Expandment

The air is full of change. You can smell it. You can feel it. But what. How. Why. It all started with one conference: The Big Ten. The Big Ten is the oldest and original conference. They announced a few months ago about possible expansion. Rumors began and fire was yet to come. Now we see the Pac-10 looking to expand, the Big 12 might collapse, SEC doesnt know what is going on, the Indipendant pro team might go conference and conference teams might have no where to go.

Big Ten

The Big Ten talked about possible expansion a few months ago to look to even the conference with schools such as Notre Dame Pitt Uconn and Rutgers. Currently the conference has 11 teams as seen in the logo. Penn State came in 1990 to make it odd. With the Big Ten Network, the Big Ten Schools make the most out of any other conference. The BTN alone makes the Big Ten Conference the most valuable of any conference. What does the BT really want? They want to expand their markets. They are looking for a high profile powerhouse football program that has a large and strong following that can command a serious market and that at the same time acheives a high level of academic prestige. No Texas Techs here, nor TCUs. The BT has been talking to Notre Dame for the past few years. They play a great deal already and Notre Dame is in the Indiana region, along with Indiana and Purdue. Its a given its the best school to add bc it would be easy for students to travel were they already go. If Texas came it would be a pain in the butt for small non-revenue sports to go compete up in Minnesota or Iowa where it is freakin cold I can attest. So something that is fine with student scheduals, a school that has high academics, a strong atheltic program, and someone with a national following (high market). Most Liklely they will take Notre Dame Nebraska and Missouri.

Pac-10

Pac-10 wants to expand. They were looking at making their own television network but it didnt go threw. Now, if they expand, there is no exucese. The reports came that they will want 6 of the 12 teams in teh Big 12. Not only would this make a supersize 16 team confeerence, it would destroy the Big 12. They could make a fantastic network that would reach the entire west coast and much of the south. This would be huge, only matched by the Big Ten. The teams of interenst are Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and either Colorado or Baylor (probobly Colorado). Either way taking the Texas/Oklahoma market woudl just be huge. Texas is the golden goose here but Oklahoma and A&M has a large market themselves. Pac-10 aparently doesnt mind taking in lower academic schools, they just want a powerhouse and they want money. Makes sence to me. Is this likely? Sure. I am pretty confedent that they might get at least 4 schools. Texas most likely would go there, altho I wouldnt like it.

Big 12

All they want to do is survive. The Big 12 is consisted of 2.5 powerhouses, Texas and Nebraska with Oklahoma right there, but also who cares in football like Baylor and Kansas State. They also have lower academic schools like Texas Tech. Essentially what we have here are a set of schools that have a large market (State of Texas with Oklahoma) with schools that no one cares about in football or that will not add academic value. If half the conference leaves, there will be no more. Nebraska and Missouri might leave to the Big Ten first. Texas says it wants to stay. All the schools no one wants want the Big 12 to stay too or else they are screwed. Either half the conference leaves to the pac-10 with 2 more at the Big Ten and every one els is screwed, or the two leave and Big 12 add in TCU and Boise, which wouldnt be too shabby either. At this point, survival is all they want.

SEC

They already have a great conference that comands the entire southeast and has national prominence in football since teh BCS was adopted. As long as their shine doesnt leave they are fine. LSU Florida Alabama and Georgia are doing great in Football and the only thing would possibly to add a fifth or sixth (Texas/Oklahoma). If that happened the SEC would dominate football...at least till the old school powerfhouses in Michigan Ohio State Penn State and USC came back to their original glory...

What does this mean to Michigan?

Michigan is a top 25 school and one of the handful of programs that is self sustaining and makes enough money to cover all their expansion projects and still donate millions to the school. It makes a lot with the BTN and they are secure in what they do. Their only really worry is with the Football program to try and get it on national prestige. What would be in favor for Michigan? Add Notre Dame, please. We already play them in everything, but putting them in conference would sweeten the deal. If Nebraska came in, a potential new rivaly between Go Blue and Big Red. If Texas came in...well lets not get our hopes up but that would be legendary between the power of the North vs the power of the South. Blue and Maize against Burnt Orange would be a must see every year. Instant Rivalry. I would love all three teams to join but most likely the first two are more of a reality. As long as they can keep playing Ohio State Notre Dame Michigan State (top 3 rivalries), they are good. Anything added, especially with such emotional national support like Nebraska, theat would add to Minnesota and Penn State thats already there. A Championship game would be great for the league. From what I know inside the Athletic Department, expansion is being meet with excitment and anticipation.

What does this mean to Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is like a Pro Team in th ecollege ranks. They command probobly the biggest following out of any school in the country. They also make piles of money they dont have to share. Why? Because they are independent in football (big east in other sports). This allows them to have their OWN contract with NBC, giving them millions every year and having EVERY football game on TV, which allows people to become fans and stay fans all their lives.
What do they want? Well, the only way they would go to a conference would be if they make more money with the conference than through their own network. Well, its happening folks. They couild makle more every year with the BTN than NBC. Also, the BCS has told Notre Dame that they cannot participate in any championship games since they are not in a BCS confernece. So sure, they can keep all the Bowl money bc they dont have to share, BUT they cant even compete in the National Championship...so finally capable of the crown AND more money through TV contract? Why not...Notre Dame should go to the Big Ten.
One more thing...IF Notre Dame enters the Big Ten, the Big Ten might say, aight, we got 12 teams, we are even, we can have a championship game now and we just got a national market with one team...thats enough. So Notre Dame might single handidly end the Big Ten expandment, and not only that, doing so would not allow any Big 12 team to leave which might let them stay together and no one leave to the Pac-10. Notre Dame has the keys to the chaos.

What does this mean to Texas?

If Notre Dame has one of the house keys, Texas has the other. Texas is like Michigan, they are a top school with top programs in every program, but they also have a fantastic atheltic department, one of the handfulls along with Michigan that actually is in th eblack (makes money), and it commands a national following like Michigan and Notre Dame. But, unlike the others, they have a commanding iron grip on the fate of the Big 12. If they leave teh Big 12 would be no more. Nebraska is looking to leave, the other major following. Oklahoma has a strong football program, but their academics is not on par with other conferences. Texas A&M will wan tto play follow the leader with Texas, as well as Tech but Tech is another school that will only lower a conference's level of academics. Either way, Texas can do whatever they want, but they have said they will not make the next move. If they stay, Big 12 stays, if they leave, it will dissapeare. Three realistic options:
1. If they go to the Pac-10 they can make a powerful West Coast and South Conference that is already looking at making its own TV Newtork similar to the BTN. They could be part of a 6 team pacage making the pac-10 super strong with 16 treams.
2. Second option might be the SEC. They are close and relativly local, so no trips to Orgean or Washington. Thing with that is Texas would have a lot more to play aginsint. If they went to Pac-10 they would be up against USC and Oklahoma. If they go to SEC they would have Florida Alabama Georgia LSU and Oklahoma. A lot more to compete with, which might not be what Texas is used to.
3. Finally they could go to the Big Ten, sealing the Bit Ten as the best conference ever if it has Texas Notre Dame Michigan Ohio State and Penn State. But that will be unlikely bc why would the water polo team really want to leave Austin to go to Ann Arbor to have a match? They rather go to Baten Rouse or something.
4. Lastly, they could stay and hold the Big 12 together. They like being in charge and having the largest value. They could fill vacant spots with TCU or Boise. Whatever happens, Texas will be fine.

-->Aight, thats enough talk. Leave me your thoughs and Lets see what happens.

Evan Turner at the Buzzer

Big Ten Tournament. Indianapolis. THe only way the Michigan Basketball team could really redeam itself was to win the Big Ten Tournament to get the the NCAA Tournament. It is too hard to tell in words...so let me show you the video....

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Iowa was pretty easy. We man handled them.





Ohio State was the bitter. After coming back from a 10plus deficite and Manny hitting the game winning bucket with 2.2 left on the shot clock, NCAA Player of the Year Candidate, Evan Turner shot up a Hail-Mary Half Court shot to win the game. I can say no more.

......................Last 2.2 second action.........................

Preview to Ohio State

one team...one team is the most hated and most discusting team int the country. They are loathed for their unsportmanship, ugliness, and just brutality. They are the nastynest villins in the country. They are evil and just grrr terrible. These are the enemies. These are who we are at war against. These are the ones that we must defeat at any cost. Nothing in this world is as satisfying at destroying this one opponent. Dont give us a Big Ten Championship. Dont give us a Rose Bowl Bid. Dont give us a National Championship. Give us a win over Ohio State...the Motherfks of the world...

Ladies and gentlemen...will it get done? Well this is a very difficult circumstance. If you remember Michigan was doing excellent, winining out first 4 games. Then we had the nail biter against Michigan State. And then we lost to Iowa and we have struggled since. So...what will tomorrow look like? It depends on three factors.

1. Momentum. Emotions. The Mood of the game. Who will we be? The Michigan Team? Or the team of old, last years team, defeated and looking somehow not to drop the ball. Who will we be? we must have a few good plays and hits and TDs to get the momentum and keep it. Emotions are at the highest level against the Buckeyes, so lets hope Saturday is the day, the day to beat them. We have lost to them like the last 5 years, so lets give teh seniors one chance to beat them Buckeyes!

2. Rich Rod. How will he coach the game? Will he keep the importance of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry? He says he understands it and has worked ahrd to send that message accross, but will he make the decitions and have the leadership to lead this team from the sideline? Will he have the discipline of his players and make the W? Only tie will tell, but tell you what, if he beats Ohio State at home, almost everyone will forgive him for everything of the past two years. All Forgiven. Just give us the win over Ohio State, baby.

3. Forcier. Some say this is the most important factor. Who will he be? The Tate, may the forcier be with you? or the freshman who can thold on to the ball? The Notre Dame hero? Or the Penn State dissaster? Will he step it up and carry this team with keeping the ball safe and throwing great passes? He nees to be confident and go out there and be his cooky self and just take over. His confedence needs to be streaming all over the team. We will look to see how Forcier does against Pryor. Darn Pryor...you suck.

Show us the way. Show us the win. This saturday, the 21st of November on ABC...the BIGGEST game at teh BIG HOUSE ever two years. Lets get the win, boys. Lets beat the Buck Eyes. Go Blue.

Will our team come with Vengance and the momentum to win the game?

Rich Rod, how will he lead and how well prepared does he have the team?

Which Forcier will we have in the game? Can he bring us his heroics once again?

Terrel Pryor and the Buck Eyes Suck...but I didnt have to tell you that. You already knew

Michigan Vs. UCLA, Duke, and Ohio State

Before I want to get into my real post, just wanted to say that I just got my new Sennheiser 280 Pro headphones in, and they are freakin sweet. Got them for only $89. And they sound awesome. You can hear pieces of the songs that I have never heard before. Of course the one down side is that its super obvious which songs are CD quality and which are some cheap recording of a song. They are a bit big and a little attention-catchy (I dont knw if that is a word), and have a long, spirally cable, but the sound is well worth it. Haha, but yeah, they are sweet. Oh, and rediculously cold here! Ahhh! Now to the real stuff, like, this week!


Wow, this week and weekend was nuts! I was so busy and it was so exciting! Since we won our section of the 2K tournament here in Ann Arbor last week, we were set to play at the Madison Square Garden in New York City this week. We were set to play UCLA on thrusday and if we won or lost, we would be in either the championship game or the consolation game on friday. I was not set to go, since I am only a sophomore, and they take only a few managers. Weds was cool because we had practice at 11am. I was able to go and still make it to my spanish presentation at time. This gave me the whole afternoon off to get catch up on lifting and school work and hanging out with UCO dudes. I was also busy at work making charts for Coach Meyer and working on banners for Coach Mahoney. Check out these banners I made for the upcomming game:




We had our game Thrusday night at 9pm Eastern on ESPN2. I think I told just about everyone. Us managers meet at Cristler Arena to watch the game together in the locker room with the nics HD flat screen and sit on them sweet laz-y-boys. I met up with a few of the managers, one of the players that stayed here because of a sprained ancle, and one of the football players, Stonum. We started off in that glorious arena against UCLA looking so scared! I mean, I figured it would happen, but it was annoying! 1-9 in just a matter of minutes! And then we came back 7-9. And then they rolled 7-14. But at least we were staying with them. I think we were only down by 4 at the half. We came back in the second half working hard, creating opportunities, creating tips and turnovers with our 1-3-1 defense, and finishing with fast break points and some key shooting. Towards the end, we wee only up by 1. We kept missing shots. Then Anthony Wright gets the ball at the 3point line free through line extended, dribbles, does a dump off to true freshman Stu Douglass who jacks up a 3pointer with his feet completely off-centered....and he makes the huge shot! It was nuts! Then later we were up by 1 again with a minute to go. We ran the ball using the shot clock like we had all game...running out of time, and at that instant, DeShawn Sims cuts back door down the center of the key for a huge two-handed dunk! It was nuts! But then they hit a 3 pointer! And then Manny Fresh made 2 easy free throws and even semi-blocked a buzzer-beater shot to finish the game! Oh my gosh! We won! We beat UCLA! WE BEAT UCLA! It was bonkers in the locker room! Us managers and others were jumping up and down like nuts! I got back to the dorm and was yelling all outside that we had won and down in the lobby and through 4 different floors that we had beaten UCLA. They were the number 4 team in the country! We had not beaten a top 5 ranked team in like 12 years! We havent gone to the NCAA tournament in 10 years! We havent had an All-American in 14 years! And UCLA had 2 of them! They had made it to the final four the last 3 years and were predicted to go again! And we took them down! We who had a record 22 losses last year! We who are full of underclassmen and flat talent! We who are just unrecognized in a school that expects the best but is getting no love from the football team. And we won! And I was excited...
Make sure to check the highlights on ESPN.





Again, I told everyone I knew about the Duke game. I was so busy that day that I didnt get to work out till late. It was so full at the IM building that I went to work out at Cristler, came back to shower and eat, and then back to Cristler for the game. This time it was just 3 of us managers at the game. We were all tired. And the game stunk. We were creating open looks but nothing was falling. Our defense wasnt nearly as effective. And number 5 Duke was playing extraordinary. Shortly speaking, I was so tired and that laz-y-boy was so comfortable, that yes, I fell asleep and missed the entire second half and some of the first. I was awakened only to be told that we had lost by 15 and that we just did not play well at all. Dang it. This is what I did not want. I did not want to lay an egg. But whatever. That was just the first part of the disappointment. ESPN.




The second was saterday. Yes, the biggest sports rivalry of all time was today. Michigan Vs. Ohio State. But there were loads of problems. First off, we suck. Our team really is not doing good this year. Filled with new plays and terrible mistakes, we just have been cruising to the record 8 losses, which was about to become 9 with OSU. It was at Columbus, Ohio. Our quarterback was injured. Our running back was injured. Our offensive line was injured. All we had was our defense, and they werent even that good. But we still ahd hope. And that died off fast. Within a few seconds of the game, we intercepted Tyrell Pryor`s pass and ran it to the red zone before being pushed out. Then we couldn`t convert. Then we missed the filed goal. That was the story of the game. The defense actually did a decent job, making huge hits. There was a lot of scrambles and a few short-lived fighting, but with all this empty talk, we just did terrible and lost again. Want another record for the books? Why not, this blog post has been full of them...we have never lost to OSU 5 times in a row until now...Great Scott. ESPN. BigTenNewtork

Anyhow, I am sick of this. Terrible weekend. Great win over UCLA. I hope that our basketball quickly becomes our bright side and that our campus not only realizes that, but also embraces and supports our Wolverines. And next year!....well, next year we will see where I am with the team! Who knows, perhaps I will be traveling with them next year to our tournament in Orlando, Florida!