Michigan Thursday: A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

Have you ever been to Wrigley to watch a Cubs game?  How about a Michigan Football game?  The Big Ten released the Michigan Football Schedule on Wednesday and Michigan will play Northwestern at Wrigley as their new stadium continues to be built.  I expect this is going to be a hot ticket.  

Not a bad schedule, no back to back home games is interesting: No Oregon, No Penn State, No Indiana, No Little Brown Jug game.   Ohio State opens against Texas.  

• What a strange day in coaching hires. UNC hires Belichick and WVU re-hires RR.  Both can be good for the programs or blow up quickly.  

• Michigan has offered Transfer Portal target Miami of Ohio WR Reggie Virgil. 

• Michigan has offered transfer portal target Tulsa WR Joseph Williams, who was the AAC Freshman of the Year.

• Will Johnson declared for the NFL Draft.  Congrats Will and thank you again for picking Michigan.  

• Former Wolverine WR Andrel Anthony is back in the transfer portal after 2 years of injuries at Oklahoma. 

• Reports are Brian Hartline interviewed for the West Virginia job.

Wolverine Wednesday: New OC

Sherrone hired a new OC yesterday and his name is Chip Lindsey the former OC at UNC.   I'm 50/50 on this hire because he is 50.  I like a younger lad that has fresh new ideas and can relate to the kids on the roster.   To be fair, I don't know a lot about Chip.   

Here is some of his background:

1997-2009 - HS jobs in Alabama

2010: Troy QB coach 

2011-2012: Back to HS in Alabama

2013: Offensive staff member at Auburn 

2014-2015: Southern Miss OC/QB coach 

2016: ASU OC/QB

2017-2018: Auburn OC/QB

2019-2021: Troy Head Coach 

2022: UCF OC/QB

2023-2024: UNC OC/QB

None of that experience jumps out to me that Chip has been super successful anywhere he has been.  In fact, it seems programs move on from him pretty quickly.  He also has followed Gus Malzahn around who I do not consider a good football coach.  I do like that he worked under Todd Monken at Southern Miss.

If your wondering, I'm in the wait and see camp on him.  UNC at points this year has been a dumpster fire but they usually score a ton.  I don't hate this hire like I did Wink but my gut tells me Michigan could've done better.  His is known for having a 300 yard passer and a strong run game, but his teams have never won too much.  Reports are that Bryce likes him, which is good news. 

• Michigan Basketball blew a close one to Arkansas last night in the Jimmy V.  

• We are losing Pollards left and right.  Micah went to the portal earlier in the week and now Myles.  

• Michigan's MVP Zvada is coming back for another year!  Big Win! 

• Ohio lawmakers want to make planting a flag in Ohio Stadium illegal.   This is Charmin soft.

Michigan Tuesday: News and Notes

• Mason Graham is heading to the NFL Draft.  He has been great as a Wolverine, will be remembered as a Champion and one of the best recruits of the Harbaugh era.  Legend status activated!  Good Luck Big Man! 

• Michigan Basketball plays Arkansas tonight in the Jimmy V Classic

• Michigan Basketball now ranked #14! 

• Former Wisconsin and Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke is on the move again. 

• Herbie thinks Ohio State would play better on the road after Michigan upset them in Horseshoe.  That the OSU fans might turn on Ryan Day if they get off to a slow start against Tennessee. 

• GA WR Nitro Tuggle in the portal, he had some interest in Michigan out of high school. 

• Former Michigan RB Cole Cabana is expected to visit Minnesota. 

• IU vs. ND makes me smile.  It still should be played in Dayton. 

• UK DL Transfer Keeshawn Silver has a top 4 of Michigan, Miami, Florida, and USC

Michigan Monday: The Back-Up Bowl

Ever seen a game where neither fan base wants to play in it and most draft eligible players on both teams are going to opt out?  A game that is put together not by match-up but by brand name?  By corporate types looking, not for a good football game but for ticket sales?

Somehow Alabama misses out on the playoffs because the leader of Michigan's program and his over paid buddies decide SMU played better in the 2nd half of the ACC Championship game and deserves it more.  I assume Warde was too busy doing his side hustle to notice that he was sending his football team to Tampa (not to eat Bloomin Onions) to play that same team.   Somehow Warde got a 5-year extension out of this.   The lack of leadership this position has at Michigan is astounding. 

I'm sure there will be fans on both sides clamoring for their $85 tickets this morning to watch the Back-Up Bowl.  This game should be sponsored by Drew Brees restaurant chain Walk-On's.  Nothing like playing for everything this time last year and now playing for the Reliaquest trophy. 

Now onto the important stuff.  The Transfer Portal opens today and Michigan has a lot of work to do.  They have a long shopping list which includes:

-QB

-OL

-TE

-RB

-Punter

-DT

-CB 

They need a ton and this off season and will have plenty of time to evaluate talent to get the right fit for the program.  

• Michigan QB Denegal is entering the portal.  Good Luck to him! 
• Michigan OT Gentry is entering the portal.  Good Luck to him! 
• Michigan LB Pollard is entering the portal.  Good Luck to him! 

• Herbie's son Chase a 2025 QB will be coming to Michigan to play QB.  I thought it was as a walk-on but it seems they are using a scholarship on the young man.  Chase is not ranked 3-star but played QB at St. X in Cincinnati.  This will not go over well in C-Bus.   This goes down as the surprise of the weekend. 

• In what world does it make sense to pay a baseball player a 15 year $765M contract?  When MLB has to go through a reboot, the owners will be to blame.  They have lost their minds.  

• Michigan Basketball wins a close on against Iowa at home on Saturday.  2-0 in the Big Ten!