BlakChamber

You only have to play one in Colorado.

I don't remember Pryor verballing anywhere, but I don't follow recruiting that much. I thought the deal was everyone thought he was heading to WVU, so when RichRod left (and called Pryor on his WVU phone during the dead period) the assumption was he was coming to UM. But I could be wrong.

Yes, I have been to the Joe, plenty of times. It's a dump. Mapleleaf Gardens and the Forum aren't on the same level as The Joe. To use a baseball analogy. MLG, The Forum, and Olympia = Tiger Stadium, Wrigley, and Fenway. The Joe is more along the lines of The Astrodome or any of the astroturf, bowl stadiums from the 70's. The location is bad too. Not really where it is, but what's around it. You're surrounded by The Lodge, parking lots, and fences. 30,000 to 40,000? Are you kidding me? They're supposed to build a new arena 1.5 to 2 times the size of JLA, and on top of that provide cheap tickets and give stuff away? That sounds like a succesful business model... The city of Detroit owns The Joe. I think we'd want the leasees to upgrade it. For the record, I think Echolalia is spot on with his post. Except for the cramped seats part. But I'm only 5'8". So its not as big a deal

I admit that not a whole lot happens in Tulsa that I know of, and as a Texan, I don't care too much about the Okies. But you'd think someone would have at least heard of the the place. It is the second largest city in Oklahoma. This cracks me up, a highly rated recruit leaves the leaders and the best for Tulsa. Not Florida. Not USC. Not even Ohio State. And it gets spun into that we didn't want him anyway. Apparently "our helmets have wings" isn't the recruiting pitch that it used to be.

I would expect the Wings to get a new arena in the next 5-10 years. The Joe is a dump, its lacking the luxury boxes that make money, and Cobo needs more space. It has all the charm of a warehouse. If Olympia and Tiger Stadium can come down, there's nothing stopping anyone from getting rid of the Joe and building a new arena. And it will have a corporate name. Get used to the idea.

Of course, its so much better to have your coach turn in his letter of resignation via grad assistant. Right? Oh yeah, and Tulsa is in Oklahoma. You a General Studies major at UM? Losing the 3rd or 4th best QB in the state of Texas to Tulsa? I can see Pryor choosing OSU over UM or something similar...but Tulsa? I enjoyed what he said about Tulsa and UM as well. Doesn't sound like he was Michigan Man material. Good thing you guys really didn't want him anyway.

Its not much different than the theads around here that assume the Wings can trade for any play in the league for Sammy, Hudler, Lilja, and a pick.

Aside from the BCS bowls, pretty much everything has been filled. The logical BCS picks for the Big 10 are Penn State in the Rose and Ohio State in the Fiesta. As far as the rest of them. Michigan State in the Capitol One against Georgia. Iowa in the Outback against South Carolina. Iowa jumped NW. The Cats had a better record and beat Iowa head to head. Unfortunately, they don't have much of a fanbase. Minnesota in the Insight against Kansas. Northwestern in the Alamo against Missouri. Wisconsin in the Champs Sports against Florida State

Which means UM can count it as a win since they'll get Big 10 homecookin'. I love college basketball but I hate watching the Big 10 half the time. The home team (doesn't matter who it is) always seems to get the calls. And as a side, its pretty stupid that UM and MSU only play once. Anyway, Michigan absolutely deserves to be ranked. Is this what one can expect from Beilein's system, beating UCLA and Duke, and needing an overtime buzzer beater to be Savannah State? Not taking anything away from those two big wins at all. I guess consistency is hte next thing to work for.

You two need to leave this thread. Your rational and well thought out posts have no place in this ***** fest of a thread. There is only room here for the brilliance of comments like this.

That's certainly a fair assessment and I won't argue with you. The only consistant thing about MSU for the last 20, hell 35 years is their inconsistancy. Whereas in that same time frame, Michigan has been the model of consistancy. It will be interesting to see how both Dantonio and Beilein do. I think Dantonio came into a better situation. Michigan basketball has been horrible since the Fab 5 and was probably at a lower level than MSU football. But, it takes a lot less to turn around a basketball program than it does a football program. Beilein will make Michigan a tournament team in the next year or two. He's going to be a good coach there. It's probably fortunate for him that he seems to run a completely different system than Izzo and they probably won't be competing for a lot of the same players. It will also be interesting to see if he's using Michigan as a stepping stone to a better basketball school. And that is where my belief that Dantonio will continue to improve MSU comes from. He doesn't look to be going anywhere. The only job I can see him leaving for would be Ohio State. He's a midwest guy, he and his family seem to love East Lansing and MSU. He and Izzo are buddies. Those are things that JLS didn't seem to have. He wasn't local, he didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the university. I don't think JLS is a bad guy, same with Bobby. They just weren't the right men for the job. I honestly think Dantonio going to be here for a long time, he's going to be another Izzo, or Bo. The other difference with MSU is they finally have an administration that gets it. President Simon and AD Hollis understand how to play the game. The administration blew it with Saban, not that he would have stayed anyway. They blew it with Bobby. They got it right when they let John L go. They don't seem to be letting the board of trustees get overly involved, like has happened in years past. Between Simon, Hollis, Dantonio, Izzo, and even Comley, things are looking good at MSU. I first thought that was going to be about Mike Leach (my favorite coach not named Dantonio) and his trip to Seattle. Not too surprising about McGuffie, word on the street is he wasn't at the team banquet.

They're improved, although I'm not sure by how much. Clawson is definitely better than he was last year, and they have some nice receivers. If Notre Dame had a decent offensive line and a better coach, I think they'd be pretty good. Really. Because it has nothing at all to do with Dantonio being a great fit at MSU. Or the improved recruiting classes he's bringing in. Or the toughness he's instilling in the program. Nope, that couldn't be it all. It definitely doesn't have anything to do with players playing above their supposed skill level. It's only because the Spartans won't play OSU for the next two years. Give me a break. This was a team that was 4-8 and in complete shambles two years ago. They're 9-3 and heading to a NYD bowl game this year. Maybe its because the last two years we didn't play Illinois and Juice Williams. The only problem with that was, he was only on for half a game against an incredibly overrated Badger team that gave the game away.

Holy s***, we got jailsexed last night. And I saw the one thing that frustrates me more than anything about college basketball. The refs let both teams play in the first half, and then in the second half started calling all the ticky tack fouls. I hate that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the refs for MSU's loss at all. The Spartans' inability to make a shot in the second half did that. Coupled with the fact that UNC is an incredibly awesome basketball team. But the refs turned what was a fun game to watch into the typical, unwatchable basketball game I see way too often.

Didn't Michigan already play Duke this year? And I cheer for UM during this tournament as well. I feel so dirty.

Big Ten/ACC slaughter...err...challenge time again. Here's the line up. Monday, Dec. 1 Wisconsin at Virginia Tech Tuesday, Dec. 2 Duke at Purdue Clemson at Illinois Ohio State at Miami Virginia at Minnesota Iowa at Boston College Wednesday, Dec. 3 North Carolina vs. Michigan State (from Ford Field) Indiana at Wake Forest Michigan at Maryland Florida State at Northwestern Penn State at Georgia Tech Duke/Purdue and UNC/MSU are a couple of huge games. Splitting those two would be big time for the conference. Purdue has the better shot. MSU is hurt and UNC is a better team than Duke anyway. I don't know enough about the ACC to try to accurately predict the games, so I won't bother. Just hope the Big 10 can keep it close.

Michigan will be better next year, because they have no place to go but up. Notre Dame is better this year as well, but would you say they are a good team? Honestly, after watching this year, what on earth makes you think next year is a 9 win season? Because they're Michigan and they can't be bad? Tell that Florida State, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Miami. The only safe games I see on that schedule are Eastern, Western, and Indiana. If Notre Dame lands Brian Kelly, UM (and MSU) better watch out. Iowa has a great running back and offensive line. Purdue's new QB is pretty good and is only going to get better. Heck, from what I've read, WMU has a damn good QB. That might not even be safe. My gut feeling is Michigan is at least 2-3 seasons away from sniffing 9 wins. If Penn State and Michigan State (two opponents that have been a guarenteed W the last 10 years) continue to improve, it's going to make it that much tougher for Michigan. RichRod is going to be a slightly better version of John L. Smith. When he's on, its going to be pretty amazing to watch. But when he's off, its going to be ugly.

All the weddings and Thanksgiving are over, so its back to the gym time for me. Ugh, I am going to hurt tomorrow. I spent all day yesterday raking leaves.

I don't care for the Sens, Flyers, 'Yotes, or Bolts. Everything else ranges from cool to not too bad. Toronto, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh are the best IMO.

Isn't it really Ty's fault though? Updated bowl projections for the Big 10. MSU: Capitol One vs. Georgia. OSU: Fiesta vs. Texas. Penn State: Rose vs. USC. Iowa: Outback v. South Carolina. Minnesota: Insight v. Kansas. Wisconsin: Alamo v. Missouri Northwestern: Champs Sports v. Virginia Tech I don't like a lot of those matchups for the Big 10. I think MSU may be able to hang around with Georgia. They never should have been the number one team to start with, and from what I've read, if you can control the trenches against them, you can beat the Dawgs. Iowa and Minnesota might have a decent shot as well. South Carolina hasn't beat a good team all year, Iowa might be able to impose their will and run the ball all day. Kansas had their nice win over Mizzu, but that's it as well.

The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City. It was the Vancouver Grizzlies that moved to Memphis.

That. *******. Sucked.

I think it would take a lot for MSU to end up in the Alamo Bowl, they would have to get jumped by Iowa and Northwestern. The Spartans have a better record and beat both of those teams head to head. Selfishly, I kind of wish it would happen since I'd be able to go to the game. But the Outback and the Cap are much better for MSU. I'd trade watching the Spartans on TV on New Years, for seeing them in person in San Antonio. So, if I had talked about MSU first, what would you say then? I watch what Michigan does because they are MSU's biggest rival. I'm enjoying their season immensely, as is everyone else in the Big 10. But when it comes down to it, I don't give a f*** about Michigan. I'm a Spartan. I care about Michigan State. I don't see why you're upset anyway, I was congratulating your coach.

Yes, I do feel better. I really am enjoying the Callahaning of the Michigan program. Considering that more than half the teams in college football go to a bowl game, it could be the last time I say it for a while. And really, I shouldn't be so mean to Michigan. I mean, under their new coach, it has been a record setting year! -First losing season since 1967. -Snapping the longest active bowl streak in college football at 33 (34?) years. -First loss to a MAC team in school history, at home no less. -First loss to Penn State in 12 years. -First loss to MSU at home in 18 years. -First 9 loss team in school history Yes, its been a historical year for DickRod. Here's to another year just like it in 2009! :beerbuddy: Anyway, moving on to the school that still has football to play, the more I think about it, the more I like the matchup against the Gamecocks in the Outback. It's a New Years Day bowl game, the first one for MSU since the Citrus Bowl in 2000. It's a better matchup for MSU than the Capitol One bowl would be. It might be good for the Big 10 to only have one BCS team, OSU aginst UGA is a much better matchup than MSU against UGA, and it trickles down and gives the rest of the Big 10 a better matchup. Anyone planning on attending any bowl games? If Rutgers ends up in the Texas Bowl (the CBS projection has them there) I'll be going. We went in 2006 and had a blast.

Why do you hate yourself so much?

Latest bowl projections from ESPN and CBS for teams that may be of interest around here. Both of them have MSU in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina. To me, this represents the best possible outcome for MSU. A New Year's Day bowl against a SEC team that is very beatable. Ohio State and Georgia are projected in the Capital One Bowl. While I would have liked to see MSU here, I think MSU would have a much, much tougher time against the Bulldogs. Ohio State is a much more talented team than MSU is, this is a winnable game for the Buckeyes. Penn State and Oregon State are projected for the Rose Bowl. Again, this is a great outcome for the Big 10 as a whole. They've already annihilated the Beavers once this season. Beating a Pac 10 team that got a lucky win would be great. Notre Dame to the Sun Bowl against either Arizona, Cal, or Oregon. I don't know a whole lot about Oregon or Arizona, but I wouldn't expect the Irish to break their bowl losing streak this year. Michigan...Michigan...I can't seem to find them listed anywhere http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/bowls/predictions http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowlprojecti...008&week=13