Michigan Tuesday: Whitt is Going All In on His Staff

With NIL and recruiting being so important to a program's success, the Michigan Football Staff and Operations have become just as important off the field as on the field.  

I first started noticing that when Jim was here and now Coach Whitt is taking it to another level. 

In the last couple days:

• Ron Bellamy is back as the Director of Recruiting Relations
• Alayna Williamson was hired as Chief of Staff (was at Utah as well)
• Natalia Hilton Director of Football Operations
• Ben Redell Executive Assistant to the Head Coach/Director of Logistics
• Evan Roka Assistant Director of Operations
• Chris Pettit hired as an Assistant General Manager, who was the long time Director of Scouting for the NY Giants.

Michigan is a week into Spring Practice.

Michigan Monday: That is the Team I Know

I personally haven't liked how the Wolverines have been playing since the start of the Big Ten Tournament.  To me they looked tired and not really interested in playing to their full capacity 3 games in a row.  That seemed to continue in the 1st half of game 1 in the NCAA Tournament.  

That wasn't the case against a very talented St. Louis team that runs the exact same action Michigan does.  Now, STL doesn't have the talent or size Michigan has and that was clearly the difference in the 2nd half.  The 1st half was again close but I thought Michigan was focused and was ready to step it up a notch after some halftime adjustments. 

Michigan now can find it legs with nearly a week off and get prepared to face a football rival in Alabama.  Chicago hasn't been very kind to the Wolverines in the last few weeks, so lets hope the Windy City is welcoming to the Wolverines next weekend.  Tip is 7:35 on Friday on Tru TV.

• In the back of my mind, I always wondered if the new staff would find a role for Ron Bellamy if he didn't find another job.  Coach Whitt and staff did just that and re-hired Ron to a recruiting role.  If your paying the guy anyway, might as well give him a job!  This will help in state recruiting and mostly in the Motor City! 

• Congrats to the Women Wolverines who also are heading to the Sweet 16 after going 2-0 at Crisler this weekend. 

• Congrats to the Michigan Hockey team after wining the Big10 Tournament and heading to the NCAA Tournament as the #1 seed. 

• RIP to former Bo assistant coach Jerry Hanlon.   Rest in Power coach and enjoy a cold one with Bo and Elvis today.

• Iowa impressively beats reigning National Champion and #1 seed Florida last night

• Nebraska vs. Vandy might have been one of the best college basketball games I've ever watched. 

Michigan Thursday: Having Some Fun With Koy

 This is Michigan's new QB Coach Koy Detmer Jr.:

If Koy was not coaching QB's at Michigan, what would he be doing?

• A bartender in an old west salon?
• A deputy that works with the Sherriff to hunt down Billy the Kid?
• A work hand on the Yellowstone Ranch that is taken to the "train station" early in an episode?
• A long reliever for the KC Royals in the 70's?

What you got BHB community? 😀 

Michigan Friday: Blue Devils Eve

Michigan Basketball has one of those important/not important games against the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday late afternoon.  It's important because Michigan vs. Duke in basketball is always important, it's not because the outcome will not hurt either's' chance in the Big10 or ACC race and a potential #1 seed.   College Basketball vs. College Football rewards teams on playing difficult matchups.  Izzo has made a career on this method.  

Looking forward to Saturday at 6:30. Tickets are a hot item and start at $334 on the resale market. 

• It seems unanimous that Michigan made a big time hire in new GM Dave Peloquin. Let's hope he makes the NIL program in Ann Arbor the best in the country.

• Curt Cignetti cashes in on his National Championship at IU. He will now make over $13M a year.

• Are the Chicago Bears heading to Indiana?

Michigan Friday: Big Game Tonight in East Lansing

Dusty takes his #3 ranked squad into Breslin Center tonight to face the #7 Spartans.  Both teams ranked in the top 10 make it a big game nationally.  The rivalry between the two schools make it really important in the Great Lakes State.  Michigan who has taken over the rivalry in football has taken a step back in basketball as the Wolverines have lost 4 in a row to Sparty and their last win in East Lansing was the 2017-2018 season, when Coach B was the head coach. 

Michigan will have to limit turnovers and get rebounds if they are going to win tonight.  I like the Wolverines chances on a neutral floor but in EL, it's going to get spicy.   The Wolverines will need solid guard play and see the 3 going down. 

TV: Fox
Tip: 8:00

• Derrick Moore has a nice highlight during the Senior Bowl practice, where he trucks a Miami, FL OT.

• Michigan has hired the former Air Force DC/Assist Head Coach Brian Knorr as an assistant Special Teams coach. 

• Jim has a unique hire for his next DC to replace Minter, he goes to Western Michigan and hires their DC - Chris O'Leary who knows Minter's system. 

• Michigan should've had the following coaches on their head coaching search:
• John Harbaugh went to the Giants 
• Jesse Minter went to the Ravens 
• Todd Monken went to the Browns

• There was a rumor floating around that admission was blocking the signing of QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi from the portal.  He was offically announced this week.

• Michigan has a tough schedule next year but will have 4 straight home games to start the Coach Whitt era.

Wolverine Wednesday: Life Is All About Timing

Michigan's Football last 4 weeks has been all about good or bad timing.  Let's take a quick review:

12/10: Michigan fires Sherrone Moore 

12/12: Kyle Whittingham announces he is leaving Utah

12/19: Kalen DeBoer's Alabama Team upsets Oklahoma in the CFP 

12/20: Kenny Dillingham signs a new deal with ASU, rumor is he wants the Cardinals job 

12/20 - 12/25: John Harbaugh is vetted by the search committee, he declines and recommends his OC and former Georgia OC Todd Monken. 

12/26: Michigan hires Kyle Whittingham as its new head coach

1/1: Alabama gets embarrassed by The Big Ten's best team Indiana in the Rose Bowl

1/5: The Arizona Cardinals job opens up 

1/6: John Harbaugh is fired from the Ravens, insiders say in part due to his unwillingness to fire Todd Moken. 

My late mother always thought everything happened for a reason.  Kyle surprisingly becoming available 2 days after Michigan's job became available was a huge bat sign for all of us.

Kalen the reported top candidate won the game many thought he would lose and then gets embarrassed in the grand daddy of them all to a Big Ten team.   Kenny acts like a kid in the transfer portal.  John my first choice for the job was never going to leave the NFL (probably due to what his brother went through with the NCAA) and was clearly trying to give Todd a soft landing.  Reports are that all the NFL openings want John to interview. 

This has been a crazy month with either Michigan's top candidates becoming available or not becoming available at the right or wrong times.  

• Well we got a glimpse of how Michigan Basketball will lose their first game last night to a pesky Penn State team without their best player. Michigan sneaks out of Happy Valley with a 2 point win. 

• Michigan gets good news from offensive lineman Link and Guarnera who both are staying in Ann Arbor.

• Zeke Berry is also back!

• Fingers crossed for Justice and Marsh!

• Michigan signs its first portal player in Long Snapper Nico Crawford from Pitt. Nico do you know any good punters?

• Michigan Freshman S Jordan Young is also now in the portal.

Michigan Monday: Lots of New Coaches, No New Portal Additions

Whitt strikes me as head coach that has a process and once you have a process, you follow it.  First you hire your staff, then you protect your current roster, then you look to improve it.   Now, those are my steps but if I had to guess Kyle's process is very similar to that.  

The Michigan Football team has assembled an impressive list of Coordinators, Assistant Coaches (who can recruit off campus), and Staff Coaches (who have to recruit only on campus). 

Just to recap:

OC: Jason Beck 

WR Coach: Micah Simon

Asst. WR Coach: Marques Hagans (staff)

TE: Freddie Whittingham 

OL: Jim Harding

RB: Tony Alford 

QB: Koy Detmer Jr (staff)

RB: Fred Jackson (in his 28th year! - staff)

DC: Jay Hill

DE: Lewis Powell 

DL: Coach Lou 

LB: Alex Whittingham from the Chiefs 

DB: Jernaro Gilford from BYU

S: Tyler Stockton from Boise State  (Staff)

ST: Kerry Coombs 

Make no mistake about it, Michigan is better in almost every coaching position above then they were just a few weeks ago.   That is the good news.  Now on to the bad news.  

The transfer portal has opened and Michigan currently has 19 players in it.  

• Ben Roebuck, OL
• Brady Prieskorn, TE 
• Enow Etta, DL 
• Jake Guarnera, OL 
• Andrew Sprague, OT 
• Jaden Mangham, S 
• Devon Baxter, DE 
• Kaden Strayhorn, OL
• Jesper Parker, RB 
• Zeke Berry, CB 
• Cole Sullivan, LB 
• CJ Hester, RB 
• Elijah Dotson, S
• Davis Warren, QB
• Jaydn Davis, QB
• Evan Boutorwick, LS 
• Connor Jones, OT
• Freddie Moore, WR 
• Semaj Morgan, WR 

Please note: some players have announced they are heading to the portal but names are not offically in it yet.  Brady and Cole are examples of that. 

The two guys that stick out to Michigan fans are Cole Sullivan and Andrew Sprague.  Both guys need to be a top priority keeping them in Ann Arbor with a larger bag of money.  The next phase would be Guarnera and Berry, but if they can find big dollars elsewhere, I wish them well.  

What is a bit scary is there is little to no buzz about Michigan adding players.  Yes, there is some WR buzz and former Utah players but nothing like the other programs are seeing.  Let's hope that starts moving in more of a positive fashion this week.   Michigan has a ton of needs, including WR, OL, CB, LB, DL, and even TE now. 

Another stat for you: Roughly 45% of all players that enter the transfer portal do not find a new school to transfer to.

• There are plenty of signs that Michigan Basketball is really good, the one that jumped out to me on Friday night with the win over 24th ranked USC was that Michigan played poorly and still won by 30 points.  They very much struggled from 3 all night.  

• Ernie Hausmann posts on facebook he has retired from football. 

• Michigan commit Tariq Boney played well in the UA All Star game over the weekend. 

• The Bells had a good week as each brother scored a TD.  Kendrick in the Chessy and Ronnie for the Saints yesterday. 

• Is Devin Bush the comeback player of the year in the NFL?  

• Today is Black Monday for NFL Coaches.  2 already fired. 

Michigan Friday: Michigan Welcomes an Entire New Staff To Ann Arbor

I have to admit, its a bit strange going to a Michigan Football game on a Wednesday and having the staff almost a 100% different on Thursday, but that is what happened.  

Let's review the changes:

New OC:  Jason Beck - Spot open after Chip Lindsey went to Mizzou

New WR Coach: Micah Simon - Bellamy gone 

New Asst. WR Coach - Marques Hagans from Penn State (probably an analyst) 

New TE Coach: Freddie Whittingham 

New OL Coach: Jim Harding one of the best in the biz - Grant Newsome expected to be gone 

RB - Tony Alford stays 

New QB - Koy Detmer Jr (probably an analyst)

New DC: Jay Hill from BYU - Wink gone 

New DE Coach - Lewis Powell 

DL - Coach Lou stays 

LB - TBD - Brian Jean-Mary not expected to stay 

DB - TBD - LeMar Morgan is not expected to stay 

ST - Recent hire Kerry Coombs is expected to stay in role

Those are a lot of changes and it seems Coach Whitt has cherry picked Utah's and BYU's staff.  The the news breakers are Beck and Hill of course, but Jim Harding is considered by some the best OL coach in the country.   The combo of Lewis and Lou on the defensive line could be a powerhouse in recruiting! 

There is plenty of smoke on the LB role - a highly regarded assistant at Iowa and Kyle's son who is a defensive assistant on the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Playoff Report - 

OSU was over ranked all year and like Michigan got away with a bad schedule. 

DeBoer's upset of Oklahoma really might have changed his career direction.  I'm not sure I've ever seen an Alabama team play that poorly in a big game.  The team did not look well coached or properly prepared to face the best team in the country.  Maybe everything happens for a reason?  The Bama fans are going to want him gone. 

Speaking of poorly coached, Texas Tech was way out of their league against Oregon.  Not sure that team prepared at all for the CFP.  That talent deserves better coaching. 

Very proud of Trinidad out of Grand Rapids and Ferris State.  Also mad at the Michigan coaches for not seeing the talent this young man had while in Big Rapids.  That was a big upset last night but Ole Miss does not play enough defense to stop Miami.  

What is with this CFP Schedule?  They play again on Thursday and Friday of next week.  What is this the NCAA Tournament?

Portal News: (as you know it opens today)

• Cole Sullivan and Elijah Dotson are both heading to the portal this morning.  Sullivan is a surprise and has left the door open for a return. He would be a big loss. 
• I'm sure there will be others following soon. 

Other news:

• Michigan Basketball takes the floor tonight against a good USC team.  7:00  - the game is on Peacock. 

• Really bad bowl games on today.  

Michigan Tuesday: Does it Feel Like Michigan Plays a Football Game Tomorrow?

It sure doesn't feel that way to me.  I will do a half ass preview on Wednesday morning for the Chessy Exhibition that doesn't even seem to be sold out.  Two huge fan bases and they are like "ok, just don't get hurt."  

Some News and Notes:

• The second Michigan Backup QB is headed to the portal and this time it's Buckeye Killer Davis Warren.  Davis is already a winner at life by beating cancer and the eventual National Champions.  I wish him nothing but the best and I hope he finds a great situation.  

• Every fan wanted it and the connection was already there but it was made official yesterday that Tony Alford is staying on staff as RB coach.  As you know, Tony is a great recruiter and a great RB coach.   A perfect match!   Let's hope this gives Hiter all the validation he needs to stay Blue. 

• The one thing that this football drama has done is taken away headlines from one of the best Michigan Basketball teams in program history.   Yes, they will have some nights where the 3 ball doesn't go in or the opponent locks down the lane, but they are really good and fun to watch.  I wish they weren't buried on BTN Plus last night. 

• Why do people keep listening to Urban Meyer?  I could care less about what that clown thinks of Michigan's hire. 

• I really like Biff but I believe he sealed his fate with a couple bad moves on trying to get the full time Michigan job.  The 5 years comment and the 20-25 players might not get on the plane quote on a Texas Podcast he never should've been on, is going to kill his future as a Wolverine coach.   I guess he will just have to enjoy his stack of money on a beach somewhere. 

• Woodson was at Michigan's practice on Tuesday.  He of course lives in the Orlando area. 

• Chip Kelly is a man with a 100 jobs, is going to be Northwestern's new OC. 

• Three GOATS are celebrating birthdays today:  Dusty May, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods! Tiger is now 50 and eligible for the Champions Tour.  

• Biff is saying 10-15 players are most likely not playing due to injury. 

Michigan Monday: Staff Infusion

Now that Michigan has their new CEO of Football Operations and Strategy its time to fill out the staff.  

DC - Is most likely BYU's Jay Hill as everything seems to point to Jay heading to Ann Arbor.  As you know my thoughts on Wink, I wish him good luck at finding an NFL job or enjoying his $2.7M at the beach next year.  A name we know might replace Jay at BYU, Shaun Nua. 

OC- The next big name that is expected to head to A2 is Utah's OC Jason Beck and the fan base seems excited about the possibilities.  I personally don't know a ton about Jason, but he seems very will liked and a good coach.  

RB - Tony Alford has ties to Whitt and is also a great RB coach and recruiter.  He is a lock. 

QB - Koy Detmer Jr. is on Beck's staff and likely to head to Ann Arbor in some type of role. This is his photo:

WR - is a 50/50 between Ron Bellamy and Micah Simon - who is Beck's guy.  Ron has an ace up his sleeve and it's his relationship with Andrew Marsh (who is expecting to get paid after his really good freshman year).  Marsh will either stay in A2 and get a bag or head to the portal where there is plenty of $$$ waiting for him.  

OL - I really wanted Grant Newsome to stay but Utah's Jim Harding is also in consideration.  My lean is towards the young Wolverine with a ton of upside Grant Newsome. 

TE: Is Fred Whittingham - Blood is thicker then water 

DL: is between 3 guys: Lewis Powell, Luther Elliss, and Coach Lou Esposito.   I like Coach Lou and he can really recruit and develop players. 

ST- Did Kerry Coombs have the worst timed hire in the world?  Keep the guy he knows what he is doing.  Michigan needs a punter and a kicker! 

Other questions marks are Brian Jean-Mary and LaMar Morgan, I expect both might be up for roles but looking for other gigs. 

Kyle says he is keeping 3-4 guys from the current staff, my guess would be Tony, Ron and Kerry.  With Grant having a decent shot at sticking. 

Quick question:  Warde - Ozempic or Stress?

A Band Aid Hire

Band Aid's are designed to stop the bleeding and infection.  That is exactly what the hiring of Kyle Whittingham is designed for.  The guy has 177 wins in 21 years as head coach at Utah.  The media is essactic that this is the perfect fit for Michigan to clean up what is broken in Ann Arbor.   I've read a few times, that you can't find anyone to say anything bad about Kyle.   Which is a great trait for a football coach and a human being in such a dirty sport.  If this is the John Beilein of football, I'm all in. 

Still, there are a few things that are bothering me and I hope you don't mind me sharing my thoughts.  

1. Did Biff's comments about 25 players not getting on the plane, rush this decision?  So Michigan wouldn't be embarrassed in the Cheesy Exhibition next week?

2. I still haven't heard any explination on why Kyle was pushed out at Utah after a 10-2 season?

3. I would've preferred Michigan made this hire originally when Harbaugh went to the NFL.   Warde not doing any due diligence at that time cost Michigan two years on the field and a ton of embarrassment. 

Kyle has reportedly signed a 5 year contract and would be 71 at the end of it.  He looks to be in great shape and really doesn't look his age.  Now, the important thing is hiring his coordinators and keeping Tony Alford as the RB coach.  

If the strategy is to have Kyle be the CEO and go out and get some young innovative coordinators that can coach and recruit.  I'm 100% sold.   

What I would like to see in the next few days.  

1. Retain Tony Alford. 

2. Hire the best OC and DC on the market.  I'm hoping Thursday is Wink's last day as Michigan's DC. 

3. Retain the roster and the recruits.  Michigan has already lost 3 recruits and needs to focus on keeping the rest in Ann Arbor and the the roster away from the portal. 

4. Beat Texas 

5. Put together a plan on attacking the portal with Magee the GM

6. Per John U Bacon the report and investigation on the Michigan Athletic Department is due out in Early to Mid January.   Anything less then Michigan finding a new AD would continue to set this program back. 

Reports are that Kyle is already in Orlando where the team arrived yesterday.  

I love Biff and hope there is a role for him on Kyle's staff but we need to limit the AARP cards.   There are other coaches I would like to see Michigan keep as well like Grant Newsome and Coach Lou.  

All in all this is a good hire, Michigan is in much better shape from a leadership stand point then they were a few weeks ago.  I still have a few questions on what happen at Utah, but their loss is Michigan's gain.   So to sum it up, this was the best decision Michigan Leadership could've made on 12/26.  Would've waiting until 1/2 made a difference, maybe or maybe not.  I also don't love the thinking on protecting the Exhibition game, which really few people care about.  

This is not a transformational hire but its a hire that gets Michigan back on track and closes the door on a mess that Warde created. Hire a young OC and DC to get Bryce and the rest of the roster excited about the future, and make an impact in the portal.   If you do that, then this was a home run hire.  

A few fun facts.

• Kyle beat Jim Harbaugh's Michigan Wolverines in Jim's first game as head coach. 
• October 11, 2025 Utah 42 - ASU 10 
• Kyle replaced Urban Meyer as Utah coach in 2004, when Urban left for UF. 

Michigan Monday: Too Early Look at Sparty and Will CSU Target a Michigan Coach?

The UCLA's turnaround is not helping any of these coaches on the "hot seat", Florida is the latest big time program to make a change and they won on Saturday.   Another opening that won't make headlines is Colorado State who fired Jay Norvell this weekend.  What's interesting is some insiders are saying the top candidate to replace Jay is Michigan Running Game Coordinator Tony Alford.   As you know, Tony was Ohio State's top recruiter before Sherrone stole him from the Buckeyes.  He has now done an excellent job building up the Wolverines backfield through traditional recruiting and the portal. 

This is what you might not know about Tony (from Mgoblue):  "[Alford] enrolled at Colorado State and was a four-year letterman from 1987-90. A 1990 Doak Walker Award nominee, Alford gained 1,035 yards in 1989 and set the conference record with 310 yards vs. Utah, a school record that stood for 24 years. He was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection and earned honorable mention All-American by USA Today as a junior. During Alford's senior year Colorado State produced a 9-4 record and qualified for its first bowl game in 42 years."

Too early look at Sparty (3-4) (0-4 in B10):

Best Win: Boston College 

Worst Loss: UCLA 

Pass: 213.7 Per (88th)

Run: 123 (107th)

Score: 27 (77th)

Give up: 32.7 (121)

Things are not going as planned in East Lansing and the Spartans are struggling with a difficult schedule and finding the right mix on the field.   There is talent on the roster but getting it all to jell seems to be the issue in Jonathan Smith's second year.   The plan was to be like IU and turn the battleship around quickly, it just hasn't happened.  Their best win is against a really bad BC team at home that took them to OT. 

How is this game the NBC 's game of the week?  Michigan is a 2 TD favorite, but we all know we throw out the records in a rivalry game. 

• Moody is kicking better with the Bears 

• As mentioned earlier, UF fired Billy Napier 

• Michigan is back in the rankings at #25 

• Are injuries also killing the Chargers chances this year as well?

• State of Florida Football over the weekend:
• Miami #2 in the nation loses on Friday 
• UF beats Miss State but fires its head coach 
• FSU goes on the road and loses to a bad Stanford team 
• South Florida beat FAU 
• Scott Frost beat up on RR in Orlando 
• The Dolphins lose to the Browns and their head coach is on fire watch
• The Jags get embarrassed in London to the Rams who flew in the day prior 
• Lions play TB tonight 

Michigan Thursday: 2K Days

The guys that track the number of days Michigan hasn't lost to Ohio State make me smile.  Today marks 2000 days since the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines.  That is a long time and also great time.  After the 10 years the Wolverines went through, this has been a wonderful change.   Go Blue! 

• Keeping the number of days theme:  100 Days until Michigan Football!

• Michael Barrett has signed with the Raiders.  I really see his future to be in  Ann Arbor as a LB coach. 

• Speaking of assistant coaches, Sherrone promoted one guy and extended others.  Here are the details:
• Steve Casula got promoted to Co-OC and got a raise to $500K
• Tony Alford got a new 3-year deal and a $50K raise to $900K
• Lou Esposito got a $100K raise to $600K 
• Ron Bellamy, LaMar Morgan, and Grant Newsome all got extended through 2026 without a raise. 

• Michigan continues to be on commit watch with a new 👀 from coach.

• RIP to Jim Irsay (Thank you for hosting the Wolverines Big Ten Championships!)

Michigan Thursday: All About Development

I don't know how you feel but I love when Michigan develops players and coaches.  I love it when the Michigan coaches take Mikey an average WR and turns him into a Michigan Legend and now an NFL DB.  I love that Michigan's Grant Newsome goes from one of the worst leg injuries in his playing days to Michigan's OL coach.  Jim wanted Grant to walk the same path that Sherrone did.  He thought that much of him.  

Michigan is developing another coach Pernell McPhee who was a former NFL LB and pass rusher who was a graduate assistant last year.  He has now been promoted to Outside LB Coach and will have a room full of pass rushers next year.  Love the development and experience he can provide current and future Wolverines!

Other adds:

• Biff is official and Assistant Head Coach
• Josh Sinagoga Assistant QB Coach 
• James Brown, Assistant Special Team Coordinator 
• Soup, Assistant WR coach 
• Juan Castillo, Sr. Assistant OL Coach 
• Jack Clark, Assistant RB Coach 
• Garrett Clawson, Assistant Special Teams Coach 
• Brad Hawkins, Assistant DB Coach (GA)
• Fred Jackson, Sr. Offensive Analyst/Michigan Legend
• Grand Kurzner, Specials Team Analyst
• Nick Rossielo - Assistant Offensive Line Coach (GA)
• Travis Russell - QB Assistant 
• Lionel Stokes - Safety Coach

Having these coaches be true on-field coaches now, allows Michigan to continue to develop players at the highest levels.  

Michigan Tuesday: Football Coaches and Staff Need an Uber Account

Warde needs to consider giving the Michigan coaches and staff another job benefit.  An Uber account that they can use anytime.  A few weeks ago, newly hired DL coach Greg Scruggs was arrested for driving under the influence then resigned.  Now Denard Robinson has also been arrested for the same thing and got into an accident. 

I feel terrible for the Michigan legend and also mad at him.  It is so easy getting an Uber or a Lyft when your out drinking or entertaining.  He is a Michigan legend and probably doesn't have to buy many drinks when he is out.  Having too many drinks is probably easy to do.  Hitting that Uber App needs to be the play.   If you remember when Denard was with the JAX Jags he drove his car into a small lake.  

Things need to change and Sherrone's head coaching experience is getting an early HR test.  The Michigan coaches and staff need to make better decisions when they are out or it could cost them their career or something worse. 

Today marks an important date for Michigan Football.  The Spring Transfer Portal is now open and Michigan has needs and must protect its current roster.  Top needs include depth at CB, Safety, and a starting WR.  The portal is open until April 30th. 

• Dusty brings in two more assistant coaches and this time its from his FAU staff in Drew Williamson and Kyle Church.  Staff should be solid now.  Call a UBER! 

• Speaking of Dusty is seems 2024 guard recruit Justin Pippin is starting to trend to Michigan.  Yes, that is Scottie's son. 

• Michigan QB commit Carter Smith is performing well at the Elite 11 Orlando camp. 

Wolverine Wednesday: New Faces New Places

There seems to be quite a lot of new faces coaching the National Champions and running Michigan's Basketball program.   Dusty has to build a staff and a roster.   Sherrone has his staff finally in place and now has to recruit and hit the portal for a WR and DB or 2! 

• Speaking of the portal - Former Wolverine TE Matthew Hibner has selected SMU as his next school.  Congrats Matt and good luck in Dallas.  

• Dusty is set to meet with Yale transfer center Danny Wolf, who is a 7 footer that averaged 14 points and 9.7 boards per.  

• FAU is now in the portal 
• Johnell Davis, best player and plays an old man game PG/SG
• Vlad Goldin, a center who's game has gotten better year over year 
• Guard Nick Boyd, a solid guard starter/6th man 
• Have not heard about Alijah Martin yet but he is strong SG.  
• Giancarlo Rosado is a back up big forward and would be a pass for me 

• Dusty is rumored to have hired to his staff former Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton Jr. who is known as a great recruiter.  Pistons #1 draft pick Cade Cunningham was recruited and played for Mike.  Response's from basketball insiders is "great hire".

• Khaleke Hudson is visiting the Steelers this week 

• Jim calls Ben Herbert "the best I've ever seen".  Thanks again for that one Jim. 

• Michigan Football has officially hired Lionel Stokes as a defensive analyst.  He worked with Coach Morgan at Louisiana.

• 4 star 2025 CB Dawayne Galloway from Columbus, OH has gotten some predictions to Michigan.  CBus to Ann Arbor? yes please! 

• Dusty has contacted ND Freshman Big Carey Booth who is in the portal.  Michigan recruited Booth before he committed to ND. 

Michigan Monday: No April Fools Jokes Here

My late father loved April Fools Day.  When we were young kids on Spring Break, he said the hotel was offering free elephant rides today.  All I had to do was call the front desk and reserve a spot.   Then when I was an adult working in A2 at Bell + Howell/UMS he sent me a Hedgehog for some type of charity event.  Miss you Dad. 

This weekend Sherrone completed his on-field coaching staff again after Greg Scruggs flamed out quickly.   He hired current Co-DC/DL Coach from Memphis Lou Esposito.   Lou had only been with the Tigers since January after being the DC at Western Michigan for 6 years.  Even though Lou played at Memphis, he knows Michigan.  2010-12 he was the DL coach at Western for the first time, 2013 he was the DC at Ferris State, 2014-16 he coached at Davenport and then 2017 back to Kalamazoo. 

To sum up my text's when the news broke on Friday, I got this question a few times:  Is this a good hire?

My response:  I don't know but his name sounds right!  After some research, it seems Lou is a hard worker, can develop DLineman, good recruiter, has an eye for talent, has the respect of Michigan HS coaches, and a great hire for the Wolverines.  If FSU DT Braden Fiske name sounds familiar, he was recruited and developed by Lou before he transferred to Florida State and became a 3rd team All-American last season. 

Welcome Sweet Lou and enjoy some of the best talent on the defensive line in the country.  

• Congratulations to Michigan Hockey for beating MSU and earning a Frozen 4 Berth! Michigan scored 2 goals in 12 seconds to secure the win in the 3rd! 

• Is tonight the biggest night for NCAA Women's Basketball ever?

• Christian Anderson Jr. decommits from Michigan Basketball on Friday as well.  My response, Ok.  Let's let Dusty cook and bring in his own players. 

Michigan Thursday: Help In the Recruiting Department

Sherrone said when he was hired that he wanted to add more resources to the recruiting department.  He delivered on that promise with the rumored hire of Georgia recruiting analyst John Collins and former Wolverine Jack Dunaway to Assistant Director of Recruiting roles. 

It is also expected that Sherrone will be adding SMU Garrett Clawson as a special teams analyst.  Clawson is a former All-American kicker at Robert Morris. 

Winning is about having great resources in all parts of the football organization.  These sound like some great hires. 

• Dusty is already in contact with Wisconsin transfer Connor Essegian. 

• Michigan is getting top recruits on campus.  Which is a great sign, let's hope the National Champs can close on some of these top prospects. 

• FAU hired Baylor assistant John Jakus to replace Dusty 

• Love that both Mason Graham and Ken Grant both confirmed their love of Michigan, their teammates and they are not chasing any NIL offers from other programs. 

• JJ will have a private workout with the Giants on Sunday. 

Michigan Friday: End of the Week News and Notes

• Sounds like Sherrone is about to hire two new staff members to the non-field coaching staff. Former Ravens LB Pernell McPhee and Lionel Stokes who knows LaMar Morgan and coached DB's at Howard State, Jackson State, and Nicholls State. 

• There is a trend showing former NBA players not doing well as college head coaches.  Jerry Stackhouse was fired from Vandy yesterday. 

• Jon Sanderson is now a S&C consultant for Illinois Basketball. 

• With the top 2 bullets and Michigan Basketball having a historically bad season, they have hired a 3rd party to review the culture of the Men's Basketball Program. 

• Jourdan Lewis has re-upped with the Cowboys.

Michigan Thursday: Well That Was a Surprise

Michigan fans have been upset in the past when Wolverine coaches left for Columbus.  Greg Mattison and Al Washington come to mind.   We knew Greg would flame out quickly as he was near retirement, which he did and Al didn't stay long before he jumped to Notre Dame. 

Now the reverse has happened, Tony Alford OSU's well known RB Coach is jumping from the Buckeyes to the Wolverines and replacing the role Mike Hart just left.   Now we all love Mike and hope his personal situation is not too serious and he is an elite developer of talent.  The issue is, he struggled on the recruiting trail. Per EJ Holland on X: Mike Hart landed 1 top 200 RB while at Michigan, Tony landed 9 while at Ohio State.  This is not to diminish Mike, its to show that Tony gets it done on the trail.  

Since Spring Ball is starting soon, the on boarding team at U of M was able to get Tony's background check and other paperwork done in a matter of hours vs. weeks for other coaches hired.  Tony is official as the new RB Coach and Run Game Coordinator.   I think this is arguably Sherrone's best hire. 

• Devin Bush who has struggled after his ACL injury and spent last year in Seattle is visiting Cleveland today. 

• Michigan Basketball ended its season 8-24 last night.  Who knows what Warde is going to do.  I have two words:  Jay Wright.   If those 2 words don't work then: Dusty May