Weekend Roundup Has A Checkered Past, February 22, 2016

• OK, so on this day in UMTailgate history I asked for you to support Rich Rod and clearly called out Harbaugh.  In my defense I was still pissed about that shot he took at us. 
• The embedded video below is poorly acted, but its message is clear and poignant.  However, due to the fact that I'm getting older and less of the people around me are planning nuptials, I would like to also add in a request for people to not die during football season.  Thanks.

This is what your friends should do to you when you set a date during the Fall. Tailgaters Ep. 1 Dr. Joe Thompson @drjoethompson Davey Ballantine Rory Kramer Ian Adams Director: Elliot Feld Camera: Elliot Feld

• Maryland loss recaps from UMHoops and MGoBlog
• Coach K's nickname for Grayson Allen is "asshole". 
• They may never rebuild the program, but they can rebuild the statues, minus a pointing finger.  That finger probably pointed at a redheaded former qb turned assistant coach at some point and was accompanied by the words "if you keep your mouth shut about that child rape you saw, I'll promote you."
• Details on how the Hawkeyes can close the gap and overcome Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State.  Can't tell how many levels of sad there are for me in that last sentence. 
• Jim Harbaugh held a 90-minute autograph session on Friday from 3-4:30p.  It was limited to 200 people, so they handed out wrist bands at 9am.  There were 100 people in line already at 5am.

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble: Maryland 86. Michigan 82

I don't know what I was expecting out of the Wolverines today, but I know what I was expecting out of a Maryland team that had dropped their last two:  their absolute best.  And that might have been what we saw, arguably the best starting five in the country bringing their A-game, in which case we can continue to hope.  Maybe the stark reality of Caris not returning is finally kicking in.  No where to go.  No one to lean on.  Walton and Irvin need to lead.  Donnal needs to be what he was today, crafty and scrappy.  Someone needs to come off that bench every game the rest of the way like Kameron Chatman did today.  Hit threes.  Win.

It's been a season of extreme's, as we find ourselves either pleasantly surprised or greatly disappointed depending on the team that shows up.  Some ugly wins, but (until tonight) not a lot of feel good losses...if there is such a thing.  We're caught in limbo, bitching about Beilein and his foul policies one minute, and wondering how he masterfully makes this youth-filled rag tag bunch competitive the next.  A text message I received when the Wolverines took the lead said "I am convinced Beilein is a witch."  Another said "if he doesn't take Doyle out right now he should be fired."  Extremes.  And that was how the game went today.  Amazingly competitive with everybody playing bigger and better than they are one minute, completely inept and scared the next, falling victims to dribble penetration again and again and again.  They were a little more of the former though, showing a fortitude that has been lacking in the other losses they've had this year.  They hung tough with whatever version of Maryland this was before falling 86-82.  

We've danced with less.

Pretty sure the Wolverines need to win their remaining three games to lock in that tourney bid, a tall order considering how Wisky seems to finally be getting it together, and that our final game is against Iowa.  I think two out of three would require a not-early exit from the B1G tourney.  Seth Davis played carnival barker at halftime, reminding the nation (and the selection committee) how the Big Ten shit the bed in the non-conference and claimed that 5 should be all that make it.  Hard to argue.  Their not going to take OSU, Wisconsin and us to make 8 that's for sure, and we just got our asses handed to us in Columbus, making next Sunday night's affair in Madison all the more important...meanwhile not sleeping on Chris Collins and the Wildcats on Wednesday.

What's Up This Weekend, 2/19/16

Pitchers and catchers have reported ya'll

Friday, 2/19/16

• M Hockey vs. Ferris at Yost, 7:35P

Saturday, 2/20/16

• M Baseball vs. Canisius in Port St. Lucie 11:00A & 2:00P

• M Softball vs. Va Tech in Talahassee 12:00P

• M WBasketball vs. Penn State at Crisler 12:00P

Sunday, 2/21/16

• M Softball vs. Va Tech in Talahassee 10:00A

• M Baseball vs. Canisius in Port St. Lucie 11:00A

• M Basketball at Maryland 1:00P

• For the sophistacated among us, here's a guide to the best beers to pair with girl scout cookies.

• Back in the day (way back, like 1904), when dusk hit and there were no lights, and uniforms were similar between teams...you could sneak over to the other team's side and smoke the quarterback.

• Phil Steele has Michigan #7 in his iteration of the "way too early" top teams in college football. The expectations are getting our of hand folks. We play the top 3 teams in the Big Ten on the road this year. And it seems we're trying to skip over the journey and just land at the ultimate destination. At the current hype rate, by the time we reach kickoff in September we'll be in a situation where if Michigan only wins the National Championship and doesn't blow out the runner-up, it will be a disappointment. Relax. Let's have some fun.

• I like to discuss children over a large draft beer, so here's the recruiting roundup from Maize and Brew.

• Deep details of Wednesday's drubbing in Columbus. Not looking forward to being nervous on selection Sunday. Lack of depth, lack of Caris, shots not falling...pick your poison.

• Minny either guaranteed the Terps will be focused on Saturday, or stole the thunder of our potential upset with their win last night. Terps fans were pissed (and funny).

• We've hired Devin Bush Sr, father of a commit, coach of some others, as a defensive analyst. Read the following in the cadence of The Talking Heads: You may ask yourself, what is a defensive analyst? No idea, but it looks like he'll shift to some recently vacated spot. You may ask yourself, can Michigan keep hiring coaches of commits? Yes, because coaches keep leaving for better jobs after just briefly brushing up against the greatness of Harbaugh. Into the blue again. After the money's gone. Once in a lifetime. Water flowing underground.