David Brandon has done an excellent job since taking over the AD position at Michigan. He got the football program through an NCAA Investigations and got the penalty reduced. He fired the football coach that was under preforming and hired somewhat of a "sleeper" pick as the new head coach.
He has improved on the Big House work of former AD Bill Martin and is now focusing on Crisler Arena. If you had to grade him right now it would clearly be a A and maybe even an A+.
This brings me to his latest decision to play App State again in 2014 and his response: "the opportunity to play again is a good thing. I don't see how it could be a negative".
Since he is having a hard time finding the negatives, let me list them here:
- Michigan players and fans will have to live through 9 months (Jan-Sept) of App State upset highlights from the 2007 game before the kickoff of the 2014 season.
- It's a no win situation for Michigan. Like I mentioned yesterday, if the Wolverines win 50-10 they beat up on the little guys and ran up the score to get revenge. If the game is close, App State has our number. If Michigan loses the game, its a disaster.
I don't see any upside to playing this game. None.
Greg Mattison's PC yesterday:
He wants 22 players strong on defense: For next weekend, "I hope it's 22." Needs to have 22 capable guys, and have seven more days to get 22. Won't ever be a coach who says we lost a game because a guy got injured.
- Standouts on D are the seniors Martin and Woolfolk
- Jake Ryan and Marvin Robinson have had some good days but have been a bit banged up in practice.
- Kenny Demens is running with the 1's but need to be more consistent.
AL "the hat" Borges PC:
(Does this comment give us some insight into why Michigan might have lost a few players this week? Both freshman's weights were much higher then expected)
"Our practices are not for the faint of heart. We get after them pretty good." It has been a real real grueling training camp. (We want to) see what they're made of when they're tired."
- Would not comment on Chris Barnett.
- Thomas Rawls has been out a couple of weeks with a injury. Looks like it's Shaw, Hopkins and Smith at this point. They may redshirt Hayes and/or Rawls. (I bet not having a RB in the 2012 class might effect this decision)
- Denard will be in the shotgun and under center.
- WR: Roy and Junior are the starters. Expect to see Grady, Gallon, Jackson and Dileo.
Michigan will play a scrimmage today and Saturday before they ease up a bit for game week. Today and Saturday should cement the two deep, when we learn who on it will probably come out on Monday.
Here is my prediction for starters:
OL: Lewan, Barnum, Molk, Omameh, Huge
TE: Kroger
WR: Roundtree, Hemingway
QB: Robinson
RB: Shaw
FB: McColgan
Defense:
DL: Roh, Martin, Campbell and Van Bergen
LB: C. Gordon, Demens and Hawthorne
CB: Woolfolk and Floyd or Avery
S: Kovas and Johnson
I'm concerned about the speed at safety. Look for Woolfolk to move to safety and Avery fill in his CB spot if that becomes a problem. Or maybe more Marvin Robinson. I also think Big Will could lose his starting spot to Brink.
The defense looks like it's built to stop the run (which would be a huge improvement) but could get beat deep in the passing game.
4 comments:
Truth is, when I first read the report of the Appalachian State game being scheduled, there was a twinge of pain that came into the pit of my stomach, and an echo of the ASU players who predicted, "We're going to shock the world." Then they did just that. They were the first D-II team to defeat a top five team, and it was against Michigan.
Then after the pain subsided, what rang out inside of my spirit was that old James Taylor song, "Fire and Rain," when he said, "...but I always thought that I'd see you again."
There was no way that a proud Athletic Director would let the stench of a D-II team go for long without correcting this mistake. I hear about it quite often and ASU I'm sure is using that part of their history to recruit players. Michigan’s loss to ASU hurts worse than losing to OSU, MSU, PSU etc., because of the tier difference.
Michigan is currently trying to re-establish its reputation as a major power, and in order to do that it has to clean up the skeletons in its closet, starting with ASU. You can bet on this, that the Michigan coaches and players will be given one mandate, and that is to completely crush ASU without mercy on that date. It is important because Michigan will be sending a message loud and clear to the football world that “Michigan football is back.”
There is no way that Michigan will lose that game because too much would be at stake. If Michigan loses this game, it would indeed set the program back that is why Michigan cannot afford to and therefore, will not lose this game.
Somewhere along the line, Michigan will have Toledo and Oregon on its radar, but ASU will be the immediate target.
Honestly, I think the App State game is a good idea. How do you argue it was just a fluke until you get to grounding the team into submission? Toledo we can blame on not having a rated/system QB and everyone else trying to learn a new system. App. State was Lloyd's last season bell ringing. He had Chad Henne and Ryan Mallet available as backup. He had Mike Hart. Mario Manningham, Arrington, and Long on offense. He had Brandom Graham, Jamison, Crable, Warren for defense. He had a kicker in Zoltan. There is no reasonable explanation we can use to just write off the game until we prove it on the field. Besides, any team that beats us fairly deserves the opportunity to try it again, try to prove it wasn't just a fluke. Let 'em try. Let. Them. Play.
The ASU game was very similar in principle to the first Joe Louis vs. Max Schmelling fight. Louis was the better fighter and did not prepare properly. He was playing golf, and having fun while Schmelling worked hard and developed a good strategy and won the fight. He was never as good as Louis but he won "that" fight.
Schmelling told the media that Louis was mentally crushed and was in fear of him. In the rematch, Louis demonstrated his superiority with a first round knock out. If they fought one hundred more times Louis would have won each time.
It was the same way against ASU. With the fire power that Michigan had, Michigan should have never lost that game. Michigan no doubt was looking past ASU and they weren't prepared mentally, emotionally or physically. It was a poor coaching job by Lloyd Carr and staff. Even the Oregon head coach told the press how poorly the Michigan team was prepared and how they could have ran up more points if they wanted to against them.
My point being that a prepared Michigan team NEVER would have lost THAT game, and they will NOT lose the next one. And one more comparison, after Joe Louis won the title after the Schmelling loss, he said that he did not consider himself the heavyweight champion until he beats Schmelling. In like manner, if Michigan is going to consider itself a national power again, it has to exorcize its demons and kick ASU's little ass before they can truly stick their chest out again.
However, I agree, let them play.
I don't disagree guys but Michigan was ranked #3 in the country the year App. State entered the Big House with the likes of Hart and Henne in the backfield.
They were in the National Champ picture and Carr didn't have them ready to play. Sure they won't surprise us again but they never should have surprised us then either.
CMU seemed to do the same thing to MSU every year.
I also don't like how Michigan played UMass either. I just don't like these games at all. I would much rather play the UConn or Vandy's of the world.
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