Thursday's Have Become...Hard Hittin'

Your Thursday's will never be the same! Gimme the rock son! From this Thursday forward I will be contributing to the all mighty UMTailgate.com website. Hope you enjoy! Let's get started...

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in baseball and as we near the last two months of the season that statement actually holds some weight. And this is no fluke either, as their pitching has been dominant. They've allowed the fewest runs in the big leagues and it's not even close. Tigers - 396, Twins - 443, Rockies - 451...Their defense has also been solid, allowing for the team to stay in close games. (They're 17-10 in one run games this year) However, the most impressive story for the team to this point is starter Justin Verlander, who is one of the front runners for the AL Cy Young award. Verlander struck out a season high eight against Cleveland Wednesday while winning his 13th game. The Tigers increased their record to 31-13 against the central division. Impressive run boys!

However, when talking about rookie pitchers and the Cy Young the name Francisco Liriano needs to top the list. The Twins rookie has been lights out! He's 12-2 with a 1.93 ERA and 125 k's in only 107 innings. The kid is no joke. Look for his domination to continue as the Twins catch the White Sox for the wild card and potentially represent the AL in the World Series...

What does this mean to you, the Wolverine fan? Defense wins championships. Maybe not so much in baseball but the Tigers have been the best defensive team this season and in order for our valiant Wolverines to have a shot at the Big Ten title we need to play exceptional defense. Shocking, I know. But the Wolverines gave up fourth quarter leads in four of their five losses. Terrible...Next week I'll drop "the hammer" on how are defense should stack up in the Big Ten and whether we'll have a shot at the big ten championship. Road games in Happy Valley and Columbus will surely provide a challenge! See you next Thursday when we drop the hammer!

The Consensus for the Rest of Us

Let me start by apologizing. Yesterday was the 7-month anniversary of Michigan's 71-67 victory over Michigan State in basketball, and I didn't so much as send a postcard to Tommy Amaker. He probably didn't even notice since he's in his "best month ever" according to The Sporting News.

"It has become another terrific July for Michigan coach Tommy Amaker. If only every month could be July. If only the Wolverines were not forced to deal with the months of November, December, January and February. Of course, we already know they're not asked to do anything important in March."

I'm sure we all dream of the day when a victory over Michigan State doesn't mean we have to rush the court. They finished the season unranked, right?

With just 38 days until life begins again, the preseason magazines are piling up over here in Ann Arbor. Here's where the Maize and Blue stand in the eyes of every publication out right now:

• Athlon : 13
• Lindy 11
• Sporting News: 17
• Phil Steele: 11
• Gold Sheet: 17
• CBS: 19
• Surefire: 6
• Street and Smith: 12
• Game Plan: 16

You can get a deeper description of these publications by looking at one of the best websites ever, Stassen.com.

 I think you'll find it a bit disheartening that the publication that rated us the highest, and the only publication to have us winning the big ten, is the one with the shady website.

Someone out there takes the time every year to make a nice neat aggregate schedule for college football on an excel spreadsheet, and every year I say to myself, "Who are you, Schedule Gnome?". This year is no different, except that whoever did this one added in the graphical pleasure of the helmets of EVERY TEAM. Download it here, but be forewarned, it's about 1.6 megs, so it might take you a minute or two. A right-click, "save link as" might be your best bet for being able to ever use it.

In the process of updating and uploading to the gallery, I have stumbled on some pics that have been missing from the site for quite a while. I added these to the gallery as albums, and they include the 2004 Final Four, 2005 Winter Reunion, 2005 Michigan State Basketball Game, 2005 Spring Game, and 2006 Michigan State Basketball Game.Check them out in the gallery in their respective albums. More to come....

GO BLUE!

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