Michigan Tuesday: Toys and Trips

When do you become a sports legend?
Is it when you win a couple of Super Bowls?
Is it when you marry a super model?

All good answers, but not correct. It's when you have your own action figure. McFarlane Toys has a new line of former college football stars which include the likes of guys names Payton, Adrian, Ray Lewis and others. But for Michigan fans there is only one guy you would purchase in this new line and it's Mr. Tom Brady sporting the most famous jersey in college football.

• Seantrel Henderson is probably not taking an "official" visit to Ann Arbor. As you remeber, he visited back in the Spring and "loved it". Let's hope when he is visiting Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, USC and Notre Dame he doesn't forget that feeling. It's also interesting that he is visiting OSU when they play USC, ND when they play USC and USC with they play UCLA. Seems like a trend to me. His dad says: "We live here," Sean Henderson said. "He's been to Minnesota a thousand times. And he's made unofficial visits to Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan State. Everybody is still a possibility.

• Former Michigan recruit Donavan Tate picked UNC over Michigan on signing day. Last night he picked the Padres' over Tar Heels. Tate was the Padres first round draft choice in the MLB draft and signed a deal worth $6.25m on Monday.

• Greg Palus is named the starter for Syracuse. Let's see, he has been in camp for a week, hasn't played football in 4 years, and admits to being a little rusty. But he is your starter? Ok, I guess there weren't too many other options.

• This past Saturday started two a days for the Wolverines and Coach Rod called out Michael Shaw and Boubacar Cissoko as players of the day on each side of the ball.

• Michigan doesn't seem to be a major factor in the recruitment of Alex Smith, TE out of Cincinnati. When asked to name his top choices Smith said, "Cincinnati, then Wisconsin, then North Carolina, and Kentucky is in there too." With maybe 4 spots left in the 2010 class, Michigan doesn't need to be taking a TE. They need to focus on defense and a punter.

• For no special reason at all I highlight the two number 40's on Michigan's roster today. Zac Baker is a 5"9 192 pound WR walk-on from Grayling, Michigan. I'm guessing poor Zac doesn't see much field time. Also Michael Williams a 5"11 Safety from California is a regular contributor on defense.

Michigan Monday: Wermers was out before he transferred

• Oops! Former Michigan offensive lineman Kurt Wermers was academically ineligible when he announced his transfer to Ball State last week, sources told ESPN.com.

• The Nation's #1 recruit Seantrel Henderson (6-8, 325) of St. Paul, Minn. is planning visits to Florida, Oklahoma and Southern Cal, and maybe South Carolina and Clemson. No Michigan? Seantrel has already been to Ann Arbor and let's hope he has already has good feeling about the place. This recruitment has just begun, so let's hope the Michigan coaches can get him in for another unofficial visit for a game this season. He also told ESPN this: "Offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson told ESPN affiliate Web site GatorCountry.com, "Florida, USC and Ohio State... its going to be one of those three. They play for championships and they put a lot of people in the NFL."

• Offensive lineman Ed Christian has verbally committed to Florida State but is still considering Clemson, South Carolina, Michigan and Tennessee.

• DE Darryl Baldwin picks Ohio State over Michigan and other major programs. Darryl lives in Solon, Ohio.

• Michael Shaw is hoping for a breakout year after his groin surgery. "I remember the Minnesota game, and nine times out of 10 that's a touchdown," Shaw said, referring to his 48-yard run, which led to his season-best 71-yard day. "I broke a long run and got dragged from behind. It was then that I was like, 'I'm really hurting. I've never not been able to run, not been able to explode.' "--- "I had significant playing time last year," Shaw said. "With those two guys (Minor and Brown) in front of me, it's up for grabs, and camp is a great platform for me to show I can still play and I'm ready. ... I'm about 90%. I'll be 100% by camp."

• Erin Andrews has an unfortunate video taken while she was in a hotel room.

Recruiting News and Notes

The Blogoshere is buzzing that Michigan should pick up a couple of commits this week. The mostly likely candidates are Texas WR/DB DeWayne Peace (most likely a DB recruit) and Indiana LB Jordan Barnes. Both are close to a decision and have Michigan in their top two or three. There is also a good chance that PA OL Adam Gress a camp attendee will commit to the Wolverines in a couple of weeks.


Other news and notes:

• These guys are not coming to Ann Arbor but headed to OSU: Corey Brown a DB from PA (Michigan offer) and local C-BUS DB Bradley McDougald (no Michigan offer). OSU has an impressive list of 22 recruits and it's not even July yet. RR has only beat the Vest on one head to head recruit so far in this class (Justin Turner). Hopefully they will run out of scholarships soon.
• Easy come easy go for OSU QB's: Sound familiar? Quarterback Antonio Henton transferred from OSU and enrolled in classes at Georgia Southern on Monday. He'll have three years of eligibility left. I guess one new scholarship just opened up. That is two QB's transfers for the Buckeyes this year. That never happens at Michigan.
• Demontre Hurst, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound three-star cornerback from Texas has Michigan offer and had this to say about the Wolverines: Another big-time program that may make Hurst's final cut is Michigan. "I haven't really talked with the new coaches yet," he admitted. "I've really only heard from their defensive back coach and I'm just hoping to learn more about them and get to know them better."
• Dumars kid picks USF over Michigan for basketball. Really?
• Is Time Warner next on the BTN bandwagon: Mary Jo Green, the vice president of public affairs for Time Warner, said that the deal brokered between Comcast and the BTN is a good sign.
  "I think the fact that the Big Ten Network and Comcast came to an agreement is very encouraging and is a positive development," Green said. "I think the fact that Comcast had similar concerns that we do, and that they were able to come to an agreement is encouraging."
• Remember when we said Mike Shaw is fast. Well he really is fast. He has been very busy this off season ripping up the track and is now in A2 preparing for the football season. We could see big things out of this guy this year. I really going to enjoy seeing speed in Ann Arbor.
• Will they play golf or just party for 5 hours? Kid Rock and John Daly are playing together at Wednesday's Buick Open Pro-AM. In a related story, all the beer in The Greater Flint Area is reported to be in short supply. Diet Coke, Gambling, and Weed had no comment.

Soon to be Freshman Michael Shaw is Fassssssssssst

Per Mgoblog and Tennessee Runner:

Event 2 Boys 100 Meter Dash Durham

Meet: m 10.20 1978 Eric Brown, Hampton VA Nike Qualify: N 10.73

Final

Name Year School Finals Wind Points

1 Shaw, Michael Trotwood Mad 10.39 4.9 10

2 Benton, Travis Redan HS 10.54 4.9 8

3 Spreads, Dantwan Dutchtown HS 10.67 4.9 6

4 Marshall, Brian Ooltewah 10.73 4.9 5

5 Cobb, Randall Alcoa HS 10.75 4.9 4

6 Aiken, Michael Oak Ridge HS 10.92 4.9 3

7 Pearson, Kevin Orange Count 11.08 4.9 2

Event 6 Boys 200 Meter Dash

Meet: m 20.90 1988 Kerry Wooden, Newport VA Nike Qualify: N 21.69

Final

Name Year School Finals Wind Points

1 Shaw, Michael Trotwood Mad 21.30 2.2 10

2 Myricks, Johnny Ooltewah 21.94 2.2 8

3 Seamster, Sammy Ooltewah 21.97 2.2 6

4 Boyce, Derek Webb School 22.24 2.2 5

5 Aiken, Michael Oak Ridge HS 22.29 2.2 4

6 Pearson, Kevin Orange Count 23.14 2.2 3

7 Emerson, Justin Christian Ac 23.17 2.2 2

Could he someday have a trophy with this pose on it? Too early to tell, but I think we will all enjoy the Wolverines with more speed next year.