Mailbag: Vintage Punt/Counterpunt, Hurst Bowl, Patterson Transfer, Getting Served
Vintage Punt/Counterpunt.
I found my copy of the free game program from The Game 20 years ago in a box of old school stuff. Thought you guys might enjoy the Punt / Counterpunt column from that day.
Go Blue!
Here's a zoomed in version.
Thanks to Nick and Ken for being a formative part of my fandom.
Hurst take.
If Hurst is worried about getting injured and the NFL draft. Lloyds of London will insure him for injury for the one game.
So you're asking Mo Hurst to literally pay for the privilege of playing in a football game that is mostly interesting because it will feature Ryan Nanni as a bloomin' onion? Nah.
I'd be vaguely upset if Hurst wasn't going to play in a New Year's Six game but more or less understand. The Outback Bowl? Hurst going in the top ten of the draft is probably more helpful to the program in the long term than whatever bonus chance he provides of beating South Carolina.
If you want players to compete in dink bowl games, there's an easy way to do so: pay them and sign them to a contract that says "you play in bowl games."
Recruiting is DISAPPOINT.
Is it fair to say, absent a change in trajectory, that '18 recruiting heads toward at best "unexciting", possibly even "disappointing"? I guess I have grown quite used to having a consensus top 100 'bell cow' (I loved it when K Jackson used to call FB players bell cows) at basically every position group, and a difference-maker (DPJ - Solomon) for each unit. Is that a reasonable standard, or is that Osu/Bama, which I don't think is realistic until we experience some playoff success and maybe never, given relative boundary-pushing of three programs. (Although the rush to Oxford has me questioning my prejudices.)
Thanks, dirk
I'd say unexciting is about right. Michigan's sole composite top 100 prospect right now, Otis Reese, is pretty wobbly. That's a comedown from Harbaugh's first two full efforts, which delivered guys like Rashan Gary, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Aubrey Solomon, and Cesar Ruiz—amongst many others.
There are a lot of reasons for this: it's a severely down year in-state; Michigan had to hire yet another recruiting director; playing time is hard to sell when you return a zillion starters. And, yes, Michigan is working uphill for a lot of guys because they don't have a bagman network—at least that's what I've heard from guys close to the program for years.
But the class is still 11th and should add a couple additional big fish to finish. Adding the three Ole Miss players also helps fill scholarships with talented players. And this looks like a blip. Michigan already has two five-star-ish DEs in the 2019 class plus top 100 guard Nolan Rumler and four-star LB Charles Thomas. I expect Michigan to bounce back to their previous level in 2019 now that they've got what looks like a solid recruiting infrastructure that isn't going to take a position coaching job next year.
Patterson feels.
Brian/Ace,
I am sure if I posted this as a thread I would be down voted as a babe in the woods and comments of “this is what it takes to beat OSU and Alabama” would rain down from the heavens. But i have to say, going after Peterson when you have two VERY good QBs that harbaugh recruited in the stable feels very unmichigan. What say you?
Thank you again for all you do and next year, please think of adding Boston to your season preview tour. We would love to host!
Best,
Quinn
I don't think taking a transfer is a problem. Players at the same position as that guy might be a little cheesed off, but I'm sure Harbaugh didn't promise them they'd get to start. Because that's crazy. But that doesn't mean it's wrong. If Patterson does come in and start—which is not a foregone conclusion—because he's the best option, that's a negative for the other quarterbacks but a positive for the rest of the team.
Michigan doesn't take JUCOs because they can't get them through admissions, and I guess that's the reason taking a transfer seems weird? I find this take baffling. Recruiting kids in college isn't any different than recruiting them in high school. And if a school that was flagrantly buying guys out from under Michigan's nose suffers as a result, all the better.
I GET EMAILS.
So, as a lawyer I got to thinking, .Maybe a lawsuit for violating the Constitutions First Amendmenment protection of Free Speech is in order. Maybe Ill win maybe I wont Probably will) but even if not , it wont cost me one nickle. However you will need a battery of lawyers to deal the various and numerous motions I could file. Hope you have deep pockets.
Expect to be served
Matt Mann
This gentleman was upset that I shut the comments down and has challenged me to a dance-off.
ASSEMBLE YOUR CREW, SIR.
December 8th, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
A gaggle of dicks, perhaps?
December 8th, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
I am partial to some of the weirder collective nouns for animals, such as a bloat of hippos, a parliament of owls or, possibly the most fitting, an ambush of tigers. That said an ambush of dicks sounds horrific
December 8th, 2017 at 2:10 PM ^
of dicks (crows) is pretty unsettling as well.
December 8th, 2017 at 2:23 PM ^
I learned this summer that a group of ravens is called an "unkindness". I could go with an unkindness of dicks.
December 8th, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
Box of cocks?
December 8th, 2017 at 2:06 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 2:20 PM ^
of dicks.
December 8th, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^
"I think that's a death threat!" - Jim McElwain.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:19 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 1:06 PM ^
Miss the Michigan Football Guide so hard.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^
It was great, and I was sorry to hear that it had gone.
Good reading material, some important reference stuff, the columns.
Plus, if your bench was wet, you could use it to sit on and it kept your pants dry. Just being real.
December 8th, 2017 at 4:14 PM ^
It had just enough reading material to get you through halftime and the quarter breaks. Perfect.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^
I would expect a lawyer to be familiar with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prejudice_(legal_term)#Civil_law
December 8th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
I would expect someone who made it through law school to be familar with spelling and basic grammar, but here we are...
December 8th, 2017 at 2:05 PM ^
Sadly, in my experience that expectation is rarely met.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^
Or he'd know that the First Amendment doesn't apply
December 8th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^
Dude must have been so drunk when he wrotewrote that.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
Or he'd know that There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch...
December 8th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
December 8th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
A lawyer definitely wrote that. Mmm-hmm.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:15 PM ^
I wish I could say that Matt Mann's lack of puncuation prowess (or, you know, actual legal knowledge) indicates he's not a lawyer, but I've sadly dealt with far too many lawyers to think that's true.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
Also what is it with idiots and capitalizing random, non-proper-noun words in the middle of sentences? Who possibly looks and that and thinks, "Yep, that's right." How is this a thing???
December 8th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
Lets you know you're dealing with an idiot. The "no politics" rule precludes me from mentioning a high-profile example . . .
December 8th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
I'll be the first to contribute to the defense fund kickstarter. What a sad sack.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:25 PM ^
It will take zero money and not much time to defeat the "lawyer's" argument.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
I would glady donate my time to draft a motion for sanctions for a frivolous filing.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:15 PM ^
Stupid people and the first amendment always combine to a hell of a drug. Brian wouldn't need a batter of lawyers, he'd need one first year law student and 5 minutes to dismiss the case because the first amendment only protects against government censorship and mgoblog is not the government
December 8th, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^
"as a lawyer I got to thinking." Good stuff!
December 8th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
I, for one, congratulate Mgoblog for being formally recognized as a governing body or entity. Bring on that government cheese!
December 8th, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
One thing I do vividly recall from my elementary school days is that government cheese truly is maize & blue.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
I don't think I'm gonna hire Matt Mann, P.C. anytime soon. Hilarity would ensue.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^
This is how lawyers try to undermine each other's careers, but one way or another, at least when hiring a lawyer we can sift out the chaff by quizzing them on First Amendment issues re: a sports blog.
December 8th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^
Youd have better luck with Lionel Hutz
December 8th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^
Youd have better luck with Lionel Hutz
December 8th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
prevent me from spewing vitriol on the internet.
My dad will sue you!
December 8th, 2017 at 1:27 PM ^
Requires an applicant to practice law to be 18 years of age. So just wait, Brian. In about six years you could be in for a world of legal hurt.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^
could beat up your dad.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:20 PM ^
from 20 years ago. I had no idea Bill EVER did coupons! I was in there last month and asked him how long he had been cutting hair there, and he said 44 years. Amazing. The guy is still going strong though.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:20 PM ^
You shouldve replied to the lawyer with "Quit drinking and go to bed"
December 8th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
"Players should get paid!"
"MGoBlog violated my 1st amendment rights - prepare to get served!"
Sadly, only one of these equally moronic statements will get mocked mercilessly in this space.
December 8th, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^
In this case, one player (Hurst) can't afford the cost of fully protecting himself against the risk that injury during a (meaningless) bowl game will hurt his career income potential, while another player (Butt) just happened to have the means to do so. Maybe paying players isn't the optimal way of addressing this disparity, but it's hardly "moronic" to think that something should be done about it -- and any solution obviously would have to somehow level the economic playing field. But no, let's insist that these players have to remain fully "amateur" in every way, so we the fans can continue to enjoy our pristine experience of watching student-athletes battle for the glory of our alma mater!
December 8th, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
Is it because players are already getting paid through scholarships, room & board, coaching, travel, bowl swag, etc.? What value do you put on that? Why is it only monetary compensation that somehow makes one's status cross the line between amateur and professional?
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