Youth Sports: What It's All About

I trust in God. I love my country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win. But win or lose I will always do my best.

Eleven years removed from my last Little League game, I still remember this pledge. It's the pledge that you will find on the back of a Little League rulebook. It's the pledge that is often recited before Little League All-Star games by its participants.

Often, people downgrade Little League baseball because of its lower competition level. It's true. There are travel leagues all across the country that have deeper fences, longer base lines, and better competition. I'm confident that I could have played in a travel league when I was growing up. It probably would have advanced my baseball skills at a faster rate, but I'm glad that my parents made the decision to put me in Little League. Little League baseball and youth sports in general are, or should be, about so much more than just winning and becoming the next superstar.

See, youth sports are where the foundations of sportsmanship are laid. The lessons learned on a baseball field should be about more than freezing on a line drive, using two hands, and keeping your eye on the ball. For the first time, you are learning how to interact with others in a competitive setting. You learn how to win and you learn how to lose. Winning means more when you've experienced defeat. At the same time, you learn that winning isn't everything. Even after losing a game, you get your juice box, snack, and you go home to a family that loves you. Sure, it sounds corny, but too often that perspective is lost.

People forget that youth sports are meant to be fun. Sure, winning is great. But, you can have fun without winning. I was an extremely competitive person, but I never had a compulsive desire to win. I just loved to play baseball. I enjoyed practicing as much as I enjoyed playing in games. In fact, I often had more fun practicing than playing. Why? Because parents often ruined the games. Too often the biggest problem in sports is the parents who "participate" in them.

My dad has said it to me for years, "Parents ruin youth sports." Jackson residents see (or don't see) the unfortunate effects of it every year. If it weren't for the parents, coaches, and athletic directors preventing it, you would see Jackson High and Lumen Christi play annually in football. But, because of the behind-the-doors bureaucracy, it doesn't happen. All students and players of both schools would love to play each other every year. Quite frankly, there's no excuse for the game not happening. It saddens me that adults refuse to set aside their personal pride, petty arguments, and unfounded beliefs for the happiness of kids.

Now, not all adults fall into this category. I know numerous adults who have dedicated countless hours to supporting youth sports for the right reasons. Unfortunately, it only takes a few adults to counteract the hard work of many. These people should be ashamed of themselves. When did the focus of youth sports fail to be the youth? Whenever it happened, society took a turn for the worse.

Sports have always been an effective way of teaching children the value of sportsmanship and the importance of having fun. Somewhere along the line, we forgot that. This blog is my plea. Restore the true meaning behind youth sports. The next time you're at a game and you see someone who has forgotten that meaning, remind them. Nike said it best. Sportsmanship and fun: just do it.

Looking at MSU and Looking Forward

Yesterday was somewhat of a reality check for Michigan fans. You just don't go from 3-9 to 12-0. It's a game that I had a bad feeling for all week. The first major road game for a true freshman and a still very young team is never easy. Add to the fact that Michigan was playing a coach who is absolutely obsessed with beating them, and they were in for a long day.


The Defense

The defensive line finally showed up. Brandon Graham was near unblockable all game. His hit on Glenn Winston was the type of play Michigan fans have been expecting from the preseason All-American all year long. Mike Martin got a great push in the middle, and Craig Roh was all over the field all game.

The linebackers not named Stevie Brown continue to kill the Michigan defense. Brown was making plays all game, but he wasn't getting much help. Obi Ezeh had a lot of tackles, but they were all 8 yards downfield because he was out of position. Jonas Mouton simply looked lost. Ezeh and Mouton could not find proper depth all day, and are a large reason that Kirk Cousins, he of the 5.4 40 speed, ran wild. To Cousins's credit, he did a great job of recognizing the positioning of the Michigan linebackers, and made quick decisions to take advantage of them.

The secondary outside of Donovan Warren needs work. JT Floyd is an improvement over Cissoko, but I would be as well. Mike Williams looked uncomfortable, but it was his first game back from injury, so I'll give him a break. I'm not sure if Troy Woolfolk was suffering from his early game injury, but he continues to be out of position and tackle poorly as he has all year. He brings speed to the safety position that Michigan hasn't seen in a while, but that speed is useless if he can't learn basic positioning and play recognition.

Lastly, the defensive playcalling has been bad and continued to be bad yesterday. How many third and longs did MSU convert yesterday? Now, give Cousins credit, he made some good throws, but everyone is making these throws against this Michigan defense.

My suggestions to Greg Robinson:

• It's third and long, BLITZ please. Your secondary is not good enough to cover any quality of receivers for 5+ seconds. On the rare occasions that you put pressure on Cousins, he rushed his throws and managed to throw two interceptions.
  

• Get out of the weak zone coverage. MSU's offensive coordinator did a great job of recognizing this all game. Whenever MSU had two receivers on one side of the field, Michigan played one defender about three yards from the LOS and another at least ten yards away. Whenever this happened, the inside MSU receiver ran a little bubble screen where the outside receiver blocked the near Michigan defender and the play gained ten yards. THIS HAPPENS EVERY WEEK, Greg.

• Consider this formation:

Graham Martin VanBergen/Roh
Kovacs Mouton Ezeh Brown
Warren Woolfolk Williams Floyd

Right now, Kovacs is one of your most valuable defenders in run support. He should not be used in coverage, ever. He's just too slow. Have him defending the run, blitzing, whatever. He's very good around the LOS. At the same time, if he's rushing Brandon Graham's side, you free up Graham from all the double teams he's seen all year. Blitz from there, and keep Donovan Warren on that side of the field, so they have to throw the ball towards him and not the bad half of your secondary. If you do this, you do a better job controlling what the offense has to do. As it stands now, the opposing offense is controlling everything and you are sitting on your heels the entire game.


The Offense

Michigan State had a great gameplan yesterday defensively. They really did a great job moving around defenders to confuse the Michigan running game. It definitely worked. The cues on the zone read were screwed up for pretty much the whole game.

Where it starts and ends is the Michigan offensive line. They just got abused yesterday. I confess ignorance in that I don't know much about Michigan State's defensive line, but they played very well yesterday. They beat Michigan's offensive line at the point of attack on nearly every play. There were just no holes for Carlos Brown to run through all day.

In that respect, I have to question why Brandon Minor wasn't in the game more. Yes, I realize he's hurt. But, he's been held out for the most part for two weeks. He touched the ball about twice all game. I know everyone falls in love with Brown's speed, but Minor is just a much better running back. He hits the hole ten times harder. So, when the holes are minimal and/or fast closing, it seems like Minor would naturally be getting more carries. Alas, it might not have mattered.

The receivers and tight ends were disappointing. How many drops did Michigan have yesterday? I've been harping for weeks that Kevin Koger needs to see the football more. Yesterday, he really disappointed. He finally got thrown the ball 4 or 5 times, and came up with at least 3 drops. Just about everyone in the receiving corps had a drop, it seems. Darryl Stonum might be the one bright spot, but he fumbled the ball twice. The talent is clearly there with Stonum though, and he's slowly bringing it together.

Tate Forcier... what can you say about this kid? He's just a special, special football player. He just has "it," whatever that means. I heard a lot of people say after the game that people are overreacting and that he played poorly in the first three quarters, but that just isn't true. First, he was pressured all day. For a large portion of plays, he literally had no chance to make a play. Second, people seem to forget the afore mentioned drops when discussing Forcier's game. Forcier was 17/32 (53%). You add in a minimum of 4 drops (and I think I'm being extremely generous there), and that would give Forcier a completion percentage of 65.6 percent. That's an insanely good number for a true freshman in his first road game against an in-state rival.

Ignoring that, what he did in the final drive was remarkable. He was clearly exhausted, but he led the team down the field 92 yards like a 4 year starter. It was Elway-esque. Maybe the most impressive part about his late game heroics have been his ability to have a short memory. At Notre Dame, it was forgetting the previous play's drop by Savoy and then hitting Matthews with a strike for the game winning touchdown. Yesterday, Forcier missed a WIDE OPEN Matthews in the endzone. Just a few plays later, he delivered a strike to Roy Roundtree (please play this kid more) for the game-tying touchdown. Sure, he threw an interception in overtime, but if you watch that replay, Odoms inexplicably runs behind the defender. Odoms had inside position when Forcier threw that ball.

What does all of this mean?

Not a whole lot. It means Michigan isn't as good as some thought and Michigan State isn't as bad as some thought. But really, Michigan played lackluster football for 43 minutes. Michigan State dominated in both execution and gameplanning for 43 minutes. Yet, still, Michigan found a way to send it into overtime. I don't want to make it seem like I am discrediting Michigan State, because I'm not. They deserved to win that game. But, please don't pretend like Michigan State is going to begin dominating the state of Michigan in football. It just ain't true.

We found out that Michigan's defense is still pretty bad. Yet, they always seem to find a way to play tough in the red zone to prevent a ton of scoring.

We found out that Tate Forcier is the real deal. His performance in his first five games as a true freshman has to be among the best in college football history. If I'm missing someone, please enlighten me. Having Tate means that Michigan is never out of games, because... well... the kid's a winner. We had been told how important the QB position is in Rich Rod's system, and we're really starting to see how true that is.


Perspective

Lastly, I would just like to point out to Michigan fans that the University of Michigan football team is 4-1 as of today. Before this season, I was asked a lot what I felt like Michigan would do this year. My response was consistent and unequivocable: 8 wins minimum. And, then I was always laughed at. Well, who's laughing now? Maybe they get to 8, maybe they fall just short. But, Michigan football is clearly on the right track. Rich Rodriguez will continue to get the guys to fit his system, and the Big Ten will continue to be in big trouble for years to come. If you don't believe now, you never will. If you're still on the outside, jump off the bandwagon and put on some green and white. The train is leaving the station.

The Impact of Sports

September 11th conjures up a lot of memories to people. Everyone you talk to who was old enough to appreciate the day remembers where they were when they heard the news. You probably remember most details of the entire day. I was in my 4th hour German class when I heard. We had soccer practice after school, and inexplicably, a plane flew overhead when all planes were supposed to be grounded.

In the days and weeks after September 11th, the country saw displays of patriotism that will never be topped. Nowhere were those displays more powerful than in the sports world. Some of the very first memories I recall when I think about September 11th are the events on the New York baseball fields just ten days after the attacks.

Shea Stadium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu4_96gXWgs) was home to a Mets/Braves game in which both teams were more concerned about returning to normalcy than winning a baseball game. The embraces between teammates, opponents, and the NYPD faithful are memories etched in the minds of Mets and Braves fans forever. The sight of Rudy Guiliani provided a calmness to a city and a country who desperately needed it.

At Yankee Stadium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=631knZM9Uiw) President Bush threw a strike in the ceremonial first pitch. The leaders of the country were visible in the sports world.

Though September 11th was the reason for unity in those cases, sports was the arena in which it took place. The 1991 NHL All-Star game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvpxVE_kQXg&feature=related) served a similar purpose. Just days after the United States officially entered the Gulf War, NHL fans showed their support.

Normally, however, sports plays the opposite role.

Seven Saturdays each fall, you see an extremely unique event. One hundred ten thousand people unite for a common cause. These 110,000 people come from many different backgrounds. Many believe in one god, many believe in multiple gods, many believe in no gods. You will find people from a hundred different countries speaking twenty different languages. Half voted for Barack Obama. Forty percent voted for John McCain. Ten percent are still campaigning for Ron Paul. But, every Saturday, every one of those people can agree on one thing. That one thing is Michigan football. You'd be hard pressed to find 110,000 Americans to agree on any one thing non-sports related.

When I visited Ann Arbor last week, I was told a great story that typifies this idea of unity. One of my good friends' dads had an on-field pass for the Michigan vs. Western Michigan football game on top of his regular ticket. As he walked through the tailgates on his way to the stadium, he stopped and handed that field pass to a random Michigan fan. He continued to walk to the stadium, and one of his family members asked him why he just gave a field pass to a random stranger. His response was simple. "He was wearing the right colors."

See, that's all that matters in sports. No one cares who you voted for or where you came from. Ernie Harwell puts this much more eloquently than I ever could in his poem about baseball. He says, "In baseball democracy shines its clearest. The only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rulebook. Color merely something to distinguish one team's uniform from another."

Think about your favorite player. Do you know his religious affiliation? His political ideals? Probably not. If you do and your beliefs don't align with his, do you care? No, all you care about is that he produces on the field. If he's wearing a Winged Helmet, I don't care what he believes should happen with the death penalty. After all, everyone kills people. All I care about is that he plays hard every Saturday. If he does, he can be white, black, liberal, conservative, Muslim, Christian... doesn't matter. I'll support him all the same. Through all our differences, sports still unites us. And it always will.

Week One Analysis: Western Michigan

After a few days in Ann Arbor and a few days to think about Saturday's game, here's what I've got...

The Offense

The Quarterbacks

As I have harped on all offseason, having competent quarterbacks makes a huge difference in this offense. Tate Forcier played as well as you can expect a true freshman quarterback to play. He made the correct reads, he hit most of his open receivers, and most importantly, he did not turn the ball over. He protected the ball properly when he was running, and he didn't try to force many throws. He managed the game, which is all Michigan needs him to do this year. Tate's most impressive play came on his first career touchdown pass. He escaped with his feet, kept his head up field, showed awareness in staying behind the line of scrimmage, and fired a strike to JR Hemingway.

Denard Robinson is fast, folks. We've been hearing practice reports for weeks. He did not disappoint. I woke up early Saturday morning, laid in bed, and pictured a long Denard TD run. My morning dream proved prophetic. Denard turned a broken play into a Sportscenter Top 10 play. There is no denying his speed after that run. The other observation I had with Denard is that he is a very patient runner. Many times he could have tried to cut the ball outside of the tackles, but he stayed within himself and followed his blockers. Very mature runner for a true freshman with his speed.

Nick Sheridan, start learning to become a coach a year early.

There has also been some talk from Michigan fans worrying that if Denard Robinson plays well, Tate might become upset and eventually transfer. Those people probably forget that, at one point, Tate Forcier was the odd QB out in the recruiting process at Michigan. Kevin Newsome and Shav Beaver were committed, and it appeared Tate would have to look elsewhere for a scholarship. He stayed patient, and eventually got that offer. He's a true Michigan man as far as I'm concerned. As for any tension from Tate Forcier because of Denard Robinson's success, please refer to the below picture taken after Denard's touchdown run and right before a subsequent chest bump.

Grade: A

The Running Backs

The offensive group that I was most confident in coming into the year was the hardest to judge on Saturday. Carlos Brown got the start for an injured Brandon Minor. Brown looked decent, but he didn't show much explosiveness. Carlos did however pass protect well, including an excellent block in which he flipped the defender, taking him out of the play completely. Michael Shaw saw the second most action, and I thought looked the best. Shaw continues to impress every time he gets playing time, and very well might be Michigan's most complete running back. Vincent Smith looked solid, but it came against reserves largely.

Grade: Incomplete

The Catchers of the Ball

JR Hemingway stepped up in a big way. He got behind his defender twice for two easy touchdowns. The most impressive play of the game offensively, I thought, was a catch in which Tate threw the ball behind JR, so Hemingway stopped dead in his tracks, tipped the ball, caught it, and ran in the opposite direction. Kevin Koger was great at TE, and made as fine a catch as you will see a college tight end make. Kelvin Grady dropped an early pass but provided a great option at the slot position. Odoms and Greg Matthews were conspicuous with their lack of action.

Grade: B

The Offensive Line

This group will undoubtedly be important the whole year. The left side of the line looked as expected-- great. Schilling is noticeably more comfortable at guard, and Molk is becoming a very good center. The right side didn't make many mistakes, but they didn't impress me either. Pass blocking was considerably better than run blocking. The offensive line will need to create a lot more holes against Notre Dame if Michigan wants to win.

Grade: B

The Defense

The Defensive Line

Brandon Graham was unblockable when left one-on-one. Graham lived in the Western backfield. He got a lot of pressure, but never seemed to get the sack in time. Mike Martin provided a great push in the middle, and also was in the backfield a few times. But, the story of the day on the DLine was Craig Roh. Roh is another true freshman, and he sure was impressive. He played the hybrid DE/OLB position and DC Greg Robinson had him lining up in all sorts of places. Roh was in Tim Hiller's face all day. When Roh puts on a little more weight, he is going to be an all-time great at the defensive end position in Michigan history. Yes, I made that claim, write it down now.

Grade: A-

The Linebackers

This group was my biggest concern coming into the season. They were the story of Saturday for me. Jonas Mouton and Obi Ezeh were miles better than what they showed in 2008. They were always in the right position, and both were around the ball all day. The linebackers filled holes in the line beautifully all day. Wherever the ball went, the linebackers seemed to also be there. The gang tackling witnessed on Saturday is a huge credit to the play of the linebackers. Oh, and did I mention? STEVIE ****ing BROWN. Player of the game by a mile. He was everywhere, and has obviously taken to his new position. Brown was good in coverage and great in running down ball carriers. I was thoroughly impressed.

Grade: A+

The Secondary

Donovan Warren looked like a healthy Donovan Warren. Cissoko played in the first half and didn't make any mistakes. He even had a few pass breakups. The safeties played well for the most part, but made the one big mistake in the second half allowing a long touchdown pass across the middle. I had to mention it somewhere, so I'll say it here, because Warren and Cissoko deserve a lot of the credit. The tackling was phenomenal, particularly in the open field. The Michigan defense tackled better than I have seen in 5 years. Warren and Cissoko kept everything in front of them, and then made a controlled tackle. It was great to see. Warren needs to turn his head a little quicker, but that will probably improve as the season progresses.

Grade: B+

Special Teams

Solid in all aspects. Zoltan Mesko was the man as per usual. He averaged 47 yards per punt and hung the ball high enough that a coverage team of Justin Boren, Alex Mitchell, and Kurt Wermers could have forced a fair catch. Olesnavage kicked a long field goal and had enough leg from 55+. Kickoff coverage was also much better, and Western's KR/PR is among the best. Very nice to see a solid performance from the special teams.

Grade: A-

The Atmosphere

Simply put: awesome. The fans were rowdy for Western Michigan, and the stadium renovations pretty clearly improved the acoustics. You can actually hear an echo in Michigan Stadium now. The fans were 100% behind Rich Rodriguez as can be seen in this Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKcr62I-0Bg. The Rich Rodriguez chant could be heard throughout the stadium. And, if you watch the video closely, you can tell that he appreciated the chant.

Aside from the fans, the team was considerably more intense than last year. The defensive line made it a point to consistently pump the crowd up. Greg Robinson was even joining in on the encouragement of the crowd. The intensity of Michigan football was at an all-time high. I've been going to games for my whole life. I've never been more proud of the fans, coaches, and players collectively. A truly great experience.

Open Letter to Coach Rod

Coach Rodriguez,

A little more than two years ago, your predecessor went through a similarly difficult time in his coaching career. Michigan had just lost their fourth consecutive game. The final two losses, to Appalachian State and Oregon, were embarrassing. Here's what Coach Carr said at the post-game press conference following the Oregon game:

"I'm doing great. Because I have great kids here. And you don't know me. But those who do know me, both friend and foe, would agree that I'm a tough-minded, competitive guy. And there isn't anything that comes my way that I can't handle...professionally. And there is NOTHING.. there is NOTHING that can keep me down. Not a loss to Appalachian State. Not a loss to Oregon. Not a hundred losses... and not the loss of my job."

Two years later, you are probably feeling similar emotions. You have poured your heart and soul into the Michigan football program. You have experienced defeat. You have experienced large and vocal criticism for that defeat.

Today, you stood at that same podium that Coach Carr stood at over two years ago. And you showed emotion reminiscent of Coach Carr. You will not find a Michigan fan that was a bigger fan and supporter of Coach Carr than I. Even in the tough years, with criticism thrown his way, I stood behind him. More than being a great football coach, I knew that Coach Carr was a great person who cared deeply for his players and their success, both on the football field and in the classroom. I felt extreme pride watching Coach Carr defend his players week after week in his press conferences during those difficult times.

Today, I feel that same sense of pride. Never have I felt more proud of a Michigan football coach, more confident in his abilities as a leader both on the field and off. One day, you will lead this program to heights that its supporters could never have dreamed of on August 31, 2009. We will proudly use your name in the same conversation as Bo, Lloyd, Fritz, and Fielding. All great leaders have a turning point... today is yours.

It won't be easy. It wasn't easy for Bo, either. He used many more four letter expletives. He had many more players quit. He pissed off many more media members. The Michael Rosenbergs and Jim Cartys of the world will always be there. To combat their negativity and, in recent cases, outright false claims, I suggest again the advice of your predecessor. Coach Carr is well-known around these parts for his love for poetry. During his retirement press conference, he offered this poem by Pakenham Beatty as advice for his successor:

By your own soul learn to live.

If some men thwart you, take no heed.

If some men hate you, have no care.

Sing your song, dream your dream.

Hope your hope and pray your prayer.

Every coach has its critics. You will always have more because, well, some people will never consider you a true Michigan Man. I have always believed you to be one, and today you proved me correct.

You should know, that regardless of how vocal your critics are, you are not alone. The true Michigan fans, the ones that count, the 110,000+ that will be in Michigan Stadium cheering for you on Saturday when your name is callled, those are the ones you should be listening to. The timing of your "All In" campaign could not be more appropriate. In the coming days, weeks, and months, you will find out who your true supporters are. They are the same people who showed up in record numbers to your Spring Game despite a 3-9 season. They are the same people who will be positively vocal in both your successes and failures as head coach at Michigan. They are the people who, win or lose, appreciate all that you do to continue the tradition of doing things the right way at Michigan. Lastly, they are the people who, when you begin winning games, Big Ten Championships, and National Championships, they are the people who will point to the Michael Rosenbergs of the world and say, "I told you so."

Coach Rod, I can't wait for that day. Rest assured, I will be first in line writing e-mails of "I told you so" to Michael Rosenberg and Jim Carty. You will be successful at Michigan. Your passion for Michigan football and your genuine care for your players will carry you through these difficult times. A wise man once said that:

"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant."

Your adversity, and the way you have handled it, will carry Michigan football successfully into the 2009 season and beyond. Winning will take care of everything. And those of us who know what you are truly about, also know that the winning is just around the corner. No one will be happier for you than I when you start getting the credit you are due. Go Blue!

In Rod We Trust.

Michigan Football Allegations, the Free Press, and its Agenda

Remember when you heard Santa Claus was fake? Maybe you were a big professional wrestling fan and you found out that it too was fake. Think back to those moments and how you felt. It was probably more than disappointment. You felt lied to. You reassessed how you viewed things in the world. Well, at age 22, I still feel that way today.

Growing up, I always felt strongly that someday I would pursue a career in journalism. I grew up with a love for reading. Quickly, that turned into a love for writing. As I grew old enough, I began reading more sophisticated writing. I loved reading sports articles in the Detroit papers by Mitch Albom. Nationally, I loved reading Gene Wojciechowski. I watched ESPN and grew to love TV journalism as told by guys like Peter Gammons. These three men are some of the most successful in their respective fields. They have more in common than that, though. They are guys who write passionately, and write passionately not simply to get a response, but to seek some sort of a truth in and through their writing. The concept of seeking the truth reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies-- A Time To Kill. Matthew McConaughey says in his closing argument:

"You see, in all this legal maneuvering, something has gotten lost. That something is the truth. Now it is incumbent upon us lawyers not to just talk about the truth, but to actually seek it, to find it, to live it."

That truth has been lost today, and it has shaken my confidence in the journalism field. The idea of shock journalism has become too popular. You can replace the word shock with bad, and it does not lose its context. Journalism with the sole purpose of eliciting a response is not legitimate journalism. It is about time for journalists to take on a Hippocratic Oath. The Internet is often used as an excuse for why newspapers are failing. While that may be true, it is not the only reason. The quality of journalism has fallen dramatically in only the past ten years. The editors who approve the shock journalism articles are the same ones who will be looking for jobs in five years because their profession has become obsolete. And, the more I read from these people, the less sorry I feel about their future.

The motivation for this article comes from yesterday's Detroit Free Press article: http://www.freep.com/article/20090829/SPORTS06/90829023

The Facts

This article alleges NCAA violations by the Michigan football coaching staff. Specifically (a term I would use loosely), the allegations are that Rodriguez and his staff has broken time limit rules by forcing players to practice for more time than is allowed by NCAA regulations. I'm sure most people's initial reactions reading this article was something similar to, "Duh." Let's face it, almost every school bends the time regulations, and all of them cover their butts because... well... it's easy to do.

Here's what the Free Press failed to tell you:

1. There is no rule prohibiting a coach from "punishing" a player for missing a voluntary workout. This is commonplace at every legitimate high school program in the country. You miss workouts, you make up for it during practice.

2. Time spent watching video is not considered mandatory practice time, and therefore does not fall under the 8 and 20 hour restrictions.

3. Time spent in the trainer's room is not considered mandatory practice time, and therefore does not fall under the 8 and 20 hour restrictions.

This is how teams "get around" the time restrictions. Watching video is a huge part of college football today, and takes up as much time as field practice in most cases.

The Evidence

Probably the biggest issue I have with this article in general is the lack of evidence supporting the claims made by the Free Press writers. Bolded are the pieces of evidence used in the article.

Two players called Michigan’s off-season requirements “ridiculous.” The players described the coaches’ expectations as an ongoing concern among many teammates. Parents of several players agreed.

Commentary: Okay, so the program is tough. It might not be what you thought you had signed up for. But, nothing in that statement supports the notion that Michigan is breaking rules. Michigan finally has tough workouts and high expectations. Deal with it.

“It was mandatory,” one player said. “They’d tell you it wasn’t, but it really was. If you didn’t show up, there was punishment. I just felt for the guys that did miss a workout and had to go through the personal hell they would go through.”

Commentary: "They'd tell you it wasn't, but it really was." This is your evidence, Detroit Free Press?? There was punishment?? Of course there was. If you don't put in the time working out like the rest of your teammates do, you're going to be out of shape. So, you're going to run to get into shape. There's nothing in the NCAA rules against doing so.

• Players spent at least nine hours on football activities on Sundays after games last fall. NCAA rules mandate a daily 4-hour limit. The Wolverines also exceeded the weekly limit of 20 hours, the athletes said.

Commentary: And how many of those hours were required by the coaching staff? Since games occur on Saturday, it would seem likely that players might want to watch film on Sunday, the next day. They are more than entitled to. The NCAA can't restrict the free will of student-athletes. If you want to prove something, show that those nine hour sessions were required. I bet you'll have a difficult time doing so.

• Players said members of Rodriguez’s quality-control staff often watched seven-on-seven off-season scrimmages. The noncontact drills, in which an offense runs plays against a defense, are supposed to be voluntary and player-run. They are held at U-M’s football facilities. NCAA rules allow only training staff — not quality-control staffers — to attend as a safety precaution. Quality-control staffers provide administrative and other support for the coaches but are not allowed to interact directly with players during games, practices or workouts.

Commentary: So quality control staff aren't allowed direct contact with players during scrimmages. But, the players said that the staff watched the scrimmages. How does that conflict with the scrimmages having to be "voluntary" and "player-run"? The fact is, it doesn't. Michigan addressed this specific issue. Quality control staff is there specifically to ensure that the NCAA regulations are being followed. So, they're verifying that only the trainers were there. In other words, they were doing their job.

There is a lot more "evidence" written in the article, all equally poorly researched with numerous fallacies contained within the statements. What is not clear are who the sources are. The Free Press claims to have as many as ten current or former players who relate similar stories to what they claim in the article. The only one named is Terrence Taylor who said that Sundays required a lot of time. Nowhere did he actually make a claim with evidence supporting a breach of NCAA rules. Funny enough, Taylor is one former player who has been supportive of Rich Rodriguez and the direction the Michigan football program is taking. So, who are your other sources, Free Press? I wonder if they include Justin Boren, Alex Mitchell, Jeremy Ciulla, Dann O'Neil and Kurt Wermers. All of these fat, out-of-shape offensive linemen have complained about how much time was required in workouts. One of them (Wermers) even made these complaints before revealing that he was academically ineligible for the upcoming season.

All of the transfers were more than entitled to transfer when they didn't approve of the program. But, once they opened their mouth to the media, they eliminate any objectivity in future statements they give. Former players who were unhappy with the coaching staff have agendas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. I know several rocket scientists, all of whom would agree.

The Counter-Argument

So, we have the facts. We have the evidence. The Free Press made their argument based on those two factors. Now, any good piece of writing will provide at least one potential counter-argument and address that argument. Any decent high school English teacher will tell you that. So, where is that in the article? It is non-existent. It would have been fairly simple to ask the rest of the football team if they felt that the rules were being violated. If they don't know the specific rules, tell the players what they are and THEN ask if they are being violated. The Free Press makes no attempt to do anything resembling this process.

Perhaps players did not understand what constituted voluntary and mandatory in both the eyes of the coaches and the NCAA. After all, it really is the coaches and quality control staff's responsibility to know the practice rules and ensure they are enforced. The players have a lot on their minds between practice, school, and their family who is often 1000+ miles away from them. They shouldn't be expected to know what practice time as regulated by the NCAA is. Michigan is paying people plenty of money to do that. So, maybe the whole thing is a misunderstanding. It might not be... but what if it is? Sure would make for a compelling counter-argument. Too bad the Free Press didn't address it.

An Agenda?

To those who have followed the Free Press's coverage of Michigan football since Rich Rodriguez took over, it is not surprising to see a one-sided argument. Every article the Free Press and News have written, for the most part, have been talking about how the Michigan football program is falling apart in one aspect or another. Michael Rosenberg's previous Michigan football article about the Justin Feagin situation is a great example. At a certain point, it begs the question... what is the fascination?

Rich Rodriguez wasn't a Bo disciple. He's not as media friendly as Lloyd Carr, even though he's always much more willing to explain himself to the media. You know who was a Bo disciple? A media friendly head coach? Les Miles. The guy who didn't get the job is ultimately still the story in Ann Arbor. People hate change and the Detroit media is no different. The stories coming out of Ann Arbor would be dramatically different if Les Miles was head coach, even though he is notorious for running a similarly strict program. Detroit media members and the old time Michigan contingent has never recovered from the Les Miles saga. Some of them never will.

You know what else would sell papers? Writing about how great of a family man Rich Rodriguez really is. Write about how, in his first year, Rich Rodriguez led the football team to its highest GPA ever. When you don't do this, when you only write about the negative aspects of the Rich Rodriguez regime, it's clear you have an agenda.

The timing of this article also causes one to question the motivation of the Detroit Free Press. Players have been transferring and making these claims for over a year. Why did you choose the week before the 2009 season starts to publish this article? It just screams of having an agenda.

The Truth

In my sophomore year at the University of Michigan, I took an Argumentative Writing class. That's essentially what an article like this is: an argument to prove a particular point. Had I turned this article in, I probably would have received a response similar to this:

Evidence-- One-sided and not interpreted correctly. How can you expect someone to believe this argument if you misrepresent the facts? Poor use of logos.

Counter-argument-- Where is it!?!? We talked about this in class, it's a necessary part of your argument. The lack of one makes you seem unreasonable and your ethos suffers as a result.

F. Please see me after class, it's clear you don't understand the concepts we have gone over all semester. You're going to need to improve drastically to receive a respectable grade this semester!

So, congratulations Detroit Free Press. You just failed English 225 at the University of Michigan. Maybe you shouldn't write your first draft the night before it's due.

Is Rich Rod a Michigan Man?

The Michigan head football coach being a Michigan Man is something that was extremely important to Michigan fans when choosing a successor to Lloyd Carr. Luckily, it was also a high priority for Bill Martin and his advising committee.


The Original Michigan Man



You could trace the origins of Michigan Men back to Fritz Crisler and Fielding Yost, but the man who both coined and defined that term was Bo Schembechler. Bo turned around a football program that was struggling to live up to its once found tradition. He won games, but more importantly, he did it the right way. He not only developed great football players, but he developed great people... he turned boys into Michigan Men.

Lloyd Carr did the same. At Carr's final team banquet, he became only the second non-football player (Bo was the first) to receive the "M" ring that is given to all seniors. On that night, Adam Kraus said that Lloyd was "not just a coach, but a maker of men." Michigan Men.

What was never made public was that before his death, Bo had a short list of coaches he wanted at Michigan. First was Kirk Ferentz. Second was Rich Rodriguez. There is no doubt in my mind that Bo would not have supported Rich Rod if he did not believe he was a true Michigan Man. We won't know for years whether Rodriguez will fulfill that legacy, but we can examine the things that make a Michigan Man and how Rodriguez fits that description.


Grades



At West Virginia, Rich Rodriguez proved that academics were important to him. His teams were always among the leaders in GPA in the Big East. This particular article shows Rodriguez's passion towards academics. One particular excerpt reads:

“More than 45 guys on our team had a GPA of over 3.0,” he said. “That’s the first time that’s ever happened in the history of West Virginia football.” He said there is a wall in the football offices that has pictures of all the players who get over 3.0. “The only way you can get your picture on that wall is to go over 3.0. The players come to me and tell me, ‘Coach, I’m going to be over 3.0. I’m going to get on that wall this semester.’ Whatever motivates them, I’m going to try and do.”

In 2008, the Michigan football team set a record for their highest GPA in the program's 130 year history. Coming to Michigan, the best thing any of these football players can do is graduate. Coming from someone who just graduated from the University of Michigan, the amount of doors that degree opens up is priceless. If Rodriguez can continue to strive for high academic standards and high graduation rates, he will have helped the student-athletes more than anything he could do on the football field.




Recruiting Integrity

For those who don't follow recruiting closely, there is a "silent period" in which coaches aren't allowed to directly contact potential recruits. Under Lloyd Carr, Michigan always seemed to lose their position with recruits during this period, obviously because he followed the no-contact rules. When Rodriguez first came to Michigan, his recruiting came into question because he "stole" a few recruits from fellow Big Ten coaches. But, he did nothing wrong during that time. Yet, this year, Michigan lost ground with one recruit in particular. When his fellow Michigan recruits explained the situation to him, the recruit reported that Michigan had bolted to the top of his board. Recruiting with integrity draws kids who value integrity.

Another common recruiting tactic is referred to as negative recruiting. Rather than selling their school, the coach points out negative aspects of opposing programs to negatively impact the recruit's interest in that school. Urban Meyer is notorious for doing this. In fact, he was at it again recently. Here's a comment regarding 5-star defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd on why Floyd recently cooled on Penn State:

“The staff there (at Florida) spent a lot of time talking about how many players get in trouble at Penn State and how it’s not a good place to be,” the source continued. “That is when (Sharrif) got worried about that kind of stuff and really cooled on them.”



Now, here's a comment from a freshman's dad who was recruited by Rich Rodriguez:

"Michigan never did any negative recruiting. When we met coach Rod and Frey, they said, "we play the best players, be it a freshman or a senior. If you come to Michigan you will compete each week for the opportunity to play. Yhere are no guarantees here. What Michigan can offer you is the finest education you can get and the opportunity to play football."


Makers of Men

As stated earlier, making Michigan Men is what Bo and Lloyd were so great at. While it's impossible to predict whether Rich Rod will do that, his emphasis on academics and integrity make it easy to believe that he's going to be committed to developing not only good players but good people. Just today, Rodriguez commented on Jason Forcier, a player who he never has nor never will coach:

"He is going to get into the ‘real world’ sort of speak and he’s a great young man and he’ll have success. I don’t know which area he is going into, but I’m going to be someone to try to help because I just think that this guy is going to have great success in this business world.”

Forcier was attempting to join the football team but wasn't allowed to for logistical reasons. Yet, Rodriguez is committed to helping him succeed in his future. Rich Rodriguez does not owe Jason Forcier anything. But, he wants to help a kid who he thinks can be successful. Rodriguez also recognizes his potential, which is an asset in and of itself.

I am confident that the ability of Rodriguez to recognize potential both on and off the field will be something that will lead to future success as both a football coach and a Michigan Man. Integrity? He has it. Just give the guy a chance. Someday, in the very near future, Rich Rodriguez will make Michigan fans very, very proud. Not just as a football coach... but as a true Michigan Man.

Explaining Rich Rod Optimism (in depth)

Whether it be Michigan fans, Michigan State fans, or Ohio State fans, people are understandably pessimistic when it comes to the future of Michigan football. I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I am firmly "All In" for Michigan, and I expect nothing but great things from Rich Rodriguez. But, why? After all, Michigan only won 3 games last year amidst a slew of transfers. Perhaps you don't know the whole story. Maybe the media isn't reporting the entire story. So, why am I optimistic? Allow me to explain.


Past History

You can look at numerous examples of guys who have taken over a program, changed it, and failed. Bill Callahan tried to turn Nebraska into a West Coast Offense and failed. There are also plenty of examples of coaches who have struggled in their first years, and gone on to see great success. Pete Carroll went 6-6 in his first year at USC. Bob Stoops went 7-5 in his first year at Oklahoma. Jim Tressel went 7-5 in his first year at Ohio State.

Since you can find multiple examples of both, it is more important to look at the individual cases. Jim Tressel also went 2-9 in his first year at Youngstown State before leading them to four 1-AA National Championships.

Accordingly, let's look at Rich Rodriguez's history.

Before Rodriguez arrived at Glenville State, they had not won a conference championship since 1958. It was as bad a program as you'll find. Glenville State's records in Rich Rod's first three years were 1-7-1, 4-5-1, and 6-4. In his fourth year, Glenville State won 10 games, starting a streak of four consecutive conference championships.

From Glenville State, Rodriguez took the offensive coordinator job at Tulane. In his first year, Tulane went 7-4. In his second year, Tulane went undefeated (12-0) and quarterback Shaun King became a star and was subsequently drafted into the NFL.



Rodriguez followed Tommy Bowden to Clemson in 1999. In 1999, Clemson was 6-6. In 2000, Clemson went 9-3 as quarterback Woody Dantzler slowly turned into a star and Heisman candidate.



After his years of success, Rodriguez took the job at West Virginia in 2001. In his first year, West Virginia struggled and went 3-8 (1-6). By comparison, in 2008 Michigan went 3-9 (2-6). In his second year, West Virginia improved greatly, went 9-4, and made a bowl game. When Rodriguez got his stud quarterback in 2005 with Pat White, West Virginia went 11-1 and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.



Rich Rodriguez's coaching career has shown a clear trend.

1. Struggle the first year during an adjustment period.
2. Get a stud quarterback to develop.
3. Improve rapidly.

Michigan fulfilled #1 with their 3-9 record in 2008. They have Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner (in 2010) to fulfill #2. It's fair to assume that #3 will happen in the near future, considering Rodriguez's past history.




The Spread

Today, the spread offense has become widely popular and is used in many different ways. The many variations of the offense is something that is often overlooked. The Patriots run the spread offense, but they pass the ball forty times a game. Oklahoma ran a similar offense in 2008. Rich Rodriguez was impressed enough with Oklahoma's offense last year that he and the Michigan coaches visited Norman to learn from the Oklahoma coaches. Rodriguez is not one to settle, the offense is constantly evolving.

At Tulane and Clemson, Rodriguez's offenses ran the ball 54% of the time in his first year. At West Virginia, the offense ran the ball 57% of the time. In 2008, Michigan also ran the ball 57% of the time. At each stop, the percentage of running plays have gradually increased. This is largely because Rodriguez implements the system slowly because the zone-read offense that Rodriguez runs is a very complex system. Ask Urban Meyer.

Meyer consistently credits Rodriguez with teaching him the run spread offense that Meyer currently runs at Florida. But, if you watch Meyer's first year at Florida closely, you won't see the same playbook you see today. Meyer learned from Rodriguez that you can't implement the entire system at once. Meyer added the more complex plays in years two and three, just as Rodriguez suggested.



This explains the dull offense that Michigan fans complained about in 2008. It seemed, at times, that Michigan's offense ran only five or six plays. Well, they did. In 2009, the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers will all have more options in those plays. Being more comfortable with the offense, they will be allowed to make reads based on the defenses they are facing. When everyone gets on the same page, the offense is scary good. Ask the Big East.


But, why not adjust?

I have little doubt that if Ryan Mallett, Mario Manningham, and Adrian Arrington would have stayed at Michigan, Rodriguez would have adjusted appropriately. But, they all left for various reasons. I have no problem with that, they were certainly entitled to do so.



So, with Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan, who really don't fit any successful offensive system well, Rodriguez was limited with what he could do. The offensive line was young and the wide receiver depth was pathetic. So, what benefit would have come from running a pass-style spread offense in 2008? I can't imagine Threet or Sheridan would have been any more effective in a pass-heavy offense.

Rather, the strength of the offense was the running back position. So, it makes perfect sense to dive into the zone-read, run-oriented offense immediately. If nothing else, Rodriguez was taking advantage of his strongest offensive position group-- the running backs. At the same time, Rodriguez could make the transition to the offense he is so well-known for quicker. Michigan was going to be a zone-read offense eventually. If they couldn't run a normal offense anyways, the immediate transition that Rodriguez made was an easy decision. Anyone suggesting he should have tried to run a pro-style offense is simply short sighted.


Transfers/The Barwis Effect

One of the biggest additions along with Rodriguez is strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis. Barwis is an intense coach who is known across the country for his success in the weight room. With Barwis came a lot of change. Players were expected to dedicate a lot more time to strength and conditioning. Long gone was the time where players could go to practice and work out "on their own." If you don't want to put in the time with Mike Barwis, you won't be on the team.



The second major change was that offensive linemen were expected to run with everyone else. That was not the case under Lloyd Carr. Many of the offensive linemen signed up to play for the more relaxed Coach Carr. If you watched the transfers closely, most of them were offensive linemen: Justin Boren, Alex Mitchell, Jeremy Ciullo, Kurt Wermers, and Dann O'Neill. Rodriguez and his players have taken the high road, refusing to comment on players that have transferred. Rodriguez often says, "I only talk about players that play for Michigan."

Others close to the program have confirmed the change among offensive linemen running and the disdain many of the transfers showed to the change, particularly Boren, Mitchell, and Ciullo. But, that of course doesn't get printed.


Family Values


Relating to the transfer issue, Justin Boren made a quite a splash when he said after transferring, "I have great trouble accepting that those family values have eroded in just a few months." So, Justin transfers to Ohio State and days later his brother Zac, who didn't hold a Michigan offer, committed to Ohio State. I'm sure that was a big coincidence. Plus, he's in great shape!



One of Boren's main complaints was that the coaching staff used a lot of foul language. Well, you're not in junior high anymore. Coach Rodriguez has addressed this indirectly. Rodriguez and the coaches bring their entire families to practice. So, as Rodriguez said, if he feels comfortable enough swearing and yelling in front of his family (including his young son), could the stuff they are saying really be all that bad?

Kurt Wermers who transferred recently said, "Coach (Lloyd) Carr's staff was a whole different ballgame. It was like a family. But when Rodriguez came in, it was a whole different feeling." Days after Wermers transferred, it was announced that he was academically ineligible.

Sorry that you still have to go to class, Kurt.

The few guys that have been outspoken after their departures have created a lot of stir among the media. But, any player who transfers from a program is going to have some sort of agenda. Even so, not every transfer was entirely unhappy.

Toney Clemons said, "“I still love Michigan. It’s still my No. 1. Athletically, this is the right move for me."

Marell Evans recently transferred, going out the right way by saying of Rodriguez, ""He's a great man and I respect the man. He wanted me to think about this decision and said I'm a big part of the program. But I respectfully wanted to leave the program."

Clemons and Evans were nothing but grateful toward Rodriguez and the opportunities he gave them, but those comments were pushed to the fifth page of the sports section.

You ask current players and they speak nothing but highly of Rodriguez and his family values. On recruiting trips, Rodriguez and the coaches stand in front of all of the recruits and introduce them and their entire families. All of the coaches bring their families to practice and Schembechler Hall, something that reminds me of "family man" Tony Dungy. Players' families hold open invitations to attend practices.

All of this is clearly the work of a man who is intent on destroying the family values at the University of Michigan.


Speed, Speed, Speed

One notable difference that is not often discussed is the different type of players that Rich Rodriguez is bringing to Ann Arbor. Long gone are the days of 350 pound offensive linemen and half the roster coming from Michigan.

Of Michigan's incoming freshmen class, EIGHT come from Florida. Of Michigan's 2010 recruiting class, seven of the current commitments come from Ohio.

In-state recruiting is important. But now, Rodriguez is focusing on fast, talented states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Florida consistently produces the fastest players every year. It's no coincidence that Miami (FL), Florida State, and Florida always produce the best NFL athletes. Put those guys into a system like Rodriguez's that takes advantage of the athletic abilities of skill players, and you can't help but be optimistic.

Think back. How often were Michigan fans disappointed with a guy like Pierre Rembert or Justin Fargas who had tons of athletic ability that was never taken advantage of? Those days are gone. With Devin Gardner committed, Michigan fans can feel confident that they now have a system to take advantage of his abilities.

The Big Ten better take notice. Michigan will be back soon. Better than ever.

Finishing Out The Top 25 (11-25)

Last time, we went over the top 10 in the preseason USA Today Coaches' poll. Today, we go over the final 15.


11. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is definitely a team to watch in 2009. If nothing else, their offense should be one of the most exciting offenses in the country. Quarterback Zac Robinson returns along with his favorite target Dez Bryant. He loses tight end and safety valve Brandon Pettigrew, but Bryant proved in 2008 that he can shoulder the offensive load. Expect Oklahoma State to struggle on defense, but they should be used to having to outscore their opponents. An even better offense in 2009 may allow Oklahoma State to break through and beat some of the top teams in the Big 12.

Critical Game: vs. Georgia, 9/05


12. California

Nate Longshore is gone at quarterback, but running back Jahvid Best should get some Heisman Trophy consideration in 2009. He is simply among the best running backs in the country. The offense should be fine as long as newcomer Kevin Riley doesn't make too many mistakes in throwing the ball. Cal's defense is where they will win games. They lose three of their four top linebackers, but everyone else returns on defense. If the offense can replace center Alex Mack and Nate Longshore, Cal could put some pressure on USC in the Pac 10.

Critical Game: vs. USC, 10/03


13. Georgia

Georgia has to replace their All-American backfield, with Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno both going to the NFL. Georgia has a lot of talented running backs to replace Moreno, but finding the correct quarterback might prove trouble. Veteran Joe Cox could be solid, but he has some young talent pushing him that might cause controversy in Athens. The defense should carry Georgia early on, hopefully long enough to find some stability at the quarterback position. With Florida in front of them, the SEC East title is probably a year or two away for Georgia.

Critical Game: @ Oklahoma State, 9/05


14. Oregon

First year coach Chip Kelly has a lot of talent to replace in Eugene. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli came on strong at the end of 2008 and should provide some help at a critical position. Oregon has two 1000 yard running backs, but lose both of their top receivers. Defensively, Oregon was the worst in the Pac 10 in 2008 and loses their two best players to the NFL. It could be a long year defensively for Coach Kelly. Oregon is probably still a year or two away, so their #14 ranking is a little surprising.

Critical Game: @ Boise State, 9/03


15. Georgia Tech

In his first year in 2008, Coach Paul Johnson provided Georgia Tech fans with some offensive excitement. Johnson's run option offense proved deadly with stud running back Jonathan Dwyer receiving the majority of the carries. Dwyer returns along with 8 other offensive starters which should improve on the already outstanding 5.5 rushing yards per attempt. The defense also returns 8 starters, making for an extremely veteran GT squad. Don't sleep on the Yellow Jackets in 2009.

Critical Game: vs. Virginia Tech, 10/17


16. Boise State

Four year starter Ian Johnson is gone, but the strength of the Boise State offense lately has been the passing game. Kellen Moore returns at quarterback, but he needs some young talent to step up at both receiver and running back to help him out some. In 2008, Boise State's defense was dominant. Expect much of the same in 2009. If Boise State can get past the first game of the year, their weak schedule gives them a great chance of going undefeated.

Critical Game: Oregon, 9/03


17. TCU

TCU returns only 4 starters on a defense that was one of the best in the country in 2008. With plenty of talent waiting and defensive genius Gary Patterson as head coach, don't expect a huge drop off from the defense in 2009. The strength of the offense in 2008 should remain strong in 2009 as TCU returns several running backs and their entire offensive line. TCU is definitely a team to watch in 2009.

Critical Game: @ Virginia, 9/12


18. Utah

After an undefeated year, expectations at Utah should be high. Unfortunately, conference foe TCU should be tough and Utah loses most of their offense including quarterback Brian Johnson, their three top receivers, and all-world kicker/punter Louie Sakoda. If Utah wants to return to the BCS, they will have to do it behind their defense which returns eight starters. In any case, the Mountain West should open up some BCS eyes in 2009.

Critical Game: @ Oregon, 9/19


19. Florida State

Seeing Florida State in the top 25 has become increasingly uncommon in recent years, but they find their way back in 2009. They may not stay there for very long, though. Returning quarterback Christian Ponder made FSU fans ponder why he had the job in 2008, throwing almost more interceptions than touchdowns. The defense has been strong in previous years, but loses a ton of talent including All-Americans Everette Brown and Myron Rolle. It could be another long year in Talahassee for Bobby Bowden.

Critical Game: vs. Miami (FL), 9/07


20. North Carolina

Butch Davis has a ton of young talent on the offensive side of the ball, but quarterback TJ Yates struggled mightily in 2008. This year, he'll be without his favorite targets in Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate. If the young talent can step up on offense, they could be exciting to watch. Defensively is a similar story. The results weren't there last year, but there is a lot of young talent ready to step up. Lots of potential for Butch Davis's team in 2009.

Critical Game: @ Georgia Tech, 9/26


21. Iowa

Those top 5 recruiting classes Kirk Ferentz came up with are now seniors, so expectations are high at Iowa. Iowa will need to replace offensive star Shonn Greene, who is now in the NFL. If they can do that, the offense should be solid. The defense returns a lot, but they need to replace both starting defensive tackles. If Iowa can fill a few holes, they can surprise a lot of people in the Big Ten, which is there for the taking in 2009.

Critical Game: @ Penn State, 9/26


22. Nebraska

Bo Pelini's offense should struggle in 2009, since they are pretty much starting from scratch. Nebraska loses quarterback Joe Ganz, running back Marlon Lucky, and their top two receivers. If Nebraska wants to stay in the top 25, their defense will have to win games. The defense returns a lot, but they will need to find a way to stop the high-powered Big 12 offenses. It may be a long second year for Coach Pelini.

Critical Game: @ Virginia Tech, 9/19


23. Notre Dame

This is a critical year for Charlie Weis if he wants to keep his job. The offense is loaded with a mix of veteran leadership and young talent. If they don't find a running game, though, they will struggle like they did in 2008. The defense also has a lot of young talent, and new defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta should provide some spark on that side of the ball. The coaching staff is coaching for their jobs, so expect some more aggressiveness in 2009 from the Fighting Irish.

Critical Game: @ Michigan, 9/12


24. Brigham Young

BYU loses some of their supporting roles offensively, but they return a great starting backfield in Max Hall and Harvey Unga. Defensively, BYU returns 8 starters from a mediocre defense in 2009. The key to BYU this year may be the offensive line which needs to come together to help out the talented skill players the Cougars have in the backfield.

Critical Game: vs. Oklahoma, 9/05


25. Oregon State

After a surprisingly good 2008 including a victory over USC, expectations are high in Corvallis for 2009. The Rodgers brothers provide talent at both the running back and wide receiver positions. Defensively, Oregon State returns only three starters. If they don't fill a lot of holes, it may be a disappointing year for Beaver fans in 2009.

Critical Game: @ USC, 10/24

Breaking Down the Top 25 (Top 10)

Earlier today, the coaches poll released their initial top 25. Who's ranked higher or lower than they deserve? Let's break it down. Team by team. Tonight we give you the top 10. Tuesday, we will tell you who from 11-25 may contend for the national championship.




1. Florida

Hard to argue with the defending champions as #1 considering they bring back most significant contributors not named Percy Harvin. With Tim Tebow and a young defense all gaining a year of maturity, Florida should be back better than ever.

Critical Game: @ LSU, 10/10




2. Texas

Colt McCoy should be a Heisman front runner along with Tebow and Bradford, but Texas has to replace their entire defensive line, including All-American Brian Orakpo. McCoy also loses his favorite target in Quan Cosby. Outside of the defensive line, the defense is loaded. If the line can hold up, Texas should win the Big 12.

Critical Game: @ Oklahoma State, 10/31





3. Oklahoma

Sam Bradford and his stable of running backs return, but Bradford too loses his favorite target in Juaquin Iglesias. In front of Bradford will be four new offensive linemen who will need to mesh early if Oklahoma wants to compete with Texas. The defense should be solid, but both starting safeties from 2008 are gone including stud Nic Harris. #3 might be asking a little too much of Oklahoma. Sam Bradford will have to carry this team for a while.

Critical Game: @ Miami (FL), 10/03


4. Southern Cal

Mark Sanchez and the entire group of starting linebackers left for the NFL. Fortunately for USC, they have an absurd amount of talent just waiting to step in and contribute. Whether it be Aaron Corp or Matt Barkley, USC will have a talented signal caller taking the snaps. And low expectations by their standards may be helpful for the Trojans.

Critical Game: @ Ohio State, 9/12



5. Alabama

This one surprises me a little bit. Alabama brings 9 starters back from a great defense, but they lose secondary leader Rashad Johnson and lack a true pass rusher. On offense, Alabama loses arguably their three offensive leaders-- John Parker Wilson, Glen Coffee, and Andre Smith. Wilson was never anything special, but he was steady and didn't make a lot of mistakes. Julio Jones will need to make some big plays to help out the offense or Alabama may disappoint some people in 2009.

Critical Game: vs. Virginia Tech, 9/05


6. Ohio State

Star quarterback Terrelle Pryor returns, but Ohio State has a lot to replace in 2009. On defense, the Buckeyes lose their three best players in James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, and Marcus Freeman. Even so, the secondary and defensive line should still be very good. Ross Homan is the lone returning linebacker, and needs to become a leader early to replace what was lost with Laurinaitis. On offense, Pryor loses leading rusher Chris Wells and will likely need to pass more, but without the services of Brians Robiskie and Hartline. Now is Pryor's chance to shine.

Critical Game: vs. USC, 9/12




7. Virginia Tech

After winning the ACC, Virginia Tech only loses six starters from 2008. The biggest loss is cornerback Macho Harris, but as always, Virginia Tech will re-load defensively. The real key to 2009 for Va Tech is quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Taylor is extremely athletic to the point where he probably reminds VT fans of a former quarterback who wore #7. If Taylor plays well, Virginia Tech can be a serious national championship contender.

Critical Game: vs. Alabama, 9/05


8. Penn State

The starting backfield of Darryl Clark and Evan Royster returns for the Nittany Lions in 2009. Unfortunately for Penn State, Clark and Royster are two of the few significant starters returning. Only four defensive starters return, and defensive ends Aaron Maybin and Maurice Evans are not among them. Clark also loses three offensive linemen in front of him. Penn State could struggle a little more than what the pollsters expect. A returning starting quarterback does not a team make.

Critical Game: vs. Iowa, 9/26


9. LSU

The strength of LSU in 2009 should be the defensive backfield. If the defensive line can replace top ten pick Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, the defense should be back to what we have come to expect from LSU. Offensively, quarterback Jordan Jefferson made strides in 2008 and should take the starting job for himself in 2009. If nothing else, Jefferson has excellent help in star running back Charles Scott. Expect LSU to return to form in 2009.

Critical Game: vs. Florida, 10/10


10. Mississippi

Former Texas quarterback Jevan Snead has made a name for himself at Ole Miss, partly due to his excellent performance in the upset over Florida in 2008. Snead loses his blindside protector in Michael Oher, however. If Ole Miss can improve on their poor pass defense, they can compete with LSU for the SEC West title.

Critical Game: vs. Alabama, 10/10

2009 Michigan Football PREVIEW

2008 was a season-long nightmare for Michigan football fans. Here is a brief recap of various streaks that were snapped and records that were set:

First losing season since 1967
Most losses (9) in a single season
First five game long losing streak to Ohio State
First loss to Michigan State since 2001

Add to those the belief among many critics that Michigan football is going in a poor direction and it becomes clear that 2009 is a critical year for Michigan football. Will Rich Rod's team rebound well? Will they continue their plummet? Let's break it down.


Offense


Quarterbacks

Undoubtedly, the quarterback play in 2008 was a huge reason for the poor play of the offense. Steven Threet wasn't mobile enough and Nick Sheridan's arm wasn't strong enough. Enter Tate Forcier. Anyone who watched Tate in the spring game came away nothing but impressed. Tate showed excellent quickness in evading defenders as well as superb accuracy. Forcier threw only a couple bad throws the entire scrimmage, and seemed to make good decisions throughout. Obviously, when he plays against defenses that are looking to knock him out of games, he may not be quite as accurate or as daring. But, Forcier proved that he has the ability that Threet and Sheridan lacked. Tate will start against Western Michigan, and I expect him to exceed true freshman expectations.

Tate Forcier is not the only true freshman quarterback that will see playing time in 2009. Denard Robinson will provide Rich Rod the breakaway speed at the quarterback position that he had at West Virginia in Pat White. For several weeks in the spring, Denard Robinson held the best 100M dash time of any high schooler in the country. Denard brings an athleticism to the quarterback position that has never before been seen in Ann Arbor. He will almost certainly see snaps as a result. Don't be surprised if you see Tate and Denard both in the backfield at some point.


Running Backs

The strength of Michigan's offense in 2008 becomes even stronger in 2009. Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown both return, and Rich Rod has hinted at using them in the backfield together in 2009. Minor is the power to Brown's speed. Add speedy newcomers Vincent Smith, Teric Jones, and Fitzgerald Toussaint to the mix, and offensive coordinator Calvin McGee has to be loving the options he has in the backfield. Vincent Smith came into Ann Arbor in the spring and impressed everyone that saw him. Just today, Rich Rod said that strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis told him that Teric Jones was the most impressive newcomer in the weight room. Barwis's praise is great to hear considering most of Jones's critics were concerned mostly about his size and strength. At fullback, Mark Moundros returns and is expected to see an even bigger role in the offense. Moundros is solid at a critical position in the spread offense. Expect to see a lot of different ball carriers and combinations in the backfield for Michigan this year.


Wide Receivers

This is the offensive position that I worry about most in 2009. There are lots of bodies at wide receiver, but someone needs to step up finally. At the slot, Martavius Odoms showed flashes of brilliance in 2008. If he can continue to improve and hold onto the ball, Odoms can be a valuable contributor at another critical position in the spread offense. Joining Odoms at the slot position are Roy Roundtree, Terrence Robinson, and Jeremy Gallon. Roundtree and Robinson were both redshirted in 2008. Roundtree has impressed people in practice with his good hands and football IQ. Robinson was injured in 2008. If he can stay healthy in 2009, T-Rob would provide the shifty complement to Odoms's straight-line speed. Jeremy Gallon is a true freshman who was one of the best wide receivers in the Army All-American practices in January. Gallon has already generated Steve Breaston comparisons. Look for Gallon to contribute on special teams immediately.

On the outside, Greg Matthews is a senior who has been fairly productive his entire career. He's not big or fast, but he has pretty good hands and gives the offense the steady option that any true freshman quarterback desperately needs. Darryl Stonum is a freak athletically, but needs to prove that he can be productive on the field. Coming off an injury, JR Hemingway is a question mark that could provide some depth among the outside recievers that is badly needed.

The tight end position might be the one saving grace. Kevin Koger was impressive whenever he touched the field in 2009 and Brandon Moore and Martell Webb will provide excellent depth.

Tate Forcier will need a couple guys to step up and be productive. If no one does, it could be another long year for the offense.


Offensive Line

The offensive line was another one of the biggest problems in 2008. With nearly everyone returning after an offseason working with Mike Barwis, there is plenty of reason to believe that the offensive line will be improved in 2009. Perhaps the most exciting news for the Michigan offensive line is that Mark Huyge has apparently stepped up enough to provide another legitimate right tackle starter. With Huyge at right tackle, Steve Schilling can move inside to right guard where he should be. The move of Schilling to guard is a huge move for the offensive line. Schilling has played out of position for two years and it has shown. Expect big things out of Steve Schilling this year. Mark Ortmann and David Moosman should start at left tackle and left guard, respectively. David Molk will remain the starting center and should continue to improve as he did during the 2008 season. If the offensive line plays to the level they are capable of, the Michigan offense should run much better in 2009.


Defense


Defensive Line

The defensive line is undeniably the strength of Michigan's defense in 2009. At defensive end, Brandon Graham has All-American potential. If he continues to progress normally, Graham should end up with 10+ sacks and even more tackles for loss. As a freshman, Mike Martin proved to be a force at defensive tackle. He's not huge, but he is extremely strong and is relentless in attacking the backfield and clogging up holes. In three down linemen sets, Martin will be the nose tackle. The third man in those sets will likely be Ryan Van Bergen. RVB came to Michigan as a defensive end, and has been a notoriously hard worker his entire career. Now a junior, Van Bergen should get his chance to start. Don't expect anything flashy from Van Bergen, but he should be solid enough. When Michigan runs a 4-3, RVB will probably shift to defensive end, leaving a spot alongside Mike Martin. That spot will likely go to either Ronald Sagesse or Will Campbell. Campbell is a raw, but extremely talented true freshman from Cass Tech. He may struggle his freshman year, but he's going to be an All-American someday. Sagesse has lost somewhere around 40 pounds and is in great shape. I would expect Sagesse to play the majority of time, with Campbell coming in occasionally to try to get to the quarterback.


Linebackers

The linebacker position was a glaring weakness in the 2008 Michigan defense. Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton return as starters. Ezeh makes a lot of tackles, but he is extremely poor in pass coverage. Mouton is a converted safety who is gradually learning the position. Mouton showed some progress in 2008. Hopefully, for Michigan fans' sakes, he continues to improve. New defensive coordinator Greg Robinson brings with him two new "hybrid" positions. The first is a DE/LB mix. Look for Brandon Herron or Marell Evans to start there. Evans struggled mightily when he played in 2008 but is supposedly a practice warrior. Herron is a little smaller and quicker, which might appeal to Robinson if he wants to get to the quarterback more. The second hybrid position is a safety/LB mix. Steve Brown is the starter there. Brown has struggled to the point of benching in his Michigan football career. But, his speed and talent are undeniable. Brown has shown an ability to run down and tackle the ball carrier on special teams. The move to closer to the line of scrimmage should help Brown a lot as most of his struggles have come in pass coverage. If the Michigan coaches can create schemes to keep Steve Brown moving forward, I think he could have a breakout year.


Defensive Backs


The cornerbacks are pretty set in stone with Boubacar Cissoko and Donovan Warren. Cissoko impressed a lot of people as a true freshman, and there's nothing to suggest he won't keep improving. Warren struggled after shining as a frosh, but that was mostly due to a combination of injuries and not seeing eye-to-eye with former DC Scott Shafer. If Warren is healthy and buys in to the new defensive schemes, Michigan has a great cornerback duo for the next two years. At safety, there is a lot of young talent. Troy Woolfolk has emerged as a lock to start at one of the safety positions. Troy's dad Butch was a star at Michigan, and his son has the chance to be one as well. Woolfolk should provide some speed at the safety position the like of which Michigan football hasn't seen in a long time. The other safety position will likely go to Mike Williams, who would be the hard hitter, and a nice complement to Troy Woolfolk. If Williams isn't starting, it's because true freshman Vlad Emilien has impressed people from the moment he stepped on campus. Vlad suffered an injury, though, so expect Williams to start initially. The defensive back group should, without a doubt, be improved in 2009.


Projected Starting Lineup:

QB- Tate Forcier
RB- Brandon Minor
FB- Mike Moundros
WR- Greg Matthews
WR- Darryl Stonum
WR- Martavious Odoms
TE- Kevin Koger
OT- Mark Ortmann
OT- Mark Huyge
OG- Steve Schilling
OG- David Moosman
C- David Molk

DE- Brandon Graham
NT- Mike Martin
DT/DE- Ryan Van Bergen
LB- Obi Ezeh
LB- Jonas Mouton
LB/DE- Brandon Herron
LB/S- Steve Brown
CB- Boubacar Cissoko
CB- Donovan Warren
S- Troy Woolfolk
S- Mike Williams