Michigan Monday: Fall Camp Eve

This is it, the last day of summer for our Michigan Wolverine Football team.  Tuesday starts Fall Camp and offically the 2025 Season.  Michigan has new life in the building with a new head coach and two new powerful coordinators.  The team got the S&C program turned around and our 5 star QB got an off season worth of buzz that he wasn't good enough last season.   There should be plenty of motivation in Schembechler Hall right now.  

The buzz from this weekend is that the Wolverines may still be looking for LB help in the portal.  It's 8/3 and if there is still a quality prospect in there, I would be shocked.  There was some hope after this weekend's ruling where the 2022 class could get a 5th year of eligibility, still if they signed an NFL and not in the portal, they can't jump in now.   Which would limit Michigan's candidates I expect. 

This is also a concern Michigan is a little light at the position.  

What to watch in Camp:

1. Bryce improvement, Michigan will go as far as Bryce leads them. 

2. New offensive scheme

3. RB and offensive line, Michigan has talented RB's but will need the OL to perform. 

4. Defense as a whole.  Michigan needs a good pass rush, LB's that can play in space and strong secondary.  Defense will need big improvements over Wink's last stand.  (I'm so happy he is gone!). 

• August Rodney?  With the new ruling does that mean Rodney Gale could come back to Michigan?  He wouldn't need to be in the transfer portal I assume, since he would be joining his old team.  He did play in the G-League for the Pistons, which could be problematic in him coming back. 

• Coach Boynton made an interesting assistant coach hire this weekend.  He hired Orlando G-League head coach Dylan Murphy, who is considered one of the best coaches in the league.  Seems like a solid hire!  Looks like coach learned from Dusty that having a strong staff is the key to success. 

• Tigers always seem to trade away their best pitchers.  

Michigan Friday: New Opponents and Stronger Team

Media Day for the Wolverines came and went without any controversy.  That is why coach Whitt is here.  The one thing he did say that was a big surprising was that when the staff got here, the S&C program was not at the level they expected and that team was lacking strength.   That entire S&C program, including the machines have be redone and expect the Wolverines to be faster and stronger this Fall.    

That kind of stuff just gets me so angry at where this program has been the last two seasons.  They were still one win over OSU away from making the playoffs.  Can you only imagine how successful they would've been if they had competent leadership at any level?  Moving on.....................

• Michigan Football has added Central Michigan back on the schedule in 2028 and 2031.  Michigan should play a Michigan MAC team at least once every 2 years.  

• Speaking of schedules have you seen Indiana's and Penn State's schedule this season?  I know these schedules are done years in advance, but IU can no longer schedule like they are a doormat. 

• Michigan Basketball has signed a 2 game contract with Louisville for a game in Detroit and Indy

Michigan Thursday: Time For Michigan's 5-Star QB's to Stand Up

Today Bryce will take center stage at the Big Ten Media Days.  He will be asked a 100 questions on what he is doing to improve this season.   The kid was just 18 years old last season, had no QB coach, and a head coach that was completely off the rails.   I thought he did pretty well with everything considered.   Let us not forget JJ's or even Dante Moore's first year at QB.  Both were pretty ugly.  

Speaking of JJ, he is in a similar boat that Bryce is in.  His first season in the NFL didn't even get started with an injury in his first pre-season game, then last season was full of inconsistencies including more injuries.  Minnesota having a terrible offensive line and no running game didn't help either.   So Minnesota has brought in former #1 pick Kyler Murray to compete with JJ in camp.  Many talking heads have Kyler penciled in as the Game 1 starter, I do not.  Nothing fuels JJ more then competition and I expect he has worked his ass off the past 6 months.  

So the time is now for both Bryce and JJ.  Time to put what you have worked on into action.  Time to be the best QB's you can be.  If not, you have a Carr and a Murray waiting to step up.   

• Michigan Football has added another staffer to the recruiting department.  Chase Ketterer played at ND and played HS football in Indiana.  Welcome Chase and make sure you chase down and sign a bunch of 4 and 5 stars!

• NC 4-star LB Ryan Peterson has locked in an official visit for the OK game.

• BTN hired Biff. I really like Biff but I hate how he left in January.

Wolverine Wednesday: Patches For Millions Race

Maybe some of you can relate to this story.  How many of you had to go door to door to sell something to raise money for your football/baseball/basketball/soccer team growing up?  It was mostly magazine subscriptions and that was a tough sell.  Nothing like sending your kids out to cold call so you could play shortstop.   True story, not sure what sport it was but I sold light bulbs door to door and that was the easiest sale I ever did.  I was sold out quick! 

Since athletics departments are now running like semi-pro baseball clubs, the race is on to get jersey patches and big dollars.  Two large brands announced deals yesterday.  OSU with JP Morgan Chase for $17M a year and then followed by Notre Dame and SoFi for somewhere between $18-$20M per year.  I would expect the price tag for Michigan would be $25M per to sew your corporate patch on the most iconic jersey in college sports.  The market has been set and now Michigan needs to break it. 

It would be nice if one of the Michigan Fortune 500 companies would step up! 

• Michigan Basketball was led by "Bigs" last season.  This season the guards will lead the way.  Sure would love a backup point.   

• Brian Kelly gets at gig with CBS.  Please keep him away from Big Ten games please.  I feel like he is a Mountain West or PAC 9 type of guy. 

• LIV Golf cancels its Michigan end of the season Championship in Michigan.  That is probably it for the struggling golf league.  Ironically, this week is also the last PGA event in Michigan for the Rocket Classic.  Thank goodness for Oakland Hills and US Opens.  I hear that clubshouse is back up and completed after that devastating fire.