Movement in the 'D'

For those that haven't heard, there's big news from the world of professional sports in Detroit. The Tigers have made a trade right at the deadline, acquiring Sean Casey from the Pirates for minor leaguer Brian Rodgers...and have optioned Chris Shelton to AAA. Has anyone ever hit 10 home runs in a month and been sent down later in the season? I'm guessing no. Check out the Detroit Tiger Weblog for the full story. It's better than the crap you'll get from ESPN.

In breaking news from The Joe, the Red Wings have found a way to sign Dominick Hasek to a one-year deal, increasing the average age of Red Wing's players to 47. I had no idea that Hasek had such a good season last year for Ottawa...actually, I had no idea that professional hockey still existed.

Case of the Mundys 7/31/06

The 2006 version of the Michigan Wolverines will appear together for the first time officially when they report to practice Sunday, August 6th at noon. Freshman now report at the same time as the rest of the team, but with the rumors floating around about the year-round dedication of the Wolverine veterans, expect the likes of Brandon Minor, Quintin Woods, Cobrani Mixon, and Brandon Grahamwill have to play a little catch up. Not so for Carlos Brown (yes that's him in the picture) and Justin Boren, who "came out early"...of high school.

The previews continue and Athlon has provided a fairly in-depth, and totally free Michigan preview. It includes quite a few little gems, such as this one:

They didn't fall as far as some other traditional powers have in recent years and endure a losing season, but five losses just doesn’t cut it in Ann Arbor. Neither do four losses in five seasons to Ohio State, three defeats in four seasons to Notre Dame and three consecutive bowl game implosions.

They go on to point to quarterback depth as a serious issue...thanks 

Matt Gutierrez, I hope you enjoy Idaho State, and I hope you know that we all know that something shady went down before that 2004 season started, despite the triple deadbolt on Fort Schembechler. Also, there's this tidbit on the defense:

New defensive coordinator Ron English must find more playmakers to help Woodley and Hall. The Wolverines finished 10th in the conference in red zone defense and gave up crucial fourth quarter scores in losses to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State and Nebraska.

Wow. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Nebraska. That's a third of the damn season.

Moving on... Every Monday, we will try to provide a comprehensive injury report, affectionately called "Case of the Mundys" in honor of Ryan Mundy's season ending shoulder injury last season. However, assembling an injury report from the information from the weekly press conference will most likely become a lesson in futility, so instead I will use a combination of rumors, innuendo, and crappy message boards to report on the latest list of boo-boos. So whether it's from Lloyd Carr, ESPN, or some guy named Ike that works with some player's aunt, it might just show up on here.

Injury Report:

• Antonio Bass
• INJURY: Injured knee during conditioning drill in spring practice on 3/16/06
• BAD NEWS: Expected to miss entire 2006 season. Was a viable candidate to be the backup QB behind Henne.
• GOOD NEWS: Prime candidate for a redshirt. So, maybe 3 more years of Antonio Bass.
• GOOD NEWS: Carlos Brown ran the "Antonio Bass Offense" very well in the Spring Game

In UMTailgate.com website news, the migration continues. I can't begin to tell you all of the pictures and posts that have been discovered buried in servers and on backup CDs/DVDs that haven't seen the light of day in years. It's amazing what you lose every time you move, both physically and virtually.

Added this past weekend:

• 2004 Off-Season Pictures and Front Page Posts


• 2004 Football Season and Front Page Posts


• 2003 Off-Season Pictures and Front Page Posts


• 2003 Football Season and Front Page Posts


• 2002 Off-Season Pictures


• 2002 Football Season

For those unfamiliar to this blog-type of webpage, you can click any of the "categories" listed on the right hand menu to show all of the posts from that category.

Students on the Move, Band on the Run

If you were previously unaware, the Michigan student section (the one in the corner with the maize shirts) is not the only student section. Once filled, the University issues tickets (to the late registrants, johnny-come-lately grad students, and anyone else that doesn't fit in the corner) to the south endzone. And I know what I'm taliking about, I personally got to experience this "land of the outcasts" in my seventh senior year. Well, apparently now all of the student sections will be united in one, giant, maize corner. Super. But wait, were not quite done with musical chairs in the Big House. The band is on the move as well, to a position directly across the field, directly in front of the student section. I guess this is the way it's done in most other venues, so it probably works. But the band will take up some significant space. No word yet on how this will interfere with my attempt to garner seats in the freshman student section for the 13th consecutive season.

• "Seating change reunites students" in The Daily

In other news...ESBS (Everyday should be Saturday) is previewing week 3. That's right, a preview of games that will be occuring on Sept 16th. That of course means Michigan vs. Notre Dame is on the slate, so there is an in-depth preview metaphor of the matchup. See if you agree with this:

Playing Michigan is like fighting a blind Kodiak bear with mittens on; you can get your shots in, run, outwit it, and still end up losing strictly because the bear won't give up. Or you can shoot it dead on first sight with the right tools. Miss, and you're in deep, deep trouble, though.

Really? What about when you miss, but then the bear paints a target on its head and hands you a box of bullets in the 4th quarter?

Newer, Bigger, and Blue

Wow. This is really great. My first fresh-typed post on the all-new UMTailgate.com. Yes, we underwent a facelift just 5 months ago. But after implementation of that system, I found it to be less user friendly, both for myself as a developer, and for all of you as users. So after much deliberation, I decided to do it all over again. So for the past week I've been digging up old front pages, uploading and downloading photographs, and magically integrating several software packages to make this version of UMTailgate.com the best yet.

Some cool new things:

• Complete integration of the message board, photo gallery, and front page. This includes users having just one login that allows them to leave messages on the message board, leave comments on posts (like this one) and comment on the pictures in the gallery.
• An all new photo gallery that works in perfect harmony with the front page.
• Tagged posts that are searchable by category or date usng the menus in the sidebar on the right
• Back by popular demand, a single topic message board so it's easier to see posts and responses
• An rss feed. If you don't know what this is, google it. It allows UMTailgate.com to be syndicated across the internet
• A multi-authoring system that will allow for some chosen people other than myself to make fresh front pages

What you need to do:

• Register
• Participate more. Comment on front page posts. Comment on photos. Leave messages on the message board.
• Keep me posted on any errors you find....and there will be errors. Please email me if you find spelling errors, internet bugs, anything. Still the same email address,frank@umtailgate.com.
• Let me know what you like, dislike, or would like to see.

What I've done:

• Migrated the front pages from the past year
• Migrated the photos from 2004, 2005, and 2006

What I need to do:

• Fix message board comment box, which for some reason is bleeding into the sidebar. (by Wednesday)
• Add 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 photos. (by 8/1)
• Fix 2006 Schedule to link to opponents websites and to theme information. (by 8/1)
• Run the XBox 360 simulation and post the 2006 Season Preview (by 8/2)

Anyway, I hope you like the new look, and I hope you enjoy the expanded content.

39 DAYS!!!

GO BLUE!

You Wish You Were 30

In these dreary days of summer, where we sometimes find ourselves staring at the countdown to the season, it's tough to fill the pages here at UMTailgate.com. So I will take a moment to celebrate a very important person, both to The Tailgate, and to the world in general. ME. Several tailgaters enjoyed birthday's last week including Bubba, Goody, and Bloomfield's wife. Let me tell you, it really sucks having a birthday around the 4th of July. Typically, everyone goes somewhere on vacation, makes barbeque plans, goes into hiding, etc. But last week, with the help of my good friend Lisa, many familiar faces gathered to honor my personal entrance into the 4th decade of life. Yes, I am 30. No, it doesn't bother me.

A crazy Saturday night started at Lisa's home, and moved to a roped off area in Conor O'Neill's. Those in attendance treated me as if I just hit 21, as the shots of tequila, whiskey, and jager flowed freely, turning the night into a blur with half dead bodies draped across my apartment. The blur continued Sunday and Monday on a lake just outside of Jackson before commencing with a birthday celebration with my biological family in Canton.

Thanks to everyone involved, and for all the cards, emails, and especially voicemails. Who knows? You might make it on to next year's season in review video.

It was a great weekend that reminded me that you are only as old as your drinking ability. Perhaps you know my two young friends Godfather and Captain Michigan?

The clock is ticking... 7½ weeks.

Up Next: UMTailgate.com XBOX 360 Season Preview