Theme Revealed: 11/30 Ohio State

Feels weird to be talking about the end before we've even begun. 

The pundits are predicting that this year's Michigan - Ohio game is just a prelude to a repeat in Indianapolis.  This is the last chance for a season rematch before the rich tradition of Legends and Leaders gives way to East and West, putting us in the same division as the Buckeyes.  But hey, there's no way to guarantee it won't happen some day in the future...the Big Ten, which made about 2 changes to its makeup in its 100+ year history, is now making about 10 adjustments per season.  Between adding teams, naming divisions, creating trophies, and removing Joe Paterno's name from those trophies, the only thing you can count on in the future is that there will be more changes.

Oh well, that doesn't make the last Saturday in November any less important.  Our final theme of the season will be Beef, Blazers, and Lasers.  Don your favorite unique and/or crested suit jacket.  A shirt and tie are not required (though it's not discouraged).  Feel free to go with the t-shirt under the blazer look a-la Tom Cruise in Risky Business.  Not sure what to tell the ladies to do...lady-blazer?  formal wear?  You decide.  It will be nice to be all dressed up for the 2013 Godfather Tailgating Awards.  

There will also be beef.  Brisket hash in the early morning and filet mignon in the late morning.  Also, lasers.  All day lasers.  We will bask in the technology of focused light while we chew on cow in our sport coats.  This is Michigan.

What's Up This Weekend? Relaxing St. Patrick's Selection Sunday Edition

​Selection Sunday is upon us.  And OF COURSE there will be a 13th (!?!?) annual UMTailgate.com Tournament Challenge.  

There will be no nail-biting anticipation.  There's no question, we're in.  But we need to get this whole Big Ten Tournament thing out of the way first, right?  I was inclined to vote for tanking it and having the boys enjoy a full week off, but yesterday's second half against The Fighting Sanduskys (classless? yup) made me feel better about the tank-job on Sunday (which I paid about $100 to watch over 3G in Columbia).  Maybe the BTT can be used to wipe the poor taste from our mouths left from Sunday, or that other PSU game, or the definitively poor last quarter of the season.

A'ight? A'ight.​

Today (3/15/13):​

• ​Basketball (26-6, 12-6) vs. Wisconsin (21-10, 12-6):  And you thought we wouldn't get to avenge that half-court shot that sent the game to that shitty overtime at the Kohl center.  Big Ten Tournament Round Two Action tips off at the United Center at 2:30PM -ESPN.
• Baseball (8-7) at Coastal Carolina (7-10): We're heading to the home of the Chanticleers!  First pitch in Myrtle Beach at 4pm.  Live audio lives here.
• Hockey (15-18-3, 9-15-3) at Western Michigan (19-9-8, 15-7-6)​:  CCHA quarterfinals action in Kalamazoo.  I wonder if the Godfather is going?  I wonder who he will be cheering for?  6:35pm on FSD.
• Big Ten Tournament Other Games:  Game 5: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Illinois, 11 a.m., ESPN  ||  Game 7: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Nebraska, 5:30 p.m., BTN  ||  Game 8: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Iowa, 8 p.m.*, BTN

Tomorrow (3/16/13):

• Basketball vs. Indiana or Illinois:  The Big Ten Tournament continues?  ​12:40PM CBS
• Other BTT Semi-Final: Ohio State or Nebraska vs. Iowa (see what I did there?)​ 3:00PM CBS
• Baseball at Coastal Carolina: 3pm Live Audio​
• Hockey at Western Michigan: Game 2 of the CCHA quarterfinals 7pm...no coverage?

St. Patrick's Day:

• Drinking and Breakfast at Conor Oneill'​s with your's truly.  7AM
• Basketball vs. Ohio State, Nebraska or Iowa:  The BTT finals...2:30PM CBS
• Baseball vs. Akron (in Myrtle Beach)​ 11:00AM
• NCAA Tournament Selection Announcement 6PM CBS.​
• Hockey at Western Michigan (if necessary) 7pm

What's Up This Weekend? "Blade Runner is Loose!" Edition: February 22-24, 2013

I neglected to reference the fact that women's hoops beat Sparty on Sunday...my apologies to the title nine set.  And beating Sparty is beating Sparty, I don't care if it's a football game, a canned-goods collecting event, or a three-legged race.​

Today (2/22):​

• Baseball (0-3) vs. Fordham (0-0) in Port St. Lucie, FL:  Heartbreakers abound for baseball last weekend.  Michigan lost all three games by one run...the first two were extra innings walk-offs, and the third a walk-off in the 9th.  Wow.  Sucks.  They head to Florida to face Fordham for their  season opener.  2pm
• ​Hockey (10-18-2 / 7-15-2) at Ohio (13-12-7 / 12-7-5):  Weekend off last week for Michigan, who is probably still reeling from the 13 goals they gave up in two games to Manti T'eo's boys.  Puck drops at 6:35pm on BTN.

Tomorrow (2/23):​

• Baseball vs. Fordham in Port St. Lucie, FL:  See above.  Old-fashioned double-header starts at 11am.
• ​Hockey at Ohio: See above.  Puck drops at 7pm on Comcast Sports.

Sunday (2/24):​

• ​Basketball (22-4 / 9-4) at Illinois (20-8 / 7-7):  Michigan returns to action after a full week off, so I think it's finally time to put that Sparty game from the week before behind us.  And I think we're going to need all that we've got to get past the Illini in Champaign.  Tipoff is 1pm on ESPN.
• Women's Basketball (19-7 / 8-5) at #7 Penn State ​(22-3 / 12-1):  SIMULTANEOUS TIPOFF ALERT!!!  What will you do?  1pm on BTN.

Have You Seen Ohio's Schedule?

Is this for real?  Found this in my twitter archives from earlier this month:

Cute TTUN reference aside, coming off a sanction stained season of perfection that will no doubt be a motivational factor, this slate is a recipe for repeat perfection.  Ugh.  I guess it's relative.  Is the Big Ten going to start making a comeback nationally?  Who are the powers of the Big Ten for '13?  Does Penn State have a year left in them before the penalties start to really take their toll?  Will Ferentz make Iowa competitive and save his high paying job?  Is Northwestern planning to turn the corner?  

Anyway, Urban, unless you have another nervous breakdown like you had at Florida, we'll see you at our house on the 30th.  I'm looking for that season ruining '95, '96, '97 magic.​  Also, I can hear the echoes of Coach Hoke's cracking voice telling me we only worry about Michigan at Michigan...or perhaps that was RichRod.  No matter, here's our schedule for posterity:

Not exactly a host of world beaters...though BCS Championship Game runner-up Notre Dame does come to Ann Arbor for Under the Lights part deux.  Also, at Sparty, at NW, at PSU all reserve the right to be challenges.

It's fun to look at football in February.​  51 days until the Spring Game.  You got a hotel for UCONN yet?

Keep calm and GO BLUE!​

Way Back When-sday Pic of the Week

​November 17. 2007.  Kevin Cowbell and I attack mini-Brutus in section 30 as Michigan falls 14-3 in one of the worst games I've ever had to sit through.