Get Embarrassed

USC destroyed them in every way. As a Wolverine slappy I am embarrassed at the performance. I have so much disgust for Lloyd Carr right now I can't even put it into words. So much for putting up a good fight when you thought you were ousted for the National Championship game.

This trend is starting to get ugly for Carr. Lose to Ohio State. Lose your Bowl game. But, but ,but, Carr won a National Championship in 1997...10 years is plenty long enough to say goddbye. This team just doesn't get ready to play.

Rose Bowl Prediction

GO BLUE!

Michigan 40
USC 10

Ohio State will lose.

Michigan AP National Champs

Yup.

I actually rooted for Notre Dame....

The Fightin' Irish! I rooted for them when they played USC for the love of Michigan. I am sick just thinking about it now. What's worse is that the Lions are probably going to draft Brady Quinn now too.

This has been a pretty disappointing year for Michigan sports I think. Sure most fans would be happy to see a team get to the World Series, one in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, have their colleg football team in a major BCS Bow, and get to root for a team to lose as many games as possible in the NFL so they can get the #1 draft pick and possibly see the GM get fired.

Not me. Too many close, but no cigars this year.

Can't really hate on the Tigers. No one expected them to even have a .500 record. It was a dream season really. Still hurt to lose when you thought they were the better team. That's why they play the games they tell me from St. Louis.

The Pistons? They dominated the entire league all season and get bounced by the worst NBA Champion of all time. I can safely say that the Miami Heat was a Stern Title. No way should Fatione Walker, White Chocolate, The Mitten, and Kidney Mourning be allowed to win an NBA title. It is a disgrace and a shame. That team singlehandedly ruined my love of basketball for the time being.

Now this? Michigan getting jobbed for no other reason than no one wants to see a rematch? Oh no...we can't see the best 2 teams play again. That would not make everyone happy. I was under the impression that the BCS was there to get the 2 best teams int he title game. Apparently that is not the case. Great work NCAA.

It seems sports makes me more angry than happy these days. Dwayne "Baby jesus" Wade was named the SI Sportsman of the Year. Mr. Doubtful himself. HE has every nagging injury in the book according to him and yet he still goes out and wins Academy Awards for flopping. If he kicked you in the nuts in front of a cop he would get 2 free throws out of the deal and you would get a night in the clink.

Florida Gets BCS Nod to Play Ohio State

It is one sad day. The BCS has been exposed yet again. Did any of you watch Florida play yesterday? Have you watched Michigan this year too? How is it possible to determine from yesterday's game that Florida was better than Michigan? Blows my mind.

Take a look at some ballots from the Harris Poll that helped determine this debacle:

Paul Zeise:
No. 1: Ohio State
No. 2: Louisville
No. 3: Florida
No. 4: Michigan

Larry Keech:
No. 1: Ohio State
No. 2: Boise State
No. 3: Michigan
No. 4: Wisconsin
No. 5: Florida

Robert Lawless:
No. 1: Ohio State
No. 2: Michigan
No. 3: Wisconsin
No. 4: Louisville
No. 5: Florida

Ray Melick:
No. 1: Ohio State
No. 2: Florida
No. 3: Louisville
No. 4: Michigan

Tim Neverett:
No. 1: Ohio State
No. 2: Florida
No. 3: USC
No. 4: Michigan

^^^LMAO! Are you freakin' kidding me!?

Gene Ponti:
No. 1: Ohio State
No. 2: Florida
No. 3: LSU
No. 4: Michigan

Jim Walden:
No. 1: Florida
No. 2: Ohio State
No. 3: Michigan

and the rest:

http://www.pollg.com/g/w27236/w27236gateway.htm

Say all you want about your Florida crap. Michigan is better than they are and everyone that saw them both this year will tell you that. The BCS is nothing more than the "Who I Want to See in the Big Game" Poll.

Michigan will play USC in the Rose Bowl now. No one cares.

USC #2, Michigan #3 in BCS

I can't say that I'm suprised, but I really am not too happy about this. The voters have spoken apparently and they do not want to see a rematch. I really don't want to get into the numbers today because USC still has another game to play. I'll display my disgust, and/or agreement on the ranks after The USC/UCLA game should USC win.

Michigan Still #2 in BCS!

This folks is exactly the way it should be. They are the #2 team in the country.

Now we have USC who moved up in a couple of polls. The consensus is that USC, and only USC really has a shot at jumping Michigan based on the computers. If they win out by defeating Notre Dame and UCLA in effect flipping them and Michigan in the remaining computer ranks they need. The pollsters seem to be leaning towards USC moving up in that scenario, also.

Current rankings/polls:

BCS Ranks

So as a long time Michigan fan I have to actually root for the hated Fighting Irish to take USC down. I can justify USC jumping htme if they win out. Michigan had their shot and USC in my mind is the only team that has a chance at getting the next one.

WE ARE N-D!

I Want a Rematch

The game was the greatest in many years. The two teams traded touchdowns and it came down to just a few miscues to decide the outcome.

No one can honestly say that Michigan and Ohio State are not the best two teams in the country. Michigan proved they are probably the only team that can compete with OSU. Any other match up in the BCS Championship game would be laughable.

So we have one true contender undefeated along with a string of one loss teams that can get a shot at OSU for the title.

Let's see:

Michigan (Lost by 3 to the #1 team in the country on the road)
USC (Lost to a 7-4 Unranked Oregon St. team)
Florida (Lost to #11 LSU on the road by 10)
Notre Dame (THROTTLED at home by MICHIGAN)
Arkansas (THROTTLED by USC at HOME)

Based on just that information you have to decide who had the least embarrassing loss. It's pretty obvious. Michigan. Rematch should be a no-brainer if you want the best two teams in the country to play again.

The Hype Was Real

Wow...what a game. It lived up to all the hype. Down to the wire. Instant classic.

Everyone was shocked with the score. Ohio State 42 Michigan 39. Two of the best defenses in the country got torched for over 80 total points. OSU had over 500 total yards on offense.

Michigan had their chances. A drive stalled that resulted in a FG and the unsporstmanlike penalty on Crable decided the outcome. On a 3rd and long late in the 4th that would have gotten Michigan the ball, or at least held Ohio State to a FG changed the outcome with one penalty that allowed them to continue their drive and ultimately score the winning touchdown.

Heartbreaking loss for Michigan fans.