Lloyd Carr had his pre-spring press conference, at which he shed a little bit more light on the Antonio Bass situation.

The knee was actually injured during a conditioning drill. Bass is probably not going to practice in the spring.

Interestingly, Lloyd also said that Bass was going to play both WR and QB in the spring practices. It was unclear whether the QB was scout team (i.e. practicing for Ohio State et al), or if he was actually going to see significant time at the position this year (other than the occasional gadget play).

Maybe, based on the lack of QB depth that we will have this year, it was actually going to be a position he would think about playing. I think that would also represent a big step forward in UM’s coaching staff getting with the times of the current football climate in the NCAA as well. This is all speculation at this point, however, so I guess we’ll never know.

Other pertinent information from the press conference will be divulged when I have the time to review the tape (have to get ready for the NIT, of course).

Posted under Personnel

I’ve heard that Antonio Bass hurt himself playing basketball, and the injury is supposedly somewhat severe. I don’t have a whole lot of details, but at this point it’s pretty clear that he will likely be out for spring practice. I’ll do some more detective work and see what I can come up with.

A posting on his facebook wall from his girlfriend makes it sould as though there may be some truth to the rumor.

Posted under Personnel

I know I rarely post about basketball, but I think this is relevant to this year’s football season as well.

It is easy to be a fan when a team is doing well. The true fans come out when their team isn’t doing so hot. It was despicable when Indiana “fans” were cheering against their own team, just so Mike Davis would get fired (or resign, as he eventually did). It is no less despicable for Michigan fans to do the same thing to try to get rid of Amaker.

Amaker isn’t going anywhere for a long time. Deal with it. You don’t have to agree with how he coaches, or the effort he seems to get from his players sometimes, but that should by no means mean that you support the team any less.

Yes, I wanted the team to go to the NCAA tournament, and no, it didn’t happen. Well, they’re still playing basketball folks. If you forget about them now, then maybe you aren’t the true fan you thought you were to begin with.

Posted under Misc.

The votes are in. Barring a recount, the winner is option #2. Along with the back, the shirt will look like this:

Posted under Misc.

It’s March, so the football news is slow. I’ll get back into the roove as recruiting picks up, and the spring game rolls around.

For now, take comfort in the fact that the basketball team is A one-seed in the NIT

Posted under Blog News

EDIT 3-15: If you were linked to this post, check out The main page to see which shirt was selected. In case it’s been pushed off the main page, the post of interest is right here.

Here are the possibilities that students have the choice to vote on for the front of the 2006 student section T-shirt:

#1:

#2:

#3:

I forgot to save the images of the potential backs (oops), so I’ll have to wait until the design is officially released to post it. Both options were something along the lines of “107,501 fans, 40,000+ living alumni, 11 National Titles, One Voice GO BLUE.” I forget exactly what it was, but that was the general idea.

As for my editorial comments on the designs, I think all three front designs are pretty ugly. If the Athletic Department want people to wear the shirt (and I think they should actively pursue it, in case I haven’t made my position on the issue clear enough yet), they shoujld at least try to come up with something that’s a little aesthetically pleasing. At least they are returning to the yellow shirt, recovering from what was a huge mistake last year (in my opinion).

The shirts still aren’t “free” with season tickets, which is what I think they should be. (i.e. not actually free, but you don’t have the option to not pay for it). That way, more people will have the shirt, and thus more people will be able to wear it.

I’m not exactly sure that I posted the pictures right, because I have yet to master mfile. If anyone has trouble seeing them (even when you click), leave me a message and I’ll fix it.

Posted under Misc.

Considering I make the blog as essentially a resource for myself, rather than actually to give information to anyone else, mad props go out to MGoBlog (see link in the sidebar) for actually managing to not only find it, but find something worth posting about on his blog.

Posted under Blog News

“Money” is the name of an IM basketball team made up of UM football players (and captained by Steve Breaston). I went to their game on Monday to check some of the players out. It was the second game of theirs that I’ve been to. This time, they put more effort into it, seeing as how it was a playoff game. Unfotunately, however, they lost. Even worse, they pretty much had the game taken from them by the refs (but at least they’re used to that).

Adrian Arrington looks a lot lik Vince Young. He is not as tall as I thought he was, but was still usually the tallest guy on the court. He jumped to block one shot, and ended up with his hand more than halfway up the backboard. He was rocking a pair of ankle braces.

Steve Breaston is actually more built than he looks on the football field. He also can jump and grab the rim with pretty much no effort, despite being not particularly tall.

Leon Hall is a lefty with a good outside shot. He was about high middle of the pack in terms of athleticism.

Mike Hart was moving really well, though he stills sports one ankle brace.

Charles Stewart was a more physical basketball player than I would have expected. Hopefully he brings some of his intensity to the field next year, too.

Johnny Sears Jr. is the man that everyone has been asking about for next year. Will he start at #2 corner? Well, here’s a brief rundown of the observations I made on him. First, he didn’t seems that fast (i.e. not as fast as Breaston, but who really is?), though he seemed very very quick. He also had some ups. Right now, he is sporting an amazing russet-colored afro (it was pulled back in a ponytail for the game). He was also inexplicably wearing one of Jamar Adams’s football practice tank tops, complete with name and number (Adams was present at the game as a spectator).

If you have any question about these guys, I may be able to answer a couple of them, so don’t be scared to ask.

Posted under Misc.

MGoBlue link.

Posted under Coaching

Now that Jim Herrmann is gone, there is a need on the coaching staff for a Linebackers coach. There is no verified news, but the rumor is that Steve Szabo is the man that has been hired. He was Jacksonville’s LB coach from 94-02, and was most recenty DB coach at Buffalo. Here’s some more information on him.

Keep checking back, as I’ll update this post with more info on Szabo as I find it.
Interesting article.

On the scout boards, there was discussion that this could just be a couple-year thing, as Szabo is 62. He is great friends with DeBord, so some suspect that it may just be a good friend being able to coach for a couple more years.

Posted under Coaching