Per the request of “Anonymous” (who didn’t leave an e-mail address), here is a high-res version of the Media Day team photo:

Posted under Photo Album

As originally planned, Utah was to fill the September 20th open date on the 2008 fotball schedule. This is no longer the case. Utah will instead come to the Big House on August 30th, giving the football team a bye week on September 20th. The schedule will look like this (C&P from MgoBlue):

Posted under Misc.

I apologize for the somewhat random order. If you want a hi-res version of any of these images, post in the comments and I’ll see what I can do for you.

No snarky comments for now.

Posted under Personnel, Photo Album

A couple quick things, and I’ll post a bunch of pictures tomorrow. I took 400, so after paring it down there should still be plenty.

• Brandon Graham lost a bunch of weight this summer. He looks to be in really good shape to play at the defensive end.
• Marques Slocum worked out with various other athletes while he wasn’t eligible to join the team – including Michael Phelps. Slocum is a huge guy, and it seems like he’ll be a major factor on the DL. Also, he said the reason he persisted to become a Wolverine was: “I didn’t give up on them because Coach Carr never gave up on me.”
• Manningham said his knee was fine, and he could have participated in spring drills, but didn’t as a precaution. He spent all spring watching film instead.
• Bryan Wright will kick off, and various players pegged him as the favorite to win the PK job.
• Greg Mathews expects to play a big role in the offense this year, especially with UM losing its leading receiver in Steve Breaston.
• Speaking of Breaston, he speaks to his cousin, incoming freshman Toney Clemons, every day on the phone. He is practicing well, but Arizona is too hot this time of year (hear that, recruits looking at southern schools because of the weather?).

Photo album tomorrow, and maybe some interview clips coming on the next slow news day.

Posted under Personnel

Happy fun content tonight or tomorrow.

Posted under Blog News

…per the Free Press. Utah is a mid-major team that is probably better than a lot of low-level BCS teams, so this is a welcome addition, especially since it doesn’t require the promise of a return trip (as Bill Martin demands). That would mean the ’08 schedule is completed as follows:

Sept. 6 MIAMI (OHIO)
Sept. 13 at Notre Dame
Sept. 20 UTAH
Sept. 27 WISCONSIN*
Oct. 4 ILLINOIS* (HC)
Oct. 11 TOLEDO
Oct. 18 at Penn State*
Oct. 25 MICHIGAN STATE*
Nov. 1 at Purdue*
Nov. 8 at Minnesota*
Nov. 15 NORTHWESTERN*
Nov. 22 at Ohio State*

The article also gives confirmation that Carson Butler will rejoin the team, though it’s unclear whether that is based on more than just Lloyd’s vague Big Ten media day(s) statements, with fake sourcing to sound official (yes, real press do that all the time).

Posted under Personnel

Please note that when I wrote my (apparently over-) critical piece on the MMB, that it was but one in a series of such posts, and fear not, much of my vitriol has been saved for fans themselves, cheerleaders, athletic department, etc.

I know not every change in my post was entirely realistic, that is why I write on a blog, saying that they are ideals, not things that OMG must change immediately!!! Things like the placement of the band aren’t going to change, and I’m aware of that, I just wanted to note that I thought it was far from optimal.

Most of the points I’m going to rebut or at least respond to come from Hoover Street Rag‘s response to my original post. I’m glad Jeremy (along with a bunch of commenters) took the time to develop arguments, and we can have a suitable, productive-ish discussion, rather “omfg ur dum!!1” going on left and right (though not all commenters were above that the first time around).

And on to the discussion:

1. Band location – already mentioned.
2. Lack of cheers either catchy or able to be participated in by students/fans – I will stand by this statement (and Jeremy seemed to agree with it, though I take issue with his statement that students get into “Respect” – as a student, I’ve never noticed anyone with any particular joy for that song).
3. The claw – I don’t hate the claw itself, it’s something that’s not necessarily unique (see the FSU Tomahawk Chop), but at least it exists, to fill in the dearth of fan participation, if onlt slightly. The onlt aspect I hate is the words to accompany “Temptation” that the students employ (just say “you suck” a bunch of times). If there were some sort of creative lyrical content to accompany the Claw, I’d be all for it. However, I do respect Jeremy’s opinion on UM not having anything to do with actual wolverines (though if that’s the case, why are their bronze statues in the Big House concourse, and actual stuffed creatures in Crisler?).
4. GD3DKPT. HATEHATEHATEHATEHATE. Just had to get that out there. I sat next to the band last year. To the best of my observations, there was not necessarily silence during said thingy, but certainly not as loud as the other students around me (despite mass participation in GD3DKPT and no mouth noises). Also, don’t even try to imply that MMB doesn’t perpetuate the GD3DKPT, as Professor Nix was up on his little podium deal miming the activity, for not only the band, but also the students to copy, but with actual keys in their hands.
5. Alma mater. You will not convince me otherwise. Alma maters exist as something to be sung or played at the end of a contest. I don’t know where in my original post it came off that I wanted it to be played before the conclusion of the game. I just want the tradition of college football (and, yes, even MMB, when Revelli was still around) to be upheld by the most recognizable band in the nation.
6. The postgame show. Paul responded in the original comments with (approximately) my opinion on this, and the cheering factors:
   

   Finally, I don’t mean to sound like an ass, but the crowd isn’t there for the
   band, the band is there for the crowd. The crowd should not cater to the Band’s
   traditions or history. The supplier has to provide the consumer with what it
   wants and the consumer wants cheers (and developing cheers for cadences is huge.

Feel free to respond away once more. Again, I’m glad there is actually some intelligent discussion going on. Remember, my criticism of the band won’t sound quite so harsh when other volumes in the series come out (re: idiots in comments thinking I’m just picking on the band). To the best of my knowledge, Paul, a former band nerd himself, will also be responding on VB.

Also, the halftime music is going to suck this year. Take that, band!

Posted under Analysis

I’d really enjoy feedback on this series, so please comment. Also, please note that I didn’t do so much of the “extended editing” on this piece, so be gentle about those types of issues.

As someone who is not an insider to the ways of the band, but rather a student and fan of the Michigan football team, the band has been failing in its responsibilities to enhance the gameday atmosphere inside Michigan Stadium. There are various ways in which the band’s presence could be improved.

The first improvement is the placement of the band. While the band exists to enhance the experience for all fans, the students are the primary participants in the cheers and songs that are played by the band. In Michigan Stadium, the band is placed in the stand within the student section, so that the sound moves away from the students. This makes it difficult for all students to hear certain songs by the band, and nearly impossible for the poor freshmen in row 98, who can hear almost nothing the band plays.

The students’ participation in cheers led by the band is hindered not only by their inability to hear what the band is playing, but by an utter lack of these cheers in general. On any given Saturday, the band typically plays 3-4 songs with participation by students: “Temptation” (3rd down stop, with the claw and the “You Suck” chant – which I despise), “Hawaiian War Chant” (I think, it’s the one they play on most first downs, with the hands in the air and the “Let’s Go Blue” at the end), “Let’s Go Blue” (random, with clapping and yelling “Let’s Go Blue” at the end), and “The Victors” (With the singing, and the clapping, and the fist pumping, etc.). If there are any others I’m forgetting, let me know, but this is still sparse, sparse stuff.

Encouraging the God Damn 3rd Down Key Play Thingy. The GD3DKPT is the bane of my existence. It not only gives people (mostly students) an excuse to not make loud noise on opponents’ 3rd downs, but even encourages them not to. The band endorses the GD3DKPT by remaining silent, and wiggling their hands in the air, without even having keys to make noise. This renders them literally silent, at a time when every soul in the stadium should be making as much noise as possible.

Refusal to play the alma mater at the end of games. A very important tradition in college football is the playing of the school’s alma mater at the conclusion of the contest, win or lose. Some of the most powerful moments have come during this time. Matt Leinart, confetti flowing around him, conducts the Sprit of Troy in “All Hail” after the Trojans clinch the National Championship over Oklahoma in January 2005. Jim Tressel and his fellow coaches and players stopping in front of the Block O to sing “Carmen Ohio,” before (while) the students in Columbus stormed the field after defeating Michigan in 2006. Under Jamie Nix, the Michigan Marching Band has refused to participate in this tradition. My freshman year, I e-mailed Professor Nix, asking him why the band did not engage in this time-honored tradition. His (remarkably rude) response was that he would do things the way he wanted, and if fans wanted to hear the alma mater, they could wait until the end of the postgame show. I can only hope that the new director has the respect for college football tradition (and concerned fans) that Mr. Nix so clearly lacked.

Posted under Analysis

Dann O’Neill participated today in a live chat for ESPN. Nothing too revealing was stated, though his latest measurement are 6’8″ 290. He hasn’t been in touch with any remaining recruits, or even any other commitments, for that matter.

Lim(enlightenment) as n approaches this interview-like substance = 0

Posted under Recruiting

The Kinesiology department is starting a Pat Maloy Scholarship, to be granted to students who have cancer or have been affected by cancer in their families. The scholarship is named in honor of Bernard “Pat” Maloy, a Michigan professor who lost the battle with cancer in 2001.

To fund the scholarship, there will be an online auction, consisting of tons of autographed items, Michigan-related and otherwise. Tons of Braylon, AC, Desmond items, check out the auction for yourself. There’s a good chance you can find something you want, and it goes to a great cause.

Thanks to Jim Stefani for the link.

Posted under Personnel