Monday, August 26, 2024

Michigan Monday: Game Week and the Story that will never Die

There are lots of bad things in this world.  There are bad people, bad business, corrupt politicians, the list goes on and on.   As long as there have been people walking the earth there are bad people trying to take advantage of good ones.  


This brings me to the NCAA and how they have handled Spygate.  What type of organization, leaks information non-stop during their investigation, has zero legal authority to speak to anyone, and continually tries to derail a season on purpose?  That was the NCAA last season.  You either cooperate with the NCAA or you don't.  They can't force you to do anything.  You either share your phone or you don't.  If you don't they will make it very difficult for you to do your job.   The NCAA has targeted Jim Harbaugh ever since he didn't remember buying a kid a cheeseburger and the NCAA found a receipt that he did.  

Most of that stuff happened last season or during COVID.  So let's fast forward to now.  The NCAA leaks the proposed NOA against Michigan to ESPN a few weeks ago.  Since there was nothing going on in sports, that led to 2 days of media attention.  Now, Connor Stalions Netflix documentary is due to release on Tuesday.  It's also Game Week to start to start the 2024 season.  Guess what the NCAA did?  They sent the official NOA to Michigan on Sunday.   Wow, what a coincidence?  Alanis Morissette should write a song about the NCAA. 

There is a old saying when something is leaked and they are trying to identify who leaked it.  Who did it benefit?  Michigan has taken a hit everytime Pete Thamel gets behind a keyboard and types out a tweet.  

BTW, the notice being offically delivered barely made a ripple in the media.  Connor's lawyer has already released a statement and we get to hear from the man himself on Tuesday.  I'm not a huge fan of the Untold series as they have really missed the mark on a few of them.  The Urban Meyer Florida Gators one was terrible.  

The NCAA is an old "Karen" yelling at kids to get off her lawn.  Their time has passed and they have barley have any control left with NIL and these Super Conferences.  It's time to shut them down and start from scratch.  

Did someone mention Game Week?  It really is happening!  I expect Sherrone to do his first Monday game week press conference and the permanent head coach today.   The biggest question remains, who is the starter at QB?

Too early look at Fresno State:

Last Season: 9-4
Best Win: Purdue and Arizona State
Worst Loss: 18-42 vs. San Jose State 

Coach Tedford is a highly regarded head coach but he had to step down a few months ago due to health reasons.  That leaves Tim Skipper in charge.  

2023:
Pass: 282 yards per (21st)
Run: 105 yards per (118th)
Points scored: 30 (46th)
Points against: 24 (56th)

Fresno likes to air it out and I expect they want to test the Michigan secondary on Saturday night.  They will have a hard time stopping Michigan's defensive line and pass rushers so expect a quick throw passing game.  Hard to know what Fresno has this season but this has been a solid program and a game not to take lightly if your a Wolverine player, coach, or fan. 

  • Nice to have college football back this weekend.  I think some leagues missed a window to put better games up when football fans are just "jonesing" for more football.   For example there are a ton of Thursday night games this week.  
  • Vegas was way off in pretty much every line this weekend.  Even Vegas has a hard time predicting what will happen early in the season with all these transfers and quick turn programs. 
  • Former Michigan player Pat Kuglar has gotten arrested and the allegations are not good. 

13 comments:

Goblu said...

Guess FSU shouldn't complain about missing the playoffs any more... wow.

Ron said...

Yeah the notice of allegations has hardly gotten any media coverage.. little surprising because everybody loves to beat up on the maize and blue but I think they know it's bull you know what

Thomas Salvi said...

Fresno State stuggled to beat Eastern Washington on their home field. They lost to New Mexico, Wyoming, and San Jose State. I think Michigan should take no one lightly....but, C'mon, this is not a good team.

Brady2017 said...

Michigan should have its team of lawyers do their thing and clear things up in court. Just make things miserable for the NCAA. Flip the script and expose the hypocrisy. Then give the NCAA the bird!

Patrick Kugler charges include human trafficking w monors. Ew.

Thomas Salvi- Are you really 'Michiganman'? Your posts have an odd angle to them.

Goblu said...

Ha, Brady! I was thinking the same thing. He's kind of appeared out of nowhere.

ESPN has an article out how Ohio raised a $20m NIL warchest to beat michigan this year. That's insane.

Brady2017 said...

Little Brother screaming for attention on Friday night against big, bad Florida Atlantic. Would like nothing better than to see Sharty lose on national tv. Lol

I agree w Bob, we need more early season college football on tv. I completely missed the FSU-Georgia Texh game.

Brady2017 said...

Goblu- At least Michiganman honored the Bighouseblog ban on him. Lol

Brady2017 said...

I'm gonna have to monitor Thomas Salvi. If he mentions Dubi in any posts, then I think we have our man.

Aimtubbs said...

well said. The other side of that coin is the NCAA protects their favs while going after their perceived enemies. Jimmy gave them the finger and they went to war against him. Yet, the $uckeyes have gotten off mostly free year after year with their abuses. There is NIL, and then there's handing out bags of cash. There's supposed to be a line between them but the NCAA is so feckless they allow it. It's ok to offer kids cash so you can finally beat your rival, even tamper with said kids when they were at other school...still ok, but don't buy a kid a burger. The Cockeyes gave UM signals to their opponents, guess that was ok too. They stole practice film=ok. The Arkansas coach said the quiet part out loud; "we are all stealing signs". The NCAA is going to get wrecked soon when schools leave that media contract and pursue their own. 2 more years. Die NCAA, die!

Thomas Salvi said...

What have I said that is sus? Every fact I presented is correct. If you believe my facts are wrong, please identify the error. I'm a graduate from 1986 and a die hard Michigan fan and Charter Victor's Club member. I was a season ticket holder for 16 years but live in the Chicago area. I don't post often, but I'm interested to know what makes my posts have an "odd angle". Perhaps factual analysis and reality while being a die hard Michigan Man is now considered red pill.

Tim said...

I won't get into all of them...but you did say Nebraska fans, facilities and atmosphere is the best in the B10. Not one of the best or just very good...you said the best in the B10. Very odd statement. And I would say outside of Lincoln 95% of B10 players and fans would disagree with that.

Thomas Salvi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thomas Salvi said...

You obviously have not been to Memorial Stadium. Penn State is up there, but their stadium is ugly and so is State College - and it difficult to get there. Madison is great too, but their fans are drunk and mean. Columbus has become a huge city; their fans are not as good as Nebraska fans. Notre Dame is beautiful - but it's like one fraternity. I stand by my statement: The Nebraska fans are rabid college fans who support their team ferociously but are nice and kind and respectful to the away team fans. The stadium is classic, the environment is electric. MOST people who go to Lincoln say this. Even Urban Meyer says what I say. All the B1G environs are great - with the possible exception of Northwestern and Rutgers (I have not been to Maryland). So, why does my opinion that my exceptional experiences at 3 Michigan-Nebraska games make my angle "odd"?