Michigan: "Oooh, look at the pretty lights!"

Michigan has finally relented, announcing today it will play its first night game in history at "The Big House" in 2011 against Notre Dame.

This is big. I'm sure Les Miles will have his troops fired up to beat the Irish.

You're welcome

Rich Rod dissed by UM president

Should we read something into the latest out of Ann Arbor?

Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman on Monday announced a five-person search committee to advise her on the selection of the next Director of Athletics. The committee included basketball coach John Beilein, but not football coach Rich Rodriguez.

May be nothing. May be everything.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Miles' meltdown in Mississippi

It's all about your perspective.

There are Michigan fans calling for Rich Rod's head so the Wolverines can bring in Michigan Man Les Miles. After watching Miles mismanage and mishandle the final seconds of LSU's game at Ole Miss last night, there are not many supporters remaining in Baton Rouge.

Have you ever seen a team screw up a perfect situation more? LSU scores and misses the two-point conversion to pull within two in the waning seconds. Manages to get the on-side kick, get into field goal range and then make horrible calls that pushed the Tigers out of range.

Then Miles' team didn't get a timeout called quick enough and allowed more than 20 seconds to run off before getting the call. Miles said after the game, "That play, the clock ran down, timeouts were being called verbally and I didn't relate to the official apparently, and that was the mistake. We didn't know that it hadn't been called."

That can happen, and neither can the hysteria that was taking place on the LSU sideline.

Still, the Tigers completed an unlikely 42-yard pass to Terrance Tolliver at the Ole Miss 6. With the first down, the clock stopped with 1 second remaining. Instead of running the field goal team on the field to rush a shot at the win, QB Jordan Jefferson spiked the ball and the clock struck zero.

Miles claims he doesn't know who called for the spike. The video shows otherwise.

Hey Michigan fans ... you still want Miles over Rich Rod?

Stay classy Michigan

Can anyone explain why Michigan RB Michael Shaw thought this was a good idea? Remember when Michigan used to claim it was above the fray? Seems the standards sure have dropped since Rich Rod moved to Ann Arbor.

RichRod: Shell of his former 'cocky' self

This man looks spent. Do you think he'd like to go back to Dec. 16, 2007, and tell Bill Martin "No"? Hey Rich, 5-7 and no bowl is a real possibility now.

Welcome back to the hot seat

The other half of our blogging duo (the 'Eye) is too superstitious to write anything about the disaster taking place with the school up north. Looks like the 'Eer's preseason prediction just may come true.

Just a few weeks ago everyone in Ann Arbor was buying into RichRod and the Wolverines when they opened the season 4-0. Oh, how things have changed. Following today's embarrassing 38-13 loss at Illinois (2-6) the Wolverines may miss a bowl for a second consecutive year.

Rodriguez's team has gone 1-4 in its last five games and now sits at 5-4 with a dismal 1-4 record in the Big Ten. Former Syracuse coach Greg Robinson's defense is terrible and Tate Forcier looks more like a true freshman at QB each week.

Welcome back to the hot seat Rich. If the losing skid isn't enough, certainly the potential for an NCAA investigation that could lead to major infractions won't sit well with the big boosters.

So right now 6-6 appears to be the best possible finish for the Wolverines, a big letdown after all of that early season promise. But look at the UM's remaining schedule and 5-7 may be more realistic: travel to Madison to face Wisconsin and finish the season in the Big House against rival Ohio State, who is riding a five-game winning streak in the series.

Realistically, Michigan's only shot at getting to six wins is next week's home game with Purdue. However, the Boilermakers upset Ohio State earlier and they would relish the idea of spoiling the Wolverines' season.

So is 6-6 or 5-7 enough of an improvement for RichRod to survive? Probably. Is there some nefarious plot against RichRod? Nah, it's just karma.

Picks of the Week: No. 9

The 'Eer's run above .500 came to a quick halt after going 1-4 last week, and that didn't include any ACC games. Let's give it another shot this week and see if I can pull out a few wins.

Wisconsin (-7.0) over Purdue
The Badgers are looking to become bowl eligible, which is much more than many thought this team could do at the beginning of the season. Wisconsin has dropped two straight against Ohio State and Iowa after opening 5-0, but it should get back on track with the home game against the Boilermakers. Purdue had its big win this season over Ohio State. It won't happen again.
Pick: Wisconsin 34, Purdue 13

Cincinnati (-15.0) over Syracuse
Give Syracuse credit for being much more competitive under new coach Doug Marrone. But the Orange don't have the talent to compete against the Big East's premiere team. Even without Tony Pike, the Bearcats will be just fine with Zach Collaros at QB. Also Mardy Gilyard continues to be one of the most explosive and dependable receivers in the game.
Pick: Cincinnati 38, Syracuse 10

Michigan (-7.0) over Illinois
The Wolverines are banged up and their defensive has been struggling under coordinator Greg Robinson. But Michigan needs this win to also become bowl eligible and move up into the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. It shouldn't be a problem since the Fighting Illini are a mess under Ron Zook.
Pick: Michigan 27, Illinois 12

Boise State (-35.0) over San Jose State
This goes against everything I believe in when picking a game. To think Boise enters the game down 35-0 is tough for me to stomach, but the Broncos are trying to impress voters and computers so they'll score at will against the 1-5 Spartans. San Jose had an extra week to prepare, but it won't help against Kellen Moore and a Boise offense that is averaging more than 40 points a game.
Pick: Boise State 56, San Jose State 14

Upset of the Week
Iowa State (+7.0) over Texas A&M
The Aggies ended a three-game skid with a shocking 52-30 win over Texas Tech, but don't expect A&M to win two straight. Iowa State is playing outstanding under first-year coach Paul Rhoads, including a 9-7 win at Nebraska last week. Behind QB Austen Arnaud, the Cyclones will find a way to win again on the road.
Pick: Iowa State 29, Texas A&M 21

Last Week: 1-4
Season Record: 20-20

This still ain't Morgantown, Rich

Sure, the Detroit Free Press doesn't bother with the whole pesky "printing or delivering an actual, physical newspaper" anymore, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to parse the living shit out of every stupid thing UM football coach Rich Rodriguez says.

"Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez backtracked today on public claims he has made recently that his team achieved the highest cumulative grade point average ever for a U-M football team, saying now that neither he nor the university knows what that record is."

Rich, you gotta be at least a little factual when you're throwin' out the ol' "best GPA ever" line. This is the difference between having Jim B____ and an intern from the Dominion Post writing about what you do and the Free Press.

RichRod getting testy

Hey Michigan, remember 3-0?

Sure you do. The Wolverines were ranked and all hard feelings toward Rich Rod had dissipated. Now consecutive Big Ten losses and the UM coach is none too pleased with the media.

I guess Lisa Salters, who was the sideline reporter in last night's game at Iowa, didn't see Rich Rod get pissed at freshman QB Tate Forcier. Or maybe she just made it up that Forcier seemed upset at his benching in favor of fellow freshman Denard Robinson.

So what does Rich Rod do? His normal MO. He blames the media.

"Words? There was no words on the sideline," an irritated Rodriguez said according to AnnArbor.com. "Are we already going to start off and try to create something that's not there? We were coaching. Tate has been - our guys are very, very coachable. There haven't been any players have any words. I don't know where that comes from."

So what do Forcier and Robinson have to say? Oh, wait. Rich Rod didn't make them available to the media today.

Traditions: Sparty Watch

One thing the 'Eer loves about college football is traditions. Here is a new one I discovered tonight that takes place at Michigan State every year during Michigan week. Do you know of other great college football traditions? Let us know.

Props to RichRod

We get accused of sour grapes and hating on Rich Rodriguez. Maybe there's some truth to it. But today will give him a salute for the job he and his coaching staff did in getting Michigan prepared and the adjustments they made to pull the upset of No. 18 Notre Dame in the Big House Saturday.

RichRod deserves credit for rallying from adversity leading up to the start of the season, but also for showing faith in his freshman QB by putting the game in the hands of the talented Tate Forcier. The young signal caller didn't let his embattled head coach down by rallying the Wolverines on a 57-yard touchdown drive in the final minute for the win in Ann Arbor.

Forcier, who executed UM's spread offense eerily similar to Pat White when he starred for RichRod at West Virginia, gave RichRod his biggest win at Michigan. Brandon Minor helped take some of the pressure off Foricer by rushing for 106 yards and a TD.

But this win lifts a large amount of pressure off RichRod (we'll talk more about the pressure on Charlie Weis later). Now he may get the opportunity to build a Big Ten contender. Michigan isn't all the way back, but the Wolverines are a lot closer than either 'Eye or 'Eer thought they were just three weeks ago.

Appears the OSU-Michigan game could be fun again this November.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Free Press)

Podcast: Episode 39

The Big Ten has two big games this weekend that could help enhance its image. First, of course, is Ohio State's shot at redemption against USC at Ohio Stadium. Will the atmosphere of a night game at the Shoe be enough to rattle the freshman QB Matt Barkley? Then there is Michigan's shot at Notre Dame. Both teams need this win in the worst way, but the Irish have more experience, and probably a lot more riding on this game. We also look at the biggest surprises and disappointments from Week 1 (Can you say Iowa and Oregon?), as well as which coach's seat just got a little hotter (Hint: Al Groh).

For our friends on Facebook who want to hear the podcast, just click here.

Late observations on Week 1

All right. Enough already. Sorry for the late post, but family time and the UConn-Ohio game last night have kept the 'Eer away from the laptop. So here are my thoughts from the first weekend of games (with a few still to play).

- I guess I'm a little more a believer now. The BCS busters came up big this week. I don't want to take anything away from Boise State and BYU, but is that really the best Oregon and Oklahoma could muster? Seriously Chip Kelly. You've had all that time to get the Ducks motivated and prepared. Instead your offense executed as well as Coca-Cola execs trying to market New Coke back in '80s. Thanks for letting Boise believe it belongs. Maybe I should be more surprised by Oklahoma's showing against BYU, but this is so Bob Stoops. When's the last time this guy really beat a good team? Don't tell me Texas Tech. At least now the Sooners should be eliminated from the national title discussion.

- Do you think Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State's Jim Tressel are glad not to be lumped into the same conversation with Virginia's Al Groh? I don't see how Groh can even make it through the year after the Wahoos lost to William & Mary, 26-14. The loss was Virginia's first to a Football Championship Subdivision school since 1986.

- Crap. Did both 'Eye and 'Eer really underestimate how much Notre Dame and Michigan have improved? Maybe. But after this week, one of them will be 1-1 and the coach will be on the hot seat again. Also, I'd still be a little concerned watching how both offenses failed to execute as well in the second half.

- It may be a loss, but as someone with nothing to gain, Washington's nice showing against LSU in Steve Sarkisian's first game is a good sign for the Huskies and also important for the Pac-10. However, if I'm a Tigers fan I'd be concerned that LSU is going to struggle again in 2009.

- The Big East didn't do much to help quiet the critics, but we should give credit to Syracuse and new coach Doug Marrone for almost pulling an upset of Minnesota in the Carrier Dome. Greg Paulus also played a solid game, despite throwing an interception in OT.

Enough of that. Now we're ready for Miami-FSU on Monday.

First Saturday thoughts

While the 'Eye is finally back from Ohio State's Salute to Navy Day, the 'Eer is off in Athens, Ohio enjoying his $5 tickets as the Bobcats try to knock off UConn.

While Ohio State's escape against Navy was worrisome enough, it was the non-stop salivating over sportsmanship and Navy salutes that got on my nerves. Bizarre. I'm not pro-booing any opponent, much less a service academy. But it was like Hug A Middie Day. One stop Naval salute.

Anywho, some thoughts:

- Ohio State played a nice first half, then decided to sleepwalk through the second half, including Tressel's bizarre decision to for a 4th and 2, including an equally-bizarre decision to run the ball between the tackles where OSU had been unable to run the ball all day. Next week's game with USC is not looking promising for the Buckeyes.

- Are Michigan and Notre Dame better than the 'Eer and I thought? Both had solid outings against overmatched opponents.

- The Big Ten. Yeesh.

- Mizzou looks like they're not missing a beat in pummeling Illinois.

- Big win for Okie State. Wish I had gotten to see more of that one.

= BYU is hanging tough against Oklahoma in a penalty and turnover-filled first half. BYU QB Max Hall is killing 'Homa's blitz scheme.

-

Rich Rod starring in Fightin' Back the Tears Tour 09

Is RichRod trying to win a Big Ten title or Oscar? Seriously, he is openly weeping for the second time in like 18 months on national TV. Man up dude. The guy is amazing. He actually found a way to get a Bible reference in the news conference.

Rich also said during Monday's news conference that when he left West Virginia he didn't leave his brains or his ability to care for his players. However, we did find his dignity and character in Morgantown.

Smart Bud marketing = hypocritical presidents

Let the hypocrisy begin.

It seems a few dozen university presidents are all riled up because Anheuser-Busch recently began a marketing campaign featuring Bud Light beer cans with local schools' team colors. So Bud Light comes in maize and blue in Ann Arbor, and scarlet and gray in Columbus. Sounds pretty savvy to me.

However, these university presidents are claiming this will lead to more binge and underage drinking among their students (I don't remember the color of the can dictating my choice for binging).

Let's face it. The real concern is protecting the brand. Maize and blue belongs to Michigan. No one else is allowed to even think about using those two in combination on anything that isn't approved by the UM licensing department.

The can pictured here is one that is being sold near LSU's campus in Baton Rouge.

According to the Wall Street Journal, at least 25 schools have formally asked Anheuser-Busch to drop the campaign near their campuses. The paper also noted that the University of Michigan's lawyers threatened legal action for alleged trademark infringement, demanding that Anheuser-Busch not sell the "maize and blue" cans in the "entire state."

You can just sense the concern for underage consumption buried in all that legalese about trademark infringement.

Hypocrits.