Buckeyes Fall Again, Oden Retires, Unborn Baby Wins Tournament Challenge, Gators Take Over College Universe

I can't believe they gave Ohio State a rematch! Didn't these two teams just play 100 days ago?!?!? Who would want to see a rematch?!?!? The Buckeyes had their chance. Why do they get to play each other again?!?!? Hmmm. I guess that argument only works for football.

Q: How many national titles in basketball and football did the Michigan Wolverines win this year?

A: The same number as Ohio State...ZERO.

For the Thad Five, a reality version of the Western Dolphins, it was an amazing (but most certainly illegal) run at a National Championship that ended at the hands of the latest sports dynasty, the Florida Gators, a team from a school that is in the middle of some kind of Tiger Woods-like run at a college sports Grand Slam. And as much as I hate the Gator's monopoly, I hate The Program more, and I am therefore willing to concede and congratulate Florida and more importantly thank them for thwarting the Buckeye efforts on the court, and on the field.

Cue that fruity chop you bastards, it doesn't change the fact you once lost to John Navarre.

Immediately following the game, Greg Oden announced that he will be moving to a retirement community in Arizona. He chose Arizona to be close to his grandchildren.

In UMTailgate.com Tournament challenge news...

For the first time in history, an unborn baby beat the field. The Demski Offspring, previously mentioned here, out-picked all of the air-breathers to take first place. Second place came down to a tiebreaker between Todd Muck of Toyota and David DeMaggio (no relation). Muck took the tiebreak coming just 4-points away from picking the exact total score.

Congrats to our winners! Check out the final standings here.

Goodbye Coach A, Hello Coach B

​In a world where it is nearly impossible to keep a secret, the negotiation and offer of the Michigan Basketball coaching job to John Beilein has been fairly well hidden. Oh, and Andy Katz pronounced it "Bee-line," so that must be right (confirmed: Wikipedia). While we all know there is something going on, we are not sure what it is. Looks like we have to pay $2.5 million dollars to buyout his contract. And while I must admit that before Amaker's graceful exit I had never heard of Coach B, the fact we have to dump cash that amounts to more than twice Lloyd Carr's salary gives this guy instant credibility, at least for me. Couple that with a Elite 8 and Sweet 16 appearance in the two seasons prior to this year's NIT glory, and perhaps we've found ourselves a coach. I've heard some impressive jargon, like "runs a set offense based on a modified backdoor Princeton style."

Stop. You had me at offense. 

I'm not sure what it is that makes me trust Bill Martin's decision making, maybe it's the fact that he personally answers all of his email, that he was once chaired the Olympic Committee, or that he formed a four person committee that includes 1984 NIT MVP Tim McCormick to find a new coach. (The blogosphere calls that "tongue in cheek.") Whatever it is, I like the guy, really. He sacked up to dump Tommy, even when Mary Sue was against it because of her love for Stephanie Amaker. He's done right by the football team, keeping Michigan men coaching Michigan (read "left Lloyd alone"), properly honoring Bo, modernizing the Old House with some Club Seating and suites (ya, I'm pro renovation), and adding seat licenses that are still among the cheapest of the elite programs. And while he's made a few mistakes (Amaker, Crisler Arena, Appalachian State) he has done an honorable job saving an athletic department that was crooked and hemorrhaged money under Tom Goss. They call it "benefit of the doubt." Not sure why, but that's what they call it.
There will be loads of questions to be answered regarding the incoming coach...

• Can he hang on to the incoming class? Will Legion, Harris, and Grady stay?


• Can he recruit in the 'D'?


• How will he handle the power of the angry midget? Will he have to?

From the growing internet buzz, this looks like a done deal. I mean, if MGoBlog says it...it's true. And he's got it at 95% based on West Virginia insiders saying that they are openly looking for a new coach.

And as I finish writing this...CBS and Fox picked up the news. All links and info stolen rudely from MGoBlog, who is no doubt the leader and best at what he does.

So the Beilein era begins at Crisler. Change is good.

A Rematch

​Ohio State is in the National Championship game...again.

A feeling of sickness grows in my stomach at Ohio State's dominance in the two major college sports. There is only one remedy for this horrible situation, and that is for Ohio State to lose...in embarrassing fashion...to the same school that embarrassed them in the BCS championship game back in January. Ohio State's 2007 legacy will then become that of perennial bridesmaid, a college version of the Buffalo Bills. That would, in a way, put a band aid on this giant open wound, stopping the bleeding for just long enough to hire a decent basketball coach, and for the winged helmets to take the field again.

But I digress, there are more important things to worry about than who is going to win the tournament....like who is going to win the UMTailgate.com tournament challenge. There are just two possible scenarios...

If Florida beats Ohio State...here are the winners.

If Ohio State beats Florida...here are the winners.

Thanks to all that participated, and congrats in advance to our winners.

Reunited

​An otherwise subdued afternoon at Fraser's Pub turned raucous as the UMTailgate.com crew arrived in droves to eat, drink, and reminisce. The winter meetings were held, and after inebriated deliberation, the 2007 themes were decided. A brief recap follows... 

• Captain Michigan told Frank (The Webmaster) to "kiss his ass"


• Shep will organize the first annual UMTailgate.com golf outing. It will be held in Coldwater, Michigan. Details to follow.


• Dennis "The Godfather" Moore failed to bring his mug to a UMTailgate.com event for the first time in history.


• Captain Michigan requested that Lisa choke on her nacho so that he may administer mouth-to-mouth.


• Captain Michigan will turn 60 at this year's Ohio State game.


• Gar from Garsworld has issued an RV challenge for the @ Illinois tailgate and game.

Themes will be as follows:

• 9/1 Appalachian State: The Luau


• 9/8 Oregon : Flip the Bird - A tailgate filled with middle fingers and culinary delights from the world of poultry. Fried turkeys may be a possibility.


• 9/15 Notre Dame : Irish Fayre - Corned beef, cabbage, Sheppard's Pie, and the like


• 9/22 Penn State : The UMTailgate.com Carnival - Elephant ears, corn dogs, popcorn, dogs, nachos, cheesesteaks, and maybe a couple of midgets


• 9/29 At Northwestern : TBD


• 10/6 Eastern Michigan : The Urban Tailgate - A classic theme filled with soul food and 40's


• 10/13 Purdue : The Mardi Gras theme reappears for the Webmaster's 100th game.


• 10/20 At Illinois : The dueling Winnebagos


• 10/27 Minnesota : Soups and Stews precludes the possible year end banquet date


• 11/3 At Michigan State : TBD


• 11/10 At Wisconsin : TBD


• 11/17 Ohio State : "South of the Border" theme with bloody marys. In honor of Captain Michigan's birthday, it has been requested that we all dress like Rubly.

Detailed minutes will be available soon.

Thanks to all that came out. It was no doubt our largest reunion ever!

Get Together

​We're just a little over 5 months fromASU...no, not that ASU...and just under three months removed from bowing once again to USC. So, it's time to bring the whole tailgating team together for the annual reunion, where we catch up on any big news (like news the Godfather didn't call me about), make theme plans for the upcoming season, and drink ourselves blind while watching the Final Four. Sound good to you? Then we'll see you Saturday at 2:00pm as we take over Fraser's Pub for the day...and perhaps night. And if you like the place, apparentlyit's for sale.

See you there.