The dog days of summer.
As a sports fan, it's the worst time of the year. Unless of course, you like baseball, but not even hardcore baseball fans can sit through a whole game.
Hockey is over, hoops have finished up, and it's been months since the last football game.
There are things for the sports fan to follow during the summer, especially if you're into the collegiate football scene.
For me, the days of summer involve following the camp and recruiting battles for my favorite college program—the Michigan Wolverines.
Anyone with a T.V., radio, newspaper, Internet connection, or ears knows that things didn't go well for Michigan last year.
Struggles were expected, but not like that. Don't worry, things improved as the year went along, and they can only stand to get better this year.
As far as this summer goes, the most interesting thing, as usual, is the recruiting.
The class so far isn't quite up to Michigan standards, but a 3-9 season should be accompanied with an expected dip in recruiting.
The main complaint is that it seems that Rich Rodriguez is still recruiting the three-star sorts he did at West Virginia. Which, I guess would be fine if this was, you know, West Virigina.
Still, you can look at his first class and a half with Michigan and see a parade of four-star recruits, so the guy knows he has a better choice of talent.
Quarterback was, obviously, a sizable need entering the summer. Steven Threet, last year's oft-injured quarterback and producer of so many "just keep the damn ball!" moments, has transferred out.
Left over are two true freshmen; one with loads of potential, but some serious mechanical issues (Denard Robinson) and one who is polished, accurate, and mobile. Though Tate Forcier is somewhat scrawny.
After them, there is the "quarterback who should never, ever see the field ever, even if the rest of the quarterbacks transfer, are abducted, or die" (Nick Sheridan).
As far as who will enter the fall as starter, this should be the easiest one to answer. Tate Forcier will be that guy. I'm confident enough to say that, unless he is crippled, maimed or decides, "Screw you guys, I'm going home."
I would risk my limbs on the thought that he will start.
The goal for recruiting surrounding the 2010 class was to get one real-deal QB and another who essentially is a project that needs work.
Call it mission accomplished, provided no one backs out.
Michigan recruit QB Devin Gardner fills the quota of "big-time quarterback". He's big, mobile, and apparently has a strong arm.
Like all running quarterbacks, he has some mechanical issues. With Forcier in front of him, this is manageable.
The second quarterback in the class is quarterback Cornelius Jones from S.C. Jones is a project in every sense of the word. Being recruited as an athlete, this is his first major offer.
Thankfully, with Gardner and Forcier ahead of him, there is time to work with him.
That's probably it for this class, though I'd love to see La. quarterback Muncie Legaux brought on board because, I mean, have you seen that name?
He could be a one-star with lesser skills than me.
I don't care, he wins.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Michigan Wolverines Football articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
20 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete