Michigan Tuesday: Being Malik McDowell

Malik McDowell has been on a wild ride for the last 5 years.  It started on February 5th, 2014 National Signing Day for the 5 star DE from Southfield when he committed to Michigan State.

2/5/14:  Malik commits to Michigan State over Michigan, but his mom is not happy with the decision because she feels that that the MSU Staff and current players told him, (I'm paraphrasing) "If you come to East Lansing you can play football and not worry about school".   Mom declines to sign his LOI to Michigan State.

4/1/14:  After nearly two months, Malik gets his LOI signed and is officially a Spartan.

10/29/16: Malik named to the All Big Ten Team

12/6/16: Malik declares for the NFL Draft

12/13/16:  Malik named to CBS's All American Team

4/28/17: Malik is drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 35th pick in the 2nd round.

June 2017:  McDowell signs a four-year, $6.95 million contract with $3.19 million in bonus money. As part of that contract, the Seahawks were to pay McDowell that bonus in four increments. 

Mid July 2017:  Malik is involved in an ATV crash and misses his entire rookie season due to injuries from the crash.  (concussion and facial injuries)

12/10/17: Malik is arrested outside an Atlanta night club after a dispute over a $600 bill

February 2018: Malik gets charged and convicted of  DUI in Royal Oak

May 2018:  Seattle cuts Malik

2/18/19: Malik is arrested and charged with driving while impaired, driving with a suspended license, obstructing justice and assaulting a police officer.  Video is now on TMZ of him wrestling with a police officer in a gas station. 

Between 2/18 and 6/27: Malik leaves the State of Michigan without permission which is in violation of his arrest. 

April 2019:  Malik is found to have a stolen Ford Truck in his garage.  He says he paid a guy $3000 for the $75,000 truck in Downtown Detroit.   The GPS pinged and the Police found the truck that was recently stolen from a Ford lot in his garage.  He is arrested for driving and concealing a stolen car. 

May 2019:  The Seahawks sue Malik for $800,00 after arbitration with the NFL Players Union where they agree to forfeit half of his signing bonus.   Seattle still believes that $800K needs to be repaid by McDowell.  

Other information from Yahoo about the case:

• Seattle initially attempted to regain everything it had paid him in the signing bonus installments. Meaning the franchise effectively tried to pay him almost nothing since he was drafted.
• McDowell’s base salary as a rookie – which was slated to be $465,000 – was reduced to $5,000 per week for 17 weeks while he was on the non-football injury list. Essentially, Seattle took full advantage of the NFI avenue to reduce McDowell’s rookie base salary from $465,000 to $85,000.
• The Seahawks are not only seeking repayment of the $799,238 that McDowell owes, they are asking for still-accumulating interest on that sum as well as repayment of their legal fees to recoup the money.

This is just crazy.

Michigan Tuesday: Wilton's Status and a New Basketball Commit

Monday was bad day for a ton of reasons nationally.   With the news of Tom Petty dying it looked like it was just going to be more and more bad news all day.   The bad news train even hit Ann Arbor, with the news of Wilton's injury, "being weeks away from playing" per Jimmy, the details on Nate  Johnson and some recruiting bad news.    As I'm sure you heard, the rumor mill is spinning some type of injury to Wilton's vertebra.


Then we find out why Nate Johnson has been suspended: 


Michigan football player Nate Johnson was arrested over the weekend by campus police following an alleged assault.
Diane Brown, spokesperson for the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security, told MLive on Monday that Johnson, 19, was arrested on campus in the early morning hours of Saturday for an attack on a female student.
Details of the incident were not immediately clear, but the alleged victim was located at a dorm room on campus, Brown said. 
Charging documents specify the incident took place at 600 E. Madison in Ann Arbor, where the South Quad dormitory is located, according to 15th District Court records. 
Johnson and the female victim were in a dating relationship, records says. 
Johnson was arraigned Sunday on one count of misdemeanor domestic violence, which is punishable by 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.


To top off the day, long time Michigan commit Emil Ekiyor is now trending strongly to Alabama and it seems a de-commit from the Wolverines is now probable.


Good Thing we got some good news! 


6'5" Brooklyn wing Adrien Nunez committed to the Wolverines 2018 class last night after a visit this past weekend.  Adrien has been blowing up this summer where he started with no offers to the likes of having offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Brown, Dartmouth, Fordham, La Salle, UMass, Penn, Penn State, Robert Morris, St. Joseph's, Texas A&M, VCU, Wagner, and Yale in a matter of a few weeks.   Michigan offered this weekend and Adrien jumped at the opportunity.  With Yale, Penn and others it looks like academics won't be an issue. 


Nunez is known has a shooter with also some ball handling skills.  He is not ranked anywhere yet but Rivals calls him one of the best shooters in the class.  He might be a little raw at this point, but Coach B can work with a 6'5 wing that can shoot the ball!   Please see UMhoops for more info on Mr. Nunez!


Welcome Adrien!

• 2018 Fla. ATH Shocky Jacques-Louis will officially visit Ann Arbor this weekend.  Shocky is a Tennessee commit.

• Many are predicting basketball visitor this past weekend:  2018 Daytona Beach (Fla.) 4-star PF Colin Castleon might also drop for the Wolverines this week.  He was on the visit with Adrien and sent him "congrats" after his commitment.

Michigan Thursday: Has News Worthy Bullets

• Grant Perry has pleaded guilty for assault and resisting arrest. The sexual assault and alcohol charges were dropped.  Most likely Grant will be put in the youth diversion program and his record would be wiped clean if he does his community service and stays out of trouble for a number of years.   I expect he might miss a few more games before he is fully re-instated.

• 2018 East Lansing Power Forward Brandon Johns in announcing his commitment at 1:00 Today.  I like Michigan's chances!

• Drake Johnson got a 6th year from the NCAA yesterday.  It's still up in the air if that year will be spent in Ann Arbor or at another school.

• Michigan has offered 2019 QB Michael Johnson Jr.

• Nike's Opening is this weekend.   24/7 has a slide show of the Michigan prospects attending.

Michigan Tuesday: LTT Pleads Guilty

From Mlive:  Logan Tuley-Tillman, 20, pleaded guilty to capturing or distributing an image of an unclothed person and using a computer to commit a crime during a pretrial hearing on Feb. 8 in Washtenaw County Trial Court.

Under an agreement with the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office, an additional count of capturing or distributing an image of an unclothed person will be dismissed at sentencing.

Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David Swartz said Tuley-Tillman will be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which allows a person between 17 and 20 years old to avoid a criminal record if they successfully complete their sentence or program. The Act limits the sentence, whether probation or imprisonment, to three years.

LTT of course was dismissed from the team and has transferred to Washington State.  He has graduated and would be eligible right away.  It is not known if this plea deal will effect his transfer status at WSU.

• U of M is researching a new football helmet to help with head injuries:  A shock-absorbing football helmet system being developed at the University of Michigan could blunt some dangerous physics that today's head protection ignores.
  The engineering researchers making the system, called Mitigatium, were recently funded by a group that includes the National Football League. Their early prototype could lead to a lightweight and affordable helmet that effectively dissipates the energy from hit after hit on the field. Current helmets can't do this, and that's one of the reasons they aren't very good at preventing brain injury.

• Jimmy and staff has some ground to make up in their own backyard with 2017 recruit from Pioneer HS Antjuan Simmons.  Antjuan recently released a top schools list without the Wolverines on it.

Frank Clark Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge in Ohio

He has just thrown his best year as a Wolverine and probably an NFL draft pick out the window for this unspeakable crime:

Perkins police officers arrested a standout University of Michigan football player on Saturday, charging him with two misdemeanors for allegedly attacking his girlfriend in their hotel room.
Officers booked Frank Clark, 21, into the Erie County jail early Sunday morning on a domestic violence offense.

Later on Sunday, authorities served Clark with an additional assault charge.
He stayed in jail, without bond, through the weekend.

The starting senior defensive end is scheduled for a 9 a.m. hearing Monday in Sandusky Municipal Court.

If you click the above link there are more terrible details of the alleged domestic violence charge.   I expect he will be thrown off the team and probably out of U of M sometime this week.   If you remember Clark stole a laptop during his Sophomore year from a dorm room.  He paid $1,741 in fines and costs and was also given one year's probation for the felony.

York Video

After watching this video, it's clear to me that Csont'e York days are numbered at the University of Michigan.   It blows my mind how a kid can lose an opportunity for a free education and chance to play for one of the most historic football programs in the country in a second.   What a terrible decision.

WR Da'Mario Jones is the other player with him.

Here is York's version:  “He pressed up on him face to face exchanging words for no reason,” York told police. “I got (nervous) and scared about the situation so I hit the guy. I punched him.”

Michigan Friday: UTL Scrimmage and BBall 2016 Commit

Michigan is on a roll right now in getting football and basketball commits, but before we hit the new 6'11 John Beilein commit, I would like to talk about a major change at Schembechler Hall.

Albert Einstein said on Insanity:  It's doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

That was Michigan Football until RR game in.   Then it got really Crazy and now were back to Insane again.    

So when your program has been under preforming for what seems like a decade, how do get your team to achieve success?    By changing things up, taking a chance, doing something new.   Coaching to the strength of your players but also preparing them the best you can.  

I have been critical of Brady Hoke the last two years, but this off season he has really made some new critical decisions to see if he can "shake up the apple cart" a bit.  

#1 He fired Big Al - had to be done
#2 He shook up the defensive coaches responsibilities
#3 He is holding an open scrimmage at the Big House for the public at night (8/16 at 8:00 PM)

#3 might be the most surprising and huge switch.  Michigan barley lets the media into practices and now Michigan is going to do a practice and scrimmage and let everyone in that wants a seat for free? Two weeks before the season opener?

I love the idea and wish there was an NCAA rule that allowed a local team to scrimmage the Wolverines, like the Basketball Team plays Concordia or Ferris State every year.   This will get the team used to playing at night (they have 3 night games this year)  and will also get them used playing in front of fans.   The weather will be much warmer then the Spring Game and I hope the fans attend.  

For those worried about showing ND or OSU too much, I'm sure they will run some very vanilla sets, etc. 

Way to mix it up Coach Hoke!  Great Idea and a way to give back to fans who might not be able to afford taking their family to the Big House for a game.  Update:  you need to register for your free tickets here.

BBall Commit:

John Beilein's program received an commitment from 6'11 center Jon Teske for the 2016 class.   Jon is from Ohio and has started to receive a number of offers this summer.  His early offer list included Ohio State, Xavier, Dayton, Miami and West Virginia.      Michigan has been in need of a true center and it sound like Jon is a prototypical John Beilein big guy, who can shoot and block a bunch of shots.

Jon impressed the coaches at Michigan's camp, got offered and accepted.   Since it's very early for the 2016 class, Jon is not ranked yet as only the top guys in the nation are.   This is a nice early pick-up for the Wolverines!  Since he has a few years to get to campus, I expect Jon's game to continue to advance as he adds some low post moves and maybe a mid-range jumper to his game.

If you want to see him block about 4 shots and hit a couple of jumpers, check out this very short You Tube video highlights from one game. 

• Greg Oden gets arrested for punching his girlfriend and takes his mug shot with this T-Shirt on.    A picture says a thousands words..................................

Michigan Monday: The Duke of York Suspended

“Csont’e York is suspended indefinitely for failing to meet team standards and will not report for fall camp. We demand that every person in our program represent the University of Michigan and the Michigan football program the right way on and off the field. When people fall short of that, there are consequences.”

The rumor is he got into a fight at Scorekeepers with a hockey player.  The A2 Police are investigating the matter.  The length of his suspension depends on how the investigation goes for him. 

He wasn't expected to see a ton of time at WR this year.  Probably was a special teamers at best, unless there was a number of WR injuries. 

Side Note:  football players and hockey players stop fighting each other!  

• Blake Countess will wear #2 this season.  Congrats and well deserved!

• Michigan opened Fall Camp yesterday.  Time to get ready for App. State 

Michigan Friday: Regents Save PT Brandon and His Marketing Circus

The Michigan Regents have shot down the idea of having fireworks after two games next year.   Saving more embarrassment to PT Brandon and his "marketing ideas". 

This quote pretty much sums it up: 

Regent Mark Bernstein was also vocal in his displeasure with the proposal.  Bernstein said he felt like it was a bad idea from the beginning, and knowing that the fireworks display was scheduled to take place during the course of the Notre Dame game, he thought it was an even worse idea.

"This fireworks proposal has sparked an important discussion. This is, I believe, a huge symbolic issue. I love fireworks, but not at a Michigan football game," he said.

"We are not Comerica Park or a Super Bowl or Disney World or a circus. Enough is enough. It should be an experience – a place that resists the excesses of our culture. The fact that it's not (a pro sports spectacle) is what I love about our culture. The fireworks should be on the field, not above it." (bold is mine)

I'm sure you have been waiting or the number of the new freshman on John Beilein's squad.  Well folks, your wait is over:  (freshman highlighted)

2 Spike Albrecht — 5-11, 175 — Guard, JR
3 Kameron Chatman — 6-7, 210 — Guard/Forward, FR
5 D.J. Wilson — 6-9, 210 — Forward, FR
10 Derrick Walton Jr. — 6-1, 185 — Guard, SO
11 Andrew Dakich —  6-2, 185 — Guard, SO
12 Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman — 6-4, 200 — Guard, FR
20 Sean Lonergan — 6-5, 190 — Forward, SO
21 Zak Irvin — 6-6, 200 — Guard/Forward, SO
23 Caris LeVert — 6-6, 185 — Guard, JR
24 Aubrey Dawkins — 6-6, 190 — Guard/Forward, FR
30 Austin Hatch — 6-6, 215 — Guard, FR
32 Ricky Doyle — 6-10, 250 — Forward, FR
34 Mark Donnal — 6-9, 230 — Forward, RS FR
44 Max Bielfeldt — 6-7, 245 — Forward, SR

#12 MAAR wins the longest name award! Andrew Dakich is also sporting #11 now. 


Michigan's Italy schedule as follows:

Aug. 17 vs. the Perugia All Star Men in Rome
Aug. 19 vs. The Big All Star Men at the Vicenza Palazzetto dello Sport
Aug. 20 vs. the Opitergium Spartans Men at the Vicenza Palazzetto dello Sport
Aug. 22 vs. Mantova Stings in Mantua (Matova)

• Taylor Lewan's assault case will now move to a jury trial on 10/28.  Which is the bye week for the Titans.  

• Darryl Stonum got 3 years probation after he was found guilty off felonious assault and two counts of domestic violence.

Michigan Tuesday: The Jetsons Welcome Oklahoma To The Big House

mgoblue.com

Two of college football's most storied programs will meet for the first time in regular season history when the University of Michigan and the University of Oklahoma play a home-and-home series during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, announced jointly by the two institutions today (Monday, July 14).

Maybe Tom Brady's son will be starting for Michigan then.

• Glasgow got sentenced for his DUI:  12 months' probation, MADD impact panel session, $800 fine, and six days of community service. No drinking alcohol has to take alcohol awareness classes and subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

• 2016 Orchard Lake St. Mary's four-star Daelin Hayes won the LB MVP at Rivals 250 Underclassman Challenge.  2016 QB commit Messiah deWeaver was also at the same event and did well ($):  The recent Michigan commit made some of his best throws during one-on-one play, fitting passes into tight windows and varying his trajectory well.

Michigan Tuesday: Also Likes Pizza But Prefers It Delivered

Sam Webb, Scouts Michigan Insider has said that Michigan is no longer pursuing 5 star recruit Jashon Cornell.  Michigan was in early on Jashon and he was high on the Wolverines very early in his recruitment.   That has changed as Jashon recently said MSU was his leader and he is also very high on Ohio State.   The company line on why the Michigan coaches are no longer consider him an option is because they are no longer looking for defensive lineman in this class.   Jashon is listed as a DE but has gotten bigger this summer and the Michigan coaches see him now more of a DT then a DE now. 

Michigan has had some questionable decisions on turning down defensive lineman that wanted to commit under Hoke, but this situation seems more like that Jashon is leaning towards Michigan rivals and the coaches have tapped out. 

• Graham Glasgow entered a guilty plea to a lesser misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while visibly impaired Monday in Ann Arbor's 15th District Court.   He drank about 10-12 beers, took a nap, then drove to get a pizza. Glasgow, 21, was pulled over at 8:39 p.m. at Maynard and East William Streets when an officer spotted a female passenger, later identified as Michigan volleyball player Alexa Dannemiller, hanging out the passenger window. Glasgow had several passengers in his SUV, including passengers in the rear trunk area with the hatch of the vehicle open.    Big Man, Pizza's can be delivered!    He has been suspended for the 1st game of the year.   Enjoy running the steps at the Big House.

• Evander's son 2016 RB Elijah Holyfield will be at Michigan today and Wednesday.

• RIP to Tony Gwynn one of the best hitters I have ever seen. 

Michigan Tuesday: Hates These Reports

I hate when kids don't take advantage of their opportunities.  Most of us will never have the opportunity to put on the winged helmet and run out of the tunnel at the Big House.  That has to be a special feeling. 

The opportunity I'm talking about is having your entire education bill paid for at one of the top Universities in the World.    What did the back-up QB at OSU say a couple years ago?  "We are here to play football not play school".  The problem is that line of thinking.   I know us Wolverine fans like to make fun of OSU with that quote but don't be fooled, there are a few folks on Michigan's roster that thinks the same way.   That line of thinking leads to these type of reports:

Ex-Michigan receiver Jerald Robinson arrested on felony drug trafficking charge.   Robinson left the team in December and now got busted outside of Cleveland with 447 grams of marijuana.  Robinson was a RR recruit who never really developed into the WR most of us were hoping for.  He was expected to start last year.  He didn't and left the team.  If you remember he was put on probation in Ann Arbor last summer when he ran through a parking garage gate.   His opportunity was leveraging a Michigan degree into a profession that he enjoyed, not to play in the NFL.   Another opportunity missed.

• DB Jabrill Peppers will visit Ann Arbor on April 3rd.

• Another WR name to watch is KJ Williams from Bethlehem, Pa.  KJ is high on Michigan and Rutgers right now.

• Trey Burke was named an All American by the Basketball Writers.

Wolverine Wednesday: Wonders About 2013 Starting QB?

I know we should just sit back and enjoy Denard for 10-12 more games.   He is an electric talent and it's been an honor to watch the future legend run wild most Saturday's in the fall.

With that said, it's mid-week against an opponent Michigan is nearly favored by 1/2 a hundred and there isn't much news brewing.   So, I start to ponder what Michigan's QB situation is going to look like next year.  Denard will be gone and the guy that was expected to play will have gone a full year as a full-time WR.   There are plenty of possibilities at QB next year, for example:

• Devin Gardner could move back to full time QB.
• If Devin doesn't get his 5th year medical redshirt, does it make sense to have him run the offense for one year?
• Russell Bellomy will have three years under his belt working with Big Al, would he be the best choice?
• Michigan will have 5 star QB Shane Morris hitting campus sometime in the summer.   Does it make sense to start from scratch and give the Wolverines up to 4 years with the same QB?

I find it hard to believe the Michigan coaches don't know the status of Devin's redshirt.  I would assume the NCAA has given them the most likely scenario.   Which may have helped the coaches with the decision to move him to WR.  

It's clear that Bellomy is the #2 QB right now and I expect to see Russell sometime late in the first half or early in the second.   (Let's not risk Denard a week before ND, please!).   How much time will Devin get at QB on Saturday?  He doesn't have a ton of experience and could use a few series at least. 

As far as Shane Morris goes, I would prefer to redshirt him and let him learn Big Al's new system.  I don't like living and dying on every decision a freshman QB makes.   His high school won't allow him to enroll early so the earliest he is going to get to work with Big AL is during Fall Practice in August.

What would you like to see post Denard?

• Frank Clark pleads guilty to second degree home invasion.   Many expect probation but the max he could get is 15 years in jail.   I wonder how this is going to effect his status with the team?  On 10/23 he will be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which allows him to have the charge expunged if he successfully completes probation.

• It's nice that Michigan State and ND are playing before the Michigan game this year.   The Wolverine coaches should be able to get some good film on both teams.    A common question is, who should Michigan fans root for?  Someone has to lose which is the first positive.  We need MSU to lose in the Big Ten and we play ND next week.   So either way works for me.

• Speaking of enrolling early, Jake Butt said recently he has worked out a plan with his high school and the Michigan coaches to enroll at Michigan in January.   Expected to join him are Kyle Bosch, Taco Charlton, Ross Douglas, Logan Tuley-Tillman and Dymonte Thomas.  You can back date up to 3 scholarships to the 2012 class.

Wolverine Wednesday: Fitz Cuts a Plea Deal

Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of operating while visually impaired in court on Tuesday.  He will be sentenced in October and could be hit with up to  93 days in jail, a $300 fine plus court costs, 360 hours of community service and vehicle immobilization when he is sentenced.   How this effects his suspension and the game this week is still TBD.   From the BHB poll it seems fans are torn 50/50 on whether he should sit or not.  

• Walk-on News:  Michigan Safety Jordan Kovacs tweeted yesterday that Brady Hoke handed out 7 scholarships to 7 walk-on players.   Jordan a former walk-on and now team captain was the perfect person to announce the news.   Who is the lucky 7?  We should know later today but these guys are on the two deep: Simmons, Gunderson, Burzynski, Kerridge, Brink, Kwiatkowski and Glanda.  I wouldn't be surprised if Glasgow was awarded one either. .

• Big Al and Greg Mattison spoke to the media yesterday.  As you would expect there wasn't any ground breaking news.  Here are a couple of notes:  Thomas Rawls didn't practice this week for the Mott open practice - Big Al says he is fine and will play on Saturday,  moving Q to the nose and Big Will to the 3-tech gets their best defensive lineman on the starting 4.  Brady also said on Monday that they needed more size on the line against Bama's offensive line.

• Grantland Q&A with Brady Hoke.

Breaking News: Fitz Gets a DUI & Frank Clark Gets a Home Invasion Charge

From Saline Patch: The Saline Police Department arrested University of Michigan starting running back Fitzgerald Toussaint in Ann Arbor Saturday night on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired, according to Detective Don Lupi.

Saline Police arrested Toussaint at approximately 11:45 p.m. while working in downtown Ann Arbor on drunk driving detail, Lupi said.

From Coach Hoke:  "Fitz made a poor decision and has been suspended indefinitely because of that action. There are expectations that come with being a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan and those responsibilities were not met in this instance. We will use this as an opportunity to educate Fitz and make sure he understands the high standards that we have established within our program."

I would assume he is going to be suspended for the Bama game which is a huge loss for the offense.  Not good, not good at all.

Update:

Side Note:  Really guys?  Come on.

Frank Clark is accused of stealing a MacBook Air from Stockwell Hall, which carries a 2nd Degree Home Invasion Charge.    This charge carries a sentence up to 15 years in jail and a $3000 fine. 

He is also suspended indefinitely.  

Michigan Tuesday: Details on Josh Furman

Josh Furman's trial started yesterday and the reports basically says it was just an over blown situation that never got out of hand.  Josh and Tamani Carter went to friends out to address some texts from a guy that was in a back room of the house.  A number of female students kept Josh from entering the back room and one male roommate said if they didn't leave they would call the Police.  They called and Josh and Tamani left.   Josh has friends at this house and had been invited there many times.  Neither of the women involved felt threaten by Josh.  We will see what happens today as the trial proceeds, but if the ESPN account is true this case maybe thrown out and Josh should be on the active roster soon.

• EJ Time at 3:00 Today:  The latest buzz is favoring FSU but it's hard to say right now.   Oklahoma would be the only shocker choice.  Michigan and FSU coaches were both at this school yesterday.

• 2013 RB Derrick Green says Clemson is his leader but it would be hard to say No to Michigan.  Interesting.

• Former Michigan TE and NFL prospect Kevin Koger injured his Achilles tendon and just had surgery days before the NFL draft.  What bad luck for a good kid.   I hope he gets drafted or signs a free agent contract after his recovery.   I think he could have a nice NFL career with the right team. 

• Ty Isaac is planning another visit to USC with his Mom in May.

• Sounds like the Michigan at Nebraksa game will be a night game.   Michigan - Alabama is also a night game.   Michigan at ND is expected to be in prime time as well.    I guess us Michigan fans will have a few late nights next season. 

Sparty Goes Sparty Again

Michigan State could be on a special run.  They beat both Michigan and Wisconsin already, they don't have the Buckeyes on the schedule and play Iowa for a very realistic shot at a Big Ten Championship and even a shot at the BCS Championship on Saturday. 

Then Sparty decides it can't get out of it's way.   The situation is Chris L. Rucker who was in jail 24 hours ago due to violating his probation for a misdemeanor assault and battery charge by getting arrested for driving while intoxicated the night after the Michigan victory. 

When Michigan State hired Mark Dantonio from Cincinnati, I thought it was a good hire.  A tough coach that would take the un-disciplined Spartans and turn them around into a competitive Big Ten Football Team.   Or just the opposite of the person they fired, John L. Smith that was more known for being a clown then a leader of young men.    

Then we started to see a few clinks in the armour of Mr. Dantonio after State struggled against Michigan.  The first sign was a verbal comeback against Mike Hart's "little brother" comment.  Dantonio didn't just dismiss it, he decided to get into a childish classless "war of the words".

Then came the disaster before the Alamo Bowl game last year where it seemed his entire team was in a dorm fight.  Some players got to come back to the team, others didn't.  After that event, he declared a ""zero tolerance" policy.   Then Chris goes out and has a couple of drinks, gets behind the wheel and gets arrested again.   Spends 8 days in jail and as soon as he gets out he walks right into practice.  Dantonio then says it will be up to Chris if he makes the trip to Iowa. 

I was sorry to hear about Dantonio's heart condition early this year and he certainly surprised me by his new found "river boat" gambler profile by faking field goals and punts to win games.  (BTW:  Those were very high risk decisions that came out positive that could have easily gone the other way.)

What head coaches are missing is they are responsible for everything.  They are the CEO of the Football Program.   Rich Rodriguez has learned that hard lesson over the past 3 years.  Brian Kelly is learning it right now with the tragedy at Notre Dame.   He was responsible for that young man being in the tower under those conditions and he needs to realize that.  Dantonio needs to understand that as well, which he clearly doesn't.  He thinks he is a football coach trying to win a game.  It's not that simple and he has enough experience to understand that, "this isn't his first rodeo".

Let me ask you this:

Doesn't Chris have a few classes to catch up on while he was in jail for 8 days?

Does winning at all costs mean you go from jail to field?    

What happened to the "zero tolerance" policy?

I don't know Mark Dantonio personally and it's very hard to judge someones integrity when you don't know them but, Mark is the wrong person to lead the Michigan State Football Program.   The above examples are enough proof for me.  He is not Tom Izzo.  IMO,  Dantonio is soft of discipline and took a potential magical journey this year and just turned it into a car crash.  If you think about it, John L. Smith is much less dangerous to MSU then Mr. Dantonio.   Isn't it funny how one decision can get you fired when your team is 8-0?  Go ask Mike Leach or Jim Leavitt? 

Detroit News Bob Wojnowski takes Dantonio to the woodshed. 

So does ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Michigan Football Monday: Feagin Caught in a Drug Deal

When a player is thrown off the team for "Violation of Team Rules" you know it's something more then missing a work out or being late for a meeting. The Freep found out why:

Justin Feagin was an alleged drug dealer at the University of Michigan. He had helped a friend try to set up a cocaine deal that never happened and some people around Feagin said he was known to have been selling pot. Feagin also had somewhat of a checkered past, he had a couple of arrests in high school. Feagin told police that he also had been arrested for battery and trespass “on two different occasions” in Florida and that “nothing ever came of either situation,”

Basically what happened was that Feagin told a guy named TJ Burke that he had a contact in Florida that could get him some Cocaine to re-sell. Burke gave Feagin $600 and the Coke never showed up. Burke got mad and tried to make a home made bomb outside Feagin's dorm room to scare him. The Police investigated and found out the information on and from Feagin and Rich Rod threw him off the team immediately.

Burke on the other hand owes the University about $15,000 in damages and most likely will spend 10 years in jail. Feagin is back in Florida and maybe enrolling at App. State (my guess is not now) and will get to spend time with his Uncle who is also pending charges on a serious crime.

Moral of this story: RR had a very small window to recruit a dual threat QB. He picked off a guy in Florida who had an upside but was a very raw QB. Rich Rod also mentioned (I believe at Media Day) that he recruited a few guys that weren't Michigan caliber that didn't work out. With that quote, I believe Feagin to be that example.

So things like this happens and RR moved quickly to dismiss him, which was the right decision. In hindsight he never should have been a Wolverine. Thank goodness they took a pass on BJ Daniels (who was rumored to have asked for money). On a side note, I remember reading an article in the USA Today after signing day that said Michigan was a "loser" on signing day because they didn't sign Daniels. My guess is they made the right decision in not signing him. In the future, I hope they take a pass on Justin Feagin's types as well.

The above example also gives some credence to Wermer's accusation that RR has recruited a different type of athlete. Let's hope this is the only example.

• So Fall Camp starts today and the above BS doesn't mater anymore.

• There is some speculation that Michigan will hear about the status of Justin Turner today around 3:30. Bighouse Blog will have the information as soon as it comes available.

• Three players didn't report to Ohio State's first day of camp on Sunday: Ray Small and Rob Rose are reportedly having academic issues and LB Tyler Moeller remains hospitalized with a head injury.

• Update: ESPN is reporting that Appalachian State is no longer interested in bringing Justin Feagin after the Free Press report and some academic issues.

• More bad news to report. On a day after the NFL pre-season just started and Michigan's Fall Camp Opens, I was hoping for lots of good news. This is not good news: It seems former Michigan DB Vada Murray's cancer treatment is not working and they are starting some new treatments. Please keep Vada and his family in your thoughts today.

Michigan's Starting Corner Back Arrested

The new Ann Arbor.com the entity that replaced the Ann Arbor News is reporting that Boubacar Cissoko (Michigan's expected started at CB in the Fall) was arrested on Belle Isle in June. According to a Detroit Police Department arrest report, Cissoko was a passenger in a car that was pulled over June 6 for speeding on Belle Isle. After a three- or four-minute pursuit, the driver was asked out of the car and hand-cuffed. Cissoko then began yelling “Leave my boy the (expletive) alone,” the report said, and was arrested when he failed to comply with an officer's orders to stop. Cissoko is free on a $100 bond and is expected back in court on August 24 and could face up to a $1000 fine and 90 days in jail (a lesser penalty is expected). “He has been disciplined by the program,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement. “He is taking care of his responsibilities.”

• Kicker Chris Vernon committed to South Florida. I guess he picked South Florida over Michigan and Alabama. I hadn't heard of him before this article. So I'm not sure if Michigan had an official offer out to him.
  


• If you hadn't heard former Michigan and ND Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison is now DC for the Baltimore Ravens.
  


• Rivals ranked Devin Gardner as the top QB at the Elite 11 QB Camp!
  


• ESPN gives Michigan some ideas for it's 2010 opener: Which include: Duke, Virgina (didn't I see that game with a winning catch in the corner of the end zone?), Oregon State, or Pitt. I will take Duke or Virgina, I don't want any thing to do with another OSU or Pitt and RR's history with them.

• Former Wolverine Jerrett Irons: Talks about walking away from the NFL and going to grad school. He got his MBA from Michigan and is now a Business Development Manager for a PR firm in Chicago.

Wolverine Wednesday has a Spartan Flavor

• Another former Spartan heading to the "not so nice" Big House: Hubert "Boo Boo" Thompson, a former Proviso West High School star athlete, was ruled mentally fit Tuesday to stand trial for the 2007 slaying of a 66-year-old neighbor in Lombard. Thompson was a standout football player and a state champion wrestler at Proviso West. He had a one-year football career at Michigan State before making an unsuccessful attempt to play professionally. This is another example of a Spartan having serious trouble with life outside of football.

• Nick Hill will be a Spartan: Chelsea running back Nick Hill will be a MSU Spartan next year. MSU fans will say this is another example of MSU wrapping up the state with Michigan getting the cold shoulder from a recruit. The problem with that is, Nick was always considered a strong Michigan lean and camped at Michigan with the hopes of getting an offer. He wasn't successful, so he took his next best option which was MSU. One last memo to the Spartan faithful, I hope you remember this comment. Because, Nick Hill is very similar to Mike Hart in size and stature.

• Is Michigan close to it's first 2011 commitment? Per ESPN's Bill Kurleic: Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez has commitments from five rising seniors from the state of Ohio. He seems close to adding a commitment from his first rising junior from the Buckeye State.
  Defensive back Greg Brown (Fremont, Ohio/Ross) is one of the most recruited juniors-to-be in the state of Ohio. He worked out at the Ohio State Advanced Camp on Friday. Before that he worked out at camps at Michigan and Michigan State.
  Brown's first scholarship offer came from Central Michigan. While he was camping in the state of Michigan, Brown came away with two new scholarship offers.
  "Michigan State and Michigan, they both offered after camp," Brown said. "Michigan is my favorite. I'm probably going to decide pretty soon."
  The 5-foot-10 and 184-pound Brown made 30 tackles and intercepted five passes during his sophomore season. He is from the same high school as former Michigan great Charles Woodson.