Michigan Monday: Welcomes You To Game Week

Can't wait for Saturday.  The last time I saw the Michigan Football Program play a game, I was walking off the field at the Gator Bowl and it was clear Rich Rod has coached his last game at Michigan.  Today is a brand new day with a new staff at Michigan.    The talk is not about re-building it's about Championships.   I'm not sure the Wolverines are ready to make the leap to Big Ten Champs and BCS Bowls but I love the expectations that it is.  I have heard predictions from 5-10 wins this year.  That is a big gap and I will give you my rundown of the season later in the week.

I will break today's post into a few sections:

Redshirt years I wish we still had:

1. Denard Robinson:  I know Tate got beat up a few times during their freshman year (The Iowa game sticks out), but for only completing 14 passes (he did run 69 times), I wish we had another year in the bank with this special talent. 
2. Big Will Campbell:  This was a huge mistake by RR and staff to play Big Will a few snaps his freshman year.   It was clear that Will needed a year to learn how to play the DL and the Michigan coaching staff played him in some meaningless downs.   Big Will's high school coach Thomas Wilcher said last week that Will was a much better offensive lineman (then defensive) in high school.
3. WR's: Dileo, Stokes and Jackson:  I know Stokes left the team but he caught 1 pass last year for 11 yards and was a true Sophomore meaning he played his Freshman year as well.  Drew Dileo caught 1 pass for 3 yards but did contribute in the return game.  Jeremy Jackson had 4 catches for 55 yards.  It would be nice if both Dileo and Jackson were redshirt freshman this year.    I'm not sure their limited playing time last year was worth blowing their redshirt year.  If they had handled Stokes differently maybe he would still be on the team and had a better chance to reach his potential. 
4. Devin Gardner?  If RR has messed this up, playing him against BGSU and others, he owes us some of his buy out back.   I guess we won't know whether DG got his medical redshirt or not until his 5th year. 

In my mind DG's (if he doesn't get it) and Big Will's lost redshirt years are complete failures by RR and staff.  (I know, add it to the list of failures)

Recruiting News:

• 4 Star WR Amara Darboh that was expected to visit this weekend is said to be re-scheduling. 
• 4 Star WR Darius Powe from California is going to visit for the ND game.  (This will be the "HUGE" recruiting weekend)

High School News:

• Michigan Recruits faced off this weekend at EMU when Cass Tech faced Farmington Harrison.  It wasn't close as Harrison won in a blow out 43-7.  I wasn't there but here is what I gleamed from a number of accounts:

-RJS and Ross had a quiet night since Cass Tech was clearly out manned.
-Ojemudia and Funchess had very good nights and both very athletic.  There are reports Ojemudia really has improved over the summer from the camps he attended and new work out regime.  Reports from the game was that Cass couldn't block Ojemudia at all.
-The most anticipated match up of the night was Terry Richardson vs Aaron Burbridge.  I heard Terry held his own but Burbridge was one of the best player on the field and won the match up.    As you know, Burbridge is heading to MSU as many recruiting insiders said Michigan had to back off due to some academic issues. 

• Shane Morris lite up Ann Arbor Pioneer this weekend as well.  He was 14-18 for 224 yards in a 43-28 victory.
• Joe Bolden's team played on ESPN yesterday.

Captains:

Michigan voted team captains this weekend and picked seniors center David Molk, tight end Kevin Koger and defensive tackle Mike Martin. Perfect selections.

“The entire senior class has shown great leadership since the spring, and they all are looked up to as leaders of this football team,” Hoke said in a released statement. “Kevin, David and Mike are great representatives for our team and the University of Michigan. I will be honored to be led out of the tunnel by them and the rest of the seniors on the Saturdays ahead.”