Michigan Thursday: CC with RR

As we know, Colin Cowherd was in A2 yesterday to do his radio show and his ESPN TV show.  He had a good interview with Rich Rod that can be found here.  

• Dee Hart is visiting Arkansas this weekend.  Per his mom, he is supporting his teammates and not really interested in The Hogs.  Of course, if Ryan Mallett beats the #1 team in the nation this week, that could have a big effect on changing his mind. 

•  David Molk is the only Michigan guy right now on Mel Kipers 2011 Draft Board.

• Brian Griese will be calling the Michigan game this weekend for ESPN 2.

• In a Michigan fan's strange game of the week: West Virgina visiting LSU.  I wonder if Bill Martin will tune in or maybe he is on his sailboat.

 

• Former Michigan WR Ron Bellamy is now the head coach of West Bloomfield High.

• Good article from A2.com on Darryl Stonum's good game and his grandmother in the stands last week:

At age 87, Nettie Stonum boarded an airplane for the first time in her life last week for a flight from Houston to Detroit. That experience was nothing compared to watching her grandson play for the Michigan football team in Michigan Stadium.

“A lot of the people in the stands were trying to calm her down, because they didn’t know if she was going to have a heart attack or what,” said junior wide receiver Darryl Stonum.


“From what I heard, she was screaming and jumping out of her wheelchair in the stands, and just having a good time.”

Wolverine Wednesday: Is There a Dr. Phillips in the House?

Today is Shoelace Birthday!  Denard turns 20 today.

We mentioned yesterday that Dee is supporting a number of his teammates on trips to places like Arkansas and Auburn.    Today, we list the pure number of Division 1 prospects currently on Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida.  I have to tell you this is pretty impressive:

Dr. Phillips Senior Prospects with verbal commitments:

• DB Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix: Alabama
• RB Dee Hart:  Open
• OL Darius Johnson: Colorado State
• LB Darryl Monroe: Washington State
• LB/S LaQuentin Smith: Arkansas
• CB Jared Singletary: Arkansas
• CB Roderick Ryles: Arkansas
• DE Chris Curtis: Starting to get offers
• Kicker/Punter Sean Moffitt: Starting to get some interest
• WR Chris Gallon: Starting to get some interest with 4 TD's catches this year (cousin of current Wolverine Jeremy Gallon)

I know I mentioned that Auburn might be gaining ground on Dee because they are recruiting some of his teammates.  With the list above, it looks like Arkansas might be trying to recruit the entire team.   I'm guessing Dr. Phillips has a good shot at winning the state title this year.  That is a lot of talent for one high schools senior class.  As I'm sure your also aware, current Wolverine Ricardo Miller played for Dr. Phillips before transferring to Ann Arbor Pioneer for his senior year.

Concussions

As you know, concussions in football is something that concerns me.  So when I find new research about this topic, I want to share it with my readers.  The latest comes from a study from University of Illinois.  They study the longer term effects for young children that get concussions.  Here are some excerpts from a NYT article today:

Many of the concussions had occurred years earlier and at the time of the testing, none of the students felt lingering symptoms. Each was performing adequately in college. In the testing itself, the concussed students scored just as well as the uninjured athletes.

But when researchers looked at the electrical activity of the students’ brains, they found that the concussed athletes showed noticeably less activity in portions of the brain associated with attention. ‘‘They had suppressed attentional resources,’’ said Steven Broglio, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois. He and his colleagues speculated that, as a result, the injured athletes most likely were devoting a greater percentage of their total mental reserves to each task than the uninjured athletes in order to achieve similar intellectual results. The effort wasn’t obvious. ‘‘These were high-performing college students,” Dr. Broglio said. ‘‘They were succeeding in school.’’


Trouble:

• I'm sure we all know by now that Braylon got a DUI the other night.  I was worried when Braylon got traded to the Jets that NYC might fit him too well.  It's a city that never sleeps and it seems neither does Braylon.  I expect him to get suspended and he maybe in more trouble with the law from his fight in Cleveland.  Let's hope this is a wake up call for him. 

• Dion Sims a former Michigan recruit and current MSU football player has been charged with being part of a ring that stole a number of lap tops from the Detroit Public Schools.  I expect that Mr. Sims football days will be over if he is found guilty.

Recruiting

• 2011 RB DeVondrick Nealy will visit A2 on 10/8.  He is a 3 star prospect and has offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Michigan, and Minnesota.  

• 2012 prospect from Michigan James Ross, LB is going to be one of the top players in the state for the 2012 class.  James has always been a Michigan fan and attended the UConn game.  There are a number of big name programs that are recruiting him.  Names like Alabama, Penn State, and others.   Michigan will push pretty hard to get him to commit early to the Wolverines, since it's a big position of need.    Robert Bolden his former teammate is the starting QB for Penn State.

Michigan Thursday: Starts to Prep For ND

I still think a "flag" should be thrown on NBC and ESPN/ABC for having 3 really good games on at 3:30 EST on Saturday.  That is terrible planning.  I know Nascar is very popular but put it on  ESPN2 and make the Ohio State - Miami game an 8:00 start.   It would be much easier if I just ran things. 

Today was a real bad day for former Michigan athletes.  Tom Brady got into a car accident this morning in Boston.  He wasn't injured.  Rumeal Robinson was convicted (freep link) in federal court today of borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business deal and then spending the money on a condominium, expensive furniture and cars.  In a very low class move by Ann Arbor.com they publish the reason why Jamie Morris was let go from Michigan's athletic department.  (I won't link to it, since it should be a private matter between Jamie and the athletic department)

Recent transfer Vlad Emilien told Angelique today:  "I love coach Rod as a head coach and a person, too. I hope it goes well for him, and I hope we win on Saturday."  It's a strange week for the #5 on the team.  Tate was talking transfer after Saturday's game but didn't (#5 on offense), then Vlad ends up leaving mid week (#5 on defense).

Injury Update:  Fitz is getting better but still is out against ND on Saturday.  Roy Rountree is also feeling better but wouldn't know about his status for Saturday until he meets with the doctors today.  Carvin Johnson is out for sure. 

Lots of good football on tonight:  The kickoff of the NFL season with the Super Bowl Champs hosting Brett Farve and the Minnesota Vikings (NBC).  A big MAC battle between Central Michigan and Temple both expected to compete for their divisional championship (ESPN U).  Auburn vs Mississippi State (ESPN)

Charles Woodson gets a two year extension.

Antonio Kinard who signed with Michigan but headed to prep school to get his grades up.  Is ranked #34 by Rivals top 50 Prep School prospects for 2011.   We expect Antonio to join the Wolverines in January or next summer.