Big Ten Football Championship Game tickets go on sale

The Big Ten Conference has announced that tickets for the Inaugural  Championship Football Game will go on sale this Saturday at 10 AM.

Prices will range from $50-$125, depending on seat location.

The first ever Big Ten Championship Game will be played between the winner of the Leaders  Legends division champions on Saturday, December 3rd, with kickoff scheduled at 8:17 PM at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster @ ticketmaster.com, or @ 800-745-3000, or through the Lucas Oil Stadium ticket office.

Former Michigan QB Jimmy Maddock passes away at age 76

Very sad to hear of the passing of another Michigan football player, former quarterback Jimmy Maddock. 

 (thanks to the folks over at M Victors for the picture of Jimmy)

It's been a tough year for the Michigan family with the passing of former Wolverines.

Since September 11th, 2010, four former Wolverine's have passed away.

Ron Kramer passed on September 11th, 2010, the day of the Notre Dame game, and the team went out and honored the former All-American with a 28-24 win over the Irish in South Bend.

Former running back Rob Lytle, the 1st Wolverine player I ever liked, passed away from a heart attack on November 20th, 2010.

Vada Murray, a defensive back in the late 1980's before becoming a policeman, died on April 6th of 2011 form Cancer.

The Ann Arbor police department retired his badge #155 from active use on May 13th.

Michigan coach Bo Schembechler's very first Michigan Captain, TE Jim Mandich, died on April 26th form a bout with bile duct cancer.

I'll admit right here, I never hear of Mr. Maddock before I learned of his passing today, and as a Michigan fan, it's kind of embarrassing.

Yeah, I know it's hard to know about everyone who played football for the Wolverines, but I should've known the QB that passed to All-American Ron Kramer, right?

Jimmy Maddock was the starting QB for the Wolverines from 1954-56, playing at a time when Wolverine football was second best in the state to the Spartans.

From 1951-1967 the Wolverines won exactly 1 Big Ten Title, in 1964, and went to 1 Rose Bowl, beating the Oregon Ducks, 34-7, on New Year's Day 1965.

As bad as those years were, you're always going to find stories about terrific Michigan players like Jimmy Maddock.

I'm just sorry I had to learn about him through his passing.

May God Bless Jimmy Maddock and his family.

My Mailbox

After a battle with the post office, my mail is once again being delivered.

Wednesday in my mailbox, sticking out prominently among the pile of old mail was my copy of The Wolverine Football Preview Magazine. 

I know there all all kinds of web sites and blogs out there to find info on the Wolverines, but nothing will ever replace opening up an actual magazine and reading about Michigan Football.

The Wolverine used to be the only way I could keep up with the football team on a weekly basis before I learned how to use a computer, and to this day it's still one of my favorite things to read.

If you get a chance to check it out, go ahead, it will be well worth it just to read about the Wolverines new coach, Brady Hoke, who's very serious about returning the Michigan program back where it belongs.
It's very hot here in Jacksonville, and across the country this summer, and the heat always gets me thinking about the fall weather coming up, and that gets me thinking about Michigan Football.

September 3rd will be here before we new it.

Go Blue!

Those proud Buckeyes

Here in Florida the trial and not guilty verdict in the Casey Anthony murder of her daughter has been headline news every single day for three years.

Now, I don't know if she's guitly, or not, but it's very clear she's made several bad choices in her life.

The photo below says it all. (Courtesy of Twitpic)

Desmond Howard inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

On a beautiful New Year Day in 1991 I took my seat behind the Michigan bench to watch the  Wolverines play in the annual Gator Bowl game against Ole Miss.

Michigan is supposed to be arriving at the Rose Bowl over the holidays to play football, not the Gator Bowl.

It was only the second time I'd ever seen Michigan play football, the other was the 1988 Hall of Fame Game in Tampa, where Michigan beat Alabama, 28-24, in one of the great games in Wolverine history.

It wasn't the best of season, 1990.

For the first time since I started watching the Wolverines, Bo Schembechler wasn't my coach.

Because of continued heart and health issues, the winning est coach in Wolverine football had stepped down.

Gary Moeller took over for Bo and guided the Wolverines in that 1990 season, going 8-3, and the team was chosen to play on New Years Day in Jacksonville, Florida.

What I saw that day was one of the greatest offensive explosions in Michigan football.

Desmond Howard, then a Sophomore, was part of a Wolverine machine that tallied over 700 yards of total offense that day as Michigan whipped the Rebels, 35-3.

Little did I know I was watching a future Heisman Trophy winner, and a future inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Desmond Howard electrified Michigan fans with acrobatic catches, terrific runs, and brilliant punt and kickoff returns in every game.

Howard and the Wolverines had a spectacular 1991 season, going 10-1 in the regular season, including an un defeated 8-0 in Big Ten play, winning the Big Ten Championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

Howard did everything on the field that fall of '91, and he did it bigger, and better, than any other college player, becoming the Wolverines second ever winner of the Heisman Trophy.

He was drafted by the Washington Redskins, 4th overall, in the 1992 NFL Player Draft, played here in Jacksonville for the Jaguars in their Inaugural 1995 season, played for the Detroit Lions,the Oakland Raiders, and was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXXI, returning a record 99 yard kick off as the Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots.

20 years later Howard is now a regular on ESPN's College Game Day, a frequent speaker around the country, and as of last night, he's now the 30th Michigan Wolverine player in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Here's some cool things about Desmond Howard...

...he's great on Twitter, and you can find him here, @DesmonHoward ...

... he has his own web site with all his info, at Desmond Howard.com ...

...and there's also a new book coming out this fall, "I wore 21, The Legend of Desmond Howard."

Desmond Howard is another reason why I love being a Michigan fan.

Go Blue!

Detroit News Wolverine mascot contest winner

The Detroit News recently asked Michigan fans to come up with a mascot for the Wolverines.

Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon has said he'd like to see the school come up with an appropriate mascot. although he stated that no time table or ideas have been discussed.

Here is the winner, from Andrew Nyhoff, a 26 year old from my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

I think it's pretty well done, very cool.

I like the way the Winged Helmet design was added into the Wolverines face and the fierce Wolverine is an absolute winner.

On the kids side, your winner was done by Brooke Minoske of Riga, Michigan.

Another fantastic job. 

You can see all 14 contenders here.

I would like to see Michigan come up with a mascot, and I even think they should bring a live Wolverine to certain home games, such as Homecoming, the Spartan game, the Buckeye game.

The mascot is just another in a line of ideas, such as the 1st night game this year with Notre Dame, the Legacy Jerseys, and the upgrading of the facilities across the Michigan campus, that is making the Brandon a great A.D.

Michigan Football is in a lot better shape today than it has been in several years, and not a single game has been played yet.

The 2011 season opener against Western Michigan cannot get here quick enough.

Go Blue!

Love the helmet stickers

Over on Maize and Blue Nation there is a poll asking Wolverine Football fans if they'd like to see the old helmet stickers return to the famed Winged Helmet of Michigan.

Lloyd Carr ended the practice of putting the football shaped decals on the Michigan players helmets when he became the Head Coach in 1995,

The decals/stickers were awarded to the players for outstanding plays and team participation under legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler.

I like the stickers.

The first time I ever saw a picture of a Wolverine player in the paper, or saw highlights of a Michigan game, the stickers were on the helmets.

That's how I grew up, with the stickers on the helmets.

I hope new coach Brady Hoke brings the decals/stickers back.