We're Gonna Go Somewhere New

RichRod confirms that Michigan will be playing a home at home against the BCS opponent that is going to christen the new stadium in 2010.  I can't express how happy I am about this.  I've been wanting to travel somewhere new for 10 years. Daily, Angel and MGoBlog speculate on the opponent.

Remember the Time

Freep gave us a flashback to an article that I see and read often as it hangs proudly next to my bathroom mirror.  Mitch Album (back when he was cool and not writing in the Life section) eloquently captures a great moment in Michigan history...

Nobody believed us," said Higgins, clutching his little brown box with the championship ring inside. "The people were all saying 'Seton Hall, Seton Hall.' Just like at the beginning they were saying 'Xavier, Xavier.' They didn't know how many nights we sat up talking about a national championship. I think it was all that doubting by everyone else that enabled us to win tonight.

Hat tip to Kisses-T for forwarding this on and reminding me of its importance heading into a weekend of Sparty-filled crap.

Michigan to Play Delaware St. on Oct 17

​Ignoring my plea for a decent home-at-home matchup, Michigan has taken the easy road once again and will play 1-AA Delaware State on Oct 17, 2009.  Good luck promoting that one Mr. Martin.

Schedule reads as follows:

Sept. 5 Western Michigan
Sept. 12 Notre Dame
Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan
Sept. 26 Indiana
Oct. 3 at Michigan State
Oct. 10 at Iowa
Oct. 17 Delaware State
Oct. 24 Penn State
Oct. 31 at Illinois
Nov. 7 Purdue
Nov. 14 at Wisconsin
Nov. 21 Ohio State

Defining Moments Come In All Shapes and Sizes

Prior to the kickoff against Utah, you prognosticated.  Maybe you were one of those positive people (like myself) that knew that we wouldn't miss a beat and we would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 9-4 after a New Year's Day bowl game.  Then again, perhaps you knew of the growing pains we are seemingly enduring, and you had us somewhere between 3-9 and 6-7.  Either way, and in either case, 3 wins were essentially guaranteed.  This weekend's game was one of those wins.

Taking a step back in order to go forward is something that you may not be willing to accept, but it's something you may have expected.  But the degree of the step back is what is in question with the 2008 Wolverines.  Why you may have been willing to allow the pride of the WAC to come into the Big House and exit with half-a-million dollars and an upset victory, you excused the fumblitis in the miracle-friendly confines of South Bend, and you chalked up the greatest individual performance in the history of the Big House to a minor hiccup on defense and "Juice being Juice"...there is one area of competition in which there is no room for mediocrity.  That area?  Games against the MAC.

We own the MAC.  We are, for lack of a better term, "the MAC's daddy."  24-0.  And while 15 of those victories are against Directional Michigan, it is still a quite impressive feat.  In fact, it's an honor we share with only one other Big Ten team...you guessed it...Ohio State (14-0).  And while the importance of this record is certainly up for debate, there is no doubting its importance right here, right now.  The college football world is looking at us as a team in a downward spiral, and a portion of the Maize and Blue faithful are not exactly optimistic based on what has transpired.  Patience is something we may or may not have.  We've never been required to exercise that part of our fandom.  Not at Michigan.  At Michigan, we win...decidedly more than we lose.

On Saturday this will all come to a head.  I'm not sure that the world is prepared for the first edition of Toledo vs. Michigan to end with a Rockets victory....mostly because I'm not sure how well that same world is dealing with the idea that there is a chance of a Rockets victory. There are many that feel the sky is falling right now, and it is those folks, through talk radio, talking heads, and the blogosphere, that will get incendiary if the worst were to happen.  They are the ones that are promoting the doubt that may slowly creep in to your psyche.  A loss to Toledo, on our home field, may spread that doubt from the doubters to the believers...and to the players.  A chain reaction that may be difficult to stop, and that may end with clipping a regime change before it's allowed to take root.

So we wait.  We wait for answers.  The same answers we've been waiting for all season.  We've seen a home opening loss to a team from Utah, a lifeless performance against "not that Miami,"  a wet mess of a game devoid of ball control fundamentals, and a comeback victory muddled by a homecoming massacre.

We know nothing.

We know nothing except this:  WE MUST WIN.

Might Have Picked the Wrong Week to Quit Drinking...At the Game

Ya, we're 0-1.  Everything we witnessed on Saturday pointed to a season of struggles.  How does one get by in this era of transition, bad quarterbacks, and out of sync lineman?

Drinking, that's how.

The tailgate will continue regardless of the outcome on the field, and it will do so with vigor.  So, following the rules of tailgating, after you get some substance in your belly...you need to pour a tasty beverage over it.  Stuck tailgating at family friendly Pioneer High?  Try a can cover from the geniuses at canouflage.  You too can fake out the 5.0 by swilling on a can of Mountain Spew.  It's also good for walking to the stadium without worrying about the corner police confiscating your last chance for a beer before the four hours known as "the game."

Can't hold out for the whole game...but can't miss the game.  It's a problem many of us die hards deal with weekly.  There's nothing worse than losing your nice buzz through four quarters of sobriety and having a walking hangover by halftime.  Fear not, you sick, alcoholic bastard.  Get yourself a Beer Belly and enjoy sipping on...or mixing with stadium coke...your favorite beverage all game long.  This monstrosity holds 80oz of liquid.  Two suggestions if you go with this option:  #1 is that you best be sharing or you will find yourself in a hospital.  80 shots is too much, so spread the love.  #2 is to keep in mind that it is difficult to wear a beer belly flask if you already have a sizable beer belly.  This applies to many of our tailgaters...yours truly included.  Another option for sneaking in some spirits...The Disposable Flask.  Easily pocketed and undetectable to the metal wands, this flask should get you through Sheridan's 4th interception with its 7.5 ounces.

You can get all James Bond with your efforts as well.  Try a cell phone flask.  They look a bit dated, like most of the Godfather's cell phones, but should serve the purpose.  The binocular flask looks like the real thing when hanging around your neck, and holds a full 16 ounces.  Finally, we have the camera flask.  Fake like you are a newcomer and snap a fake photo of the Big House as you walk past security, then slowly sip the 4 ounces to keep that buzz on all game.

So don't give up on your drinking achievments, study your Whiskipedia, and we'll see you Saturday with your popped collar for the 80's themed tailgate.