Michigan Thursday: Big House Bites

• Congratulations to Brian Griese whose broadcasting career seems to be moving in the right direction, he just landed the prime time spot on ESPNU's SEC Game of the Week for next season.

• Sam Webb does his Thursday thing on Big 2013 Tailback Wyatt Shallman from Detroit Catholic Central.  Wyatt is currently a junior and is 6'3 and 251 pounds and working out with Mike Barwis.  "They envision me as a big tailback like (New York Giants standout) Brandon Jacobs," he said of the Wolverines. "They want me to play tailback. That sounds great. I really want to." ----"My parents are both crazy Michigan fans," Shallman reported. "It is like a dream come true for them. My mom cried (when Brady Hoke extended a scholarship offer back in May). She's loved Michigan for so long. My mom is crazy fanatical. She loves Bo (Schembechler). She loves everything about Michigan. On our outdoor fridge she has an 'Oh, how I hate Ohio State' sign." -----"My dad went to one of the first Michigan camps back with Bo. His whole claim to fame at the camp was he ran a good route and made a one-handed catch. Bo came up to him and said, 'Good catch son!'"

• Kyle Kalis quote from A2.com:  “The thing about Coach Hoke that really sticks out to me is that he’s real,” Kalis texted. “What you see is what you get with Coach, and that’s how it should be. Coach Hoke will be the reason U of M gets back on top. And I’m not the only one who sees it that way, the whole class does and the amount of focus that we all have is incredible, and Coach Hoke instilled that in us.”

• TomVH says that Aaron Burbridge will be the Big House BBQ

Michigan Friday: Big House Briefs

• Thanks to reader Richard:   Mike Barwis has opened a new training facality in Michigan.  Here is a link to his new blog.

• Gus Johnson seems to be leaving CBS and maybe headed to Fox/Big Ten Network.  That would be a huge win for the Big Ten.  Gus has made it known he is a Michigan fan and I would love to hear him do some Michigan Football games.

• TomVH reports that Michigan has offered 2012 Illinois DT Jaleel Johnson.

• Michigan's incoming freshman Trey Burke went from the future point guard to potenital starting point guard and he hasn't even tried on his Michigan jersey yet.   

• Mallet's dad said that Lloyd Carr told Ryan and family to look at other options once RR got the job at Michigan.  I find that hard to believe.   

• Threet is still suffering from his concussions he suffered last year.  He is helping the team as a student assistant for ASU. 

• 5 star RB and soft verbal to OSU Bri'onte Dunn is expected to be in Ann Arbor today for a vist. 

Wolverine Wednesday: More Recruiting News

The Prince of Ann Arbor?:  It sounds like 3 star Slot WR Prince Holloway has Michigan very high on his list: (freep link) Dallas is my cousin and for a month we planned on committing to Michigan,” Holloway said.


Crawford committed to U-M last month, but Holloway has not had the right opportunity to offer his pledge to the Wolverines. He has yet to visit the Ann Arbor campus, but has been given a preview by his cousin, who took two trips to the school in the last eight months. “He says it is very nice and he loves it up there,” Holloway said. “If he can love it up there, I know I can.”

Michigan recently took the surprise commitment of instate running back Justice Hayes, who many believe was offered as a slot WR.   Does Michigan have room for Prince at this point?  That is a valid question.  I wonder if the Prince can play corner. 

• Do you wonder if Quality Control staff coached players at Michigan before RR got there?  Dave Hutchinson was just hired as Glenville State's head coach.  He was the offensive quality control coach at Michigan under Lloyd Carr in 2007.   On the ironic side of this, RR was the Glenville State head man from 1990 to 1996.   The key words above are that Dave should not have been "coaching" in his QC role at Michigan.

• Desmond Howard and his million dollar smile went into the College Hall of Fame last night!  Congrats Des!

• Dave Molk is a finalist for the 2010 Rimington Trophy for the best center in the country.  It seems Dave will get a free trip Disney World this week to see if he is the winner.    

• It seems the Michigan players will receive a watch, Oakley sunglasses, a leather duffel bag, ring and commemorative football for participating in the Gator Bowl.  The players in the Citrus Bowl get a $420 shopping spree to Best Buy.  Players are allowed $500 in Bowl Gifts from the hosting Bowl.  

• 4 star instate CB/Athlete from Highland Park Raymon Taylor who verbally committed to Indiana is re-thinking his college choice after IU let go the gum throwing Bill Lynch.  He seems to be interested in the Wolverines, but currently doesn't have an offer.   Are the Wolverines interested in this 4 star athlete?  We should know soon. 

• Recruits do read blogs! 4 Star WR Devin Lucien was impressed by the feedback from the readers on Mgoblog on him considering Michigan. 

• Jack Tabb a TE that Michigan is recruiting visited North Carolina last weekend and had a "great time".  He is visiting Arkansas this weekend and has one more visit left.  Maybe to Rutgers or BC.

Michigan Tuesday: Covers Most Everything

RR 's Press Conference Notes:

Denard sprained something in his rotator cuff; it gets aggravated or sore when you fall on it. Worried about the big guys falling on him more than anything. He's not as hurt as Tate was last year, and should be good with a week off. "Hypothetically, we won't talk," but Denard would probably be good to start if there was a game this weekend. He's still the team's starter, despite Tate's solid play on Saturday.

• Fitz should practice this week, Mike Martin and David Molk should be ready for PSU, both need the week off to heal.   Shaw has been limited but hopes to ready to play as well.
• No practice on Monday and Tuesday while the kids are on Fall Break.  Team needs the rest and the freshman might have hit a bit of a "wall"

"Kenny Demens we thought played pretty well... He's played well enough that Obi will have to beat him out in practice over the next week and a half."


"Carvin Johnson we thought did some good things at Spur." With Mike Martin's injury, Adam Patterson got a chance to step up and he did well.

On offense, they need to fix execution issues that lead to turnovers. "On defense, certainly the same thing. The same issues with execution and making sure we do that." On ST, kicking and returns have been bad, other units solid. "We've got a couple guys I think could be pretty good returners, we just haven't given them a chance."

The defensive staff all knows the issues, "I think they've talked about it at length, I know they have because I've talked with them." The players still believe in it. The team is close to playing good defense outside of a couple plays a game "but those two plays count." Need to work on some basics defensively, tackling, getting off blocks, etc. Will work on understanding scheme, which helps guys play faster. At times, tackling has been OK.

More from Tim at Mgoblog at the above link.................

• Michigan loses a big basketball recruit to St. Johns:  Report: Dominick Pointer to St. Johns.  The "word" was that Dominick's family wanted him to go to Michigan.  I guess he didn't. 

• Update: Looks like Big Will maybe headed to the offensive side of the ball:  "He could possibly (move), he's not playing much on defense," Rodriguez said Tuesday. "He's got a couple pretty good guys in front of him (Martin and Patterson). I don't know if it's possible to switch and learn the position from one side of the ball to the other that quickly. That's hard to do. We'll probably talk about him tomorrow."
  "He's got to get better technique-wise (on defense) and getting off blocks," Rodriguez said. "He may be better suited to play offensive guard, we don't know yet, but we're going to talk about it. He's got a great attitude and he's willing to work and do whatever to help the team."   This is not a good update on Big Will who has struggled since becoming a Wolverine over a year ago.  He clearly is having trouble on the defensive line and Michigan is deep on the offensive side of the ball.  He also gave up a field goal block as the Iowa defender pushed him back on special teams.   For those that are wondering, 2010 defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins who picked Ohio State over Michigan last year, is getting a lot of playing time for the Buckeyes.
 

• TomVH comes in with his weekly recruiting update:  Dallas Crawford still has Michigan listed #1 after his visit this week but keep an eye on Miami.  2012 prospect  from Toledo, Chris Wormley got his Michigan offer last weekend.  He is going to be highly ranked in the 2012 class and comes in at 6'4", 255 lbs at DE.  The Illinois game  now looks like the big Dr. Phillips visit weekend.  DT Kevin McReynolds (6'2", 280 lbs, 4 Star) is now interested in Michigan.

• Michigan transfer Vlad Emilien has decided to enroll at  Colorado.  I wish him luck and hope his knee is better.   Maybe he can room with Toney Clemons.

• Ray Ball a Michigan offensive line recruit has committed to Wisconsin.

• Brian at Mgoblog looks at Michigan's important next few games against: PSU, Illinois, and Purdue.  Please win at least two but Michigan really needs all 3.

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.