FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ThunderHead]

The Detroit Free Press backing up Michigan Football??? WOW  

That's like Fox backing up O'Riley.  

Here's some other headlines from the DFP

MICHIGAN MAKES AMAZING COMEBACK VS SPARTANS
but loses to msu in overtime

MICHIGAN SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD VS SPARTANS
but loses football game

FORICER BURNS MSU ON OPENING DRIVE
then gets picked off and loses game

MICHIGAN HIRES FOOTBALL GOD HOKE
dantonio wins big ten


Go Trine!!!

[sac]

I think the point was more that UM and MSU aren't exactly going directly head-to-head for players, and when they have Michigan has won those battles more frequently.   Even in the one year MSU definitively had the upper hand in this State they were even head-to-head.  THAT is contradictory to the "MSU is dominating in-state recruiting theories".

Both schools have done a very good job outside the state, but both have lost a lot of good football players from Michigan who chose to go elsewhere.   Ingrahm, Barksdale, Ronald Johnson----Bama, LSU and USC, all 3 drafted in the NFL.

The difference between the programs seems to be the players that have come from out-of-state.

3-0 has much more to do with complete and utter defensive coaching incompetence from one of these schools than any big difference in talent.

Nice article here that confirms some of your observations, SAC   

http://detnews.com/article/20110519/SPORTS0201/105190355

Add CB Terry Richardson, Cass Tech to UM's haul, who committed this morning.

That makes it 6-0 in-state head-to-head, 9-0 including out-of-state

[ThunderHead]

The omissions from the article say more than the content that is actually included.

- They're quick to say that RB wasn't offered by UM, but fail to mention there is probably no family as synonymous with MSU football as the Bulloughs. An offer from UM would be a waste of a stamp.

- They fail to mention that the UM teams that lost to MSU the last 3 years were made up of higher rated kids than the MSU teams providing the beat downs.

- And then there's this line: "Look at who they got," Wilcher said. "They're mostly defensive players." Of course it would be too much rational journalism to follow up on that quote by pointing out the drastic differences in the defenses of last year's UM and MSU teams, clearly giving UM all of the playing time in the world to offer these guys. But now, they instead want to have a pro-UM coach slurp Mattison.

The Mattison slurp-fest is eerily similar to the Barwis slurp-fest from 3 years ago.

This is a very near sighted approach. An approach Michigan fans took when Dantonio started winning the recruiting battles. It leads to wins eventually because talent wins out.

With that said, funny how the Detroit News wasn't quick to point this out when MSU was doing it. Is the sky falling? No. Is this nothing to be concerned about? No. Somewhere in between.

[Uncle Rico]

I think you are scrounging to look for ommisions because you don't like reading what WAS included in the article. 

All I remember was this chirping on how michigan state out-recruits Michigan in-state, and now that is no longer true.  So Michigan out-recruits msu in-state AND out of state.

Yep, Michigan got a LOT of solid defensive talent.  That was neglected for the last three years and now the current coaching staff addressed the need.  Defense wins championships, something Rich Rod failed to recognize.

No, the acknowledgement of Mattison's influence (a defensive coordinator) is not nearly comparable to a strength and conditioning coach and I am surprised you even tried to go that route.  Recruits weren't claiming they came to Michigan because of Barwis like they are for Mattison.  You should know better.  I will take a pro defensive coordinator over a strength coach any day. 

Funny how the coaching change at Michigan wipes out Dantonio in the recruiting wars, and Dantonio had X number of years head start on Hoke establishing his reputation.   

[DadofBashWarrior..]

My daughter graduated from Hope College on 5-8-11...great school...was a wonderful day for the graduation and I am so proud of her...She really had a wonderful experience there...

Hope College can be found in the book ...40 Colleges That Will Change Your Life ...by Lauren Pope

"Hoping" the football team takes a step up this year...

[formerd3db]

DadofBashWarrior:

Congratulations on your daughter's recent graduation.  Indeed, you all had a beautiful day for graduation.  Our neighbors daughter graduated there the same day as yours.  I am glad your daughter had a wonderful experience at Hope.  Of course, any of these small colleges provide a memorable and unique experience for our young people regardless of what our own alma maters are.  Both my wife and I as well as both of our daughters are Hope grads and while deep down we wanted them to go to Hope - and, of course, are glad they chose to do so - we did not push them towards that whatsoever.  We took them to many different colleges and universities (both big and small) and in the end, let them make their own decision. Hope is not for everyone, just like any school, yet each young person has to evaluate all the various factors involved after seeing campuses, talking with former and current students, etc., etc..  Anyway, I'm glad your daughter found the right fit.  Hope indeed is a special place, although so is Wabash.  Again, congrats to her and your family and all the best for the next chapter in her life.

[ThunderHead]

Uncle Rico,

I'll I was saying was Barawis did get a lot of HYPE...a LOT of hype. You're less educated then I thought if you deny this in anyway. Heck, U of M sold their entire weight room on this guys whims. And I know of one recruit in particular who went to Michigan specifically because of what Barawis was going to do for him, all things equal, he felt the strength Coach at U of M would make the biggest difference for his NFL dreams.

SPEAKING of ex-NFL Defense Coordinators - you just got rid of one who won TWO super bowls. Greg Robinson was defensive coordinator for three teams in the National Football League: the Kansas City Chiefs under Dick Vermeil, the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan, where his team won two Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998, and the New York Jets under Pete Carroll. So it's not unrealistic to believe that an athlete felt he was going to get coached up by the best on the field with Coach Robinson, and looked at the strength and conditioning department as an evaluation tool. Again, I personally know several recruits who do exactly that, when all things are equal.

I definitely applaud Coach Hoke and his recruiting efforts in Michigan. He's doing very well, and I think that's great, maybe Michigan can again become at least competitive in the Big Ten.

Now this all said, lets NOT for get that RR out recruited Coach D EVERY year according the the experts, and yet 3-0. Again it's about what the guys do when they GET TO SCHOOL, not about what they did IN HIGH SCHOOL. That doesn't equal wins. Like I've said 100 times, and like you guys ignore 100 times, MSU was better at at least 16 of 22 positions on the field last season, plus special teams. So you can't say - not in a MILLION years - that the talent was equal. That my friend, is ridiculous. MSU was flat out more talented and as hard as is it for you U of M fans to admit, it's the truth. AGAIN - SCOREBOARD.

Lets also not forget that Hemholt has always been a big Michigan fan, that's not debatable. His view is incredibly slanted. Matt Dorsey at the DFP may have an entirely different view, given he's a pro-MSU guy and covers MSU recruiting, yet I noticed they didn't bother getting his thoughts for the article.

Coach D is bringing in the guys he wants, he will continue to build the Spartans into a solid program the right way. I can see why Hoke is attractive to recruits, he's got all kinds of available playing time to offer. MSU does not.

ANYWAY Uncle Rico - seeing how we're throwing speculation around for fact, let me give you this speculatory fact. MSU will beat Michigan this year...again. Then next year MSU will again...beat Michigan. The following year Michigan may - may, be able to hang with the Spartans.

Until then - enjoy wishing on the "stars" 

Go Trine!!!

ps - I still got your back on anything Trine.  I realize we're just having some fun.

[sac]

The Lansing State Journal printed this article in Sunday's addition, it was a little longer than the online version, and the 'Michigan State' in the headline is just the header for the online section it came from.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110514/GW01/105140325/MSU-football-U-M-off-quick-start-recruits?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|GreenAndWhite|s

So its not just your so called pro-Michigan writers who have noticed.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thunderhead,

I can't believe ANYONE would defend Greg Robinson!  He took a mediocre defense and made it THE worst in the country!  Did HE take too many hits to the head?

I guarantee that the Michigan defense will be vastly better than it has been lately with the new regime.  I also confidently predict that UM will beat MSU either this year or next (and hope for both).

[sac]

SPEAKING of ex-NFL Defense Coordinators - you just got rid of one who won TWO super bowls. Greg Robinson was defensive coordinator for three teams in the National Football League: the Kansas City Chiefs under Dick Vermeil, the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan, where his team won two Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998, and the New York Jets under Pete Carroll. So it's not unrealistic to believe that an athlete felt he was going to get coached up by the best on the field with Coach Robinson, and looked at the strength and conditioning department as an evaluation tool. Again, I personally know several recruits who do exactly that, when all things are equal.

All of this is fine, but Robinson was a notoriously bad recruiter......partially the reason Syracuse fell off the map when he became the head coach.   When it comes to recruiting Michigan went from one of the worst to one of, if not, the best with the hire of Mattison.

Thunderhead,

I can't believe ANYONE would defend Greg Robinson!  He took a mediocre defense and made it THE worst in the country!  Did HE take too many hits to the head?

I guarantee that the Michigan defense will be vastly better than it has been lately with the new regime.  I also confidently predict that UM will beat MSU either this year or next (and hope for both).

Given your track record, please refrain from these type of predictions involving anything to do with any sports team I love. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Now, sac, I predicted the Tigers would win it all in 1984 (in MAY), and that Hope (and IWU) would make the FF in women's bb this year.  I admit that I muffed it on Hope (and about 389 other predictions), but I am SO close to getting it!

BTW, the Pistons are gonna use a special exemption to sneak into the playoffs and win it all - and the Red Wings are gonna hoist (or heist ) the Cup!

[Pat Coleman]

At 35-5 I think you were not alone in that prediction.

[Flying Dutchman56]

I have two MIAA related football questions that might spark some interest....

1.  Why does Trine often use a formation with an extra O-lineman on one side of the line and then put 1 O-lineman and a tight-end on the other?  What is the benefit of that?  I have my ideas, but I would like to hear other's thoughts....

2.  Most of the MIAA schools run a traditional 4-3-4 defense.  Hope runs a 4-2-5 defense which allows for everything a 4-3 does and more (moving players around more creating assignment confusion by the offense, covering up/ hiding various stunts/ blitzes, covering the spread better etc....).  You may call me biased, but I went up against every defense in the league and Hope's every day in practice (I was on the OL) and in my humble opinion the 4-3-5 is much more un-predictable/ tougher to play against and flexible to what an offense throws at them than a 4-3-4.  Please do not think I am bashing the 4-3 either - that is not my intention. 

Have a great weekend all!

[sflzman]

Adrian runs a 4-4, and Alma also runs more of a 4-4 look with Scotty Cole at the Rover position, he is often up closer to the line....

I'm sure it's beneficial for Hope to run a base D with 5 DB's when 5 team's in the conference average over 220 passing yards in conference play....

But either way you've still got to line line up and stop the ball, and in the end it really doesn't matter what formation your base D is, because you always have personel changes, and different defensive packages as the game goes on....

[DBQ1965]

The Detroit Free Press backing up Michigan Football??? WOW  

That's like Fox backing up O'Riley.  

Here's some other headlines from the DFP

MICHIGAN MAKES AMAZING COMEBACK VS SPARTANS
but loses to msu in overtime

MICHIGAN SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD VS SPARTANS
but loses football game

FORICER BURNS MSU ON OPENING DRIVE
then gets picked off and loses game

MICHIGAN HIRES FOOTBALL GOD HOKE
dantonio wins big ten


Go Trine!!!

Nicely done.  Go Spartans ... and I don't mean MSU.