Ho Ho Ho

Michigan Defensive Coordinator Scott Schafer officially stepped down today, confirming the swirling rumors caused by his conspicuous absence at some meetings and recruitment trips.  The defense gave up 40+ points 4 times this season, equal to the number of times we've had 40 points put up on us since 1969...so that's probably good enough of a reason.  Despite my personal kool-aid filled contention that we had so many points put up on us because at no time in history have we given the other team so many possessions so quickly, it doesn't quite cover the reasoning behind the shit-storm 3rd quarters we endured.  Schafer's ability to adjust from game to game and within the game typically had the opposite effect that you look for:  "We adjust....they score more" is not a solid gameplan.  This is certainly the right decision for a team that needed a scapegoat move.

Schafer and Fred Jackson were the only non-Rod coaches on the team this year, and with Schafer's exit coupled with Fred Jackson having no responsibilities whatsoever now that McG has exited, the team is now resting squarely on Rich's shoulders.  I think Rich always wanted it that way, and I am envisioning a "from within the current staff" choice on our horizon at DC.

Simple math would be:  MICHIGAN minus SCHAFER minus CRAPPY QUARTERBACKS plus (TOUTED QB RECRUITS times 2) = MOVE VICTORIES.

In the words of Bubba... "Merry Christmas, Schafer is gone."

Just A Little Taste

It's been a long autumn.  If you missed the trip to Minnesota (which based on the crowd there, you did) then your last viewed sliver of positivity as a Michigan fan came on September 27th.  That's a long time ago.  And this just in...you've got the longest wait EVER for a chance to peek at victory again.

This fanbase is starving.

This night for me, for the better part of a decade, has meant airplane reservations, hotel reservations, and citysearching for the best steakhouse.  The BCS selection show has come and gone, and Michigan was unmentioned.  The other bowl selections have come and gone, and Michigan has gone unmentioned.  The reality should have sunk in weeks, even months ago.  But for me, it didn't.  It took a full fledged pasting at the hands of the Buckeyes to show just how far away we are, and effectively shut down this blog for the better part of two weeks.

Enter the smelling salts....

Far be it from me to attempt to find solace in one sport through another, but it's important to recognize that while every Michigan Football fan is not necessarily a Michigan Basketball fan, every Michigan Basketball fan IS a Michigan Football fan.  That's why on Saturday, the Maize Rage gave Yankee bleacher style recognition to Rich and Rita.  That's why the arena cam found its way to Lloyd and Laurie, resulting in a raucous standing ovation.  That's why, as a group of athletes wearing maize and blue did the unthinkable, and the court was smothered in joyous celebration, it was impossible to make the comparisons/assumptions between our two West Virginia bred coaches.

But we shouldn't make this about football today.  Michigan knocked off Duke on Saturday for the first time since 1997.  On that day 11 years ago, we were just two weeks removed from rushing the field after beating the Buckeyes and completing an undefeated regular season.  We knew exactly what to do when we knocked off #1 Duke...we rushed the court.  That night, Charles Woodson won the Heisman trophy. It was a great weekend.  This, my friends, was also a great weekend.  What it means with regards to the remainder of the season and hopes of a tournament birth remains to be seen, but what it means right now is not in question.  National recognition...recruits in attendance...a sold-out Crisler arena...two victories over top-5 opponenets...Michigan Basketball is back on the map.

Helllllllloooooo Basketball

Michigan Basketball upset #4 UCLA tonight, 55-52, getting their 3rd win of the season, matching the number of wins from the entire football season (so far), and inspiring just a bit of hope in the world of Michigan sports.

The reward for this David over Goliath effort?  Play Duke twice in 15 days.  Ahhh yes, tomorrow in the Garden, 7pm, Saturday in the Horseshoe, high noon.  One down, two to go.

Remember, Remember, the 22nd of November.

"Yes, sir, it's finally here: Meeee-chigan versus Ohio State in football. Twenty minutes until blast off, as two of the oldest rivals in the Big Ten square off in The Game of the Day, The Game of the Year, The Game of the Decade. ... Call it what you will, it promises to be 2½ hours of some of the most exciting football in the 104-year history of man's inhumanity to man.'' - Bob Ufer

The day they came to bury Michigan,
All wrapped in Maize and Blue.
The words were said, 
The prayers were read, 
And everybody cried.
But when they closed the coffin, 
There was someone else inside! 
Oh, the Buckeyes came to bury the Wolverines, 
But Michigan wasn't dead! 
And when the game was over, 
It was someone else instead! 
Twenty-two Michigan Wolverines
Put on the gloves of grey,
And as Revelli played 'The Victors',
They laid Woody Hayes away!

Get Your Penn State Gear On

Thanks to Gar for reminding me that I saw this quote yesterday...

"I'm not rooting for Michigan," said head coach Mark Dantonio, who has spent 11 of the last 14 years working for Michigan State or Ohio State. "I'm going to focus on our task at hand here and worry about the things we can control. I have too many good friends and too many people that wouldn't let me back into their house to let me do that.  So Go Bucks."