Wolverine Wednesday: Midweek News and Notes

When Harbaugh got to Michigan he invested heavily into the analyst role.  These are usually young or former coaches in between on-field coaching jobs.  Their roles were to review film, scout other teams, work with kids in the film room, etc.  Basically, everything that's not on a football field   Some of these coaches have better relationships with the players then the actual position coaches.  Alabama was very strong in this area, Harbaugh copied that model and won a NC with it.

New rules are now in effect that these analysts can be on the field at practice and during games.  This is a huge advantage for programs like Michigan and other programs that invest in these analyst positions.  Now these coaches can coach and can help players on and off the field.  Well done NCAA! 

• I'm pretty sure the Knicks are trying to put together that Villanova squad that beat Michigan in the National Championship game.  They now have 4 players from that team. 

• Is this the worst NBA Draft in recent history?  At some point, I think you just let the teams that didn't make the playoffs draft and make everyone else a free agent.  The Knicks don't think much of the draft and just gave up 5 first round picks for Bridges. In my proposed model, you can only sign a maximum of 2 rookie free agents if you are a team that is not draft eligible. 

• Michigan's recent RB commit, Donovan Johnson was a 5-star prospect before his knee injury last season.  Did Michigan get a steal with other programs waiting to see how he heals?  Let's hope so. 

• Another rule change that goes into effect after Aug 1.  In 2025, the entire month of July will be a recruiting dead period, so coaches can plan for the season.  So this years BBQ at the Big House in July might be the last one. 

Wolverine Wednesday: What Do You Think About the Running Clock?

College Football has a few different rules than the NFL, one of the bigger ones was that the clock stops on 1st downs.  Games were getting longer and longer and the NCAA decided to make a clock change this season.   This season the clock stops on 1st downs only with 2 minutes left in each half.  

Per Tej Seth on X formerly from PFF:

# of plays difference between last season and Week 0 and 1

2022: •plays per game: 131 •drives per game: 24.0 •plays per drive: 5.50 2023: •plays per game: 117 •drives per game: 21.7 •plays per drive: 5.40

Fans and coaches do not love the change as the games seemed to fly by in college football's first weekend. If you have two running teams, you might get 2-hour games soon! In the above the stats, there are lots of lost plays and a few drives, so comebacks are going to be more difficult now.

I would not have moved to 2 minutes; I would have started at the last 5 minutes of each half. If you are making a comeback, you really start to clock watch at the 5-minute mark, 2 minutes in my opinion is too late.

Also, TV Networks and Streaming Services, enough with the non-stop commericals.

Michigan Friday: Mixing Blue with Green

It's not very often a former Wolverine works for Michigan State Football.  Thomas Wilcher a former Michigan Football Player and the famous head coach of Cass Tech took a job on Mel Tucker's staff a few years ago.  The Michigan Football community had mixed emotions about the hire. It's great that a high school coach gets a shot at Big Ten Football but it's Michigan State. 

Michigan is also an offender in this rivalry hiring.  Jimmy hired Dan Enos for 18 minutes one day before he jumped ship to another program.  Dan is famous for leaving jobs for other positions very quietly, reportedly Dan left Alabama for another gig by not showing up to a Saban staff meeting.  I would have loved to have heard an FBI wiretap at that meeting.  Stay Classy Mr. Enos.  

Reports out of East Lansing is that Thomas Wilcher is no longer with MSU.  Which clearly leads me to believe he was a double agent spying on MSU for the good of Wolverine Nation.  

The internet tells me with you mix Blue with Green you get the color Cyan.  Which means that Thomas's next stop is Tulane.   😃

• Remember the recruitment of Dorian Thompson-Robinson?  He is now in this year's NFL Draft.

• XFL vs. USFL this weekend.  If you like football, April is the month for you!! Names in the USFL you might recognize: Big Willie Henry, Delano Hill, and Channing Stribling. 

• New official visit rules go into effect this August where prospects now can take more than 5 visits, but just 1 per program.  The schools can only have 56 official visitors a year, which did not change.  Yes, if there is a coaching change you can take 2 to that school.  

• 2024 4-star Edge Dominic Nichols just spent 3 days in A2 and has already booked an offical visit to come back.  He has 100% CB's to Penn State

• 2024 4-star TE Max LeBlanc is down to Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee, with a commitment expected in the next few weeks

Michigan Friday: A Freak Hamstring

After dedicating an entire post to Mazi Smith and his freakiest combine ability yesterday, he has elected to sit out some drills due to a hamstring injury.  He plans to do all the drills at Michigan's Pro Day.  Today, he did put up 34 reps on the bench press which was the highest total for any defensive lineman.  

• Mike Mallory is expected to be joining Harbaugh's non-field coaching staff focusing on special teams. Welcome Home Mike!

• Michigan Basketball lost a tough one last night in double OT to Ilinois.  The team did show some heart but missed some important shots at the end. 

• The NCAA is considering not stopping the clock on 1st downs and only doing it within the last 2 minutes.  Which seems reasonable as college football games can last forever! 

• Reports are that Josh Gattis is going to end his feud with Mike Locksley on who called the plays at Alabama and will become Maryland's new OC.  This report makes me smile. 

• Reports are an XFL QB from the Orlando franchise got cut because he gave the other the team, Orlando's plays. 

Michigan Thursday: News and Notes

 Distracted by the PGA Championship this morning, so throwing some N&N at you!  😀

• Moussa Diabate testing #'s at the combine were pretty good (compared with Centers): Lane agility #1, Shuttle #1, Sprint #1, Standing Vertical #2, Max Vertical #1.   He gone! 

• Looks like NCAA Football Conference Divisions are going away.  I just don't want to play OSU twice in a row.   I am for moving any Michigan game in Columbus to Indy and playing it as the Big Ten Championship game. 

• Funny how NIL is giving boosters the right to "buy" recruits.   So nothing has changed, just what has happened in the dark, is now in the light. 

• Ryan "Pay" Day gets a nice raise and a 2-year extension.   I didn't think that happened after losing to "The Team Up North".

• USFL expands roster with 5 more players, trying to protect players against the XFL next season. 

• Speaking of the XFL, they have signed a deal with ESPN.

Wolverine Wednesday: Getting Spring Practice Back

Michigan was about to start Spring Practice when the world changed.   Those 2 weeks are very important to the development of young players, for example like finding a new starting QB as the Wolverines are doing this season. 

Per the AP:  The NCAA's football oversight committee expects to finalize a plan Thursday to allow teams to conduct up to 12 unpadded, slow-speed practices, also know as walk-throughs, during the 14 days before the typical preseason begins in August.

Teams will be permitted up to 20 hours per week of what the NCAA calls countable athletically related activities during those extra two weeks, leading into a normal 29-day preseason practice schedule. The walk-throughs will be part of those 20 hours per week, along with weight training, conditioning, film study and meetings. Players will not be permitted to wear pads or helmets during walk-throughs, which cannot exceed one hour per day.

This change potentially could be a positive for the Wolverines as the non-early enrolled freshman will now be able to participate in those two weeks.  If Spring Practice happened in March they wouldn't have.   Word on the street is all but one freshman is in the Michigan Directory and they are expected to be in A2 to start training on Monday.  If you want to crack the 2 deep for a true freshman, having another two weeks will certainly help.  

Now if Expedia will refund me the thousands of dollars that's in limbo for my cancelled family spring break trip, it will be all good news!!!  Expedia the ball is in your court, do the right thing! 

• MLB draft starts tonight and a couple Wolverines (Jeff Criswell, Jordan Nwogu) are expected to be drafted.   

• MSU has added future games against CMU and FAU.  

Michigan Friday: Jimmy Pens Open Letter

When I think of Jimmy, I think of this verse from an old Billy Joel song:

♪ You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right ♪

Hell yes I wish Michigan would win more football games and beat Ohio State once every 5 years (at least!) or so but the late Lee Iacocca might have said it the best, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way".   Jimmy is trying to lead and it's making an impact.  

Jimmy did something similar a year ago, saying that all kids should have one transfer available to them without penalty.   The NCAA is now reviewing that and that might take effect later this summer. 

To summarize Jimmy's latest letter:

• Players can go pro if they are ready after 1 year of playing college football.   For example why is Trevor Lawrence still at Clemson?
• Players should have greater access to the NFL, agents, and lawyers to determine their Pro potential. 
• Players not drafted with eligibility left can return to the college football
• Players entering the draft early, can still have scholarship options at the school he left 
• He also continues to support the 5 year rule and getting rid of redshirting 

I don't love the one and done rule  and think kids should stay for at least 2 seasons in college football.  Though I do understand Jimmy's point but only a few elite prospects should be affected.  My fear is that too many players would think they are ready, sign with an agent, and close the door on college football way too early.   

The rest of the rules make sense to me.  The return if your not drafted is clearly aimed at Sean McKeon who left early with a season to play and didn't get drafted.   

Michigan Tuesday: Livers Checking His NBA Option

Having options is usually a good thing and Isaiah Livers will check out the NBA and his status in the NBA Draft.  I'm not sure what the NBA feedback was but I would be surprised if Livers is a 1st round draft pick.

The problem for Isaiah, is the normal NBA evaluation and combine will probably be cancelled and NBA teams will just have to rely on tape.  Which will make it tough for a guy probably near the bottom of a top 100 list to make the move up some draft boards.

Iggy left last year, was picked in the 2nd round, and spent most of the abbreviated season in the G-League for one of the worst teams in the NBA.  To me the smart play here is to come back, play your senior year and hope you light it up.    I'm sure guys like Iggy and Poole don't regret their decisions to turn pro, but I still don't think it was the best decision for their future basketball careers.

I don't think you leave a program to be 2nd round draft pick or a Free Agent (if there aren't other factors at your program or in your life).

•  4 Star AZ 2021 OT Bram Walden has Michigan in his top 12. 

• The NCAA did grant Spring Athletes another year of eligibility, Winter Sports was not included and isn't expected to be given the same accommodations.   Which means X and Teske have played their last games at Michigan. 

Michigan Monday: Hat Tip To All Medical Workers

This blog and other media outlets like to talk about concussions and the difficult lives many football players have after they stop playing.   The one thing we have failed at, is highlighting the guys that took their football careers to another profession like former Wolverine Dr. Chris Hutchinson.

Angelique did a great job last week profiling the work of the former Big Ten defensive lineman of the year (and father of current Wolverine Aidan) Dr. Chris Hutchinson work against COVID-19.   Chris is clearly a "Michigan Man".

Another example is former NFL and FSU DB Myron Rolle.  If you remember, Myron won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship coming out of FSU.   Myron is now a neurosurgeon at Mass General and also working to treat virus victims.

These are just two examples and there are thousands of medical workers across our nation and even more world-wide that deserve our recognition and praise during this Pandemic.

• Michigan continues to priorities the recruitment of ND commit OH 2021 WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. 

• There is also new momentum in Michigan's recruitment of OH 2021 WR Markus Allen.  Who clearly has a strong football name! 

• The NCAA is expected to vote today on the extra year of spring sports eligibility.  With the reduction in NCAA fees this year, the vote has become more complex and might be moved out a few weeks. 

• OSU landed the top RB in the nation this past weekend.   If your wondering, OSU has the #1 class in the country with 3 five stars and 10 four stars.  Michigan has 4 total commits in the 2021 class with 1 five star and 2 four stars, the Wolverines class is currently ranked 17th on 24/7.    

Michigan Thursday: Ryan Mallett Update

Ryan Mallett leaving Ann Arbor after Rich Rod was hired was an early indicator that RR's tenure was off to a bad start.   Ryan played a couple years at Arkansas and then was drafted by the Patriots in the 3rd round.   He spent 7 years in the NFL jumping around to a number of teams.  He is still is only 31 years old and there were some rumors he might end up in the XFL.  

Getting back to football took a hit on Tuesday after Ryan was arrested in Arkansas after a two car crash for DWI.

• The State of California allowing amateur athletes to be paid for their likeness is going to open up a big can of worms with the NCAA. 

• Does college football play on Thursday night anymore?  Looks like for two weeks in a row, no Thursday games. 

• Speaking of non-Saturday college football games.   North Carolina visits Wake Forrest on Friday night.  Both teams are in the ACC but this isn't an ACC conference game.   Which is strange and very ND like. Wake is favored by 3. 

Michigan Thursday: Weekend Visitors and a New Jordan Release

Before we get to the fun information lets do a quick re-cap of the two new NCAA rules that were approved yesterday. 


#1: Freshman 4:  Freshman now will be able to play in 4 games a year and not lose their eligibility for a redshirt.   Some of you might remember RR's last game at Michigan in the Gator Bowl.   Tate got sent home due to grades, which left only Denard being able to play.   If Denard got hurt, that would have meant Devin Gardner a true freshman would have burned his redshirt for playing in a bowl game.  Now, that won't happen and freshman can still save their redshirt year and get some game experience. 


#2: Transfer rules have been reduced:  from the NCAA...…….


The Division I Council adopted a proposal this week that creates a new “notification-of-transfer” model. This new system allows a student to inform his or her current school of a desire to transfer, then requires that school to enter the student’s name into a national transfer database within two business days. Once the student-athlete’s name is in the database, other coaches are free to contact that individual.


Conferences could still limit inter-conference transfer but no longer can coaches restrict a players school options.


These are good changes, well done NCAA!


Michigan will be hosting some important 2019 visitors this weekend including:

• 5 Star RB Quavaris Crouch from NC
• 4 star S Lewis Cine from Texas
• 3 star WR Demontae Crumes
• Teammates from Columbus Rodas Johnson 4 star DT and Joey Velazquez LB - Joey is the prospect that is committed to OSU Baseball.

The Jordan brand released a Michigan Jordan 12 Player Edition that was designed by PSNY a Michigan Alumni designer for the team only.  We expected that same shoe would be released this summer and it's coming a week from Saturday with a twist. 


The PSNY branding has been removed and here are some official looks at the shoe that will release in about a week.


Cost is $225
Release date: 6/23/2018