Mailbag question: Upcoming bowl games

Posted at 8:00am -- 12/28/2009



Mailbag question: Upcoming bowl games

GBMW,

From a financial standpoint it always has been a benefit for the Big Ten to have multiple teams in the BCS games. Yet the conference’s records in those games have not been particularly noteworthy. It often seems that the second team selected (and often the first) for the BCS games have been overmatched in many of those games. This also has the negative effect of elevating other teams in the conference to bowls that are perhaps slightly above their caliber. As a consequence, the bowl record of the Big Ten has suffered over the past 5 years making it fodder for the talk show networks.

To make matters worse the Big Ten season ends so early that the teams are at a decided disadvantage when preparing for the Bowl game and they miss out on up to 10 practices. Such might be the case again this year with the elevation of Iowa to the Orange Bowl to play against Georgia Tech and all other teams bumped up to more prestigious bowl games. In truth, the match ups again don't appear to be too favorable for the Big Ten as many are projecting another 1-6 or 2-5 bowl record. What is especially perturbing is that this might have a deleterious effect on Michigan recruiting in that many teams will now label the Wolverines as the worst team in the worst conference in the Bowl Championship Conferences. Sadly, it would be difficult to argue with that assessment. In the quest for the almighty dollar, there are often unintended and adverse consequences, and that appears to be the case here. Always appreciate your comments. Thanks again.

Mike S

--------------------------------

Thanks for the questions; an outstanding presentation/layout of the circumstances that have perhaps unjustly labeled the Big Ten as a loser conference.

Our number one rule is, with regards to college sports happenings, has not changed, follow the money! This is why the Big Ten is looking at adding another team to the conference. Money, not so much forming two divisions, or having an even number of teams to allow for every conference member to play a league game on a given Saturday during the season is the key motivator. Think of all the additional money the conference can make by having a championship game at a place like the Indianapolis Colts beautiful new arena or at the Detroit Lions "Ford Field". Also, if a team like Missouri would come into the Big Ten the championship could also be played in St. Louis. Money, money, money, and more money, the battle cry was likely originally sounded by the SEC’s monster grab of money and national attention resulting from its championship game over the last decade. Three NFL dome stadiums that would attract big crowds, create big paydays, and generate big advertising dollars is an option difficult to resist. Some would say, “What took you so long?”

In addition, the playoff participants would receive an extended week of practices, a very valuable commodity for competing with the other major conferences that stretch out the league schedule as well as having a championship game that might run into December.

The Big Ten recently has tried to ride Ohio State to glory. So, let us use recent history to detail results. Ohio State plays its final game before Thanksgiving. Some teams play and practice for the next two weeks. Then, after the championship weekend, teams will take the week off for finals, very convenient. After which, it is time for bowl practices to start.

So these teams have continuity and do not get a big thud regarding momentum. Now on to what happens with Big Ten teams that play late in the bowl schedule. Depending on where the calendar falls, Big Ten teams have a five or six week void. In that time finals must be seriously addressed, lifting and conditioning continues, but no real organized practices can occur until after the bowl destination has been determined. Then, the team must decide how to spread out the allowed practices. Ohio State practiced early this year and is taking ten days off for Christmas at home. Then, the team will gather, travel and finish off the allotted practices on the road. There are all types of momentum killers built into a scenario like the one above. There is an old saying, “You never know which team will show up for a bowl game.” That still applies, but teams that basically take only one week off, still should have a big advantage.

Some teams just do not have a great interest in minor bowls and tank out. Some teams have lame duck coaches or are in the middle of coaching changes and tank out. Some games are just bad match-ups and it appears that a tank job occurred, but in reality the team lost to superior talent.

The Big Ten has been more than willing to offer up its football and basketball teams as sacrificial lambs to collect big paydays. The Big East has collected match-ups that are very favorable and the Big Ten has match-ups, many with SEC teams, that bring forward the “uh, oh or oh, no” effect.

Michigan never has problems getting MAC schools, or other mid majors, to fill out their schedule in exchange for a great pay out. This one game can make a team more money than probably all season long at their stadium.

And so in summary to the above discussion, the bowl season is no different, getting the big money will always trump just about everything else.

We agree with your comments about the Big Ten teams in the BCS this year. We really were surprised that Iowa got in, but several teams faltered down the stretch to help the Hawkeyes get in.

It would it be nice to only have one Big Ten team in the BCS, that way the bowl match-ups might actually favor the Big Ten for once. But the Big Ten, and the collective athletic departments, will always want the money and take the beating. “Please sir, may I have another?”

This may be especially so this year, where the SEC has two teams in the BCS as well. This may have benefited the Big Ten by putting up the Big Ten’s second best team against the SEC’s third. If memory serves correctly, there are three tie-in bowls like this.

As for the negative recruiting, that is going to happen regardless of what the rest of the conference does.

Michigan has nobody to blame for the negative recruiting but itself. Going 3-9 (2-6 in Big Ten) and 5-7 (1-7 in Big Ten) the last two seasons and not becoming bowl eligible is 100% UM’s own doing. Win, and all the negative recruiting will become less effective, especially if high school coaches and high school players can see Michigan playing in a bowl game.

Honestly if a coach is not negatively recruiting Michigan right now, with its record of the past two years, he is probably not doing his job. Coaches all claim they do not recruit in this manner, but we all would be willing to bet that coaches will present favorable comparisons when it supports their sales-pitch. Essentially this is still negative recruiting.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our readers who follow this site.

Posted at 8:00am -- 12/24/2009

We at GBMW wish a Merry Christmas to all of our readers who follow this site. No site appreciates your viewing and participation more than GBMW. You, the viewers, share with us, the contributors, a passion and keen interest in Michigan athletics, especially the football program. The viewer questions that recently (the last year) have been submitted greatly contributed to the dialogue and information this site produced. Without the e-mails, GBMW would be a couple of articles a week type of blog, instead of multiple articles a day. So please keep sending in those e-mails. The number of resourceful, polite, appreciative, and intelligent/perceptive responses has increased, lending to a better reading experience to all.

The viewing numbers were up over the last year, perhaps significantly, and we hope all of you continue to view the blog. Perhaps your holiday present to us would be to inform others of the site and invite them to be regular readers. We now have readers from rival teams that stop by now and then. If you view enough blogs, readers will see that many of the “headline” GBMW articles are spread across other sites as well.
And so, GBMW gives the first Merry Christmas and happy holiday salute to you, the readers, and hopefully Santa brings you everything you are asking for this year. One of your wishes may be for Santa to spend a little extra time at the coach’s houses.
Please join me in thanking everyone who has served as a contributor to GBMW this past year
First off, a monster thank you to CoachBt and MaizeMan, who have been with me from the very start. CoachBt is an accomplished coach and he specializes in the technical X’s and O’s of football. Few sites have such a valuable resource. Coach can slice and dice the mechanics and techniques as good as any site analysis out there. MaizeMan is a great source of knowledge and possesses great perception about the players and the inner workings of the program. When MaizeMan talks, people listen, to coin a phrase from a prior advertising campaign. And people should listen if accuracy is the goal of the reader.
Doc4blu has been a huge asset to GMBW behind the scenes and has written scholarly article series such as “The Other Ninety Percent” that are very unique. Doc has also provided scouting articles this past year on important 2010 Michigan recruits, along with picking up some basketball coverage. Having as a contributor a former professor with a college coaching background, whose area of research is learning and psychology, is kind of neat.

A huge thank you to SKWDCOP, who helped do the links for GBMW and put much time and effort into researching these links and getting the material out to a wider base. SKWDCOP (or the squid) is the type of guy everyone knows who daily provides time and effort for the benefit of others to make the readers’ experience better. His work equals the readership being better informed, not to mention the valuable time he saves us all.
JamesS has been a recent contributor to GBMW and has served as a valuable resource by answering some of our recruiting questions. We all thank you James and hope you can find the time to be more of a regular contributor next year. We value your insights and knowledge.

Yostmeister has brought Michigan hockey to GBMW. I tried covering it the last couple of years, but I was not giving this assignment everything it deserves. "Yost" has been a huge benefit for GBMW and his coverage of Michigan hockey for us should rightly be termed expert, detailed, and complete. Just reading Yost’s posts makes you smarter about hockey. If you know any die-hard Michigan hockey fans, or even those of the moderate characterization, please put them on to Yostmeister’s coverage. They will thank you.
We wish to thank Coach Webb (twebber55), who has helped us out with the football previews, along with the predictions, as well as giving his two cents worth once in a while on mailbag questions. As with CoachBt, Coach Webb knows his football and is a successful current coach.

Thanks to all those not mentioned, who have provided us with support this year and helped GBMW grow. I have met a lot of very nice people from message boards, or the blog this past year, either at football clinics, high school football games, Michigan football games, e-mails, phone calls, etc.

Take some time and enjoy your friends and family during this wonderful couple of days and get away from the Michigan message boards, the Michigan blogs, and the Michigan web sites and enjoy the little (but most important) things associated with spending time with your loved ones this year. The GBMW blogs will return quickly enough.
Have a safe and happy couple of days and enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas this year.
Yes, we know, the bowl games await your viewing, sans Michigan, but enjoy them all, because soon there will be a void of 8 months without college football. To some of us this is like being locked up.

We will be back on Monday.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Mailbag question: Rumors about some kids

Posted at 12:00pm -- 12/23/2009



Mailbag question: Rumors about some kids

GBMW,

There is a rumor going around on a message board that some kids scholarships were pulled possible three. Have you guys heard anything about this and can you discuss who it might have been? I know you probably do not want to throw out names, but can you give us hints.

Dan B.

-------------------------

Thanks for the question. We have been hearing the same thing for the last few weeks. There must be some privacy and dignity to the recruiting process and so no names will be placed forward. Putting out names that are associated with negatives on the internet without any substantiation is simply football gossip, and like normal gossip this can be harmful. There may be recruits who either have grade problems, or the staff has pulled the offer for the purpose of providing a spot for a more highly coveted recruit who now is “in play.”

As far as a clue, let us just say that three commits may have some grade/testing issues that could lead to scenarios like Witty, Gallon, and Turner faced last summer.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Mailbag question: Follow-up to your Coach Kelly / Coach Rod article

Posted at 8:00am -- 12/23/2009


Mailbag question: Follow-up to your Coach Kelly/Coach Rod article

Hey guys, great blog,

Let me start by saying I'm "All in for Michigan" and for Coach Rod. Even though we are going through some new program struggles, I think 2010 will show great improvement, 2011 will be even better, and by 2012, look out, UM will be scary good. Okay, call me an optimist.

My question however is in reference to one of your responses on December 12th. While talking about Coach Rod and Coach Kelly, you said that there was no love loss, that Michigan gave him the cold shoulder and now he might have a chip on it. I've always been curious about that lack of Michigan interest because when it was first announced that Lloyd Carr was retiring, my coaching wish list was topped with Brian Kelly. He never seemed to come close to being an option though. Why? Did UM feel he hadn't proven himself yet or was he not interested in UM, or were there other reasons? I've wondered if it had anything to do with Mike DeBord's program at CMU.

Did he get disrespected somehow by the incoming Kelly regime, and that may have p/o'd the Michigan good ole boys club?

Anyway, keep up the good work and I'm definitely interested in your thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Tom T.

----------------------------

Thanks for the question. Tom this response is not a slam to you but just a general thought.

It is always good to be "All-in" as the football slogan was for 2009. The problem we have is that everybody was not "All-in" and now all of a sudden this is supposed to happen by decree or magic? We know most fans always want the best for their program and want to support it. Being a fan is like an ocean ebb and flow, there are highs and lows. And we all know where the tide line is currently.

We wish the fans that are "All-in" now would have been 100% behind the team in the past. But in fact many Michigan fans were complaining about the previous regime and expressed dissatisfaction of losing three games a year. How a couple of years have changed the expectations around the Michigan fan base.

As Bo Schembechler said "Michigan is much bigger than any player, any coach, any one person, so that goes for all the past and current coaches and players. The team, the team, the team"!!

Now, the discussion is on to the rest of your question. While at Central Michigan, Coach Kelly made a comment that upset some in the state of Michigan, in particular those in the Detroit PSL.

Some took what he said out of context (like so many people do nowadays) and completely misrepresented (perhaps intentionally) what was said. Some went as far as labeling his comments as racist. When given an opportunity to apologize for or revise his comments, Kelly refused.

The uproar that would have happened if Michigan had hired Coach Kelly, in a "Politically Correct" climate such as Michigan, sealed the no consideration verdict. Predictably, many people were saying bad things about the guy without even knowing what he really said, or more importantly the total context or meaning of his comments. The thing with Coach Kelly is that he is going to tell you what he thinks, no matter if you like it or not, even if it is not the “correct” thing to say.

Another point is that many have stated that Coach Kelly has always dreamed of joining the NFL and that many Michigan people do not want the program to be a stepping stone for anything else-- including the NFL. They want a coach that will be around for a long time and end up retiring at Michigan. The administration types at UM do not want coaches to suddenly quit and go somewhere else.

Many people think of Kelly as a "wildcard" and assume he does not fit into the typical Michigan coach style regarding academic standards and recruiting tactics. Nothing we are aware of supports this perception. But agendas and rumors spread like the swine flu, and administrators who fail to conduct the proper research take some coaches off the coaching shopping lists.

Should Coach Kelly have been on the list of UM candidates? In our opinion there is no question and no reservations, because he has shown he can get it done by winning games, winning championships and, regardless of innuendo, doing his job the right way. Coach Kelly was successful at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and also at Cincinnati. We believe he will do well at Notre Dame.

Also, too many people who say they are not (or were not) pushing an agenda now or back when the coaching search was going on, certainly were loosely throwing out damaging impressions that made several candidates look bad, with very little creditable, supporting substantiation. Some topics of “discussion” happened twenty plus years ago and we guess that the last name of some of the discussants is Pius. So to us the "good ole boys club" has been blown out of proportion by a large amount of people that are pushing their agendas on people that do not know what is really going on.

Any major sports program will always have fans, donors, alumni, etc. that are not happy with a head coach, whether it be speech patterns, winning, play calling, press conferences, or whatever. This effect is magnified when the media keeps putting a school in the negative limelight. Add to the mudpie the confounding variable that a school that has won for over a century has come up a cropper. The recipe is ripe for unrest and misinformation.

There is no attempt here to downgrade UM’s head coach or the school we so gladly follow, but people have to give Notre Dame credit for how they handled the coaching search and the obtained results.

The administration sought the opinion of the players as to what they wanted in a new coach and then the athletic director took control behind the scenes without all the media attention of getting turned down or looking incompetent.

Some were worried that Notre Dame had excessive concern about pulling off a good press conference and then getting a good coach. Well the Irish did both and they got it done in a timely manner with certain finality.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

GBMW: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Bowl Preview

Posted at 4:00pm -- 12/22/2009

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is the title, of course, of a favorite Christmas/holiday song performed by many artists over the years. One tenet that makes this season so attractive and enjoyable, along with the obvious and important reasons, is the bowl season that slowly, and somewhat deliciously, squeezes the last drop out of the college season. Collectively, the two weeks of bowl games can be wonderful. Individually, 50 percent of teams win, leaving a warm glow and a holiday wish fulfilled for the faithful. Conversely, fifty percent of teams lose, leaving just the opposite effect. Unfortunately, some allow the taste to be bitter for an extended time period. Then, of course, there are the fans of teams that did not make a bowl game. These fans hopefully are already over the associated disappointment and can just enjoy every game with little emotional attachment.

Recently, there has been loud banter about the number of bowl games and the question has been placed forward for consideration as to whether or not too many bowl games inhabit the college landscape.

Bah, humbug to that point of view. The argument may be placed upon us all that college football bowls have incurred an oversaturated effect that wears down the American sporting fan. Not if you are a fan of a particular 6 and 6 team that is delighted to go anywhere to play anyone. Some of the best games involve the “little guys” fighting their butts off and enjoying every second of the experience. The cities that host the bowls still do nicely and pulling the plug on a majority of the smaller bowls would sap local money as well as the megabucks placed forward by bowl corporate sponsors.

The biggest benefactors, taking away the economics, are the players. The author was lucky enough to be a part of the excitement of two NCAA regional events and a College World Series. Money cannot buy those memories. The players are well treated and some communities, like El Paso and Pasadena, have made good memories a guarantee.

The common fan can get an overdose, but it is a sweet overdose since the reality is known by all that soon the shouting will be over and the college football universe will cease to exist, excepting board sites, for eight long months.

So, everyone enjoy this time while you can and savor the fun, competition, and surprises that the bowl season always brings forth.
GBMW thought you might enjoy a little preview that is written in a different mode; no bold predictions of winners, but instead predicting the enjoyment factor.

Saturday, December 19th already provided two nice games as a kickoff. The Wyoming team won a thriller in double overtime against Fresno State. Fresno was the favorite, and, as is the habit of the Bulldogs, another way was found to disappoint the fan-base. I have recently seen Wyoming play live and the WAC team is fun to watch, as are most WAC and Mountain West teams. Wyoming has a freshman quarterback that reminds the author very much of Tate Forcier. Austyn Carta-Samuels is the name of the young qb and thought of what Tate would look like on a smaller stage constantly flashed through the cerebrum between the dozen or so functional neurons. This young qb had one advantage that Tate did not enjoy this year; his offensive tackles provided him the leverage to extend the pocket or break contain. This luxury was infrequent for Tate during the Big Ten season.

Rutgers once again showed that solid, basic football is still a good thing in soundly beating UCF. The occasionally maligned Coach Schiano had Rutgers ready. A point of note: this is an example of the match-ups the Big East has used the last few years to achieve the mantle of bowl champion.

Simply put, the current Florida State team, Northern Illinois, and UCF are not the equivalent of the competition other conferences will face. Now granted, West Virginia may have hit bad timing on playing Florida State as the Seminoles may be higher than a kite half-way to Mars. That game could be something, and bitterness over recent events abounds in Seminole country. Connecticut is playing South Carolina. U Conn is a decent team, but the old ball coach has a team that is only about 10 points behind the elite level teams of the SEC. The real questions may be how much golf will the old ball coach play this month and how serious is he concerning winning a bowl game?

The day after Christmas, North Carolina plays Pitt. The ACC was beat up recently when the teams ventured out of conference. Pitt is the tougher team, but NC is well coached and has more options on offense. North Carolina may have to gamble quite a bit to stop Pitt’s excellent run game. Then we will all see what happens and who adapts best. On paper, Pitt is the favorite. But we all know about paper and bowl game success.

Cincinnati is an eleven-point dog to Florida. This looks like a sucker bet on the surface, and the line may shift upward. What can happen when a team has lost its main architect and soon will lose the builder of the architecture? Anything can happen, anything from a blood bath to a bunch of undersized guys on defense fighting for their lives and succeeding. Tebow will not let the Florida team fall asleep and Urban will have no empathy for UC’s plight.

And so, as one might suspect, the Big East games have been selected as being the most intriguing conference match-ups of the bowl season. Now, let us go on to a quick summary of other bowl game possibilities.
The most enjoyable games to watch regardless of any or all factors:

Tuesday, December 22- BYU and Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl

Wow, BYU is always an A+ in bowl game entertainment, providing some of the best games ever over the last 35 years. Usually the games are high scoring and close. Add in Oregon State’s offense to the mix and ladies and gentlemen watch this game!!! Max Hall is one of the best pocket passers in college football and plays in the line of all great Cougar quarterbacks. BYU has a big line that can pass defend and a plenty good enough running game to keep a team honest. Oregon State will be by far the fastest team on the field and if the basic read plays are busted up the middle, look out, the end zone is the destination. Here is a team in Oregon State that is near the level of USC and Oregon. BYU is a team that beat hated rival Utah, still a very good team. The fact that BYU has been kicked around lately by TCU should provide a really good hint whether TCU is good (they are).

Thursday, December 31- Stanford and Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl

Okie does indeed need a bowl win, but still this game means more to Harbaugh and the Cardinal. Stanford will run its version of the Incredible Hulk, Toby Gerhart, full-speed ahead. This game will be fun for Stanford; can the same be said for Oklahoma?

Games of interest due to offense and more offense:

See BYU and Oregon State above-

Thursday, December 31- Air Force and Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl

Will Houston have a problem? Both teams will have a problem stopping the other. This may be Madden style football at its best. The author boldly predicts no shutout in this game. This is still a good but not great Air Force team, one that plays like an academy team should, with discipline and a premium placed on decision-making. Houston can score on about anyone this side of the NFL.

Games of interest due to defense more than offense:

All right all you professed defensive gurus, who salivate watching linebackers stuff run after run and seeing pass after pass falling incomplete. Here is to those of you who do truly believe the punt is the most important play in football; this is your choice of games.

Wednesday, December 30- Nebraska and Arizona in the Holiday Bowl

This bowl is famous for offensive fireworks and the track is fast for the players. Once upon a time this was BYU’s private invite bowl. This game has the makings of a defensive marvel and matches the famous black-shirt and desert-swarm defenses against one another. Making his game even more interesting is the not-so-secret reality that neither team possesses a premier offense.

Thursday, January 7- Texas against Alabama in the National Championship Game

Yes indeed, there will be points scored, but only because these teams have superior athletes on both sides of the ball. Put on the helmet tight if you wish to run the ball. Both sides may take the first half in sizing up the other team and then placing the final strategies in place for the second half. Both coaches are chess players who play for second half success.
Games of interest due to opposing styles:

Saturday, January 2- Michigan State and Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl

Bullyboy versus the wild and wacky is not far off when describing this game. One coach is very close to the vest in his style and one invents on the spot and lets it all hang out. Years ago, Penn State beat Ty Detmer and BYU in the last minute or so of a typical 40 plus points BYU game. Joe said, “I never want to go through anything like that ever again.” Detmer was held to a mere 450 yards or so of passing yardage, a shut out in his book.

Coach Dantonio may feel the same way if Texas Tech has its stuff together. The zone blitz package of MSU against the quick patterns of Texas Tech presents opportunities for big plays and unexpected interceptions by defenders being in the right place at the right time. This will be an every-down chess match in the opposing coaching booths. MSU can do more than run, do not discount the ability and arm strength of the two-headed quarterback system going on in East Lansing.

Friday, January 1- Ohio State against the Ducks of Oregon in the Rose Bowl

Too bad Ohio State did not wait until New Year’s Day to wear the so-called 1950’s throwback uniform. Then maybe the first college football beauty pageant could be held. Egads!!! The rumor has been floated around town by the Columbus media that this is the game that all the extra and special plays will be unleashed by the Buckeyes on the non-suspecting Ducks. This is the game where T. Pryor will run for 300 yards and a new era of offensive football will be unveiled. The source of that rumor was the Ohio State staff and the willing messengers were the close-in-tow local stations and “newspaper.” Will Oregon believe any of this and spend valuable time covering bases for any and all possibilities? The author doubts this very much. Ohio State will test Oregon’s run defense and try and get one score up and play Tressel-ball, until the time is needed for Plan B. Ohio State will focus 12 defenders on Oregon’s unreal quick quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli. If Ohio State stops him, Oregon likely has no Plan B. This is a different spread than the usual run-read series version. The word has been put out all year that Oregon cannot pass well. Good enough might be the proper response to that claim.

Monday, January 4- Boise State against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl

Are you thinking that the BCS stiffed these two teams by placing them opposite each other, insuring that at least one unwelcome gatecrasher goes home a loser? You may well be right. The BCS committee stiffed America’s viewers as well by not allowing both teams to go against the anointed and truly invited teams. But what this game presents is a true showcase for the best in defensive coaching against the innovative point machine. Let us all hope that this game is close and everyone has a wow effect afterwards.

Games that should be evenly matched, fun, and competitive:

That means both teams show up and play an enjoyable game for all to watch

Saturday, January 2- East Carolina against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl

Few teams play harder and enjoy bowl competition more than the Pirates. Big-boy teams try and stay away from East Carolina. Make no mistake, Mallett possesses an absolute weapon, namely his right arm, and his mechanics, very good in high school, have returned to better proficiency this past year under Bobby Petrino. Can East Carolina put some pressure on Mallett? If not, Arkansas will easily win.

Friday, January 1- LSU against Penn State in the Capitol One Bowl

Both of these teams are solid, but not quite good enough to be classified as an elite team of 2009. This is a very good barometer of next-tier SEC quality versus next-tier Big Ten quality. The deciding factor may be quarterback play.

Thursday, December 31- Navy against Missouri in the Texas Bowl

Why us, is what the Missouri staff is saying. Navy is hard to prepare for and hard to defend. Now factor in that many will mock the program if Missou loses to a service academy. Navy plays pure football and is a credit to college sports. The academic program of the Naval Academy is rated, by some, as being first among all universities. Navy will show up and the Missouri coaches know this absolute truth.

Games where who shows up may be the biggest factor (Snooze Alert) no dates or info is presented

Southern Cal against Boston College

Texas A&M (crushed by the Texas lose) against Georgia (bad season)

A match-up of teams made for each other:

Thursday, December 31- Minnesota against Iowa State in the Insight Bowl

Egads, I say again, Egads!!! There goes the excuse that the Big Ten gets unfavorable match-ups. This is a potential not much on the D side game that may end up amusing us all.

Finally, two games that could very much surprise us all, so tune them in and give them a chance.

Saturday, December 26- Ohio against Marshall in the Little Ceasar’s Pizza Bowl

Here are two teams that have had bad blood, sometimes really bad blood, for about 50 years. Marshall, historically, was several times a MAC member and was once tossed out of the mighty Mac. Marshall is not a friend to OU, or to any MAC team. Coach Solich would love to have his Christmas wish granted for one final bowl victory. But OU took a real hit with key injuries in the win against Temple and also in the subsequent championship game against Central Michigan. The Bobcat defense is better than that of the team that went bowling a couple of years ago.

Wednesday, January 6- Troy against Central Michigan in the GMAC Bowl

Many across the nation will mockingly dismiss this game from the viewing schedule. That might be a mistake. Central has a great all-purpose quarterback in Dan Lefevour and Troy has athletes that the NFL already knows about. Central almost always provides entertainment value.
We at GBMW hope you enjoyed this somewhat different bowl preview. More importantly enjoy all the games.

Written by Doc4blu

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Josh Furman: Video of Commitment to Michigan

Posted at 2:00pm -- 12/22/2009



Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!

Mailbag question: Been hearing a lot about Grey shirting

Posted at 12:00pm -- 12/22/2009



Mailbag question: Been hearing a lot about Grey shirting

GBMW,

There is talk about some kids grey shirting for Michigan.

How does that work and does it make any sense for a kid/parents to spend 40,000 for a year so they can "hopefully" get a scholarship the following year?

Who in this class would be able to afford that kind of money in this economic climate we face today.

I just do not see this happening.

Jim R.

-----------------------------------

Thanks for the question.

Well, first off look at the parents of these players and see which one of them can afford the extra 40,000 plus to spend on attending Michigan when said recruits could probably get a full four-year scholarship somewhere else. As far as we know, any player agreeing to such a provisional scenario is still not guaranteed anything after the one year of attending school on his own dime.

To the best of our knowledge, grey shirt is a "media term" that is not used in any of the NCAA pamphlets or books we are familiar with. It is a way of trying to get around the recruiting numbers without actually using a scholarship for the upcoming year and promises a recruit that he will be included as a member of the next recruiting class.

Basically, what happens with grey shirts is they do not enter school with their recruiting class. Instead they delay entering school until January to delay starting the five-year clock.

All student-athletes have five years to play. The clock starts on the enrollment date regardless if they play sports or if they later drop out.

If a student-athlete begins school in August 2010, he has until May 2015 to play four years.

We have seen some recruits in the past do this at Ohio State, but again these were in-state kids with parents having plenty of money to enroll a child at an in-state school where tuition is not nearly as expensive. Also, the players who opted to take this route were diehard Buckeye fans and the coaches knew this and used this part of the recruiting dynamic to their advantage.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!