They're Being Groomed in Other Places

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Let me preface this by saying that Rich Rodriguez is our head football coach.  My loyalty to his system is as of now unbreakable.  My admiration of his out-of-state recruiting increases with every commit.  There are those of you that would like to see him go after his first, and unfathomly horrible, season.  There are those that are even actively rooting against him.  Patience people, patience.

Plus, don't worry, if the worst were to happen, like, let's say 3-9 again...we do have some insurance.

With the break up of Lloyd Carr's staff, Michigan coaches are popping up everywhere, getting the same, or in many cases, better positions on other teams.  Former players are also finding themselves in high level positions.  Seems like, indirectly, everybody is lining up for the Michigan Football head coaching job.


  • Ron English, by way of an extensive search led by Lloyd Carr, went from Louisville Defensive Coordinator to Head Coach of Eastern Michigan.  This afternoon, former running back (and my favorite all-time Wolverine) Tyrone Wheatley was added as an assistant.  He joins former lineman Kurt Anderson, and former undergrad assistant Tom Burpee.

  • Mike DeBord, former assistant, is the assistant o-line coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

  • Jim Harbaugh, despite his remarks about Michigan academia, is waiting in the wings at Stanford.

  • Brady Hoke, who led Ball State to their best season ever, has moved to warmer pastures, and is now the head coach of San Diego State.  He leaves behind Stan Parrish to lead Ball State.  Both Brady and Stan are former Michigan assistants under Lloyd.

  • Jim Herrmann is currently the linebackers coach for the New York Jets, where he coaches former Michigan linebacker castoff David Bowens.

  • Les Miles was an assistant under Bo, and is the head coach of the LSU Tigers...he he.

  • Scott Loeffler, former assistant, was recently hired as the quarterbacks coach of the Florida Gators.

  • Terry Malone, former assistant, is the tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints.

  • Early 90's safety Corwin Brown is the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame.

  • Late 70's middle guard Mike Trgovac has been the DC for the Carolina Panthers since 2002.

  • Cam Cameron, assistant under Bo and Mo, is the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.


I'm sure I missed a few too...  If you think of any, leave them in the comments.

Sims Goes Cold, Big Ten Run Ends at 3

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DeShawn Sims was 3-14 from the floor, and had only 2 rebounds in Michigan's 66-51 loss to the Fighting Illini.  Copperyale was the only player in double figures (20), and 7-26 from 3-point is not going to get in done on most nights for a John Beilein squad.  Add in our inability to stop the biggest 7 foot dork in the Big Ten, and well, you find only disappointment.  Box score here.

It's tough to break two decade-plus-long losing streaks in one year.  We found a way to win at one Assembly Hall, but fell short at the other Assembly Hall in Champaign-Urbana.  Would have been a huge win, but it's not exactly a backbreaking loss.  We need to hold serve at home, and steal a couple on the road.  Given their record of 15-2, splitting the home-at-home with Illinois is not the end of the world, especially playing them twice in just 10 days.

Yes, I have decided to make excuses for every loss...and praise with great optimism every win.  That's what 2009 is all about.

Basketball against Ohio State...the return of the 1989 National Champions at halftime...and a chance to see Coach Beilein's 500th win.  Just your average Saturday in Ann Arbor.  Coupled with Illinois beating Michigan State, it could be a banner day.  See you at Crisler.

Go to bed.

There's a Rumor...

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...being bantered about at MGoBlog and Maizenbrew courtesy of Rivals.  It is about the defensive coordinator names "making the rounds."

In short, it's about Jim Herrmann.

Per ususal, the Freep picks it up, because they get most of their news from MGoBlog, and spits out a title like "U-M Could Bring Back Jim Herrmann."  Sure, they could.  Michigan could also bring back Larry Harrison, swinging dick and all.  Brian poops quickly on the idea of the retread DC...

Of course, everyone's first reaction to Jim Herrmann is "aigh!" Then everyone thinks about the 2005 season and doubles down on "aigh!" And then, no doubt, this will all be put behind us shortly. Herrmann makes no sense in a number of ways.

By number of ways, I think Brian means a big number, like a really big number...like the kind of number you need look up the name of.

What everyone is not realizing here is that Jim Herrmann is a fairly common name.  Perhaps they don't mean the Jim Herrmann whose entire career manifested through the riding of the coattails of Charles Woodson...

In fact, I would like to put my support behind this Jim Hermann for defensive coordinator.  He's been selling and negotiating for 17 years, which will make him a recruiter to be reckoned with.  He has also received a 5 star rating based on 39 votes.  But don't ask me, scroll down to see what Kari Johnson says:

Jim was awesome to work with... a great negotiator, very proactive, knowledgeable, honest, and down-to-earth just to mention a few. There isnÂ’t anything he could have done to make the experience any better. I will definitely recommend Jim to my friends.

Hopefully, this will all pass quickly.  Meanwhile, hunker down in the cold weather by making yourself a Bacon and Cheese Roll.  Seriously, what project have you ever taken on that has a first step that reads: "Weave Bacon."  Chase that greasy goodness with some beers...shotgun style.  Repeat as necessary.

Stay warm kids...@ Champaign tomorrow, 8:30pm, BTN.  Get'er done.

Weekend Roundup: Return of Demetrius Calip Edition, 1/12/09

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Here's what you missed while making a sausage roll out of bacon and sausage and bacon.  Ya, I said that.

I Don't Know What This Is, But I Like It

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We played nearly perfect today, at least when the game mattered...and we didn't need to.  We can win without playing perfect.  And that is the real difference between this year and last.  Michigan completely dismantled the Hawkeyes, from the 11:30am tip to the basket by Eric Puls, winning 64-49 in front of a hungover student section at Crisler arena.  64-49...and it wasn't nearly that close.

I'm a big fan of winning, and that seems to be what Michigan Basketball plans to do this year.  This run is nothing if not improbable, and delightfully unexpected.  The bulk of the season is still in front of us, but we seem to be able to manhandle the bottom of the conference, play tough against the middle of the conference, and based on our preconference "upsets," just might steal a couple from the top of the conference.  We are dangerously close to NCAA buzzword time...rank, seed, RPI, strength of schedule, signature wins, bad losses, and perhaps even BUBBLE.

By all accounts, playing .500 basketball for the next 8 weeks is all that needs to be done in order to dance, which is all that we have wanted for the better part of 10 years.

Next up...Illinois for the second time in 10 days.  This time, it's in Champaign.  And maybe it wasn't an elbow, but legion is still a dick.  Wednesday, 8:30pm, BTN.