Michigan Wednesday: Minor's Injury Was Serious and Big 10 Expansion

It's now very clear that Brandon Minor was seriously hurt late in the year. He tore his rotator cuff against Purdue and just had surgery a few days ago. Here is a quote from Brandon's mom: "He's still not feeling too well," Gilliam said. "They had a problem controlling his pain. He ended up having to be taken back into emergency. He was discharged (Sunday). He's doing a lot of sleeping."

Let's hope Brandon can heal quickly and still show the NFL scouts that he should be drafted. Right now he is predicted as a second day draft choice. If Brandon is healthy he can be an effective NFL running back.

• No more Cornflakes: Corwin Brown former Michigan Wolverine and now former Defensive Coordinator for Notre Dame. It seems Brian Kelly has other plans for the ND defense next year and let "cornflakes" go yesteryday. Does this mean Corwin could be a candidate to join RR's staff? He is known as a strong recruiter.


• Cincinnati Loves The Chips! It seems the University of Cincinnati has hired their second head football coach from Central Michigan, Butch Jones. As you know, Brian Kelly also came from Central Michigan. Butch is a Rich Rod disciple and is taking over a very talented team that went un-defeated in the regular season and plays Tim Tebow and the Gators in a BCS Bowl. Butch's Buy Out increases if he leaves CMU before the bowl game, so it will be interesting to see what the decision is regarding Centrals Bowl game.


• Josh Furman a 3 star Linebacker/Athlete will announce between Michigan and Virgina Tech on Saturday after the high school all star game called the Crab Bowl. Furman is not going to play in the Crab Bowl due to a sprained Posterior Cruciate Ligament that he got during the state finals in Maryland. As you will see in the poll on the right had side, the Michigan faithful believe Josh is Michigan #1 priority for the remaining 2010 recruits.

This is has been covered by most every blog, so I will give you my quick take on the Big Ten Expansion. I agree with the coaches this needs to happen. The Big Ten loses a ton of exposure in early December with all the conference championship games. The Big 11 needs one more team to balance out the divisions. I'm guessing even a 12th team wouldn't change the name of the conference.

Big Ten's Candidate List:

1. Notre Dame - Makes the most sense but won't happen due to the TV contract and already been turned down once.


2. Missouri - Also makes sense from regional perspective and they now have a solid football program. I'm not sure why Missouri would want to leave the Big 12, but they will listen to offers. Per SI.com: University of Missouri spokeswoman Mary Jo Banken said the school hasn't been contacted by the Big Ten. "Should there be an official inquiry or invitation, we would evaluate it based on what is in the best interest of MU, athletically and academically," she said in an e-mail.


3. Pitt - Having Pitt brings an instant rivalry with Penn State and a very well known head coach. They have solid academics and would be willing to leave the Big East in a minute. The downside is they play at Heinz Field where the Steelers play and that field by late in the year is a mess. (Why haven't they gone to field turf?) They also don't get close to filling that stadium.


4. Rutgers - Academics and a decent football team. This also opens the Big Ten to the New York market, which I assume has a lot of Big Ten alumni in it. I know Michigan has strong alumni base there. Downside is it doesn't have much more then a good academics and a up and coming football program.


5. Syracuse - Big East so a good candidate, solid academics, a great basketball tradition, but the football team has fallen off the face of the earth. It really doesn't bring a great viewing audience in up state New York, but would certainly help the Big Ten Basketball conference.

I believe the Big Ten might take a run at Missouri but will end up with one of the Big East schools. I think the New York market is very interesting for the Big Ten Channel and the Big Ten Brass will consider Rutgers very seriously. I even believe the NYC market makes Rutgers a stronger candidate then Pitt. So my prediction is Rutgers as #12.