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August 10, 2011August 11, 2011

Football Practice Report August 9

Here are my observations from our brief opportunity (20 minutes) to view Michigan football practice.

Brady Hoke is definitely a hands-on coach. He spent time running drills and working with defensive lineman on techniques and was quick with instruction, criticism, and occasional praise.

He also spent time working with lineman to refine blocking technique during punting. During spring practice, I asked special teams coordinator Dan Ferrigno how he would motivate players to players to do the many thankless jobs critical to successful special teams play. He said that with a head coach like Brady who understood how important these aspects of the game are that wouldn’t be a problem. Seeing Hoke instructing the finer points of blocking for the interior lineman on the punt team reinforced this.

Continue reading “Football Practice Report August 9”

July 27, 2011March 13, 2012

2011 Michigan Wolverine Football Visitor’s Guide

This is the time of year when I get questions from people who are coming to Ann Arbor to see a Michigan football game. These are my personal recommendations. Your mileage may vary…

How do I get tickets?

It’s easy to get tickets for most games. The question is how much are you willing to pay? For the bulk of the games against minor opponents you can usually find tickets around the stadium on the day of the game far below face value. It’s simple supply and demand. There are 109,901 tickets available for every game. There are literally thousands of tickets bought and sold in the hours before the game outside the stadium and in the adjacent parking lots. It’s not unusual for tickets to be sold for far less than face value for a minor opponent. The best prices are usually found on game day right outside the stadium by people who line the streets on the way to the stadium.

Your best bet is to find season ticket holder just outside the stadium who is dumping extra tickets prior to entering.

Usually tickets are sold in pairs or singles. Getting more than two together is more difficult. For the big games this season (Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State) get ready to pay. If you want tickets in advance you’ll need to check the athletic web site, Stub-Hub, get them from a season ticket holder, or look on E-Bay.

Prior to game day you can usually find ticket scalpers outside the Michigan Union. Another place to look is check the window of the Coach & Four Barber shop www.coachand4.com on State Street by Mr. Spots. They have tickets in the window for most games.

How do I get there?

Michigan Stadium is located off of Interstate 94. Exit at Ann Arbor-Saline Road. There are signs and you’ll see LOTS of cars and sometimes a blimp or two circling the stadium.

Google Maps- Michigan Stadium

Where do I park?

Adjacent to Michigan Stadium on Ann Arbor-Saline Road is Pioneer High School. Plenty of parking is available. You can also park at the golf courses across the street. Many homeowners offer up their lawns as makeshift parking lots on game days.

As you cross the street to the stadium listen for the traffic officer as he or she harasses fans from the opposing school.

Costs Range from $20-$50 depending on proximity to the stadium.

WARNING- In cases of extremely bad weather (I.E. after days and days of rain or sleet/snow) both of these places may close to protect the grounds. In this case parking becomes nightmare. Park at Briarwood Mall and take the shuttle bus to the game. The shuttle also runs from many of the local hotels. Shuttle Info

What about camping?

RV owners can purchase a permit to camp in a designated area at Pioneer High School. The permit allows you to stay from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.

What about tailgating?

Tailgating is allowed in the parking areas around the stadium. Fans should note that upon departing for the game it highly recommended that you secure any belongings in your trunk. Looting of coolers and other items is known to occur.

What should I see while in Ann Arbor?

If you get into town a day before the game or stay after there are number of sights to see.

You can visit:

Michigan Stadium- it’s usually open 9-4:30 during the week (NOTE- since 9/11 the stadium is locked down 2-3 days before games.)

Stop by Schembechler Hall (AKA Fort Schembechler). This is where the Wolverines practice. Here’s a map of the area. Much of the tall brink wall that surrounded the outdoor practice field has been removed to make way for the constructon of the new indoor practice field. It’s directly adjacent to Schembechler Hall- you can’t miss it.

Dwarfing Schembecher Hall is the Al Glick Field House, one of the largest indoor practice facilities in the country.

If the team is practicing outdoors you might catch a glimpse of them from the overpass on Stadium street.

Yost Ice Arena (Web Page) named for Michigan Immortal Fielding Yost has a number of displays of Wolverine hockey memorabilia and is open practically all of the time.

Behind Schembechler Hall is Oosterbaan Field House (Web Page) an indoor football field. Sometimes you can sneak a peek of the field but football practices are closed.

Behind the Ticket office is the outdoor track where Jesse Owens once ran at the Big Ten Track Championships. Adjacent to the outdoor track in Revelli Hall where you might be able to catch the marching band practice.

Michigan Central Campus has a number of places to visit. Start at the Michigan Union (Web Site). Check out the place where President John F. Kennedy announced the formation of the Peace Corps marked on the front steps. Stop by and spin the Cube in the courtyard outside. A little ways down from the Union is the Kelsey Museum of Archeology which houses some nice artifacts. Across the street is the Angell Hall an impressive looking building whose design is reminiscent of a Greek temple. Behind Angell Hall, is the Michigan Diag. Note the Block ‘M’ engraved in the center, legend has it that if a freshman steps on the Block M they will fail their first exam. The Diag is home to all kinds of demonstrations and can be quite entertaining, especially on days when speaker will lecture passersby from the cement benches that surround the Diag. Adjacent to the Diag is the UGLI (undergraduate library) and also visible is the Michigan Bell Tower. The best museum on central campus is the Natural Science Museum which has a great a collection of dinosaur skeletons and even a stuffed Wolverine! Drive down Washtenaw away from campus and look for the Rock. It is a campus tradition for students to ‘paint the rock’. Legend says that it actually started out as a small pebble but has grown to its enormous size from the millions of layers of paint that have been applied over the years!

Ann Arbor Nightlife

If you’re looking to sample Ann Arbor nightlife Thursday night is the big bar night on campus. There are a number of bars and restaurants to sample.

Scorekeepers is a large sports bar and grill with music, multiple televisions, and pool tables. While you’re there take note of the large window in the front, former Wolverine Brian Griese threw a beer bottle through it after being kicked out of the establishment one night prior to the 1997 season.

Dominick’s (812 Monroe/734-662-5414) is a campus tradition located across from the Law School. Another campus favorite is Ashley’s (338 South State Street/734-996-9191).

Another campus haunt is Rick’s American Cafe Frankly, it’s a pit but don’t let that deter you- it features live music and sticky floors that will remind you of your college days. Outside of Rick’s is where former Wolverine captain Bennie Joppru allegedly got into a knock-down drag out fight with a member of the Wolverine wrestling team.

After a evening of carousing you may end up at the Brown Jug (1204 South University/761-3355) which is open until 2 AM. Yes, it takes its name from the trophy that Michigan and Minnesota play for every season. Rick’s and the Brown Jug are all within a block (and stumbling distance) of each other.

Where should I eat before the game?

Many people tailgate before games but if you want to grab some food these are some popular choices:

Maize and Blue Deli– $ 1329 S. University/734-996-0009.
Dimo’s Deli– $ 2030 West Stadium Boulevard/734-662-7944. My personal recommendation. Get the burger!!
Angelo’s– $ 1100 East Catherine at Glen/734-761-8996. Order anything that’s made with the homemade bread.
Weber’s Inn– $$ 3050 Jackson Road/734-769-2500. Offers an all-you-can-eat brunch. You can also park there and grab the shuttle over to the stadium.
Dibella’s– $ 904 West Eisenhower Parkway/734-997-9011. My new favorite sub place. Stop in and eat or grab these for your tailgate.

$= $5-$10 Entrees $$= $10-$15 Entrees $$$= $15 and Above Entrees

What radio stations cover Michigan Football in the area?

Many stations carry the games but the local Ann Arbor sports station is WTKA AM 1050 which talks about Michigan sports pretty much all the time.

What should I do on Game Day?

On Game day you have a few options. Decide if you want to see the band take the field. A truly awesome sight. If not you can follow the band as they march to the stadium also very cool. if you get to the Stadium a few hours early you can greet the teams as they arrive for the game (the stadium tunnel by Crisler Arena). Also note that since 9/11 the items that you can take into the stadium has been reduced.

Also note that due to the stadium upgrade project the athletic department strongly recommends that fans try to enter the stadium an hour before the game.

If you want to see the band take the field you need to be inside the stadium about 30 minutes before game time. You can also the see the Wolverines warm up sans shoulder pads. As the band takes the field look for the Drum Major. Traditionally, to prove their mettle they must perform the following stunt. The really good Drum Majors will touch the top of their hat to the ground (not just the plume). Another thing you may see is this. The tradition of showing all 4’s on the scoreboard has become to stand as a reminder that the team must play 4 strong quarters to insure victory. At least that’s how it was explained to former Athletic Director Tom Goss when he enquired about the practice. According to interviews with the scoreboard operator, it really began as a prank to see if anyone was paying attention to the scoreboard minutes before the game.

Hopefully you’ll sing the Victors A LOT. Know the words and remember to raise your arm whenever you sing the word ‘Hail’.

What about a game program?

The athletic department sells some really cool program that cost $5. Unfortunately there is no way that you will be able to keep it from being messed after you purchase it and after the game the vendors are long gone. If you want a keepsake I would recommend ordering the program from the athletic department media relations office and having it mailed to your house.

What should I eat at the game?

The concessions are plentiful: hot dogs, pizza, kielbasa, etc. My personal favorite are the Mr. Spots Subs (philly cheesesteak sandwiches). I also like the Italian sausages with peppers. Michigan Stadium serves Coke products. No alcohol is served at the stadium.

What if I need cash?

There are ATM’s available inside the stadium.

Where should I eat after game?

Most people leaving Michigan Stadium will travel back to the interstate using State or Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Think about that- 100,000 people are driving by- everything you see on that route (mostly chain restaurants) will be PACKED. Restaurants along those routes include Bennigan’s, Damon’s, Max & Erma’s, The Outback, TGI Fridays, and Joe’s Crab Shack. Come to think of it just about everything in Ann Arbor is packed after a football game. Here are some places that are off-the-beaten path but well worth the wait (I’ll list by specialty):

Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger– $ Hamburgers- 551 S. Division/ 734-663-3103.
Banfield’s East-$ Hamburgers- 3140 Packard Street/ 734-971-3300.
Argiero’s– $$ Italian- 300 North Detroit/ 734-665-0444.
Mr. Spots– $ Philly Cheese steak sandwiches- 810 South State/ 734-747-7768.
Wings Pizza N Things– $$ American- 6877 State Street/ 734-429-7700.
Real Seafood Co.– $$$ Seafood, duh!- 341 S. Main/ 734-769-7738.
Palio– $$$ Italian- 347 S. Main/ 734-930-6156.
Original Cottage Inn Restaurant– $$ Pizza, Italian- 512 East William/ 734-663-3379.
China Chef– $ Chinese 2870 Washtenaw Avenue/ 734-434-8877. Good food, large portions, cheap prices. A little out of the way but worth the trip.
Ichiban– $$$ Japanese Steak House/sushi 4641 Washtenaw Avenue/ 734-975-0589.
Frita Batidos– $ Cuban 117 W. Washington/ 734-761-2882.
Pizza House– $$ American cuisine 618 Church Street/ 734-995-4995.
Carlyle Grill $$$ American cuisine 3660 Jackson Road/ 734-213-9800.

$= $5-$10 Entrees $$= $10-$15 Entrees $$$= $15 and Above Entrees

Hyped but overrated- think Drew Henson 🙂 These are the places that many people will always ask you if you’ve eaten upon hearing that you went to Ann Arbor…

Gratzi– $$$ 326 South Main/ 734-663-6387.
Gandy Dancer– $$$ 401 North Depot/ 734-769-0592.
Zingerman’s– $$ 422 Detroit Street/ 734-663-3354. New York deli- GOOD, New York Prices, OUCH

Where should I get my Michigan Gear?

No pilgrimage to the Big House would be complete without purchasing tokens of your devotion. There are numerous vendors selling stuff in and around the stadium.

April 16, 2011August 11, 2011

2011 Spring Football

January 31, 2011August 11, 2011

2011 M Football Brady Hoke Succeeds Rich Rodriguez

To the delight of many Michigan Football players who played for or watched Brady Hoke while he helped lead the Blue to a National Championship in 1997 as the Wolverine Defensive Line Coach, and to the chagrin of some Michigan fans who had their caps set for Jim Harbaugh, or Les Miles or anybody but Hoke, Brady Hoke has been named University of Michigan Football Coach.

It seems to me that all of us will find that Brady fits the ?Michigan Mold? and he will represent the University of Michigan and its football program, its traditions and values, with honesty. He will restore the program to its former toughness.

He has family values in spades, wants tough guys on his defensive line, and on his team as a whole, and will toe the line to stay inside the NCAA rules.

He will bring a diverse offense and use personnel in a system that utilizes a player?s talents to best advantage.

He has the kind of personality that invites people to like him, but make no mistake he can be tough when tough is called for.

He is not Lloyd Carr and will not play Lloyd?s brand of football. He is not a Lloyd Carr crony. He is his own man.

He does not tolerate losing and will do all that is within the rules to win. He will work hard and his team will work hard.

All that being said he has a tough row to hoe. He is behind in recruiting for this year. Way behind.

More importantly he has to assemble a staff. That might be the most important thing that he has to do, to provide a staff that is all on the same page and which can produce in the Big Ten.

I would be remiss if I did not thank Rich Rodriguez for his effort in Ann Arbor. Even if the results in the win column were not what we, or he, wanted for the past three years, he worked hard, and did what he could to remain in Ann Arbor. And lets quit dumping on Lloyd Carr, and appreciate the only National Title Michigan has managed in fifty years. And let’s forget Les Miles, and Jim Harbaugh as coaches, but, of course, not as people and Michigan men.

It is past time the Michigan Wolverines snarled with one voice. I am sick of forums with conspiracy theories, Brandon bashing, complaining about that ho hum Hoke, kicking Carr, and insulting Rodriguez. The Free Press remains fair game.

AD Brandon thinks that Brady Hoke can do it. Let?s give him a warm welcome and all the help we can in what will be no minor task.

How soon he wins is an issue, because we have three years of frustration behind us.

Fans want winning sooner than later. Their irritation is also understood.

Things can only be accomplished through wins.

Welcome aboard Head Football Coach Brady Hoke!

Good Luck, and Go Blue!

January 4, 2011July 27, 2011

2011 M Football Bowled Over, M 14 MSST 52

The Mississippi State University Bulldogs dominated the young Wolverines at will in establishing their football superiority in the Progressive Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on New Years Day. This completes the 2010 season on a sour note. For Michigan, it should have been called the Regressive Gator Bowl as it was the worst Bowl loss in Michigan football history. The Wolverines are now 19 and 21 in Bowls.

This was the Wolverine?s first Bowl game under Coach Rodriguez, and some hoped it a chance for redemption of coaching reputation, and a chance to prove team improvement. It was thought that the Wolverines could compete with a mid level SEC team. That proved untrue.

Unfortunately, game day completed on a note too familiar, as the Wolverines were embarrassed 14 to 52, and were competitive only for the first quarter. It was 14 to 31 at the half, and the game was essentially over at that point.

MSST played well, and they proved too much for the Wolverines in all three phases of the game. Whether that should be stated as all four phases of the game (including coaching), will undoubtedly be decided by AD David Brandon in the very near future.

In my opinion, Coach Rodriguez did not add the needed positives to his body of work to gather sufficient traction for longevity as the University of Michigan Football Coach. He is after all, 15 and 22, and 1 and 11 against ranked teams. Opponents have consistently scored more than 34 points against the Wolverines this season.

Outside of the beautiful weather, and perhaps the hospitality of the folks managing the event, not much went right for the bumbling Wolverine offense, defense, or special teams. This beat down was only a surprise offensively as the Wolverine?s echoed their usual defensive body of work this year when facing some of the better teams on their schedule. They could not stop the run game of a one-dimensional running team. Fourteen points by this offense, usually capable of far more, is certainly sub par.

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Denard had an ordinary day (for him). He had 256-yards passing and 58-yards running. Statistically, that is not that bad of an ?ordinary? day, with two TDs. But an errant pass helped seal the Wolverines fate. Make no mistake that he has had a brilliant and record setting season. He has 4,272 total offensive yards, and that is a school record. He has had a spectacular season. But the Wolverines needed more from him on Saturday to entertain a victory. And he needed more weapons helping him.

Denard has not proved a winner against the better teams. That will come next season as he hopefully gets more help from his friends. It will be worth the price of a ticket to watch him. There is no question he is the team MVP.

Saturday I had hoped a healthy Denard could make us competitive, but he could not. The running game was stuffed. Yards after catch were denied. He simply did not have enough offensive help, and the offense has sort of become a one trick pony. The offense could not convert several critical 4th downs, or attempt 3-point FGs because they simply can?t kick them. Obviously our scheme is well scouted by this time of year.

Other turnovers, and dropped passes also hurt, as did penalties, not to mention decent defense by MSST, and 481-yards and 26 first downs by their offense.

It was no surprise the defense played like they have played all year. It was no surprise they had trouble lining up properly, sometimes appeared confused, remained ineffective tacklers, had an inability to stop third downs, or corral the lumbering, but mobile Bulldog quarterback. Not surprising that they yielded record numbers of points today as they have over much of the season. They let out a short dump pass for an 81-yard TD. They confirmed again that they are among the worst defenses in the Big Ten, and nationally.

Sad to say that is a fact and some played hard all season, and they had some moments this season, but overall the team defensive results are still nothing but poor. No question, the worst defensive season in Michigan history.

Was it all because of injuries and young players? Or is some of it because of scheme and ineffective coaching? Or is it some of both? Do you believe that the defense has headed in the right direction the past three years? Certainly the offense has taken some strides, has seen measurable improvement, but defense and special teams remain special disasters.

As expected, the special teams were no blessing again. A punt was blocked, a short field goal missed, but Martavious Odoms returned from a broken foot in good form on KO returns.

The first half started off well enough, with Denard weaving runs of 22 and 24-yards. An 11-play, 73-yard drive was completed with a 10-yard TD pass to Roy Roundtree. M 7-MSST 0.

MSST immediately answered with an 11-play, 79-yard creation featuring a 4-yard TD pass. It was 7 up and I thought the shoot out was on.

MSST then blocked a Wolverine punt, and hit a 42-yard FG to break the tie. M 7-MSST 10. It seemed a happy event that they were held to a field goal.

M answered with a beautiful 27-yard TD pass to Odoms. Perfect throw and catch. M 14-MSST 10.

Michigan was unable to score again so the expected shoot out never materialized. The Wolverines fueled the Bulldogs scoring frenzy with an interception. The Bulldogs never looked back as they produced a couple of long drives for scores by half-time to produce an overwhelming 14-31 deficit.

MSST didn?t need any more scores to win, but they engineered more long TD drives after halftime and an 81-yard screen pass to end the thumping at M 14-MSST 52.

To start the second half, M?s defense stopped the Bulldog?s opening drive, but to no avail. The Wolverine?s offense had been solved, and it could not score. And the defense had no more stops. The embarrassment was complete.

Everybody wonders if loss should, and will signal the end of the Rodriguez era. Wonders if there will be hurricane winds of change in Ann Arbor regarding the entire coaching staff, if it is the end of the Rodriguez era, and is the dawn of the Harbaugh, or Hoke, or whoever wants the punishment, era. Many fans are on board the Harbaugh train.

There are compensations even for losing coaches. RR would take 2.5 million out the door, more than the lifetime earnings for most of us. In that sense he would go out a winnerfrom Ann Arbor.

They say only the hairdresser of a lady that colors her hair knows her true hair color, and only David Brandon knows for sure if Coach Rodriguez and all of his staff will continue to be Maize and Blue.

Logically, we should know the why and who of it in a few days. I would think the waiting period has to be over very soon. At no time has AD Brandon made a strong statement of support for RR, and this has fueled speculation that change is imminent. The lack of positive results has caused that speculation to ignite like a magnesium fire, and burn intensely.

It is sad to think that RR has come to this point as chief of the Wolverines. I have always wanted him to succeed, because I want the Wolverines to succeed, but it is my obligation to report it as I think it is. My uninformed guess is that there will be a change of all or part of the football staff.

Coach Rodriguez came to Ann Arbor with a few cans tied to his tail, factions at Michigan tied on other cans, and some of the press has missed no opportunity to slur him and the program when and where it can. Makes you want Coach to succeed, but it is a wins and loss business and he is not winning, nor effectively competing. Some sort of signature win continues to elude him. The defense is not any better than the two prior years.

I will support whatever David Brandon does. He has a lot at stake in this call, as it will likely be the athletic director?s biggest career decision. It will be a decision that may determine his legacy. It is hard to see how he will satisfy all of the factions.

In any case, Saturday?s game was a sad end to a throw away season even though it was a 7-6 season and therefore showed a bit of improvement in the win/loss column over the two previous season under RR?s tutelage. It seems a sad punctuation mark to end the careers of seniors such as Schilling, Mouton, Rogers, Dorrestein, Webb, Ezeh, Ferrara, Banks and Patterson, who obviously would have preferred a win to remember. They will have to pack it away and forge ahead in the real world now.

As always, I thank you for reading this column and visiting the site. Hopefully next year will be a better season, but for sure it is going to be most interesting.

I can be emailed if you like at oldblue@cablespeed.com. I enjoy hearing from you, whatever your opinions, and I hope the New Year brings you all the health and happiness you need or want.

Go Blue!