Michigan Thursday: A Tidal Wave of Informaiton

So June is usually a pretty slow month for college football. Not this year!

Where should we start?

Expand Baby!

Media reports are that Nebraska is heading to the Big Ten, and Colorado has already joined the Pac-10. The reports of the Big 12's demise have been grossly understated. Stick a fork in that conference—they are done!

Texas and ND

Those are the crown jewels for Jim Delany. Nebraska is a big-time football school, but Texas and/or ND is what Jim really wants. The problem is Texas comes with a lot of baggage, like Texas Tech and A&M. I don't believe anyone is taking Baylor seriously.

ND is that hot girl that just likes to date but doesn't want to go out long-term. She likes her sports car and her daddy's money; she doesn't need you. But if everyone is going to the dance, she might need to find a dance partner as well.

Okay, that was a little bit of a long-winded analogy, but you get the idea. ND might not have a choice as the Pac-10 and Big Ten become super-conferences. They are not going to want to stay in some "watered down" Big East. 

Poor Missouri—they seem to be getting stiffed at the moment. I am sure the Big East schools are on the phone with Jim asking for an invite to the party. But we have great academics!

It will be interesting to see what happens after the Nebraska announcement becomes official. Whoever is next to go to the Pac or Big Ten will be very key.

One thing to consider: The Big Ten already has the Big Ten Network and a $20 million-plus payday for these schools. The Pac-10 is trying to recreate that. I personally would go with the conference that already has the bugs worked out.

USC

If Michigan plays its cards right, they might come away with one fewer bowl loss after today if USC has to forfeit its win over Michigan in the 2004 Rose Bowl. USC won that game 24-14. Nothing like not losing a game six years later!

As an FYI, any of those five-star guys looking for a new football program? We have a spot for you!

Tom Izzo

For goodness sakes, take the job already! It's six million dollars a year, double what you make today, and maybe a chance to coach LeBron James. Come on, isn't it time? Really, it is.

APR 

Michigan's is down, and Mgoblog does a great job of explaining it.

Demar Dorsey

It's over for him as a Wolverine, and maybe we won't know the true reason why. If he gets into another major BCS university, then we know the Michigan admission office was being way too difficult/strict, similar to what ND's has been the last 10 years or so.

Here is Michigan's AD David Brandon:

"This is a decision that is owned by the admissions department, our admissions office," Brandon said. "It's always been owned by the admissions office. It is not unusual for a letter of intent to be signed with a prospective student-athlete where there's far more that needs to be done for the student-athlete to be admitted. It involves course work, it involves test scores, and a variety of criteria some of which is fact-based and where and how they went about improving their test scores."

Did Brandon block DD from enrolling? "That's ridiculous," Brandon said. "Admissions is not part of my portfolio at this university. I've got plenty else that I'm doing.

"The misinformation is the athletic department is involved and there is some conspiracy involved. In this particular case, and, frankly, other cases, the admissions office concluded and made a judgment.

"I think it's unfortunate this particular young man is being singled out with the sensationalism around this, in light of the fact this has happened before and it will happen again. Not everybody passes the test by the admissions department to come to Michigan. And we are not at liberty to talk about the reasons behind a prospective student not being admitted."

DD's father:

"He signed a letter of intent but basically what happened, I guess he didn't qualify to their standards," Jackson said. "Admissions sent him a letter that they weren't going to admit him to the school and said to disregard the other letter (of intent) and was free again to start looking at other options."

Calvin Magee let him know something was up a couple of weeks ago:

"Which I respect him for that," Jackson said of Magee. "We always asked for honest. He said things were looking hectic, and it doesn't look like he's getting in. The coaches did everything they possibly can. Everything, I heard, came from admissions.

"My understanding was everything was good with his grades. He was doing his work in school, which he had slacked up on in the beginning. He started doing exactly what he needed to do."

Jackson said he and his family bear no ill will toward Michigan.

"No, none at all," he said. "Things happen for a reason, and that's how I look at everything. That's how I keep my kids' spirits up. I've told (Dorsey) that good always comes from things.

"It's very disappointing, because he looked forward to going there. He's keeping his head up. You live and you learn. Maybe God has a different plan."

This is a sad situation all around, and I hope Michigan did everything they could to enroll this kid. Timing is everything, U of M. Maybe the Athletic Department and Admissions Department could spend some more time in the Business School's marketing classes.