Thanks for doing this. I'm still a hockey novice but my interest in Michigan hockey has picked up considerably over the last decade or so. I'm more of a basketball guy and don't follow the NHL much, so this was very informative for me. I expected to see Fantilli or Luke Hughes somewhere on the list, how are they doing? And whatever happened to Carl Hagelin?
Edit: nevermind, I didn't read the first paragraph carefully enough, I presume they'll be included in the next post.
Doubt anybody is checking back with this, but checked with my buddy last night and it turns out he's a 2026, which is probably why it looks like Seth took him off the board. He said Smigiel has a current top 3 of Michigan, OSU, and ND, but there's a long way to go.
Smigiel is actually from Newbury Park, CA (not "LA"), part of the city of Thousand Oaks where I live. I play pickup basketball a couple times a week with the offensive coordinator for NPHS, and he relayed to me that Smigiel visited Michigan on an unofficial last year and was enamored, and at least at that point Michigan was #1 on his list. I'll check back in with him tonight to see where things stand.
It cannot be said enough, that in a sane world, Michigan beat MSU 5-3 in regulation of the Big Ten Conference Championship game, and was a fraction of a second from winning 5-2...which would have Michigan as rightful Big Ten Conference Tournament champions and the season series ending at 3-3, with Michigan winning the important ones. No objective, intelligent person could have watched that game and said MSU was the better team.
the plane crash, the aneurysm of leadership at Breslin, beating Duke at Crisler, just getting back to the tournament after over a decade absence, Trey almost on his way out the door after freshman year, McGary's suspension...not to mention, you know, advancing to 2 national championship games, both requiring miracle shots along the way.
I'd say there's plenty to keep the interest of even neutrals.
This is a small nit to pick, but calling Villanova's 8-point victory over Michigan in the 2022 tournament a "blowout" seems a bit unfair and feels like piling on. That was a defensive struggle (much like Michigan's loss to UCLA the year prior) that was within reach for most of the game, Michigan just could not buy a basket. Michigan actually cut the lead to 4 with 3 minutes left.
5. For the past 25 or so years I've been mostly indifferent to the NFL and rarely watch, as all my passion goes to Michigan. But now with Harbaugh and crew with the Chargers, and the fact that I live near LA, and the Chargers having cool colors and gear I'm now a Chargers fan.
If Tuttle manages to get another year I imagine he factors in at QB. Also I think there is a chance that Prieskorn could have a Loveland-type impact as a freshman.
I agree with your 8, but also agree with others that I would consider Penn State a blueblood. I don't think any others would really come close to qualifying by any metric.
"New" bloods would be Miami, Florida State, Florida, LSU, and Georgia. I also feel like Tennessee belongs in the conversation, but perhaps their on-field results don't measure up to their overall perceived significance.
I had this exact experience with Stubhub last year when I flew out for the MSU game. I had purchased a ticket a few days in advance, the order was confirmed and the ticket was "guaranteed", but I hadn't "received" it yet. I was walking around campus taking in the sights on the Saturday afternoon of the game and starting to get nervous about the situation. Just as I was about to try and figure out who to call, I received a notification from Stubhub that the ticket I had purchased had indeed fallen through and was no longer available, but not to worry because my order was "confirmed and guaranteed", and they would reach out again shortly with options. Shortly thereafter I indeed received another notification that other seat options were available to me at no additional cost, and I actually ended up with a better seat. So it worked out, but definitely a nerve-wracking situation.
Thanks Alex, this is a great recap. Do we know the details of McGroarty's injury? You mention possibly coming back in January, is the timeline still fuzzy?
I'm looking for a single ticket, and the cheapest options seem to have been holding steady at around $600 including fees. I'm going to hold out a little longer and keep looking, but at some point for me the risk of getting locked out of decent options will outweigh the chance of finding something a little cheaper.
First of all, it needs to be said that there is nobody in the world better at addressing this stuff than Brian.
Totally agree that hiring the TV exec to run the conference is proving to be incredibly stupid. As Brian has pointed out a number of times, any monkey could land big TV deals for the Big Ten. Get somebody real who knows athletics to run the conference, make the TV guy your #2...or don't, you're getting piles of cash either way.
And how about "sequestering the other 13 coaches, and then doing the same for the athletic directors, and allowing them to vent and rant their idiotic (and hypocritical) grievances" is the ACTUAL "worst scandal in the history of the conference"? This is an incredibly unfair act that has probably been the biggest factor in driving this nonsense to this level. This act alone is disqualifying and firable. People in charge of things...
I think he's 100% right, of course. But I agree with GRBluefan, that this is one TV-driven money-grab that I must confess I enjoy as a fan. It's nice to kick off the football weekend with a decent game to watch on Friday night.
I have no problem with a prospect asking to be paid to visit, nor do I have a problem with schools paying prospects to visit, if that's how they choose to use their finite resources. However, if I was running a program, this would be a huge red flag to me and would almost certainly be the end of my recruitment of that player.
I think Michigan under Harbaugh (and under Hoke as well), has done a great job of finding talented, high character guys that love football and want to be a part of all that Michigan has to offer for the right reasons. As it turns out, this is good not just for the "we care about what's really important and are not win-at-all-costs" feels, but actually facilitates having a more successful, winning program as well.
Yeah, maybe that's it, but I still can't recall any others off-hand, especially in football (feels slightly more common in basketball for a coach to take a few games suspension in the cupcake part of the early non-conference season).
I still do not understand how anything Harbaugh is alleged to have done rises to the level of suspension? Is it just me, or is it incredibly rare for a coach to be suspended by the NCAA for rules violations? I just can't recall a coach ever being suspended by the NCAA for rules violations. And we live in a world where the SEC exists.
I agree, this is Harbaugh's Norman Dale 4-D chess move: "throw me out of the game and I'll start screaming like a mad fool". I think at this point the "negotiation" is calculated by Harbaugh and will be used to the fullest.
Yeah when I first saw the headline I took the "two weeks" as "two games", which struck me as a not insignificant punishment. I have no idea of Fitz's culpability, but this is a nothing punishment.
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Thanks for doing this. I'm still a hockey novice but my interest in Michigan hockey has picked up considerably over the last decade or so. I'm more of a basketball guy and don't follow the NHL much, so this was very informative for me. I expected to see Fantilli or Luke Hughes somewhere on the list, how are they doing? And whatever happened to Carl Hagelin?
Edit: nevermind, I didn't read the first paragraph carefully enough, I presume they'll be included in the next post.
Doubt anybody is checking back with this, but checked with my buddy last night and it turns out he's a 2026, which is probably why it looks like Seth took him off the board. He said Smigiel has a current top 3 of Michigan, OSU, and ND, but there's a long way to go.
Smigiel is actually from Newbury Park, CA (not "LA"), part of the city of Thousand Oaks where I live. I play pickup basketball a couple times a week with the offensive coordinator for NPHS, and he relayed to me that Smigiel visited Michigan on an unofficial last year and was enamored, and at least at that point Michigan was #1 on his list. I'll check back in with him tonight to see where things stand.
It cannot…
Great stuff Alex.
It cannot be said enough, that in a sane world, Michigan beat MSU 5-3 in regulation of the Big Ten Conference Championship game, and was a fraction of a second from winning 5-2...which would have Michigan as rightful Big Ten Conference Tournament champions and the season series ending at 3-3, with Michigan winning the important ones. No objective, intelligent person could have watched that game and said MSU was the better team.
the plane crash, the aneurysm of leadership at Breslin, beating Duke at Crisler, just getting back to the tournament after over a decade absence, Trey almost on his way out the door after freshman year, McGary's suspension...not to mention, you know, advancing to 2 national championship games, both requiring miracle shots along the way.
I'd say there's plenty to keep the interest of even neutrals.
More Alex on the podcasts please.
is Craig ok?
or the gambling debt is actually Ohtani's, and the translator is taking the fall for it?
This is a small nit to pick, but calling Villanova's 8-point victory over Michigan in the 2022 tournament a "blowout" seems a bit unfair and feels like piling on. That was a defensive struggle (much like Michigan's loss to UCLA the year prior) that was within reach for most of the game, Michigan just could not buy a basket. Michigan actually cut the lead to 4 with 3 minutes left.
Thanks Seth, no worries. Just wasn't sure if I was missing something.
I believe it was Urban Meyer and not Ryan Day who hired Alford in 2014?
And what is the Boston College connection to Ryan Day? I don't see BC anywhere in Alford's background?
Do we know anything about Barczewski's status?
Bang!
5. For the past 25 or so years I've been mostly indifferent to the NFL and rarely watch, as all my passion goes to Michigan. But now with Harbaugh and crew with the Chargers, and the fact that I live near LA, and the Chargers having cool colors and gear I'm now a Chargers fan.
the next question is who do you hire to replace him? What is Hackett doing these days?
Plus the schedule is absolutely brutal
I suppose James Turner might also have a chance?
Lamont Paris (South Carolina)
TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State)
Josh Schertz (Indiana State)
Darian DeVries (Drake)
If Tuttle manages to get another year I imagine he factors in at QB. Also I think there is a chance that Prieskorn could have a Loveland-type impact as a freshman.
I agree with your 8, but also agree with others that I would consider Penn State a blueblood. I don't think any others would really come close to qualifying by any metric.
"New" bloods would be Miami, Florida State, Florida, LSU, and Georgia. I also feel like Tennessee belongs in the conversation, but perhaps their on-field results don't measure up to their overall perceived significance.
Bang me
I had this exact experience with Stubhub last year when I flew out for the MSU game. I had purchased a ticket a few days in advance, the order was confirmed and the ticket was "guaranteed", but I hadn't "received" it yet. I was walking around campus taking in the sights on the Saturday afternoon of the game and starting to get nervous about the situation. Just as I was about to try and figure out who to call, I received a notification from Stubhub that the ticket I had purchased had indeed fallen through and was no longer available, but not to worry because my order was "confirmed and guaranteed", and they would reach out again shortly with options. Shortly thereafter I indeed received another notification that other seat options were available to me at no additional cost, and I actually ended up with a better seat. So it worked out, but definitely a nerve-wracking situation.
looks like Brazzell is headed to Tennessee. Bummer
Wait, there are still sports card stores? Where was this?
Thanks Alex, this is a great recap. Do we know the details of McGroarty's injury? You mention possibly coming back in January, is the timeline still fuzzy?
No mention of Walter Nolen?
Does anybody know the status of Rutger McGroarty? Quick google search didn't yield much, wasn't sure if anything has been communicated.
You're going to have to explain this "triangle" to me. It was Mel, Ms. Tracy, and...Mel's hand?
can't give enough +1s to this. Thank you.
just sent an email
I'm looking for a single ticket, and the cheapest options seem to have been holding steady at around $600 including fees. I'm going to hold out a little longer and keep looking, but at some point for me the risk of getting locked out of decent options will outweigh the chance of finding something a little cheaper.
First of all, it needs to be said that there is nobody in the world better at addressing this stuff than Brian.
Totally agree that hiring the TV exec to run the conference is proving to be incredibly stupid. As Brian has pointed out a number of times, any monkey could land big TV deals for the Big Ten. Get somebody real who knows athletics to run the conference, make the TV guy your #2...or don't, you're getting piles of cash either way.
And how about "sequestering the other 13 coaches, and then doing the same for the athletic directors, and allowing them to vent and rant their idiotic (and hypocritical) grievances" is the ACTUAL "worst scandal in the history of the conference"? This is an incredibly unfair act that has probably been the biggest factor in driving this nonsense to this level. This act alone is disqualifying and firable. People in charge of things...
Doesn't really sound like you're owning 5-4, Matt
Love these new home jerseys. Sharp, clean look.
I think he's 100% right, of course. But I agree with GRBluefan, that this is one TV-driven money-grab that I must confess I enjoy as a fan. It's nice to kick off the football weekend with a decent game to watch on Friday night.
Oregon and USC go down
how did it all go down? I don't remember that.
Yeah, at this point I think you give the points. Michigan is rolling and Indiana is bad bad. Tuttle time starts in the third quarter.
You win the internet today, sir.
yeah, but will they have a hard edge? RichRod, never forget.
I spit out my drink on the Marcus Hall Double Bird of the Week.
In a year where the playoff is still just 4 teams and Michigan has the team they have, the default "Desperate Need To Win Level" is always 10
I have no problem with a prospect asking to be paid to visit, nor do I have a problem with schools paying prospects to visit, if that's how they choose to use their finite resources. However, if I was running a program, this would be a huge red flag to me and would almost certainly be the end of my recruitment of that player.
I think Michigan under Harbaugh (and under Hoke as well), has done a great job of finding talented, high character guys that love football and want to be a part of all that Michigan has to offer for the right reasons. As it turns out, this is good not just for the "we care about what's really important and are not win-at-all-costs" feels, but actually facilitates having a more successful, winning program as well.
Just having fun with you...but I do have surprisingly good pad level for someone in their mid-40s
Rod Moore got a +1.5 for not playing. In that case I think you can probably put me on the chart for a +0.5, I was getting after it from my couch.
Yeah, maybe that's it, but I still can't recall any others off-hand, especially in football (feels slightly more common in basketball for a coach to take a few games suspension in the cupcake part of the early non-conference season).
I still do not understand how anything Harbaugh is alleged to have done rises to the level of suspension? Is it just me, or is it incredibly rare for a coach to be suspended by the NCAA for rules violations? I just can't recall a coach ever being suspended by the NCAA for rules violations. And we live in a world where the SEC exists.
I see references to his speed and high school production, but no stats. Do we have any of his 40 times, and any of his high school stats?
EDIT: Nevermind, I found the junior and senior year stats in the body of the post.
I agree, this is Harbaugh's Norman Dale 4-D chess move: "throw me out of the game and I'll start screaming like a mad fool". I think at this point the "negotiation" is calculated by Harbaugh and will be used to the fullest.
Yeah when I first saw the headline I took the "two weeks" as "two games", which struck me as a not insignificant punishment. I have no idea of Fitz's culpability, but this is a nothing punishment.