The Weekend Roundup: "Fiesta" Edition : 12/17/2007

​It's a party. You're invited.

To say that RichRod's exodus to A2 is on the tongue of the collective mainstream media would be a gross understatement. Everybody has weighed in, and have done so with similar opinions: amazing hire, welcome to the 21st century, the Wolverines are back. All great things, all nearly unsurmountable expectations. If RichRod lives up to the hype, the Wolverines will be an unstoppable machine in a new stadium. If he doesn't, we will be relegated to "same poop, different pants." We should land somewhere in the middle. Continuing our winning tradition, but doing so with a new level of excitement.

The expectation will no longer be with the position. The gameplan will change. No longer will we line up and say that "this is Michigan football," same as it was last week, and same as it was the last time you played us. Change. Change that is bigger than a coach and his philosophies. It's a change in attitude. Swagger. Chest bumps. Heisman poses. Confusing the sweatervest. Fun. Real big fun. And you won't have to wait until August...because there will be a SPRING GAME.

Steel wool would be required to remove the smile from my face right now.

The internets provided ample content this weekend while you and Kramer figured out just how far you could go:

• Seems RR is bringing quite a few of his staff members with him. That includes Mike Barwis, strength and conditioning coach....which makes Mike Gittleson unemployed. Santa, please let this be true. [More Staff Clarity - MGoBlog]


• Just a day earlier, Drew said we were falling apart. Today, Drew finally kept his mouth shut.


• There's a lot of hate out there, and there's a lot of social networking. It seems that some Mountaineers have launched a new MySpace page for RR. Read the comments, there's a good amount of anger there, including, but not limited to our new coach being called a "bag of dicks." Mmmmmmm... I can taste your tears. [RichRod - MySpace]


• Learn something. Use wikipedia. [Rich Rodriguez - Wikipedia]


• The Hammer turned me on to this one....nice write up on RR. [Dodds and Ends - CBS Sportsline]


• The Governor of West Virginia once played at West Virginia...now he would like to kill RR. [Joe Manchin is Mad as Hell - Money Players]


• SMQB covers the RR story, and reminds you that this story was actually broken by a 17 year old. A 17 year old that just became the highest rated recruit to ever have us in his top three...because you can't get higher than #1. [Rodriguez: Rich - SMQB]


• Trust in Mr. Martin. He knows who NOT to go after. [Urban Meyer's Recruiting Adventures - Fanhouse]


• Bleeding Green gives us a backhanded compliment, then drops this gem: "Rodriguez had better understand that Ohio State isn't his only rival." [Rodriguez to U-of-M - Bleeding Green]


• Cold War II...maybe this time without TIES. [Cold War II - DetNews]


• Mike Patrick. Todd Blackledge. Oh, and Tim Tebow. [Bowl Game Announcer Lineup - Awful Announcing]


• In non-Michigan related news, the Mitchell report was released. Little did we know it was actually about a former Lions quarterback. [The Mitchell Report, Early Release - KSK]

Princess Off the Market

​A collective tear has been shed by the bachelors of Wolverine nation. We have lost a good one...to Notre Dame. The Princess, daughter of The Godfather and Godmother, cousin to Goody, Aiden's aunt, Kelly's sister, and niece to Captain Michigan, has agreed in principle to terms outlined in a verbal contract of marriage to James Jaque Johnny Jerod Justin, a  Notre Dame fan. The Princess holds a place very high in UMTailgate.com lore outside of her family connections. A  photo of The Princess holds the record for the longest period of time gracing the cover of UMTailgate.com (back in the pre-blog days). In addition, the photos from that event , The Princess's graduation from high school, were the first on UMTailgate.com to be taken by a digital camera. Yes, you love UMTailgate.com historical trivia.

Details of the agreement were not available at press time, but there are several rumors on the outline of the verbal contract:

• The Princess has received an "engagement ring" (which from this point forward will be referred to as "the rock"), the size of which has not been reported.


• The groom has agreed to the "Goody Clause," which allows The Princess to keep the ring regardless of what happens.


• The Princess has also received a "massive amount" of roses, the number of which has not been specified, but according to reports, some family members have had to take in some roses due to the overflow. Most of these roses will be pressed and kept in a scrapbook held by the Godfather.


• The wedding will occur "sometime in 2009," but will not have a cheesy date like 9/9/09.


• The nuptials are banned from occurring from August 20th to January 10th, or in the month of April.


• The Princess will be eligible for a "rock upgrade" after 5 years of marriage, or in any year of marriage in which Notre Dame manages to defeat Michigan.


• The Princess will not be required to attend any Notre Dame football game unless the opponent is the Michigan Wolverines.


• The wedding cannot occur until the Godfather has acquired and paid for next year's season tickets and his new Toyota Sequoia.


• James-Jaque-Johnny-Jerod-Justin will be required to make an appearance at all Michigan football games that The Princess requests him to attend. In addition, he will be required to fill the working role of his counterpart, Fry Daddy Frank, whenever Fry Daddy Frank is unable to attend a tailgate. This falls under the "Godfather's Son-In-Law" clause. This clause includes:
• Getting the Godfather to/from tailgates.


• Unloading the car.


• Frying stuff


• Getting Bears tickets for Godfather


• A general knowledge of ticket acquisition, including Stub Hub, Ebay, and general scalping.

A press conference is scheduled for 9am tomorrow...but you probably will be watching the other press conference.

Congrats go out to the happy couple.

Who's On Board???

​Ahhh, the days of cameraphones. A West Virginia fan caught some images of the newest Michigan Man heading to Ann Arbor. With him? Calvin Magee (assistant head coach and offensive coordinator), Tony Gibson (defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator), and his wife. What does this tell us? Probably that Vance Bedford, MIKE DEBORD, and Fred Jackson can take a paid year off. Enjoy it boys...we've decided to enter the 21st century. Not sure who else is coming, but this is a sign towards a cleaning of the house.

The link to the poor quality pics and a plethora of hate from the Mountaineers is here...but you need to complete the free sign up for Scout to see it.

BREAKING NEWS: It's Time for a Little R&R

​Hardly breaking news now, but in case you live under a rock and/or don't know how to get your browser off of UMTailgate.com, Michigan has hired Rich Rodriguez. MGoBlue made it official this afternoon. Don Nehlen tells you why in the Detroit News:

Former West Virginia coach Don Nehlen, under whom Rodriguez played and was mentored as a coach, said this is an ideal move for Rodriguez.

"I think it's a great, great, great opportunity for him," said Nehlen, who coached at Michigan under Bo Schembechler from 1977-1979. "I think it's tremendous. There are very few Michigans. When you coach at West Virginia you walk on water in West Virginia, but when you coach at Michigan, you walk on water, period. There's a difference. Some people around here don't want to believe that."

That's the arrogance I've been looking for!

Obviously, I'm excited about this. If for no other reason...Debord won't be here. More to come tonight, plus a big announcement from the UMTailgate.com family!

The Weekend Roundup: You Can Hear A Pin Drop Edition: 12/10/07

​It's been all quiet at Fort Schembechler since the UMTailgate.com media blackout. OK, just kidding. Rumors are still flying.

From the coaching front:

• There's a deal on the table for Les, for less. Rumor has it we have put 2.5 million out there, just a million shy of LSU's guarantee if Les wins one more game this year. A million less to be forced into a couple of shitty assistants, have the former coach that hates you in your mentor's old office down the hall, and take over a team that lost to Appalachian State. Oh, and take all the time you need Les, as long as you make up your mind this week. [Call it a Comeback - MGoBlog]


• Steve Starkisian...welcome to the jungle, and Tedford is back in the mix according to a paper that is written 2100 miles away. [Finally A Blip - MGoBlog]


• Oh, and then there's Marvin...Marvin Lewis. [Marvin Lewis to Michigan - Fanhouse]


• Combine piss, vinegar. Lather, rinse, repeat. [Miles Old Teammates are Livid with Search, Carr - MLive]


• The question is, does Bill want to play nice anymore? [LSU AD Tries to Put Miles-to-Michigan talk to Rest - MLive]


• Let's use Les as a fall back...and go after all of the dream coaches we can. Sounds good. Great write up here: [Who Will Be Michigan's $4 Million Man - The Conquering Heroes]


• You like Brady Hoke? You won't after this, my third link to MGoBlog. You really should start going over there on your own people. Oh, you do already? Ya, that's why I'm still at a desk from 9-5. [Profiles in Cronyism - MGoBlog]

The rest of the weekend internets that you missed because you were  dizzy from inhaling pig brains.

• Coaches are doing very well these days. Be sure to click the link to USAToday within the link to the boys from Evanston. [CFB Coaches Salaries Average $1 Million - Lake the Posts]


• Next time you ridicule me for playing guitar hero, remember Zumaya...and Jake Long. [More Important Things Than Coaching Search - Varsity Blue]


• Johnny Cleveland would like to dedicate the following song to CJ. [The Cornhole Song - YouTube]


• It's going to be cold. It's gonna be dark. And it's gonna be Ohio State. [Big Ten to Extend Season... - Freep]