Quote of the Week

"If Ohio State does not win this game, the Big Ten will be considered irrelevant for the rest of the year, and rightfully so." -Michael Rosenberg


LATimes.com Big Tension

UPDATE: USC 18 Ohio State 15

"ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team sent its six-member senior class out a winner today (Sunday, May 10) as junior centerfielder Ryan LaMarre (Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi) went 4-for-5 with four RBI in a 10-4 victory over Minnesota on Senior Day at the Wilpon Baseball Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium."


Read it here: MGoBlue

Big Ten gets worked in Bowl Games

Fiesta-
Texas 24
Ohio State 21

Rose-
USC 38
Penn State 24

Champs Sports-
Florida State 42
Wisconsin 13

Alamo-
Missouri 30
Northwestern 23

Insight-
Kansas 42
Minnesota 21

Outback-
Iowa 31
South Carolina 10

Capital One-
Georgia 24
Michigan State 12

The Big Ten goes 1 and 6 in Bowl games. After a devastatingly bad Michigan season, I thought more pain could not be inflicted upon me from the college football world. Little did I know the conference as a whole really puked on their shoes and cemented the major media notion that the Big Ten is a weak conference.

This Big Ten has much to prove and best start getting the talent from across the nation to compete, and the coaching to use that talent or the Big Ten will end up being viewed as just a step up from the MAC.

Looking forward to next season, this one is finally been put to rest. RIP 2008.

My Biggest Big 10 Non-Conference Games

#1 Ohio State at USC (Sept 13th)

OSU's last win vs USC is 1974, Since 1991 OSU is 11-2 vs Pac 10 Including bowls. Two top 10 teams going at it early in the season is a win win for both schools, the loser will not fall much and it will be a nationally televised, hype fest. Not cheering for OSU but I would like the Big 10 record against the Pac 10 to get better.

#2 Michigan State at California (Aug. 30th)

A tough game to start the season off with. MSU is 2-1 vs the Bears and Cal won the last one '02 (46-22). MSU will most likely go up by 42 points in the first quarter then, well you know what will happen next, or do you?

#3 Purdue vs Oregon (Sept 13th)

Last meeting with Purdue was 1979. Oregon is 13-26 vs the Big 10 teams and after the Big House beat down they gave Michigan last season I am sure they are excited about traveling to Purdue, minus Dennis Dixon . Unfortunately, I still see them handling the Boilermakers.

#4 Iowa at Pitt (Sept 20th)

The Hawkeyes have a Dream schedule this season, NOT playing Michigan or Ohio State. What will they do with that opportunity? They will most likely squander it and lose to both FIU and at Pitt.

#5 Penn State vs Oregon State (Sept 6th)

The Nittnay Lions (22-11 vs Pac 10 all time) will be nice a warmed up after playing powder room powerhouse Coastal Carolina and Penn State has a tight 12 straight non-conference, home game wins.

Also see:
Northwestern @ Duke (Sep. 6th)
Michigan @ Notre Dame (Sept 13th)
Wisconsin @ Fresno State (Sept 13th)

Stat help from Phil Steele's College Football 2008 Preview

Pizza Pizza

Class of 2020 U of M Lineman?

Spencer Hall of Sporting News

Debunking myths about speed in the SEC and Big Ten

Consider the case of the Big Ten Sloth Myth....

Bringing us to the future, a.k.a. the West Virginia/Michigan training program. I mentioned Michigan's superb record against the SEC above; now consider how well Michigan did using training techniques from the 1970s, as it did until this year's complete revamping of the training program.

(Fun story that's been floating around college football circles: Under the former management, Michigan linemen, in order to gain weight, were allegedly told to "eat a whole pizza" at night. I'm amazed they didn't flounder like sick race horses on Saturdays. Also: no squats. The most basic fundamental move in weight lifting simply did not exist in their machine-dominated training program.)

Michigan is now busy reprogramming its players to play in the 21st century, demanding speed at every position (yes, even for pizza-mobbing offensive linemen) and totally rebuilding their talent development system.

Read the whole story

Scratch the itch

Video, Mike Barwis Strength and Conditioning

Big Ten Network, Big Ten Plays of the Year

Negative On Forfeiture

According to MGoBlog.com

WHEW , sorry Penn State.

"The Big Ten Conference Compliance and Reinstatement Subcommittee ruled today (Thursday, Oct. 4) that the University of Michigan will not be required to forfeit any 2007 football games."


*Butt cheeks officially un-clinched

Game Day Coffee Musings

It is early here on the West Coast. The first rainy morning I have seen in about a year. The cool breeze and the smell of wet ground makes me nostalgic for the Midwest and Michigan in particular. I am up to watch ESPN's special on Russell Crowe's visit to Michigan and his friend Lloyd Carr. Didn't sleep much thinking about the game. Why? too many questions. Questions that Michigan needs to answer, today.

Today is the day for Michigan to let the country and themselves know what kind of team they really are. Are they the team that got pushed around and beat by Appy State, are they the team that looked as if they had quit against the Oregon Ducks? or are they the team that came out fast and hard hitting against the Irish?

There is no doubt in my mind that this team is much better then the team that has stepped out on the field turf the last few weeks.

Defense, that is the word of the day. Penn State is going to go right after Mike Hart and It is imperative for Michigan to pressure Anthony Morrelli and force him into mistakes.

Time to put the Big Ten on notice, time for Michigan to show that they are not the overrated joke of the conference. The past three weeks are just that, past.

The run for the Big Ten starts today.

Sporting News calls out Michigan

Steve Greenberg of Sporting News
Week of Sept. 24, 2007
5 reasons Michigan will be back on the canvas (and soon).

No Wolverine fans, you will not win the Big 10, let us count the reasons why.

1. Coach Lloyd Carr.
The ability to remain calm in the face of adversity is and admirable attribute, but being flexible enough to make adjustments during a difficult game is much more helpful. Get on top of this team and it will melt away.

2. The 'Michigan Man' syndrome.
Carr likely will be gone after this season or next. Any chance in Hades A.D. Bill Martin would take a run at Rich Rodriguez before promoting someone from within the family?

3. Tackling.
The Wolverines looked like the '85 Chicago Bears against Notre Dame, but it was a mirage. You'll see.

4. Golf Fans.
Those two words best describe the most overrated game-day atmosphere in college football. When the going gets touch at the Big House, the high-hats and stiff-necks start thinking 19th hole.

5. Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State.
They're all-let's see, how to put this?-way better then Michigan.

big Ten Conference Play

The national consensus "Worst Conference in NCAA Football", kicks off conference play this Saturday.

"Down Conference", "overrated conference", "big and slow conference", what ever title you think fits, I have no counter points to argue against that. Michigan gets punked by Appy State, Northwestern gets dunked by Duke, Minnesota, well they are Minnesota. Iowa State (even with those hideous new unis) shut the door on Iowa, oh and yeah, Oregon did that thing to Michigan.

Well its time for the Big 10 to beat up on each other and shuffle around to see if two or three teams can share the title.

Games this Saturday 22, 2007

(8)Ohio State v. Northwestern

(9) Wisconsin @ Iowa

(10) Penn State @ Michigan

Michigan State @ Notre Dame
(Ok, not all the teams are playing within the B10)

Purdue @ Minnesota

Illinois @ Indiana

Around the Big Ten

Games in the Big Ten to keep an eye on.

*(10) Ohio State @ Washington,

Jake Locker and the Huskies ended Boise State's win streak and are looking at this game as their Superbowl and a chance at respect around the nation as well as in the Pac 10.
(Possible Upset Special)

*Iowa @ Iowa State

*Pittsburgh @ Michigan State

Buffalo @ (12) Penn State

Citadel @ (7) Wisconsin

Akron @ Indiana

Illinois @ Syracuse

Cent. Michigan @ Purdue

Minnesota @ Florida Atlantic

Duke @ Northwestern

* These three games will be a good test for these Big 10 teams.