Michigan Thursday: A Couple Visit Updates

• The Real Deal (RB) Elijah Holyfield will be at Michigan on Saturday and Sunday (BBQ).   He will also be at Ohio State on Friday.

• 2016 OL Clark Yarbrough will also make it to Ann Arbor this weekend.

• Keisean Lucier-South will reduce his list on 8/8.  Michigan is expected to make the cut.

• DE Darian Roseboro, DE Jalen Bates and DB Marcus Lewis all have committed to attending the BBQ.  I would say Darian could be on commit watch.   Bates seems to be leaning to Texas Tech right now and Lewis is committed to Florida but lives in DC.

If your wondering if the key Michigan Basketball players are putting in time at the gym this summer?  This should answer that question:

Wolverine Wednesday: Stephen's My Wish

As you know, we wrote about Stephen's My Wish episode a few weeks ago.   Last night, it premiered on SportsCenter.   If you missed it, the video is below.    The part that hit me the hardest was his reaction to meeting Jake Long.    I'm glad we support a program that would go the extra mile for Stephen or even an OSU fan that is fighting Michigan.  Well done guys and Stephen keep fighting because all of the Maize and Blue faithful is behind you! 

My wish

Michigan Tuesday: Recruits Are In and Out of the BBQ

The Michigan Recruiting engine has taken a little hit to start of the week.   Two of Michigan's top prospects have let the coaches know they will not be in Ann Arbor this weekend for the BBQ at the Big House on Sunday.

The first player to pull out was 4 star LB Joshua McMillion who is fresh off a visit to Alabama.   He is expected to make a decision in August and this is not a good sign.

The next is 5 star RB Damien Harris who was once committed to Michigan.   Damien has some other commitments and will not be able to make OSU "Friday Night Lights" event either.    This seems like a legit excuse but Michigan looses another opportunity to get Damien back in this class.   Many have Ohio State and Kentucky leading for this 5 star RB now.  Damien will announce a top 5 on 8/1 and make a decision on 12/13.

The good news is that Saginaw's 4 star WR Brian Cole will be on campus on Friday and will get a personal tour from Alex Malzone. 

• Wheat 2 (Ty Wheatley Jr.) will also not be at the BBQ

• RB Mike Weber is visiting USC this weekend and is trying to get back home to go to the BBQ.  He is tentative at this point.

• 2016 TE's Naseir Upshur and Luke Farrell will be at the BBQ on Sunday

• Michigan has offered 2016 DB from Cass Tech Lavert Hill today

Michigan Monday: Bolden On The Move Again

Enter your time machine and remember back to the 2010 recruiting class when RR was Michigan's head coach and the State of Michigan had two highly rated QB's in Devin Gardner and Rob Bolden. There was a lot of conversation on which QB was going to better fit for the Wolverines and RR's Staff was recruiting both players.  

Devin Gardner of course picked Michigan and Rob Bolden picked Penn State.   Rob played a ton as a freshman and sophomore at Penn State and then the entire world changed for the Nittany Lions and Rob jumped ship to LSU to play for Les "Frequent Flyer" Miles.   As you know, LSU is full of talent and Rob found it difficult to fit in with the Tigers.   He redshirted his first year (2012) at LSU due to a  knee injury and didn't see any game action last year.   He moved to WR this Spring and was expected to see playing time as a WR next season.

Instead, Rob has decided to transfer again and will get to play QB in Ypsi for Eastern Michigan for his final year of eligibility.  Rob will be eligible right away as he will graduate from LSU this summer.  Rob might have set a record for playing at 3 schools and not having to sit out a transfer year.  Good luck to him at EMU.

• Nik has signed a contract with Nike. 

• 2016 LB Daelin Hayes and 2015 RB Mike Weber are both expected to visit USC this week.

• Ty Isaac will be on campus on 8/2.

Michigan Friday: Regents Save PT Brandon and His Marketing Circus

The Michigan Regents have shot down the idea of having fireworks after two games next year.   Saving more embarrassment to PT Brandon and his "marketing ideas". 

This quote pretty much sums it up: 

Regent Mark Bernstein was also vocal in his displeasure with the proposal.  Bernstein said he felt like it was a bad idea from the beginning, and knowing that the fireworks display was scheduled to take place during the course of the Notre Dame game, he thought it was an even worse idea.

"This fireworks proposal has sparked an important discussion. This is, I believe, a huge symbolic issue. I love fireworks, but not at a Michigan football game," he said.

"We are not Comerica Park or a Super Bowl or Disney World or a circus. Enough is enough. It should be an experience – a place that resists the excesses of our culture. The fact that it's not (a pro sports spectacle) is what I love about our culture. The fireworks should be on the field, not above it." (bold is mine)

I'm sure you have been waiting or the number of the new freshman on John Beilein's squad.  Well folks, your wait is over:  (freshman highlighted)

2 Spike Albrecht — 5-11, 175 — Guard, JR
3 Kameron Chatman — 6-7, 210 — Guard/Forward, FR
5 D.J. Wilson — 6-9, 210 — Forward, FR
10 Derrick Walton Jr. — 6-1, 185 — Guard, SO
11 Andrew Dakich —  6-2, 185 — Guard, SO
12 Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman — 6-4, 200 — Guard, FR
20 Sean Lonergan — 6-5, 190 — Forward, SO
21 Zak Irvin — 6-6, 200 — Guard/Forward, SO
23 Caris LeVert — 6-6, 185 — Guard, JR
24 Aubrey Dawkins — 6-6, 190 — Guard/Forward, FR
30 Austin Hatch — 6-6, 215 — Guard, FR
32 Ricky Doyle — 6-10, 250 — Forward, FR
34 Mark Donnal — 6-9, 230 — Forward, RS FR
44 Max Bielfeldt — 6-7, 245 — Forward, SR

#12 MAAR wins the longest name award! Andrew Dakich is also sporting #11 now. 


Michigan's Italy schedule as follows:

Aug. 17 vs. the Perugia All Star Men in Rome
Aug. 19 vs. The Big All Star Men at the Vicenza Palazzetto dello Sport
Aug. 20 vs. the Opitergium Spartans Men at the Vicenza Palazzetto dello Sport
Aug. 22 vs. Mantova Stings in Mantua (Matova)

• Taylor Lewan's assault case will now move to a jury trial on 10/28.  Which is the bye week for the Titans.  

• Darryl Stonum got 3 years probation after he was found guilty off felonious assault and two counts of domestic violence.

Michigan Thursday: PT Brandon is at it Again

When is this going to stop?  Is PT Brandon trying to anger every fan base that supports the Wolverines?  Now you can go to the drive in at the Big House.



I wonder which movie they are going to show?  Bad News Bears?  Barbarian at the Gate?  Silence of the Lambs?  Do you still hear the lambs screaming, Clarice?

I think PT will just put a "Big Top" on the Big House and call it a day.

•  A football related bullet!!! The kick off times for App. State - Noon and Miami of Ohio are now set - 3:30.   Tickets still available. 

• ESPN's Chad Ford has LeVert #27 and Irvin # 41 in his top 100 college players.

• Mike Martin was on Mike Barwis show:  American Muscle last night.   I still haven't seen the show yet.

Wolverine Wednesday: Beilein Doesn't Like Too Many Cupcakes

Tom Izzo is pretty much Tom Izzo, there aren't too many other coaches that roam the earth like Tom.   Yes, he coaches for a Michigan rival and yes, he can coach.   The one thing that I have always liked about Tom is that he goes for the hardest schedule possible in the non-conference.   He believes as do I, that is the best way to prepare for March.    

You can now put John Beilein in that group.  John is now considered a top 10 coach in the country and has turned around the Michigan Basketball Program.   He is also putting together a very challenging non-conference schedule for his young Wolverines.  Here are some of the teams, Michigan will be playing in the pre-Big Ten season.

• 11/24 - 25 Barley Center for two games.   Game one against VCU or Oregon and Game 2 against Villanova.
• 12/2 Syracuse at Crisler  (ACC/Big 10 Challenge)
• 12/13 at Arizona
• 12/20 SMU and Larry Brown at Crisler

If you wondering, SMU was 27-10 last year on the NCAA bubble and made the NIT Final.   They did lose one of the top players in the country yesterday as he decided to play overseas to make a few dollars before the NBA draft.

• Funchess Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List.  If Devin G has a big year, Devin F will as well.

• The Big House is planning fireworks after a couple games next season.   David Brandon = PT Barnum

•  Four-star TN LB Josh McMillon will announce his decision on 8/22.  He is visiting Michigan for the BBQ, Bama and Auburn before a decision.  He also seems to be close with Damien Harris if that means anything.   He said this to Sam Webb recently:  One of the topics of discussion in recent weeks has been Michigan’s dwindling scholarship availability.  McMillon is well aware that there is only one scholarship left for a linebacker, but he has made it a point to not let it affect his recruitment.“They said I was number one on their boards, so I feel like if they did take someone it would be my loss rather than theirs,” he stated.  Michigan is a player in his recruitment and the BBQ will be huge as he has two other SEC trips planned after.