I love ESPN Page 2

Page 2 always has such good reading. Some of the stuff there is flat out hilarious.

Their most recent Page 2 Quiz by Patrick Hruby is especially good, given the recent crapfest that's taken the sports world by storm. Here's one of my favorite questions from the quiz:

34. If Cleveland Browns quarterback draftee Brady Quinn charges at least $75 for a signed picture and up to $225 for other signed merchandise at a shopping mall autograph session, then how much does he charge for photos of himself flexing with a botoxed-looking Bret Michaels, dressed like a bottle of mustard, done up like one of the Village People or happily placing his hand over other guys' crotches?

My guess is a meal big enough for Charlie Weis. That has to be worth at least $1000.

Cheaters Galore

The amount of cheating and bad behavior going on in the sports world right now is rather ridiculous. These athletes, whom we idolize, abuse their power and respect, and then end up falling flat on their faces.

Dan Wetzel on on Yahoo.com sports has a great column about all of this crap, and really doesn't spare anyone. I really like how he wraps the whole thing up, referring to the return of college football season:

We really need the return of a pure and honest sporting diversion that never suffers from cheating, referee controversies, reckless profiteering, political corruption, poor leadership, grade fixing, hundred-dollar handshakes, stripper recruiting parties or, of course, gastric bypass malpractice suits.

Yeah, that's right Charlie Weis. Fuck you.

PS: Cycling, after crapping on Lance Armstrong's reputation with unproven claims of doping right after some of its most popular years due to his dominance, is now racked with more doping scandals than ever before. That's karma if I ever saw it.

Fleeing Irish

Everyone's up in arms about the Domers' announcement that they'll take a two-year break from us in next decade. The two different college football sides in me are fighting against each other in trying to analyze this. The rational college football fan agrees that this is probably the only mutually acceptable way for both schools to get the game on the opposite year as their other big game (OSU, USC). I don't think Notre Dame would ever be willing to come to Ann Arbor twice in a row. We'd never do it for them. Plus it gives both schools a chance to play some other teams. Notre Dame has Oklahoma and Wazzou now, and Michigan is looking at Rutgers and Georgia.

On the other hand, the die-hard Michigan fan inside is dying to yell at the Irish for pussying out one of their few tests through the year (something has to make up for Navy and Army). I just find it odd that Notre Dame's AD Kevin White broke the news long before Michigan, to an Alabama newspaper of all things. But as Bo said, we don't need Notre Dame, Notre Dame needs us. They'll be back, and we'll still be handing their asses to 'em.

But we need someone to make up for the hole created by the absence of the Irish. Rutgers and Georgia have already been mentioned. I wouldn't mind us playing an ACC or Big East team, like BC, Pitt, USF, Wake Forest, Clemson, or UConn. I like BC, Pitt and UConn because they're near alumni centers (Boston, Pittsburgh). Wake Forest, Clemson, and USF are in recruiting areas (the Carolinas and Florida). All are mid-level BCS opponents that'd look decent on the schedule, but should be quite winnable. It's up to Bill Martin to make it happen.

Quick Big Ten Preview

My predictions for the upcoming Big Ten season:

Predicted order of finish
1) Michigan - Offense is too good. Schedule is tough, but gets almost everyone at home. Defense is young, but talented. Biggest strength - offensive line. Biggest weakness - secondary.
2) Wisconsin - Return almost all starters, but have lost Outland Winner Joe Thomas. Strong, but not spectacular, on both sides of the ball. Biggest strength - running game. Biggest weakness - QB.
3) Penn State - LB and secondary are excellent, and passing game should be solid. Toughest opponents are all at home. Play of the lines is suspect. Biggest strength - defensive back 7. Biggest weakness - offensive line.
4) Ohio State - Half of the starters left, including all skill players on offense. Defense is talented, led by Nagurski winner James Laurinaitis. Schedule has Bucks facing no one potent until late October. Biggest strength - linebackers. Biggest weakness - passing game.
5) Iowa - Albert Young is a force, and the recievers are explosive. The defensive front seven is experienced. They're finally healthy. Biggest strength - passing game. Biggest weakness - offensive line.
6) Illinois - Zook pulled in yet another fantastic recruiting class. Super atheletic QB Juice Williams could dazzle if he can improve as a passer. Defense could surprise. Biggest strength - linebackers. Biggest weakness - offensive backfield.
7) Purdue - Offense is one of the best in the Big Ten. Defense gave up a lot of yards last year, and not much will change. Have to play Notre Dame, OSU, Michigan, and Iowa consecutively. Biggest strength - passing game. Biggest weakness - defensive front seven.
8) Indiana - Trio of QB Lewis, WR Hardy, and RB Thigpen is electric. Defense must improve its rankings of 111th scoring and 109th total. Team will be playing for former coach Terry Hoeppner, who passed away this June. Schedule avoids Michigan and OSU. Biggest strength - skill players. Biggest weakness - defensive front seven.
9) Northwestern - Offense could surprise this year after finishing 106th in scoring offense last year. Defense returns 8 starters, but must build some depth. Biggest strength - offensive backfield. Biggest weakness - linebackers.
10) Michigan State - New coach Mark Dantonio has team refocusing after John L Smith era. RB Javon Ringer is a stud. Defense was 100th in scoring defense last year, but should benefit from more aggressive schemes. Schedule is one of the toughest in the Big Ten. Biggest strength - running game. Biggest weakness - defensive front seven.
11) Minnesota - RB Amir Pinnix is the next yardage monster at Minnesota. Filling graduated QB Brian Cupito's shoes will be difficult. Linebacking corps is a experienced. Soft non-conference schedule, but killer conference plate. Biggest strength - running game. Biggest weakness - passing game.

Individual Accolades
Biggest game - Tie, Michigan at Wisconsin, OSU at Michigan
Most valuable player - RB Mike Hart, Michigan
Offensive player of the year - QB Chad Henne, Michigan
Defensive player of the year - LB James Laurinaitis, OSU
Best offensive lineman - OT Jake Long, Michigan
Best reciever - WR Mario Manningham, Michigan
Best defensive lineman - Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota
Best linebacker - James Laurinaitis, OSU
Best defensive back - Malcolm Jenkins, OSU



Hopefully, over the next few days, I'll start posting some previews/scouting reports on Michigan's opponents, as well as a look back at past recruiting classes and how they've turned out.

Threet's Impact

So after a long period of depression (due to the debacle that was the 0-2 on our record last year), mounds of work from college, video game addictions, and plain old laziness, I found that I have a bunch of thoughts running around in my head about Michigan football. Unfortunately, my old place to give vent to these had been facebook groups. But now, I'll try and post here whenever I think of something, until Michigan gives me some reason to be depressed again.


Today, I give you my analysis of the Steven Threet commitment, and what it means for the QB situation for the next few years...

With Ryan Mallet not redshirting and Threet being forced to do so, it adds a small amount of separation between our scholarship quarterbacks. That being said, the situation is still quite crowded. Poor David Cone will probably never see the field as a starter, and Threet and incoming 2008 recruit, John Weinke, will have to wait until at least their junior and sophomore years of eligibility (given redshirts and Mallet leaving after his junior year) before they can start. If Mallet stays for his senior campaign, it'll be an even longer wait. I'd say it's good money that Weinke (if he can't beat out Threet) or Cone transfers at some point in time. However, this is definitely a good problem to have, especially after going through last year praying nothing happened to Henne.

Now, how does this affect recruiting... Well, it's now a given that we're out of the Terrelle Pryor sweepstakes (though we were always a longshot). I just hope doesn't end up at OSU. However, this has an impact that'll be felt for a few more classes. Previously, we would've picked up a 3/4 star guy in 2008 (Weinke) and then gone for an uber recruit in 2009, who would've staying in Mallet's wings, and then taken over in 2010 or 2011. Now, he's been pushed back to the class of 2010, as Threet, Weinke, and Cone have dibs on 2010.

This sets the stage for the following depth charts, barring transfers and injuries:

2007 - Henne (sr), Mallet (fr), Cone (fr), Threet (redshirt)
2008 - Mallet (so), Cone(so)/Threet(fr), Weinke (redshirt)
2009 - Mallet (jr), Cone(jr)/Threet(so)/Weinke (fr), minorrecruit1 (redshirt)
2010 - Mallet (sr - if he stays), Cone(sr)/Threet(jr)/Weinke (so), minorrecruit1 (fr), uberrecruit (redshirt)
2011 - Threet (sr)/Weinke(jr),uberrecruit (fr), minorrecruit1 (so), minorrecruit2 (redshirt)
2012 - Weinke(jr)/uberrecruit(so), minorrecruit1 (so), minorrecruit2 (fr)

I would guess that whoever comes in third in the Cone/Threet/Weinke backup showdown in probably going to transfer.