tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114042142024-03-13T16:47:02.871-05:00Chuck BloomChuck Bloom is a former publisher-owner-editor of several Texas community newspapers for more than 25 years before retiring, winning dozens of journalism awards and serving as former president of two regional press groups.Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.comBlogger649125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-23647165282736087802014-09-09T13:13:00.002-05:002014-09-09T13:13:15.625-05:00Final last words<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To readers of this blog:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am announcing the formal end to this blog having dropped that part of my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">The Mgotalk podcast has been retired as of the 2014 season, since the two men have far more family and business concerns loading their plates. But it was a fun ride while it lasted, but enough is enough.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 22.7199993133545px;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Simply put, I cannot keep repeating myself about this team, this program, this set of players (or non-players as demonstrated Saturday night) and this coach.</span>I think Hoke is a nice guy but a BAD head coach (excellent assistant or HC at a mid-major). UM's QB is NOT a strong runner/rusher and either makes decisions too soon or too late. He might be a great student in the classroom, but his football IQ is not nearly as qualified. Our offensive line lived up to its problematic status vs. the Irish, despite assurances that three years of recruiting had solved this malady.<br /><span style="line-height: normal;">On Saturday, we were outplayed, outcoached, outhustled ... and outsourced to the status of "also ran" and "who cares." This is a program that has been overhyped, and overcommercialized by its athletic administration who thinks every aspect needs a commercial sponsor and will sell the program's soul for an extra marketing buck ... hell, even the AD title was sold! The staff and administration are far too secretive about injuries and other aspects that fans need to know (Is Peppers playing or not? Is Funchess playing or not? Is ANYONE playing or not?) Just tell the truth and let people see how it plays out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My motto is: "<b>We're a joke; Fire Hoke!</b>" We need to find the right man for the job and it will NOT happen so long as Dave Brandon is the AD ... so he needs to go as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So ... for the first time, in recent memory, I won't be rushing to the TV to watch this Saturday's meaningless game against Miami (Ohio). It means nothing, proves nothing (even if UM wins) and impacts nothing. I'll DVR it ... but if it were a choice right now between conflicting programs showing Tigers baseball, Michigan football and Chelsea soccer (Go Blues), I'd watch the action across the pond before seeing the Tigers continue to sink in the AL Central. Michigan would be at the bottom of my list...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: normal;">And at 62, I've written enough. </span><span style="line-height: normal;">In the end, I am just tired. I estimate, in my journalistic career, I've more than 2,000 columns alone, not to mention features, editorials, and straight news/sports stories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's all my inner Duracells can produce. No more blogging, no Tweeting EVER (the TRUE evil on this Earth) and only one mortal sin - Fantasy Baseball.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">I write and edit a bi-monthly newsletter (36-40 pages) for our Celtic music association in Dallas (yes, a nice Jewish boy loves Irish/Scottish music), do the program for the annual festival (with more than 60,000 attending), plus coordinate the sales of performer CDs, and oversee my wife's annual family reunion (including constructing a family cookbook this year, which is VERY time-consuming).</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">I appreciate the fact that someone (or two) actually wanted to read my thoughts on the game. I have a warm, fuzzy feeling inside - it's either that or my matzo brie I just cooked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;">Please keep in touch; I will!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal;"><i style="line-height: 22.7199993133545px;"><b>Slainte/shalom!</b></i></span></div>
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Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-91146100009028675492014-01-02T19:11:00.003-06:002014-01-02T19:11:47.196-06:00Johnny Orr: Michigan’s forgotten coach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRikkzptZQE/UsYNCdWXibI/AAAAAAAABBA/aj3AgkZKi9k/s1600/Johnny-Orr+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRikkzptZQE/UsYNCdWXibI/AAAAAAAABBA/aj3AgkZKi9k/s400/Johnny-Orr+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final day of
2013 brought news of the death of a man who will go down in the annals of
University of Michigan sports history as its most forgotten coach – former
basketball coach Johnny Orr. The man who led the 1975-76 Wolverines to an
improbable NCAA Finals berth (only to losing to perhaps the greatest team in
college basketball history NOT named UCLA) was 88 … and had long since been out
of the hearts and minds of U-M fans.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which is, and was,
a tragic shame in itself; Orr did much to reverse Michigan hardcourt fortunes,
culminating in that appearance in The Spectrum in Philadelphia and then a
season-long number-one ranking the following year.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the news leads
in most of the printed obituaries referred to his time in Ames, Iowa as the
head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, with Michigan being an afterthought. The
news of Orr’s passing was a “stop the presses” moment in Iowa; TV stations did
on-site reports from Ames about community reaction o the man credited with
putting Cyclone basketball on a legitimate contending footing.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside Hilton
Coliseum, there is a statue of Orr and an entire section devoted to his years
(1981-94) at Iowa State; in Ann Arbor, no such honors or remembrances exist.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Orr made his real
mark within the coaching profession in Ann Arbor, garnering Coach of the Year
honors in 1976, ahead of Indiana’s Bobby Knight, who coached IU to that
undefeated (32-0) NCAA title. When the honor was announced at the NABC banquet
on the Sunday afternoon between the Final Four and the NCAA Finals, Knight was
the first to stand and applaud and lauded the choice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>---</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fSo64UInox0/UsYOAF2jUvI/AAAAAAAABBg/s3wQyaOeaxc/s1600/UM+1975-76+team+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fSo64UInox0/UsYOAF2jUvI/AAAAAAAABBg/s3wQyaOeaxc/s400/UM+1975-76+team+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 1975-76 squad
was a mixture of state of Michigan-produced and imported talent coming together
as an outstanding team, guided by Orr; it would have been even greater if not
for the looming giant that was Indiana.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially ranked
16th in the various national polls to start the season, the final ranking was
ninth, which did not matter since all issues, including the national
championship were settled on court.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VVp3r9wGCcg/UsYNL7rU8JI/AAAAAAAABBI/8loMRzUV5jU/s1600/Rickey+Green+in+action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VVp3r9wGCcg/UsYNL7rU8JI/AAAAAAAABBI/8loMRzUV5jU/s320/Rickey+Green+in+action.jpg" width="201" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michigan was led in
scoring by its point guard, Rickey Green from Chicago, perhaps the fastest and
quickest guard in Wolverine history. He averaged 19.9 points per game and 4.4
assists, and would become a first-round draft pick of Utah.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of the
Cleveland area came freshman center Phil Hubbard (another future first-round
NBA selection), who averaged 15.1 points per contest (shooting 54.6 percent
from the floor) and 11 rebounds per game despite playing the center position at
6-7.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those were the
“stars” of the squad, but the real heart of the team could be seen in the other
three starters.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sophomore Johnny
Robinson, also from Chicago, was the perfect power forward for Orr’s up-tempo,
fast-break offense, and his ability to run the floor allowed his, at 6-5, the
score 14 points per game and grab 8.2 rebounds.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Grote, the
pride of Cincinnati, played more like the standout linebacker he was in high
school as a guard, and also averaged in double figures for an offense that led
the Big 10 in scoring.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Normally using a
short rotation, Michigan’s top reserves were guard Dave Baxter, a left-handed
outside shooter, and another southpaw, forward Joel Thompson, who possessed
great speed and leaping ability. Both players, however, were best known for
their flamboyant 1970s Afro haircuts, especially Baxter, whose locks flowed
through the air as he ran the court.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there was
the senior captain Wayman Britt, out of Flint Northern High School, who was the
team’s defensive specialist at just 6-2. He was forced to guard players far
taller than he stood and much bigger in bulk, since Britt was under 200. Yet he
never backed down from a challenge and normally got the best of his assignment,
night in and night out.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the stat sheet,
Britt scored at a 10.9 per game average, but his contributions went FAR past
what he did with the basketball. He was a captain – a real leader – for his
team. If anyone deserved to have a number retired, it would be Britt’s “32.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a unit, Michigan
outscored its opponents by an 86-77 point margin, shooting more than 50 percent
from the field (setting a school record), and held its own on the boards
despite an overall lack of upfront size. Its 2,753 point total would stand as
the school standard until 1987.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the 1975-76
season, the Big 10 Conference was loaded with top-flight talent: Greg Kelser
and Terry Furlow at Michigan State, Jerry Sichting, Walter Jordan and Kyle Macy
at Purdue, Flip Saunders, Mychel Thompson and Ray Williams at Minnesota, and
the best starting ever (perhaps in history) at Indiana of Quinn Buckner, Bobby
Wilkerson, Tom Abernathy, Scott May and Kent Benson in the post (plus sixth man
Jim Crews).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i37ZLJtWmEI/UsYNZpB271I/AAAAAAAABBQ/GQVnQi2se-o/s1600/Johnny-Orr+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i37ZLJtWmEI/UsYNZpB271I/AAAAAAAABBQ/GQVnQi2se-o/s320/Johnny-Orr+2.jpg" width="316" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finishing second in
the Big 10, the Wolverines opened tournament play by with narrow 74-73 victory
over Wichita State in the Midwest sub-regionals in Denton, Tex., followed by
another close win, 80-79 over Notre Dame (which sports a roster that included the
likes of Adrian Dantley, Bill Laimbeer, Bruce Flowers and Bernard Rencher) and
then defeating Missouri 95-88 in the Louisville regional finals.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making its first
Final Four appearance since 1965, U-M met the “local” favorites, undefeated
Rutgers (from neighboring New Jersey) in the first of the two Saturday games on
March. Led by All-American Phil Sellers, Rutgers was more than the odds-on
favorites to challenges IU in what was projected a classic championship game
between two unbeaten teams.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Michigan was
not the desired guest, whipping Rutgers from the opening tip and manhandling
the Scarlet Knights 86-70 (after leading 46-29 at half) to set up the first
NCAA men’s basketball finals between schools from the same conference. All five
U-M starters scored in double figures (led by Robinson’s 20 points, followed by
Green and Hubbard with 16 apiece) and Sellers was held to just 11 on 5 of 13
shooting while Phil Jordan missed 14 of his 20 shots for just 16 points.
Rutgers, as a team, was smothered to death for less than 40 percent shooting
from the field.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indiana would do
its part in the second contest, beating UCLA 65-51 (in the Bruins’ first year
after John Wooden retired) in a sloppy affair. Earlier in the season, Michigan
had lost to the Hoosiers 80-74 in Ann Arbor and 72-67 in Bloomington, but this
kind of matchup had never happened before in NCAA tournament history – from the
same conference.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6UfLElNsWM/UsYOMM_PzmI/AAAAAAAABBo/qCGJjRR7QBo/s1600/1976+NCAA+Finals+ticket+stub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6UfLElNsWM/UsYOMM_PzmI/AAAAAAAABBo/qCGJjRR7QBo/s320/1976+NCAA+Finals+ticket+stub.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the championship, Michigan stunned the entire arena by taking a shocking
35-29 lead into the halftime locker room. The team headed into its tunnel and
some of us ran towards to Spectrum restrooms, which already sported long lines
waiting to “take care of business.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Michigan fans were filled with bluster and cockiness, having played one
of its greatest halves that season, as engineered by Orr. But we should have all
known better; the real Indiana would eventually appear and through past experiences,
it would be more than Michigan could handle.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our confidence quickly waned in the opening minutes of the second half as
IU came out and executed its offense to perfection while clamping down on all the
Wolverines offensively, Cinderella’s carriage never appeared as U-M lost 86-68
to camp Indiana’s perfect run.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May and the 6-10 Benson (named the tournament MVP) combined for 51 points
while Buckner added 16. Hubbard had a double-double with 10 point and 11
rebounds and Green scored 16 (when there was no three-point shot), but IU’s
defense forced 19 Michigan turnovers and got to the free throw line 28 times.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indiana, for the game, shot 52.5 percent from the field, holding Michigan
to 47 percent, outscoring UM 57-33 in the second 20 minutes. The Hoosiers
finally wore Michigan down with its press and sizeable height advantage.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got to know Orr fairly well when I worked
for the Sports Information Department at UM from 1974-76. I played a weekly “tennis”
match with his top assistant Bill Frieder (Orr’s successor) and our antics,
when retold in the basketball office, drew belly laughs from his head man.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If there was artwork in the dictionary, next
to the word, “laidback,” Johnny Orr’s photo would have been attached. On the
court, he often displayed a volcanic nature, when referees called fouls which
Orr thought to be particularly egregious, but away from it, he was as affable
as anyone in the office, regardless of sport.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two of my favorite memories actually involve
Knight – one on a road trip to Assembly Hall and the other in the week running
up to the Final Four.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would not be incorrect to say most coaches
and especially Big 10 officials were intimidated by Knight’s bluster and
personality. But not Orr; it seemed as if the two got along well.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Johnny particularly loved telling a story of
a Michigan trip to Bloomington, for a regionally televised contest with the
Hoosiers. It seemed weather problems delayed Michigan’s arrival for a pre-game
shoot-around and left the team with little time for its pre-game prep. All the
while, the Big 10 people are waiting and growing impatient to set up their
equipment and take over control of the telecast.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under ANY circumstances, that did not sit
well with Knight, who could have cared less what the conference folks wanted or
needed. So when Michigan’s bus finally arrived at Assembly Hall, Orr and
company were greeted by Knight, who walked them to the court and said, clearly
in a volume that could be hard in Indianapolis, “Coach, how long does your team
need to get ready?” Orr answered about 15-20 minutes, or so.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Naw, Johnny, you guys need MUCH more time,
30 minutes at least! In fact, take as LONG as you need, perhaps an hour would
be good?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The faces on the Big 10 TV people were
quickly turning red.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Bob, it’s OK. I know they’ve got to set up
and we can warm up quicker if needed.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“No, coach! You take as much time for your
kids to get properly warmed up,” Knight answered.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What about the TV people,” Orr asked.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knight responded for all to hear. “They don’t
run this place; this is MY gym, and I’ll say when the damn game starts – not THEM!”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Johnny Orr retold that tale, he included
wild hand gestures and laughed his way through each sentence.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was “fortunate” to be in Orr’s office on the
Tuesday before heading to Philadelphia for that weekend’s 1976 Final Four;
actually, I was in to see Frieder when Orr called from his area, “Bloom, come
here and sit down. You’ve got to hear this!”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In those days, they conduct teleconference
calls, and a group of national reporters were on the line to speak to Orr and
Knight. Prior to the start, Orr whispered to me, “Listen to this. Bobby has NO
intention of answering their questions. So this should be interesting.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And for the next 35 minutes, Bobby Knight
gave a textbook example on how to hold court without saying a blasted thing. “Almost
every question direction Knight’s way was met with “Well, Johnny what do you
think?” to which Orr usually responded with “Geez, Bobby! Not quite sure about
that.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This ping-pong conference went back and
forth, with neither man budging from clichéd answers and secretly rolling their
eyes at some of the more inane questions. The closest thing to an honest response
was answering the supposition of meeting in the NCAA Finals.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I think it would be good for the conference,”
Knight said. “It would let people know we play good basketball in the Big 10
and teams like Michigan deserve to be there,” never once mentioning his own
squad. Orr could only agree, giving kudos t what Indiana had accomplished up to
that point.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You’re too kind, Coach,” Knight added.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, when it was done, Orr’s office phone
rang and it was Knight on the other end.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Think they got the message about bothering
us this week?” Knight queried. And both men laughed loud and heartily.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THAT is how I remember Johnny Orr.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">---</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all his accolades, honors and record,
Johnny Orr is NOT in the National Basketball Hall of Fame, which is another
crying shame. In 29 years, he went 466-346 for three schools (Massachusetts,
Michigan and Iowa State), and his teams made 10 NCAA tournaments.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Orr was hired in 1967 from UMass, coming to a
program which was last in the Big 10 just two years removed from an NCAA Finals
appearance. By 1970, Michigan had returned to the NCAAs (when there were far fewer
teams), and in 1974 and 1977, Michigan grabbed Big 10 titles in one of the
toughest leagues in the nation. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">From Jan. 12, 1976
through Nov. 30, 1977, Michigan won 22 games at home without a loss – another long-standing mark.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it seemed never to be enough for the
Wolverine fan base and by 1980, Orr left Ann Arbor for the heartland that is
Iowa, again to resurrect a program in dire straits. When Orr left Michigan, he
had become the school’s all-time winningest coach (209 wins), which remains
true to this day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The Michigan basketball program is saddened
by the passing of Johnny Orr,” said current Michigan head coach <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/john_beilein_470469.html"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">John Beilein</span></a></span></strong>. “Johnny was a
tremendous person and basketball coach. We will always value the many positives
he brought to both the University of Michigan and college basketball in
general. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Orr family during this time.”</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-blsQGWIoe34/UsYNuZuELMI/AAAAAAAABBY/g9Qrn2TOsaA/s1600/SI+1976+cover+UM+hoops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-blsQGWIoe34/UsYNuZuELMI/AAAAAAAABBY/g9Qrn2TOsaA/s320/SI+1976+cover+UM+hoops.jpg" width="245" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Under Orr’s tutelage, Michigan had eight All-Americans: forward </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/baskmen/baskmaa/tomjonaa.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rudy Tomjanovich</span></a> (1970), guard-forward <a href="http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/baskmen/baskmaa/wilmoraa.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Henry Wilmore</span></a> (1971-72), forward Campy Russell
(1974), forward C.J. Kupec (1975), Green (1977), Hubbard (1977), forward Mike
McGee (1981) and guard Eric Turner (1983).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Orr spent 14 years with the Cyclones, getting
them to six NCAA Tourney appearances (the first in 46 years’ time) and five
20-win seasons. Again, when he retired in 1994, he was Iowa State’s all-time
winningest coach with 218-200 victories.</span><span> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At the University of
Massachusetts, Orr was 39-33 during his three years.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A proud alumnus of Beloit College, Orr was
twice named an All-American. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War
II and attended Illinois to play basketball and football for one year. As a
prep star in Taylorville, Orr led all of Illinois in scoring and his team to a
state championship.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orr is survived by his wife, Romie, and three
daughters; Jennifer, Leslie and Rebecca, five grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was preceded in death by his daughter,
Robin, who sadly passed away in 2010.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Johnny Orr is gone but not forgotten among
many of us. The University of Michigan athletic department would do itself
proud if it established a Johnny Orr wing of Crisler Center (Arena, to us old-timers),
dedicated to the accomplishments the old coach created for the Maize and Blue.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think he more than deserved it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-78423697723199659852013-12-30T17:28:00.001-06:002013-12-30T17:28:15.797-06:00Michigan-Kansas State: a game of thorns
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
any football fan wishes to see a textbook example of indifference by a team on
the field, during the entire game, simply pop in the DVD of the 2013 Buffalo
Wild Wings Bowl into the player and see how little Michigan cared about winning
that contest.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was a game essentially decided before halftime, and the 31-14 final outcome, in
favor of Kansas State (a second-level team from the Big 12), was only for the
scoreboard operator to monitor. In the desert community known as Phoenix, the
Wolverines did not rise to the occasion; they produced no emotion, no
sustainability, and no inkling of what to do in all facets of the game … except
to demonstrate how meekly one team can play against another squad which
actually cared about the final verdict.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was, frankly, a boring game, an excruciating exercise to watch (for U-M fans)
and a totally forgettable way to spend a Saturday evening. Apparently, the
crowd (which contained the usual large number of rabid K-State followers),
reflected its indifference, with only 53,284 in “attendance” (compared to the
Sun Devil Stadium capacity of 71,706). It was noticeable to anyone watching on
ESPN, as cameras shied away from any evidence of humanity sitting in the
stadium’s upper decks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
game might have been extended for two more quarters after halftime, but Michigan
had surrendered much earlier, almost from the opening whistle. After all, how
does anyone explain starting Justice Hayes, a sophomore running back with only
three carries in 2013?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
real waving of the white flag came with 55 seconds left in the first half, when
Michigan trailed 21-6. It had the ball at its own 46, on fourth down, and after
a timeout and huddle conference, the decision was made to punt – to simply give
possession away without so much as a whimper or an attempt to go for a score
(or at least a first down). That was the sign of someone trying hard to escape
rather than play-to-win – a shadow of the team that tried like hell to make a
two-point conversion in the final moments to upset Ohio State just one month
before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
imagine the following prayer was being uttered in Wolverine household at about
the same time I mumbled the words at 11:40 p.m. (CST): “Dear Lord, please let
this game and this season end … as soon as possible!” It was the proper ending
to a season when two of the team’s seven wins were miraculous endings against
Akron and UConn (two vastly inferior teams).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Every
phase of Michigan’s performance stunk to high holy hell. The beforehand
reliable defense looked confused and constantly out of position, leaving wide
gaps of playing turf open for the KSU offense to exploit. Perhaps the most
telling statistic saw Matt Wile, the team’s placekicker, have more solo tackles
than the two defensive ends (Frank Clark and Jibreel Black) – a sad state of
affairs to say the least.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
his first collegiate start, freshman quarterback Shane Morris’ outing was
workman-like, at best. He finished with 24 completions on 38 attempts and his lone
interception (which led to KSU’s final touchdown) did not have any effect on
the outcome, other than the point spread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Morris
mostly threw short “safe” passes – the longest gain (a 24-yard play to tight
end Jake Butt) was yardage garnered after the reception of an 8-yard aerial. Morris
averaged only 5.2 yards per attempt and a miserly 8.2 yards per completion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
contrast, Wildcat QB Jake Waters, who Michigan made to look like a potential
first-round NFL draft choice, completed 21 of 27 passes for 271 yards (and a
healthy 12.9 yards per completion). Waters not only avoided tossing an
interception, the plays were executed at such an efficient rate, U-M defenders
didn’t come within the stadium’s confines of even sniffing a turnover (the lone
recovered fumble only led to a three-and-out for the U-M offense).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
coaching staff, led by offensive coordinator Al Borges, took the easy route,
and didn’t ask Morris to gamble on deep routes. All that safety dancing,
however, meant the KSU defense could play a tighter zone and stop Michigan from
garnering significant yardage after catches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
manner of trying to protect Morris in his first meaningful action was
admirable, but this isn’t junior high football; it was a time to discover
whether he could be handed the eventual keys to the offense – either in 2014 or
beyond. But it was much too timid of a game plan to demonstrate any capability
of winning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While
the ball was spread among nine different Wolverine receivers, six of them
combined for nine completions for a grand total of … 49 yards! Subtract a
14-yard play to slot receiver Devin Funchess, and you have eight “successful”
plays for 35 yards – none over a 9-yard gain. No one can win at that rate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Of
course, Michigan’s total lack of any kind of effective running game hurt Morris
all night long. U-M had to resort to trick plays (two of the first four running
calls were reverses instead of going between the tackles) and those
aforementioned dump passes to move forward. When Morris ran 40 yards on
Michigan’s final series, it made him the team’s leading rusher … by a wide
margin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Subtract
Funchess’ 14-yard gain on the first reverse play, everyone else carried the
ball 13 times for 19 yards. The longest carry was all of 6 yards and the four
depth chart-listed runners combined for 9 attempts, gaining 13 yards. What
makes is so sad is it wasn’t the worst performance of the season … by a wide
margin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the way, before anyone creates a false scenario, there is NO quarterback
controversy at Michigan. No one can say junior Devin Gardner’s absence would
have altered Saturday’s outcome, but Gardner is far, FAR more mobile than
Morris and takes more opportunities to throw the ball downfield (north to
south), not this West Coast, side-to-side dump-crap passing game on display with
Morris under center.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
only point of concern will be Gardner’s ability to recover from what is
obviously much more than “turf toe” and remaining healthy for his senior year.
But it won’t matter if Michigan doesn’t produce a running game which at least is
lifted to the level of adequate, instead of totally ridiculous (as it stands
today).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
real difference, other than attitude, is the one commodity Michigan most lacks
in its players – speed. Above anything else, speed is what distinguishes Big 10
teams from those in the SEC, ACC and Big 12; it also explains why Big 10 teams,
mostly built upon methodical power football principles, have so much trouble in
their matchups with teams in those other groupings. As often said, it is the
one attribute a staff cannot teach; it’s either there or not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
was not an ass-kicking because, despite the lopsided score, because no one
wearing Maize and Blue actually showed their backside to the purple-clad
Wildcats. In the first-ever meeting between these programs, Kansas State played
like the outcome mattered to its future; Michigan looked like it was going
through the motions of a light-contact scrimmage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To
U-M playing K-State meant nothing; just another name on the schedule with no
history or tradition to inspire any player. To Kansas State, it meant a
validation of its existence and a victory over one of the most vaunted
collegiate programs in history was very meaningful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
have spent more than a few hours in the state of Kansas; it is a sports fan
base dominated by one sport – University of Kansas men’s basketball (almost to
the exclusion of everything else). “Rock Chalk” is the main topic discussed in
cafes, barber shops and in taverns; football is almost an after-thought.
Kansas’s football program is a joke (hence, Charlie Weis is coaching there).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Within
Kansas, the only school that truly appreciates its football is KSU, due to one
man – 74-year-old head coach Bill Snyder. When he assumed control of the
Wildcats, K-State was one of the five worst programs. In his two separate
stints (1989-2005, 2009-present) in Manhattan, Snyder is now 178-90-1, and has
been named National Coach of the Year five times; he IS Kansas State football.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Snyder
can also “coach,” not just bring talent from across the Midwest and Southwest
(including Texas, Oklahoma and other hot spots of talent). It was his game plan
his troops followed to perfection in Tempe, making his opposing coaches look
like prime-time JV hacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
Kansas State was on offense, one player stood head and shoulders over the
entire Michigan roster – junior wide receiver Tyler Lockett, son of the school’s
all-time receiver (Kevin Lockett). Lockett constantly barbecued, roasted and
deep-fried cornerbacks Ramon Taylor and Blake Countess for three touchdowns and
116 yards overall on 10 catches ... and it could NOT have been a surprise,
given a full month for everyone to ready themselves for Lockett’s ability to
execute double moves and run tight routes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
no one could stop him, or try anything to negate his influence (such as playing
a tighter form of coverage or knocking his at the line of scrimmage to take him
off his game, even for a brief moment). It was pathetic after KSU assumed its
21-6 lead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
this reason, and many more (about 60 minutes’ worth), this loss sits squarely
on the shoulders of the Michigan coaching staff. Given 30 days to produce a
winning game plan, with or without Devin Gardner, Team 134 looked as
unprepared, unmotivated and unemotional as any unit in recent memory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
after three seasons, during which the team’s record have steadily fallen
towards mediocrity, one must begin to harbor thoughts of buyer’s remorse
concerning head coach Brady Hoke. He gives the impression of understanding the
school’s storied history (something his predecessor, Rich Rodriguez, failed to
grasp from the get-go) and can recruit like a demon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However,
getting players onto the campus is one thing; “coaching them up” is quite
another. Aside from two victories over Notre Dame and a losing-streak halting
victory over Ohio State (at home), Hoke has yet to command a true statement
win, especially on the road. I’m sure Michigan fans are beginning to feel those
ants in their pants, watching an obviously talent-laden roster lose too many
games to satisfy any type of explanation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Of
course, the obvious question is, “If not Hoke, then who?” and the speculation
should satisfy no one. I’m not possessed with the magic answer, nor is anyone
within Wolverine Universe (especially AD Dave Brandon). But the talk will only
grow louder and angrier if an immediate turnaround is not seen; and it won’t
help to coach or perform with that Sword of Damocles hanging over the entire
affair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
the final insult to the Michigan program was this final audible note from the
ESPN crew: with Notre Dame’s victory over Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl earlier
in the day, combined with Michigan’s loss, meant the Irish NOW sport the
highest winning percentage in collegiate football history – NOT Michigan! It
was one of those pre-game bragging points the U-M SID office would place before
the media at every opportunity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now
even that was lost in the desert and I’m not sure anyone really gave a hoot
about it … by a wide margin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-52713262015496176802013-12-11T16:52:00.002-06:002013-12-11T16:54:14.841-06:00Welcome to the dog show: 2013 college bowl predictions<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Entering
the final year of the current BCS system to determine a “national” collegiate
football championship, it is still comforting to know the post-season bowl
system – rewarding too many undeserving teams with trips to exotic places (like
Mobile, Birmingham, Boise, Charlotte) – is alive and well. Next season, when
the playoff system is implemented, there will be even MORE games (four to be
exact) to wine and dine and entice college presidents to send their young men
to “represent” their institutions.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi1h-ZnIloQ/Uqjpg0KBHwI/AAAAAAAAA_g/en_vkFYQG64/s1600/Bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi1h-ZnIloQ/Uqjpg0KBHwI/AAAAAAAAA_g/en_vkFYQG64/s200/Bulldog.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
liken the bowl season to a dog show – with all sorts of breeds competing to see
which one is the best that night. It’s impossible to truly compare a Scottish
terrier to a Great Dane, but it’s done. It is the same to some extent to say
whether the Belk Bowl is better than the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (at least we
know what will be served in one press box).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They
are ALL dogs to one extent or another – some are mutts and some are champions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With
some of these games, a fan must ask, “What’s to be gained by playing?” If the
game involves a team from a mid-level conference, the answer is obvious …prestige
in beating one of the “big” boys.. But a second-division club from a major
conference has nothing to gain by putting its reputation on the line in a venue
its fans care little about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
real answer is money, money and mo’ money. A conference like the Big 10
deliberately overextends itself, contractually, is to scoop up each loose penny
it can find for its own use (not necessarily its members – how much does
Michigan REALLY benefit by having Minnesota play in the Texas Bowl???).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
begins the marathon that is the viewing of too many games before the real crème
de la crème meet in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl to crown a mythical national champion.
For the rest of the other encounters, please heed these words: buyer beware.
You get as good as the records and matchups allow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here
are the categories (and criteria) of the 2013 bowl/dog show, to be used for
this judging:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grand champion – This game is the best of the best. In this instance,
the winner is no mystery.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The two best teams, as sustained in the 2013 regular
season, ARE Florida State and Auburn, to play in the Rose Bowl.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JysnIp_XgsU/Uqjps3McvPI/AAAAAAAAA_o/osPN-QwdXe4/s1600/Bearded+Collie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JysnIp_XgsU/Uqjps3McvPI/AAAAAAAAA_o/osPN-QwdXe4/s200/Bearded+Collie.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If Auburn played Alabama (who probably IS the best overall squad in the
U.S.) nine other times in 2013, the Tigers/War Eagles could well go 0-9, but
when it counted, in the Iron Bowl, Auburn pulled a rabbit out of its … hat, and
won the game. The loss earlier in the season (in double overtime) doesn’t
matter; it’s just fodder for the water cooler debating society.</span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In this game, I just don’t see Auburn bringing Cinderella to this ball.
FSU is a better balanced team and the string of consecutive national
championships coming from the SEC will end (Florida State 42, Auburn 24).</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Best in Show finalist</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – In the running for the overall blue
ribbon as one of the top 3-4 games, but just cannot get past that one element,
keeping it from the crown and the glory.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Rose Bowl (Michigan State-Stanford) – this should be the best game of
them all in the long tradition of Big 10-Pac-12 matchups. As a Michigan fan,
I’ve learned (the HARD way) NOT to pick against Stanford when playing in
Pasadena. Won’t start now (Stanford 27, MSU 21).</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ztw_VDi4lk4/UqjrrX-8bvI/AAAAAAAABAY/FWXqD2aS7u8/s1600/Komondor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ztw_VDi4lk4/UqjrrX-8bvI/AAAAAAAABAY/FWXqD2aS7u8/s200/Komondor.jpg" width="188" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fiesta Bowl (Baylor-Central Florida) – how much does anyone truly know
about these two programs? Outside of Central Florida and Central Texas, the
answer is very little. It will be time to introduce them to the national stage,
unlike anything seen in the past (Baylor 45, CFU 41).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sugar Bowl (Alabama-Oklahoma) – Seeing Alabama takes its frustrations
out on the Sooners will warm the hearts of all Texans to the south (Alabama 42,
Oklahoma 20).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Orange Bowl (Clemson-Ohio State) – two overrated programs with something
to prove to themselves. Besides, the best running back in the nation is Ohio
State’s Carlos Hyde and why he was omitted from ANY Heisman Trophy
consideration is a mystery (offering more fuel to the Buckeye bitching fire).
Watch him excel in the NFL.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By the way, the Heisman is just another dog (and pony) show; Jameis
Winston has already been anointed as the “next big thing,” especially after his
clearance of any possible sexual assault charges in Florida. He’ll play one
more season and then skip Tallahassee for the pros (Ohio State 30, Clemson 24).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Breed champion</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Good matchup; hopefully the game
will live up to the hype and expectations.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DjRe4A6bFHE/Uqjr75L2SwI/AAAAAAAABAg/tvPEVRRAeTQ/s1600/Cairn+terriers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DjRe4A6bFHE/Uqjr75L2SwI/AAAAAAAABAg/tvPEVRRAeTQ/s200/Cairn+terriers.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Russell Athletic Bowl (Miami [Fla.]-Louisville) – the old Tangerine Bowl
has itself what should be an entertaining game, especially to see if Terry
Bridgewater can become an NFL quarterback (Louisville 35, Miami 28).</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Capitol One Bowl (Wisconsin-South Carolina) – Can the epitome of Big 10
football – the physicalness of the Badgers – match the typical SEC overall
talent of South Carolina? (South Carolina 24, Wisconsin 21).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">AT&T Cotton Bowl (Oklahoma State-Missouri) – A real good matchup on
paper, but, in truth, it is just two years removed from being a regular Big 12
game. No real excitement; still should’ve been Texas versus Texas A&M
(Ok-State 41, Missouri 37).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Class winner</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Game should be better than
expected, especially for a minor level bowl.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Las Vegas Bowl (Fresno State-USC)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">– both in the top 25 and the Bulldogs have that chip of their shoulders
about not getting any respect. But why is such a small venue? (Fresno 37, USC
34)</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alamo Bowl (Oregon-Texas) – this was going to be a major blowout for the
Ducks, but circumstances can change a team and for the Longhorns, circumstances
have certainly inserted itself into the storyline. You never want to play a
team totally motivated to prove itself, and its coach, to the football world
(Oregon 37, UT 34).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZtt_ZlEA50/UqjrRJLvH2I/AAAAAAAABAQ/tZyHjb6WPH4/s1600/Irish+Wolfhound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZtt_ZlEA50/UqjrRJLvH2I/AAAAAAAABAQ/tZyHjb6WPH4/s200/Irish+Wolfhound.jpg" width="171" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sun Bowl (Virginia Tech-UCLA) – the folks in El Paso always produce a
winning matchup, a well-organized week of festivities and one of the more
interesting settings for any college football game (mountains to one side, the
border crossing to the other) (UCLA 27, VaTech 20).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Duke-Texas A&M) – I don’t think Duke can hang with
A&M’s offense and you know Johnny Manziel wants to end his collegiate
career on a high (scoring) note (A&M 49, Duke 17).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Outback Bowl (Iowa-LSU) – LSU is by far the better team but doesn’t have
its three-year starter at quarterback. Iowa won’t know how to plan for the
Tigers’ future and cannot handle LSU’s overall speed (LSU 42, Iowa 20).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Out of the money</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Matchups actually not as good as
the reputations of the schools involved.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQOTpe0QQ_U/UqjrCbF_TXI/AAAAAAAABAI/quvOn151UEU/s1600/Lancashire+heeler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQOTpe0QQ_U/UqjrCbF_TXI/AAAAAAAABAI/quvOn151UEU/s200/Lancashire+heeler.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (Boise State-Oregon State) – at least Boise is
seeing crystal blue water instead of its home ugly-ass blue turf.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Holiday Bowl (Texas Tech-Arizona State) – Tech, with all its so-called
high-powered offense, has lost five games in a row because no one knows a thing
about defense. Won’t be as close as people think.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Liberty Bowl (Rice-Mississippi State) – of all the teams headed to a
bowl game of any repute, who served Rice for this one? Pun intended.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Independence Bowl (Boston College-Arizona) – anyone rooting for Rich Rodriguez?
Seriously??? Oh yeah, Shreveport is this nation’s winter vacation paradise … if
you’re a crawfish!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Stray</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – it’s not a good game, and the only
reason you’ll watch is either you went to one of the school, or your tuition
money is presently headed there.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Poinsettia Bowl (Utah State- Northern Illinois) The “We Got Screwed”
award for 2013 goes to poor ole, Northern Illinois, from a ranked, BCS
possibility to this crap.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJuguQPjO8U/UqjquPzOTTI/AAAAAAAABAA/CahfiTRF6AY/s1600/Welsh+Terrier+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJuguQPjO8U/UqjquPzOTTI/AAAAAAAABAA/CahfiTRF6AY/s200/Welsh+Terrier+(2).jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Military Bowl (Maryland-Marshall) – We. Are. Marshall. In. A. Lousy.
Game. Maryland is there for local interest only and those God-awful uniforms.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (Washington-BYU) – Brigham Young is
contractually obligated to be in San Francisco (all those Mormons spending time
in America’s most liberal city… hmmmm). What’s U-Dub’s excuse?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Pinstripe Bowl (Notre Dame-Rutgers) – Puh-lese! This is perhaps the most
overrated game of all. And did the Irish REALLY want to be outdoors in NYC in
the dead of winter?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rzwNHe6R54/UqjqfkjElXI/AAAAAAAAA_4/7ltyj0Nq1ps/s1600/Gordon+setter+puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rzwNHe6R54/UqjqfkjElXI/AAAAAAAAA_4/7ltyj0Nq1ps/s200/Gordon+setter+puppy.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Music City Bowl (Georgia Tech-Ole Miss) – Rebels and rambling wrecks …
sounds like a better country song than football game.</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Middle Tennessee-Navy) – they’re
cutting back on the military budget; start by NOT sending Navy to this lousy
game, to face a school no one knows ... even in Tennessee.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">BBVA Compass Bowl (Houston-Vanderbilt) – geez, had it been Rice and
Vanderbilt, they could have used the old 1950s TV show format, “The College
Bowl.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mutt</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Not even worth activating the
“power” button on the remote. You’d be better off watching an actually dog
show. Not even worthy of making a selection.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">New Mexico Bowl (Colorado State-Washington State) – why this? I have no
idea (at least someone can go eat at El Pinto, one of the best Mexican
restaurants around).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (San Diego State-Buffalo) – the university or
the Bills?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">New Orleans Bowl (Louisiana-Lafayette-Tulane) – at least the food should
be good.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYXuzTFr5mo/Uqjp_aIRUbI/AAAAAAAAA_w/RUI42rVU30w/s1600/Dandie+Dinmont+Terrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYXuzTFr5mo/Uqjp_aIRUbI/AAAAAAAAA_w/RUI42rVU30w/s200/Dandie+Dinmont+Terrier.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Little Caesars Bowl (Pittsburgh-Bowling Green) – BGSU deserved better
that Pizza! Pizza!</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Texas Bowl (Syracuse-Minnesota) – Houston is a long way for fans not to
show up.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Heart of Dallas Bowl (UNLV-North Texas) – Local interest involving the
ONLY area school at a bowl game; too bad the opposition isn’t a known entity.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">GoDaddy.com Bowl (Ball State-Arkansas State) – where is Danica Patrick when
you REALLY need her?</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
2013 aspect that strikes home in my household is what should be termed as the
“Todd Graham” factor. Three teams that the current head coach at Arizona State
led (Rice, Pitt), or is leading (Sun Devils) are in the 2013 bowl picture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4a_3hODMPhc/UqjsjgxGsPI/AAAAAAAABAw/NeHox7Z-UvA/s1600/Todd+Graham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4a_3hODMPhc/UqjsjgxGsPI/AAAAAAAABAw/NeHox7Z-UvA/s200/Todd+Graham.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
just more than a decade ago, Graham was stationed as the head football coach at
Allen (Tex.) High School (1995-2000), one of the northern suburbs of Dallas,
where he established the foundation of what he become one of Texas’ premier
gridiron schoolboy programs.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While
at Allen, Graham convinced the school district to build one of the first indoor
practice facilities in the Metroplex (to perfect scale for a 50-yard surface),
and the best weight room in the DFW area. The building was nicknamed the “Todd
Majal” by critics, but it showed the kind of commitment to excellence that
resulted in AISD voters overwhelmingly approving the construction of a
20,000-seat stadium – the best of its kind around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His
first head coaching assignment (after assistant posts at West Virginia, with a
certain unnamed former Michigan head coach, and Tulsa) was at Rice University
(in Houston), leading the Owls to a berth in the New Orleans Bowl in 2006.
After one season, he moved back to Tulsa as its head coach, winning three
Conference-USA titles in four years and going undefeated in three bowl
appearances. At TU, Graham was 36-17, including a 28-27 victory at Notre Dame
in 2010.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
2011, he was head coach at Pittsburgh, leading the Panthers to a berth in the
BBVA Compass Bowl. Prior to that game, he accepted his current assignment with
Arizona State, and has gone 18-8 in Tempe, winning last year’s Fight Hunger
Bowl, and playing for the Pac-12 championship against top-five ranked Stanford
earlier this month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
the same reason I root for the New England Patriots (with the Tom Brady
connection), I also pull for Graham’s squads – past and present – because he
was a friendly and honest interview when I worked for the paper(s) that
serviced Allen.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">STRAY</b> category must be placed
the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., involving the Michigan Wolverines
against Kansas State’s Wildcats. This less-than-interesting matchup pits the
Big 10’s most (overall) disappointing squad against an also-ran from the Big 12
Conference (never in anyone’s serious pre-season championship discussion).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KD4ytcLPGcM/UqjsQ28-fvI/AAAAAAAABAo/It0o-dsuN_M/s1600/Jack+russell+terrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KD4ytcLPGcM/UqjsQ28-fvI/AAAAAAAABAo/It0o-dsuN_M/s200/Jack+russell+terrier.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Both
teams post 7-5 records, although K-State had a winning conference mark at 5-4
(U-M was 3-5). Each team defeated a ranked team during the year (Texas Tech in
Lubbock for KSU and Notre Dame for Michigan at the Big House).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">K-State
is not nearly as talented as Michigan, and shouldn’t come within two
touchdowns, depending on which Wolverine unit appears in Tempe – the
fight-to-the-last second team that almost beat Ohio State, or the let’s-not-be-offensive
players that lost to Michigan State and Nebraska.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Wildcats do have a platoon system at quarterback but neither Jake Winters nor
Daniel Sams is as individually as gifted as Michigan’s Devin Gardner (when he
wants to play as he did versus the Buckeyes). The “Cats are still missing the
presence and skills of Collin Klein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
main offensive threat is junior wide receiver Trevor Lockett, with 1,146 yards
receiving and eight touchdowns. If the last name seems familiar, Trevor’s
father, Kevin, is the school’s ALL-TIME leading receiver, from the early 1990s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On
defense, ranked 36th in the nation, Kansas State is led by DT Ryan Mueller,
with 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss of yardage. He will be paired with
Michigan’s Taylor Lewan and should have pro scouts drooling at that one-on-one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
constant for KSU is its head coach, legendary Bill Snyder, who has rebuilt this
program TWICE from ruination. He has forgotten more than most coaches know
about football and is as revered a figure in the state of Kansas as one
individual can be. Hell, the field in Manhattan is named after him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
major deterrent to watch this game is its kickoff time – 10:15 p.m. Detroit
time (9:15 here in Texas). Why accept a game invitation where so much of the
fan base is susceptible to falling asleep after halftime?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">IF
… and that could be a big “if” … one manages to stay awake, he or she will see
(most likely) a high-scoring affair with Michigan emerging victorious (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">U-M 40, KSU 28</b>).</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-12108148989972640482013-12-11T07:59:00.001-06:002013-12-11T07:59:25.971-06:00Response to volunteerism column: Pin-Ups for Vets<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dear Chuck,</strong> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I receive Google alerts about Volunteerism and your blog entry came up about the importance of volunteering. What a great piece that was!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After graduating from UCLA, I started a nonprofit to help improve the lives of hospitalized Veterans and healthcare programs in VA Hospitals. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We produce a World War-II style pin-up fundraiser calendar each year to help us in our mission to support ill and injured Veterans, deployed troops, military spouses, h</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">omeless vets, and female vets entering the workplace, as well as VA Hospitals. You can check out all the pages of our website at </span><a href="http://www.pinupsforvets.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>www.PinUpsForVets.com</strong></span></a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBukhi3H-HU/UqhvjXmU1WI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/6_yy9kL6Eu4/s1600/PinUps+for+Vets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBukhi3H-HU/UqhvjXmU1WI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/6_yy9kL6Eu4/s400/PinUps+for+Vets.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since I began the project eight years ago, I have been able to make volunteering "glamorous." Young women who never thought to step foot into a Veterans </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hospital are contacting me daily to see how they can join our 1940's-style calendar girl volunteers on our <b><i>50-state VA Hospital Tour</i></b>. I am most proud of the fact </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that I have been able to encourage volunteerism to help our Nation's heroes in hospitals across the U.S. You can visit the "Gina's Vists" page and our "Press </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Room" page on our website to learn more about our project. Also our Blog page has some interesting entries. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would love to come to Michigan someday to visit your hospitalized Veterans. We are always looking for sponsors to help our volunteers make the trips to each state. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have visited over 5,000 hospitalized Vets at their bedsides across the U.S. to boost morale and deliver appreciation gifts. Our hospital visits are always so </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">very appreciated. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you know of a business or group of people that you think might like to sponsor us to help us get to Michigan for a visit with your hospitalized Veterans, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">please let me know.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks again for a great piece on volunteering. </span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br class="ecxApple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Best wishes for a happy New Year, </span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gina Elise</span></strong></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Founder</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pin-Ups For Vets</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">501(c) 3 Non-profit Organization</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.pinupsforvets.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>https://www.pinupsforvets.com</strong></span></a></div>
<div>
<span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pinupsforvets" target="_blank"><strong>www.facebook.com/pinupsforvets</strong></a></span></div>
<div style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/pinupsforvets" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>https://twitter.com/pinupsforvets</strong></span></a></div>
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-63929964937908806212013-12-09T13:36:00.004-06:002013-12-09T13:36:49.306-06:00Volunteerism: Personal choice you need to make
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you wish
to make a New Year’s resolution that will actually be worthwhile, resolve to do
something … I mean do SOMETHING meaningful within your community.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My late
father used to describe the method used in the Army (when he served during
World War II) in procuring volunteers for something or other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“You lined
up everyone in a straight line and when the mission was announced and the
request for volunteers, everyone took one step backwards ... well ... almost everyone,”
he said. “The guy who didn’t move, the one who was left standing there by
himself, became the volunteer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My elementary
school Spanish teacher employed a phrase (which I will never remember in that
tongue) which translated meant “handcuffed volunteer.” It seemed as if I was in
shackles often when no one raised their hand to help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">These days,
not enough people are raising their hands – to help various worthy
organizations, to help the youth, to help build a better community for us to
live in. The list of need is long and not enough people are stepping forward to
ask the clarion call.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a
society, each of us has an obligation to live together and form a bond of genuine
humanity. As many move up the ladder in terms of economic and social standing,
others cannot, and, sadly, do not, share in those benefits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But the
chain of our every-shrinking world feels the strain of all people. I need not
repeat the adage about a chain and its weakest link. Or do I?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a
product of a different generation, I was taught that one could not live in a
community, be part of any group, and not try to make things better for others.
The greatest legacy a person can leave is seeing one thing – one area of need –
improved by personal involvement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In other
words, you NEED to volunteer … regardless of the need. And if you ask people in
various social agencies, or on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">any</b>
school campus, the need grows by the day. It’s like the price of most goods and
services; it always goes up, never down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Volunteerism
is a very personal thing; it is actually a commitment between your body and
your conscience. Such a discussion is held between your mind and inner voice
which directs your heart to do things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">People “give”
in their own way – some give time, some give labor, some simply give money. No
one form is better, or worse, than the other. A combination of that Holy
Trinity – time, labor, money – is greatly needed, especially in these current
times when vital social services are starving for any one of those three entities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I never
criticize benefactors who want to stay in the shadows, but feel the need to
help through financial contribution. Manpower is a wonderful thing and busy
hands can accomplish so much. But groups still have to pay for items most of
the time (unless that benefactor contributes goods); all show and no dough leaves
many projects unfinished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Others
would be surprised at what they can do. Some gather litter from highways, some
can provide tax and legal service to poor families who could use the help the
most; some can read and mentor to a child in after-school programs. Food banks
are struggling to combat a problem – hunger – which should NEVER exist in the
richest country on earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The list is
endless because the need is endless. Sitting her surrounded by ice and
ridiculously frigid (harmful and even fatal) temperatures, there is a segment
of our society unable to financially or physically cop – the homeless! I live
in one of the more affluent counties (Collin) in Texas (although I never
resemble that remark), yet even among people of higher means, there ARE too
many adults, and even children, spending nights in cars and without so much as
a roof, or a decent meal to project ahead of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have (for
years) supported the only homeless shelter in this county (The Samaritan Inn)
because it provides a valuable and needed service. The facility, which has expanded
its capacity twice in the past decade, is ALWAYS filled to capacity, and is
forced to turn away twice as many people as it accepts – the need is THAT
great!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I was
stunned to learn that in the midst of this recent cold spell only a handful of
the hundreds of churches in the county bothered to offer open doors to merely
shelter these people from the cold, and offer so little as a cup of coffee,
some bread or soup, to them. It simply makes a person wonder about how the
teachings of a man who professed compassion for the unfortunate around him
could be that misshaped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There are
homeless people everywhere in this nation and not ALL are mentally unbalanced
drug addicts; most work full-time jobs and a third of those labeled “homeless”
are children under 17 (who have done nothing bad in their lives other to be
born to lesser circumstances). Far, FAR too many homeless men (and even women)
are U.S. military veterans, for whom society has turned its collective backs on
these former heroes and warriors. Such is but one of several national shames
this country continues to permit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The best
volunteer helps because it’s the right thing to do. The best volunteer does it
without fanfare and without seeking approval of others ... because it IS the
right thing to do. And the recipient(s) of volunteer efforts need to deliver
regular thanks and appreciation for that which they receive ... in the form of
sincere pats on the back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Because
that is ALSO the right thing to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Every
community, regardless of where you live, offers worthy organizations that could
use help with that “trinity.” Each organization could benefit from donations,
or a phone call where you ask a simple question, “What can I do to help?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Find as
much to do as your schedule will allow – at your church, at your school, through
various outreach services. Take that step forward and raise your hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You’ll be a
much better human being for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To everyone
who reads or listens to Mgotalk, please have a safe and rewarding holiday, keep
supporting this venture and the University of Michigan athletics (and other
activities) and help your fellow man, woman and children.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Slainte/shalom!</span></b></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-91790673574512272202013-12-01T15:00:00.000-06:002013-12-01T15:00:01.207-06:00Michigan-Ohio State: Little things say so much<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KTjRXjSMTZg/UpudktTFacI/AAAAAAAAA9M/h-Ddw7nvKhc/s1600/Photo+of+Year+-+Funchess+hurdles+Buckeye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KTjRXjSMTZg/UpudktTFacI/AAAAAAAAA9M/h-Ddw7nvKhc/s640/Photo+of+Year+-+Funchess+hurdles+Buckeye.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sports are pretty much a bottom line
proposition; there are NO moral victories … success is very much judged
singularly on wins and losses. Closeness doesn’t mean much except when you
snuggle with your significant other, or when you shave.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Michigan’s Team 134 more than held its own
last Saturday afternoon in its Big House (filled with 113,000 fans and a few
student absentees), eventually falling 42-41 to undefeated Ohio State in the
final 32 seconds when a game-winning gamble failed on a two-point conversion
play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The loss left the Wolverines with a 7-5
overall record and an expected post-season bowl invitation to either the Texas
Bowl in Houston or the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And in SO many ways, the game was a reminder
what could have been in 2013, and what the realities were (and often dismissed
by U-M fans wearing blinders every Saturday). There were flashes, even bursts
from a flamethrower, of the talent that existed on the squad, but its
inadequacies were just as easily seen – as if the entire game was viewed
through a 3-D process.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Little
things you might have missed</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, there exists
one of the nation’s best sports radio talk show hosts by the name of Norm
Hitzges, a longtime Metroplex presence on the sports landscape (heard on
KTCK-The (original) Ticket). As co-host of the station’s post-game Dallas
Cowboys show, he always presents a feature, “Five Key Plays You Might Have
Missed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asTxnzbBbvw/UpuhDDw6fRI/AAAAAAAAA-U/jiwUzpvnKK0/s1600/Gallon+TD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asTxnzbBbvw/UpuhDDw6fRI/AAAAAAAAA-U/jiwUzpvnKK0/s320/Gallon+TD.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">My list is a bit longer than that; some of
them were obvious, and some have a different meaning from what people saw on
the surface. But when added up, they made major impacts on the final outcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">1) There were two tightly guarded pre-game secrets
Michigan didn’t reveal until game time which had a huge impact on the game –
injuries to linebacker James Ross III (U-M best defensive player over the past
three games) and placekicker Brendan Gibbons, who “tweaked something” according
to the ABC folks (which I took to mean a pulled muscle or hamstring). The
absences meant an unproven linebacker Ben Gedeon would see more playing time, for
which he responded spectacularly with a team-high six tackles and one sack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But Gibbons’ inability to kick might well
have been the difference (in the end) between victory and defeat for Michigan.
It meant junior Matt Wile (the heir apparent for the placekicking job in 2014)
would have to be pressed into service on ALL kicks, not just the ones over 50
yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In the third quarter, when U-M trailed 28-21
and with the ball at the Ohio 14, the Wolverines lined up for a 31-yard field
goal attempt by Wile (after Funchess dropped a would-be first down – yet
another small thing that added up). Michigan quickly had second thoughts and
mere moments before the ball was snapped, a time out was called.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Still, the play was still executed (much like
a baseball pitcher completing a throw to his catcher fractions of a second
after an umpire calls timeout) … and Wile missed the relatively-easy chip shot
to the right. Someone had to have noticed because it was the last time a field
goal was contemplated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">That miss, I believe, led to the decision to
go for the fourth down play – an incomplete pass attempt to senior Drew Dileo,
which had thrown well short of the target. The reason for the miscued pass was
a leg injury quarterback Devin Gardner suffered earlier in the quarter, which
saw freshman Shane Morris quickly start to get limber.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A word about Gardner: he showed the kind of
fortitude fans should remember for long stretches of time after the game is a
distant memory. The injury was clearly hindering and hampering his movement,
but he displayed what has been termed “true grit” and actually performed better
as the game, and pain, continued.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">With the exception of the lost fumble and two
sacks, this might well have been Gardner’s best performance in a Wolverine
uniform. He finished with 451 yards passing, on 32 of 45 attempts, finding nine
different receivers in the process. In the second half, he completed 21 of 32
passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns, ripping the Buckeye secondary to
shreds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfpWbHOXsoI/Upuf4QY98LI/AAAAAAAAA-I/-I_39JhOWqM/s1600/Gardner+TD+steppin'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfpWbHOXsoI/Upuf4QY98LI/AAAAAAAAA-I/-I_39JhOWqM/s400/Gardner+TD+steppin'.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Dragging that bum leg, he still managed to
make a vital drive-extending fourth-down run in the fourth quarter that helped
U-M erased a 14-point deficit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">2) – OK, the play; the call! The fodder by
which Detroit (and national) sports talk radio (and TV) will feast upon like
that Butterball turkey devoured at Thanksgiving.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">First, it was the proper thing to do, based
on how the first 59 minutes, 28 seconds had gone. Overtime was an “iffy”
proposition, at best, and Michigan had shown no ability to stop Ohio State’s
running game at any point in the game, especially senior tailback Carlos Hyde.
Trying to make plays on a short 25-yard field would have been impossible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">It was the proper call, but the wrong play …
as it was executed. To put it in baseball terms, Gardner’s pass needed to be
down-and-away to Drew Dileo, but it was up-and-in, and the Buckeye defender was
the only player who could have caught it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In retrospect, had the play been directed
away from the cluster of three receivers split to the right, and towards tight
end Jake Butt (utilizing his 6-6 frame), things might have turned out
different.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95mS7AueEy8/Upud6AyRgfI/AAAAAAAAA9U/xGxLgLLy7Zc/s1600/Butt+catch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95mS7AueEy8/Upud6AyRgfI/AAAAAAAAA9U/xGxLgLLy7Zc/s320/Butt+catch.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Butt, an Ohio-based freshman, has certainly
proved himself to be someone to watch in the coming years for U-M. He can
block, he can run patterns, and as witnessed by his five receptions for 85
yards and one touchdown, he’s got hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Apparently, there were no second thoughts
from Coach Brady Hoke, his staff or his players. At 7-4, there was nothing for
Michigan to lose, and everything to gain, by playing to win the game with so
little time left. In fact, I think people’s respect for Hoke might have
increased and partially erased some of the criticism he has had to endure this
season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">3) – Michigan was able to overcome two early
errors in its initial scoring drives – one was a holding penalty on Dennis
Norfleet’s kickoff return deep into OSU territory and the other a mistake by
the officials when the first Buckeye punt was downed at the U-M 1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">On the punt, no one seemed to notice that the
player punching the ball in mid-air actually had his feet planted in the end
zone, which should have been a touchback and possession at the 20 (unless the
rules have been changed on that basic rule).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">4) – Midway in the third period, guard Kyle
Kalis’ false start penalty negated a third-and-5 at the Ohio 45 to a more
difficult third-and-10 proposition at midfield. Lo and behold, Gardner on the
next play was stripped of the pigskin, with Buckeye Tyvis Powell recovering,
leading directly to a quick 56-yard scoring drive allowing Ohio to gain a 28-21
advantage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">What was more significant was Gardner’s
reaction to the flag; he actually barked at Kalis for the mistake – a clear
demonstration (perhaps for the first time this season) of the quarterback
taking the leadership role in the huddle fans had been waiting to witness since
September.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">5) – After the game was deadlocked at 35-all,
Wile badly hooked the ensuing kickoff out-of-bounds, and not be a little. It
hardly flew 30 yards before giving Ohio State possession at its own 35.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Not that it would have mattered, since the
Bucks needed just six plays and a scant 2:41 to take the lead, 42-35, but the
kickoff (one of several committed this season) was a momentum buster after the
stirring Wolverine comeback.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HsaMkJ73u2Y/Upuhe1FPR6I/AAAAAAAAA-c/soxRp7SMMEI/s1600/Gallopin'+Gallon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HsaMkJ73u2Y/Upuhe1FPR6I/AAAAAAAAA-c/soxRp7SMMEI/s320/Gallopin'+Gallon.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">6) – The regular season finale saw 17 seniors
play their final game in a Wolverine uniform … far fewer than the number of
players recruited for the Class of 2013. This was, essentially, a game between
the remnants of two departed coaches, and who left their programs in better
shape.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Without question, Jim Tressel proved himself
to be a skilled recruiter before he was forced to hang up the vest for NCAA
rules violations. Rich Rodriguez proved himself to be able to get offensive
talent but not on the same level as his biggest conference rival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The constant storyline of developing young
linemen and secondary personnel into top-flight collegiate personnel might have
begun to wear thin, but it IS the truth. The best fish in any high school pond
has NO clue about the intensity and pressure of playing on Saturdays, compared
to anything under Friday Night Lights. It is day and night and not every
recruit adjusts as fast as the instant gratification of a team’s fan base
ridiculously expects.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">7) – Michigan actually corrected some
deficient areas against this all-mighty Buckeye team. The Wolverines converted 8
of 14 third-down attempts (a far cry better than prior games), ran the ball
effectively (152 yards on 35 carries for a 4.3-yard average).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zaU7JeCMJak/Upuh0b8xqeI/AAAAAAAAA-k/ry8nUaedxRg/s1600/Flying+Fitz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zaU7JeCMJak/Upuh0b8xqeI/AAAAAAAAA-k/ry8nUaedxRg/s320/Flying+Fitz.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And in total offense, U-M outgained Ohio,
603-526 … in a losing effort. Michigan simply could not stop the Buckeyes at
the most critical times. Despite what the depth chart lists, the U-M defense
front four was pushed around, manhandled and just plain bullied by a
senior-laden Ohio offensive line.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">It was a mismatch of epic proportions as seen
in the tackle charts; the quartet for Michigan (Willie Henry, Brennan Beyer,
Jibreel Black, Frank Clark) accounted for a total of six solo tackles and three
assisted stops. If Hyde were to have been neutralized at all, it would have had
to been the men up front doing that … and they simply could not.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Suspension
should be forthcoming</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Let’s grant this: a bitter rivalry game,
between two teams that have no love lost for each other, can produce such a
moment as occurred in the second quarter, after Michigan took a 21-14 lead. On
the ensuing kickoff and return, when the play was whistled dead, players kept
at it until tempers spilled out of their helmets and stupidity reigned supreme.
After all, how would a punch at someone with more body armor than most police
officers actually hurt anyone?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But there were helmets rolling toward the
center of the field, pushing and shoving like it was Walmart at the start of
Black Friday, and I’m sure usage of language that would make sailors on shore
leave blush. It took both head coaches running into the pack to separate (and
save) players from each other. In fact, it was a much better hockey brawl than
anyone will witness on New Year’s Day when the NHL invades Michigan Stadium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">However, the antics of senior guard Marcus
Hall went beyond the pushing and shoving and general melee behavior; it was
downright embarrassing to the Ohio State players, coaches, administration and
the Big Ten Conference. He slammed his helmet on the sidelines, ardently refused
(initially) to exit the playing arena and then flipped-off of Michigan fans as
he entered the tunnel (which must have looked very sharp on the Big House
Jumbotron, and at home on a quality HD widescreen someone stood in line for
hours in the shivering cold at the nearest Best Buy to get instead of nurturing
that last piece of roasted turkey).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Yet all the ABC announcers (Bad Brad Nessler
and Todd Blackledge) could repeat, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ad
infinutum</i>, was how Hall would be eligible for Saturday’s conference title
game in Indianapolis. Instead of outright, permanent scorn, it sounded almost
like a built-in excuse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">As this is being written, the Big Ten has
made no decision concerning Hall’s status for that game, but anything short of
outright suspension would be unacceptable, hypocritical and cowardly. This
should be a no-brainer for conference officials, to send a message that such
crap is intolerable and will be properly punished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But … it IS Ohio State ... it IS the 40th
anniversary of a more-than-friendly conference decision favoring the Buckeyes …
and it could influence the outcome of the conference title tilt. Anything short
of suspension would reveal the Big Ten to have the same amount of balls as the
common steer.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Hyde
for Heisman</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The annual Heisman Trophy race is normally a
public relations campaign among quarterbacks, but I have not seen any college
player as impressive this season as Carlos Hyde. Give the devil his due, that
man was unstoppable against Michigan (as he has been since returning to action
after a three-game suspension to begin 2013).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I’d normally say domestic violence and other “indiscretions”
would be automatic disqualifiers for the Heisman, but the New York Athletic Club
might well be handing hardware to a player who stands at the precipice of a
rape charge (freshman Jameis Winston from Florida State).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Hyde is, without a doubt, the best NFL
prospect at running back in the 2014 Draft (forget Mel Kiper, trust your eyes);
he just exploded all over the Michigan defense like the Sta-Puff marshmallow
man in “Ghostbusters II.” Of his 27 carries, only Jake Ryan caught him for a
loss (-2) and there were nine runs of 10 yards or more, including three
consecutive runs in the third quarter of 20, 11 and 12 yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Thank God Michigan, and the remainder of the
conference, has seen the last of his “Hyde.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Worthy
less for the BCS?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">There is a VERY strong argument for Auburn
(11-1) leapfrogging Ohio State to the second set at the BCS championship table
(assuming the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles beat Missouri on Saturday). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MKtyOgJalQ/UpuinvHBM1I/AAAAAAAAA-w/7x6EsWRS0j8/s1600/Countess+Int..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MKtyOgJalQ/UpuinvHBM1I/AAAAAAAAA-w/7x6EsWRS0j8/s320/Countess+Int..jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Ohio State has won 12 games this season, but
NONE will be against a top 25-ranked team (as of this Saturday). The ONLY
ranked school the Buckeyes defeated was Wisconsin, ranked 23rd at game time,
and Northwestern, rated 16th before completely imploding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">By comparison, Auburn not only beat the
TWO-time defending national champion, but has also stopped three other schools
ranked in the top 25 (Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Georgia). Its one setback came
at Death Valley in Baton Rogue against LSU, thought to be a national title
contender at the start of 2013.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Auburn’s opponents composite record is 75-57,
with only two teams finishing with losing records (Western Carolina,
Tennessee); on the flip side, Ohio State’s opposition finished with an overall
65-80 mark, and the Buckeyes have played six teams with losing marks
(California, Florida A&M, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">That is hardly a ringing endorsement!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The game is supposed to be between the two
BEST teams in the nation, not the best records. It is inconceivable to believe
a team from the Southeastern Conference, admittedly the country’s best
collection of teams, would not be part of the title game; meanwhile, Florida
State has demonstrated its superiority with wins over the likes of Miami,
Maryland and Clemson. In fact, no team has come within 14 points of the
Seminoles.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srCHi2x_NiA/UpueekF3sdI/AAAAAAAAA9g/UPBwEQoUN-U/s1600/T-Gordon+grabs+Miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srCHi2x_NiA/UpueekF3sdI/AAAAAAAAA9g/UPBwEQoUN-U/s320/T-Gordon+grabs+Miller.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Surrendering more than 600 yards of offense
to a team that could NOT move the ball at all against Michigan State, Iowa or
Nebraska is not what a national titlist resume should contain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The only satisfaction Wolverine fans could
garner from Saturday’s loss would be to see Auburn vault past OSU because it
barely escaped Ann Arbor with its jock still in place.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Michigan
coming to Texas???</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">If you wish to project a destination for the
Wolverines in the post-season, as said, it centers on two destinations against
teams from the Big 12 – both with losing conference records (which only seems
appropriate).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">On Dec. 27, the Texas Bowl (which is an
updated form of the former Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl) will be held on Dec. 27 at 5
p.m. (local time) on ESPN. The following evening, the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
(a substitute for the Copper and Insight.com Bowls) will kickoff at 8:15 p.m.
(local time).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">According to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl game’s
website, the matchup is scheduled to be between the third “pick” in the Big 12
– Texas, Oklahoma State or Baylor (all tied at 7-1 headed into the final
weekend schedule since the conference no longer holds a championship game). The
Big Ten representative is supposed to be the third or fourth team, in terms of
standings, which is Wisconsin (third at 6-2), Iowa or Nebraska (tied for fourth
at 5-3).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In fact, the conference team with the worst
conference record is … Michigan at 3-5. Lord knows where that will land the
Wolverines; probably the old, cold, Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EuYqTDevhIE/Upui84vb9hI/AAAAAAAAA-4/PZgN-p9p3gI/s1600/Flying+Butt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EuYqTDevhIE/Upui84vb9hI/AAAAAAAAA-4/PZgN-p9p3gI/s320/Flying+Butt.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The Texas Bowl is not so particular about its
invitees; it just wants an encounter between the Big Ten and Big 12, while the
Heart of Texas gets a game featuring a lousy Big Ten team and someone from Conference-USA
in the old, dank Cotton Bowl at Dallas’ Fair Park.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Of course, there’s the Little Caesars Bowl at
Detroit’s Ford Field, with a Mid-American Conference versus the Big Ten
pairing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">However, Saturday’s outcomes could throw a
wrench into the works like Thor’s hammer. If Michigan State knocks off Ohio
State, the Spartans automatically receive the Rose Bowl invitation. And one
would think the Buckeyes would also be handed a BCS bid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Then voodoo mathematics enters into the
equation. Two BCS invitations would leave just five bowl-eligible to fill six
contracts – someone gets short-changed. The REAL question is who and the answer
is money; the bowl that pays out the most will get the Big Ten team and the
short straw goes to someone like the Mid-American (which would seemingly rule
out the Detroit game) or a different mid-level conference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Projections, for example, see Rice playing
Ball State in Dallas – a game I can guarantee will hardly fill the 92,000 seats
that accompany the Texas-Oklahoma extravaganza annually. Last Jan. 1, Oklahoma
State slaughtered Purdue before just 48,000 fans in the former TicketCity Bowl
(a game that has a mere three-year history and was created to keep the old,
venerable structure viable). Who would want to play in front of a half-empty
stadium? Certainly NOT Michigan (too much pride at stake). And what would
meeting an MAC team at Ford Field prove for Michigan?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Despite the overall record, U-M travels well,
probably better than Minnesota or even Iowa. No, it’s either Houston or Tempe,
either against either Texas Tech (which fell off the face of the collegiate
football earth with five consecutive losses) or Kansas State (another sub-.500
conference school).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Still … it could have been so much better …
and so much worse when you harken to games against Akron, UConn and
Northwestern that should have been losses).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Which makes the off-season and spring
practices vital for Team 135 – to show that what happened last Saturday, and those
letdowns preceding Saturdays, to be flukes instead of the norm.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_QStys-TGA/UpufnNyJJ9I/AAAAAAAAA-A/R0DWvkmJCuk/s1600/Butt+TD+reception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_QStys-TGA/UpufnNyJJ9I/AAAAAAAAA-A/R0DWvkmJCuk/s400/Butt+TD+reception.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-91390684281236309592013-11-24T11:03:00.004-06:002013-11-24T11:03:53.520-06:00Michigan-Iowa: Iowa City freeze-out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsQCSfgE0UM/UpIvEQRRi3I/AAAAAAAAA8E/f6lMQuxHQsk/s1600/TD+celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsQCSfgE0UM/UpIvEQRRi3I/AAAAAAAAA8E/f6lMQuxHQsk/s400/TD+celebration.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Among
our panel of Mgotalk analysts, when pondering Saturday’s game at Iowa, someone
said, “I think we’ve turned the corner,” in predicting victory.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yes,
Michigan turned the corner in the second half at frozen Kinnick Stadium, and
promptly got mugged by the Hawkeye defense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
inept U-M offense could but garner a meager 158 yards in total offense (407 for
Iowa), forcing its defensive cohorts to spend far too much time chasing Iowa’s
runners and receivers until expending all their energy by surrendering a
14-point half-time advantage into a 24-21 setback.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
loss means Michigan will have a losing conference record, will NOT go to any
kind of decent bowl game, and faces the prospect of getting its ass handed to
it by its bitter rival, Ohio State, at home in the final (Thank God) regular
season game of 2013.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Again,
the fault for the defeat sits at the feet of quarterback Devin Gardner,
outplayed by his Iowa counterpart, Jake Rudock, at the meaningful moments,
despite Rudock surrendering three</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">interceptions.
Iowa went 10-for-12 in passing in the second half for 133 yards while Michigan
was a woeful 5-for-12 for 36 yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
rushing numbers for the final two quarters were even worse (of that is
possible). Iowa toted the mail 26 times for 90 yards while U-M ran 11 times for
just 9 freaking yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hell,
in the second half, the deepest U-M penetration was the Iowa 31 where Gardner
was stripped (too easily) of the pigskin in the final 2:30. Once Iowa secured a
pair of first downs, the game was over and the only consolation for the
Wolverines was getting the hell out of Dodge before the temperatures dropped to
single digits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X8-xCo1-pNE/UpIvQb6wMMI/AAAAAAAAA8M/YIltuUw_cqo/s1600/Big+Jake+Ryan+hit+on+Rudock+(TD).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X8-xCo1-pNE/UpIvQb6wMMI/AAAAAAAAA8M/YIltuUw_cqo/s320/Big+Jake+Ryan+hit+on+Rudock+(TD).jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
collapse ruined two of the best individual defensive performances by juniors Jake
Ryan (who should have been charged with terrorism for what he was doing to
Rudock and other Hawkeyes) and Frank Clark, who has blossomed into the best U-M
lineman out of the carousel of bodies used up front. But it was obviously a
case of a worn-out unit in the second half because the inability of the offense
to stay ON the field again proved to be lethal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the way, the weather, the coldest for a Hawkeye game in school history, was a
factor on both sides – the wind determined more of the outcome than the actual
cold. But Iowa adjusted by simply pounding the ball 44 times at the Wolverine
front line, compare to 29 weak attempts by U-M.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
conditions were a surprise to absolutely no one; a glance at any Iowa City news
website forecast exactly what the players and coaches saw and felt … a week in
advance. Some players adjusted and some, like receiver Devon Funchess, seemed
to have trouble catching any pass thrown near him.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3d7QqbTWak/UpIvd7M7oVI/AAAAAAAAA8U/h9Gp164UKSE/s1600/DG+all+bundled+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3d7QqbTWak/UpIvd7M7oVI/AAAAAAAAA8U/h9Gp164UKSE/s200/DG+all+bundled+up.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fans
would love an explanation as to how Michigan squandered a 14-point halftime
lead with such ease. Well, just look at the stats from the game (in this case
revealing plenty):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rushing attack</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – No Wolverine running back gained
more than 9 yards on any one carry, with the exception of Funchess’ 10-yard
reverse. Whoop-de-doo! Quarterback Devon Gardner finished with only 12 net
yards on 10 rushes and lost 21 yards within those 10 attempts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fitzgerald
Toussaint continued his “dancing with the defensive linemen” style of running
for a thundering 12 yards on 6 carries. Freshman De’Veon Smith never set foot
on the field while fullback Joe Kerrigan was actually seen running with Gardner
on a sprint option, carrying the payload for three yards – which laughingly turned
out to be the best average on the day for the backfield personnel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A question</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: why was Kerrigan used as the trail back
on a third-down option call to the short side of the field (with no room to
turn up field for the slowest back on the roster? And why does it seem most of
the option calls go to the area of least territory?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
the season, Michigan is only averaging 3.2 yards per carry, which means if the
offense calls for three running plays, a punt follows automatically. That’s no
way to operate – even for a high school junior varsity.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g2VzZNmcAUA/UpIxGL9_lrI/AAAAAAAAA80/vpZ85AvXmnE/s1600/Iowa+RB+into+secondary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g2VzZNmcAUA/UpIxGL9_lrI/AAAAAAAAA80/vpZ85AvXmnE/s200/Iowa+RB+into+secondary.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
know it’s easy (too easy) to blame everything on a youthful offensive line that
keeps getting juggled like Yahtzee dice. But on this vehicle, everything is
malfunctioning and it gets a tad old to see the same thing being played out
each down, each series … each game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Third downs</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Again, for the fourth game in a
row, this vital aspect of offense was miserable; Michigan converted just 4 of
14 third-down plays (three of them coming in the only quarter when U-M
dominated, the second). To be fair, and to show how hard the Wolverine defense
battled, Iowa only converted 4 of 15 opportunities).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
the season, U-M converts only 38 percent (same as its opponents) on third downs
with seven less successful plays.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Passing yards</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – I wrote it earlier but it bears
repeating – Iowa went 10-for-12 in passing in the second half for 133 yards
while Gardner was a woeful 5-for-12 for 36 yards. He threw for less than 100
yards on the game, missing more passes than he completed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aCaM8m5yfFE/UpIw1bscs4I/AAAAAAAAA8s/5dEw2xE-2vI/s1600/Jeremy+Jackson+reception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aCaM8m5yfFE/UpIw1bscs4I/AAAAAAAAA8s/5dEw2xE-2vI/s320/Jeremy+Jackson+reception.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sorry
to state this, but it is more apparent each week: Gardner has plenty of talent,
but he is no better than the lowest three quarterbacks in the conference (based
on actual performance). Purdue, Illinois and Michigan have gotten the worst
results from its “leader” than anyone in the Big 10.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Punting</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Michigan was forced to punt 10
times (a season high) and averaged just over 35 yards per punt. Whether the
wind accounted for some of Matt Wile’s poorer attempts can’t be determined
since he kicked an equal amount of punts between the two halves (into the wind
and with the stiff breeze helping him).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Key turnovers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – This Michigan team is not in a
position where it can afford ANY turnovers at any moment of the game. Iowa had
surrendered the ball four times but led 24-21 when Gardner was stripped of the
ball on U-M’s final drive, you knew it was “game over.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
if I told you Michigan was a plus-four in terms of takeaways this season, you’d
swear I was mainlining bottles of Glenlivet. But if a team cannot capitalize on
those gifts, the result is what is happening each week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Looking
at what the U-M offense does immediately after the defense garners a turnover
is quite telling. In Michigan’s two regulation Big 10 victories, the Wolverines
scored touchdowns on four opposition turnovers (in the Northwestern victory,
the only Wildcat miscue was on the final play of the game – an interception by
Thomas Gordon).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
in the losses, it is just the reverse. Against Michigan State, Ramon Taylor’s
interception was followed by a three-play drive which lost 21 yards. In the
Nebraska game, two fumbles were followed by drives of minus-2 and 3 yards (going
1 for 2 on field goals).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At
Penn State, four turnovers produced one touchdown drive of 19 yards, a made
field goal (19-yard drive) a miss chip shot from 33 yards in overtime and a
Gardner interception.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UwWskY2TXg/UpIvvwQsORI/AAAAAAAAA8c/7MThE1zRWrQ/s1600/Beyer+TD+INT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UwWskY2TXg/UpIvvwQsORI/AAAAAAAAA8c/7MThE1zRWrQ/s320/Beyer+TD+INT.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
the Iowa game, only two of the turnovers allowed the offense to take a snap; the
results were the 28-yard touchdown drive (a pass to TE A.J. Williams) and a
punt after losing a yard in four plays.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
point being made here is how little Michigan accomplishes following what should
be major momentum changers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Drive killers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Much has been made of the yardage
lost by Michigan this season (especially by Gardner) and the numbers are
startling; opponents have recorded 32 tackles for losses for a total of 244
yards while Michigan has made 21 stops for 159 yards lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
more than the actual lost ground (an 83-yard difference), most of those 32
plays were drive killers because they normally interrupted any iota of momentum
U-M might have had at the time. A team can survive a few self-inflicted wounds
but, at some point, the patient has be pronounced as … lifeless.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Let’s
admit something – Michigan SHOULD be a sub-.500 team; the Wolverines honestly
did NOT deserve to beat Akron, UConn OR Northwestern. At least they didn’t fall
to Georgia Southern like some SEC team whose roster was stocked with players
recruited by a certain coach (who shall be nameless) who escaped Tallahassee
for more friendly … urban … confines in Columbus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Frankly,
this coming Saturday, I cannot script a scenario where 1) Michigan emerges
victorious against a much better undefeated (and yet-to-be seriously challenged)
Ohio State squad; and 2) where Michigan actually scores on the Buckeye defense.
There is no mystery on how to defend the Wolverine non-offense; it’s a simple
matter of pressure on the offensive line and Gardner – neither of whom has
proven to be consistent since Big 10 play began.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
there is no proof that a worn-out defense will be able to stop Braxton Miller
or Carlos Hyde. Inspired by the real possibility of gaining a spot in the BCS
championship game, Ohio State will not be allowed by its head coach to ease off
the pedal until the buses head southbound to that state down south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s
going be ugly; it’s going to be on national television and only the pride and
history of one team, (Michigan) will keep it from becoming a complete embarrassment.
It’s no substitute in the end for a competent offense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
prediction won’t change from 28-0 Ohio State and it pains me to write that. But
truth is truth and unless the ghost of Jim Mandich fills every Michigan player
with the spirit of 1969, it will be a long afternoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Allegedly,
in 1969, after Bo’s impassioned pre-game speech, the team tried to run out of
the locker room, only to be halted by a balky door, stuck in the closed mode. Mandich,
one of the greatest team captains in U-M history, took things into his own
hands, ripping the door off its hinges and jumped into the top of the tunnel
with a manic visage (all in front of the startled Buckeyes as they left their area,
just a couple of feet across the way).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Apparently,
there are no such doormen on Team 134; God help the boys on Saturday.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MysMRCDQmzU/UpIwhwQO8CI/AAAAAAAAA8k/U59Vm1EjgYo/s1600/Missed+Iowa+FG+holder+fumbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MysMRCDQmzU/UpIwhwQO8CI/AAAAAAAAA8k/U59Vm1EjgYo/s400/Missed+Iowa+FG+holder+fumbles.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-55309116765372007902013-11-19T11:16:00.001-06:002013-11-19T11:21:26.420-06:00Remembering the darkest of dark days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhsF8bSqhaw/UoualUsNw7I/AAAAAAAAA7A/E56yTQ3kUzA/s1600/JFK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhsF8bSqhaw/UoualUsNw7I/AAAAAAAAA7A/E56yTQ3kUzA/s320/JFK.jpg" width="249" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This Friday (Nov. 22)
marks the 50th anniversary of the darkest day in this nation’s history – at
least in my 61-year lifetime (and yes, even darker than Sept. 11, 2001). And now
living in the Dallas area makes it especially more sensitive as the city gears
up to produce a “non-celebration” of the singular event that continues … 50
years later … to define it.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">When President John
F. Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas while riding in a motorcade
through its streets, everything changed in America; innocence, it was said, was
totally lost, crushed and destroyed. Exactly who did it, why it was done and
what it subsequently meant has been the subject of more literature, talk and
cinematic conjecture than perhaps any single historical moment in American
history. Landing a man on the moon in 1969 marked the biggest achievement in
man’s earthly history, but the JFK murder was the bleakest episode I have ever
imagined.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">It scarred all
Americans (alive at that moment) for life and it scarred a city (Dallas) for
all time; both groups live with the consequences to this day. When my wife and
I would travel to other cities, and mentioned being from “out-of-town” and
disclosing our location as being Dallas, the constant response was one of three
things – the Cowboys, J.R. Ewing, or … “that’s where Kennedy was killed.”</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Actually, it often
came out of a stranger’s mouth as being “that’s the city that killed Kennedy.”
It is impossible to locate enough stain remover to wipe away those scars.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">---</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I was 11 years old
when Kennedy was killed and I can remember most of that weekend with surprising
clarity (it seems to have become the norm). You remember those traumatic
moments the most and all too often forget the times we really hope to cherish.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I was sitting in
fifth grade class (at Hampton Elementary in northern Detroit) and it was around
3:15 on that Friday afternoon (on Michigan time). Our teacher, Mrs. Gail Fuerhrig,
left the room and moments later, returned crying. She began stuttering something
about “the President has been shot” and disappeared again to hide her tears.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">At 11, growing up in
a rather naive “Ozzie-and-Harriet” society, the concept of death was never
clearly defined to children as it is today. No child in that classroom had seen
the Abraham Zapruder film, or wondered about the grassy knoll behind Dealey
Plaza. “Shot” could have just meant, “Bang, bang, you’re dead!” in a playground
manner.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ozfv6PH1404/Uoua2gSReXI/AAAAAAAAA7I/ZcVEwrtUAUs/s1600/Honor+Guard+folds+flag+at+gravesite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ozfv6PH1404/Uoua2gSReXI/AAAAAAAAA7I/ZcVEwrtUAUs/s200/Honor+Guard+folds+flag+at+gravesite.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">For the next three
days, no one watched anything else, talked about anything else and breathed
anything else until the funeral was completed the following Monday. And you
could do little else since the entire nation shut down for that 72-hour period.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Well, not exactly ALL
the nation. Of all things, Americans still went to sporting events – the NFL
schedule went on as usual on that Sunday, under some ridiculous guise of “The
President would have wanted to us to …”</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The Michigan-Ohio
State game was not played on Nov. 23, but was held the next week, November 30 (Thanksgiving
weekend) in Michigan Stadium (according to official U-M record). The Wolverines
lost 14-10, en route to a miserable 3-4-2 record in front of just 36,424 fans –
the lowest crowd for any football game at Michigan from Sept. 22, 1945 (when a
mere 26,076 showed up to see Michigan play Great Lakes Naval Station).</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">For the record, in
the 50 years since, 1963 was the smallest home crowd ever in Michigan Stadium.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I remember the
solemnness and emotion of the funeral, with the horse-drawn caisson carrying
the casket and the rider-less horse, nervously walking up Pennsylvania Ave.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--2zSys7pHfU/UoucDXzhuCI/AAAAAAAAA7U/sAri66GT2kI/s1600/OswaldLH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--2zSys7pHfU/UoucDXzhuCI/AAAAAAAAA7U/sAri66GT2kI/s1600/OswaldLH2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But the day before,
on the Sunday afternoon, live television broke new ground and crossed a line
that we, as a society, have never returned. I (and millions others) sat and
watched suspect Lee Harvey Oswald gunned down and murdered by Jack Ruby in the
basement of the Dallas Police headquarters … on live television.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">For the first time in
that medium’s history, stark, raw, naked violence entered the American home.
And it came in connection with the worst crime in U.S. history. It WAS ground
zero for reality television!</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Since that day, our
history has been earmarked by violence as a collective unit (warfare, riots, the
shooting of unarmed students at Kent State University, the 1968 Democratic
convention) or individual acts (the shooting deaths of Robert F. Kennedy and
Martin Luther King).</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">We will never know
what would have happened if Kennedy lived through that moment ... if there was
no gunfire the Texas Book Depository above Dealey Plaza. This much is true –
nothing changed the course of modern American history as much as that day.
There probably would have been an earlier end to the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon
probably would never have been president, Watergate would not have taken place
and Lord knows what else would NOT have come to pass.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">That “what if” parlor
game can last forever.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">---</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I am like millions of
other people, who drive past the Texas Book Depository (now a county facility
and home to The Sixth Floor Museum), and get a creepy sensation when I look at
the, window, the plaza and the grassy knoll. When I drive under the Commerce
Street trestle (totally unchanged since 1963), I seen visions of the motorcade
headed to Parkland Hospital, and it makes my skin crawl; no matter how I try to
fight it, the feeling is everlasting.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yB67uN9U3js/UoucVq5L_lI/AAAAAAAAA7c/PiYiT3Gjg14/s1600/JFK+motorcade-Dallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yB67uN9U3js/UoucVq5L_lI/AAAAAAAAA7c/PiYiT3Gjg14/s200/JFK+motorcade-Dallas.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“Down Elm Street,
turn right at Houston and left onto Commerce” remains, to this day one of the
best routes to leave downtown Dallas, on the same trek the motorcade, going
through an estimated 150,000 onlookers in Dallas to catch a glimpse of the
Kennedy (including Jackie, making her first campaign trip west of Virginia).</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And you remember the
words of Nellie Connally, wife of then-Texas Gov. John Connally, sitting in the
front seat of the Lincoln Continental, carrying the President, as she turned
toward JFK and said, “See Mr. President! You can’t say Dallas doesn’t love
you!” The double-negative was almost immediately followed by the three shots.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Thus, the skin
crawls, the hairs stand to attention and you glimpse at the sixth floor and
simply wonder why…</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">When Oliver Stone’s
brilliantly-constructed movie, “JFK,” was released, the nation reinitiated the
debate about what happened on Nov. 22, 1963. The flaws which may have existed
in that effort can be debated, but the movie certainly was a breathtaking
examination of a retained popular point of view among many people. It asked
questions that needed to be raised and, in the end, sought truthful answers –
no matter what the truth revealed.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I first viewed the
movie in Dallas at the now-defunct North Park Cinema, with a large audience in
the house. The three hours rushed by in what seemed to be only a few minutes;
at the end, there was some applause, but mostly, people sat there stunned, a
little dazed and ... ashamed (the best word to describe the feelings of others
(saw).</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I heard many people
crying, not for the memories of that day, but for how they felt about living in
Dallas.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“It makes me so
ashamed that it happened here,” said one woman. “WE killed him.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uW2cjCTosvA/Uouchl0lRhI/AAAAAAAAA7k/aeZdqqEI_1c/s1600/JFK+funeral+procession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uW2cjCTosvA/Uouchl0lRhI/AAAAAAAAA7k/aeZdqqEI_1c/s320/JFK+funeral+procession.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Not true! But
perception has been that particular reality for the last 50 years. And that is
a tragedy in itself – which should be acknowledged (and attempted to erase)
after all this time. One cable documentary aired as background to the 50th
anniversary has been entitled, “Dallas: City of Hate;” a harsh but probably
accurate description of 1963, but NOT 2013.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">What that 1963
incident did to Dallas is also a tragedy. For time infinitum, Dallas, Texas
became known worldwide as the city “where JFK was killed” or “the city that
killed Kennedy.” No amount of success by any sports franchise, or trying to
turn Dallas into a fashion capital, has erased that mental chalk outline.
Dallas didn’t deserve its fate; it’s just a fact of its life.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This is a city of
excellent restaurants, a growing fine arts district, strong multi-cultural
music scene, its own set of athletic champions (notably downtown-based Dallas
Mavericks and Stars) and ever-increasing attempts to better itself on a daily
basis.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Until a new signature
national brand or emblem takes root with the public, Nov. 22, 1963, will remain
Dallas’ (and America’s) darkest, indelible day ... when everything … and
everyone ... everywhere … changed.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Elm to Houston to
Commerce…</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMxKcStjDKg/UouctNfuMnI/AAAAAAAAA7s/BnBw7oXEKvI/s1600/LBJ+takes+oath+Nov.+22,+1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMxKcStjDKg/UouctNfuMnI/AAAAAAAAA7s/BnBw7oXEKvI/s400/LBJ+takes+oath+Nov.+22,+1963.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-4024561717827924582013-11-18T18:47:00.001-06:002013-11-18T18:47:43.113-06:00The lost weekend: 1973 Michigan-Ohio State
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAkVWbf-6uc/UoqxCq8cDtI/AAAAAAAAA5g/RufB_6ug_ds/s1600/1973+UM+team+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAkVWbf-6uc/UoqxCq8cDtI/AAAAAAAAA5g/RufB_6ug_ds/s400/1973+UM+team+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of all the 1,264 games played in University of Michigan football history,
the single most controversial contest ever played came in 1973 between the two
schools involved is what has been termed the “greatest rivalry in sports.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That year, on Nov. 24, under cloudy skies (bordering on a slight fog at
kickoff), the top-ranked Buckeyes met the fourth-ranked Wolverines before an
NCAA record 105,223 fans at Michigan Stadium (not a single air-breathing
individual uttered the words, “Big House”).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What all was said and done, the scoreboard read 10-10 and both teams left
the stadium with the same expectations – Michigan would garner the Rose Bowl
invitation because Ohio State had gone the year before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But nothing that took place starting shortly before 1 p.m. (EST) was ever
expected, anticipated or predicted. It tore apart the Big Ten Conference into
factions, caused resentment that lasted decades (and in some cases, has never
gone away) and major changes in conference policy towards post-season
competition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Starting last Saturday night, the Big Ten Network began airing an hour-long
documentary, “Tiebreaker,” about those events and their aftermath. And while
what was presented could be seen by the viewership, it is doubtful most of them
were alive to have known the entire impact of that weekend in 1973.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some of us do; we were there and participated in the unfolding of the
story, which would have a lasting impact over the next 40 years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I was an assistant sports editor for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Michigan Daily</i></b>, the University
of Michigan’s award-winning student newspaper, and sat in seat A17 among the
other area, regional and national reporters of the day. I was part of the game
coverage, post-game coverage and follow-up reporting which lasted well into
1974.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was the most unique weekend of football and news in my tenure at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Daily</i></b>; it was filled with events and people you simply do NOT ever,
EVER forget. This is a telling of that entire story.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Different era, different
game</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The underlying theme of “Tiebreaker” seems to suggest that college campuses
were boiling cauldrons of rebellion and protest – notably over Vietnam. And
while the Diag, at the heart of the Ann Arbor campus, always found protesters,
loud “discussions” and someone distributing flyers about some film, speech,
lecture or group session about the war, most of that collective student
involvement had, for the most part, dissipated into other pressing issues
(civil rights, women’s rights, students’ rights).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There were plenty of factions seeking justice for this and that, but come
Saturday afternoons, it was Wolverine football that united thousands of people
– young and old – to converge on the “house that (Fielding H.) Yost built.”
There was NO Wolverine Nation yet, but there was a hell of a party each home
game – EXCEPT for one encounter (Ohio State). Then it got serious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">College football was also a completely different sport in 1973. The
traditional powers dominated the polling landscape – the Associated Press
consisted on media members, mostly print, and the United Press International
rankings were based on votes of various coaches; they two seldom agreed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDlPtw8fLck/UoqxcWVMCCI/AAAAAAAAA5k/TSGRi-b5PBE/s1600/Woody+and+Bo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDlPtw8fLck/UoqxcWVMCCI/AAAAAAAAA5k/TSGRi-b5PBE/s1600/Woody+and+Bo.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the decade from 1969-78, when Woody Hayes coached Ohio State and his
protégé, Glenn “Bo” Schembechler led Michigan, every encounter was for the same
purpose – the Big Ten championship. In some of those years, national titles
were on the line, and, as was the case in 1969, a national crown was denied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One only network – ABC – showed college football and teams did NOT appear
every week (Jefferson Pilot sponsored a regional network for the SEC and ACC,
but nothing coast-to-coast). The rule limited any school to just two national
appearances and one regional showing; many contests of major interest went by
the wayside, except for radio coverage (Notre Dame possessed a national
network, and the Southwest Conference had its Humble Oil/Esso Radio Network
where each school could be heard on some station in every major market – Dallas-Fort
Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Waco, Midland-Odessa,
Lubbock-Amarillo, Corpus Christi).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Games almost never ran close to a three-hour window. The ’73 Michigan-Ohio
State game, with commercial stoppages and halftime, lasted all of 2 hours, 23
minutes! It fit perfectly into a crisp autumn southern Michigan afternoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The student body was a different breed, as well. Like an old fashioned ant
farm, students walked from State Street toward the stadium, armed with green
bottles of Ripple, Boone’s Farm or Annie Greensprings in hand. And around the
end of the third quarter, long lines of green glass could be seen snaking up
each aisle to the top of Michigan Stadium. When the crowd departed and the
cleanup crews began their duties, a tidy collection of empty bottles would encircle
the entire top row – recycling before it became vogue.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4H48F-cB3ag/UoqxvSfWMdI/AAAAAAAAA5s/E1XnSne3dGI/s1600/1973+Michigan-Ohio+State+press+pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4H48F-cB3ag/UoqxvSfWMdI/AAAAAAAAA5s/E1XnSne3dGI/s320/1973+Michigan-Ohio+State+press+pass.jpg" width="199" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the press box, you cannot imagine how it went prior to any level of
ancient technology (to those of us today). There were no computers (not even
pocket TI calculators) and no copy machines. All game statistics were done by
hand, with pencil, in a huge ledger (provided by the NCAA), twice the length of
two 8x14 legal pads.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Someone was assigned as “stat runner” and distributed updated official
numbers during timeouts, again handwritten and compiled. Play-by-play was
hand-typed (using an IBM Selectric typewriter if you wanted fancy-looking
sheets, or a reliable Underwood/Olivetti manual typewriter as was the case at
U-M in the mid-1970s).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And all of it was “copied” by way of a stencil mimeograph machine – with
one of the most distinctive odors associated with that process. To transmit
final game stats to the NCAA headquarters (in Shawnee Mission, Kan.), it was
done via a Xerox telecopier, which sent info through a machine in which one
page was inserted into a cylinder and used the phone signal to spin out the
image one line at a time. It resembled the tracks on a vinyl album and took as
much as two minutes to send a single page. If you had 15 pages (included
play-by-play), it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There were no video tape recorders – everything was done on film. In fact,
for coaches to view action from the first half, a cameraman was assigned a spot
on the press box roof, filming in black and white. After 10 minutes of action,
that film was sent to a portable dark room for development and then taken to
the Michigan locker room for use at halftime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The entire second level of the press box was dedicated to the numerous
radio stations on the air. Before schools moved to singular radio networks, as
many as six local (Ann Arbor) stations aired the game live (including WCBN on
campus, WUOM, the NRP station, WAAM, WPAG, featuring Bob Ufer, and also WWJ in
Detroit). Ohio State brought its own gaggle of broadcasts, making for a packed
floor and plenty of doors to open with stat sheets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When ABC came to town, those folks had to climb one additional level to the
roof (photographers level), where a wooden shack became telecast central. It
was cold, drafty and small portable heaters seldom did the job come November.
The game time temperature was 50 degrees and announcer Chris Schenkel and
analyst Duffy Daugherty (the former Michigan State coach) both bundled up to
the hilt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And yet another difference came on ABC, which employed coaches (past and
present) and athletic directors – not former players – to sit second chair. In
the case of Daugherty, it made for awkward moments because he had just retired
as Michigan State’s head coach the previous fall. While Duffy was rivals with
Michigan for 18 seasons, he had great respect for Schembechler.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The buildup</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both teams were highly-ranked – Ohio State at number 1 in both polls (AP
and UPI) and Michigan at number 4. Both teams were, in fact, mirror images of
each other, as were the head coaches; both stressed stone-wall defenses and
offenses that believed firmly in the “three yards and a cloud of dust”
philosophy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIpLE1U5fNw/UoqyRnp9bbI/AAAAAAAAA50/mnM5CDhyT-o/s1600/Dennis+Franklin+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIpLE1U5fNw/UoqyRnp9bbI/AAAAAAAAA50/mnM5CDhyT-o/s200/Dennis+Franklin+-+1.jpg" width="139" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Michigan’s one advantage was its passing game in the person of junior
Dennis Franklin, the pride of Massillon, Ohio. Despite Schembechler’s attitude
that when one throws the ball, “three things can happen and two of them are
bad,” the Wolverines had a better set of receivers, especially in tailback Gil
Chapman, a speedster from New Jersey, and 6-5 tight end Paul Seal from Detroit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But in his system, Bo primarily used a slotback (in 1973, it was Clint
Haslerig) as a downfield blocker. That year, his leading rusher was his
fullback, big Ed Shuttlesworth, an equally adept blocker for either Chapman or
backups Chuck Heater and Gordon Bell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the 1973 season, the top five rushers for Michigan gained a combined
2,753 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Yet no player in that quintet gained more
than 745 yards (Shuttlesworth); everything in Bo’s system was balanced and
ground-oriented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Columbus, Hayes had a dream backfield with sophomore Archie Griffin (who
would be the only consecutive Heisman Trophy winner in 1974 and 1975, but was
the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 1973) and freshman fullback Pete
Johnson, who, at 265 pounds, was still much stronger than most opposing
tacklers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Buckeye quarterback was sophomore Cornelius Greene, who was an expert
at running the power-option I, but who had perhaps the weakest throwing arm in
the conference.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The banner incident</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ohio State exited first out of the narrow tunnel from the locker rooms on
the east side of the stadium (there was no way back in the day two teams, like
happens in soccer, could even stand side-by-side). The locker room doors were a
12-foot putt apart and there was no place for media to go to obtain quotes from
coaches or players.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In fact, the visitors’ room had the shower entrance just inches from an
open door to the general public that followed the departing teams from the
gridiron.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LTV2IgLx0s/UoqyisZtgrI/AAAAAAAAA58/6S4jvoTsMPY/s1600/Tearing+down+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LTV2IgLx0s/UoqyisZtgrI/AAAAAAAAA58/6S4jvoTsMPY/s320/Tearing+down+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As the Buckeyes ran onto the Tartan turf, they made a beeline to the M Club
“Go Blue” banner (part of UM football since the early 60s) and swarmed it in an
attempt to rip, or tear, it down. The crowd became incensed when watching it,
adding fuel to an already raging inferno.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, like the defenses on the day, it bent but never broke, allowing
the Wolverines to continue what has become something of a traditional- seeing
each Michigan player touch the banner prior to the start of any game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But it didn’t stop legendary radio announcer Bob Ufer from going half-batty
from his press box perch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“There isn’t a Michigan man who wouldn’t want to go out and scalp those
Buckeyes right now,” Ufer shouted. “They have the audacity – the unmitigated
gall – to tear down the coveted Michigan ‘M.’”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The game</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was a game of two halves; more accurately, it was a contest of three quarters
versus one dominant 15-minute section by Ohio State in the second stanza.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first quarter was scoreless as both defenses dominated the action.
Despite running more plays than OSU, Michigan never got deeper than the Ohio 49
as the teams exchanged five punts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ohio State struck first, marching from its 20 to the Wolverine 14 before
Blair Conway booted a 31-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_kPv8sNnk5w/Uoqyy4JXFsI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KYbA7mnxyjo/s1600/Buckeyes+on+offense+1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_kPv8sNnk5w/Uoqyy4JXFsI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KYbA7mnxyjo/s200/Buckeyes+on+offense+1973.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After more punts and complete lack of field position on either side, the
Buckeyes took possession at their 40 late in the first half. Griffin then took
over and with runs (often spectacular as he spun and stepped his way through
the U-M defense) of 6, 7, 7 and 12 yards. After a 9-yard gain to the Michigan
5, Johnson just bulled his way through center and into the end zone for a 10-0
halftime advantage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Michigan took the third quarter kickoff with more determination and purpose
as Shuttlesworth kept poking small holes in the OSU defense for what looked
like “5 yards and a cloud of dust” approach. Michigan’s longest run of the day
was 12 yards (by Chapman) while Shuttlesworth’s best rush was just 10 yards.
Yet he managed to finish with 116 yards on 27 carries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, the drive was stopped when Franklin’s pass into the end zone for
sophomore reserve end Keith Johnson was intercepted by Neal Colzie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Towards the end of the quarter, Michigan began its scoring march from the
33, running 13 plays (nine of which were short Shuttlesworth burst) to the OSU
11. Placekicker Mike Lantry nailed a 30-yarder to narrow the deficit to 7.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two of Ohio State’s major problems all game long were the complete absence
of a passing game and its punting woes. Because of a thumb injury suffered in
the previous game, Greene could not grip the football well enough to throw it.
Until the very end, Woody would not call for a single pass play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But punting the ball was more of a calamity; two OSU punters (including
future All-American Tom Skladany) combined for only 220 yards on nine boots – a
woeful 31.4 yard average. And one of the poorest efforts was a 20-yarder that
was gobbled up by defensive tackle Dave Gallagher at the Ohio 46. However,
Michigan was penalized five yards for illegal procedure after safety Dave Brown
had signaled for a fair catch early in the process; he was actually expecting
the ball to get near him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, at the UM 49, Franklin engineered the game-tying touchdown drive,
highlighted by a 27-yard gain to Seal, who spun past two defenders and carried
another to the OSU 19.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sq9karQ9G3U/Uoq0LprYDaI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/hgljo5faidw/s1600/1973+-+Easy+Ed+Shuttlesworth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sq9karQ9G3U/Uoq0LprYDaI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/hgljo5faidw/s320/1973+-+Easy+Ed+Shuttlesworth.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Three Shuttlesworth runs left Michigan with a fourth-down play at the 10,
and just mere inches to go for a first down. Everyone in attendance knew it
would be a quarterback sneak ... except for Schembechler and Franklin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Taking the center snap, Franklin ran to his right and suddenly turned up
field (on the perfect option read), split two defenders, including Colzie (one
of the best secondary people on Buckeye history) and ran untouched into the end
zone. The image of him high-stepping well after he crossed the goal line, with
the football hoisted into the air, remains one of the two or three iconic
moments in Wolverine history.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As clearly shown on “Tiebreaker,” Schembechler’s reaction was not one of
jubilation, but more of an “I knew it would work” visage as he just nodded his
head in an affirmative fashion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aeQXdQ3lBu0/UoqzB9JKkqI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ilJP_9UsMoY/s1600/Rich+Stuck+on+field+1973+OSU+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aeQXdQ3lBu0/UoqzB9JKkqI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ilJP_9UsMoY/s320/Rich+Stuck+on+field+1973+OSU+game.jpg" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lantry’s kick tied the game and there was no doubt where every ounce of
momentum resided.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ohio State slowly drove down the field on the next series, but was stopped
at the U-M 44, forcing another short (32 yards) punt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With less than four minutes to play, Franklin and company took over. He
sandwiched two 14-yard completions to Haselrig with a 6-yard loss in between.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The key play, as it turned out, was an 8-yard pass completion from Franklin
to Shuttlesworth with 2:23 left in the game. After he let go of the pigskin,
Franklin was drilled from the blind side by end Van Ness DeCree, sending the
quarterback to the turf in pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After a few anxious moments, Franklin was escorted off with head trainer
hold his right arm in place, obviously done for the afternoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Three more running plays left Michigan short of a first down at the Ohio
41. Lantry came out to attempt a school-record 58-yard field goal with 61
seconds left on the clock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The kick was long enough and strong enough, but at the last second, drifted
to the left, just inches from the goal post.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hayes, knowing there was not enough time to run the ball and get into any
kind of field goal position for Conway, called on reserve quarterback Greg Hare
to throw the Buckeye’s’ first pass of the contest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But responding to a Wolverine pass rush, Hare threw up a pass off his wrong
foot, and it floated short of the intended receiver and into the arms of
Wolverine Tom Drake at the OSU 40. A 7-yard return gave U-M possession at the
33 with less than a minute to play.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PUIWHrg51dA/Uoq0gBALLfI/AAAAAAAAA6g/hTndIA2O87g/s1600/1973+michigan-vs-ohio+state-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PUIWHrg51dA/Uoq0gBALLfI/AAAAAAAAA6g/hTndIA2O87g/s200/1973+michigan-vs-ohio+state-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After a 6-yard run and an incomplete pass, Michigan (with no timeouts to
attempt a third-down play) decided to go for the win with Lantry and a 44-yard
field goal. But this time, it sliced wide right (perhaps because Ohio State
linebacker Randy Gradishar distracted Lantry by trying to block the kick by
leaping upwards on the back of a teammate, and falling into the line before the
ball was actually struck).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Three more incomplete passes by Hare ran out the clock and the “frozen in
time” moment became the image of the scoreboard showing a 10-10 tie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the game, Michigan had more yards in total offense (303-234), more
first down (16-9) and more plays (68-53), especially in the second half
(39-24).</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The star-crossed kicker</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WL2AUN85VJE/UoqzkqgZ5qI/AAAAAAAAA6U/88_CB8fswXs/s1600/Mike+Lantry-1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WL2AUN85VJE/UoqzkqgZ5qI/AAAAAAAAA6U/88_CB8fswXs/s400/Mike+Lantry-1973.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In many ways, the 1973 game (and weekend) reflected the story of the Michigan
kicker, Lantry, whose story entering the game was as compelling as any in prior
Michigan football history.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A native of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford,_Michigan" title="Oxford, Michigan"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Oxford, Mich.</span></a>, Lantry had enlisted in the U.S.
Army immediately out of high school, during the height of the Vietnam War. He stationed
in Vietnam for one year (of his three-year service) and saw actual combat
action.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“For a full year, my parents agonized, hoping they wouldn’t get the call
that so many other parents received,” he reflected some years later.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Self-described himself as “a proud Vietnam veteran,” Lantry was still a
football player; he enrolled at Michigan in 1971 as a 23-year-old freshman –
married with one child (unless the normal age of freshmen at 18 or 19). He
walked on to the team and became the squad’s varsity placekicker in 1972.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In September of 1973, Lantry set the school record for longest field goal
twice – in the same quarter of the game versus Stanford with a 50-yard boot to
begin the second quarter and then a 51-yarder at the end of the first half. It
would be a standard that lasted until 1984 when Bob Bergeron kicked a 52-yard
field goal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In all, he performed his duties in 33 games and was one of the last
successful straight-on kickers in U-M history. His personal history made his
one of the leaders of the U-M squad and was well-respected within the Ann Arbor
community. In addition to his football duties, Lantry also competed as a shot
putter in track for Coach Jack Harvey, earning three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_letter" title="Varsity letter"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">varsity
letters</span></a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lantry was selected by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_News" title="Football News"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Football News</span></a></span></i></b>
as a first-team All-American in 1973, and he graduated in 1975 with a degree in
education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But … out of those 33 games, his legacy surrounds just two contests – the
1973 and 1974 encounters with the Buckeyes. And because of the outcome of the
1974, Lantry actually helped change NCAA rules concerning field goals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the 1974 game (played in Columbus), Michigan’s defense rose to the
occasion all game long, holding a vaunted Buckeye offense without a touchdown,
but trailed 12-10, thanks to four goals by Tom Klaban, (one of many diminutive
kickers that would make life miserable for Wolverine fans).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In an almost reverse carbon-copy of the year before, it was Michigan
leaping to a 10-0 first-half lead on a 42-yard pass from Franklin to Chapman on
U-M first possession and Lantry’s 37-yard field goal with 4:57 remaining in the
opening stanza.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But Klaban scored the next 12 points on field goals of 47, 25, 43 and 45
yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a game where there was no statistical advantage (each team rushed for
the same number of yards – 195) and two turnovers apiece stopped potential
scoring drives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the waning moments of the contest, Michigan got the ball at its 47 and
Franklin promptly connected with end Jim Smith over the middle for 21 yards and
two carries by halfback Rob Lytle for 16 yards moved the ball to the Ohio 16.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With just 18 seconds left, on to the field came Lantry, who had already
missed long attempts and was not having a stellar season (missing 11 of 16
field goal tries going into Columbus). After his made kick in the first
quarter, Lantry was short on kicks of 58 and 51 yards, booting into a 25 mph
wind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, with an undefeated 10-0 season on the line, the 33-yard attempt would
come from the right hash mark into the closed (student) end of the
horseshoe-shaped stadium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lantry had more than enough leg as the ball sailed high (like a lofted
wedge) into the Ohio air; as it was spinning to the left, the ball actually
sailed OVER the goal posts and was declared no good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Buckeye fans then swarmed the field and ripped the goal posts off their
mountings. In the middle of all that chaos, Lantry stood among the mob, picked
up his kicking tee (because that was his responsibility as kicker), turned
slowly and walked a very isolated, lonely walk to the U-M bench.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On national television, ABC’s Keith Jackson described the scene thusly: “And
there is Mike Lantry, walking disconsolately toward the sideline.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bill Jauss, of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune" title="Chicago Tribune"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Chicago Tribune</span></a></i> wrote, “Mike Lantry served
in the Vietnam War and he had reason to believe the worst was over – until
Saturday.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Instead of derision for missing game-winning field goals against the
school’s mated despised rival, Lantry received thousands of fan letters,
expressing compassion, sympathy and encouragement. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I hate to see that happen to a kid like that because he served his country
in Vietnam, but if it had to happen, I’m glad it happened against us,” said
Hayes, always remembering his role in the Ten-Year War with Bo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I guess the biggest surprise is the way people have acted; they’re
suffering with me,” Lantry said in a later press conference. “They’ve been more
than kind. I wish there was a way I could thank them all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a 2004 interview, Lantry said, “I was numb. That was the final play of
my college career right there. Everything you worked for, those glorious years
of competition, my teammates. ... If we had won that game, we would have played
in the Rose Bowl; we could have shot to the top of the AP and UPI rankings. Who
knows? That was like the World Series: bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, two
outs, a 3–2 count. It was on my foot, but it didn’t happen.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1974, the NCAA (and NFL) narrowed the hash mark distance two seasons
before (making it a lot easier to kick from easier angles). But the height of
the goal posts was lengthened, to prevent exactly what happened at the end of
the UM-OSU affair. To this day, no recorded replay can definitely show for sure
whether the ball sailed OVER, AWAY or INSIDE the plane of the uprights (not
unlike an umpire’s strike zone).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oh, yes, Lantry’s kicking tee was banned from NCAA competition in 1989.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Post-game</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When the final gun sounded, to a man, the Michigan coaches and players
believed they were the better team despite the tie and had proven it on the
field; by virtue of the Buckeyes having gone the prior January 1 to Pasadena,
it was Michigan’s turn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even Ohio State coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Hayes" title="Woody Hayes"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Woody Hayes</span></a>, in post-game comment, admitted his
team wouldn’t be the one going to the Rose Bowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Had there been sports talk radio in 1973, the conversation would have
centered on Franklin’s medical condition, by then diagnosed as a broken
collarbone, as well as the Wolverines’ domination in the second half.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As long as The Big Ten was in existence, there was a policy whereby only
the conference champion would go to a bowl; and the Rose Bowl was a contractual
obligation with the Pac-8 since after World War II. That matchup made it the
marquee (and financially richest) matchup among the four New Year’s Day “commodity”
games (Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Orange).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was also a “no-repeat” rule until 1971, and if it had still been in
effect, Michigan would have automatically gone to the Rose Bowl, even if it had
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">lost</span> to the Buckeyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the abolition of that rule meant the decision rested with the Big Ten’s
athletic directors. And the vote would be held by telephone conferencing. That
call was held out of the conference’s offices in Chicago early Sunday morning.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The vote</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I was living in a house on Sylvan Street, just three blocks from the
athletic department offices on South State Street, with members of the U-M swim
team. It was a quiet Sunday morning with most of the housemates still in deep
slumber, despite the clocks approaching 11 a.m.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then the phone rang in the kitchen and I was the one answering it. My
student newspaper counterpart from Ohio State, Jack Torry of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lantern</i></b>,
was on the line asking a simple question, “So what do you think of what
happened?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What are you talking about?” I responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Oh my God, you don’t know, do you?” he said. “God, I hate to be the one
you hear this from … they voted Ohio State to go to the Rose Bowl, not you
guys.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What in the hell is THEY?” I exclaimed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The conference athletic directors; happened this morning. A 6-4 vote,”
Jack added. “Damn, I’m sorry to be the one. You need to jump on this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I thanked him for his candor and the heads-up and said I held nothing
against him, or even Ohio State. I did add, “We’ve got fish to fry and heads to
chop.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And off I went calling as many of my fellow <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily</i></b> mates as possible.
During that session, our sports editor, Dan Borus, got through to announce a
staff meeting at the paper’s office right after lunch. It was a solemn, unhappy
crew that gathered at 420 Maynard to map out how the story would be covered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The vote went 6-4 against Michigan (although the head count has never been
revealed and the actual tally has been disputed, as shown on “Tiebreaker”); it
brought forth a phrase forever lodged in the throats of every Wolverine fan – “the
most representative team” – was being sent to Pasadena.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LYfBW0XFxiQ/Uoq0-ecF2LI/AAAAAAAAA6w/qPgLca4wcd4/s1600/Bo+after+Big+10+vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LYfBW0XFxiQ/Uoq0-ecF2LI/AAAAAAAAA6w/qPgLca4wcd4/s400/Bo+after+Big+10+vote.jpg" width="275" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Schembechler, as expected, was openly furious, calling the decision “an
embarrassment to the Big Ten Conference” and claiming “petty jealousies” were at
play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In three years (1972-74), Michigan went 30-2-1 games and sat home each of
those subsequent Januarys. It wasn’t until 1975 when the conference finally saw
the light and permitted expansion of Big Ten representation. So when Michigan
played Ohio State at home in 1975 (losing 21-14), it was already known that the
game’s loser would still play Jan. 1 in the Miami-based Orange Bowl against
Oklahoma.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Big Ten office did not, and would not, release the actual vote, but
according to the reporting of Curt Sylvester in the<em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></em><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Detroit Free Press</span></b></em>,
Ohio State was supported by Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue and
Northwestern. Michigan had the backing of Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To add salt to the wound, if the vote had been tied at 5-5, Michigan would
have been awarded the Rose Bowl berth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There were more rumors swirling around this story than anything modern-day
Twitter could create. Four men in that group had direct ties to Michigan –
either as former players or coaches. It was said (without any basis) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_State_Spartans" title="Michigan State Spartans"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Michigan State University</span></a> voted for Ohio State
as retaliation for Michigan’s “no” vote in 1949 against admitting MSU to the
Big Ten (in favor of Pitt). Spartan athletic director Bert Smith, was a
Michigan graduate (a former hockey and baseball player), but diploma-loyalty
meant nothing in this case; rivalries and grudges seemed to be the order of the
day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Schembechler said he had spoken with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Fighting_Illini" title="Illinois Fighting Illini"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Illinois</span></a> football coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Blackman_(American_football)" title="Bob Blackman (American football)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bob Blackman</span></a>, who claimed,
according to Bo, his athletic director (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cecil_Coleman&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Cecil Coleman (page does not exist)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cecil Coleman</span></a>) was going to
vote for Michigan. Yet, it was revealed later that Coleman sided with the
Buckeyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQLOAQ_S-Ng/UoqwlS58qxI/AAAAAAAAA5U/p0u-FjYOlpE/s1600/Elroy+Hirsch+Wisconsin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQLOAQ_S-Ng/UoqwlS58qxI/AAAAAAAAA5U/p0u-FjYOlpE/s200/Elroy+Hirsch+Wisconsin.jpg" width="154" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Schembechler held particular bitterness towards Wisconsin, whose athletic
director, “Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, was a pre-World War II star with the
Wolverines. Bo always blamed him for shifting to Ohio State, thus avoiding the
5-5 tie in U-M’s favor.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just how much then-Big Ten Commissioner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Duke" title="Wayne Duke"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Wayne Duke</span></a>
influenced the outcome will never be known. Duke was vehement in his denial of
having his fingerprints on the outcome, stating the athletic directors merely
followed the procedure that had been put into places just two years earlier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I am only the messenger,” he responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another controversy (as revealed in the documentary) was the actual “vote”
itself – whether the 10 athletic directors met in person, or if it was a
teleconference over the phone. Bump Elliot, then at Iowa and the man
Schembechler replaced at Michigan, said it was done over the phone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One storyline had Smith voting for neither school, placing his tally with
his Spartans (although that didn’t seem to be an honest option). In a tape of a
speech Smith made days later, he unapologetically said his vote went to Ohio
State – pure and simple.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">No one knows exactly how the vote was decided, and in what fashion, except
Duke and the Big Ten lawyer; and neither man was saying a damn thing (on the
record) to the cameras – even 40 years later (invoking lawyer-client privilege
to shield the conference).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So on Jan. 1, 1974, Ohio State defeated Southern Cal 42-21 to win the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Rose_Bowl" title="1974 Rose Bowl"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rose Bowl</span></a>.
And all over Michigan, the Nielsen ratings would have showed one of the lowest
viewerships in TV history for a New Year’s Day tradition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In his 1989 autobiography, simply titled “Bo” (written with Mitch Albom),
Schembechler believed the Big Ten was “nervous” because it had lost the prior
four Rose Bowls (two losses by U-M in 1970, 1972, and two by OSU in 1971,
1973), and because of Franklin’s injury, it was facing a fifth setback. But Bo
always rejected that excuse, saying it was a reward to go to Pasadena and his
squad had more than earned it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The vote was also a slap in the face to players like fifth-year senior
Larry Cipa, who had been a starter in 1971 (sharing the duties with Tom Slade).
The Big Ten told the team, and Cipa in particular, “you aren’t good enough to
play in the Rose Bowl;” that is what burned deepest within Schembechler.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Changes finally came two years later. Among them was the abolishment of the
“Rose Bowl or No Bowl” edict, allowing more than one conference team to accept
invitations to other bowls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another change, also in 1975, was the elimination of the athletic
directors’ vote in the event of a conference championship tie; the new rule was
the old understanding – the team which had gone the longest without appearing
in the Rose Bowl would go to Pasadena. Schembechler lobbied hard for that
reform, stating the athletic directors weren’t qualified to decide which team
would “better represent” the conference in the Rose Bowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of course, Ohio State did not go totally unscathed; the tie denied the
Buckeyes any chance at a national championship. Alabama moved into first place
in both polls, and finished the regular season at 11-0 to earn the national
title in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Press_International" title="United Press International"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">UPI</span></a> coaches poll (which did not have a
post-bowl season vote at the time).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Notre_Dame" title="University of Notre Dame"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Notre Dame</span></a> finished as the 1973 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press" title="Associated Press"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">AP</span></a>
national champs, defeating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Alabama" title="University of Alabama"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Alabama</span></a> 24-23 in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Bowl" title="Sugar Bowl"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sugar Bowl</span></a>,
meaning the Buckeyes were second in both polls.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The reaction</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFbwHDM4uJk/Uoq0wy67K4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/jb-WoT7PLo8/s1600/Michigan+Daily+issue+1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFbwHDM4uJk/Uoq0wy67K4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/jb-WoT7PLo8/s320/Michigan+Daily+issue+1973.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Yeah,
I was ready for the team meeting on Sunday to go over the travel plans,” said
Rich Stuck, who was on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily</i></b> sports staff and was one of
the student equipment managers for U-M football.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Everyone in the football facility had the
same thoughts; how much they would enjoy Pasadena compared to the expected snow
and ice at New Year’s in the Midwest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A team meeting had been called for 2 p.m. and
it was a difficult task for Schembechler to face his charges. After he spoke to
them, the doors were opened and players began to exit; the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily</i></b> had been alerted to
the meeting by Rich and we waited in the hallway until the proceedings ended.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">My assignment was two-fold – get the players
reactions to the decision and their post-game thoughts about which side was the
better team. Expectedly, each Wolverine, to a man, took the new hard. Forty
years later, as shown in the documentary, that pain was forever seared into the
minds and souls of those who competed and felt cheated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“We got screwed,” Franklin succinctly told
the cameras. “Regardless of my injury, we deserved to go.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">And on Jan. 1, outside his home in Massillon,
photographers took pictures of Franklin throwing snowballs and a football; he
certainly could have played.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘That son-of-a-bitch’</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Schembechler</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">
ALWAYS credited Hirsch with being THE deciding vote. And one day, I learned his
feelings the hard way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In 1975, Bo began to co-host a weekly
half-hour show on WXYZ-TV, called “Michigan Moving,” which had him comment on
highlights from the day before, preview the next opponent and introduce
features from the station’s sports department and from the U-M Sports
Information Department.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As part of my duties was the selection and
collection of old film on past Wolverine standouts, and experimenting with
current highlight film to coordinate with background music; meaning I was doing
a music video by playing a 45 rpm record on a portable “Victorla” and timing
what I was seeing through a tiny viewfinder attached to a crude, ancient
editing machine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Using a bottle of glue and a tune in my head,
I created something the professional editors at WXYZ could fix for airplay. My
best effort was a two-minute video of halfback Gordon Bell (one of the best
runners in U-M history who perfected the spin move against opposing defenders).
In the background was the Dave Clark Five hit, “Catch Me If You Can.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NpCroiW5laE/Uoqv-YypO5I/AAAAAAAAA5M/S8_LXM9J3tw/s1600/Hirsch+in+UM+days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NpCroiW5laE/Uoqv-YypO5I/AAAAAAAAA5M/S8_LXM9J3tw/s200/Hirsch+in+UM+days.jpg" width="120" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Earlier in the season, when cleaning out a
dank, dark storeroom in the basement of the State Street office, I came across
a canister of 70 mm movie film or unknown origin. We went to the Michigan
Theater to unearth our discovery to find a couple of half-hour highlight shows
from the 50s (featuring All-American Ron Kramer) and one showing exploits
(pre-World War II) of Michigan’s best players, including Elroy “Crazylegs”
Hirsch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Perfect,” I thought. “A classic player and
vintage film, perhaps never-seen-before.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I could NOT have been more wrong in my life!
When I informed Bo of the upcoming segment, he blew a gasket, yanked me by the
lapels of my winter coat, and me (when I was no small humanoid) off the ground and
against the wall of the football training room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“It was THAT son-of-a-bitch who kept us out
of the Rose Bowl,” he said, visibly seething. “He'll NEVER appear on my show!
EVER!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">He then immediately apologized but it was
obvious how badly he had been hurt. I told him I didn’t know Hirsch was THE
vote and he understood. I know he took that feeling to his grave!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bitter to the end</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The reason Bo remained particularly bitter about the 1973 team, which never
lost a game, but never rewarded with any kind of bowl assignment, was the place
those players held in Schembechler’s heart. The Class of 1973 (the seniors)
were part of his very first recruiting class for the Maize and Blue and as
eligible Wolverines (freshmen could not play in 1970), those men lost just two
games in three seasons (one being the Rose Bowl of 1972 and the 1972 Ohio State
game).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many of them were recruited from places close to Bo’s boyhood home in
Barberton, Ohio – where he was revered as a player and coach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He remained angry at the vote until his passing in 2006, just 34 hours
before the “Game of the Century” between the numbers 1-2 ranked teams in
America – Ohio State and Michigan. Current Michigan athletic director Dave
Brandon (who was Domino’s Pizza CEO at the time) had dinner with Schembechler
the night before Bo suffer his fatal attack (at the WXYZ-TV studios in Detroit)
the next morning. According to reports, the coach, who symbolized all that was
good about being a Michigan man, said it was the worst day of his life.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BTN documentary</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Tiebreaker” is a well-executed documentary, especially in how the former
combatants returned for a friendly meal and exchanged probably never heard in
public before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was a moving moment when Greene praised Franklin for his courage as the
conference’s first black quarterback (although Sandy Stephens at Minnesota and
Jimmy Raye at Michigan State preceded Franklin), admitting Franklin was a “role
model” and “hero” to the Buckeye QB. One could see how visibly moved Franklin
was at hearing such an admission for the first time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And while it would have been nice to learn, 40 years later, what each man
had done with his life, where the journey had taken them, there is only SO much
information that can be squeezed into an hours’ worth of visuals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fRdPgNbWgLs/UoqvK-qbi3I/AAAAAAAAA5A/nZa1t1h3OZ4/s1600/Franklin+celebrating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fRdPgNbWgLs/UoqvK-qbi3I/AAAAAAAAA5A/nZa1t1h3OZ4/s320/Franklin+celebrating.jpg" width="228" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On a personal note, it was bittersweet for me to see former Michigan Sports
Information Director Will Perry, who was my boss in my student assistant days,
interviewed, perhaps just weeks before he passed away. He looked strong,
sounded strong and has strong recall of the facts surrounding the subject
matter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He was an old school SID, conducting his profession almost on a retail
basis – where each phone call to print or other media members had purpose and
solved situations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perry wrote a book in 1974 on Michigan football history, “</span><span class="citation"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The
Wolverines: A Story of Michigan Football,” for which I did a bunch of research.
Appropriately, the final chapters were all about the 1973 game, which almost
wrote themselves.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Epilogue</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Until the 1997 Michigan team secured a national title with its win over
Washington State in the Rose Bowl, the only other undefeated squad belonged to
the 1992 Wolverine unit, which went an (unbelievable) 9-0-3 on the year –
opening with a tie at Notre Dame and finished with the sister-kisses against
Illinois and a 13-13 deadlock in Columbus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">U-M then defeated Washington 38-31 behind Elvis Grbac’s passing and Tyrone
Wheatley’s 235 yards rushing on 15 carries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And no one said a word...</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-76110557592121046502013-11-17T10:51:00.000-06:002013-11-17T10:51:01.147-06:00… and a placekicker shall lead them
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tsag1Sj3AQ/UojxVXYoTdI/AAAAAAAAA3g/p5sZT_tQp7Q/s1600/T-Gordon+game-winning+INT.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tsag1Sj3AQ/UojxVXYoTdI/AAAAAAAAA3g/p5sZT_tQp7Q/s400/T-Gordon+game-winning+INT.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whether
you believe there is a special place above where human souls go after their
earthly experience ends, or if you use the terminology in the metaphorical
sense, there is something to be said about the power of the “Football Gods.” A
team can taunt them or tempt them, but the ghosts of uniformed standouts leave
their indelible fingerprints and handiwork all over the sport every weekend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ask
Auburn and Florida about how a misdirected pass gets deflected by Gator
defenders into the hands of an Auburn receiver and a game-winning touchdown in
the closing seconds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ask
Northwestern and Nebraska about the same outcome the week before, on the final
play of the game. The term “Hail Mary” does not do enough justice to the
instantaneous outcome from prayers (which should possess the same chances of
success – zero-to-none).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
past Saturday, in Evanston, the Football Gods did to Northwestern what
lightning almost never does – strike twice … in a week’s time upon the same
subject. The recipient of this good fortune was a team in desperate need of
just such a miracle – the Michigan Wolverines.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1m8lPsaRZ-Q/Uojx_A4TA5I/AAAAAAAAA3w/bkqZrkP1KCQ/s1600/Gibbons+1Q+FG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1m8lPsaRZ-Q/Uojx_A4TA5I/AAAAAAAAA3w/bkqZrkP1KCQ/s200/Gibbons+1Q+FG.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
59 minutes, 58 seconds, U-M was staring into a fairly dark abyss – a third
consecutive Big 10 loss (its fourth in five games), an almost certain 6-6
regular season record and more fan bellowing about the inconsistency
performance of its offense, notably the seemingly deteriorating play of its
quarterback.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Instead
an unexplainable final 12 seconds, where a pass conversion, failure to get
out-of-bounds with no timeouts remaining to halt the clock, and bodies running
back-and-forth like shoppers at Macy’s on Black Friday (apparently now called
Thanksgiving to the uninitiated), suddenly became a successful 44-yard field
goal in the final tenths of a second, to force overtime in the driving rain by
Lake Michigan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Michigan
then discover a hidden secret – how to score a touchdown – not just once, but
twice in the three extra “innings” (according to referee Bill LeMonnier). And
when strong safety Thomas Gordon intercepted a Wildcat pass in the end zone on the
final chance for Northwestern to tie the contest, Michigan was able to hold its
head high for the first time in November with a 27-19 victory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
win guarantees Michigan will have a winning record in 2013 (now 7-3 overall,
3-3 in Big 10), with two games remaining on the regular campaign – at Iowa this
Saturday, and the home finale against the juggernaut that is apparently
undefeated Ohio State. For the second consecutive week, Michigan will face a
squad (Iowa) getting two weeks’ rest and preparation time; it will happen for a
third straight game against the Buckeyes, who should brush aside Indiana like
unwanted dandruff on a date with Kate Upton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That
indescribable final play in regulation will become the subject of Wolverine
lore for decades to come, and scores of questions of “what if” will encapsulate
those final 12 seconds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How was Michigan able to get its field goal unit on
the field, into a set position, and hike the football before the final whistle
sounded?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How was holder Drew Dileo able to come out of his
pass route, literally slide (like Rickey Henderson) into the proper spot and
holding position and still call for the center snap in the nick of time?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92oNG8SShw0/UojxlTItZyI/AAAAAAAAA3o/f5umtqCQ2bA/s1600/Gibbons+celebrates+tying+FG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92oNG8SShw0/UojxlTItZyI/AAAAAAAAA3o/f5umtqCQ2bA/s320/Gibbons+celebrates+tying+FG.jpeg" width="213" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How did placekicker Brendan Gibbons get himself
properly aligned without so much as a momentary glance at the distance and wind
conditions before smacking the kind of line drive through the uprights that the
North Side Cubs wished they saw in the 2013 season.</span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How did the side official complete the pigskin
relay to the U-M center in time after Jeremy Gallon had caught a 12-yard pass
from Devin Gardner, but could not get out-of-bounds to stop the clock and avoid
the sideline jailbreak?</span></i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How did it all fall like dominoes (the game, not
the pizzas) in Michigan’s favor when a coaching decision had apparently
backfired and looked to have cost U-M the game?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How does a team win by breaking a cardinal rule of
football – never leave points on the field – when the Wolverines rejected an
easy three points, which would have deadlocked the game at 9-all with 5:34 left
in regulation but saw Gardner lose a yard on fourth-and 2 from the NU 4?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How???
The Football Gods is how, and Michigan will be eternally grateful that fortune
finally smiled on them this time around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Meanwhile,
Northwestern players and staff need to head to the hospital to be tested for
acute poisoning from taking all those rattlesnake bites that continue to
inflict them. The loss was the sixth in a row after the season start which saw
the Wildcats go 4-0 and be ranked 11th in the polls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
would be highly inaccurate and unfair not to say that this affair saw many
positives emerge for the Wolverines, despite that nagging, itchy rash called
the U-M offense to score touchdowns or even convert on a single third-down
conversion (out of 15 chances in regulation).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To
start, a win is a win is a win! It was the first road conference triumph of
2013, and despite traveling to a place which has proved to be tough sledding in
the past (Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, starting at noon/11 a.m. CST on the Big
Ten Network), there is actually a sense of momentum in the Wolverine locker
room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnqqbCbRwt8/UojynkWeOmI/AAAAAAAAA4A/5r7cZu4pM_k/s1600/Derrick+Green.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnqqbCbRwt8/UojynkWeOmI/AAAAAAAAA4A/5r7cZu4pM_k/s200/Derrick+Green.jpeg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Second,
lo and behold, two true freshmen running backs – Derrick Green and De’Veon
Smith – combined for 27 carries and gain to a cumulative 130 yards, which
doesn’t sound much until one remembers the prior two games resulted in a
combined minus-69 yards on the ground (or what seemed to be quicksand).</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Green
averaged 4.2 yards per carry while Smith, seeing more playing in this game than
the entire season, averaged 5.1. Up to Saturday, Smith was all of seven carries
for 12 yards, pressing the U-M faithful to collectively ask, “Where has HE
been?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Damn!
Stop the presses! Michigan CAN run the football when some power is combined
with some speed and the offensive line is determined to stop being embarrassed
by its performance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56jqr-flq34/UojyZeuStsI/AAAAAAAAA34/ySgKY4l-siA/s1600/Cam+Gordon+dumps+Trumpy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56jqr-flq34/UojyZeuStsI/AAAAAAAAA34/ySgKY4l-siA/s200/Cam+Gordon+dumps+Trumpy.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Third,
the Michigan defense had an outstanding game in its “bend, don’t break” mode. It
would have been nice if the unit hadn’t surrendered the long end-of-the first
half Wildcat drive for a go-ahead field goal with no time remaining, but why
quibble? When a sack or tackle-for-loss was needed, it was delivered,
especially by tackle Jibreel Black on a second-down play in the final moments
of the third overtime.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Third,
for the second week, the defense was led by the stellar performance of wide
side linebacker James Ross III, the sophomore from Orchard Lake, Mich. He led
all players on the field with 13 tackles (including nine solos) and is quickly
assuming an on-field leadership role.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fourth,
it was a game without a turnover despite the weather conditions, although Devin
Funchess came REAL close in the second overtime, recovering his own fumbled
reception at the NU 16.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sure,
the Wildcats had a possible half-dozen “possible” interceptions that either
bounced away, slipped through hands or some other excuse. Come on, you either
do or you don’t. Being “close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, Miss
America pageant and the seat you get when you come to the movie theater too
late.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Obviously,
the Football Gods were simply enjoying themselves too much at Northwestern’s
expense, teasing the poor red, white, blue and grayish clad Wildcats – a cruel,
dastardly deed indeed. All those plays allowed was for folks like telecast
analyst Glenn Mason to keep harping on the same talking point over and over and
over and … because the man seemed devoid of new material for reference and
observation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGl8f8PNmBE/Uojy3TEmhvI/AAAAAAAAA4I/w2a8QRMMxvE/s1600/Butt+OT+TD+catch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGl8f8PNmBE/Uojy3TEmhvI/AAAAAAAAA4I/w2a8QRMMxvE/s400/Butt+OT+TD+catch.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fifth,
look what Michigan has officially discovered – a big-bodied (6-6, 245) real
tight end named Jake … Butt (appropriate enough). The freshman from
Pickerington, Ohio showed he can be an effective blocker on running calls and
his one-handed catch of the touchdown in the first OT period was a major
highlight, since it was the initial third-down conversion of the game (although
not credited on the NCAA stats).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His
play should be enough incentive to move Funchess permanently to a wide
receiver. There is no need to pretend otherwise moving forward; Funchess is now
a big bodied target who will be hard to handle by smaller defensive backs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the way, if you want to entice me into a spirited discussion about football,
let’s talk about why overtime stats should NOT count among the official tallies
in any game. My reason is simple – when the clock does not run (unless it is an
untimed down), no one counts those plays (extra points) as yardage, runs or
passes in the game total. So why have artificially bloated numbers added to
regular game conditions? One day, let’s grab a Vernor’s (diet for me) and do
that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbsJQ5YpbMU/UojzCfC3sdI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/6u4k1CRIY50/s1600/Catches+by+the+Gallon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbsJQ5YpbMU/UojzCfC3sdI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/6u4k1CRIY50/s320/Catches+by+the+Gallon.jpeg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sixth
reason this was positive for Michigan – senior Jeremy Gallon is truly honoring
his Legends jersey number (borrowed from Desmond Howard) with his 10-catch,
115-yard showing, despite a constant double team on him. Gallon now has more
than 1,000 yards receiving in the 2013 season, making him the 10th player in
Michigan history to do so.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
shows the mark of every great Wolverine receiver in the school’s long history –
the ability to gain most of his yardage AFTER the catch. He now stands with
2,393 yards for his career, placing him fourth all-time and is the obvious MVP
on offense in 2013.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On
the OTHER side of the coin (which Michigan has not called correctly in the past
three games), problems that need mending were NOT corrected, for the most part.
U-M has scored just one lowly touchdown in regulation time over the past three
games – totally unacceptable on any gridiron level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
series of events to open the fourth quarter shows everything that has gone off
the rails for the U-M offense, and Gardner, its quarterback. The Football Gods
must have been playing one-upmanship with each other just to see how wheels-off
the sport can be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
Joe Hamilton downed a Matt Wile punt at the NU 1, three plays garnered the
Wildcats just two yards, forcing them to punt. Senior Brandon Williams promptly
shanked a kick for a grand total of 8 yards distance, to the NU 11 (I wonder
why if that counted as a punt inside the 20?), giving the Wolverines the break
(and field position) it sought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Alas,
three plays (two incomplete passes now here close to any receiver and a 1-yard
loss on a running play by Gardner) forced Gibbons to nail a 28-yarder to narrow
the deficit to 9-6.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then
after another short punt (24 yards) by the second NU kicker, Michigan took the
ball downfield on its most impressive march, converting long plays (a 22-yard
run by Gardner and a 25-yard pass to Gallon). But when Smith was stopped for no
gain on third down at the NU 4, Coach Brady Hoke and offensive coordinator Al
Borges chose (even after a timeout to consult) to go for the first down, two
yards away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
golf, a six-foot putt can be tough on your nerves and in football, two yards
can be a marathon distance if past success is not evident. So when Gardner
tried to run to the short side of the field, without a supporting trailing
back, he lost a yard in the process … and possibly the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now
how Michigan recouped in the final two minutes, and survived the fifth sack of
Gardner, for what looked like a back-breaking 15 yard setback, remains a
mystery to everyone other than those Football Gods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
how could any Wolverine follower have any ounce of faith entering the overtime
if the team could not produce a touchdown at the NU 11 and each OT series
started at the 25? But someone (up above?) flicked the switch and all of a
sudden what was past was no longer prologue.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azGbszd-04s/UojzhtU4eUI/AAAAAAAAA4g/Kw5nsHFQ62s/s1600/De'Veon+Smith+upfield.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azGbszd-04s/UojzhtU4eUI/AAAAAAAAA4g/Kw5nsHFQ62s/s400/De'Veon+Smith+upfield.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m
sure other legitimate scribes (meaning they actually get paid for the same
opinions) have written and discussed what ails Gardner. From my Laz-Y-Boy, he
looks … slow, as if he cannot get his feet to move quick enough to avoid these
devastating drive-killing sacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
appears to be hesitant in the three-step pocket, often unable to avoid hitting
stationary linemen in the paws, and absolutely terrified of third down plays.
And the proof, in this case, is in the numbers. In regulation, when the ball
was snapped on third down 13 times, Gardner ran the ball four times for a
minus-15 yards (including two sacks) and was 0-for-8 passing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Only
a no gain run by Smith in the fourth quarter was the sole third-down conversion
attempt not directly attributed to Gardner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
all those near-interceptions Northwestern couldn’t corral were a result of poor
decisions and throws by Gardner, begging to be picked off, doubling
Northwestern’s misery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
just isn’t the player Michigan fans hoped he’d be, unless that switch which was
activated in overtime remains in the “on” mode for the next two weeks. This
sounds crazy but the fate of Team 134 STILL in his hands and when things, and
stars, are properly aligned, Michigan can defeat almost everyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
said, it was a win, which was the single most important fact on the day.
Perhaps the Football Gods will continue to favor (or pity) the Wolverines over
the next two games, especially at the end of November when those freakin’
over-confident Buckeyes to into “that state up north.” It would be SOOO cool if
the Football Gods had a little mischief planned for Ohio State.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
then … a placekicker shall lead them!!! Amen!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_U8WVjKnvI/UojzuS4C-dI/AAAAAAAAA4o/9d3V35qBuVU/s1600/Funchess+collision+with+NU+defense.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_U8WVjKnvI/UojzuS4C-dI/AAAAAAAAA4o/9d3V35qBuVU/s400/Funchess+collision+with+NU+defense.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdY9zXMP4L8/Uojz3fWIWjI/AAAAAAAAA4w/15ZCrdo8QkY/s1600/Ryan+sacks+QB+Simeon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdY9zXMP4L8/Uojz3fWIWjI/AAAAAAAAA4w/15ZCrdo8QkY/s400/Ryan+sacks+QB+Simeon.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-4369256493012377432013-11-14T17:56:00.001-06:002013-11-14T17:56:23.959-06:00The ‘Splendora’ of Texas schoolboy football
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The annual ritual known as Texas high school football playoffs has
started in earnest. From this point forward, until the Saturday just before
Christmas, hundreds of teams will compete for 13 championship trophies over seven
enrollment divisions.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">So much is completely unique to Texas, yet I’ve found nothing to
compare to the weekly Friday night festival of stadium lights, marching bands,
long processions of “yellow dog” buses and hundreds of trailing vehicles driving
deep into the clear night, with school colors floating in the evening breeze.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Some Texas high school football is played with just six boys on a side
in places like Cotton Center and Lazbuddie and in the middle of unknown places
like Runge, Premont and Progreso. In Texas, even teams from small towns can
play on the same turf as the Baylor Bears, Texas A&M Aggies, North Texas
Mean Green, or Texas Tech Red Raiders. Games might be held in the San Antonio
Alamodome, AT&T Stadium (Cowboys’ home) or Reliant Stadium in Houston; it’s
all part of the experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Rural coffee shops sparkle with talk of anticipation in September and
examination in November. Cheerleaders spread their spiritual message on
shopkeeper’s windows with white liquid shoe polish. Florists create distinctive
pieces of art (called “mums”) in a variety of school colors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">When I think of Texas football, and its power and magic, and the
strange things it influences, I drift back to 1978 and the very East Texas town
of Splendora, in rural Montgomery County. While most of that area has taken the
shape and form of northern Houston and Harris County, in 1978, Splendora was
fiercely independent from “progress creep.” Klan rallies were rumored to take
place and boys learned how to fish, hunt and dip Skoal at an early – pre-teen –
age.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Splendora was a well-known speed trap along U.S. 59 (the road from
Houston to Lufkin) and once employed a police chief, who actually pulled over a
moving freight train for exceeding the town’s 30 mph speed limit. A book bearing
the town’s title has a murderous transvestite as its central character.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">But somehow it didn’t seem out of place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">In 1978, the Splendora Wildcats were district favorites and one of the
better Class 3A teams in the Houston area. They would lose in the bi-district
round to a team from Sealy led by a player named Dickerson (Hall of Famer Eric
Dickerson for the uninitiated).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The team’s star was a 170-pound running back-defensive back named
Donald Moore, who would try to play at Texas Tech for a season before disappearing
from the gridiron scene. But back then, Moore was the town’s gridiron knight in
shining armor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The season opener was at home against the Tarkington Longhorns, a team
of inferior quality, but the ‘Horns had a good shot against highly-ranked Splendora
because of a chair in the Splendora Cafe. This typical small-town cafe had it
all – peeling linoleum on the floor, red plastic glasses for iced tea, and a
menu ranging from chicken fried steak to chicken fried catfish to different
version of the same hamburger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">On the afternoon before the game, Moore and his brother were enjoying
conversation and banana cream pie. Another “gentlemen” entered the fray and
began arguing with Moore’s brother, something was said about the man’s
parentage, when Donald stepped in to be a mediator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">For his troubles, Donald Moore received a cafe metal chair on the side
of his head, as in cold-cocked. Four hours before kickoff, an ambulance whisked
the Wildcat star to the hospital, in a half-conscious state.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">News of the incident reached Splendora’s colorful head coach Billy “Red”
Mitchell; he reacted in his usual manner, with language that would have made
sailors blush. Red Mitchell was a unique individual in a sport that carried
more than its share of characters. He stood (relatively speaking) 5-8, weighed
230 pounds, and had this patch of shocking red hair to match his constantly
blushed and flushed cheeks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Mitchell always wore a jacket and tie on the sidelines, but the
shirttail was always disheveled and pulled out, the tie was askew and the
jacket was tossed to the bench when kickoff arrived.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">He also ate grass during the game … he’d bend over to see the play
before him, reach down, pluck blades from the turf and pop them in his mouth.
Honest. Who’d lie about a thing like that?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Kickoff time arrived and Moore was AWOL, but not DOA. In fact, Moore
appeared on the Wildcat sideline midway through the first quarter, and he
handed Mitchell a set of x-rays showing he had sustained a concussion in the
incident.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">On the field, Splendora was rudderless without Moore and Mitchell knew
his team needed a special boost at halftime. He asked Moore to get into uniform
to “give the boys some hope and let them know you’re OK.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">All the while, Mitchell clutched those x-rays and returned to the sideline
in the third quarter with Moore in uniform, but unavailable to play. Or so you
thought. Splendora did nothing with the second-half kickoff and was forced to
punt to Tarkington, trailing 14-0.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Mitchell took out the x-rays and held them up to the stadium lights, like
a surgeon about to go into the operating room. He glanced back at the action
for a few plays and looked at the x-rays again. And again. And again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Midway through the quarter, Mitchell looked hard at the films, squinted
real hard and exclaimed, “By God, I think that injury just healed itself.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">He ordered Moore into the game and the star responded by returning a
punt 77 yards for a touchdown. He intercepted a pass for the tying score and
ran 53 yards for the winning points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">All the while, Mitchell waved the x-rays like a twirler’s baton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Texas football has a healing power all its own; and the playoffs have
begun!</span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-63288527596038000612013-11-10T12:37:00.001-06:002013-11-10T12:37:06.652-06:00Michigan-Nebraska: what's left to play for?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yt4Gb6WuCCM/Un_Qd5MiqnI/AAAAAAAAA2I/E8b-CnswTMU/s1600/View+down+under.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yt4Gb6WuCCM/Un_Qd5MiqnI/AAAAAAAAA2I/E8b-CnswTMU/s400/View+down+under.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“You
are the team your record says you are.” </span></i></b><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">– Hall of Fame Coach Bill Parcells</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
I penned last week’s post-game analysis following the meltdown in East Lansing,
I questioned whether Michigan could bounce back, strictly based on what I was
seeing on offense and attitude. From my easy-chair (granted it’s not the same
as field level), I saw the towel tossed in fairly early by a young team, unable
to cope with operational dysfunction. I was hoping for a strong, bounce-back
showing at home against Nebraska; and it came (for a short time) by the
Michigan defense on its first series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
never was it seen when the Wolverines had the football. As a result, Michigan
lost to Nebraska 17-13, ended its long home winning streak (and the next home
game will NOT start a new win streak at all) and eliminated Michigan from ANY
Big 10 title game hopes, or any expectations to play in a Jan. 1-level bowl
game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sorry
to say this, Michigan is looking at a 7-5 record square in the eye ...
seriously! It’s going to be the Pizza Bowl, a long trip to Houston (or Dallas
to play in a crumbling 77-year-old outdoor stadium) or scarfing some Buffalo
Wild Wings in Tempe, Ariz. I don’t see any alternative unless U-M pulls a
“1969” and beats what will be an overwhelmingly-favored Ohio State at home.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbR8x5r20C8/Un_Rwr1FJRI/AAAAAAAAA2w/H08ruwsi3AE/s1600/Drum+major+bends+backwards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbR8x5r20C8/Un_Rwr1FJRI/AAAAAAAAA2w/H08ruwsi3AE/s200/Drum+major+bends+backwards.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
order to still do THAT, Michigan will have to repair some major leaks in the
dam(n) – on offense in ALL facets of its game. It must start with the
deteriorating play of quarterback Devin Gardner and the non-existent,
non-respectable running game – in terms of blocking and carrying the ball.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Until
that leakage is at least patched (fixing won’t happen until the spring), it
will be difficult for Michigan to get any sustained scoring threat against
opposing defenses that now know the singular secret to success – blitz the hell
out of Gardner and simply squash the Michigan interior line. And for whatever
reason, I have a feeling All-American (last season, not this year) Taylor Lewan
is hurt more than anyone really knows; most rushing plays trend AWAY from him
instead of following that big caboose right down the field.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here
are some key cumulative stats that tell a great deal of why Michigan lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gains on first down plays</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – The Wolverines snapped the ball 24
times when the down box read “1” and gained a total of … 38 yards. That is the
foundation down for any offensive drive and Michigan averaged just over 1.5
yards – meaning lots of second and- third-down plays with long distances to
cover.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srUsDF0ETxE/Un_RiRN_LwI/AAAAAAAAA2o/79niGMcTDKw/s1600/Funchess+TD+catch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-srUsDF0ETxE/Un_RiRN_LwI/AAAAAAAAA2o/79niGMcTDKw/s320/Funchess+TD+catch.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
range went from the 5-yard scoring pass from Gardner to Devin Funchess all the
way to the failed 10-yard loss on yet another botched center snap in the pistol
formation. The longest pass play covered 13 yards, but the longest run was just
7 yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gains on attempted
third-down conversions</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
– Michigan was just 3 of 15 on third-down conversions (a horrible total for ANY
college football team. On 16 plays, including a 5-yard penalty against Lewan
for a false start than ruined that particular drive, the Wolverines gained only
57 yards (2-for-7 passing, 25 yards; 8 rushes-for-32 yards).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On
fourth down plays, U-M was 1-for-3 for 0 total yards, including the last play
which saw Gardner throw to Drew Dileo for the first time all game. Why he didn’t
look elsewhere (he was laser-focused on Dileo), is a question one could have been
asked the entire game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Points after turnovers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> – Two Cornhusker miscues produced three
measly points, (the last Gibbons field goal) despite unprecedented starting
field position for Michigan – the best in two games – at Nebraska’s 33 and then
the Husker 26 (after Dennis Norfleet’s recovery of NU’s fumbled punt return).
But the two subsequent drives produced a total of five yards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
fact, the last “scoring” drive sort of resembled the listless play in the overtime
game against Penn State when U-M “settled” for a field goal instead of
attacking the end zone. With the lone exception of the second half’s opening
drive (the ONLY touchdown Michigan has scored in two games), the Wolverines
didn’t really sniff the end zone at all (even on the first field goal drive,
which was stopped at the Nebraska 10).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
there was this on that drive, with the exception of two failed carries by Fitzgerald
Toussaint (for minus-2 yards), everything ran through Gardner – again for a
lack of diversity in the attack due to a negative-existing running game. On
Saturday, Michigan “ran” the ball 36 times and lost a total of 21 yards – the
longest gain was by freshman Derrick Green for a whopping … 7 yards. For the
last two games, Michigan had officially lost a total of 69 yards on the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Toussaint
finished with 6 yards on 9 carries and Gardner lost 32 yards on 16 carries (his
long gain was also 7 yards). U-M MUST get more than 6 yards on 9 carries from
its starting back.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AzoO1Igns0/Un_SKs91kpI/AAAAAAAAA3A/nX23-X795L8/s1600/FB's+first+touch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AzoO1Igns0/Un_SKs91kpI/AAAAAAAAA3A/nX23-X795L8/s200/FB's+first+touch.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Perhaps
it IS time to discover who can play for the Maize and Blue in the future,
beginning at running back. Sorry to say but Toussaint needs to SIT for the rest
of the season; he simply cannot block any oncoming blitzing linebacker and has
no visible energy to make the tough runs when needed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whether
it’s Green, or someone else on the roster that hasn’t seen the playing field in
month of Saturdays, a change has to be made and be made immediately.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
there is the situation with Gardner. Although the coaches would never yank him
for freshman Shane Morris, I guarantee you it’s been discussed behind closed
doors and fermenting in the recesses of their minds. His play can only be described
as scared at time, hesitant ALL the time, and unsatisfactory to produce
victories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Against
Nebraska, Gardner was generally useless minus the only touchdown drive (the
only such happening in two games). Yes, he completed 18-of-27 passes and
committed no turnovers (he came close once) for 196 yards (but a quarterback
rating of only 16.8).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
no one among the 112,000 in Michigan Stadium felt confident about what they
were seeing. In fact, the chorus of boos could clearly be heard over the ABC
microphones and when was the last time THAT happened? The 2009 loss at home to
Ohio State?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
Gardner cannot gain ANY yards with his legs (he either sits in the pocket too
long OR continues to spin into the pass rush), when do you make a change? Or is
it worth changing at this (low) point in the season? Michigan fans might not
want to hear the questions, but deserve a few answers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5V-AlQPgJ8Q/Un_RTk6eEcI/AAAAAAAAA2g/Q4wOp04SDE4/s1600/Nice+Ross+tackle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5V-AlQPgJ8Q/Un_RTk6eEcI/AAAAAAAAA2g/Q4wOp04SDE4/s320/Nice+Ross+tackle.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There
WERE a few positives from the Nebraska loss. Linebacker James Ross III proved
he can play with anyone and showed plenty of grit on the afternoon (he was
Michigan’s best player).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGLy5V_xEAA/Un_RFKeqBsI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/TfWohXXDC54/s1600/Jake+Butt+on+the+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGLy5V_xEAA/Un_RFKeqBsI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/TfWohXXDC54/s200/Jake+Butt+on+the+run.jpg" width="109" /></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Freshman
tight end Jake Butt should be involved MORE in the offense; he blocked decently
and showed, at times, catch the ball. With Gardner displaying too much
tunnel-vision for just a couple of receivers on pass routes, adding a third
option will only help. Obviously, one has to throw the ball (or get the heck
out of the collapsing pocket) in order for the passing game to work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However,
the Michigan defensive scheme didn’t account enough for NU halfback Ameer Abdullah
and surrendered too many long pass plays – notably the back-breaking 26-yard completion
Nebraska executed on its game-winning drive … on fourth down!!! How many missed
tackles can a good defense allow on plays like that? And how did freshman Josh
Furman move from third-string to a starter at safety in less than one week’s
time? Curious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
defeat MUST hurt more than losing to the Buckeyes, because it came against NU
coach Bo Pellini (not the guy earning Mister Congeniality among conference coaches
and certainly not with the Lincoln faithful). After Saturday, he is somewhat
safe in terms of his job security and his squad will play Michigan State this
week for Legends’ berth in conference title game Dec. 7.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
will be Brady Hoke’s most difficult time as a head coach; he must lift THIS team
to a form of respectability, beginning Saturday in Evanston. This is a matchup
between the Big 10’s most disappointing squads and picking a winner, frankly,
is a fool’s game at this moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
four weeks, Northwestern and Michigan were unbeaten and ranked high in the top
20 before falling completely off the cliff (as has happened by the Wildcats’
five-game losing streak). But if Northwestern can win two of its last three
games (chalk the season finale against Illinois as a “W” and the game versus
Sparty as a loss), guess what? A win over Michigan at home would mean Northwestern
would be tagged with that infamous label – “bowl-eligible.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7kjUbeLoS4/Un_Qq2aB78I/AAAAAAAAA2U/kkHPPHKaPus/s1600/%2527Blue%2527+cheerleader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7kjUbeLoS4/Un_Qq2aB78I/AAAAAAAAA2U/kkHPPHKaPus/s200/%2527Blue%2527+cheerleader.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That
might be more incentive for the Purple Haze (to be dressed in a
ridiculous-looking uniform of multi-colors) than what the Wolverines will take
on the unfriendly road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Michigan
will probably finish with a losing conference record (behind Minnesota and Iowa
for heaven’s sake). Whether it can be attributed to growing pains or a deeper
problem, in the final three games of the regular season, several questions need
to be answered, starting with playing personnel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s
been smash-mouth football all right, but Michigan has been the one getting smashed
instead of the other way around. It IS the team its record says it is…</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-18108297459948696432013-11-05T17:01:00.002-06:002013-11-05T17:01:27.707-06:00Bowling for Dollars: Money talks, records walk
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s
right about that time for college football fans to begin gazing into the future
– specifically January 1 when the post-season collegiate bowl system hits its
zenith. It comes to a resounding climax on Monday, Jan. 6 in Pasadena’s Rose
Bowl when the BCS holds its national championship contest (sponsored this year
by Vizio, so the trophy will be a crystal wide screen???).</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
might not be a clear-cut case of who should occupy the number 1 and number 2
positions in the BCS poll. Currently, it’s two-time defending champion Alabama
and Florida State (my finalist selections), but at least five other schools
(Ohio State, Oregon, Baylor, Northern Illinois, Fresno State) could go
undefeated in the 2013 schedule – all staking claims why they should be in that
game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Alas,
in this Battle Royal, as many as 12 can enter the college version of
Thunderdome, but only two can emerge for the title.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What
happens to the remaining schools will be fodder for water cooler talk and the sports
talk grist mill for weeks to come.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
the moment, let’s concentrate on which Big Ten teams will go where and how that
affects a certain Ann Arbor-based team with a slightly clouded bowl future.
Depending on the outcome of its final four games (including an encounter with
Ohio State), Michigan could be seen in almost any part of the country (Arizona,
Texas, Florida or Detroit) for its 13th (and unluckiest??) game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ohio
State and probably Michigan State, depending on whether it can weather OSU’s
attack offense and make the Big Ten title game close, should be BCS Bowl
participants (the Bucks facing Oregon in the Rose Bowl and Sparty in a game
like the Fiesta Bowl against a high-powered offense like Baylor).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
conference has contractual commitments to the following bowl games: Outback vs.
an SEC team (Jan. 1), Capital One (Jan. 1) vs. an SEC team, Gator Bowl (Jan. 1)
vs. yet another SEC team, Heart of Dallas Bowl (Jan. 1) vs. a Conference-USA
school, Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Dec. 28) vs. a Big 12 team, Texas Bowl, in
Houston (Dec. 27) vs. a Big 12 team, and Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, in Detroit’s
Ford Field (Dec. 26) vs. a Mid-American Conference school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Seven
teams needed to fill those seven slots, with at least three of those games on a
much lower level than the others. At the moment, Wisconsin and Nebraska are
almost guaranteed to play on Jan. 1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
surprise team in the nation, Minnesota, led by a Coach of the Year candidate
who cannot even coach for health reasons, could well be a Gator Bowl
participant. Yet so could Michigan, if it gets its act together and collects
eight wins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
one of those victories must come on the road against either Iowa or
Northwestern, and as stated in an earlier blog, both those schools could be
playing the Wolverines with their only chance of securing a post-season bowl
berth (more incentive than U-M might possess playing in Evanston or Iowa City).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">BCS
bowl standards state that a school MUST have at least six victories (a minimum
of a 6-6 mark) to play that 13th game … unless it wins its conference title
game with a less than .500 record. In some of the smaller conference, it could
be a possibility if that school lost all its non-conference game but emerged a
winner within the conference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such
is the quandary Michigan faces the rest of the month. Gators or pizzas???</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
if you are looking for that TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl opponent, think of a
school like South Carolina (want a rematch with Deveon Clowney?) or Ole Miss or
Florida??? Not a pretty or rosy future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hell,
whoever plays in the old and cold Cotton Bowl in the “game to keep that old
stadium viable” affair, might never know who it will play because there’s a
good chance Conference-USA might not have enough teams meeting the NCAA
standard. And who in the world would want to see any Big Ten team play the
likes of … Rice, North Texas or Marshall??</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Or
face Ball State or Buffalo in the Pizza Bowl? Or a bottom-level Big 12 teams
like West Virginia or Kansas State simply for the sake of taking a trip to
Houston over Christmas? None of those games would prove beneficial to any Big
Ten program – especially Michigan!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Let’s
skip forward to the main bowl players on Jan. 1, 2014. Here’s how I see the
major bowl matchups playing out:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
mentioned, I pick Alabama to face an undefeated Florida State team (with the
likely Heisman winner fresh Jameis Winston) on Jan. 6. I think Ohio State plays
Oregon in the BCS title Game-1a in the Rose Bowl, Stanford meeting the hometown
Hurricanes in Miami’s Orange Bowl (Jan. 3), Michigan State versus Baylor in the
Fiesta Bowl and Missouri of the SEC playing Clemson in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl
(Fresno State simply isn’t as good or TV attractive as the Tigers).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
fly in the ointment is independent Notre Dame, with a special invite be a BCS
participant. Despite being undeserving of such consideration, as is the
situation currently with a 7-2 record, and facing a third possible loss against
Stanford (ranked sixth at this juncture), the Irish must have incriminating
photos of certain officials in a lockbox to even merit discussion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
real problem stems from the contractual entanglements; where does Notre Dame go,
if not to one of the Final Five? It could become a bidding war but, who then
gets screwed? Clemson? Northern Illinois? Fresno State? Or one of the many
teams far more deserving of a bigger payday than the golden domers?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here
in Texas, the game of the century could be held in AT&T Stadium in
Arlington (the former Cowboys Stadium and known locally as JerryWorld) on
Friday, Jan. 3. Unless Texas can upset Baylor (not likely), I would wager a
king’s fortune that the matchup officials would die to see would be the
Longhorns play their bitter, hated rivals Texas A&M (now of the SEC).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
could reignite that storied rivalry that was halted when the Aggies bolted to
their new conference and neither side was willing to work together to keep a
Thanksgiving weekend tradition alive. And the entire brouhaha is so silly
because it would only be a matter of a little schedule juggling to make it
happen. Last Saturday, A&M toyed with UT-El Paso at home while Texas had a
bye week (oops, actually it played Kansas, but that was the same thing).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
you switch a few of those bye weeks and simply kiss off the Rices of the world,
history would be restored and college football fans would have the opportunity
to see a decent game on that weekend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those
invitations will be extended after the flurry of Dec. 7 conference championships
and final regular season games for people in the Big 12. I won’t say I can’t
wait to hear those matchups because if Michigan is 6-6 or 7-5, it won’t be good
news.</span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-7604143862748612592013-11-03T11:35:00.003-06:002013-11-03T11:35:38.174-06:00Season on the brink: Green pummels Blue into Red-faced vanquished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P4zWzSSIqZM/UnaHsfEUwPI/AAAAAAAAA1A/xHx9Grf_RLY/s1600/Norfleet+crunched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P4zWzSSIqZM/UnaHsfEUwPI/AAAAAAAAA1A/xHx9Grf_RLY/s400/Norfleet+crunched.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
normally start these analysis pieces with a few snarky comments and a bit of
witty play on words, but after Saturday’s debacle in East Lansing, losing 29-6
to Michigan State, it is time for serious discussion, and not viewing the
remainder of the 2013 season through rainbow-colored glasses.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Michigan football team 134 is in serious, serious trouble – on the brink of a possible
collapse that will finish the regular season with a 6-6 record. And based on
how teams finish the regular schedule, it usually means a loss in post-season
bowl games. So 6-7 is NOT all that improbable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don’t
scoff this scenario; no one can honestly state (with certainty) that U-M will
defeat Nebraska at home this Saturday. The Cornhuskers have a very physical
defense (although it surrenders an average of 24 points per contest), and the
Huskers can run the ball (averaging 261 yards per game).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Meanwhile,
Michigan’s running game has gone from non-existent to a total negative (those minus-48
against MSU was only the SINGLE WORST effort in U-M history). If a defense
simply forces quarterback Devin Gardner out of the pocket, and double his two
main targets (Jeremy Gallon and Devin Funchess), the Wolverine offense stalls,
stumbles and dies on the proverbial vine.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ7CxLHKq50/UnaH9YH74pI/AAAAAAAAA1I/Wkx8faDMMvY/s1600/Nowhere+to+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ7CxLHKq50/UnaH9YH74pI/AAAAAAAAA1I/Wkx8faDMMvY/s320/Nowhere+to+run.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How
bad is the running game? The second-leading rushing against the Spartans was
backup quarterback Shane Morris – with no gain on his one carry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
cannot be corrected in a week’s worth of practice, or in the remaining
practices in 2013. Neither can Gardner’s persistent nasty habit of spinning
into oncoming pass rushes and getting trapped into huge, drive-crushing losses.
His arm strength is not in question, but his footwork needs an entire spring
session to attempt correcting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Following
Nebraska, U-M faces two road trips at Northwestern and Iowa. In each case for
the home team, a win might well spell the difference between sitting home
during the holidays and playing in some low-level bowl games (along with
Michigan).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Imagine
Michigan playing a spoiler’s role for those two schools; that is exactly the
role the Wolverines will assume.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
then whatever home win streak exists for Michigan in Ann Arbor will be destroyed
by Ohio State. There is NO WAY U-M can compete with the Buckeyes in its present
condition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
fact, Michigan will most likely be a double-digit underdog at home and when was
the last time THAT was seen in Ann Arbor? It isn’t a far-fetched prediction to
see OSU hit Michigan with 50 on the scoreboard, just because it can, and wants
to do so.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCArUYlM7lk/UnaJTkTv1kI/AAAAAAAAA1w/dHO9mqNevgY/s1600/Bloodied+Lewan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCArUYlM7lk/UnaJTkTv1kI/AAAAAAAAA1w/dHO9mqNevgY/s320/Bloodied+Lewan.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
the bowl bids are then handed out, U-M fans better look at the standings of the
Mid-American Conference, Conference-USA and the bottom of the Big 12. Those are
the prospective opponents for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit versus a
Mid-American Conference team (Dec. 26), Texas Bowl in Houston versus the worst
Big 12 team eligible (Dec. 27), Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe versus a lousy
Big 12 team (Dec. 28), or Heart of Dallas Bowl (in the OLD Cotton Bowl before a
half-empty house) versus a Conference-USA team (Jan. 1).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">These
are the bowl games where Big 10 teams are contracted to appear; thoughts of
playing in the Outback, or Capital One or Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 can be
officially flushed out of your heads. Those games are for the better teams of
the conference of which Michigan is on the outside looking in (for Chrissakes,
Minnesota is ahead of U-M in the Leaders division).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
I’ll have more about all that later this week on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mgotalk.com</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
you are more than a casual Wolverine football fan, you need to realize that
what I’ve put down in writing is not a far-fetched fantasy; it’s a possible nightmare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now,
I’d like to go back to last week’s pre-game blog to examine what I believed were
the keys to victory … and actually what happened:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1) Battle of Pepperidge
Farms</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (turnovers) – The
two teams were dead even in miscues (one interception apiece), but that was a
loss of Michigan. When Ramon Taylor gathered his interception, and returned it
to the MSU 41, three subsequent plays produced a loss of 21 yards and with it,
a blown (and rare) opportunity to energize the entire squad.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8BRvPVqDNI/UnaIMSN1ASI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/gv3X248e6b4/s1600/Almost+fumble+recovery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8BRvPVqDNI/UnaIMSN1ASI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/gv3X248e6b4/s200/Almost+fumble+recovery.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
other mistakes – stupid personal foul penalties and bad center snaps in the
pistol offense resulting in a huge loss – meant as much as any turnover.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Watching
those double Ds</b> – MSU’s defense, as a unit, proved it was the best in the nation
(now allowing only 104 points all season). It hit harder, stronger and longer
than Michigan from the opening kickoff through the final whistle. And in
winning the last five of six meetings, the Spartan defense has always been the
difference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Michigan’s
pass coverage, at the key times, proved to be atrocious and if you pay close
attention, you will see the same disturbing trend by defensive backs; they play
the receiver and never the ball. On the critical second-quarter touchdown pass
(a repeat of the same play that almost scored for the Spartans earlier in the
quarter), no one even looked to see where (or when) the ball was headed. That
only favors the receiver, who leaped up to grab the aerial and land in-bounds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Taylor’s
interception resulted because he actually turned toward the passer and saw what
was happening.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPpiLyK8u88/UnaIdHgeOFI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/8WN8TgstJto/s1600/Taylor+INT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPpiLyK8u88/UnaIdHgeOFI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/8WN8TgstJto/s200/Taylor+INT.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sophomore
Connor Cook proved to be exactly what was predicted – an immobile quarterback,
but that didn’t matter. No one suffocated MSU’s passing game at the key moments
like Sparty did for 60 minutes against its hated rival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the time the fourth quarter arrived, the U-M defense was visibly gassed/spent/wasted.
No one was left with the energy to stop the two drives of 68 and 97 yards (after
MSU’s pickoff at the MSU 3). It’s was as much sad as humiliating because, for
much of the contest, Michigan actually displayed grit against the Spartan
offense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
without an offense to relieve pressure from its defense (in terms of time of
possession and especially field position), it was only a matter of time before
the entire effort crumbled like rain-soaked hot dog buns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
to mimic ABC analyst Todd Blackledge, exactly WHY was Fitzgerald Toussaint
trying to go one-on-one with charging, blitzing linebackers on pass protection?
What a losing proposition!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> The Life of Tryin’</b> – Michigan did not
maintain same intensity to return the Paul Bunyan Trophy to Ann Arbor (by the
way, how legitimate is a trophy showing Bunyan with an ax between his legs???).
You had to ask yourself afterwards, “Was THIS the kind of performance, coming
off a bye week, anyone expected? And why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
think the most telling play about Michigan’s lack of aggressiveness (a polite
way of saying everyone knew the game was over well BEFORE it was over) was Gardner’s
attempt to get a first down when trailing 22-6 in the fourth period. Needing
six yards for a first down on a third-down run, Gardner literally stopped a yard
short of that goal when facing MSU defensive back Darqueze Dennard, and simply
stopping his own momentum to be tackled three feet short of what was needed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Luckily,
MSU was guilty of an illegal substitution for Michigan’s initial second first down
of the half. But the play spoke volumes of the obvious fear instilled in the
U-M offense by the Spartan defense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
despite pleas from the Michigan coaches to speed up its hurry-up offense, the
Wolverines on the field was in no particular rush to get to the line of
scrimmage and face yet another pounding by the MSU 11.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was all anyone every needed to see.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LCLh-0qT9hg/UnaIxSGjHKI/AAAAAAAAA1g/Mo3JNuaqc68/s1600/Wile+FG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LCLh-0qT9hg/UnaIxSGjHKI/AAAAAAAAA1g/Mo3JNuaqc68/s200/Wile+FG.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4)
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What’s So Special About Special Teams?</b>
– Again, a slight edge to MSU because it kept U-M pinned with bad field
position ALL game long. Of course, so many other factors entered into this
ass-whipping, special teams performance had little to do with it in the end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5)
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Capitol Tour</b> – The Wolverines continue
to lose important road games (now with a 5-9 record away from The Big House
under Brady Hoke). But the question that must be answered: when was the LAST
meaningful road victory for Michigan?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Answer</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: Actually, it came in Rich Rodriguez’
last season (2010) with a 29-24 last-second victory at Notre Dame (in Charlie’
Weis’ horrible regime). The last meaningful road conference win was in 2006
when U-M won 17-10 at Happy Valley over Penn State.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oddly
enough, the ’10 Wolverines were 3-2 on the road that season, capturing the
State of Indiana sweep (Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue). For the record, since
2007, Michigan is 11-18 away from home.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nX5ATwvc18o/UnaI-zTkFuI/AAAAAAAAA1o/JhfYHrpYu2I/s1600/Hoke+implores+defense.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nX5ATwvc18o/UnaI-zTkFuI/AAAAAAAAA1o/JhfYHrpYu2I/s200/Hoke+implores+defense.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Simply
put, NO program can be a contender for anything – a national championship, a conference
title or any meaningful trophy – unless that squad can deliver away from the comfortable
confines of its home field. Michigan has been too comfy and cozy in The Big
House and simply produces a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality on the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
finally, the Michigan Athletic Department produced post-game notes about highlights
of the team and individuals, setting new school records or personal bests.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBaxEhtALPk/UnaHVXNP1VI/AAAAAAAAA04/l2RjJwKjJmE/s1600/Denard+on+sidelines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBaxEhtALPk/UnaHVXNP1VI/AAAAAAAAA04/l2RjJwKjJmE/s200/Denard+on+sidelines.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At
the bottom of the notes following the MSU game was an item about the presence
of former quarterback Denard Robinson, visiting his team on his bye-week from
the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars. His ever-present smile grew less and less evident
as the game moved along.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
MUST wonder how many Michigan fans wished the clock could be turned back for
one more year instead of losing an hour later at 2 a.m. for Daylight Savings
Time; because Robinson was the last quarterback to be Michigan State in recent
memory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was just a sad day in SO many ways Saturday.</span></div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-79392924705020407352013-10-22T21:54:00.001-05:002013-10-22T21:54:14.541-05:00Is 91-0 football victory the same as bullying?
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Among
my journalistic stops while in “retirement” was servicing as n online copy
editor for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aledo (Tex.) Community News</i></b>, serving a small bedroom enclave
just west of Fort Worth. As is the case with most of Texas’ major metro areas,
it is a place where people call home – where they sleep – without having the
benefit of actually working there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
Aledo, the largest source of community pride is its high school, at the Class
4A level (second highest attendance zone as established by the extra-curricular
ruling University Interscholastic League) for the past 6-7 years. And the
biggest symbol of that Bearcat pride is its multi-championship football squad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
the big news this week among high school squads has been the formal complaint
of “bullying” filed against the team by a parent from an opposing team which
got shellacked 91-0 by Aledo last Friday night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
Aledo plays, it isn’t usually a close game, and the 2013 season is no
exception. AHS plays in perhaps the weakest district in the entire state,
manned by Fort Worth schools, which, sadly, are terrible and cannot dream of
competing with Aledo’s perennial powerhouse offense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">AHS
averages (in 32 minutes of game action) a whopping … 69.3 points per game,
including lopsided, non-district victories over famed Highland Park (44-3) and
Stephenville (56-14). Between the two opponents sit almost a double-fistful of
state titles. Baylor coach Art Briles got his reputation at Stephenville and
two HP alums are Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Lions quarterback Matthew
Stafford, teammates for football and baseball.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They
are joined by legendary Hall of Famers Doak Walker and Bobby Layne – just to
name a few.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">From
2009-11, Aledo won three consecutive 4A-Division II championship trophies,
mostly by wide margins over some of the best programs offered in the Lone Star
State. In Texas, there are SO many schools – all wanting a piece of a
championship pie – the UIL employs a two-level system (based on attendance) for
each classification. Instead of having five overall champions (plus six-man
football, a blast if you’ve never seen it in person), there are 10 state
titlists – double the pleasure and double the confusion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Aledo
has always been known as a high-scoring football team, established in 2009 when
a freshman named Johnathan Gray stepped on to the field. When his high school career
was completed, he was named National High School Player of the Year twice (an
unprecedented feat). He set the all-time touchdown record of 205 (eclipsing the
previous mark of 204 set by a familiar Michigan name – Mike Hart).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His
squad won three consecutive 4A championships and he rushed for 10,881 yards in
his career (on 1,209 carries) and a 9 yard average.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gray’s
biggest performances were reserved for those three state title games. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
2009, he ran for 252 yards and four touchdowns as AHS defeated the Brenham
Cubs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
2010, he gained 323 yards and scored eight touchdowns as Aledo swarmed the
defending champions from LaMarque. Those TDs helped Gray top the total of 57
scored by the legendary Kenneth Hall of Sugar Land in the late 1950s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
a senior, playing his final high school game, Gray rushed for 241 yadrs, and
scored the record-breaking 205th touchdown to overcome Hart’s mark. He finished
his high school career first all-time in touchdowns and second all-time in points
scored.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such
is the legacy at Aledo High School.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sidenote:
Gray is Texas’ leading rusher this season with 562 yards on 11 carries and four
scores</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
District 7-4A, there is no adequate competition and it’s no one’s fault other
than the UIL’s bi-annual redistricting bundling. Year and year, Aledo finds
nothing but cupcakes when district play takes place. Through the first four
games in 7-4A, Aledo has outscored its opposition by an average of 77 points!
And it includes last Friday’s spectacular 91-0 drubbing of poor Fort Worth
Western Hills (which followed an 84-7 win over O.D. Wyatt).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
a result, some unnamed parent from Western Hills has filed a formal complaint
with the district committee for investigation of … bullying! With such activity
ever increasing among students at all grade level, Texas law requires each
district to provide bullying complaint forms on its website; the district’s
high school principal is then required to check out the allegations and file a
written report.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Aledo
Head Coach Tim Buchanan is caught on the (Long)horns of a dilemma – what constitutes “bullying”
on the football field when it’s only about the final score.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“It’s
not something you can laugh off or anything like that,” he said. “What they
said was that I should’ve told my players to ease up and not play so hard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
is simply impossible to ask a player, possibly a fourth-stringer, getting his
only chance to play all season, to give less than his all. He isn’t coached
that way and shouldn’t play that way. When young men are asked to play less
than 100 percent, they get hurt – seriously hurt. That is not bullying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Football
as an official means of bullying is not defined in the Texas Education Code,
which classifies bullying as “as engaging in written or verbal expression,
expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school
property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity … and that has the
effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student … or is
sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough that the action or threat
creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a
student.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Even
Western Hills Coach John Naylor agrees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“I
think the game was handled fine,” he said. “They’re No. 1 for a reason, and I
know Coach Buchanan. We’re fighting a real uphill battle right now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Western
Hill brought only 30 players – not an adequate amount on the roster to face
such a “buzzsaw” as Naylor described AHS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Aledo
just plays hard, and they’re good sports; they don’t talk at all,” he added. “They
get after it, and that’s the way football is supposed to be played in Texas.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
Buchanan’s defense, he pulled his starters on offense after 21 plays and a
running clock was implemented in the third quarter. Aledo’s quarterbacks only
attempted 10 passes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“I’m
upset about it,” Buchanan said. “I don’t like it; I sit there the whole third
and fourth quarter and try to think how I can keep us from scoring.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
real question is the quality of the opposition. Should a game (and lopsided
outcome everyone knows is coming) actually be forced upon either team? Nothing
is learned by teams like Aledo when winning by 77 points and nothing is gained
by a school enduring such a scoreboard beating.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s
sad; perhaps a tad tragic, but is it bullying? The simple answer is no and the
hurt feelings of a parent, rooting for a team that simply cannot compete, is
not grounds for any kind of investigation of innocent children.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Oh,
by the way, 91 points – a great total for a basketball team – is NOT the Texas
record; that was set in 1969 by Valley Mills with a 103-point showing against Grandview.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That
wasn’t bullying either.</span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-8248941363712802912013-10-21T16:37:00.000-05:002013-10-21T16:37:03.951-05:00O.A. Phillips: He was no ‘Bum,’ just a great coach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9FILnc1Prc/UmWdiO3SQ8I/AAAAAAAAA0g/6c6WFmyyjLY/s1600/Bum+Phillips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9FILnc1Prc/UmWdiO3SQ8I/AAAAAAAAA0g/6c6WFmyyjLY/s400/Bum+Phillips.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Most
death notices simply float past most readers; they tell the story of a stranger
or someone not involved in one’s life. Not so with the notification of the
passing of Oail Andrew Phillips last week at the age of 90.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
man everyone called “Bum” was the head coach of the NFL Houston Oilers, when I
stepped off a Trailways Bus in the Houston suburb of Conroe, in June, 1976, and
my first real contact with pro sports as I began my new career. He was, aside
from Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, the most unique character in that
role of the many I would encounter in more than 30 years of reporting on sports
in Texas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
me, it would be one of my initial contacts with a major Houston sports
franchise during a time when none of that city’s teams were worth much of
anything; the Astros were mediocre wearing orange softball-like uniforms, the
Rockets had yet to trade for Moses Malone (two months after that 1976 Oilers
camp) and the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association were all about the
(Gordie) Howe family and that was about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
all, Texas was a football-crazed state, dominated by high schools on Friday
night (crowds in excess of 15,000 were considered the norm), the University of Texas
and Texas A&M on Saturdays and the Cowboys on Sundays. Houston was a
rapidly-growing city in the middle of what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Newsweek</i></b> labeled “The Super State”
but without a reciprocal standing in pro sports.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
1976, the Oilers were still trying to find an identity, other than
less-than-successful and also-ran. That season’s training camp was just up the
road (30 miles away) at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To
say it was fairly informal would be a classic understatement. With a handful of
reporters (print, radio, TV) attending, it was not unusual to hold an impromptu
press conference under a shady tree (when it was more than 100 degrees and
ridiculously high humidity during practices), as the coach held a cold can of
Lone Star beer in one hand and a giant Stetson in the other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
I attended that Oilers camp, the big news was the consternation among the
hierarchy and coaching staff about cutting a fourth-string wide receiver out of
Tulsa named … Steve Largent, who would only have a subsequent Hall of Fame career
with the Seattle Seahawks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bum
liked Largent as a player, but the team was built around the big play
quarterbacking of Dan Pastorini and wide receivers like Kenny “00” Burrough.
Like a good former American Football League team, the big play was more than a
single play; it was a team’s identity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Even
in Houston in the mid-1970s, the Oilers played second banana to the Cowboys
some 225 miles to the north. When the teams would meet in the fictional Texas
Super Bowl in 1976 (played in the Astrodome), more than half the crowd cheered
openly for Dallas, infuriating many Oiler starters like center Carl Mauck,
whose R-rated statements on the subject could never be aired except on pay
cable stations that didn’t yet exist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Many
things were different back then, notably how the press covered sports. First,
it was called the “press” – not the media. A small daily sports editor, such as
myself (for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Montgomery County Daily Courier</i></b>), was granted equal access to
any press box and locker room as the beat reporters for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Houston
Chronicle</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Houston Post</i></b> (when every major city
in America had at least two daily newspapers in firm competition).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
were only three major television stations in town and no one was watching cable
television. Sports were confined to AM radio but only at night; the concept of
24/7 talk radio was simply … unthinkable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
in-town press conferences were usually held at local restaurants (not practice
facilities) to entice the press to attend, players openly fraternized with
reporters and coaches blended into the community’s identity than today (where
all too often they are just managers reporting to a major corporate entity).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
Phillips arrived in 1975, he began to alter the attitude in the locker room and
on the field, through shrewd trading, decent draft choices and proving to the
fan base that he could turn the team into a competitive unit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
then things started to change. A small but speedy wideout named Billy Johnson
began to dance the Funky Chicken as his touchdown celebration in the team’s
white shoes, a future Hall of Fame defensive tackle named Curley Culp was
acquired from Kansas City to bolster Bum’s new 3-4 defense (joining Elvin
Bethea) and a linebacker, who compared favorably to Adonis, named Robert
Brazile (out of Jackson State), was Phillips’ initial first-round draft choice
in 1975.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
offense still had colorful Pastorini (whose interesting late night adventures
in bachelorhood were chronicled daily in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chronicle</i></b>), Burrough and
All-Pros Mike Barber, Mauck and rookie offensive guard Bruce Matthews (another
future Hall of Fame choice). Pastorini also had a long-standing feud with a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chronicle</i></b>
reporter named Dale Robertson and on more than one occasion, the two were seen
tumbling out of the locker room in a wild flight over some item Robertson had
written.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
team’s reliable placekicker, Austrian Toni Fritsch, would wait for his services
to be required, and sit at the end of the bench, far away from his teammates,
smoking a pack of Marlboros ... during the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
stumbling to 5-9 in 1976, the Oilers’ first overall choice of the 1978 draft
was a game changer – Texas’ Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell. Suddenly,
Houston had a legitimate running game and instant credibility. The fan base was
sparked like a Roman candle and overnight, a new identity emerged “Luv Ya
Blue!”</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuLgTwSLHz0/UmWd31G3n6I/AAAAAAAAA0o/9hr1vi_0drg/s1600/Houston+Oilers+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuLgTwSLHz0/UmWd31G3n6I/AAAAAAAAA0o/9hr1vi_0drg/s400/Houston+Oilers+logo.png" width="235" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Oilers became the darlings of the Bayou City (it wasn’t hard with the Rockets
stumbling and the Astros still trying to make something of themselves). The
‘Dome was packed for every game; fans waived blue and white pom-poms, trying to
raise the roof off the facility. The crowd gladly sang the words to possibly
the worst, corniest fight song ever record, “We Are The Houston Oilers!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In 1978, Campbell won the Offensive Rookie of the
Year and Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1,450 yards, most of them
directly through and literally over defenders, sending many of them crashing to
the turf as a “34” blur ran past them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
WAS the best of times, with the worst of times on the horizon. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Oilers made the playoffs with a 10-6 record,
qualifying for the newly-created fifth Wild Card spot. In that game, Houston
the Oilers stunned the Dolphins in Miami 17-9 to advance to the Divisional
Playoffs.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At New England, in front of 61,297 Patriot fans,
Campbell and Company stomped their way to a 31-14 victory, setting up a clash
with the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers in Steel City, USA. This encounter would
end with Pittsburgh ripping the Oilers 34-5.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">After the loss, the Oilers were greeted by 50,000
loyal fans at the Astrodome holding signs saying “Luv Ya Blue.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
1979, Houston posted an 11-5 record, again qualifying for the playoffs as a
Wild Card. In the first playoff game ever held at the Astrodome, the Oilers
beat Denver 13-7, but lost several key players, including Campbell and
Pastorini to injuries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Without
that heart of the Houston offense, the Oilers still defeated the Chargers in
San Diego 17-13 in the Divisional Playoffs, as safety Vernon Perry intercepted future
Hall of Famer passer Dan Fouts four times – a playoff record.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Next
up would be the bane of the Oilers’ existence – the Steelers again in
Pittsburgh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Oilers were one play from the Super Bowl when officials rule an apparent
touchdown catch by former TCU star Mike Renfro as out-of-bounds in the third quarter
as Houston tried to tie the game. Replays and every Houston fans alive clearly
showed the error of the call, but instant replay (in the NFL) was only a
figment of some reporter’s imagination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
would prove to be a backbreaking play and decision as Houston crumbled in the
fourth quarter, losing 27-13. And again, the Oilers returned to the Astrodome,
only to see 70,000 appreciative fans show up early in the morning to greet them
in another “Luv Ya Blue” rally.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In 1980, Campbell continued to dominate with an
amazing1,934-yard season, including by consecutive 200-yard games as he
narrowly missed a 2,000-yard season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Oilers would finish with an 11-5 record, but were
forced to settle again for the Wild Card berth after losing the division title
to a tiebreaker. In the Wild Card Game, played at Oakland, Houston stymied by
the Raiders’ defense (with a fistful of future Hall of Fame players), losing
27-7, to the eventual Super Bowl Champion for the third consecutive year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">However, Oiler owner Bud Adams was not satisfied
with the outcome, and Phillips</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
was unceremoniously fired<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, replaced by assistant
coach Ed Biles.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Adams,
a rich oilman who was a totally unlikeable person, became the type of symbol
burned in effigy by Oiler fans on a weekly basis. So when Adams moved the
franchise to Tennessee in 1997 (Memphis the first season and then Nashville),
the entire city felt betrayed to the highest degree. Memories are long like
elephants in Houston and every time the Titans play in Houston, the booing from
the home side was directed more at Adams then the Titan roster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
it was beyond ironic to read of Adams’ passing Monday, at the same age of
Phillips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
took until 2002 after Houston voters approved higher taxes to build Reliant
Stadium (on the same grounds as the Astrodome) to garner an expansion team
named the Texans. And to this day, no Houston pro football team has played in a
Super Bowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Phillips
continued (and concluded) his coaching career with almost five seasons in New
Orleans, leading the Saints. Yet he could not produce that franchise’s first
winning season and playoff berth. On Nov. 25, 1985, 12 games into the season,
he announced his retirement, one day after the Saints beat Minnesota 30-24.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bum
returned to his ranch in Goliad, hawked his own line of Blue Ribbon sausage and
thoroughly supported the coaching career of his son, Wade, including a stint as
head coach of the Cowboys. Wade Phillips is currently the defensive coordinator
of the Houston Texans, and Bum was pictured at every turn wearing the Texan
logo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
when games were played two days after his death, people, especially in Texas
and the vast Houston area, paused to remember the jovial, affable man called “Bum.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
every football fan should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-28192019098238646852013-10-20T12:34:00.003-05:002013-10-20T12:34:55.692-05:00Michigan-Indiana recap: Mirror, mirror on the field<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-PiCKFZ5bA/UmQQtQAuH1I/AAAAAAAAAzE/B2_lcouG4ec/s1600/9348646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-PiCKFZ5bA/UmQQtQAuH1I/AAAAAAAAAzE/B2_lcouG4ec/s400/9348646.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Mirror,
mirror, on the field</span></i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How
many points will our defense yield?”</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Among
the circles of personal interest I navigate in my life, Celtic music ranks
among the top three. I have met and befriended many of that genre’s top
performers through my association with the North Texas Irish Festival (held
annually at Dallas’ Fair Park on the first weekend of March).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9Rpn9Q24bk/UmQQ3baCxlI/AAAAAAAAAzM/-nlm9GfU5zM/s1600/Nelson+Stewart+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9Rpn9Q24bk/UmQQ3baCxlI/AAAAAAAAAzM/-nlm9GfU5zM/s320/Nelson+Stewart+1.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
such good friend is Nelson Stewart (and his wife, Jeania) as the front man and
leader of the Celtic rock band, the American Rogues (even though Nelson is a
proud Canadian from Hamilton, Ont.). If you are ever presented with the opportunity
to see and hear them perform, at a festival or venue near you, do NOT miss the
chance to do so.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
tell you this (in brief) because the Stewarts were among the 109,503 fans at Michigan
Stadium last Saturday to see the Wolverines play Indiana. A friend of the band
invited them to enjoy their initial Game Day experience – the Full Monty
treatment, complete from tailgating, collecting souvenirs and the game itself!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rather
than be jealous of their good fortune, I was giddy for them, knowing they would
see what a great time can be enjoyed at a U-M game – from downing a few brats
and suds to seeing the Michigan Marching Band enter the premises to hearing the
thunderous roar of the largest crowd in college football! I’d have given a
million dollars simply to witnesses their faces as each chapter unfolded before
their eyes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-TKHVNlHDg/UmQT3tjPI_I/AAAAAAAAA0I/Pz87fdqLN9Y/s1600/9347303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-TKHVNlHDg/UmQT3tjPI_I/AAAAAAAAA0I/Pz87fdqLN9Y/s320/9347303.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Little
did I know they would watch what turned out to be nothing more than a video
game on turf. Michigan’s 63-47 victory was certainly nothing the defensive
coaching staff wishes to cherish. Frankly, it mirrored the famous (or infamous)
2010 triple-overtime 67-65 win over Illinois in Rich Rodriguez’s last season in
Ann Arbor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
this case, Michigan was facing an almost identical facsimile of the RichRod-led
team – an all-out, hurry-up offensive onslaught but a team with absolutely no
semblance of defense. The Hoosier secondary was shredded by the combination of
Devin Gardner-to-Jeremy Gallon worse than any pulled pork sandwich you can
find.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CT-Wkyqa5KU/UmQRKnfBG3I/AAAAAAAAAzU/Snactoyji_U/s1600/9347713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CT-Wkyqa5KU/UmQRKnfBG3I/AAAAAAAAAzU/Snactoyji_U/s320/9347713.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
numbers were staggering AND absurd as they collected 369 yards on 14 completions
(not counting three passes Gallon dropped when wide open) – a Big 10 and U-M
record for reception yardage in a single game (and second-highest total in NCAA
FBS history). For the most part, Gallon was so wide open, left alone so often
by the IU defenders, you’d thought he was carrying a lethal virus or something;
no one wanted anything to do with him, other than Gardner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
finished with 503 yards passing for a new school standard and 584 yards in
total offense, just one yard shy of tying the Big 10 record, set in 1980 by
Illinois’ Dave Wilson (of whom no one can remember). The team offense of 751
yards was a record and Indiana was allegedly a better program than Delaware
State, against whom U-M put up 727 yards in 2009 … under you-know-who.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At
the final whistle, the two teams combined for 110 points (no overtime needed)
and 1,323 yards of offense. I’m sure Al Borges’ thumbs were sore from all that
action on his Xbox clicker in the press box – because that’s what it looked
like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Frankly,
it was getting ridiculous to have big play after big play on every second-half
possession, without any team deciding to demonstrate a lick of defense. The
prospect of suffering another upset to a decided underdog took the crowd from
mild annoyance to definite possibility, especially having lost an 11-point
halftime lead on the first series of the third quarter.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVTv2dmKlM0/UmQTQHZ2bmI/AAAAAAAAAz4/RUo5Qd4TNTg/s1600/9348102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVTv2dmKlM0/UmQTQHZ2bmI/AAAAAAAAAz4/RUo5Qd4TNTg/s200/9348102.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Each
time Michigan scored, Indiana struck back with lightning quickness and no one
could feel comfortable, even when leaving the stadium to go home. People went
to sleep wondering if IU was still on the field, scoring more touchdowns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
Gardner fumbled a center snap at the IU 2 with the home team up by only 2
points, you could feel (through the TV) the terrifying shiver sent through the
crowd, with visions of the Penn State debacle flashing before their eyes. Could
this be happening two weeks in a row?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All
those high-powered offensive numbers would have meant diddly-squat had Indiana
hurried its way on a 98-yard drive to secure the lead. Yet, in the end, it took
three mistakes (two Thomas Gordon interceptions, which were great because he
was MIA up to those moments) to seal the victory for Michigan. Gordon’s first
interception (and return) allowed Big House fans to exhale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">No
one knows, the Gardner turnover could have broken the back and spirit of the
Wolverines ... but no one will ever know, thanks to an ill-conceived decision
by IU coach Kevin Wilson late in the third quarter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Late
in the third quarter, after Indiana had closed the gap to 35-34 on a 23-yard
field goal, and then drew to within two points (42-40) on a 67-yard touchdown
pass from Tre Roberson to Kofi Hughes, it was the choice to go for the tie ...
at that exact moment and time. But a pass from Roberson was off target and when
Michigan scored 100 seconds into the fourth quarter, an automatic PAT kick
pushed Indiana behind a bigger eight-ball than was necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With
more than a quarter left to go, and lots of opportunities remaining, the
premature call from the IU sidelines meant the contest was a two-possession
affair provided Michigan produced touchdowns – which it did three times in the
final 15 minutes!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GuijpvcMUuc/UmQTjuByBjI/AAAAAAAAA0A/NWnR1kcLXuw/s1600/9349004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GuijpvcMUuc/UmQTjuByBjI/AAAAAAAAA0A/NWnR1kcLXuw/s200/9349004.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such
small decisions often play significant roles when post-mortem autopsies are
performed – such as this one. Indiana had Michigan reeling after scoring an unimaginable
23 points in the third period, and if it were constantly within one play of
tying the game, a better opportunity might have presented itself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
that’s the kind of small mistake first-time head coaches, like Wilson, can
make. He’ll learn from it, but, for the sake of Hoosier fandom, he’ll also
discover football is a three-sided triangle – offense, defense and special
teams. Michigan was able to exploit one side to its fullest and came away with
a victory, albeit nail-biting to the very end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
can’t wait to e-mail, or Facebook message, with Nelson, to obtain his reaction
concerning his Big House experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Welcome
to the Michigan football family … even if what you saw wasn’t real.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_J129pGBlM/UmQRaibJjAI/AAAAAAAAAzc/w7OWC_KY2zk/s1600/9349035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_J129pGBlM/UmQRaibJjAI/AAAAAAAAAzc/w7OWC_KY2zk/s400/9349035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_v9_HQITvEg/UmQUDWxW63I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Pk1ai85NvCM/s1600/9349030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_v9_HQITvEg/UmQUDWxW63I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Pk1ai85NvCM/s400/9349030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-69509078326580493542013-10-16T10:57:00.000-05:002013-10-16T10:57:09.684-05:002014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees announced
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After a few weak sister classes of nominees,
the 2014 list for potential inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally
has an abundance of talent, history and riches for fans and other voters to
choose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The 2014 nominees are Nirvana, KISS, Hall and
Oates, YES, Linda Ronstadt, Peter Gabriel, Chic, Deep Purple, The Meters,
N.W.A., LL Cool J, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Link Wray, The
Replacements, Cat Stevens and The Zombies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Balloting ends in December and the 2014
induction ceremony will be held in New York City on April 10 and later
broadcast on HBO (always one of the best programs of the season).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s examines the possibilities. The very
fact that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">KISS</b> is NOT already in the
Hall of Fame is a sham and a stain on that institution. For its longevity and
popularity, this group should be unanimously given its due (and long, LONG
overdue).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The blue-eyed soul Philadelphia sound of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Daryl Hall and John Oates</b> produced as
many hit records as anyone in the late 1970s and 1980s and should be another
unanimous balloting selection. They packed arenas and sold millions of albums;
what more must be asked?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Deep
Purple</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
was a British group that brought heavy metal to the forefront as early as 1969
with its release of a Billy Joe Royal song, “Hush.” What followed was a catalog
of major hits, including the seminal “Smoke on the Water” and “Woman from
Tokyo.” No Deep Purple, no Metallica, no Black Sabbath or Judas Priest or Ronnie
James Dio.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">With rap and hip-hop becoming a more
prevalent presence in the HOF, and with the induction of Public Enemy last
year, the group/artist deserving the next slot is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">N.W.A.,</b> led by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. “Straight Out of Compton” was
an album that altered musical tastes and standards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unless you appreciate 1950s instrumental rock
music, you won’t fully comprehend the true greatness of guitarist <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Link Wary</b>. His record, “Rumble,” also
altered the way that instrument was heard, recorded and appreciated. His
influence touched the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton – just to name a few
of the greatest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You have five right there and the argument
could extend to Linda Ronstadt (well, well deserving of inclusion for her body
of work), YES (defined what progressive rock was and will be), Cat Stevens
(before his religious conversion, he was a leader in terms of songwriting and
singing), Peter Gabriel (already a Hall of Famer with Genesis) who combined the
African sound he cherished with personal politics (“Biko” is the best example),
and The Zombies (another member of the 1960s British invasion with its unique,
non-Beatles sound such as "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season").</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And then there is Nirvana, whose star shone
white-hot bright and then, in a needle’s push, was gone. As in the case of Guns
‘n Roses, voters must ask if an album or two in a relatively short period of
time qualifies for Hall of Fame status.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The answers should be interesting.</span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-63474707616833962872013-10-13T16:03:00.001-05:002013-10-13T16:03:04.660-05:00Michigan-Penn State recap: Wolverines lose in un(Happy) Valley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy2bZxKgRGI/UlsJgIoQH5I/AAAAAAAAAyM/Dy3acZqWtec/s1600/9323454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy2bZxKgRGI/UlsJgIoQH5I/AAAAAAAAAyM/Dy3acZqWtec/s400/9323454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
many words can be said about this embarrassing loss last Saturday pertaining to
the Michigan football program at this exact moment in the time-space continuum.
To put it mildly, the Wolverine Team 134 had its Saturday Night Live moment and
proved, at least midway through the 2013 season, is Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
43-40 quadruple overtime loss at Penn State was a combination of lots of “poor”
this and that, so much so someone needs to call United Way for help. The
blocking was poor; the kicking game fell into that category; the play calling
went beyond “poor,” all the way to atrocious without stopping at GO! and
collecting a road win; and, worst of all, the entire approach in the fourth
quarter and entirety of the four overtimes, was worse than poor – it was a case
of NOT playing to win the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
latter is what really mattered in the end, because it involved all those
aforementioned aspects, rolled into one bad cake batter recipe. By playing it
safe, and never really sniffing for the end zone, settling instead for field
goal attempts, Michigan snatched defeat from the jaws of Joey Chesnutt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Right
now, Michigan has no running game, whatsoever! Neither Fitzgerald Toussaint nor
Derrick Green could do anything, combining 30 carries for exactly 28 net yards.
In fact, when one subtracts Toussaint’s 12-yard run to start Michigan’s initial
scoring drive of the game, he ran an amazing 26 times for just 15 yards!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With
or without All-American tackle Taylor Lewan, the offensive line was a bad
replica of Swiss cheese – too many holes to even be mediocre. Penn State
stuffed and stopped any plays between the guards, yet time-after-time, there
was Toussaint, Green and quarterback Devon Gardner attempting to do what was
clearly impossible – gain any ground against the Nittany Lions’ front four.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yet
… no plays were called to quick pitch the ball to any back to go wide; no
“trick” play was signaled for a reverse or end around; no misdirection … no
nothing! Michigan played an “insane” brand of rushing – trying the same play
over and over and expecting a different result. It was bad, bad play-calling
from the sidelines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
didn’t help that the running backs would instantly turn to an east-west path at
the lines of scrimmage instead of north-to-south. Green will probably be an
outstanding talent in the coming years, but right now, he couldn’t push through
a cheap high school booster banner, let alone a defensive line.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
Michigan’s rushing game has been reduced to those two players; no one else has
been on the field since the first game against Central Michigan. Milk cartons
might well have photos of Thomas Rawls and De’veon Smith on side panels to ask
for help to find the missing people.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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</div>
</a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gardner
cannot be the be-all and end-all of the offense; it will be ridiculously simply
to game plan against Michigan going forward; simply double team two receivers
(Devon Funchess and Jeremy Gallon) and shadow Gardner’s every step. No other
offensive threats have been established.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Of
all the linemen suffering through a miserable day, none was more obvious than redshirt
freshman Kyle Kalis, who was spun around more during pass blocking than little
boy’s spinning top. In all, the offensive line allowed 11 tackles for loss by
PSU – a shameful stat to say the least. He was also flagged for a dumb deadball
foul that cost UM field position and ultimately possession.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Again,
he has potential but fans need to realize (as I have) this is a young team, NOT
up to certain challenges. You must wonder how Michigan handled Notre Dame
earlier in the season (and how Michigan State did not).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gardner
must also shoulder some blame for the debacle; again, he resorted to being a
turnover machine, leading to Penn State’s 21-10 halftime advantage. On the 2013
season, of the 15 turnovers committed by Michigan, Gardner is directly
responsible for 13 of them. It is doubtful any other Division 1 player has such
a percentage; certainly NOT Denard Robinson in his 2 ½ seasons as a UM starter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Robinson
did have his share of miscues but … he also possessed FAR more explosive speed
and ability to instantly turn disastrous losses into huge gains. Right now,
Wolverine fans wish Gardner would be HALF the player Robinson was; this is for
sure, Denard Robinson would NOT have let Michigan lose at Penn State.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
reason for Gardner’s constant interception rate (the recent Minnesota game is
the only career contest Gardner has started and NOT throw an interception) is
his release point; a blind man can see it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On
his second interception, the defender has to merely reach up to snag the aerial
when Gardner did not, or could not, put enough air under the throw to lift it
over the defense and into the hands of an open receiver. It has happened often
this year yet people only concentrate on his footwork; he needs lots more
coaching on his “touch.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lest
we forget, the Wolverine defense was suddenly exposed by Penn State on its
final drive in regulation. Christian Hackenberg might be a fine quarterback in
PSU future; he could well rewrite the record books and make University
Park/State College (which one IS it?) fans forget all about Todd Blackledge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On
Saturday, he was essentially an immobile pocket passer who found the holes in
the UM secondary and engineered an improbable (yet somehow predictable)
game-tying scoring drive. Poor Chris Stribling had the “8” scorched off his
uniform by PSU’s Allen Robinson, a taller more athletic receiver than the man
covering him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
question I kept jotting down – constantly – was simple, “Why is Michigan ONLY
rushing three players?” Hackenberg displayed no ability to run from pressure
(he was sacked four times) yet was allowed to sit in that cocoon and find receivers
23 times – for three touchdowns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
if you play such a passive prevent defense with eight in coverage, why was
Stribling alone on an island TWICE with PSU’s top receiver? That, folks, was a
sideline decision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
Saturday, what was almost considered automatic – field goal kicking by Brendan
Gibbons – is now back in the suspect category. What happened at PSU has to
weigh heavily on Gibbons’ mind for the rest of the season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
it should have never come to that and the final scrutiny goes to where the
blame really must be centered. This was by far the worst coached game of Brady
Hoke’s tenure at Michigan, perhaps in his entire career. By NOT playing for the
end zone (especially in overtime), you play to lose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
developing team (which is what Michigan is) must always play to win – on every
down! That did not happen last Saturday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
a PSU field goal narrowed a seemingly-safe 10-point UM lead to seven, the
Wolverines began to grind (like 8 O’Clock coffee at the old A&P) out
yardage and clock. A Gardner run gave Michigan possession at the PS 28 with
3:10 remaining. Looking good, right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Then
the “insanity” re-appeared – running two plays for 1 yard and a procedure flag,
continuing Michigan’s advancement to the rear. Instead of calling for a fairly
safe pass play (a screen which went unused in the contest),Toussaint was dumped
for a 3-yard loss at the PSU 35.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Punter
Matt Wile was unable to pin Penn State inside its 10 and Michigan returned
possession for what amounted to only a 15-yard gain. Hackenberg delivered manna
from heaven and the game was tied with 21 seconds remaining.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jhet54jT6AQ/UlsKLl99DmI/AAAAAAAAAys/Mgqkw7WUAg8/s1600/9324171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jhet54jT6AQ/UlsKLl99DmI/AAAAAAAAAys/Mgqkw7WUAg8/s320/9324171.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Michigan
might have had a better chance to win at the last second, but wasted one play,
spiking the ball after Gallon caught a pass for 25 yards (following Dennis
Norfleet’s 34-yard kickoff return). The next play was just for 5 yards to
Justice Hayes with 7 seconds left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
was certainly enough time for another play, another possible 5-7 yards closer,
for Gibbons to try to win the game with a kick under 50 yards. But the coaching
staff settled for what it had at that moment and it misfired.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
overtime, PSUs first possession was a missed field goal and Michigan reverted
to conventional wisdom, which isn’t wise at all. There were three meaningless
rushing plays to “position” the ball for a game-winning field goal kick; at NO
time, were any of those snaps directed toward scoring a touchdown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
a result, the field goal was blocked – wasted opportunity number 1 by the
boards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
the second OT, Michigan had a first down at the PSU 13 and tried just ONE pass
play to the end zone, which was incomplete. Gibbons’ kick gave UM a slender
three-point lead which was erased when PSU kicked it own field goal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
overtime number three, Penn State again gift-wrapped the game when a fumble was
recovered by Frank Clark.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
would UM go for six points and leave no doubt to its fans and observers? Uh,
no! Toussaint went nowhere on third down and Gibbons pushed his field goal try
wide left. Why didn’t Michigan TRY for six points on that third-down conversion
when everything witnessed for the entire game told everyone running the ball
was Borg-like (resistance is futile)?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the way, I have always maintained that overtime statistics should NOT count on
official NCAA game tallies. On extra-points, no yardage on a two-point
conversion attempt counts on the official tally sheet because the clock does
not run; same should hold true for overtimes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
particular loss falls on the coaches, for playing too safe and, apparently, too
scared to score and succeed. If this is not true, the proof has yet to be
placed in the pudding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Under
Hoke, Michigan is a lousy 5-8 away from the Big House. It’s hard to say why
(crowd intimidation, change of playing surface, circumstance of importance),
but unless that trend is reversed, Michigan will not be a contending team –
either for conference or national honors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everything
has to change and soon. Indiana won’t be anyone’s patsy this Saturday at home and
fortunately, Michigan has a bye week before a (now dreaded) trip to East
Lansing against the now-division leading Spartans. It actually looks as if
Sparty will play Brutus Buckeye for the conference title on Dec. 7.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Michigan,
on the other hand, doesn’t have that look about it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-23635325872872959612013-10-09T13:34:00.001-05:002013-10-09T13:34:10.819-05:00A student-athlete's choice: can the money wait?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bGlVlGsmOg/UlWhQ342bYI/AAAAAAAAAx8/o_ekPk3ZVio/s1600/Lewan+pancakes+CMU+DL+Palmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bGlVlGsmOg/UlWhQ342bYI/AAAAAAAAAx8/o_ekPk3ZVio/s400/Lewan+pancakes+CMU+DL+Palmer.jpg" width="357" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
is a particular Big 10 Conference public service ad, running on the Big Ten Network
and elsewhere when a conference school is featured on a football telecast,
featuring Michigan All-American offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. In 30 seconds,
it tries to explain why Lewan, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bona
fide</i> first round NFL draft choice (probably high lottery pick), chose to
return to the Ann Arbor campus for his senior year instead of following the
advice of the Steve Miller Band (“take the money and run”).</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His
statement was basically the same as when he announced his non-departure last
spring; he really, really, REALLY liked being a student at the University of Michigan
and loved playing for Brady Hoke. He felt confident he would perform well in
the 2013 season and all those financial rewards would still be waiting for him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
for the present, he is where he WANTS to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
other words, God bless Taylor Lewan; not just for his athletic ability being a
potential Wolverine great, but as a student-athlete who enjoys both aspects of
that title. He’s at Michigan because he wants to be there and it will only
happen once in his lifetime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lewan
will become a very wealthy young man in his early 20s in about eight months’
time. If his knees hold up, and if he can avoid any major injury (not really
within his control), he will be paid handsomely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
is only ONE Taylor Lewan on the Michigan football team, whose future is SO
certain. There are more than 100 other players, most of them on some sort of
scholarship plan, whose future is not as set in concrete; they possess
different degrees of talent and opportunity, yet work just as hard as Lewan and
enjoy the same collegiate experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
most of them struggle to make ends meet when it comes to living conditions.
Within the entire athletic department, there are almost 1,000 such “scholarship”
athletes, employing their talents in various sports to secure an education. The
question bouncing around the NCAA at the moment is whether these athletes
should be “paid;” especially within the four possible revenue-producing sports
(football, basketball, hockey, baseball).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
of these days, the legality of institutions, such as the NCAA and the University
of Michigan, using images, names and the sweat equity of these “amateur”
athletes to enrich their bank accounts, will be decided by the Supreme Court.
Former athletes who have taken the NCAA and companies like EA Sports to civil
court have emerge with some victories to prove their premise – if you use our
images, you need to pay us!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hollywood
stars and recording artists have their images and talents protected by law from
unauthorized use, but college athletes do not, and the market keeps growing
from contract to contract making someone a whole steamer trunk load of money.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
Denard Robinson was chosen to grace the EA Sports ’13 College Football game, he
had already turned professional through the NFL Draft and signing with an agent.
He could accept any remuneration without penalty to himself or the school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
what if it was Texas A&M star/Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manzell, who is
only a sophomore? If his likeness is selling EA Sports’ product, why should he
enjoy the fruits of his labor, instead of the NCAA through some “licensing agreement.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Manzell
allegedly collected money for signing memorabilia over the summer and was
suspended all of two quarters for whatever he did wrong. While he might be a
jerk-wad as a human being, such activities (autograph shows, etc.) are
considered a legitimate method for earnings. And at last glance, he was
considered to be an adult, free to make his own choices.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
are books written on the archaic nature of the NCAA rules and the entire system
(controlled not by athletic personnel but by school presidents, who probably
make a LOT less than the university’s football coach). Opening paying an
athlete to play at a certain school is clearly the wrong thing to do (just ask
Southern Methodist), but too many of the “rules” are just plain stupid and
unfair to the student-athlete.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One example (from a
thousand)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: it is
illegal for a coach or “booster” to buy a meal from Taco Bell on a Sunday night
(a non-training table day) for a player (even if that player’s stomach is
grumbling in Dolby stereo). However, no such restriction exists for a speech
professor to do the same thing for a member of the school’s debate team.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
regular student can gladly accept any money given to him or her from anyone within
their lives, but for an athlete, it is considered an illegal gift from a
booster.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
what’s the difference? That thing called a scholarship, which covers tuition,
room, board and … probably nothing else. It does NOT cover things like laundry
expenses, the cost of going to see a movie on campus, or eating burgers at
Wendy’s, or what you would consider to be normal everyday happenings. Unless
the athlete’s parents can front that extra spending cash, the player goes
without.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
of the saddest and most cruel rules violations is for anyone to pay the price
of a plane ticket is an athlete must return home on a moment’s notice if, let’s
say, there’s a death in the immediate family. What is that person to do? Yet it
is considered an egregious violation of some sacred rule book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
rules were established to keep student-athletes from being held above the
regular university student – to maintain an even footing in terms of the
pecking order. But those rules have one the opposite; it punishes the athletes
in SO many more ways than any other scholarshiped student.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those
on math scholarships do NOT have to perform before 111,000 fans, with 222,000
eyes watching, and scrutinizing (in print, on TV, on the radio), their every
move. They do NOT have to go to class, then go through practice on non-game
days and study playbooks in addition to their regular requirements to meet the
academic class schedule.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">An
NCAA scholarship, depending on the school, has very decent monetary value (for
these young adults), but it has not kept up with inflation, higher cost of
living and other financial pressures. It is there where some kind of solution
can be found.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
do not agree with open compensation of collegiate athletes. For one thing, it
would be hard to justify why football players get more than the gymnast, who
works at his craft with as much dedication and fortitude as the running back or
… offensive lineman. An athlete is an athlete … and if a university selects to
complete on the highest NCAA level in swimming, volleyball or ANY sport, each
person should be treated equally – regardless of gender and the number of fans
in the seats watching.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Each
scholarship awarded to a student-athlete, regardless of the sport
(revenue-producer or non-revenue) should include a monthly stipend, explicitly
dedicated to those expenses require to live outside of tuition, room and board.
The figure agreed upon should be reasonable and help relieve that pressure that
often forces the athlete to break the rules.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
stipend can be deposited by the NCAA in that athlete’s student account either
in a lump sum or monthly basis. It should be like the J.G. Wentworth ad states,
“It’s your money; use it when YOU want to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
that athlete’s likeness or name is used to sell video games, replica uniforms
or anything where the money goes to enrich someone else, a negotiated percentage
should be placed in a trust account for each athlete affected, to be collected
upon leaving that school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
… it means the NCAA has to take a little bit less for its greedy-ass self, so
be it. It’s stepped on enough carcasses to get to where it stands now –
powerful and wealthier than hell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
something unusual would be introduced into the sports equation on the
collegiate level – fairness.</span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-389702347343402922013-10-06T13:53:00.001-05:002013-10-06T13:53:55.183-05:00Methodical Michigan-Minnesota recap: Where did the Big 10 Conference go?
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSHrfvzueUk/UlGvYKY9XpI/AAAAAAAAAws/iozJurA5HVw/s1600/9300301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSHrfvzueUk/UlGvYKY9XpI/AAAAAAAAAws/iozJurA5HVw/s400/9300301.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
five games and the first of two bye weeks, the Michigan Wolverine football team
might have just found the perfect word to describe its approach and execution
to what has been a shaky undefeated season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
the secret word is … “methodical” (cue the Groucho duck with a crisp $100 bill
in his bill).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">According
to Webster’s Dictionary, “methodical” is defined as “</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">arranged,
characterized by, or performed with method or order
(such as ‘a <i>methodical</i> treatment of the subject,’) and/or “habitually
proceeding according to method (‘<i>methodical</i> in his daily routine’).”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Apply
those definitions to Saturday’s 42-13 victory over visiting Minnesota; you will
understand why the Wolverines took the Little Brown Jug from its perennial
resting place (inside Schembechler Hall) and hoisted it to a sold-out crowd …
and returned to its home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Some
might say the game was slightly “boring” or “dull” and perhaps some of us
actually nodded off in between game “action” and commercials for the new
Stallone movie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such
a description should apply to the Big 10 Conference overall, but two weeks into
league play, the same old faces can be found the same old places – atop the
respective division standings. You just KNOW that all eyes will turn to
November 30 on the calendar to figure out who will advance to the conference
championship matchup one week later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
a season where the teams were trying to re-establish themselves on par with other
respected conference (aside from the Southeastern Conference, which, if you
listen to every talking head on ESPN, is on the same level as the NFL ... at
least in terms of how much teams pay their coaches and … players), it just isn’t
happening yet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KtK7rLbSio/UlGvnplDkKI/AAAAAAAAAw0/HGYYAM95kOA/s1600/9298643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KtK7rLbSio/UlGvnplDkKI/AAAAAAAAAw0/HGYYAM95kOA/s400/9298643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Every
conference team, with the exception of Purdue, had a winning record. Now just
Ohio State and Michigan remain undefeated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
fact, when Ohio State shreds Indiana the week before the Michigan game, it will
have long before clinched the Leaders Division. And if Michigan is unbeaten for
that encounter, it will be a back-to-back series – the first in Ann Arbor and
the second in Indianapolis the following Saturday for the Big 10 title.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">No
one, except for the Wolverines, are on par with the hated Buckeyes. Iowa didn’t
look good enough to stop Sparty’s offense, Penn State stunk up the joint at
Bloomington, and Northwestern could encounter a major letdown after a spirited
affair with Ohio State.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
WHAT else has changed? Nothing. The more things change, the more they stay
exactly the same they should be.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ibkBJCOaQ/UlGvzfUwzZI/AAAAAAAAAw8/bv9LNfxxXtg/s1600/Countess+pick+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ibkBJCOaQ/UlGvzfUwzZI/AAAAAAAAAw8/bv9LNfxxXtg/s200/Countess+pick+6.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
keys to Michigan’s eventual romp were simple, and well-preached over the
previous four weeks. The Wolverine offense decided to eliminate mistakes of all
kinds – turnovers, penalties, foolish plays. It doesn’t make for an exciting
shootout-style scoring machine found in other programs, but, as reflected by
the head coach, “methodical” is Brady Hoke’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">modus operendi</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Michigan
finally played 60 minutes of live game action and kept the ball in the proper
manner, and only surrendered possession on punts or kickoffs. Meanwhile, it won
the takeaway battle in the best fashion – putting points on the scoreboard,
including a coffin-nailing interception returns (72 yards) by Blake Countess,
his fourth pickoff in the first five games.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvKpjqVBCZk/UlGwHFK29mI/AAAAAAAAAxE/jTZhPZCAI3E/s1600/Funchess+catch+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvKpjqVBCZk/UlGwHFK29mI/AAAAAAAAAxE/jTZhPZCAI3E/s320/Funchess+catch+2.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Quarterback
Devin Gardner looked more composed behind center and actually ran just seven
times for 17 net yards, but one important touchdown with 2:36 to play. He
completed 13 of 17 passes for 235 yards and a 24-yard scoring strike to tight
end Devin Funchess with 1:25 left in the first half and a 14-7 lead Michigan
did not surrender.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Uh,
would it really be too rude to call those aerial hookups as “The Men’s Club duo”
because of all the double-Ds on the field</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gardner
still needs lots of refinement to his game as too many passes were thrown
behind Michigan receivers, not allowing for what should be quality yards after
catch. The touchdown toss to Funchess WAS one of Gardner’s better thrown balls
this season, not just in Saturday’s game.</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Funchess
clearly demonstrated his star potential; he might be the quickest player at
this position since Paul Seal manned the post for Bo in the early 1970s.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OknH5nZLfog/UlGwj9i7wtI/AAAAAAAAAxM/ijoLMzwWD-s/s1600/Strong+Fitz+rushing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OknH5nZLfog/UlGwj9i7wtI/AAAAAAAAAxM/ijoLMzwWD-s/s320/Strong+Fitz+rushing.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
running game remains a work-in-progress but I was impressed with Fitzgerald
Toussaint’s performance, not for the two touchdowns, but for the strong leg
drive he showed. He hasn’t run that hard in almost two seasons and was
responsible for having Michigan convert 10-of-13 third-down conversions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
only other ball carrier was freshman Derrick Green, who still need to become
more of a north-south runner than his tendency to move east-to-west along the
line of scrimmage. If you subtract his initial 14-yard scamper on Michigan’s
first scoring drive, he gained 9 net yards on 9 carries (and that includes his
2-yard touchdown run). But that’s what freshmen do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minnesota’s
only major offensive thrust was led by surprising starter Mitch Leidner, who looked
like a Tim Tebow starter kit. When he ran for yardage, his long, tall body
gained almost as much falling forward as he did upright.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Leidner
executed an impressive Gopher drive, 15 plays 75 yards, chewing up almost 10
minutes of the first quarter, to tie the game at 7-7. But it might have been
the unknown factor that accounted for the initial Minnesota dominance because
the Wolverine defense adjusted, notably in the second half, led by linebacker
Desmond Morgan with 10 tackles.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6UT5ZhmFNVs/UlGwxKWTpRI/AAAAAAAAAxU/4ZXclA5u3xU/s1600/Big+UM+sack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6UT5ZhmFNVs/UlGwxKWTpRI/AAAAAAAAAxU/4ZXclA5u3xU/s320/Big+UM+sack.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Again,
“methodical” works just fine when you’re winning and, in the end, it IS the
win-loss column which accounts for the true measure of success.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Gophers played the game without their head coach, Jerry Kill, as his battle
with epilepsy forced him to stay in Minneapolis and overcome yet another
seizure earlier in the day. It was the second occurrence this season, keeping
Kill from roaming the sidelines (the other came against Western Illinois).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While
applauding Kill’s courage for doing what he loves (coaching football) under
such difficult conditions, a serious discussion needs to be held in Minneapolis
as to whether he can be as effective a leader as the program really requires.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
couldn’t help but wonder how many decisions, and the play-calling, would have
changed had he been in Ann Arbor. The acting head coach (also the defensive
coordinator) was in the Stadium press box (as normal), sending defensive calls
to another assistant to rely to Gopher players.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
it isn’t the optimum game plan to follow for any team – let alone a program
aiming to climb out of the gutter it was walking prior to Kill’s arrival. The
increasing number of episodes has to have an effect on the players, never
knowing if their coach will be present to lead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
the worst possible sight for Minnesota fans, players and officials would be watching
Kill having a seizure ON the sidelines in front of a packed stadium. People
already are squeamish at the sight of a player carted off the field on a
stretcher, so imagine how many times that video would be played on Fox Sports,
ESPN or YouTube. The thought is what should make folks uncomfortable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
most personal choice DOES belongs to Kill and, hopefully, he will do what is
best for himself, his family, his employers and his players. And in any case, I’m
sure football fans will be rooting for him.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
know television now controls all aspects of college football, from
when-where-how games are played, but it is mid-October and all games AFTER the
Indiana home contest on Oct.19 have yet to kickoff times announced. This
Saturday’s road trip to State College, Pa. will find an odd 5 p.m. kickoff
(local time) and one can only wonder why.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-tKFRjLt3Y/UlGxMmdD9FI/AAAAAAAAAxc/22_cnsP0Bb4/s1600/Brendan+Beyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-tKFRjLt3Y/UlGxMmdD9FI/AAAAAAAAAxc/22_cnsP0Bb4/s320/Brendan+Beyer.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
if you want to travel up to East Lansing, or play for the home game against
Nebraska, you have no clue as to what time those contests will begin. That is a
terrible imposition upon Michigan fans and those of the opposition … and SO
incredibly unnecessary!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
a home game starts should be the provence of the institutions, not the network
producers. It should be time for someone to stand up, and step up, for those
who actually put their fannies on the seats. They already pay thorough the nose
for those seats, it isn’t necessary to have them wait until five minutes before
kickoff to disclose the starting times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m
real old school on this. You NEVER ever hear athletes praise the production crew
for an outstanding performance or for helping carry a team to victory. No, they
look into the stands and thanks the fans they can see and hear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s
time for some respect to be shown to the gathered faithful live and in person,
and not at some Buffalo Wild Wings, guzzling beer and eating chicken wings by
the dozens.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
did anyone get a good look at the playing surface in Evanston for the Ohio
State-Northwestern game? I know of homes here in Plano, Texas, cited by code
enforcement for not mowing their lawns enough, that weren’t as tall as the turf
those teams played upon. It looked like the rough at any U.S. Open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Only
thing missing were the Chik-Fill-A cows …</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
early (24 hours after Saturday’s game) prediction is a 31-21 Michigan win at
Happy Valley. The sanctions against the Nittany Lions are already starting to
be fully realized and that egg laid on the road might soon begin to add up to a
carton.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T-yvAwKKQl4/UlGxapIbVnI/AAAAAAAAAxk/G10Rhc0oVOQ/s1600/first+Fitz+TD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T-yvAwKKQl4/UlGxapIbVnI/AAAAAAAAAxk/G10Rhc0oVOQ/s400/first+Fitz+TD.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XoJtvQFz60/UlGxm7EOc3I/AAAAAAAAAxs/W8E6QvwZl2E/s1600/Lloyd+back+onfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XoJtvQFz60/UlGxm7EOc3I/AAAAAAAAAxs/W8E6QvwZl2E/s640/Lloyd+back+onfield.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-23519537061005987732013-09-30T17:10:00.000-05:002013-09-30T17:10:06.938-05:00Homecoming: 1972 when Michigan was greased and ready to kick ass!
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
annual event known as Homecoming takes place this weekend in Ann Arbor for
students and alumni of the University of Michigan. But it ain’t what it used to
be.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m
going to make several assumptions that should hold true. There won’t be any
kind of homecoming dance and no one will be crowned Homecoming Queen (or King).
Various classes will gather the night before the game for drinks with
bald-faced lies tossed like paper basketballs at the office. Women who continue
to work out to maintain their girlish figure will be wearing the tightest
outfits (just to let everyone know they still have “it”) and men with the
Rogaine touch will be stroking their hairline all evening long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hopefully,
some annual traditions will never die – the Mud Bowl (which would be 81 years
alive in front of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity), the Alumni Band and cheerleaders
taking the field, and perhaps … a Saturday concert. The Alumni Association will
hold 37th consecutive giant tailgate party at the Indoor Track Building this
year. If you want to attend, it’s just $40 for an adult ticket (member) and $60
if you’re a non-association member.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
School of Kinesiology (among many others) will have a full weekend schedule for
its former classmates, while this year’s Honor Classes will be 1963 and 2003,
complete with a Thursday night banquet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s
when the older classes migrate back to school, marvel at how much things (other
than the foliage) have changed, and how much has been unaltered – asking what
happened to all the old retail landmarks now victims to the ongoing recession.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such
as wondering what happened to the Campus Theater on S. University which mainly
showed foreign films and those kind of art house attractions which were not
deemed to be “mainstream;”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
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<w:wrap type="through">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Discovering the
brand new fancy-ass mall was Briarwood Mall on I-94 (as opposed to “Arborland,”
located on Washtenaw Ave. and U.S. 23, across from the Holiday Inn I remember
staying when I returned for Homecoming) is ancient by modern standards;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
knowing if you wanted your parents to bivouac at a classy joint, well, there
was the </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bell Tower Hotel on Central Campus and Campus Inn (on Huron.
Or there was Weber’s Inn, off campus on I-94, but an institution for decades.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsYnsFNnPto/Uknwmx7roPI/AAAAAAAAAuU/YrkjTbBhBE0/s1600/Border's+1971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsYnsFNnPto/Uknwmx7roPI/AAAAAAAAAuU/YrkjTbBhBE0/s200/Border's+1971.jpg" width="151" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ulrich’s and Border’s and the
University Bookstore (inside the lower floor of the Union, and where someone
could get the best prices on records, i.e. vinyl LPs).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
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<v:imagedata o:title="Pizza Bob's" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg">
<w:wrap type="through">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bimbo’s served pizza and pitchers of beer for $1.75 with
a Dixieland jazz band to boot. The Village Bell just had the best cold beer in
the basement and there was the Pretzel Bell for food. The best deep dish pizza
was ALWAYS at Thano’s Lamplighter, next to the stately Michigan Theater (which
had the biggest pipe organ anyone had ever seen). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
Pizza Bob’s made the best sub sandwiches in the world (meaning even a student
could afford one at any time).</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pP6pabGhsAU/UknwWURp7eI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Pt4F2HGBjk8/s1600/Pizza+Bob's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pP6pabGhsAU/UknwWURp7eI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Pt4F2HGBjk8/s200/Pizza+Bob's.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
Bimbo’s disappeared long ago, the P-Bell closed in 1985 and the V-Bell became a
Pizzeria Uno outlet; nothing remains the same as it exists in your memory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
fact, looking at a campus map, damn near half the buildings were non-existent
in the early 1970s. No one called it “South Campus;” it was just the MAIN (or
Central) campus (since North Campus was relatively new). What used to be open
space now appears to have Monopoly-like hotels and houses sitting everywhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yes,
things were SO much simpler back then … but that’s not the point of this story.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For
Homecoming in 1972, the University Activities Council (<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">UC) </span>wanted to do something different by going “back to the
future” (years before the movie was ever conceived). It was the time of
Vietnam, Richard Nixon, rallies on the Diag to protest anti-marijuana laws and
the </span><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" stroked="t" strokeweight=".5pt" style="height: 173.5pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 190.5pt; margin-top: 14.55pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 259pt; z-index: -19;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-63 -94 -63 21600 21663 21600 21663 -94 -63 -94"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">imprisonment of local radical John Sinclair.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOdurjKlb0g/Uknw1gjCGWI/AAAAAAAAAug/CI0jgHfnLBo/s1600/UM+Diag+-+1971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOdurjKlb0g/Uknw1gjCGWI/AAAAAAAAAug/CI0jgHfnLBo/s320/UM+Diag+-+1971.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was only a few months removed from the Chicago Democratic Convention riots and
this small blip on the news called “Watergate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was, in reality, not a tribute to the past, but something of a satire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
entire weekend would contain a 1950s-theme with two concerts (Commander Cody
and the Lost Planet Airmen on Friday and Stevie Wonder on Saturday – each at
Hill Auditorium), the regular activities (notably the Mud Bowl) … and this
added event on Thursday night – a 1950s sock hop at the Michigan Union
Ballroom.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUthMLaogrk/UknxVHnNPfI/AAAAAAAAAuk/GWL7nBCLke0/s1600/Alice+Lloyd+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUthMLaogrk/UknxVHnNPfI/AAAAAAAAAuk/GWL7nBCLke0/s200/Alice+Lloyd+sign.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
reputation of a group of students, mostly out of Alice Crocker Lloyd Hall, who
did lip-synching shows to songs from that golden era of rock ‘n roll (the 50s
and 60s), had snowballed. What was an end-of-semester joke actually grew to a
viable performance “band” – although no one played a single instrument and all
music was recorded on tape off scratchy 45s (well before Britney Spears or
Milli Vanilli ever decided to fake their way through concerts … or wishing
Miley Cyrus hadn’t ever been born).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
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<v:imagedata o:title="Jimmy and the Javelins Homecoming 1972" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The male activists were known as Jimmy and the Javelins
(of which I was a happily guilty party) – named in that fashion because half of
the major doo-wop/pop groups had some reference to cars in their names. Oh
yeah, no one among us was named actually Jimmy; instead we had “cool” names
like TOR, da Prince, Big Jocko, Penguin and The Kid.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9uJAmmy6p0/UknxksV7j2I/AAAAAAAAAus/epx69yN7g80/s1600/Jimmy+and+the+Javelins+Homecoming+1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9uJAmmy6p0/UknxksV7j2I/AAAAAAAAAus/epx69yN7g80/s400/Jimmy+and+the+Javelins+Homecoming+1972.jpg" width="292" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
were also joined by female counterparts, Chastity and the Belts (I believe that
reference is obvious), a trio of “nice” girls in beehive hairdos, a ton of makeup
and short, gold-male skirts named Chastity, Princess and Big Mama.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
reality, the members were myself (known as TOR for reasons that require a book
worthy in length of Tolstoy), Ron Hummeny (da Prince), Mark Wachter (Big
Jocko), Jeff Hirsh (the Penguin, after his affiliation with the Pittsburgh
Penguins), David Heilbronner (the Kid), Leslie Rogers (Chastity), Susan Mickel
(Big Mama) and Jean Peduzzi (Chicky or Princess).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<v:imagedata o:title="Ron Hummeny" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.png">
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<v:imagedata o:title="Wachter the attorney" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image015.jpg">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" stroked="t" strokeweight=".5pt" style="height: 102pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 362.1pt; margin-top: 53pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 84.95pt; z-index: -12;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-35 -29 -35 21600 21635 21600 21635 -29 -35 -29"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<v:imagedata o:title="Chuck pensive at NTIF 2010" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.jpg">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In their adult lives, they became financial advisors
(Ron), television reporters (Jeff), small-town newspaper publishers (myself),
renowned orthopedic surgeons (Dr. Dave … and co-inventor of Bone Doctors
barbecue sauce – the best!), investment banker (Leslie), executive assistant
(Susan) and medical school professor-research scientist (Jean).</span><v:shape id="_x0000_s1037" strokecolor="white" strokeweight="0" style="height: 24pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 13.3pt; margin-top: -3.95pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; position: absolute; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; width: 433.55pt; z-index: -8;" type="#_x0000_t202" wrapcoords="-94 -212 -94 21388 21694 21388 21694 -212 -94 -212"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
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---</div>
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<w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="through"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our
schtick was simple; do comedy routines or dance steps to classic songs for
about three hours – just as people used to see on “American Bandstand,” “Tiger
Beat,” “Hullabaloo” or “Shindig.” We usually did 3-4 sets, at 45-60 minutes each,
and in between, the students would dance to MORE “stacks of wax from the backs
of the racks.”</span></w:wrap><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
performed at many dorms on campus (West Quad, Mary Markley, Mosher-Jordan,
Alice Lloyd, East Quad), about every other weekend, and were paid enough money ($125
split many ways, depending on how much help we received for that show) to buy
nasty Omega pizzas (nicknamed Omigosh Pizza) for the next two weekends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Our standard rate for a sock hop was
$125, split among all the Javelins, Belts, and our sound guys, which worked out
to about $10 apiece. I think we were able to squeeze $150 out of UAC. Big
time!” <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“When we started, we worked (or
performed) for free. Our first paying gig was Mosher-Jordan, where we were paid
around $50 – total, not apiece. We hit triple digits ($125 or so) when we
played West Quad. In honor of all the great 1950s DJs, that was our first (and
only) journey into the world of payola.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPvh4Ci2sa4/Uknz_78krlI/AAAAAAAAAwM/XBa0u1yhf3c/s1600/jeff_hirsh_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPvh4Ci2sa4/Uknz_78krlI/AAAAAAAAAwM/XBa0u1yhf3c/s200/jeff_hirsh_photo.jpg" width="160" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One of our “roadies” Gary Kreissman
(Gary the K), who, as I recall, either did some backup announcing for us, or
worked as one of the sound people, was friends with one of the West Quad
council members, who ‘booked’ us to play that dorm. And we had to kick back a
share of the big proceeds to said dorm council member … every act has an agent,
right?” – Jeff Hirsh</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was nothing but fun for everyone, and apparently it caught the attention of the
UAC planning committee.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jeff
and Ron were the “performers” representatives with the UAC group, meeting at
places like the Lamplighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Don’t remember much about the meeting, but the
pizza was good.” – Ron<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">UAC
offered the challenge and we accepted, with some trepidation, because there was
a massive difference between the basement of Mosher-Jordan, or West Quad, and
the spacious Union Ballroom, used for major musical events dating back to the
1930s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There was even a black-and-white booklet published to help promote
the entire weekend. Inside was a half-page photo of Commander Cody and Stevie
Wonder, but for Jimmy and the Javelins, there was a full-page spread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A large newspaper ad was placed by UAC in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Michigan Daily</i></b>, with copy
reading, “UAC and WCBN present A WEEKEND OF GOLDEN MEMORIES.” It then announced
the station’s plan to broadcast 24 consecutive hours of oldies, followed by the
All-Campus Sock Hop, featuring the Javelins and the Belts (with a Javelins
photo).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jeff hosted a three-hour, late-night oldies radio show at WCBN,
which helped with the publicity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Maybe it was the radio station
connection with myself and the Prince, which somehow got us on the Homecoming
roster. The Daily ad might have been a ‘make good’ from UAC. Even though a big
photo of the Javelins was in the Homecoming program with ‘sock hop’ above the
picture, looking at the schedule of homecoming events on the inside front
cover, the Sock Hop is not listed at all. The ad may have been a way of
publicizing what was only semi-mentioned in the program.” – Jeff</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
had no clue as to what would happen, but we concocted some plans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
was the crowning of the first Homecoming “Queen” since 1957 (if I remember). Going
along with the theme, it went to the trashiest dressed girl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<v:shape id="_x0000_s1038" stroked="t" strokeweight=".5pt" style="height: 125.8pt; left: 0px; margin-left: -0.5pt; margin-top: 3.95pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 100.5pt; z-index: -7;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-107 -86 -107 21600 21707 21600 21707 -86 -107 -86"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<v:imagedata o:title="Robin Seymour 1" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image026.jpg">
<w:wrap type="through">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We even solicited the services of Detroit’s most famous
disc jockey/radio personality, Robin Seymour (Bobbin’ With the Robin”), who did
the honors of crowning the “beauty” and introducing us to the crowd.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBv9yZNC3Mg/UknzuSuttMI/AAAAAAAAAvM/fh1R6fBEjsU/s1600/Robin+Seymour+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBv9yZNC3Mg/UknzuSuttMI/AAAAAAAAAvM/fh1R6fBEjsU/s200/Robin+Seymour+1.jpg" width="159" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the way, Seymour is still with us as the 85-year-old lives in Los Angeles and
heads a successful production company.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
what a crowd it was! Somehow 5,000 party-goers jammed into that ballroom;
everywhere we looked there were nothing but students, trying their best to
dress like James Dean (“Rebel Without a Cause”) or Marlon Brando (“The Wild
One”). Stores reported empty shelves where Brylcreem, Wildroot or Tres Flores
Brilliantine was stocked all over Ann Arbor (as we discovered early on, Vitalis
did no good).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPymL9Ct8J4/UknzySbOonI/AAAAAAAAAvc/DLYt0i8Y7t0/s1600/jennifer-mclogan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPymL9Ct8J4/UknzySbOonI/AAAAAAAAAvc/DLYt0i8Y7t0/s200/jennifer-mclogan.jpg" width="143" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Homecoming Queen contest, from a field of five, was won by Jennifer McLogan,
who later became a television reporter in New York with WCBS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Second
place went to Ann Cole, the daughter of legendary General Motors executive-engineer
Edward N. Cole. She showed up in a motorcycle get-up (<span style="color: black;">body-hugging
neck-to-ankle leather</span>) and tried to influence the audience by throwing
“cigarettes” to the crowd.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="through"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ann’s “interview” question was, “What was the most interesting thing you’ve ever done in the back seat of a car?” It was THAT kind of beauty pageant.</span></w:wrap></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;">
---</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Our
collective memories might be filled with cobwebs, but a little prompting
brought out these responses.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“The biggest thing we had going for us
at Homecoming is that our event was free,” Jeff remembered. “Plus we had built
up a certain degree of notoriety at our various dorm gigs in previous years.
It’s amazing … we were either ahead of the nostalgia craze, and helped create
it, or at least we were smart or lucky enough to jump on board.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It’s incredible to consider the
changes in just a few years in Ann Arbor, and our role in that. When I was a
freshman in 1969, anti-war fervor was at its pitch, there were struggles over
race, and class (socio-economic, not 8 a.m. versus 10 a.m.). By the fall of
1972, things had changed so much we could even be Homecoming performers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Now we are having nostalgia for the
mock nostalgia we helped create! I do recall Prince saying to that crowd,
“You’re not the biggest crowd we’ve ever performed for, but you’re definitely
the best.” – Jeff</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFOCPQuwzxk/Uknz5wBxeQI/AAAAAAAAAvs/6FVqMlp2Zag/s1600/Leslie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFOCPQuwzxk/Uknz5wBxeQI/AAAAAAAAAvs/6FVqMlp2Zag/s200/Leslie+2.jpg" width="109" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I remember girls throwing underpants on stage. I
remember taking measurements to sew the guys’ (imitation) gold lame vests a
couple of weeks before. The Kid had to have a full vest, pulled overhead, not a
cardigan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Prince tapped out our entrance ‘The Stripper
drumbeat’ on the microphone when Chastity and the Belts made our way onto the
stage. I remember a lot of joint efforts in songs, when one of us would play
the girlfriend for a Javelin, or one of the guys would play a boyfriend for a
Belt.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I remember Big Mamma bleaching brassy strands of
her real hair (far enough back and under so it couldn’t be seen in normal life)
while I wore a wig in a beehive and Chickie wearing a ratted up red haired
wig.” – Leslie Rogers Manix</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LB778SMkUXc/UknyA8EUtmI/AAAAAAAAAu4/LuVNmUIkypk/s1600/Ron+Hummeny.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LB778SMkUXc/UknyA8EUtmI/AAAAAAAAAu4/LuVNmUIkypk/s200/Ron+Hummeny.png" width="176" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I received
an audio clip of the WCBN broadcast of the Union Ballroom Sock Hop. It’s only
about five minutes long, but ends with me screaming at the top of my lungs
“GREASED AND READY TO KICK ASS – JIMMY AND THE JAVELINS!” – Ron Hummeny</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“The New York Times covered the sock hop and
interviewed my real parents. When asked about their daughter’s pseudonym, they
said, ‘Oh, Chastity ... at home we call her ‘Chas.’ They also used a pseudonym
... instead of using their real, unbelievable names (Eulalla and Will Rogers),
they were Myrna and Richard McFarlan.” – Leslie</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59lDOscNGfg/Uknz9LArr7I/AAAAAAAAAv8/76W6o2Z3ViE/s1600/Susan+Mickel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59lDOscNGfg/Uknz9LArr7I/AAAAAAAAAv8/76W6o2Z3ViE/s200/Susan+Mickel.jpg" width="113" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I used spray-on streaks; the
brassy-toned frosting was my civilian look. There were a few costume changes
and perhaps a Motown set. That’s all I’ve got; the hair spray fumes must have
prevented my memory neurons from firing. But if you can’t stand the grease, get
out of the frying pan.” – Susan Mickel</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_OTAT6xGleM/UknyVeqr8UI/AAAAAAAAAvA/5Jz5nJfF08s/s1600/Wachter+the+attorney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_OTAT6xGleM/UknyVeqr8UI/AAAAAAAAAvA/5Jz5nJfF08s/s200/Wachter+the+attorney.jpg" width="133" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I had more stuff in my hair than most people use
on an entire automobile; and those flammable lame´ vests.” – Mark Wachter</span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I
remember on that night how Big Jocko had women SCREAMING at the sight of him on
stage, (wearing the skimpiest red trow), doing “Great Balls of Fire,” complete
with emphatic pelvic thrusts at all the proper notes. It was his big solo
number.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Even when there was no performance, we
would hang together as much as possible. Once we boarded a U-M bus, headed to
North Campus, but driven by Mark/Jocko, we simply sat in the very back, chowing
down all the Omega pizza we could and laughing our heads off, driving Mark
crazy from the scent.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9eXr0yuNoU/Ukn2J-O0GGI/AAAAAAAAAwc/TutH5kfB_Vs/s1600/Chuck+pensive+at+NTIF+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9eXr0yuNoU/Ukn2J-O0GGI/AAAAAAAAAwc/TutH5kfB_Vs/s200/Chuck+pensive+at+NTIF+2010.jpg" width="166" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"Seriously, those WERE good times.” –
Chuck/TOR<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I also think that as much fun as we
had, there was a certain degree of sadness, or at least wistfulness, knowing
that was our last show. My guess is we’d all do it again in a second if we
could.” – Jeff</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
wound up outdrawing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BOTH</b> Stevie
Wonder and Commander Cody. The Associated Press carried a story on its
nationwide tickers (published in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Detroit
Free Press</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>New York Times</i></b>)
about this less-than-serious Homecoming crowning and event.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<v:shape id="_x0000_s1044" stroked="t" strokeweight=".5pt" style="height: 122.9pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 1pt; margin-top: 3.15pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 186.65pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-54 -82 -54 21600 21654 21600 21654 -82 -54 -82"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<v:imagedata o:title="Roostertail Club" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image029.jpg">
<w:wrap type="through">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But others actually took it seriously, much to our
chagrin. And in what should have been termed “A lip-sync too far,” the
Javelins/Belts Lip-Sync Revue made an ill-fated excursion to a REAL performance
venue – the famous Roostertail Club (off Jefferson Avenue, right on the Detroit
River), where the Gold Cup hydroplane races drew more than 1 million fans on
both banks (Canadian and American) of the river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We flopped, literally, as one of us fell off
the small stage provided (a combination of small risers which were not secured
together, and had to go to the hospital for stitches. That audience didn’t get
the joke; those people thought we were legitimate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“My wound was a three-inch gash over my eyebrow,
which was dutifully stitched up using no. 6 baling wire at University of
Michigan Hospital. I remember lying on the examination table in emergency as
the doctor looked down at my greased-up hair, my Notre Dame High letter
sweater, my leather pants and my Cuban heeled shoes with the gold lame accents
and said, ‘you just come from a hockey game, or what?’<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I had no idea hockey fans were so stylish.” – Ron<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Later
in the spring of 1973 (at the end of regular classes), we held our “farewell”
concert at the same venue. It was one of the first activities ever to be taped
for the fledgling campus cable TV station.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Again,
for our final show (which started at 8 p.m. and lasted well past midnight), it
was a full house … until the end. Their energy, and ours, just ran out, which
was probably appropriate for what was offered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Graduation
was taking its toll; like a Roman candle, our time in the spotlight fizzled
away – to be forgotten by succeeding generations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
remember sitting on the edge of the stage (as the rest of the group helped pack
up the equipment) and stared at the emptiness of the facility. My female compadre,
Leslie/Chastity, sat next to me and gave me a gentle hug, softly saying, “You
were great tonight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
turned to her and responded, “I miss it already,” with a kind of chagrined
Charlie Brown smile.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We’ve
remained friends for all these years, although no reunion tour will ever be
planned. As said, we’ve become investment bankers and counselors, lawyers,
doctors and surgeons, professional assistants, research scientists, television
reporters and retired newspaper publishers. We have children and a few of us experience
the utter joy of grandparenthood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our
children have enjoyed long belly-laughs when viewing photos from our efforts –
mostly at the girls’ hairstyles and the boys’ greasy, cheesy looks before
anyone called themselves “The Fonz.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And
… Michigan celebrated a happy Homecoming victory at Michigan Stadium, whipping
Minnesota 42-0 in a completely unmemorable contest. There were only 84,190 fans
at the game (I was there; I just don’t have a single memory of that game); the
smallest crowd of the 1972 season. I’d like to think that several thousand
students were MIA because of sock hop exhaustion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
reunited back in the early 80s at the Holiday Inn, did none of our old Javelin
routines but talked about it until the early hours of two mornings. Other than
a few individual meetings, that was the last time we’ve been together as a
group.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<v:shape id="_x0000_s1042" stroked="t" strokeweight=".5pt" style="height: 335.45pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-top: 49.5pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 451.45pt; z-index: -3;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-35 -47 -35 21600 21635 21600 21635 -47 -35 -47"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<v:imagedata o:title="DA JAVELINS" src="file:///C:\Users\Chuck\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image031.jpg">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But for one shining moment, we can say that we held the
elusive spotlight at a University of Michigan Homecoming. Or … as we would
always conclude our shows, shouting … “Grease for Peace!”</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEtX3ENm6a8/Ukn0IGVGrZI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/nmpF8B4YFLA/s1600/DA+JAVELINS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEtX3ENm6a8/Ukn0IGVGrZI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/nmpF8B4YFLA/s640/DA+JAVELINS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-81668520467944170612013-09-30T16:38:00.004-05:002013-09-30T16:38:49.640-05:00The day the ‘Gates’ came down
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8tvQM_FJLgk/UknvSOToSqI/AAAAAAAAAuA/SFJNq7ye1Cw/s1600/Gates+vs.+Boston+8-11-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8tvQM_FJLgk/UknvSOToSqI/AAAAAAAAAuA/SFJNq7ye1Cw/s400/Gates+vs.+Boston+8-11-68.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
is NOT about football, but it IS about sports, a young man and the kind of
dreams that can only be satisfied by sitting in the stands of a stadium on a
special day … and seeing your favorite team perform miracles through an
athletes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
I read of the passing this past weekend of Detroit Tigers
outfielder-pinch-hitter extraordinaire Williams James “Gates” Brown (at the age
of 74), I began surfing for photos of him during his Tiger career. Suddenly I
spotted the photo you see here and I immediately knew where it came from and
what had happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You
see, I was there! Sunday, August 11, 1968, with his parents, sitting behind the
first base (visiting) dugout at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium, celebrating my 16th
birthday. Of all the possible presents, or methods to celebrate a pretty
significant birth date, ALL I wanted was to be there, rooting for my all-time
favorite team – for whom I always wanted to play first base as an adult.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
folks wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer or an accountant; I wanted to be the
next Stormin’ Norman Cash (the pride of Justiceburg, Texas, as the late Ernie
Harwell would introduce him). It would be my personal level of nirvana to have
done that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was a grand afternoon and making the situation even more delicious, it was a
(scheduled) doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox – back in the time when
such twinbills were actually part of the MLB scheduling process. Two-for-one
tickets – either as twilight doubleheaders or Sunday afternoon fare – were the
biggest bargain in all sports; you paid just once, waited 20 minutes between
final outs and first pitches, and got settled for another nine innings … or
more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On
this afternoon, it was the “or more” that prevailed. The first game headed into
the bottom of the 14th inning, even at 4-all, when Manager Mayo Smith sent up
his best pinch-hitter, Gates Brown, a left-handed hitter to face Boston relief
ace Sparky Lyle (he was a Red Sox before being traded to the Yankees).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
thunderous ovation greeted the man from Crestline, Ohio, who had earned the
city’s trust and devotion as part of his eventual redemption that led his to
baseball. A three-sport, all-state athlete in high school, he was recruited for
football by Notre Dame, Ohio State … and the University of Michigan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
Brown ran afoul of the law with a burglary conviction in 1958 and was sent to
the Ohio State Reformatory for a three-year sentence (he served 22 months for
that crime).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
was while in prison, Brown’s talent for mashing the crap out of a baseball was
noticed by one of the guards, who began contacting major league teams to judge
their interest. The one team stepping forward was Detroit, who eventually
signed the man nicknamed “Gates” for his long home runs inside the prison
walls.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1ICchSo8-g/UknvCEFKQoI/AAAAAAAAAt4/cE3b_eu12hw/s1600/Gates+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1ICchSo8-g/UknvCEFKQoI/AAAAAAAAAt4/cE3b_eu12hw/s320/Gates+Brown.jpg" width="258" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Brown
played only in a Tiger uniform from 1963-75 and was a vital member of that 1968
World Championship Tigers squad – one of the best teams in MLB history and one
of its least appreciated. And on no other day than Aug. 11 was Gates Brown MORE
vital than in that doubleheader.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
big, burly man, Brown filled up the batter’s box with his wide stance and
no-stride approach. As he slowly rocked back-and-forth, he took one of Lyle’s
sliders and crushed it on a straight line, no more than 10 feet off the ground,
deep to right field. It left his bat like a cannon shot and cleared the fence
with a few inches to spare, winning the marathon first game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
celebration that followed when he crossed home plate, being mobbed by teammates
Willie Horton and Mickey Lolich (the winning pitcher in relief during the time
he was banished to the bullpen in 1968 – his World Series would come
unexpectedly later).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
Dad and I only had a second or two to cheer; we both bolted for the nearest
exit and the closest men’s room available. The 14 innings had taken a toll on
both our bladders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">True
to the word, 20 minutes later, Game Two started, much to the aggravation of my
mother. She had made reservations at a top Detroit restaurant (Joe Muer’s) for
my birthday dinner and this extra-lengthy afternoon was mucking up her plans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
had learned the Yogi Berra-ism from my father, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,”
and Game 2 was running into nighttime. Down 7-3 headed to the bottom of the
ninth, and ... again Lyle, the league’s best reliever, my mother, staring a
hole through her watch, kept insisting we all leave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However,
I objected! A fish dinner was not worth the sight of Tiger Stadium at night and
I had faith like Oral Roberts had healings. I wanted to stay and my Dad backed
me up on this, “Diane, this IS his day after all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
single here, a single there, an error tossed into the mix by normally reliable
Bosox shortstop Rico Petrocelli and a seeing-eye dribbler by superstar Al
Kaline, miraculously tied the game. And up stepped Gates Brown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
mother promptly announced, win or lose … or tie, we were departing after that
inning, so I wished with all my might for a positive outcome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With
two outs and a 2-2 count on “The Gator,” he topped a fastball hard enough to
roll under Lyle’s glove, through the infield, over the second base bag and into
centerfield. As the winning run crossed the plate, the crowd (half of the
original 46,000 sellout actually remainder) erupted as the Tigers again mobbed
Brown, celebrated his heroics and took a stranglehold on the American League
race (it was the final year of pennant races without divisional play, mind
you).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Muer’s reservation was out the door so we had a late dinner at some diner,
which, with the awesome taste of victory, was a scrumptious meal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That
is how I remember Gates Brown, the highlight of a young boy’s 16th birthday and
as a Tiger forever beloved.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hopefully,
beginning this weekend, the 2013 roster will dedicate its World Series chase to
the memory of one of their own. Go get ‘em Tigers!</span></div>
Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11404214.post-57844683669144279822013-09-26T18:14:00.001-05:002013-09-26T18:14:11.428-05:00Hola/welcome to Big Tex II<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">State fairs aren't really my thing. Too many people, too much walking. Far too much of that awful smell of overused grease/oil in the air from trying to make the entire population of Dallas-Fort Worth sick as dogs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I avoid it like the plague EXCEPT if my granddaughter comes to town and wants to go ... then I'm the tour guide of ALL tour guides.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVq8mp_E094/UkS_VGdfEFI/AAAAAAAAAtY/F18hJ8zTV8g/s1600/Big+Tex+boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVq8mp_E094/UkS_VGdfEFI/AAAAAAAAAtY/F18hJ8zTV8g/s400/Big+Tex+boots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This year, the organizers have unveiled the NEW, improved (non-flammable) Big Tex - the symbol of all this Texan and State Fair-ish. Last year he tragically burned to a crisp (and even sadder, people might have mistaken the corpse for one of the ridiculous fried items - like butter, chocolate, ice cream, jello, etc.).</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJTwsosVi3w/UkS_hT7nqfI/AAAAAAAAAtg/Q51EsEM6mzA/s1600/Big+Tex+welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJTwsosVi3w/UkS_hT7nqfI/AAAAAAAAAtg/Q51EsEM6mzA/s400/Big+Tex+welcome.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But one day before opening, the curtain came off the new Big Tex, and, honestly, upon first glance, he seems to have a slight tone of Hispanic to him. Not saying if it's right, wrong or whatever, it just appears to be that way ... which is guaranteed to be a topic for the next four weeks on conservative-blabbermouth DFW talk radio.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnqBGiEyfsI/UkS_p-wmMQI/AAAAAAAAAto/TbYnZ_hUp2M/s1600/Big+Tex+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnqBGiEyfsI/UkS_p-wmMQI/AAAAAAAAAto/TbYnZ_hUp2M/s400/Big+Tex+closeup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">If the State Fair is your thing, by ALL means, enjoy! It IS the nation's largest and serves as the site for our annual North Texas Irish Festival on the first weekend of March (Feb. 28-March 1-2).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Except we might put a bonnie wee kilt on him!! :-)</span>Chuck B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06283859601218169789noreply@blogger.com0