Students on the Move, Band on the Run

If you were previously unaware, the Michigan student section (the one in the corner with the maize shirts) is not the only student section. Once filled, the University issues tickets (to the late registrants, johnny-come-lately grad students, and anyone else that doesn't fit in the corner) to the south endzone. And I know what I'm taliking about, I personally got to experience this "land of the outcasts" in my seventh senior year. Well, apparently now all of the student sections will be united in one, giant, maize corner. Super. But wait, were not quite done with musical chairs in the Big House. The band is on the move as well, to a position directly across the field, directly in front of the student section. I guess this is the way it's done in most other venues, so it probably works. But the band will take up some significant space. No word yet on how this will interfere with my attempt to garner seats in the freshman student section for the 13th consecutive season.

• "Seating change reunites students" in The Daily

In other news...ESBS (Everyday should be Saturday) is previewing week 3. That's right, a preview of games that will be occuring on Sept 16th. That of course means Michigan vs. Notre Dame is on the slate, so there is an in-depth preview metaphor of the matchup. See if you agree with this:

Playing Michigan is like fighting a blind Kodiak bear with mittens on; you can get your shots in, run, outwit it, and still end up losing strictly because the bear won't give up. Or you can shoot it dead on first sight with the right tools. Miss, and you're in deep, deep trouble, though.

Really? What about when you miss, but then the bear paints a target on its head and hands you a box of bullets in the 4th quarter?

Newer, Bigger, and Blue

Wow. This is really great. My first fresh-typed post on the all-new UMTailgate.com. Yes, we underwent a facelift just 5 months ago. But after implementation of that system, I found it to be less user friendly, both for myself as a developer, and for all of you as users. So after much deliberation, I decided to do it all over again. So for the past week I've been digging up old front pages, uploading and downloading photographs, and magically integrating several software packages to make this version of UMTailgate.com the best yet.

Some cool new things:

• Complete integration of the message board, photo gallery, and front page. This includes users having just one login that allows them to leave messages on the message board, leave comments on posts (like this one) and comment on the pictures in the gallery.
• An all new photo gallery that works in perfect harmony with the front page.
• Tagged posts that are searchable by category or date usng the menus in the sidebar on the right
• Back by popular demand, a single topic message board so it's easier to see posts and responses
• An rss feed. If you don't know what this is, google it. It allows UMTailgate.com to be syndicated across the internet
• A multi-authoring system that will allow for some chosen people other than myself to make fresh front pages

What you need to do:

• Register
• Participate more. Comment on front page posts. Comment on photos. Leave messages on the message board.
• Keep me posted on any errors you find....and there will be errors. Please email me if you find spelling errors, internet bugs, anything. Still the same email address,frank@umtailgate.com.
• Let me know what you like, dislike, or would like to see.

What I've done:

• Migrated the front pages from the past year
• Migrated the photos from 2004, 2005, and 2006

What I need to do:

• Fix message board comment box, which for some reason is bleeding into the sidebar. (by Wednesday)
• Add 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 photos. (by 8/1)
• Fix 2006 Schedule to link to opponents websites and to theme information. (by 8/1)
• Run the XBox 360 simulation and post the 2006 Season Preview (by 8/2)

Anyway, I hope you like the new look, and I hope you enjoy the expanded content.

39 DAYS!!!

GO BLUE!

You Wish You Were 30

In these dreary days of summer, where we sometimes find ourselves staring at the countdown to the season, it's tough to fill the pages here at UMTailgate.com. So I will take a moment to celebrate a very important person, both to The Tailgate, and to the world in general. ME. Several tailgaters enjoyed birthday's last week including Bubba, Goody, and Bloomfield's wife. Let me tell you, it really sucks having a birthday around the 4th of July. Typically, everyone goes somewhere on vacation, makes barbeque plans, goes into hiding, etc. But last week, with the help of my good friend Lisa, many familiar faces gathered to honor my personal entrance into the 4th decade of life. Yes, I am 30. No, it doesn't bother me.

A crazy Saturday night started at Lisa's home, and moved to a roped off area in Conor O'Neill's. Those in attendance treated me as if I just hit 21, as the shots of tequila, whiskey, and jager flowed freely, turning the night into a blur with half dead bodies draped across my apartment. The blur continued Sunday and Monday on a lake just outside of Jackson before commencing with a birthday celebration with my biological family in Canton.

Thanks to everyone involved, and for all the cards, emails, and especially voicemails. Who knows? You might make it on to next year's season in review video.

It was a great weekend that reminded me that you are only as old as your drinking ability. Perhaps you know my two young friends Godfather and Captain Michigan?

The clock is ticking... 7½ weeks.

Up Next: UMTailgate.com XBOX 360 Season Preview

What Have You Been Doing???

Has it really been two months between posts? Has it really been over 6 months since the debacle at the Alamo Bowl? Well, I would love to sit here and tell you that a lot has happened over the past 60 days, but life in the off-season has been as uneventful as ever. The tailgate equipment continues to rest in a storage garage. I wake up around noon on Saturdays. I pass by the Big Under Construction House each and every day, wondering how they're going to finish the installation of the new bench seats on the press box side before the Vandy game. I peruse the internet looking for team reports on this year's opponents, but can only find scraps of spring coverage. We are truly in the dead zone for college football.

But soon the summer solstice will be upon us, and with the turn of July we will celebrate Independence Day. Not long after that, every trip to the grocery store will remind us that college football is not so far away. Street and Smith's, Phil Steele, Lindy's and the Sporting News will all don their regional covers. No doubt you'll be inundated with Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Leon Hall, and Steve Breaston action pics with smaller pics in the corner of the likes of Troy Smith and Drew Stanton. Right now, pre-pre-pre-season prognosticators show the Maize and Blue somewhere between 11 and 17 nationally.

April and May were not completely devoid of sporting content. The Red Wings and Pistons sported league best regular season records before coming apart in the playoffs. The Tigers (my god the Tigers) have the best record in baseball. The Wolverines landed a solid verbal from Ryan Mallet who is being touted as the next John Navarre. The anticipation of his arrival just makes me giddy. I can't wait for the pigskin to start bouncing off of lineman's heads again. On a more serious note, Mallet appears to be recruiting his own lineman. The powers that be have Mallet and fellow Texan J.B. Shugarts rooming together at summer camp, which started today. The M cagers inked a 6'10" transfer Zack Gibson from the basketball powerhouse that is Rutgers. Taking a look at his stats, I imagine that with some serious work, he might just be the next Colin Dill.

On a positive note, we were able to have another tailgate reunion just this past weekend in the name of the blessed union of two UMTailgaters. It was the marriage of the niece of the Captain, and included such attendees as the Godfather, the Godmother, the Goddaughters, Fry Daddy Frank, Goody, Buckmaster, Mrs. Buckmaster, and Janet. I scored an invite as a plus one, and I no doubt had the hottest date in the room. I was welcomed into the family event with open arms, and I must say it was almost worth missing the Tigers at Wrigley. Thanks to Moore's for making me their surrogate son and enabling me to peer into the wonderment of a Goodell family event.

Coming Soon:  NCAA Football drops July 18th for the Xbox 360 so look for the most advanced simulated preview ever

Enjoy the Summer! GO BLUE!!

Summer-Like Weather Brightens Spring Game

It's your last little bit of football before enduring the sporting boredom of summertime. It's the Spring Game / Scrimmage / Last Practice. Allowing us to peer a bit into the future, this event shows us the latest edition of the maize and blue (sans most incoming freshmen) and is a kind of halfway point of the college football offseason. Pundits weigh in on the condition of the team, what they look like with x or y graduating senior missing from team, who's injured, who's overweight, who's a step slower or a step faster. The most fun is when you get to hear a new name for the first time.

For those that don't scour the recruiting boards, we have a new running back, Carlos Brown, and a la Kevin Grady, he is an early enroller…just the third early enroller in the Wolverine's history. Prior to the Spring Game, I had read that he would be the new change of pace back, replacing the injured Antonio Bass...but I didn't believe it. But there he was, the latest #23, in the shotgun formation, taking snaps in the student body left and student body right plays we saw so many times out of Bass last season. Prior to his practice stint at QB, he broke one for 50 yards from the running back position. Was he showing off his blazing speed? Well, it was the Michigan defense, so perhaps they were just replaying the sideline sieve defense they gave to Gary Russel when he went for 61 yards to grab the Little Brown Jug.

But I digress...

It's tough to find things wrong or right in the mish-mash practice setting, and I am no expert, so my take on the Spring is as follows:

Jason Forcier has the arm of Barry Bonds, and the accuracy of John Navarre. Barring significant improvement leading up to September 2nd, offensively the season will hang on the health of #7. If Chad goes down, I’ll see you in Nashville in mid December. On the positive side, the fact that Carlos Brown took snaps Bass-style is a bit exciting...especially before his 18th birthday.

The word around camp is that things are more intense and everyone has lost weight and worked themselves into better shape. The Angel of the Big house has a full article on the leaner, meaner Wolverines. 

The Junk Food Theme

The tailgate began at 10am, and was 3 people strong until about 11am, when some more familiar faces arrived. We had a full table covered in chips, chips, and more chips... and dip, cheese and crackers, and hummus and pita. The captain and coke still brimmed my mug, even in the absence of the Godfather, while others filled up on beers of their own choosing. A somewhat successful tailgate, but I felt a little outshined by several of our neighbors, who came with full grill setups. Next year, we need more participation!!!

Anyway, enjoy the pictures in the gallery by clicking the picture above.
What are we going to do for the next 4 ½ months?????

Keep in touch everyone...and as always, GO BLUE!!!!