Programming Update and Other Assorted Bits

Okay, so obviously things have been busy and I haven't been here lately.  Part of that also has to do with me thinking about what I want this space to be.  I had originally said that this wasn't going to be another Michigan blog, but it turned into one pretty quickly.  There are so many others out there that do it better than I do anyway so why be another kid on the block?  Well, I am going to continue writing about Michigan sports because it is my passion, but perhaps not in the same way I have been.  I am going to try out some more football technical posts that I had originally tried to avoid because I felt the average fan/reader wouldn't really understand the in-depth stuff, but then I figured that I'd give it a whirl and see if I can't just educate said fan/reader a little.  I can't take credit for this idea, it was suggested to me by MGoBrian and I appreciate his input.

A few other things that you will (hopefully) see in the future:

• more non-Michigan content/random thoughts/stream of consciousness
• weekly previews of football opponents
• weekly recaps of games
• my Top 25 (weekly, after week 4)
• NFL and college picks against the spread
• some Lions content

I hope I can do all this as well as maybe some other things.  We'll see how it pans out.  Also, since the opener is a week from today and I haven't gotten the Opponent Previews done for anyone past ND, the rest of those will be scrapped.  Not a good sign for the bullets above?  I hope that's not the case.

Recent Goings On

There have been several bits of news since my last activity so I thought I'd briefly recap those.  

Transfers

There have been three transfers in the last week from the Michigan Football Team.  This is obviously not good.  It also, however, is not unusual.  Every program has attrition and it happens every year.  New Head Coaches usually experience more than returning ones (see 2008, Rich Rodriguez) so there is something to be said for the fact that these three guys are the first ones to go since Hoke took over.  The thing is, being part of a major college football program is not easy.  Not everyone is cut out for it, not everyone is going to get along with new coaches, freshmen are going to get homesick, etc.  I think Coach Hoke said it best at the press conference the other day:

I think you're always surprised, but guys gotta do what they feel is right for them. This isn't for everybody here, and it never will be. They're great kids, and we wish them the best.

Bingo.  I wish them the same.  There hasn't been any indication of the why for any of these transfers but whatever the reason, I hope they find a new team and success in their future.

The first to leave came on Monday when freshman OL Tony Posada was confirmed to not be with the program.  Posada came from a very good program in Tampa that had a great season last year with several D1 players.  Unfortunately, when Posada reported to fall camp he was not in shape at 340 pounds.  Speculation is that the weight issue may have had something to do with his departure.  A consensus three star to all four major services, I never really was optimistic about his chances at being a contributor at Michigan.  Still, this is a loss at a position that is paper thin already and is not good.

Next up was junior WR Je'Ron Stokes on Tuesday.  Stokes was a four star kid out of Philadelphia that I can remember being pretty excited about when he gave his commitment to Michigan.  I really thought that he was going to be someone that would have a solid career in Ann Arbor.  My initial thought is that this must be a depth chart casualty and that Stokes is headed somewhere for more PT.  I hope he finds it.

The most recent defection came from freshman TE Chris Barnett on Thursday.  This is also at a position that is very thin and this one really makes me nervous.  Barnett also reported to camp overweight at 280ish and had work to do to get himself into playing shape before any thought of contribution could be considered.  This is really not all that surprising.  If you recall during his recruitment, Barnett was once committed to both Oklahoma and Arkansas before signing with Michigan.  This kid went to high school in an area that I have a few friends and reportedly transferred high schools several times as well.  He was also involved with a shady character I don't wish to name in this space that I and most of my colleagues don't care for at all.  IIRC, his dad really wanted him to keep his commitment to Arkansas as well, so that would be my wild guess as to where he ends up.

I read a lot of opinions and posts regarding these guys leaving and what that means for recruiting.  First of all, obviously this means the way to 26 or 28 just got easier to get to.  More on that in a minute.  I also want to say that people that have said "Oh good that opens a spot for so and so" should really shut up.  I don't care for that crap at all.  Fans don't openly celebrate one of their own leaving the team so that someone else can be brought in.  That's garbage.  I think it was probably on The Fort that someone put it really well and said to those people something along the lines of "you people are the same ones that really want a kid to commit and then trash him when he chooses someone else."  There's no place for that IMO.

As far as the rest of the recruiting class, I think Stokes' departure solidifies that there will be two (if not three) WRs taken.  I've seen some speculation that Barnett might open the door for Ron Thompson, and I admit that was one of my first thoughts as well, but I don't think that's going to be case.  There seems to be some other issues with him that Michigan doesn't like (grades?) and would have to change for him to be a possibility.  I still don't think he's a part of this class in February.  I think Posada's departure makes it likely that two more OL join the class as well.

What the....  Seriously?  Why?

Dave Brandon announced Thursday that he had procured a deal for the opener in 2014.  I thought that this surely was some kind of sick joke or hoax as I was reading the Athletic Department's announcement.  Yes, Dave Brandon thinks it's a good idea for Michigan to play Appalachian State again.  What is the purpose of this?  This was a no-win game to schedule in 2007 and it's a no-win again.  Michigan is supposed to win this game so if they do then big deal, you beat a 1-AA team, woooo.  If you lose, then....well I think something like that may have happened before.  To someone.  I really don't recall.  But seriously, why does DB think that this is a good idea?  Or even an idea.  This is dumb.  Really dumb.  All this is going to do is reopen those old wounds and make Michigan the laughing stock of college football again regardless of the outcome this time.  The week of that game, everyone and their mother will be talking about last time and how many times am I going to have to watch the blocked FG and ASU celebration again?  What's the point of this?  Revenge?  Please.  There is no revenge.  They deserved to win that game and Michigan deserved to lose it.  This isn't a rivalry.  It's a not a local or even regional team.  I don't get it.  At all.  Really.  Really.  Dumb.  Did I mention I'm not a fan of this move?

High School Football Has Started

All across the country, high school teams are starting their seasons this week.  It's a great time of year.  Optimism is in the air and everyone has a shot at winning their district, beating their rival, making the playoffs, and winning state.  Young men are learning the game and creating lifelong friends and memories.  Also, members of the current recruiting class are beginning their final seasons and providing a small glimpse into Michigan's football future.  Good luck to my friends and colleagues, all the kids that are working their tails off, and the members of U-M's class of 2012.

I am going to try and put together a guess at what the two-deep will look like when it's released in the next couple of days.  I'll try to get that up tonight.