UPDATE: Uh-oh! CMU, EMU and now WMU in big trouble thanks to Rich Rod!

This is really dumb. Rich Rod has had top 20 recruiting classes the past two years. Not far off from what Coach Carr had, save for that one year where he was top 5. Where's the chatter about the four stars in William Campbell and Devin Gardner? Those players are there, you just refuse to notice them.

Justin Turner left because he wasn't good enough. He gained 15 pounds this year and couldn't crack the starting lineup in the worst Michigan secondary I have ever seen. Maybe he wasn't five star material after all. But I suppose you can consider that "upping and leaving them".

And who are the other defensive players who up and left?

Dorsey? Who was told he could play for Michigan before the admissions department snubbed him? Right or wrong, that's not on Rodriguez.

Or what about Cissoko? Rodriguez kicked him off the team for violation of team rules. It's not like he up and left is it?

Adrian Witty? He didn't qualify. So maybe Rodriguez should have signed a better student, but none of the four aformentioned players up and left.

Donovan Warren left for the NFL? Is that up and leaving? Well I guess it is, but it's not like he left to sling drugs on the corner of State street. And then there's Brandon Smith, the only guy of the six who seemed to have "up and left' he transfered to Temple. A huge blow to Michigan. They really need a Temple-caliber guy in their secondary. (Well, actually they probably do this year, but we are talking about a guy who transfered to Temple man. Not a real team. Temple. We're talking about Temple.)

 

Since when do I like Night Ranger? I know BYH and I are getting along better these days, but has it gotten to the point that people mix us up?

Slappy makes a great point comparing WVU and Michigan. You have to recruit differently and run those programs differently. Maybe Rodriguez can make his style work at Michigan in time. Not sure he is going to get time and being a jackass certainly doesn't help his cause.

 

To some extent it is. Rodriguez has been there two years, he should have a pretty good idea who is going to get through admissions or not.

 

Take off the Maize and Blue sunglasses.

You think just because he transferred to Temple means he's a Temple-caliber athlete? He may have transferred for any number of reasons, mostly probably because he didn't like DickRod.

And so you know, Temple is probably the favorite in the MAC this year, which probably puts it above Michigan or at least equal.

 

OK, I take back some of what I've said before.
With <a href=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/former-star-michigan-running-back-fired-from-athletic-department-for-willful-deception/>Jamie Morris out of the athletic department</a>, Harbaugh's No. 1 internal critic is out the door.

 

Interesting that the Jamie Morris issue loops back to the football quality control staffers. Though this isn't a direct link to DickRod, it sure doesn't look good.

 

I almost assuredly thought this bump would be because another four star athlete defected.

Wasn't getting PT and wanted to get out ASAP. Left on good terms after a 90 minute meeting with Rich Rod.

Meanwhile, the gentleman who filled in for Turner and some of the others played well on Saturday including James Rogers a former wide receiver who never started a game before.

And Hank, do you still think Temple is better than U-M?

Look, it's one thing if proven stars leave the program. It's another when star recruits leave after getting beat out by numerous walk-ons and three star athletes.

 

Knowing Morris, I suspect it has more to do with him and less with DickRod.

 

Apparently you're ready to award the BCS title to Michigan, based on one game. Let's see what they do against Notre Dame.

Let's see what happens when Michigan gets behind by 10 at some point and Robinson has to throw passes deeper than five yards.

 

Larry Lage had a story today that Michigan is happy with the outcome of the NCAA investigation. Love that Lage scooped the Freep on this.

$10 bucks Rodriguez is cleared. Damn, it feels really good that my fanboi-ness made me right about this.

Oh and Hank, I got more info on Brandon Smith, the transfer to Temple. He wasn't fast enough to play corner or safety. So they moved him to linebacker. He didn't want to play linebacker so he left. Guess that explains that.

 

Pretty sure having the stories that got U-M investigated in the first place is the bigger scoop but hey enjoy the celebration.

 

Two questions:

Why are you happy AP had a story before the Free Press?

Will Rich ever realize he might want to field an FBS-caliber defense in Ann Arbor? Cuz I think Penn State just scored again on that sorry crew.