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

[nhwbrooklyn]

Lost his whole family in 2 separate plane crashes.. that's unbelievable. Praying he pulls through.

[Panoptes]

Repeat from Red Wings thread:

I need you UM locals to give me some updates on the ANA DUCKS new Goalie:

Using an extra second-round pick they acquired, the Ducks grabbed the highest-ranked goalie on Saturday by taking John Gibson of the U.S. National Team Development Program with the 39th overall selection.

The pick was gained when Murray made another deal with his former Ducks boss, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, as he traded down from the 22nd pick of the first round to the 30th and final selection.

Burke gave Murray the 39th pick in order to move up and take rugged winger Tyler Biggs, a teammate of Gibson's. But the U.S. under-18 team netminder was the one the Ducks' scouting staff had its eye on after making Swedish winger Rickard Rakell their first pick.

Martin Madden, the Ducks' amateur director of scouting, acknowledged an aspect of the trade was done in order to draft Gibson, saying "it was certainly part of it."

"We don't look at positions that closely," Madden said by phone from St. Paul, Minn. "But in this instance, you do have to take into consideration at some point, especially with goaltending.

"Having said that, he was amongst the group of four or five [players] that we had rated at a similar level as far as pro potential and impact on an NHL team is concerned."

Gibson doesn't turn 18 until July 14 but he has started putting together a nice resume.

Playing a schedule against teams in the United States Hockey League and the NCAA, Gibson went 24-11-3 with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

But it was in the World Under-18 Championship where he really shined as he went 6-0 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage to lead the Americans to a third consecutive gold medal.

"Obviously with the personal success and the team success, it's been a great year all around," he said.

At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Gibson fills the net and has been described as a goalie with a sound, technical game and is very calm in the crease. He will attend Michigan in the fall.

"John has a chance to be a big-time goalie," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.

[SeattleLionsFan]

I know very little about UMich hockey gonz, but he hasn't joined the M squad yet so not too much to report from his career there.

[Panoptes]

Just getting out in front of the cart.

He obviously has zero UM news right now as the report indicates (he enrolls in fall 2011).

[WingsFan]

Web site has Michigan as top recruiting school in nation, MSU #18

http://www.freep.com/article/20110629/SPORTS06/110628060/Web-site-has-Michigan-as-top-recruiting-school-in-nation-Michigan-State-18th?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE

[jaadam4]

Damn!

[Roaring20]

I for one think Michigan should NEVER not have a top 5 class. RichRod only wanted a certain type of player. Which is one of the reasons Michigan struggled.

But, Hoke is known for being a very good recruiter. Which he is showing why.

But, right now he's got an easy job. tO$U is down and kids are decommiting. Not only that but with the Big House remodeled it's a pretty easy sell.

At the same time Hoke knows what a "Michigan Man" is all about. He get's it.

[nhwbrooklyn]

I for one think Michigan should NEVER not have a top 5 class. RichRod only wanted a certain type of player. Which is one of the reasons Michigan struggled.

But, Hoke is known for being a very good recruiter. Which he is showing why.

But, right now he's got an easy job. tO$U is down and kids are decommiting. Not only that but with the Big House remodeled it's a pretty easy sell.

At the same time Hoke knows what a "Michigan Man" is all about. He get's it.

His recruits now will only begin to help him in numbers in maybe 2014. Careful not to get expectations too high. In his first year or two, with RR's players, it won't be easy to pull off a winning big ten season.

[DanO]

He better have the team at .500 or better I don't care who's players he's playing with. This is the great savior. He's a Michigan man. I expect great things. He the results we've got after an exhaustive nationwide search. This a man among boys in the coaching ranks.

GO LIONS "11" !

[nhwbrooklyn]

He's below .500 life time as a head coach...

I think he is a solid hire and a great recruiter and a good fit for Michigan but IMO, the expectations for these first 2 years and the hype that's building could sabotage him.

I realize UofM fans are aching for some W's but patience is needed.. at least for year one. IMO if he pulls off a winning big ten record this first year it will be a very good sign. Even if he doesn't have a good first season it doesn't mean that much considering the situation but I could see a lot of rumblings to undercut him beginning prematurely.

[DanO]

I was very luke warm on the hire. Still am. But he's Michigan's man. He better show me something.

GO LIONS "11" !

[Roaring20]

This team will have 7-8 wind this coming season and go to a Bowl like the Gator bowl. But, there is talent there.

[chemiclord]

He better damn well do better than 7-8 wins. If that's unacceptable for Rodriguez, that better damn well be unacceptable for Hoke.

[Cody_Russell]

atleast Michigan isn't like Purdue.
I'm getting kind of mad with the recruiting our head coach is doing. We are getting the talent of a MAC school but worse, all non ranked 3 stars or worse.
Stupid Purdue fans don't understand:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/conversation?gameId=312462509

[jaadam4]

I was very luke warm on the hire. Still am. But he's Michigan's man. He better show me something.

GO LIONS "11" !

I was the same way with the hire. I went through a roller coaster of highes hoping Harbaugh or Miles would come home. When Hoke was hired I pissed!

His recruiting has been amazing along with the sudden collapse of OSWHO but he still needs to show something on the sidelines.