A Columbus radio station, that has on ESPN analysts as regular guests, has been talking all week about the upcoming UM-OSU game. They've had both Chris Spielman (OSU alum) and Desmond Howard (UM alum) on in the past few days, and both have pulled no punches in laying into the team and the coaching staff....

Desmond Howard- "That would be the popular thinking after watching them lose eight games this season, and the way they've lost some of those games. I made a comment (Sunday) on our show that it's not like they were trying to learn a spread offense (as much as) like they were trying to learn how to play football in some of those games, they looked so bad. This isn't Michigan, this is like Michigan Tech.

"I said, 'If they win six games, Rich Rod is one of the best coaches in college football.' Then I said, 'If they win seven, he has to be finalist for the best coach in college football, if they win eight, he is the best coach in college football.' I expected them to struggle.

"Now, there's a way to lose, and there's a way to look embarrassing. Earlier in the season, when guys couldn't field kickoffs, that to me that goes beyond coaching.

"There's a lot of blame to go around, so Rich Rodriguez, and (defensive coordinator) Scott Shafer and the rest of the coaching staff -- those guys definitely have to shoulder some of the blame, there's no doubt about that. But as a player, you have to have some pride to go out on the field and do certain things that show you're a football player."

Chris Spielman- "[The Wolverines] stink, they're not very good. They don't play offense ... they can't run it consistently, they can't throw it consistently, they can't stop the run, they're not very good defending the pass, they're not very good covering kicks, they're not very good returning kicks."

"I love seeing them beaten down, man. It's great."

Well how's that for journalistic integrity? I understand the rivalry and the hatred, but saying you love seeing them "beaten down", is just a little over-the-top if you ask me. I think Herbstreit has always taken the right approach when he discusses the two teams, and there's always going to be some level of love for your school, but let's tone it down some there, Chris.

ESPN should probably keep Chris Spielman away from Michigan games from now on (Dr. Saturday)
Howard: 'This isn't Michigan' (Detroit Free Press)
Desmond Howard Interview (1460 The Fan)

We all know now about Kirk's Miles source. He stands by it, and I have no reason to doubt him. It was still an odd Saturday for him and ESPN, and it appears Sunday wasn't that much better.

On ESPN's Bowl Selection Show Kirk made a point during the program that sounded familiar. He was talking about the merits of winning and not winning your Conference Championship and how that relates to a National Title shot. He said Georgia and Kansas didn't deserve to be in based on that factor. Funny, that's not what you said last year...

I know the Big Ten doesn't have a Championship game, but it still has a Champion. I also know it's tough to remember things when you spew out Sports information 24-7. Hell, I probably said I liked Gary Danielson at one point (I did? Damn.), but that's a pretty egregious error there. Hmm, egregious...that word was used a lot this weekend wasn't it?

Not Herbie’s best day (Dawgs Online)
Kirk Herbstreit Stands Behind His Miles Source (Awful Announcing)

(Thanks to GH for sending the tip along)

I think for about a brief second I didn't believe Herbstreit's report yesterday, and that wasn't really the point of the post in the first place. Whether he was right or wrong it was still sketchy in how ESPN brought the information to us.

Anyway, Kirk is sticking by his source today....

I'm inclined to believe Kirk, but even moreso after Les Miles showed up on Sports Center to try and gain votes for his team. It's pretty funny to me that the entity he was so mad at earlier in the day was the same place that the coach had to make his plea.

I'm pretty sure Miles knew what he was doing all day long, and using that report as motivation worked pretty well.

This still doesn't mean he can't change his mind, but CBS' Tracy Wolfson asked Les Miles if he'd be around next year and he emphatically stated yes.

Good job by Brando to call the report "erroneous". Way to slip that in there Timmy.

Someone mentioned this in the comments of the previous post, but it's true. ESPN showed a clip near the end of the MAC Championship game which started with Miles saying that he was the head coach of LSU. Here's the video...

Thanks Stan, but where was the very beginning when Les Miles mentioned ESPN? Via MGO Blog...

Miles: "There was misinformation on ESPN and I think it's imperative that I straighten it out. I'm the head coach at LSU, I will be the head coach at LSU, I have no interest in talking to anyone else. I have a championship game to play and I'm excited about the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play in it. And that's really all I'd like to say. It's unfortunate I had to address my team with this information this morning. With that being done, I think we'll be ready to play. There will be no questions for me; I represent me in this issue, please ask me after. I'm busy. Thank you very much, and have a great day."

Hmmm, where was that beginning sentence in the clip Stan just showed us??? That's odd. I don't think Herbstreit is 100% wrong because Miles didn't entirely close the door, but this is sketchy reporting at best. Herbstreit is either completely off base or ESPN is throwing him under the bus on this one.

ABC also is airing this edited version as well, and I just found the full version. Anyone want to guess where? Surprisingly on ESPN.com. I wonder if they change this one soon as well.



(Thanks to Joe D. for sending the MGO article along)

Update: Tracy Wolfson of CBS just had an exclusive with Miles and he said he's definitely coming back to LSU next year. Thanks for actually going to the person himself and reporting on it CBS. It's a strange process I know, but occasionally it works.

I was looking through the release of ESPN's coverage of the "Big Game" this weekend, and the further and further you got down on the thing the more and more ridiculous the coverage seemed. Given it's a huge game every year (the biggest in my fandom) and viewership should be through the roof, but check out some of this nonsense.

1) Obviously Gameday will be there and Desmond Howard won't be booed for the first time in years.

2) ESPN Classic and ESPN U will air 9 different former clashes between the two Big Ten teams...

Wednesday, Nov. 14 - 2 p.m.: 1981 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
Thursday, Nov. 15 - 2 p.m.: 1995 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
Friday, Nov. 17 - 1 p.m.: 1997 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
3 p.m.: 2006 Michigan at Ohio State (ESPNU)
5 p.m.: 2005 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPNU)
Saturday, Nov. 18 - 3 a.m.: 1973 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN Classic)
5 a.m.: 1997 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN Classic)
7 a.m.: 2005 Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN Classic)
9 a.m.: 2006 Michigan at Ohio State (ESPN Classic)

3) An interactive Blog going from Noon to 7pm on ESPN.com

4) Fans can purchase and download full versions of the classic 1973, 1997, 2002 and 2006 Ohio State–Michigan games from The iTunes Store for $1.99 each.

5) ESPN.com Podcasts throughout the day.

......and lastly and most importantly..........

6) Reporter Greg Garber Gets Mohawk Haircut!

This week’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot (Saturdays at 10 a.m. on ESPN) will include ESPN.com reporter Greg Garber receiving a Mohawk haircut as part of a story about the seemingly growing trend for the hairstyle among college football players. Players from South Florida, Kentucky, Oregon and Boston College are featured in the piece.

Sweet! I don't even care about the game anymore. I just want to see a middle-aged white dude get a haircut.

This week we’re going to look at the Notre Dame/Michigan game. Obviously, not for the usual reasons. Usually, this is a matchup of two of the most historically powerful teams in the American college game (not to mention the most recognizable fight songs). But this week, the behemoths are reeling, both 0-2 and simply trying to save some pride. After this week, one of them will be off the schneid (most likely), so let’s see how the hometown papers are handling the unaccustomed position of underdog.

Ann Arbor News:

For one thing, they’re focusing on individual stories, because the big story is too painful. Here’s a little ditty about bad-boy receiver Adrian Arrington. After several previous incidents, he was suspended from spring practice and could have lost his scholarship. Arrington had to run stairs for 60 days straight in the heat of summer, but he’s back on the team with a new attitude.

Said Carr: "I like Adrian. I like him personally. He's had some challenges, but he's a guy who has a lot of ability in a lot of areas and hopefully he can do the things that enable him to fulfill his potential before he leaves Michigan."

Hey, you too, big guy.

And Antoine Pitts is living in yesteryear:

With Notre Dame ranked No. 2 and promoting quarterback Brady Quinn for the Heisman Trophy, the Wolverines introduced some reality with a 47-21 defeat on Sept. 16, 2006. Mario Manningham had three touchdown catches and the Wolverines intercepted Quinn three times for their largest margin of victory at Notre Dame Stadium.

Touchdown Jesus isn’t walking through that door.

And John Heuser is looking at the impact of the ASU loss on Big Blue recruiting:

Will players back away from verbal commitments if the slide continues, because they see a program in decline? Will others be enticed to come to Michigan because they see an opportunity for early playing time? And will anything that happens this season matter much if coach Lloyd Carr decides to make this year his last?

And, in a sideline, an Oregonian reporter caught interesting reactions from Michigan recruits who attended the game:

(O)ur newspaper website is lighting up this week with action on my Sunday column from Ann Arbor on the Oregon-Michigan game. That piece centered around three Michigan recruits who left the Big House after the blowout, but not before saying, "I want to go to Oregon."

South Bend Tribune:

Oh, look! They’re doing the same! Jason Kelly seems to be saying “Hey, we might suck, but what about them?”

Like a taste test to determine which milk is more curdled, the task here is to identify which program has it worse.

Michigan lost to a jayvee team, Division I-AA Appalachian State. That inspired a joke making the rounds among commiserators at a combined ND, U-M alumni club event this week in Grand Rapids.

What kind of batteries does it take to beat Michigan? One double A.

And, also worried about recruiting, Eric Hansen quotes none other than Tom Lemming:

"Notre Dame is doing a great job of staying in touch and communicating, and that's key," Lemming said. "There's always a guy or two who could jump ship in any season, but with Jimmy Clausen starting off well at quarterback, that's a definite plus, especially considering with the guys who Notre Dame is still looking at.”

This article has so many Lemming quotes in it, he should get at least a piece of the byline.

And, they’re blaming the previous week’s debacle on the playbook (wait, isn’t that still the coach’s fault…?)

Clausen will have more than the CliffsNotes from the Irish playbook Saturday to throw at a struggling Wolverine defense.

"We had minimal (plays) in," Weis affirmed of the gameplan in last Saturday's 31-10 loss at then-14th-ranked Penn State. "I wouldn't say it was the least I've ever had, but it wasn't very much. And, well, we believed it was enough to manage the game.

Yikes… “game management”. Isn’t that what they hang on the lesser-talented quarterbacks?

That’s it for now. Read up, because by this time tomorrow, we’ll know which of these teams is still on OMDQ’s Reverse Survivor ballot.

--Extra P.

Mentioned this briefly yesterday, but with time winding down in Michigan's loss to USC Brent Musburger asked a question to bloggers....(I'm paraphrasing here)

"Well guys it looks like the blogs in Michigan will be in full force asking for the dismissal of Lloyd Carr. The fact that you go 10-1 in the regular season....it blows my mind that you would fire that coach."- Musburger

"I wouldn't be worried about the blogs....I'd be worried about losing the last two games of the season"- Bob Davies

Bob Davies is the voice of reason? Funny thing was that I laughed when I heard it at first, but on second thought it came off kind of condescending. Oh well, it's still funny that Brent Musburger reads blogs.

And Brent....since you asked. I hate Lloyd Carr as a coach. Normally the coach makes the players look good. See Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, and now even Boise State. But with Lloyd it's the other way. The players make him look good. I mean seriously....Michigan has 4 offensive plays. They are the most predictable team ever. I think until a change happens the Wolverines will keep losing on New Years Day. Carr is the Schottenheimer of the college ranks.

And with that I give you USC Cheerleaders! (Sort of SFW)



Update: Just to be completely accurate the SC Song Girl did not go commando. DAMN YOU HD TELEVISION!!! She just had a giant wedgie. I can't speak for you, but I'm just going to pretend it was what we originally thought, and keep hounding the internet for a front view. No, I am not in denial.















You can see just the faintest bit of white confirming the "Non-Commando" Picture borrowed from The M Zone. She's a damn tease. For the real Commando....see below.