The Mobile Aquatic Tailgater

Years ago, a long time loyal reader and college room mate of the MMQ purchased a house on White Lake that came with a well used pontoon boat that was in need of a whole lot of TLC...As my room mate pondered what could be done to "dress up" the naval derelict, it became readily apparent that it would be better to dress it up and add a little class at the same time.

Below, you see the imagination of a true Michigan Fan at work. Not to mention hours of painstaking labor!







Click on the photos for close ups of the seats. If we ever schedule the Home and Home with Tennessee, The Tailgate Crew is more than ready!

Nice side Shot. Original Motor cover had a winged helmet! I'm not sure if the owner has any photos or not.....


Can't forget the Block "M" on top!

So, if you're ever in the White Lake area and see the Aquatic Tailgater...Say, "Hi!"

The Roots of My Pre-Season Optimism

Look - I've taken some flack for this year's optimism. I understand that we've had two of the worst years - EVER - for Michigan football. Worst records. Horrible Play. Bottom of the Big 10 in most categories.

Those are the facts. But the fact also remains that bad teams get better and I believe that Rich Rod was hired because he succeeded where others had not. Is it all going to come together this year? In the past, his third year has traditionally been his best year. Not to mention that the Wolverines were close to two more victories last year (MSU and Iowa) that would have gotten them to 7 wins. So that's two sides of the argument - Worst ever records and you can always get better.

There's also the game by game analysis for the 2010 season. I am borrowing some content from something I read from Rob White that supported my case. He ranked the games as the "must" wins, or easy games, followed by the middle games and finally, the hard games. Ranked, not precisely in that order, but you'll get the gist of the idea is the season.

Easy:
UMass
Bowling Green
Indiana
Illinois

Middle:
MSU
Purdue
UConn
Notre Dame

HARD:
IOWA
PSU
WISCONSIN
tOSU

So, suffice it to say, we need to win the 4 easy games. And I think that's achievable. Indiana was a scare last year and the Illini had their way with us, but I'm optimistic that we're better than those teams, period. Chalk them up as W's.

The middle 4 games were where Rob and I differed in our opinion. The reason being is that he believed that we should win 3 out of 4 games in the middle. And when you consider that MSU - a critical in conference rivalry game is in your "middle" game rank, well, you know you have a pretty tough schedule. And while I understand the reasoning, I don't think he took into account one cricital thing - Momentum.

Momentum, as everyone knows, in the college game is huge. Building on wins is important. The hardest 4 games are luckily in the last half of the season. IF (That's a big IF) we haven't stumbled and are possibly 6-0 after beating MSU, I believe Iowa is winnable in the Big House for Homecoming. This assumes we have escaped from South Bend with a W and UConn hasn't upset us in the opener. Now, your 7-0 heading into Happy Valley where not only the Wolverines have had some good luck, but Rich Rod has some memories from there as well. (And he led that team in Happy Valley two years ago, so he knows how to make things happen). Given that we're on the roll and PSU (based on their schedule) may already have a blemish, it's going to be a big game. But winnable none the less.

Now, it's a 4 game schedule with 1 must win (Illini) and a middle game (Purdue) with two tough games. 0.500 in the last 4 would make most fans pretty happy. But I think we can do better. Wisconsin has trouble in the Big House. And we're due at OSU.

Can we get there unscathed? That's unknown, but I like the way the schedule unfolds as far as building the big Mo' and getting some confidence.

Michigan and The Suckeyes in Different Divisions - Two "Games" a Year Potential?

Really?

Split them up?

Twice in one season potential?

Is this wise?

It appears, according to Adam Rittenberg, the Big 10 Blog reporter on ESPN, that the Big 10 is favoring putting Michigan and OSU in different divisions. Now, while reading Frank the Tank's insights and all the comments on his blog, it became apparent to me at least that splitting these two into different conferences violated about 20 different traditions and would undoubtedly take a lot of shine off the once a season match-up.

But, would it really? What if we opened the season with OSU and then played a round robin 9 game slate and found oursleves on top of the division opposite the Buckeyes, also on top of their division? Would the first game matter all that much? Really? I mean, win or lose, by the last game of the season (or the championship game) the teams have morphed into something altogether different and probably a lot better than that first game would lead you to believe, either way it came out.

So, while I was in the "They have to be in the same division" club, maybe, with open eyes, I can see how it could be great both ways - play OSU early - kick their ass - and earn the right to kick their ass again by winning your division....

But losing to them twice in one season would also really, really, really, suck.

We may have to make a temporary voting poll on the side bar for this one....

2012: Michigan-Alabama Will Play in JerryWorld and THE NEW TURF!

Michigan and Alabama are going to play in Jerry's World in 2012.

This if from mgoblog.com and he states that it's a reputable, trustworthy source. So, I guess it's as close to for real as you're going to get. The deal supposedly gets inked today, so you might hear about it in the regular news.

What I don't get is why either team would agree to this...I mean, I guess there has to be a lot of money tied to it. But, come one, do Alabama and Michigan really need the dough that bad? And if you were going to do this anyway, WHY NOT DO A HOME AND HOME AND LET THE REAL FANS take advantage of this? Jerry Jones must have committed a LOT OF Green Backs to this game and it simply made too much financial sense to not do it. I'm talking about double the normal gate for a Michigan Home game. Why else would you do this?

I'll be very curious to see what those tickets cost for that road game, if you'll even be able to get them. I'm sure season ticket holders will get a shot based on seniority or something....

Still, I'd really like to see what the payout is.

On to more local news:

A loyal MMQ reader and opportunist in Ann Arbor who will remain nameless due to the fact that if I put it out there who this individual is, I'm sure he'll be flooded with requests. What you are seeing in the photo below is a swatch of the New Stadium Turf that was just installed that your own Wolverines will win 7 games on this year. The pelletized rubber stuff has been replaced with this material. And guess what? All the sections that needed to be trimmed out for the lettering somehow fell on the truck of a guy that does some decal work with the aforementioned individual in Ann Arbor. Your MMQ has been promised a door mat size piece that I will proudly display somewhere around my domicile. Of course, it would look even better with a little Maize and Blue spray paint and a stenciled block "M", but I'm not sure I want to screw it up.

Anyway, many thanks and I'm looking forward to procuring my patch of turf.

Countdown to Kick-Off has started again and were on day 26. Can't wait for them to tee it up!

Les Miles - Off the Chart?

I hadn't realized that David Brandon and Les Miles disliked each other. But Brian Cook over at mgoblog.com apparently made that pretty clear when I wasn't looking. Add to that this latest Les Miles debacle on a kid that got cut because LSU had "too many scholarship kids" signed and it seems pretty evident that ole Les might be pushing the rule book a little bit and leavin kids out in the cold.

I am constantly appalled as what goes on in the SEC as "acceptable" practices to over recruiting, over committing, and general disregard for honoring a 4 year scholarship. I have harped on and provided multiple links to the Satan tactics of telling Juniors and Seniors that haven't contributed or had any significant playing time that they are going on a medical scholarship to complete their education, but they are essentially getting kicked off the team for not developing the way the coaches wanted.

Yes, it's a business. But isn't all of this just a little sleazy? Not to mention - how do you think that kid feels?

And while I can understand Brian's wrath for Les, I'm personally not convinced that he won't be wearing Maize and Blue at some point in the future. But with all the other rumors flying around about Les, it's hard to believe at this point it would ever come to fruition.

The Agony of Defeat

Pat Forde of ESPN who pens the "Forde Yard Dash" that I like to think is the "clean" version or professional take at what your own MMQ does wrote an interesting article on the agony of defeat.

And of course, his story immediately hit home with me. Actually, Ivan Maisel's story, quoting the new QB coach Rick Neuheisel at the University of Colorado after the first "horror" game involving Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook, two names I would rather not have committed to memory, hit me even harder. Because, anyone reading this knows and has had to live with that scene with 0:00 on the Michigan clock and seeing a 70 yard bomb find it's way to the South End Zone for a Colorado victory.

If I had to measure the euphoric high against the all time lows, I'm not sure how I could do it or to explain how the "punch in the gut" feels. Yes, beating the Suckeyes in 1997 was euphoria. But, it almost seemed like sweet relief, too. All the years of rooting for and supporting your team culminating in what you had hoped for since you watched your first Michigan game. An undefeated season to hang your hat on. To be part of the "Us too!" club of National Champions. Of course, that would come later in Pasadena, but every Michigan fan knows that we won the National Title in the Big House on that 3rd Saturday in November. But that 70 yard bomb, the App state horror, Sparty's cheating ways for last second victories, a Texas Field goal from 38 yards or a lateral to Breaston that wasn't against Nebraska are all painful reminders of the humiliation and agony of losing. So, why is losing so gut wrenching? Why is the pain of loss so much easier to recall? And why is a devestating loss so much more hurtful and lingering (App State) than a huge underdog victory (Notre Dame - 2009)? I really don't know. Except I will agree with the sentiment in Forde's article:

We are wired to be winners. From the time you're born, if you have good parents, teachers and coaches, you're instructed and shown ways to win. And you start to believe you're a winner - until you lose. When you lose, it reinforces the goal of why you wanted to be a winner in the first place. So winning becomes acceptable and expected; Losing is intolerable to the point of depression and ultimately, pain.

So, is it better not to compete? Or rather, should we all take being fans a little less seriously than we currently do? I for one cannot turn it off. I have rationalized and reasoned with myself that the athletic activities of a University should have absolutely no bearing WHATSOEVER on my well being or the relationship with my Wife, children, friends and coworkers. Winning and losing simply aren't that big a deal. Get on with your life. You have a lot to be thankful for and a lot going for you: Family, health and home.

Yet, deep down, I know it's all a lie. I know that I will be internally miserable for exactly one week if we lose until we get a shot at winning again. But when we win, I simply exist and believe that's what SHOULD have happened in the first place. I'm a winner. Michigan's a winner. They should win.

So, when Forde suggests that we need to take ourselves a little less seriously and look at the fact that for every conference champion there's at least 7 losers and for every National Champion there's 119 losers so there's a lot of company for the misery out there.

To that I say, "PPPHHHHHHHTTTTT!"

I could give a shit about the other losers. I want to WIN AND WIN RIGHT FRIGGIN' NOW!

Sorry...Internal rationalization just doesn't work for Slappy's....

Classic Crisler

If anyone wonders why Fritz Crisler was such a great coach and an even greater motivator, look no further than this wonderful piece of history that MVictors was able to uncover:

Tom Harmon Pre-Season Questionairre

Apparently, Fritz sent this one page questionairre to all his players. What's classic is that ole number 98 was a smoker! But, what did anyone know in the 40's about the full impacts of cigarette smoking?

I am always fascinated with what Greg and company finds over there. I wish I had his research staff...Or better yet, his time. I think my favorite answer by Harmon has to be this (With respect to soul):


So, if anyone asks me if I'm going to do my best as your MMQ this season,

"I KNOW DAMN WELL I WILL!"