Zooky Trick or Treat

Uh Oh. 5-4 and 1-4 in the Big 10…It’s not a repeat of 2008, but it ain’t much better. Therefore, we are moving to a new reference of “THOSE WHO CANNOT BE CALLED MICHIGAN” until they win a Big 10 game that matters… Hard to decide what is worse: giving up 377 yards rushing to 2-6 Illinois, being unable to score from the 1-yard line on four plays, or taking back-to-back losses against the Illini for the first time since 1958.

I hate prognosticating in the pre-season. Remember, I had the Illini game chalked up as a loss and, well, it’s looking like I am a pretty good predictor of THOSE WHO CANNOT Football outcomes. (I’ve only been wrong on the Domers). Maybe I need to be more positive and predict that were going to WIN MORE GAMES. I can’t explain what we saw on Saturday. It defied logic. The Illini was the worst defense in the Big 10, a team that hadn’t produced offensively, and a coach that should be on the hot seat but has been confirmed through next year….

I would love to go into an in depth on this one, but when you look at it: Dropped punts, 4 plays from the 1 YARD LINE and we can’t punch it in, blown defensive assignments etc…It’s just more of the same only against a team with a different color uniform.

Defense, not taking care of the ball, and missing golden opportunities are going to continue to be the bane of THOSE WHO CANNOT’S existence until someone decides that the problems need to be fixed. You can’t “exercise” or “condition” yourself out of bad performances. The recipe needs to be better coaching with the talent we have. Mgoblog.com had a great piece last week on the fact that we have had a 58% turnover on defense going back to the 2005 season. That means that over half the recruits have either left, been injured or transferred out of the program. That’s a problem. How do you address it?

I would love to come down on the coaching staff, but I have a feeling there’s going to be plenty of time for that later. Believe me, I a making a list. And right now, THOSE WHO CANNOT need every fan it can get for the next three games. So, before I go completely negative, let’s rally the Maize and Blue!

The Ledge – or the Race to 6-6….

THOSE WHO CANNOT Reasons to put TWO FEET SQUARELY ON THE LEDGE (Toes hanging off):
1. Purdue at home coming off a pasting by Wisconsin. I would have preferred that they played their hearts out and lost a close one, or even beat the Cheeseheads.
2. Defense…and more offensive woes….
3. Cheeseheads in Madison…Fuhgetaboutit….
4. OSU Home – We’ll be up, but so will they.

THOSE WHO CANNOT Reasons to pull one foot Off the Ledge:
1. A little weak here. I am open to suggestions and anyone with any ideas as to how we can win one of the last three or we’ll be sitting a 5-7 at home after November 21.


THE REST OF THE MESS

Here’s your USATODAY top 10 inserted here for discussion later. At least the BCS is still somewhat SANE….
1.Florida (50)
2.Texas (4)
3.Alabama (5)
4.TCU
5.Boise State
6.Iowa
7.Cincinnati
8.Oregon
9.LSU
10.Penn State

SPARTY AT GOPHERS: Sparty’s Ledge:

Reasons to keep TWO FEET SQUARELY ON THE LEDGE (Except your out to the arches and rocking back and forth on your heels):
1. You should have won this one. After taking Iowa to the limit and losing the way you did, you needed to go up there with attitude and just take it.
2. The Iowa game may have been the swan song this year. Emotional roller coaster is off the track.
3. PSU and Purdue are still on the schedule – AWAY….
4. You need two wins in your last three games…

Sparty reasons to pull one foot off the ledge:
I’m REALLY WEAK here and looking for any Sparty’s who haven’t already tuned out and turned on Basketball and Hockey to give me something…Anything to hang on to here.

North Carolina at Va Tech: HOKIES! I told you! Butch Davis was looking for a win and you were ready, but not able, to contain the Tar Heels. ACC is looking like a mess with GT yellow jackets in charge…
Purdue at Wisconsin: I was really hoping for a close game here. I wanted a de-motivated Purdue Spoilermaker at the Big House. Now, the Spoilers are going to be pissed and ready to play.
Indiana vs. Iowa: I watched this game from the beginning to the end and Indiana HAD THEM. They really did…Until they completely and utterly collapsed. And the Hawkeyes beat the spread. Amazing.
Kitty’s vs. Kitty’s: PSU vs. OSU this week is the big game...Northwestern simply couldn’t compete. Iowa loss for PSU is looking HUGE…So is that trip by OSU to the Spoilers…
Ole Miss at Auburn: Ole Miss is a fraud and Auburn is probably going bowling…
Mizzou vs. Buffaloes: Mizzou POUNDS Buffalo hide and makes the Big 12 north somewhat interesting.
WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY!: I can’t believe I whiffed so bad on this one. I really thought with a week off to prep, Richy Rich would have the Puppies ready to play…Florida is looking less vulnerable – Especially when they go for the EYE GOUGE play on defense. Nice, guys. Classy…I think I am starting to hate GATORLAND even more than I did before.
DOMERS (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!) vs. Washington State: Whatever…..
SOUTH CAROLINA at TENNESSEE: I just didn’t buy the fact that Tennessee would be getting points at home…I nailed this one. And Lane Kiffin hung another Tennessee victory on the Ole Ball Coach.
TEXAS at OKLAHOMA STATE: Short Horns rule…Cowboys drool…But Big 12 looks terrible in general.
RUBBERS at OREGON DUCKS: This game gave me a happy moment as I watched a very good Oregon Team dismantle a team that, with one more loss, won't play in a BCS game…That would be a first of nearly 8 years for the Rubbers. USC has lost 11 games in 8 seasons since 2002. Four of those defeats came in the state of Oregon. Think Pete Carrol will be vacationing in Oregon any time soon?

Idle Thoughts From Saturday

1. WE suck….WE suck….WE suck…
2. Has 2009 been disappointing for the fans? I mean, not just THOSE WHO CANNOT Fans, but College Football Fans in General?
3. Yes, we have undefeated teams…But come on, we don’t really have what anyone would call great teams this year, do we?
4. I mean, where’s the Heisman moments? Where are the last second heroics – aside from the Domers (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!)
5. Don’t tell me we all just cave and give it to Clausen.
6. Get rid of the award if that happens.
7. We suck…We suck almost as bad as we did last year. We’re young, we’re small, and now we’re busted up...I am not sure you can play in the Big 10 with little athletes. They last for a few games, but when they start getting pounded week in and week out by bigger athletes, well, little guys can only take so much. I know – long thought.
8. Will the BCS really put two, count em, two non-power BCS Buster teams, TCU and Boise State, into the Big Money BCS games?
9. Can these fans generate the buying power?
10. I GAURAN-DAMN-TEE you that ABC who has two games and FOX that has the other three DON’T WANT TCU AND BOISE STATE. But that’s just an MMQ hunch.
11. And what gives? Why are these teams “so good” and why can’t they be defeated?
12. Where’s the upsets in the WAC and MWAC?
13. I hate it when Michigan loses. Really. I mean, I hate it…
14. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.
15. And the offense isn’t getting better.
16. I know I predicted 5-7, but after the Domer victory, well, yes, I let hope creep in…I need to learn not to do that.
17. I do believe we’re on the right track and if we can keep everyone healthy – we’ll be better.
18. What do we do about the Defense? I can’t blame the coaching…He’s working with what he’s got.
19. Recruit DEFENSE only for the next two years?
20. Purdue can be beaten. God, I hope we can beat them…

The Hot Seat

Decisions, decisions…I know all of you were thinking I was in a Friends theme, but when it comes right down to it, was Lisa Kudrow really that hot? I didn’t think so, either…So I had to let my mind wander and come up with another Mascot selection. The criteria used to be:
1. Had to have some sort of link to Michigan (tossed that out this year)
2. Had to have some sort of link to the MMQ (like the same things, same sign, etc – tossed that one, too.)

Now, they just need to be hot. So, without thinking too hard, I came up with the following: Jessica Alba! She definitely got my attention when she was bouncing around in the movie “Into the Blue”…

And she held my attention in this shot as well.

But, and this is a “Charlie Wuzzles”, it really gets my attention if you can manage to get a photo of yourself naked…the MMQ isn’t sure why that is, but it just helps.

DON’T FORGET! You can vote for the Annual Hot Seat Mascot! Pick the Hot Seat Mascot that you think should be the Hot Seat Mascot of the Year. If you can’t decide on one, that’s okay. You can vote for multiple Mascots…Every Week I will post the Leader in the Vote getting on the Side Bar. And you NEED TO VOTE EACH WEEK for your favorite. It turns out I can't simply add a mascot to the poll. We have to start a new one each week.

LAST WEEK'S WINNER: ERIN ANDREWS! I can live with that....

HOT SEAT RANK
1. Wuzzles – Creeping back up the ladder Charlie…Because everyone else is “safe”.
2. Richy Rich – Georgia should have played that game a lot closer than they did…
3. Bobby Bowden – Technically gone – We just haven’t started the gone list yet.
4. The Ole Ball Coach – He will forever take it on the chin when he loses to the Cremesicles and they remind him of his “You can’t spell CITRUS without UT” comment.

5. Sorry RR..You're back on the list. And I only have you at 5. Some are requesting a much higher position.

GETTING COOLER

1. Al Groh…Going on annual run that saves his job.
2. Zookie – I guess he’s here till season end

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!
Va Tech at East Carolina: HOKIES! Wake UP! Skip Holtz will have his kids ready..

Every Day Should Be Saturday

Cheeseheads vs. Indiana: Can Hoosiers rough up the Cheese? I doubt it…
Broncos at Sparty: This is a must win.
Spoilers at (THOSE WHO CANNOT): If they can beat the Spoilers, I will give them the name back.
Illinois at Gophers: Gophers get the Motor City Bowl Bid – or better.
Gamecocks at Arkansas: Razors need a win…So does the Ole Ball Coach
Navy vs. DOMERS: I like Navy. Really.
Ducks at Stanford: Harbaugh will have his troops ready. Ducks coming off emotional win might be a little flat…
OSU at PSU: White out! PSU is tough in 3:30 games in the Big Beaver. I think they hand OSU 2nd Big 10 loss with the VEST going conservative and losing a last minute heartbreaker…Hee-hee….
LMU vs. $atan: I like LMU getting 9….
GATORLAND vs. Commodores: Tebow and crew will win easy…
LATERS vs. CORNSUCKERS: Anyone remember when this game used to mean something?
RUBBERS vs. SUNDEVILS: Wouldn’t another upset of the rubbers be classic?

UPSET ALERT:

Your MMQ refuses was a respectable 3-1 last week on the upsets…I know you didn’t see it, but I also said that the Gophers would upset Sparty, but I pulled it out due to my Big 10 blinders…but I nailed the Ducks and the Cremesicles, blew it on Gatorland.

This week, the MMQ Upset Alert Sense is telling me

NAVY over the DOMERS….
Stanford over the DUCKS
LMU over $atan…

But again, I could be wrong on all of them….Best bet: LMU and the 9 points. 2nd best: Stanford getting 4 at home.

The GO BLUE Banner - Brief History

One of the reasons I really like the "M Victors" blog is that Greg always finds fun trivia stuff to forward on. I mentioned earlier about his 6 part series on the Little Brown Jug and it was a fascinating read. Another tidbit is the history of the GO BLUE Banner. I had often wondered about the banner and why I didn't see it in a lot of the 50's and 60's games that you sometimes see highlights from. I figured it had something to do with the opponent, they only brought it out for the big boys or something. I also wondered how to get on the field to be one of the people that gets to hold it up.

The Origin of the Banner is at the right - Thanks Greg.

The M Go Blue Club is the group that dictates who gets to hold the banner pre-game and it is an honor that they alone get to decide based on a public service for recognition of a job well done.

The Winner's Cup

I don't know if anyone else has caught wind of this, but two jokers have figured out an All Time Mythical Travelling Trophy that was first awarded in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers and then goes to the team that eventually beats the current trophy holder. They have traced it all the way to present day.

Goofy and time wasting, but interesting none the less....

Michigan's longest streak with the Winner's Cup? 1972....9 games.

The Winner's Cup

Cissoko Dismissed

Well, the defense just got a little thinner yesterday evening. The Rod dismissed Cissoko for a violation of team rules. It sounds like Cissoko didn't like school according to Thomas Wilcher, former tailback at Michigan.....


Cissoko's high school coach, Thomas Wilcher of Cass Tech, said Cissoko was dismissed from the team for missing class, workouts and study table.
"That's what he was suspended for in the first place," Wilcher told The Detroit News. "He's upset. He's going to transfer as long as he can meet the requirements."
Wilcher said Cissoko had a difficult time handling the "social structure" at Michigan.
"He's always been a quiet kid," Wilcher said. "(But) he needs to do what needs to be done as a student-athlete. Nobody is bigger than the program."

So, for what it's worth...I think Cissoko was a nice kid that was trying to fit into the program and just couldn't handle the pressure and responsibility. Let's hope he lands on his feet somewhere.

A Legend That Will Go Out With Style & Class

Instead of opening up with what can only be described as, with the exception of an impressive first drive for a TD and a draft enhancing performance by Brandon Graham, a total train wreck of a game for the University of Michigan, I would like to start with these Idle Thoughts that I actually shared with my daughters that had to be pulled to the “Front Page” this week:

1. Joe Pa was hired as the head coach of Penn State in 1966.
2. In 1966 Johnson was President.
3. We had not been to the moon.
4. The Mustang was just introduced by Lee Iacoca as Ford’s Muscle Car.
5. Color TV was in its INFANCY (Most homes in 1966 had black and white sets as the primary, strike that, ONLY TV in the house).
6. The MMQ was less than one year old, and a lot of you weren’t even born yet.
7. Disposable diapers were unheard of.
8. I know some of you were already born, and those people would rather not talk about that fact – So I won’t say who you are.
9. Kirk and Spock had the only Cell Phones that anyone knew about.
10. If anyone asks me who Kirk and Spock are, you’re off The Distribution.
11. Air travel was not common place and people actually dressed up for the occasion.
12. Michigan (Canham) interviewed JoPa and offered him a job…in 1969.
13. JoPa looked like this in 1966.

14. And JoPa looks like this today.

15. Does Blue and Khaki (rolled up) ever go out of style?

16. Does JoPa know how to do anything else?

This guy has been doing the same thing for 43 years. With the exception of eating, sleeping and taking care of other bodily functions, I can’t tell you anything that I have done day in and day out for my 43 years on this earth.

That’s impressive. And regardless of where you fall as a fan, that should be respected. For the most part, PSU, the regents, and everyone around Nittany Lion Football has respected JoPa. Oh sure, they’ve QUESTIONED his motivation for staying and whether or not, after a 4-7 season, the game had passed him by…As THEY SHOULD HAVE. Everyone needs to be questioned and that is what focuses that person on either doing a better job or quitting.

And JoPa went on to do a better job. I wonder why Florida State isn’t as happy with Bobby Bowden? Again, I guess it’s all about wins and losses and unfortunately for Bobby, he is on the losing side of that equation. (Even though those same Seminoles had a really nice comeback win over North Carolina on Thursday Night).

But, as it were, The Rod is now “O-Fer” October against any opponent worthwhile. And while this wasn’t completely unexpected, I will say here that I had high hopes for this game. I thought Michigan had turned some corners. They obviously have a lot more corners to go. I don’t want to see Denard Robinson throw the ball. Ever. Again. This year.

Michigan is now into the Final Four. They’ve changed over the years, but for the most part, they are always big games. Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin and, of course, The Big Ugly…

The Ledge – or the Race to 6-6….

Michigan Reasons to put one foot on the ledge (no change)
1. Wisconsin Road
2. Defense…and now Offense….
3. Purdue Home – beating OSU has to give them some confidence…And they beat us last year with the ole’ hook and ladder.
4. OSU Home

Michigan Reasons to leave one foot Off the Ledge:
1. Illinois Road – WE should win but how can you be certain??? It looks like Zook will be gone – will he rally the troops one more time against Michigan?
2. That get’s you to 6 wins. 7 would be more comfortable.

And the reason 7 would be better, you ask? Because at 6 wins, assuming Sparty manages 2 wins in it’s last 4 games, puts us in a tie with said Spartys – tie breaker to Heads up winner. And at 6-6, that puts us in either 7th or 8th place in the Big 10 overall. And assuming that The Big 10 doesn’t get a 2nd BCS bid, which actually might be a bad assumption, dare I type this….Michigan is in a race for the Motor City Bowl.

Egads…..

THE REST OF THE MESS

FSU at North Carolina – Bobby finds a way to hold off the vultures and does it with style…Why can’t this team win at home? Is it their MASCOT? We know it’s not the fans….

SPARTY vs. Iowa – Oh Sparty…I honestly thought you should have gone for it on 4th down when the score was 3-3 and you had it on the 2...Granted, you had already had 4 shots at it with a penalty, but I would have pulled out the Dantonio bag of tricks and tried it again, anyway. Iowa wasn’t coming out of there and there is always a chance they screw up a punt deep in their own end. Your road to 6 wins is a little tougher, but you have Western in there that helps. Minnesota is going to be the tell. If you lose there, don’t bother packing your bags.

BC at DOMERS (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!): Well, a win is a win. But the Domers have more losses coming. And yes, I used the plural there….Pitt is looking tough and Navy might do a number on you again this year…Not to mention Stanford.

Gophers at THE OSU: The OSU looked pathetically inept in the 1st half. I mean pathetic. But then, athleticism and Pryor took over and the Suckeye train got on the track…but the Suckeye Offense goes the way of Pryor…If you catch him on an off day, they are extremely beatable…

PITT vs. SFU: Uh, Domers? Getting nervous? Pitt looks Goooooood…..

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia: So much for Al Groh…I think Georgia Tech wins the ACC, but what do I know? That conference is more screwed up than the Big 10….To wit

Clemson vs. GANGSTAS: Another top 10 upset by a team that wasn’t supposed to do that….I guess we can stop talking about the return of the U now….

Cornsuckers vs. Cyclones: I TOLD YOU! Look out for the Cyclones! Hmmmmm, while I can’t blame the defense in an 8 TURNOVER GAME BY THE OFFENSE, Pelini has probably shipped the blackshirts back to the manufacturer and requested pink or some other color….

LATERS vs. Kansas: Wow. Jayhawks were unmitigated FRAUDS….Laters can play without Bradford which makes you wonder how good a QB was he, really? Or was he a product of the Offensive Scheme? Anyone?

Cremesicles at $atan’s Warriors: Damn….This game had everything. An upstart Tennessee team that almost pulled off the impossible. I didn’t like the fact that we had to put it all on Tennessee’s kicking game, but that happens. If only…and I sure wish the SEC officials could get calls right. That has to a BIG ISSUE in the off season.

GATORLAND vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE: This one wasn’t as close as I thought – but Miss State did comfortably beat the spread…And Gatorland and Tebow are vulnerable…

RUBBERS vs. BEAVERS: Rubbers didn’t get lost in a Beaver this year, but that was one hungry Beaver team that put the Rubbers to a test….

AUBURN vs. LMU: Well, when I don’t go with my heart and I stay out of the Big 10, I am pretty good at picking the upsets…Did this year’s Auburn team show up in this game? I know playing LMU at night in LMU is tough….But seriously…LMU hasn’t done that to ANYONE all year…Is LMU trying to make a little run here? Could they come on strong at the end and upset $atan’s Warriors?

Idle Thoughts From Saturday

1. JoPa & Penn State…What will they look like when they get a new coach?
2. AWESOME! Opening TD sets the tone!
3. Oh my God we suck….STOP SOMEBODY!
4. Denard – RUN THE BALL….DON’T THROW!
5. BC can beat these guys…
6. Okay, maybe not.
7. I don’t think the Domers (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!) can win out…
8. And if they do, so what? Does that make them BCS worthy?
9. Are we going to have to “Even Out” against PSU? 10-5 against them is impressive…
10. And can Wuzzles survive 0-5 against USC?
11. After all, this was THE YEAR!
12. Any of the top 3 teams could still lose…
13. Meaning Boise State has a nice seat...and it’s making me sick.
14. I felt better after the BCS standings came out and Boise fell….
15. Is there anyone that’s going to make a Heisman Statement?
16. Tate could have won it had he stayed consistent…Don’t laugh. Who else is there?
17. Domers are rooting for Clausen…But he’s lost every big game.
18. Sparty, Sparty, Sparty…Why did you go into a prevent?
19. Iowa really isn’t that good…I feel for them because they might get killed by whoever they play in their bowl game…

The Hot Seat

Searching for Hot Seat Mascots is always a difficult challenge, but your MMQ never the less, rises to the occasion with a desire to make sure that the Mascot is worthy of the sacred tradition. I’ve heard that they have formed their own group, like former Playmate Bunnies, and sometimes meet up for drinks and what not…

No, I haven’t been invited. And since Courtney Cox made the cut, another one of the Friends Cast seemed logical for the Hot Seat….And she is hot… Jennifer Anniston!

I like her in this dress…

I think I like her OUT of that dress…

I offered to be one of the guys in this photo….Something about beer bellies and grey hair in the fine print on the application that I missed…Forgot to use my glasses when filling it out…



By the Way: You can vote for the Annual Hot Seat Mascot!

Pick the Hot Seat Mascot that you think should be the Hot Seat Mascot of the Year. If you can’t decide on one, that’s okay. You can vote for multiple Mascots…Every Week I will post the Leader in the Vote getting on the Side Bar.

HOT SEAT RANK
1. Zookie – I guess he’s here till season end.
2. Wuzzles – Creeping back up the ladder Charlie…
3. Bobby Bowden – Technically gone – We just haven’t started the gone list yet.
4. Richy Rich – Georgia helped themselves – Vanderbilt will do that for you, but still hurting.

GETTING COOLER

1. Ole Ball Coach
2. Al Groh…Going on annual run that saves his job.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!

North Carolina at Va Tech – Hokies, this could be dangerous…Butch Davis is looking for a big win. I would be nervous is I was you.

Every Day Should Be Saturday

MICHIGAN at Illinois: If I was a gambling man, I would take Michigan and the points…But, you need to believe that Michigan can show up….
Purdue at Wisconsin: If the Spoilers can beat the Cheeseheads, I am very nervous indeed…
SPARTY AT GOPHERS: If Minnesota wants to be bowl eligible, they need two more wins, also. Hmmmmm……
Indiana vs. Iowa: If Indiana can pull it together…Who am I kidding? Iowa just finds a way to win.
Kitty’s vs. Kitty’s: PSU vs. Northwestern. PSU should win handily...
Ole Miss at Auburn: Auburn needs to prove itself and Ole Miss might be that opportunity…
Mizzou vs. Buffaloes: While this isn’t a big game, it’s huge for the Big 12 north..
WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY!: I like Florida, but Richy Rich needs a big win this year…And these two teams don’t really like each other…Hmmmmm
DOMERS vs. Washington State: Looks like a breather on the schedule, but Domers are giving 30? Really? They haven’t beaten anyone by 30….
SOUTH CAROLINA at TENNESSEE: Ole Ball Coach is giving 6….Hmmmm
TEXAS at OKLAHOMA STATE: Could this be a danger Game for Texas?
RUBBERS at OREGON DUCKS: Rubbers are giving 3 on the road…Oregon has let up since the loss to Boise State…Hmmmmmmm

UPSET ALERT:

Your MMQ refuses to look at any upsets in the Big 10. I was right on last week with Mississippi State and LMU….So, therefore, this week:

GATORLAND and Tebow meet defeat at the hands of the PUPPY DAWGS!
Kiffin gets a “signature” win over Ole Ball Coach….
I like Oregon...Rubbers break in Autzen Stadium.

Can "They" Kill Tailgating?

In as much as the Student Body followed my advice and did not attend the Deleware State game, it was obvious that a lot of other "newbies" found free tickets from friends or family and went free of charge to the Massacre known as Michigan vs. DSU. Yes, they were claiming that the 100,000 sellout record was intact, but I would have liked to see the exact count... But as a fan, I can appreciate that those fans went for what might be their only visit. It gives everyone a chance that might not otherwise get the opportunity to go and see their beloved Wolverines play in the Big House. But I do believe we got the point across....Don't schedule mediocre opponents. It doesn't do anyone much good.

And I am now going to use this podium - can you call a blog a podium? - to address another issue that I am sure that is currently being discussed at the University of Michigan and around Ann Arbor to an even greater extent than they have already tried to kill it. I have seen various reports at other schools, and now ESPN has finally jumped on the bandwagon and made a satirical argument that to ban Tailgating is to take away Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet....

Rick Reilly has addressed the fact that pro sports venues and collegiate sports venues - including Central Michigan and Western Michigan football, are trying to limit and, in some cases, eliminate the pre game, game time, and post game tailgating activity. Ann Arbor police issued a cease and desist order for the 900 Block of State Street at Hoover where all of campus hangs a right when hiking over the the stadium on game day. (For those of you who haven't witnessed this, it's a classic. Fans can walk by and here loud music coming from the frats and apartments while downing a two story Beer Bong.) Pretty much good, clean college fun.

And all the MMQ can say about trying to stop this natural pre-game activity is:

WTF!!!!!!!!

Look: I am not saying anyone who buys a ticket has a God given right to get completely blasted out of their minds and then enter a stadium, if they can still stumble and bumble their way in where they become a public nuisance and may actually endanger other people. But getting fired up for a game is a big deal for a lot of fans - I mean, look at the picture of the MMQ above and you can see that I am a big fan of the pre-game Toddy.... I know it's a big deal for me and the Crew at the Corner of Hoover and Greene. However, I do think we need to add a little bit of logic and reason to address exactly what they, in this case, the Fun Police, are trying to address.

Alcohol consumption will happen whenever there is a sporting event. Limiting the tailgate time, or when you can enter a parking lot will only do one thing: People that want to consume will simply start cracking the beer in the cars, passing the big game bottle around while they wait for their space to open. The driver might not partake, but there will still be abuse. And do you think THAT is any safer than what happens now? And limiting College Student aclohol intake or somehow making them stop the parties? Really? Is that what you want to spend your time doing? And, when it comes right down to it, as Reilly points out, the Alcoholic can simply go to the nearest pub and get just as hammered as he would at a tailgate, so what's the difference? In addition, and they will find a way, fans will start to "sneak" alcohol into the stadium. I envision body bags under shirts and jerseys, crotched half pint or pint bottles, and concealed "bota" bags making a come back.

What happened to individual freedoms? What happened to people making their own decisions, and if those decisions have ramifications - like the two Detrion Lions girls getting tossed - well, that was their choice.

City officials in College towns or professional sports venues need to have a little leeway when it comes to this type of policing. In today's wired world and with every game on the tube, people will soon find a way to enhance the game experience by NOT BEING THERE. If that's what the officials want, then by all means, continue with your efforts and watch as revenues and ticket sales diminish, even when you have a good team.

The tailgate experience for some fans - think the Lions - is really all they have. If you take that away from them, well, why waste their time with the game?

What I would really like to know is - who's complaining? Who is making it an "issue" that there is too much of "whatever" and they should try to curb the activity for everyone? Are the participants complaining? Can we vote on this? Where is the common sense approach when addressing this issue?

And once you identify the complainers, my guess is you will have identified a minority. A minority that is all about control...And if you lose this freedom, well, what are they going to take next?

Possible AD Candidate?

Bob DeCarolis. Spent 19 years with the University of Michigan. Initiated the first of it's kind Nike Sponsorship deal (so we have HIM to thank for the Swoosh that is on everything that we own with Michigan on it). Also was the brainchild of the Michigan Brick Program. Former softball coach at Michigan and had a winning program, FWIW...

Has overseen and transformed the OSU Beaver's Athletic department from a $12M annual loser to a +$25M winner...at OSU.

That ain't too shabby in the town of Corvalis with a population of less than 50,000 - half the size of Ann Arbor...which means that when they have a home game, the town more than doubles in size...

Of course, it helps to have all the Microsoft money right up the road.