U of M thread (in the Lions Forum) :)

[Mainevent]

Pitt's a much better add than Mizzou if this is true.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Pitt has the much better academic profile which fits the Big 10...are we getting a name change? Big North? Big Cold as Shyt? Big No Recruit Wants to Live Up Here?

Big 12??

[DanO]

How about BIG XII.

GO LIONS "10" !!!!!!!!!!

[Rocky Bleier]

That will suck for if it means that more western PA kids will stay home.

[WingsFan]

There's now a report refuting the rumor, The Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein reports the Big Ten will stick to its self-imposed 12-to-18 month time frame to analyze the prospect of expanding. On Twitter, Pittsburgh associate athletic director/media relations E.J. Borghetti wrote: "Now hear this: rumors on Internet message boards shoutl be read for amusement purposes only, and not consumed as responsible journalism."

[chemiclord]

Translation:

"We have a fucking leak somewhere... and it has leaked information we didn't want anyone to have yet. While we try and find this leak, we hope this quickly composed denial that really isn't a denial if you actually read said denial will keep people from realizing that the major media outlets have again been trumped by amateurs doing the job better than the people paid to do it."

[SeattleLionsFan]

Eggsactly. Just like when the rumors were Miles to UM. Those turned out to be extremely true!

[chemiclord]

Eggsactly. Just like when the rumors were Miles to UM. Those turned out to be extremely true!

Probably would have been true had Lloyd Carr not stuck his nose in and threw his weight around.

U-M was talking to Miles. That much is true.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Yeah. I guess rumors are sometimes not true leaks?

[chemiclord]

Yeah. I guess rumors are sometimes not true leaks?

Now, I'll be honest when I say I could be wrong on this.

The initial report that hit the blogosphere was that the University of Michigan was talking to Les Miles. This was true. This happened.

It was Kirk Herbstreet (at ESPN) that exploded it into Miles is going to Michigan. Now, I don't know what his sources were, but he was the one that blew the story into more than it was.

Now, that doesn't change your larger point; that being that the "amateurs" make shit up all the time. Which they do. A lot.

But you can generally tell if a blogger or a freelancer is onto something by the response it generates. If you read the Big Ten's "denial" on the issue... well... it really isn't a denial, merely saying that they will continue on their 12-18 month plan for a replacement.

Which really doesn't refute anything. It's not like Pittsburgh would jump ship to the Big 10 (11... 12?) this coming season. No... it would be something that would probably take about a year (at least) before any school would become part of the conference.

Does this mean Pittsburgh is going to be the 12th team in the increasingly ill-named Big 10? Who the fuck knows?

Hell, it's equally possible that the Big 10 intentionally let a piece of news like this slip in order to convince another school (for the sake of argument, a school that may or may not be centered in South Bend, Indiana, for example) that they're quickly running out of time to make a move themselves.

In the end, in this case, I think the non-professional element of the sport journalism world hit another scoop, and that it contains a lot more truth than fiction.

Let's be honest, it's not hard to get the scoop on ESPN nowadays. The Worldwide Leader in Sports has been rather sluggish over the last ten years or so.

[froot loops]

I wouldn't be suprised if they decide to not include any team. the 12-18 month thing sounds like a way to act like they are trying but ultimately not do anything.

[Newbomb Turk]

grab Pitt, ND and Mizzo .... the Big XIV !!

[WingsFan]

Today is (Michigan's Rose Bowl) signing day.


Recruit Sean Parker, one of the most coveted defensive backs in the nation for the 2010 class, had given a verbal commitment to Michigan, has signed with Washington.

Michigan also is waiting for a decision on another highly-ranked defensive back recruit, safety Demar Dorsey of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dorsey (6-0, 175) also was considering Florida State and USC. He also is a four-star recruit and the No. 19 safety in the nation, according to Scout.com. Reports have said he will go to FSU, we will see at 1:00PM

[WingsFan]

Dorsey pick Michigan

Per Michigan board:

Finally, National Signing Day produced a big win for the Big Ten. And a huge win for Michigan.

Safety Demar Dorsey's decision to sign with Michigan ahead of Florida State and USC is critical for a Wolverines secondary that needs to get a lot better in 2010. Ranked as the nation's No. 2 safety by ESPN's Scouts Inc., Dorsey is the type of player who can come in and contribute right away for the Wolverines. And he'll need to make an impact this season, as Michigan's struggling secondary loses top cornerback Donovan Warren to the NFL.

Michigan entered the day hoping to land two safeties, Sean Parker and Dorsey. Parker, who many believed to be the better bet for the Wolverines, picked Washington ahead of Michigan, but Wolverines fans aren't complaining now. Dorsey, who is cousins with Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, is the nation's No. 12 player according to ESPN's Scouts Inc.

Unless offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson picks Ohio State, Dorsey will be the highest-rated recruit in the conference.

[Newbomb Turk]

NCAA finds 5 potential
major rules violations by
U-M football

By MARK SNYDER, MICHAEL ROSENBERG, JIM SCHAEFER
AND SHAWN WINDSOR
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

The NCAA has issued a notice of allegations to
the University of Michigan alleging five major
potential violations in its football program.

University officials just released the report this
afternoon. Incoming athletic director David
Brandon said the school would be sticking with
head coach Rich Rodriguez.

?We view these allegations seriously,? Michigan
president Mary Sue Coleman said. "We will make
all necessary changes. What we will not do is
make excuses.

Among the allegations:

? From January 2008 through this past
September, the program exceeded the
permissible limit on the number of coaches by
five. The NCAA alleges that five quality control
staff members illegally engaged in on- and off-
field coaching activities.

? From January 2008 through at least last
September, the school permitted football staff
members to illegally monitor and conduct
voluntary summer workouts and impermissible
activities outside the playing season. The NCAA
also alleges that U-M required players to
participate in summer conditioning for
disciplinary purposes, and exceed time limits for
countable athletically related activities during
and outside the playing season.

? Graduate assistant coach Alex Herron provided
?false and misleading information to the
institution and enforcement staff? during the
investigation.

? Coach Rodriguez ?failed to promote an
atmosphere of compliance within the football
program and failed to adequately monitor the
duties and activities of quality control staff
members, a graduate assistant coach and a
student assistant coach, and the time limits for
athletically related activities.?

? From January 2008 through at least this past
September, the athletics department ?failed to
adequately monitor its football program to
assure compliance regarding the limitations on
the number, duties and activities of countable
football coaches and time limits for countable
athletically related activities.?


continued http://freep.com/article/20100223/SP...y-U-M-football