Michigan Tuesday: Welcomes MSU to the Reality of Roses

If you live in Ohio, you hate the State of Michigan even if your not a sports fan.   That's just the culture in the Buckeye State.  Some people won't even do business in Michigan because it's Michigan.   Which is a pretty narrow view of reality, mostly when it potentially could be costing you and your family a better living. 

Michigan State's Program is just the opposite.  The best analogy I give for the Spartans is a golfing one.  I am sure many of you have heard the term "sandbagger".  If you haven't, in golf it means a player that "inflates" his scores so his handicap is higher then it should be.  So for example, a 15 handicap might really be a 7 handicap golfer.  Meaning he gets 8 shots in a match that he shouldn't.

If you play golf, there are also guys who are just the opposite.  Guys, who are really 15 but cut a few shots off each round and end up being a 7 just so they can brag they have a single digit handicap, even though they lose every time they play another good player.  They just blame it on playing bad, the weather, or whatever excuse they can come up with.   This guy is the Michigan State Football Program. 

Michigan State opened up their Spring Practice yesterday and Mark Dantonio did his regular "Spring" press conference.  "Now we begin to prepare for the Rose Bowl," Dantonio said Monday. "That's where we're at. I think the foundation has been laid. We've had enough success to go into every game thinking we're going to win, or at least these are the things we have to do to be able to win."


(from the Detroit News - Is it me or did Dantonio give his press conference from a TV tray?)  

Really?  Didn't MSU (similar to Michigan as well) get embarrassed by an SEC opponent earlier this year?  Wasn't the score 49-7?  I think setting goals is good and the Rose Bowl goal is probably where the bar should be set for the Spartans every spring but going Rex Ryan in March is going a bit too far.

Mostly when MSU has had a number of off field issues effecting the program including:

• Potential violations and suspension of an MSU Booster Club.
• The reinstatement of Dion Sims who pleaded guilty in September to receiving and concealing stolen property.
• The February arrests of TE Brian Linthicum and linebacker Max Bullough, who both will miss the first two days of spring practice.  Yes, two days.

This is why I love Michigan State.  Like Mike Hart coined years ago, they are the "little brother" that loves to talk and sometimes put together a couple of wins on the golf course, basketball game in front of the house, or even 3 instate wins in a row.  The problem is they just can't get out of their way when it comes to getting in trouble and talking smack after Alabama used them as their scout team.   Yes, MSU you had an 11 win season (didn't play OSU) and played decent football at times, but go take care of your business off the field and fix the problems on before you start talking about Roses of any color.

Michigan Thursday: Recuriting and The Wolverines Holiday Plans

There is a Jack Tabb recruiting update from Sam Webb at the Detroit News.  Rich Rod just did an in home with Jack last week:  "It was definitely good to have him here," Tabb said regarding the Wolverines' head man. "He stayed for a good long time. He talked again about how they need me and how they'd use me in their offense."  Jake and his mom visited Ann Arbor in November and really enjoyed their experience.   Jack was thinking about making a decision this week but is going to hold off until after the holidays.  If I had to guess it is because he wants to see what happens with RR job situation.

It's interesting to see RR and staff recruit TE's in this class.  When RR came to Michigan he really didn't use Tight Ends but with the talent Michigan had at that position he has found a nice place for them in his offense.  Let's hope Jack makes a decision to Go Blue in the new year.

• Breaking News: Is that Antonio Kinard a 2010 LB recruit who went to prep schools to get his grades up and a qualifying test score has qualified.   There is some question whether the Michigan coaches would give him 1 of the 7 remaining spots in the 2011 class but he is an athletic 6'4 210 pounds LB and Michigan sure does need those.  I expect Antonio is trying to contact the Michigan coaches right now to give them the good news.  If Michigan sures everything up with Antonio he plans to enroll at Michigan in a couple of weeks.  This is good news!

• Michigan Players are probably heading home for Christmas and will jump on the charter flight on the 26th to head down to Jacksonville.  Some of players will meet the Wolverines in Florida.  The Wolverines will be practicing at Jacksonville University during the week. 

• Alabama says there is nothing to see here - regarding the story about them putting thousands of dollars into Dr. Phillips field and locker room.    Ok, I get that but I'm pretty sure Ha'sean Clinton-Dix was quoted as saying he was going to take in an Alabama practice while they are at his school, which would be a recruiting violation.   So I guess the "gray area" is what happens if Ha'sean and Dee stop by and watch but weren't invited or they don't speak to anyone. 

• 2012 CB from Washington DC, Kenny Crawley has a Michigan offer.

• Jim's brother John (head coach of the Baltimore Ravens), thinks Jimmy is focused on the Orange Bowl, having a baby and wants to stay at Stanford. 

• Is Michigan's next coach on TV tonight?  I highly doubt it.  But Brady Hoke and his San Diego State squad takes the field/pool against Navy tonight.  The reason I say "pool" is because due to high rains in San Diego the field and parking lot are flooded.  They expect the game to go ahead as planned tonight.  

• This site thinks Tony Gibson is over paid at $231,000 a year since he coaches the special teams and the Michigan secondary.  Both units are ranked very low nationally.  I tell you one thing, the guy can recruit!

• Darian Cooper, DT will wait to see what happens before he seriously considers Michigan or dropping them from his list.

• Michigan Basketball plays Bryant tonight on the BTN at 6:00.  This win will increase the Wolverines record to 10-2 with it's only two loses coming in a bad weekend in New Jersey.   This will be the last game before the Wolverines start their Big Ten season.  When the holidays are behind us, please go to the games and support this young exciting team.

I really don't want to touch the Ohio State Tattoo thing.  It seems Kansas State basketball was caught with something similar.  These things happen at all big time programs.  It really does.  So take it for what it's worth.  On a side note, stretching and having QC staffers coach is a worth 3 years of probation.  As they say on ESPN's NFL Countdown:  Come On, Man!

I also don't want to touch the Rex Ryan feet thing but there aren't any truth to the reports/rumors that he is interested in signing former Michigan linebacker Larry Foote.

Michigan Tuesday: Recruiting Blizzard

Another update on Dee Hart:  The Orlando Sentinel traded texts with Dee Hart and he says that he will stick with his Michigan commitment as long as RR and staff are there, or he might not.  If RR is no longer at Michigan he says he will select Florida over Alabama due to Florida running the spread.

Here is what I think, Dee is having a bit of fun with the media so he can announce his official decision at the Army All American game.  I don't believe Alabama is out (they are also practicing at Dr. Phillips when they are in Orlando for the Capital One Bowl - wow what luck for Michigan fans!) and it now seems Dee might not be enrolling early.  So this recruitment is far from over and when the RR situation clears up, so might his recruitment.

Conway is Out:  It looks like Shawn Conway instate WR will have to attend a JUCO next year.  It seems he won't qualify at Michigan.  I guess this is why Michigan has been recruiting the WR position so hard lately.

Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma's Offense Coordinator will take over the Indiana Hooisers.

Some Michigan coaches took in Ray Drew's basketball game last week.  Let's hope the Wolverines are still in his recruitment.

With Sousa out, who is Michigan recruiting at QB?  Here is one:  QB Tanner McEvoy (6-6 205) of Oradell, N.J who will visit Ann Arbor on 12/17.

How about a kicker?  It seems Michigan has strongly been recruiting Connor Loftus from California and he may take a visit to Ann Arbor this winter.

It seems last weekend visitor Blake Coutness is still very high on the Wolverines.  Blake is a 4 star CB and will announce at the Army All American Game in a month.  This is a high priority recruit for the Wolverines, mostly after Avery Walls recruitment seems to have been pretty quiet for awhile now.

Instate RB Thomas Rawls gives us his visits plans:  He’ll take an official visit to Central Michigan — the school that first expressed interest — next weekend. Then it’s off to the University of Michigan the following week, with a stop due in Toledo sometime in January. Cincinnati is in the process of setting up a date as well, said Rawls.  Thomas head coach is the son of Michigan RB Coach Fred Jackson and also former Wolverine Andre Weathers also coaches at his school.

Michigan - Bama is Happening

Nick Saban let the "cat" out of the bag and announced the Michigan - Alabama game at Jerry World last night on his radio show.  It hasn't been officially announced but it seems like it's a done deal. 

I don't have any problem with this game and pretty excited to get a chance to go to "Jerry World" and see the Wolverines during Denard's senior year. 

What I do have a problem is which year they are playing the game.  In 2012, Michigan plays on the road:
Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State and now Alabama at a neutral field.  Those are tough road games in one year.