For My App State Friends

How many batteries does it take to shock Michigan?

Just one Double A!

Heh :)

TIckled Yellow

I'd be fibbin' if I said I was anything other than delighted to receive a package from Boone, NC in this morning's mail. In it was attire for both Retired Guy and me to wear on November 17th, a lovely sign to hold up at that game (For Sale--Recently Destroyed Big House) and some mardi gras beads to accessorize the ensemble.

But the very, very best part of the entire package are copies of the The Watauga, filled with photos taken by my good blog buddy, Marie (and sender of said package). Marie, words will never be able to adequately express my sincere thanks for the gifts. The best I can do is to promise to wear that shirt in the Not-So-Big-House on November 17th! It will be a pleasure. Muchas Gracias, Marie.

Mountaineers to Invade the Big House

Holy Moses. Via my good blog buddy Marie --the Appalachian State Mountaineers are going to invade the Big House on September 1, 2007, and they'll get to see Lloyd Carr work (ahem) those sidelines in person.

This should be a great game--it's enough for me to re-up for the College Game Day package for next season--two time defending 1-AA National Champions versus the team favored to win the Big 10 and possibly contend for a 1-A title. Remember, last year, the UNH Wildcats (1-AA school) visited Northwestern and came away with a huge win. Now this is a little different, in that Northwestern's athletic program is the reason we're still the Big 10--we do have 11 schools but only 10 have real teams, but ASU has an amazing offense and a lot of talent. And Michigan is sure to be overly confident about this game.
We'll say it here first--we see a big heartache in the Big House on September 1. Go 'neers!

UPDATE: Just to be clear-the heartache will be Michigan's, as the Mountaineers pull off a stunning upset.

Hail, Mr. President

As an Ohio girl living in the Northeast (the land of play for pay), I often end up trying to explain our passion for college football. I almost always fail to do it adequately.

This doesn't explain our passion but it illustrates how deeply the game penetrates and influences our lives:

As President Gerald Ford's casket was moved from Air Force One to the hearse in Grand Rapids, the University of Michigan marching band first played Hail to the Chief and then Hail to the Victors, the Michigan fight song. (The band had to catch a red eye back from California to be present at the ceremony).

On the way from Washington, DC to Grand Rapids, Air Force One made a detour to Ann Arbor for a final flyover of the Big House.

Draped over the back of one pew at the funeral was a blue blanket with the letter “M” emblazoned on it, symbolizing Ford’s alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he played football for national championship teams in 1932 and 1933.

Many of the mourners at the museum and lining the roads during his funeral procession on Wednesday wore Michigan hats and sweat shirts in his honor.

He was Speaker of the House and the President of the United States of America, but in the end, he was a Michigan Man. And every Buckeye, Hoosier, Badger Cornhusker and Hawkeye understands that perfectly.

Michigan Lost

Michigan football lost far more than the Rose Bowl yesterday. It lost an enormous chunk of its "storied program's" reputation.

After losing to Ohio State 39-42, there was much gnashing of teeth, tearing of sackcloth and general belly aching (the Ohio stadium turf screwed them; the refs screwed them--that wasn't a late hit. Helmet to helmet? No. He led with his hands). There was trash talk from one Wolverine running back:

I guarantee if we played them again it would be a whole different game. Their defense played good, but they're not as good as people thought. We knew we were going to be able to run the ball. We just didn't put enough points on the board, but there's nothing special about that defense.

There was a general feeling among the Michigan faithful that if the game were played again, the result would be different.

There was the definite feeling that Michigan got hosed after the BCS picks were announced. "NO!," they wailed. "We are the second best team in the country, maybe the best team in the country (remember we only lost by three in Columbus on that terrible turf), with the best defense in the country and we have been screwed blue." Oh and we'd NEVER allow Troy Smith on our team. He violated NCAA rules.

No one from Michigan bothered to mention that in the OSU game, they scored 10 points while covering less than 12 yards, thanks to two Ohio State turnovers. No one from Michigan bothered to remember that they failed to score any points on another turnover. No one from Michigan felt that they lost to a better team--not really. They lost, but there were so many factors that were unfair to them.

Fine. Everyone's entitled to their opinion and everyone is allowed to share that opinion. BUT. IF. You are going to talk the talk, Michigan Men and Michigan fans, then you must put the beat down on the Trojans. Yesterday, after being blitzed by everyone but Pete's grandma, and rushing for less than 50 yards, Mr. Hart, you and your Michigan team are left without any excuses. After the porn star-led offense shredded you for 439 total yards yesterday, you can't even claim you have the best defense in the country.

You can no longer claim that you were robbed of a National Title, that you deserved to play in the title game. And after the past month of talking, you no longer carry the torch of the nation's most respected football program. Not only have you lost your last two games the last three years, but this year for the first year, you lost face and sullied your first class reputation.