Up, Up, and Away

The Michigan Wolverines announced today that they will host the Air Force Academy Falcons in their home opener @ Michigan Stadium on September 8th, 2012.

Michigan adds the Falcons to an already loaded schedule in 2012.

The Wolverines, besides the 8 conference games and possible Big Ten Championship Game, will start the season in Cowboys Stadium against Alabama, and will play @ Notre Dame.

Michigan still has 1 open date to fill in 2012, on September 15th.

Sept. 1	vs. Alabama (Arlington, Texas)
Sept. 8	Air Force
Sept. 22	at Notre Dame
Oct. 6	at Purdue
Oct. 13	Illinois
Oct. 20	Michigan State
Oct. 27	at Nebraska
Nov. 3	at Minnesota
Nov. 10	Northwestern
Nov. 17	Iowa
Nov. 24	at Ohio State

The Wolverines haven't played the Air Force since 1964, defeating the Falcons, 24-7, at Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines were led by Head Coach Bump Elliot, they finished the season 9-1, won the Big ten Championship, and defeated Oregon State, 34-7, in the 1965 Rose Bowl.

Big Brother is back in 2011

I know this is a blog about Michigan Football, but I just couldn't let last night's hoops win over the Spartans in the Breslin Center go by without a few comments.

So, after 1,181 days without a Wolverine football or hoops squad defeating a team of Sparty's from East Lansing, Michigan is now on the winning side of a contest against Michigan State.

Now, for all us die hard Wolverines, we follow Michigan sports of all sorts, like the UM Men's hockey team, who defeated Sparty in front of a record 113,000+ @ The Big house on December 11th.

That said, nothing tops hoops and football in Michigan, and last night's Wolverine win, on the road, in volatile East Lansing was as joyous an event as we Michigan Men have seen in a while.

Last night on Twitter, Detroit News writer Bob Wojnowski, made the great comment, 

"It's worth noting that Michigan hasn't lost to Michigan State since Brady Hoke took over. Just saying."

The feeling in the state, from what I've read on various blogs, tweets, and from the calls on radio, this could be a turning point for the Michigan hoops program.

Tom Izzo and the Spartans have owned the State of Michigan for over a decade, and until last night, there were no signs that would change.

John Beilein, Michigan's hoops coach, had started to feel the heat of another bad season in Ann Arbor, with the Wolverines 1-6 in Big Ten play before last nights win over Sparty.

With that win, the young Wolverines, who have NO Senior Class playing on the court, it's a launching pad for future success.

Now Beilein can go into a recruits house, look him in the eye, and say..."we have beaten State, and we will continue to do so...with your help.!!!!

Big Brother is back, and if last night's hoops game is any indication, their back to stay.

Go Blue!

Michigan adds three recruits, including four-star DB from Highland Park | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Michigan adds three recruits, including four-star DB from Highland Park | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Wolverines lead Nation in attendance...again

Bo Schembechler was once asked to talk about his 1984 football team, the only Michigan team he ever coached to a non-winning season, at 6-6.

Bo said that the best thing about that squad was the captain, Doug James, who stated that,

"hey, we still led the nation in attendance.

Leading college football in attendance is nothing new for Michigan, who once again is the nation's leader in attendance, welcoming an average of 111, 825 fans in 2010.

On opening day against Connecticut Michigan set the NCAA record for attendance at a single game at 113,090.

 

New U-M coach Brady Hoke scrambling to save recruiting class | detnews.com | The Detroit News

New U-M coach Brady Hoke scrambling to save recruiting class | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Tate Forcier leaves Michigan

Tate Forcier has officially left Michigan, leaving behind a roller coaster ride with the team after 2 years as a Wolverine.

I like Tate, he seems to be a good kid.

I had the pleasure of meeting him here in Jacksonville before he was sent home prior to the Gator Bowl game on New Year's Day.

That's what makes his message that :Michigan gave up on me" so upsetting.

I think Michigan did the right thing, he wasn't getting his school work done, and at Michigan, if you don't go to class and keep up your grades, then you're gone.

I wish the best for Tate, he's a very talented kid, as he showed during his Freshman season with the Wolverines, starting all 12 games, and giving us a game to remember as he led Michigan to a come from behind victory over Notre Dame with seconds left in the 4th quarter.

I think he can be a big time QB, but he needs to get himself together, do his work, both on and off the field, and he will play in the NFL one day.

Greg Mattison is new Michigan defensive coordinator

Through sources on Twitter, the Michigan Wolverines have hired Greg Mattison to be the Wolverines defensive coordinator.

The Baltimore Ravens announced the promotion of secondary coach Chuck Pagano as their new defensive coordinator, and that Mattison has taken the Michigan job.

The 61 year old Mattison returns to Michigan , where he was the defensive coordinator from 1995-1996.

New Michigan head coach Brady Hoke has ties with Mattison, first at Western Michigan, where Mattison was the D-Coordinator, and Hoke was the defensive line coach, from 1984-85-86, and at Michigan in 95-96.

The Ravens were #3 in the NFL in total defense in 2009, and #10 in 2010 under Mattison.