How Many?

by Robert Haddad​

I'm sure it's not hard for most of you to see how people here at my office know I graduated from Michigan. And of course when I over hear them say something like "oh, ask Rob, he's a Michigan fan." I quickly snap and remind them "I'm not a fan! I paid for this shit." That usually helps them understand my true love affair. I'm invested in this thing. Fans are supportive observers to varying degrees, from maniacal to passive, I on the other hand am an investor. I'm looking for returns on my dollar.

So my co-workers that are actually familiar with the sport of college football, either those that went to a school with a football program, simply like the sport or gamble are curious as to my thoughts on the season. I had previously set the over under for wins at seven without a firm grasp of the schedule. But after further inspection six might be more realistic. There seem to be five win-able games, four tossups and three uphill battles. And although I haven't fully digested what's happening this year I'm eager and excited and enjoying the lack of pressure that normally accompanies the high expectations placed on our team. Which leads me to something so poignant that Coach Rodriguez said recently. It expresses a value that at times may have been publicly missing in the past from some of our teams. "I don't want them to expect to win, I want them to deserve to win."

This excites me. It gives me a belief, along with the various articles and posts exalting our new strength and conditioning program, that we're working our ass off this year. That we understand that we're behind the eight-ball before the season starts. But this predicament has created a variety of questions that rarely entered my mind in the previous 15 seasons I've been associated with. Will the lack of talent and experience on the offense create a divide between the defense and the offense? How will this play out? What is really appropriate to expect? Can our defense win games for us? Can our offense be efficient? Is it possible to be playing on January 1st? I know all the other spreads I like, will I like ours? So many questions...so little time. This seems to be the ultimate "two steps back one step forward" scenario. I'm hoping that one step forward is taken with our Timbos on, for there is stompin' in our future!

Weekend Roundup, Get a Jersey Edition: 8/11/08

​8/8/08 has come and gone...anybody seen Goody?

Here's what happened on the internets while you ran a Beer-a-thon and stored some more belly button link.

• Some Lopata love from Angelique via MVictors.  Never underestimate the power of special teams.  Remember the fun punt?  Remember Iowa coming in here on homecoming and handing us our ass?  Ya, not a coincidence.


• Ohio State gives cars, money, hatchets, and vodka to their athletes.  MATW has the proof, at least about the car thing.


• The BBC thinks they're funny.  They probably have a ton of runner-up merch over there.


• Sticking with the MDen, those that have inquired about jerseys...they are available and will be shipped on 8/25.  The come in screen print, replica, and authentic versions and are priced from $55 to $150.  You can get a #1, #4, or #10. MDen.


• You love Terrance Taylor...so does Maize n Brew.  And more from RBUAS.


• Start thinking ahead to Nov 22...Varsity Blue can help you.

My Mode of Transportation is Plane

by Robert Haddad​

Within four hours of walking out of my door i can be in ann arbor. the price of this luxury ranges between 220 and 320 dollars. if ann arbor didn't exist and i was simply flying into metro to go to detroit it would cost me roughly 300 dollars. most of you wouldn't waste a tank of gas to go to detroit let alone pay 300. Let's put this into perspective, my flight to vegas in July was 400, LA in January was 300 and Chicago during the various seasons this year ranged from 100 in the winter to 300 in the summer. But should I really be paying this much to fly to Michigan? And to think of all the cutbacks ("what do you mean i'm not going to be getting a frozen turkey sandwich for lunch on this flight?!" and "how much for the shitty clothed covered pillow?!" or "sure, here's 60 dollars for you to check my bag and then lose it.") But if this were a Mastercard spot I'd be telling you all these costs and ending with "Michigan Football: Priceless." But Michigan football isn't priceless. It's expensive and time consuming and if you're not careful, detrimental to your health (well actually, if you're careful then it probably wouldn't be detrimental to your health but...semantics...)

I think that's my biggest draw. The "danger" of tailgating. The beer consumption alone would fulfill my daily caloric intake. But I need more. I thrive off of Deep Fried Pork Loin wrapped in Bacon. (and by the way, i will make sure to bring in some bacon from Porterhouse steakhouse in NYC. their bacon is a frickin' appetizer on their menu. and yes, I ordered it with my steak. you'll eat with ice cream if you knew what's good for you!) I dream of reuben egg rolls and coconut shrimp and of course the coup de grace are the cheesey potatoes. I think Michigan football more than anything is an admission of mortality. No matter the drawbacks we accept that it's a necessary evil. Because it brings us together, it provides us with joy (and occasional pain) and allows us to believe. Our faith is not so much in an omniscient being but in a cold brisk Saturday morning surrounded by family dressed in maize and blue.

Rodriguez Linkfest

​GatorSports.com : Rodriguez's Story is More Than Just West Virginia 

Rodriguez is widely considered one of the godfathers of the spread that has become the rage in college football.

Star-Telegram : These Goodbyes Were Anything But Sweet

• Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson on the same page as Rich Rod and West Virginia

Toledo Blade : Freshman Could Be Heavily Counted On

Rodriguez singled out receivers Martavious Odoms, Terrance Robinson, Michael Shaw and Darryl Stonum and running backs Sam McGuffie and Michael Cox, along with quarterback Justin Feagin, as possible first-year contributors.

Also showing "some athletic ability," according to Rodriguez, were freshmen tight ends Brandon Moore and Kevin Koger, a Whitmer graduate.

USAToday : West Virginia Billed Over $330K

WVU spokeswoman Becky Loftstead said school officials and the Board of Governors both believe the fee "is reasonable given the volume of work and the positive outcome."

ESPN.com Big Ten Blog : RichRod must buck trend to beat Michigan State

At Michigan, the last coach to win in his first try against MSU was Bennie Oosterbaan in 1948.

PS...what about that other trend, where MSU hasn't won legally since 1999.

Wall Street Journal : Questions for Rich Rodriguez

We hope it's exciting. But it's only going to be exciting if we're executing properly and scoring points, getting first downs and moving the ball up and down the field. We have challenges because of the inexperience. But it's a system we've run for many years and we're comfortable with and the players, I think, have really bought into it. They've learned it very quickly. We'll keep getting better because there's so much more that we can do than we're doing now.

SI Predicts the Apocalypse

​The following teams are better than your team:

1. Georgia

2. Ohio State

3. USC

4. Missouri

5. Florida

6. Oklahoma

7. Auburn

8. Texas Tech

9. LSU

10. Wisconsin

11. Clemson

12. Tennessee

13. Texas

14. West Virginia

15. Kansas

16. Arizona State

17. BYU

18. Oregon State

19. Pittsburgh

20. Oregon

21. South Florida

22. Penn State

23. Illinois

24. Virginia Tech

25. Utah

26. Wake Forest

27. Cincinnati

28. Fresno State

29. Alabama

30. Mississippi State

31. Iowa

32. Maryland

33. Rutgers

34. North Carolina

35. Tulsa

36. Colorado

37. Boise State

38. Michigan State

39. Cal

40. South Carolina

41. Florida State

42. Connecticut

43. Oklahoma State

44. East Carolina

45. Nebraska

46. Miami

47. TCU

48. Boston College

49. Southern Miss

50. Northwestern

51. Texas A&M

52. Notre Dame

53. Arizona