Michigan Friday: RR Love Fest in AZ

As we get closer to 9/1 there is a lot of excitement building around the country for a fresh new start with each college football program.  In the SEC, they are talking about Alabama and LSU re-loading for another title run.   There is also excitement about how good both South Carolina and Arkansas can be. 

In the ACC, they are all about FSU and getting them back on top of college football while Clemson continues to have a solid team.   Virgina Tech seems to be a bit under-rated after a strong performance against the Wolverines in the Sugar Bowl. 

The Big 12 welcomes West Virgina to the league and they will get to fight it out with the regular powers Oklahoma and Texas.   Oklahoma State continues to be a top 20 team and they hope to continue their momentum from a strong 2011 campaign.

The Big East is just happy to be here and looking to sign a new TV contract with NBC's new sports channel. 

The new PAC 12 seems to be a two horse race between USC and Oregon.   Either could play for the BCS Championship at the end of the year.  In fact, USC gets Stanford in just week 3 so we will see early how good USC really is.    Some Michigan fans will be interested to see how Rich Rod does in year 1 at Arizona.   Michigan football fans expect their head coaches to retire vs. getting fired.   Gary Moeller and Rich Rod are exception to that rule.  Gary had a short interim head coaching gig for the Lions and now you can find him most Saturday afternoons walking around the press box at the Big House.  Rich Rod on the other hand is still young and now takes over his 3rd BCS program.   He is 1-1 with his overhauls and this time has the band back together in Tucson.

I took a look at Arizona's schedule and found two games that are pretty ironic.   During RR's first year at Michigan he played both Utah and Toledo.  Michigan lost both games.  The Rockets might have been one of his most embarrassing losses he ever.  It also happened to be the only time Michigan has lost to a MAC team.   Well, RR gets them again and this time it's his first game of the year.  They will also travel to Utah in November.    If RR gets by Toledo in week 1 they will host #19 ranked Oklahoma State in week 2.  Should be fun to keep an eye on Tucson this year. 

Fun Fact:  RR won 15 games in 3 years at Michigan.  Brady Hoke won 11 in 1 year.

• Here is the transcript from another "not much information" Hoke press conference.   Highlights:  Team nowhere near ready for 9/1 yet, no word if Fitz will play in Dallas, Wormley hasn't had surgery yet, but will.  

Update:  Freshman Ondre Pipkins was taken to the hospital this morning via ambulance with a potential neck injury.  He has movement in all extremities and was taken to the the hospital as a precaution.   Let's hope this is nothing serious.