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Category: U-M

Here's to The Game being The Game ... sooner rather than later

So ... former Buckeyes-turned-ESPN-analysts Chris Spielman and Kirk Herbstreit said some stuff about the Wolverines on Columbus radio Monday, and you know what?

Thank goodness.

Maybe you didn't like what they said -- particularly Spielman -- or maybe you agreed with their assessment of the upcoming game, but regardless, it was kind of nice to get a little bit of spice added to this week as we anticipate what could be an enormous blowout by the Buckeyes.

Frankly, I'm tired of talking about and wondering whether first-year Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez "gets" the rivalry. And, yes, there are plenty of rumors swirling about players transferring from Michigan even as the team prepares for The Game.

This week, for me, has always been about The Game. As a kid who grew up in southern Ohio, this is the game that meant more than any other. And when I revert to "kid mode" I still think about this game -- even Saturday's -- and think, 'This is why college football is so great.'

Herbstreit was right when he said it's better for the rivalry when both teams are good and competitive. We can't have the 2006, No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup every year, but don't you miss the days when you really really really didn't have a good feel for this game one way or the other? Don't you miss the anticipation of two great lines going against each other, and the cliche -- this one will be won in the trenches? Don't you want to see great running backs run, and don't you want to see how quarterbacks handle the pressure of The Game? Admittedly, it's hard to find those matchups-to-watch in the upcoming game.

Saturday's game will be competitive in the sense the Wolverines will, indeed, compete. Why wouldn't they? This is, after all, Ohio State, and they have, after all, not been a team of quitters this season.

The point spread is almost at three touchdowns, and any rational thinker would have to believe that could be the minimum spread at the end of the game. It's not that Ohio State is that great -- the offense has had moments of looking, well, human, even with Terrelle Pryor and Beanie Wells -- but Michigan really is that bad as it stares at nine losses, brutal by any stretch of the imagination.

To me, this will always be The Game, even when it's this one-sided. I flipped through the book, "The Big One," this week to read some of the great Woody Hayes anecdotes, and then I listened to Bo Schembechler's great "The Team" speech on YouTube.com. It reminded me of better times, when The Game meant everything. Well, it still does, but you know what I mean.

Category: U-M

Looking for a little perspective

Terrance Taylor mentioned it on Monday, and so did U-M coach Rich Rodriguez.

They said that through the course of a challenging 3-8 season, they have developed "thick skin."

"This is a public position," Rodriguez said. "It's not like a politician - I'm not running for office. I mean, God bless them. They choose to have that public scrutiny. As coaches, we know it's part of the job, but we don't choose to have it. Most of us would rather not."

Rodriguez said he and his coaches have "thick skin'" but the criticism often stings their family members. He said the toughest part is listening to the personal attacks, those unrelated to X's and O's.

Players - as many of us in the media have often said - should be immune to personal attacks as they pertain to playing football. As Rodriguez reminded, these players are amateurs. That's why saying, "so and so stinks, he should sit on the bench and never come back," is a lot worse than "so and so has had a challenging season, and here's why."

"I don't get on message boards," Rodriguez said, referring to Internet sites where fans frequently post their opinions - good and bad - of the team. "I don't think anybody, any of our players or family should. But it's amazing some of the things that people would say or amazing things people will yell at you of a personal nature. You almost want to tell them get a life.

"I mean, there's a whole lot bigger problems. You lose a ballgame, and then you look at the economy or after every game I usually get to meet one of our veterans. You know, to take it personal on a coach or player to me, I don't think it's ever right. I'm glad fans have passion, but it's still kind of ... I guess a lot more bolder (posting messages anonymously). It's a lot more bolder what people would say and write ... bloggers or whatever, than it used to be."

Thick skin? Sure, developing that is probably necessary when dealing with such a difficult season and such a difficult profession. But players should never have to put up with personal attacks. It's hard to say to what exactly Rodriguez was referring. Perhaps it's just the general nastiness that can develop among fans when a season certainly isn't going the way anyone wants.

While it would be difficult to ensure that family members be spared listening or reading criticism of their coaching spouses/fathers, coaches are fair game when it comes to criticism. I'm definitely not suggesting it ever gets personal, but fans are fans for a reason - they do have a passion about their team, they do have expectations and they do have opinions. Clearly, everyone has a right to express all of that, but in the end, perhaps SOME perspective is in order.

Category: U-M

Michigan-Ohio State classics on this week

It is Michigan-Ohio State week, and to get you ready for the 105th meeting between the rivals, the Big Ten Network will air the 1969 Michigan upset and the 1974 Ohio State victory this week.

The Wolverines upset the top-ranked Buckeyes, who were riding a 22-game winning streak, in Ann Arbor, 24-12, to kick off the "10 Year War." That game will air Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. and then at midnight.

Ohio State's 12-10 victory over Michigan in 1974, in which two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin rushed for his 22nd straight game of at least 100 yards, will be show on Thursday at 2 p.m. and Friday at 8 p.m.

Category: U-M

Third-quarter blues

Michigan trails 21-14 after three quarters on this rainy, snowy home finale. Northwestern has, for the most part, shelved its run game and has gone to the air -- the Wildcats, who threw for 40 yards in the first half, gained 146 passing in the third quarter. Quarterback Steven Threet entered the game for the first time just before the end of the third quarter, spelling Nick Sheridan who made his second straight start. Michigan has now missed converting on its last eight third-down attempts.

Category: U-M

Threet cleared to play

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Friday after the Wolverines' final walkthrough that quarterback Steven Threet has been "cleared to go" for Saturday's game against Northwestern.

"We think he'll play," Rodriguez said in the interview on Mgoblue.com. "It will depend on the flow of the game."

Nick Sheridan will start against the Wildcats, but Rodriguez said freshman quarterback Justin Feagin also could play. He said all three quarterbacks have taken "a lot of reps" this week in practice.

Category: U-M

ESPN ombudsman explains Holtz comment

Remember last month, the night before the Michigan-Penn State game, when ESPN college football analyst Lou Holtz made some vague reference involving Adolf Hitler and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez?

Well, ESPN ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber in her latest column discussed ESPN's decision last month not to suspend Holtz after making the Hitler reference. Schreiber wrote that had ESPN done a better job explaining the comment her mailbag would have been "slimmer."

Holtz did apologize the following day during a halftime broadcast, an apology that Schreiber said was "crafted by the ESPN communications department with input from many besides Holtz," but added it did little to clarify what the former coach had said.

So, Schreiber has attempted to do so.

"First, Holtz did not compare the Wolverines' coach to Hitler, as many of the Michigan alums who are still writing me believe," Schreiber writes. "The context into which Hitler was dragged was a discussion of leadership among players in the locker room, during which analyst Mark May asserted that to win games, 'You have to have leaders in the locker room to get the team and the young players to buy into what the coach is teaching you.'

"Holtz responded, 'Let's remember this, Hitler was a great leader, too. There are good leaders and bad leaders.'"

Rece Davis, who was on the set that evening with Holtz, told Schreiber that "there's no way it was implied, nor should it have been inferred, that Lou drew any comparison between Rich Rodriguez and Hitler. He was making a point about establishing leaders in the locker room who lead in right direction as opposed to the wrong one."

Rodriguez, for the record, said he never heard the Holtz remark.

Category: MSU

Hoops health update

Despite a lingering knee injury, Michigan State's Goran Suton is expected to play in Sunday's regular season opener against Idaho, coach Tom Izzo said Wednesday.

"Concern is a good word," said Izzo of Suton's health. "I'm not fearing this is a two month deal, but it's a concern right now."

Suton didn't start Monday against Lake Superior State and played only 14 minutes, but most likely will start Sunday against the Vandals.

In other health related news, Kalin Lucas, limited to 12 minutes against Lake Superior State, is recovering well from an ankle injury, Izzo said.

Lucas started in MSU's last game, but played only 12 minutes.

Izzo described Lucas' limited time in the game as "more precautionary" than anything.

Category: Michigan State basketball

More '09 recruits coming?

EAST LANSING - Michigan State on Wednesday received plenty of size for its 2009 men's basketball recruiting class.

On national signing day, Spartans coach Tom Izzo welcomed Derrick Nix (6-foot-9, 275 pounds), a Detroit native from Pershing High School, and Garrick Sherman (6-foot-10, 235 pounds), of Kenton, Ohio.

When Izzo described both players Wednesday, he didn't want to label them "monster" big men that can dominate right away, but said they have plenty of skill, ability and potential to succeed.

"I'm not sure I have exactly (dominant players early on), but I'm very happy with what I have," Izzo said.

Both Nix and Sherman signed national letters of intent Wednesday.

Izzo said both players showed early in the recruiting process how bad they wanted to be Spartans, which should lead to fruitful collegiate careers in East Lansing.

"We have a lot more commitments now earlier because we got a lot more guys that want to be here," Izzo said. "Personally, I think guys that want to be here (long-term) are going to be better in the long run."

A third 2009 recruit could emerge within the months or even weeks to come because Izzo has another scholarship spot open.

One potential signee could be Jamil Wilson, a highly ranked power forward from Racine, Wis.

According to Rivals.com, Wilson is a four-star recruit who reportedly has MSU among his top choices along with Marquette, Texas and Oregon.

Another possible signee is Dion Sims, who could join Izzo's program while on a football scholarship.

Sims, listed at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, is a standout two-sport athlete at Orchard Lake St. Mary's that's considered a 4-star football recruit by Rivals and the No. 46 basketball small forward nationwide by ESPN.

"Michigan State remains very high on his list," said George Porritt, Sims' high school coach, in an interview with The Detroit News last week.

In football, Rivals reports Sims has offers from Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Miami, Tennessee, Purdue, Iowa and Louisville.

Category: MSU

Spartans ready for games that count

EAST LANSING - With its exhibition games over, Michigan State appears ready to see if a faster paced offense and trapping defense can work in the regular season.

The strategy definitely went the Spartans way Monday night in a 112-69 rout of Lake Superior State that saw the home team score 23 points in the first five minutes.

Nearly a minute into play, coach Tom Izzo screamed at his players for more effort, a clear message he wants this team to step on the gas and not let up.

"Any time we step on the court we're getting more aggressive and we're getting more consistency," said Izzo of his goal this season. "We've said, 'You can miss any shot you want, do some other things, but any casualness is (unacceptable).'"

Raymar Morgan led all scorers with 23 points, 20 in the first half. Durrell Summers had 18 while Marquise Gray chipped in with 16.

Lake Superior State's Mark Morse had 19. As a team, the Lakers had 16 of their 19 turnovers in the first half, were outrebounded by 30 and shot 37.5 percent.

"Obviously we ran into a buzz saw tonight," Lakers coach Steve Hettinga said.

The Spartans had a 61-28 lead at the break after a Chris Allen 3-pointer before time expired.

Morgan led the fast break for a coast-to-coast layup to make it 39-18 midway through the first half.

Izzo told members of the media to ask his players what they would like to do this season after the coach said he wants to run "all the time."

Morgan has no problem with that.

"That's our main concern right now, getting up and down and getting easy buckets," Morgan said. "It's just a good look for everybody."

After one of three Lakers 5-second violations in the first half, freshman Delvon Roe powered into the lane for a layup at the 13-minute mark for a 25-4 lead.

The closest this contest got was when Ryan Kuhl, a Rochester native, made a jump hook on the left block over Idong Ibok to cut the deficit to 27-13 midway through the half.

Izzo started Summers and Gray over Travis Walton and Goran Suton.

Walton and Suton started the first exhibition game against Northern Michigan with Morgan, Allen and Kalin Lucas. On the injury front, Izzo said Suton is suffering from a right knee injury.

Lucas started Monday and played 12 minutes despite an ankle injury in practice that Izzo described as "nothing major."

Category: MSU

Good to be green

I was 11 the last time Michigan State contended for a Big Ten title at this time of the year.

It boggles my mind how this 2008 season has transpired given this program's crazy and often unsuccessful past. That's why it was strange for me to see empty seats during Saturday's 21-7 victory over Purdue at Spartan Stadium.

Where were the fans? Are they ready for potentially long-term success in Spartan football? I hope so, because this is definitely a campaign to remember.

As a Lansing native and first-year MSU beat writer, knowing this program's history and what it had personnel-wise coming into this year, I had no reason to believe this team would be 9-2 right now. I thought, honestly, that 7 wins total might be a stretch.

Boy, was I wrong.

What's impressed me the most about this squad is the confidence and discipline at practically every position. Penalties are down, there are fewer mental mistakes and players seem to be able to roll with whatever cards they are dealt with.

Mark Dantonio's approach is clearly working. He has no problem putting players in positions of confidence, whether it's a first stringer or third stringer and it shows.

I'm going to make a prediction right now: MSU might not win at Penn State, but will give the Nittany Lions all they can handle.

As for the program's future, it's clearly in good hands under Dantonio. Recruiting is going so well that coaches are already working hard on 2011 prospects. Facilities like the Skandalaris Football Center are as nice as any in the country.

The only thing I see holding MSU back now is if Dantonio somehow leaves for another job. But I have a sense, based on what we've all seen this season, that Dantonio will be well compensated with an even sweeter deal that should keep him in East Lansing for a long, long time.

He's clearly racking up some bonuses now.