Agenda?

From AnnArbor.com yesterday...

Instead, compliance office administrators spent more than a year-and-a-half cajoling football administrators to turn in the Countable Athletically Related Activities forms, but never copied Rodriguez on the e-mails.

With the university and Rodriguez headed to Seattle for meetings Friday and Saturday to defend themselves against allegations they broke five NCAA major rules, there are still no answers about exactly why the compliance office never told Rodriguez about the missing forms.

He'll Walk

Rich Rodriguez has a strict policy that he will only talk about players that play for Michigan.  He never commented on Terrell Pryor.  He didn't discuss Mallet's departure.

The exception to this rule is Brock Mealer.

Brother of Elliott Mealer, he was paralyzed from the waist down in a car crash.  That crash resulted in the tragic death of Elliott's and Brock's father and Elliot's girlfriend.

I've personally talked about this several times, but it is definitely a story that has flown under the radar locally despite it's appearance nationally on E:60 a while back.  Today, the Angel updates the inspiring story in the Detroit News.  This kid from Columbus is going to lead the 2010 edition of the Wolverines on to the field on September 4th...because of Rich Rodriguez and his staff.

"He'll walk," Barwis said firmly as a statement of fact, not as a hope or dream.

There was no agenda here.  This happened right when he got hired.  This isn't snake oil or a publicity stunt.  This is a good guy folks.

Go Forth and Prognosticate

There are many signs that alert you to the dwindling time before first kickoff.  Freshman arrival, first practice, first AP/coaches poll...and the arrival of the famed football helmet schedule.  It is no longer the technological marvel it once was, as any schmuck with excel can do this these days, but it is beautiful in its simplicity, great for a quick glance, and the Big Ten sheet looks nice hanging on the wall of your cubical.  Thanks to Purdue Josh for sending it my way.

You can download it here.

Jordan Walsh Knows More Than You

Maybe it takes a teenager to tell you about your coach...albeit a 6'4'', 270lb teenager, but regardless...

"We talked a lot about (different) stuff, and not always about football. He told me about the new additions to the Big House, the town, and everything. I like him. I guess you could say he's different from how he is portrayed. He's a really cool, laid-back person. He's always smiling, and the way he talks about things, you kind of just feel good talking to him."

Exactly.  Kind of a cool story too, with his parents being Fab 5 fans and Jordan "verbally declaring" to Michigan when he was still in diapers.

Dude. Suite.

​I made the trek early this morning to Michigan Stadium for the "Stadium Tour," otherwise known as "the ONLY time your going to be allowed in the rich folk area," and let me tell you, I'm totally sold.  I had convinced myself way back when the the suites were just a twinkle in Bill Martin's eye that I would not be enticed by such a luxury, that I would only sit (stand) in the section I was raised in, good old 30, surrounded by the common folk in an area fueled by passion, belittling our enemies, and pouring our souls into a group of young men in winged helmets.

And then I saw them.

Now I want air conditioning, a big comfortable seat, and a waitress.  I guess I will just have to go from not wanting a suite...to not having any chance of ever getting a suite.  But I will tell you this:  The stadium tour today will without a doubt get them closer to having the suites and club seats sell out.  Once you see them with your own eyes, you're done.  My advice is to get over there today and take a look at what we've built together...with every ticket and t-shirt we've bought.

There used to be a question (outside of Ann Arbor of course) on what the best stadium in college football was, back when we were just Big.  Now there is no question.  The most beautiful, modern, classy....and still the largest...college football stadium.  The Leaders and Best?  Absolutely.

The suites are only located on the top floor of each of the structures...the 5th floor.  Here are the suite level pics:

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4th Floor is the club level...

[sthumbs=552|560|558|557|556|555|554|553|561,144,2,y,center,]

The 3rd floor is very similar to the 4th floor...

[sthumbs=564|563,144,2,y,center,]

So ya, get down there...it's open today from 6am to 8pm.