Preview: South Carolina

Time: Noon
Location: Raymond James Stadium
Weather: 63 and 70% of rain

TV: ESPN2

Stream: ESPN App

Line: Michigan - 7.5

Bowl games are a funny thing, they fall in between an exhibition vs. an important game for some programs.   Who wants to be there is usually the difference between winning and losing.   I have seen Michigan destroy a Florida team in the Citrus Bowl who had checked out for the NFL Draft already and I have seen Michigan sleep walk in the Orange Bowl in the first half.    You never know. 

Michigan will have added pressure on Monday as they are the last Big Ten team to play a Bowl Game and could give the Big Ten an undefeated Bowl record.  That type of pressure is good, as it gives the players more motivation to play well.   The little yelling match at bowling also didn't hurt.

Tale of the Tape

Michigan OL vs. USC D line = Michigan
Michigan Offense vs. USC D = Push
Michigan D vs. USC O = Michigan
Coaching = Michigan
Intangibles = Push
Bloomin' Onion vs Coconut Shrimp= Shrimp

These two teams are pretty much mirror imagines of each other.   Both are pretty bad on offense and both teams play good defense.   Sounds like there is a good chance of rain on Monday, which could mean a messy field and an ugly offensive game.  

Sing "Tie me kangaroo down sport" (the theme song of WWF's Bushwhackers) if......

• Don Brown and his "dudes" dominate USC's offense
• Brandon Peters plays like he is the long term solution at QB
• Michigan's offense doesn't turn the ball over
• Michigan is motivated to play
• Two weeks of practice and a month of rest has helped the Wolverines
• No Rust
• No injuries

Yell, this is just an exhibition anyways if.......................

• Michigan keeps USC in the game with its offense
• Michigan can't run the ball
• JOK plays a lot
• Michigan's defense is on the field too much and gets tired
• Michigan doesn't want to be there and has moved on to next season
• Michigan's special teams looks like a mess

You will notice this is about what Michigan does and doesn't do vs. South Carolina's strength.   The Gamecocks offense is really bad and they fired their OC right after the Clemson blowout.   Is this a good change? probably but who knows what the new OC has up his sleeve.   The defense is a bend but don't break and should give Michigan a few opportunities on offense.  I expect a lot of field goals by the Wolverines.  

The weather is the wild card and I hope it doesn't rain.  This is not the rainy season in Florida but the outlook keeps showing more and more chance of rain.   I really like Michigan's TE's, Evans, and Higdon in this game if Peters plays well.   I see lots of 5-7 yard passes and some throws to the running backs.  Move the ball between the 20's, score a couple TD's and kick a ton of field goals. 

South Carolina will struggle against Don Brown defense, unless they come out with a ton of new stuff they haven't put on tape.   That seems like a challenge in two weeks worth of practice.  The key to this game is how clean the Wolverines are on offense and do they keep the Gamecocks in the game  with short fields and easy points.

Michigan 27 South Carolina 9

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/preview-south-carolina.html

Michigan Friday: Michigan Bowl Practice - Who Didn't Make The Trip?

When the media get close to practice for a bowl game, they start running down the roster of who is and isn't there.  Who is working out in shorts, etc. 


So here we go:

1. Kareem Walker did not make the trip.  Insiders are saying there doesn't seem to be a threat of him transferring and its not an academic situation.  Maybe an injury?
2. Hudson has a cold and missed some time.  Seems minor.
3. Tarik Black won't play, which is good and protects his medical redshirt for the year
4. Isaac is still banged up and working out in shorts, should be considered questionable for Monday.  Would love to see him finish his career on the field.
5. Perry and Hill are also doing light workouts.  Status for Monday is unclear at this point.
6. JBB seems to have made the trip but wasn't seen at practice.  He has been in & out of the coaches dog house all year.  A Michigan announcement is pending. Not good!
7. Ben Bredeson has also not been spotted at practice but seems to have made the trip.
8. Hall also did not make the trip and it seems his heart is leaning more towards a transfer at this point.

I think that covers it for now.

• The announcement of Jedd Fisch to Missouri has yet to have happened.  The rumor is spinning that once that happens Wilton will transfer there.   I guess we will have to wait and see on both.

• I have watched MSU all year and just don't get that team.  They blew out WSU night in their bowl game.  I guess the same can be said for WSU, who was missing their starting QB.

• Big Ten is 3-0 in bowl games right now.

• In what Michigan was hoping for,  2018 five-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere watched Michigan practice yesterday.  NP-F attends Berkeley Preparatory where Michigan is practicing this week before the Outback.  Just in case you are wondering, NP-F can't speak to the coaches or players during this time but can watch practice like anybody else.  If you remember, Alabama reeled in Dee Hart the same way when they practiced at his school in Orlando.

Since the game is on Monday, I will give you my preview this weekend.  Probably Sunday.  Enjoy your weekend!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-friday-michigan-bowl-practice.html

Michigan Thursday: Bad Bowl Games

Have Bowl Games officially jumped the shark?  It sure does seem like it.   I love college football but it sure is hard to watch 6-6 teams play each other in a stadium with 6,000 people in it.  Who is making money off these games?  Bad Boy Motors? Walk-On's bar and grill?


I was a little excited to see Big Ten teams start playing yesterday.  Then I started watching the Pinstripe Bowl.   Everyone loves NYC at Christmas but are we reaching a bit trying to have a bowl game in Yankee Stadium when it's 20 degrees out?  The field was frozen and that alone should be enough to at least move that game to the NFL Stadium that has heating under the field so it doesn't freeze.   Or how about this?  Move it to a warm location or a dome!  Iowa literally skated to a victory over BC.


How many times do we need to see Rich Rod struggle to beat Purdue?  I have enough bad memories of that to last a lifetime.   Let's cut the bowls in half and expand the playoffs.   This is getting out of hand. 

• Sounds like Michigan and South Carolina got into a little bit of a mess at bowling last night.  It was more trash talking then anything, but hopefully it will motivate the Wolverines. 

• Devin Bush, Sr. is filling in and doing some on field coaching and recruiting as Jimmy looks to fill his staff.

• When talking about Greg Frey yesterday, I miss calculated the openings on Jimmy's staff if he leaves.  Jimmy would have 3 spots to fill as I forget that Brian Smith has left for Rice and that is the position currently Devin Bush, Sr. is filling.

• Sounds like Cesar Ruiz will get the start at RG for the Outback.

• Lane Kiffin visited Michigan's practice yesterday.

• Michigan State plays Washington State tonight on Fox.  Mike Leach had a pet raccoon growing up.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-thursday-bad-bowl-games.html

Wolverine Wednesday: Will Greg Fry Stay in Florida?

Michigan running game coordinator Greg Frey is going home for the Outback Bowl.  He grew up outside of Tampa Bay in Clearwater, Florida.  He also played his college football a bit North of there for Bobby Bowden at Florida State.  Greg even won a National Championship at FSU in 1992.


Greg is on his second tour of duty in Ann Arbor after Rich Rod hired him in 2008.  He has had successful stints at Indiana and Michigan and has sent over 20 kids to the NFL.  Jimmy hired him less then a year ago in late January 2017.


Jimmy brought in Greg to help the offensive line in the running game and to recruit Florida.  I would say the jury is still out on both areas in Greg's first full year. 


Now there are a couple of reports that Greg could be leaving Michigan to join Willie Taggart at Florida State.  As you know, Jimmy and Willie are very close and I assume any move would have Jim's blessing.  The issue I believe is pay.  FSU is known not to pay their assistants top dollar and there is a question if Florida State would be able to match Greg's current compensation at Michigan.  So Greg might have to take a pay cut to go home. 


If Greg does leave, Michigan would have two open coaching positions after the bowl game.  The NCAA is allowing each team to add a 10th assistant and of course Greg's spot. 


Would it be a big blow to lose Greg?  Hard to tell at this point, I'm not sure Greg's style of zone blocking in a spread offense is a good fit with Jimmy's offensive style.  I personally would have loved to seen a couple of years of proof before we made that decision or not.   So to net it out, if Jimmy is letting him go to a friend, I believe he thinks he is a better fit at FSU then in Ann Arbor. 

• Jedd Fisch coached UCLA last night to a bowl game loss.  Josh Rosen didn't play due to a concussion.

• Here is video link to Michigan's first practice in Tampa for the Outback Bowl.

• Michigan has offered 2018 4 star Texas WR Tommy Bush.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/wolverine-wednesday-will-greg-fry-stay.html

Top Ways to Enhance Customer Experience in eCommerce

Nurturing relationships with your customers is one of the best ways to improve your eCommerce business. Investing in your customers through an impactful marketing strategy is a must to deliver exceptional customer experience. Your interaction with customers will define the experience i.e. how customers feel about your services or products. Good experiences will help in building awareness, website traffic & eventually boost sales while bad experiences can scare off your customers & even impact a business negatively.  As per records, Companies are losing as much as 23% of their annual online revenues on average for providing poor digital experiences.
 
Here are some of the tips that can be considered by every eCommerce web development company to build a great customer experience:

Personalization

One effective way to improve user experience in your business is to add personalization in your marketing campaigns. You can create customized experiences considering the features like location, information provided by users, items in Wishlist, recently viewed items, etc. Personalized online stores have been believed to help 59% marketers with good ROI.

Upsell & Cross-sell

Another way to provide a robust user experience is to offer only the relevant products to the customers. Instead of scaring buyers away with the products they don’t want, offer something that will complement their shopping cart and the ones that will be useful. However, keep a check on the frequency of messages, as constant upsells may detach clients.

Out-of-the-box Social Media Marketing

Integrate your online store with different social media marketing ideas like the social sign-in feature that will make the sign-in process less time consuming or Facebook bot for online shops to deliver automated messages. This will help to manage order confirmation, provide 24*7 customer support and even ensure upselling.

Virtual Experience

More than 40% buyers are willing to pay more for the product if they could experience it through Augmented Reality. Give users the virtual experience to transform their imagination into reality like interpret what an item would feel like in their hands or how a furniture would look like in their home. This will make them go for a purchase with more satisfaction & assurance.

Delight Customers

Since there may be many competitors offering similar services, differentiate yourself and find ways to delight your website visitors whenever possible. Send extra goodies while shipping the products occasionally, offer amazing discounts/loyalty offers via email or exclusive deals in website pop-ups to attract users.

Apart from all the points discussed above, it is important to make your website experience seamless to enhance better customer experience and engage more people. Also, ensure that the entire shopping experience is simple and easy to use for the users. If you need to build a website or add some latest functionalities on the existing one, take help from a top ecommerce Website Development Company having in-depth knowledge of new IT trends. Most importantly, analyze what your customers care about to deliver what they want with a personalized user experience.

The post Top Ways to Enhance Customer Experience in eCommerce appeared first on Baltimore Tech.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/top-ways-to-enhance-customer-experience-in-ecommerce/

Michigan Tuesday: Best Christmas Tweet

I started this challenge with the hope of raising $15,000 in about 10 days. As a community of people taking a stand against DIPG and childhood cancer, we have went above and beyond that. Thank you to everyone that has made this Christmas the most special! pic.twitter.com/2O0k8XTBD3

— Chase Winovich (@Chase_Winovich) December 25, 2017

Well Done Michigan Football Community!  Well Done!


Believe it or not, its game week and Michigan will play a football game in less then a week.  Lets take a quick look at South Carolina Gamecocks:


Overall record: 8-4, finished #2 in the SEC East at 5-3.


Best win: NC State.
Worst Loss: Kentucky 23-13
Common Opponent: Florida won 28-20


Offense:
Pass for 212 yards a game.  79th in the country
Run for 127 yards a game. 108th in the country
Score: 24 points a game. 101th in the country


Defense
Give up 20 points a game which is 26th in the country.

This is a clearly a team that excels on defense and struggles on offense.  Does that sound familiar?  This might be a 10-7 game.   :-)


After the season was complete, the Gamecocks fired OC Kurt Roper and WR Coach and now acting OC Bryan McClendon will call the plays against the Wolverines. 

We will look more into South Carolina as the week progresses.  Hopefully you have the day off and can recover from all the holiday! 


Here is a quick look at the team activities this week:

• The Wolverines will land today in Tampa
• 12/27 Bowling Party
• 12/28 Busch Gardens
• 12/29 Hospital visit
• 12/29 Tampa Lighting Game
• 12/30 Clearwater Beach

I have a feeling Jimmy might schedule a few practices in between as well! 




from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-tuesday-best-christmas-tweet.html

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the Michigan and Big House Blog Faithful!


Go Blue!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/merry-christmas.html

Michigan Friday: Watched A Bit of Basketball Last Night

Michigan for some reason, scheduled one of the worst teams in the NCAA last night in Alabama A&M.  This squad was 0-11 and now 0-12.   For some reason, ESPNU covered the game lay up line and Michigan won 97-47 and it wasn't even that close.   Charles Matthews scored 31 points.  Wagner is still out with a bone bruise.

• Big House Blog reader Jim W, pointed out that I omitted 4 star NC DT Rick Sandidge from Michigan's board yesterday.   He is correct, Michigan would love to have Rick in the class. He didn't sign during the early period but his 24/7 prediction crystal balls are 100% to South Carolina.  So to put it in Christmas terms, he is probably more on Michigan's wish list! Maybe the Outback Bowl winner gets his commitment?

• Jeter's reduction of the Marlins roster to save/make money is being called Project Wolverine.  Interesting.  

• Michigan teammates Chase Winovich and Maurice Hurst are helping drive some money to the Chad Tough Foundation.   Chase said, if $15,000 was raised before 1/1 he would play with Orange hair in the Outback Bowl.  That goal was hit within a day as $21,000 came in.  Big Mo up the amount to $73,000 and he will do the same.  The goal amount matches their numbers. 

• RIP Central Michigan's own Dick Enberg

• Don't forget that Shane Morris will play his last football game as a college student today for Central Michigan against Wyoming in the Idaho Bowl today.  Wyoming's QB Josh Allen is rated a 1st round draft pick and might be worth a look today.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-friday-watched-bit-of.html

Mixolo Mobile App to Launch Spring 2018

Mixolo, the in-real-life social network, today announced that its much-anticipated mobile app will launch in Spring of 2018.

Mixolo (Mix + Solo) is a thriving community of solo adults who, regardless of their relationship status, want to venture out on their own, have fun and enjoy life.

“Single-shaming and table-for-one insecurities have many of us opting out of social experiences and activities for fear of being judged,” said Mixolo Founder and CEO, Carolyn Lynch. “Mixolo exists for people who understand that being solo does not equate to being alone.”

Members have access to individual hosts who are committed to accommodating groups of solos that want to connect with like-minded people who share an affinity for various pastimes. The Mixolo approach to “Finding Your Tribe” ensures that member engagement will lead to more profound connections with new acquaintances.

Professionally planned events, activities and other experiences create an all-inclusive atmosphere for solos, irrespective of age, race, religion or gender. Members can choose from laid-back gatherings, unique culinary and cultural events, sporting, theatre and dramatic arts, distinctive travel experiences, immersive skills workshops and bootcamps.

Over the years, social media platforms designed to stimulate interaction have fallen out of favor. Mixolo is a reflection of consumer desire for in-person interaction.

“Because it’s neither a dating app nor a professional meetup platform, Mixolo removes superficiality while safeguarding member identities,” added Lynch. “Our goal is to create a forum that fosters independence, empowers individuals to opt-in to life and to share experiences with groups of like-minded people.”

The mobile app will safeguard members’ privacy. After meeting in person at an event, members have the choice of messaging each other through Mixolo or continuing to keep their personal contact information to themselves.

For event hosts, Mixolo represents an opportunity to reach a new, highly targeted audience. The Event Marketplace within the mobile app is a centralized self-service hub for hosts to populate with their events.

“The Event Marketplace will be a pipeline for established venues and hosts to create events that are solo-friendly and provide a level of comfort that welcomes people to hang out and mingle with new groups,” added Lynch. “People today are more independent than ever before, and Mixolo helps to remove the stigma for those who are not used to going solo.”  

According to a Pew Research study, Millennials tend to buck traditional life milestones like marriage; only one in five millennials have tied the knot, the study found. Survey results show that Millennials are by far the most independent generation, with 50 percent of the "selfie" generation identifying as such. The study also shows that 39 percent of Gen Xers and 37 percent of Baby Boomers consider themselves independent.

“Nothing drives strong communities better than in-person and live interactions,” Ian Altman, the integrity-based sales and growth expert told Forbes recently. In the article, forecasting the top ten business trends for 2018, Altman highlights how communities embrace in-person over virtual interactions on social media.

Social media technology cannot replace the appeal of in-person interactions. Mixolo and its new mobile app combine the comfort of social media with face-to-face interaction, providing solos with an ideal entrée to social engagement. Mixolo prides itself on the bond it has developed with its early adopters and continues to evolve alongside its ever-growing community of active solos.

“Our goal is to foster a welcoming atmosphere that encourages people to move past excuses like not being able to find a plus-one and live their lives to the fullest,” said Lynch.

“It’s about self-accountability for people who want to try new things and meet new people,” Lynch added.  “That means no more backing out of an adventure because you don’t want to go alone, or keeping a hobby or passion to yourself simply because none of your friends share the same interest.”

Visit www.mixolo.io today and opt-in to life. No plus-one required.

ABOUT MIXOLO
Mixolo is a real life social network. We are building a social community of coactive solo adults, regardless of relationship status, who want to go out and engage and connect with interesting and like-minded people at specially designed events and experiences. We want our members to go solo without the stigma. You'll be glad you came.

Visit www.mixolo.io for additional information.  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Mixolo Mobile App to Launch Spring 2018 appeared first on Baltimore Tech.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/mixolo-mobile-app-to-launch-spring-2018/

Early Signing Period In Review

There really wasn't much fan fare or excitement from the first ever December signing day.   All but 3 commitments signed and Michigan added one late defensive lineman.  That makes 16 official Wolverines!


Otis Reese is Michigan's longest commitment but now might be shakiest as he didn't sign and continues to visit Georgia.  Georgia signed the #1 class in the country if your keeping score at home.   The next is QB Kevin Doyle, who wants to sign with his classmates in February.  This one is a bit suspect to me and I'm wondering if both sides are keeping their options open.   The third is very recent commit WR Ronnie Bell, who already signed a basketball LOI and can't sign two.  He is expected to be able to sign with Michigan in February.


Here is how the Wolverines currently rank:
24/7: #12
Rivals: #16
ESPN: #11
Please note, Scouts is gone and now part of 24/7.


This will not be a headline class and will continue to border on top 10 to top 15 class.    Michigan doesn't have any 5 stars and eleven 3 stars prospects.  Does that mean this class is a wash?  Absolutely not!  We have no idea how these kids are ranked or what kind of players they are going to be.   Wisconsin and others win with 3 stars players all the time.  College Football is all about development and Jimmy and staff has good talent with this class.  Let us not forget, Michigan landed the #1 QB in the 2016 class through transfer just a couple weeks ago and took a spot out of this class.  
What is left for this class?  If Michigan gets all 3 current commits that leaves 3 or 4 spots left.


Here is how I would rank their board right now:


#1:  Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT - His recruitment is a mystery, it seems Michigan has a shot.
#2: Jarrett Patterson, OT - Seems to be down to UCLA and Michigan.
#3: Tyler Friday, DT - Seems like an OSU - Michigan battle for this talented DT.
#4: Chris Olave, WR - Had to cancel his Michigan official but will re-schedule for Jan.
#5: JaMarr Chase, WR - Seems wide open
#6: Michael Barrett, Athlete - We expected him to be commitment and signed by now
#7: Vincent Gray, CB - Instate CB that just picked up an offer


The top priority is clearly offensive and defensive lines and it would be great if they could fill the remaining spots with the top 3 guys. 


Prospects can sign LOI's through Friday, but I don't expect any surprises this week and will see how the recruiting cycle plays out in January.



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/early-signing-period-in-review.html

E-Commerce is Growing at an Unprecedented Rate All over the Globe

Why people are going crazy towards mobile usage? Have you ever thought what the actual case is? Actually, it’s all about the ease and comfort that people are facing by using mobile devices.  (Continue reading…)

The post E-Commerce is Growing at an Unprecedented Rate All over the Globe appeared first on Baltimore Tech.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/e-commerce-is-growing-at-an-unprecedented-rate-all-over-the-globe/

Michigan's Signed 2018 Class

mgoblue.com

•  Aidan Hutchinson is in
• Joe Milton is in
• Sammy Faustin is in

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigans-signed-2018-class.html

Welcome To National Signing Day Part 1

"You can’t be everything, but you can be anything you want when the work is done.” - @CoachJim4UM

We’re excited to introduce a great batch of #NewBlue today! #GoBlue #BlueBloods18 pic.twitter.com/IdiYDio6s0

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 20, 2017

I will be listing the LOI's as they roll into Schembechler Hall right here!   We expect most if not all commits to sign today.  The win for the day would be a signed LOI for Otis Reese who is still a commit but might be leaning hard to the playoff bound instate Georgia Bulldogs.


Let the party begin!


from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/welcome-to-national-signing-day-part-1.html

Michigan Tuesday: Gets Surprised By The Bell

The early signing period starts tomorrow and Michigan is treating it like the first week in February.   They picked up a commitment from instate FB Ben VanSumeren on Sunday.  On Monday, they picked up a commitment from WR Ronnie Bell from Kansas City. 


Why is it a surprise?  Ronnie was expected to play college basketball and really hasn't even been ranked by the recruiting services.  He recently changed his mind on basketball and recruiters started to notice the top football player in KC.  Ronnie caught 89 passes for 1605 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior.   He is 6'1 and 170 pounds and looks like a slot WR in Jimmy's offense.  He was offered by Michigan on Saturday. 

• It's official, the 3 players from Ole Miss that Michigan was interested in, turned out to be just one as Van Jefferson is now heading to Florida.   He will be coached by the former Mississippi State coach ironically.

• Michigan is looking to flip another instate prospect as they just offered Rochester CB Vincent Gray.  He is a 6'2 180 pounds and currently committed to Missouri.

• Here is how the recruiting calendar works with the new signing day:  Dead period started on Monday, calls/texts are still allowed. Early signing period is Dec. 20-22.  Then the dead period lasts until Jan. 12.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-tuesday-gets-surprised-by-bell.html

Celebrate the New Year in Mountain Maryland

Picturesque snow-capped mountains, exciting winter adventure sports, and toasty log cabins with roaring fireplaces are just a short drive away for Marylanders looking to ring in the New Year in Allegany and Garrett Counties. Whether you’re looking to hit the slopes, enjoy a romantic horse drawn sleigh ride with your loved one, or get dressed up for an evening of dinner and dancing, Western Maryland can help you start 2018 off in style.

Allegany County: A Stylish Night to Remember

Allegany County has you covered this New Year’s Eve if you’re looking for a unique evening to get dressed up, eat amazing food, and dance the night away.

Gatsby Speakeasy Party: Frostburg’s historic Gunter Hotel, which was built in 1896, has undergone a recent renovation just in time for their New Year’s Eve Bash. The Gunter Hotel’s Gatsby Speakeasy Party will include a four-course dinner, entertainment by Pittsburgh’s Gatsby Gang Jazz Band, and a champagne toast at midnight. To add to the authenticity of this event, the Gunter Hotel features a speakeasy in the basement which was hidden in a secret room during the 1920’s Prohibition era. Contact the Gunter Hotel at 301-689-6511 for more information.

Murder Mystery Train Dinner: The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cumberland has partnered with the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad to ring in 2018 with a train excursion and overnight package. Guests will enjoy a five-course seafood dinner and champagne New Year’s Eve toast on the train along with a murder mystery activity. Enjoy a stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites with complimentary late check-out on Monday morning. Package details are available online at fairfieldcumberland.com. For more information contact the inn at 301-876-6037 or use the code EVE to book your New Year’s Eve stay.

New Year’s Eve Bash at the Ramada Inn: The Ramada Inn in downtown Cumberland will feature live entertainment from local artists including Butterscotch Blonde & DJ Hook. Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, a drink coupon, a champagne toast, and party favors. Both advanced and day-of tickets will be available. Contact the Ramada Inn Downtown at 301-724-8800 for more information.

Fireworks at the Casino: Rocky Gap Casino and Resort is offering a night of music and fun topped-off with a complimentary fireworks display for all to enjoy. BonJourney, a Journey and Bon Jovi tribute band, will keep spirits high with their unique sound. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and you must be 21 years or older to enter the casino. Fireworks will start shortly after the midnight countdown. Both casino guests and the public can view the fireworks show at the nearby state park and immediately behind the resort. For more information visit mdmountainblog.com/ring-in-2018.

Garrett County: Fun for the Whole Family

Garrett County has thrilling winter sports and family-friendly rides through the snow-covered countryside to help your group ring in 2018.

New Year’s On The Slopes: The thrilling trails at Wisp Resort will be open on December 31 for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. On New Year’s Eve, Wisp will host a celebration with House DJ Jazzy Jan featuring a variety of music to keep the family dancing at the Main Lodge. There will be no cover charge and food and drink will be available for purchase. The party runs from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. Wisp will also be open on New Year’s Day with ski and snowboard lessons available. For more information visit wispresort.com/Events.

New Year’s Eve Party at Honi-Honi Bar: Come say goodbye to 2017 and welcome 2018 with the folks at Honi-Honi Bar at Deep Creek Lake. Local Cumberland band, Surrender Dorothy, will keep you dancing from 8:30 p.m. through to the New Year with cover songs from both classic rock and top 40s. The evening will feature a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. For more information visit honi-honi.com.

Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride at Circle R Ranch: Enjoy a picturesque horse drawn sleigh ride from the beautiful draft horses at Circle R Ranch at Deep Creek Lake. Snuggle under a warm blanket with your friends and family and enjoy crossing through the snowy countryside. Reservations are preferred two days prior to your sleigh ride. For more information call 301-387-6890.

No matter what activity you decide to participate in, you can’t go wrong celebrating the New Year in the mountains. For more events happening in Allegany and Garrett Counties visit mdmountainside.com and visitdeepcreek.com.

The post Celebrate the New Year in Mountain Maryland appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/12/celebrate-new-year-mountain-maryland/

Michigan Monday: Moving On To Another Van!

Michigan missed out on TE Tommy Tremble last week to ND and Ole Miss transfer Van Jefferson got caught up in Michigan's transcripts issues.   Which left them some available spots left in the 2018 class.  


One of those spots got filled last night when instate TE/FB Ben VanSumeren
 flipped his commitment from Iowa to Michigan.   Ben is a freak athlete that tore up a Nike Combine this summer and started to turn heads.  He was committed to Western, then Iowa came knocking, then last week Jimmy and Greg Mattison took a visit to his school and got him to visit this weekend. 


Ben is a 6'3, 230 pound athlete, he played QB and WR his senior year in Essexville, Michigan.  He is clearly a good student with offers from Harvard, the Air Force & Naval Academy, Yale, Iowa, Iowa State, Columbia, and more.  Iowa liked him at LB and Jimmy likes him at FB/Half Back.  This is clearly a Harbaugh type of player, smart and can play multiple positions.


Ben committed to the Wolverines yesterday and is expected to sign on Wednesday.


Here is his Hudl page if you want to review some video.

• Speaking of fullbacks, former Wolverine FB Kingston Davis will transfer to Alabama-Birmingham to finish his education and college football career.

• Michigan Basketball destroyed Detroit in Detroit in the new Little Caesars Arena on Saturday.

• We are now two days away from the first early signing period, it will be interesting to see which commits sign and which will wait for February.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-monday-moving-on-to-another-van.html

Michigan Friday: Misses on Two Recruits But Adds a New Instate Prospect

On Wednesday Michigan lost out on Ole Miss safety transfer Deontay Anderson.  On Thursday, Michigan lost out on 3 star TE Tommy Tremble to ND.   So that is two guys Michigan thought might fill scholarships next season.  If you count the very tentative status of Van Jefferson that is 3 available.  Michael Barrett didn't commit on his birthday, so he is still in play.  His 4 predictions on 24/7 are 100% to Michigan.


The new prospect is Essexville, Michigan Garber athlete Ben Van Sumeren.  Ben is a 3 star prospect at TE or LB.  He is an Iowa commit and Michigan offered him on Thursday morning.   Iowa likes him at LB and Michigan likes him a FB or H-Back.   Jimmy and Jay are expected to meet with him this morning  and Ben is expected to visit Ann Arbor this weekend.   Ben did his official visit to Iowa last weekend and was expected to sign with Iowa on Wednesday.

• 2018 4 star OL Jarrett Patterson had an in home with Coach Drevno last night.  I think Michigan is still playing catch-up here.

• Dymonte Thomas was promoted to Broncos' roster last night.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-friday-misses-on-two-recruits.html

Michigan Thursday: Rebel 3 Probably Down To Rebel 1

The recruiting services were able to track down Deontay Anderson yesterday and were told that his transcripts didn't make it through the Michigan Admission process.   So he is officially off the board.    With Van Jefferson taking visits to Louisville and others, its probably likely that he is in the same boat (even though we don't have any word on his status).    Michigan taking transfers has always been a issue and it seems it continues to be.  That is why we never see JUCO transfers as that process is very difficult to get past admissions.   We should consider ourselves lucky to have gotten Shea Patterson through.

• TE Tommy Tremble announces in a few and right now it seems to be ND decision.  Boo  To confirm that, Michigan has offered 2018 Essexville (Mich.) Garber and Iowa Commit TE/LB Ben VanSumeren.

• Michael Barrett's Birthday is today and many are expecting an announcement.   We will see if it happens or no.

• Disney is buying a ton of Fox's movies and TV divisions but it seems BTN will not be part of the deal.  It would have been pretty funny to have BTN part of ESPN.  Seen reports of a 55 to 66 Billion dollar deal.  

• 5-Star DE Eyabi Anoma is announcing a week from Friday. Most expect it to be an Alabama decision.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-thursday-rebel-3-probably-down.html

Serve up Maryland flavor this holiday season

As part of our #BuyLocalMD series this holiday season, the Maryland Department of Commerce hopes to inspire you to explore the small businesses in your own community.

Nothing says the holidays like a delicious homemade meal. Here at Maryland Commerce, we suggest spicing up your meals with some local flavor. Whether it’s the main course or coffee and dessert, try a taste of something new this holiday season. Here are a few of our favorite picks from throughout the state.

Colossal Blue
For a truly authentic Maryland meal, consider adding crab to your main dish. Colossal Blue is now bringing the taste of Maryland to homes across the country by launching nationwide delivery and next-day service. Enjoy Maryland-style crab cakes and crab soup made by George Nichols from his decades-old family recipe. Nichols prepares each dish as it’s ordered, using only Colossal lump crab meat and the freshest ingredients. Give the gift of Maryland crab to a loved one across the country – order online now.

Roma Gourmet Sausage
“All great sausages come from Roma” is enough reason to include this local staple in your holiday meal. Located in its current East Baltimore facility since 2008, Roma Gourmet Sausage prides itself on its variety of high-quality sausage and its superior customer service. Pork and chicken sausages are both made with daily-delivered fresh meat and blended with herbs and spices to create the perfect taste. Tip: use Baltimore-based Pompeian olive oil to fry up your meal!

McAllen’s Toffee
The story of McAllen’s Toffee is unlike any other: it began with a glowing review from a termite company. Hampton resident Bill McAllen has been making chocolate almond toffee for more than 25 years, but he didn’t realize how good his product was until an inspector offered to come back to his home a second time for free – and get some more complimentary toffee! Now, McAllen’s Toffee is a hit with family, friends, and the Baltimore Metro region alike, and the product continues hitting the shelves at local stores. McAllen is also partnering with Maryland’s wineries and breweries to give out toffee samples during facility tours. You can purchase McAllen’s Toffee in stores around Towson or online.

Basecamp Coffee Company
This Cumberland micro roaster has a specialty when it comes to caffeine. Basecamp Coffee Company changes its lineup based on the season, but stays true to its Western Maryland pride and appreciation for the environment. With its smooth flavor and original taste, many local coffee shops are brewing and serving the Basecamp blend. Tip: try the Medium roast for something every family member will enjoy – sold locally and online.

Fisher’s Popcorn
Opened in 1937, this Ocean City small business is still family-run by its third generation of Fisher’s. From the secret caramel recipe to the delicious Old Bay© dusting, there are few Maryland-made products that make an impression like Fisher’s. When you’re done snacking or gifting a plastic tub to a friend, use the leftover puffs and string them on your Christmas tree. Tip: we know you won’t have any leftover popcorn, so buy an extra container if you plan to use it for decoration!

Read even more #BuyLocalMD suggestions here.

The post Serve up Maryland flavor this holiday season appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/12/serve-up-maryland-flavor-this-holiday-season/

Wolverine Wednesday: Has News and Notes

• Brandon Peters father was pretty adamant that Brandon was not transferring and would continue to compete for the starting QB position in an interview with Sam Webb.  Brandon still has a lot of eligibility left and could be a two year grad transfer if Shea Patterson does beat him out.   Its in his best interest to stay in the program.

• Michigan Basketball had another nice win over Texas last night.   Back to back wins over UCLA and Texas can only help their NCAA resume.   Wagner has tweaked an ankle.

• Michigan is hoping for a two for Thursday when TE Tommy Tremble and Athlete Michael Barrett are both expected to announce their commitments.

• Chase is still in-decided on heading to the NFL Draft early:  "I haven't decided yet which is anticlimactic," Winovich said. "I am having a lot of fun like I do with football, and everything else, messing with people, if that's not the right word. I'm just enjoying the process and this game, I never got into it for it to be serious and I'll be damned if I start doing it now. I'm serious about the way I approach things and serious about winning. Like I said, I am enjoying the whole process and I am trying to have an answer in two weeks."

• Former Michigan DB Keith Washington is transferring to West Virginia. 

• There still seems to be a concern if Grant Newsome will be cleared to practice/play from the Michigan doctors.  We hope he does see the field, but lets keep in perspective that he is walking and the doctors saved his leg.  Spring Ball is probably the go/no go decision date.

• Jimmy had a message for the crowd at the Michigan Football Banquet last night:   "We can do better as a football team," Harbaugh said. "We welcome the judgment from you -- I know you just want the best for us, and we've got to improve. We've got to improve.
  "We want to win -- we want to win all of our games. That's what we're striving for."  "They talk about social media, they talk about the ending of the world, basically," Harbaugh said. "I don't see it that way. I really don't."

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/wolverine-wednesday-has-news-and-notes.html

Mama Biscuit’s savors growth in gourmet foods market

As part of our #BuyLocalMD series this holiday season, the Maryland Department of Commerce hopes to inspire you to explore the small businesses in your own community.

With only 10 employees, one of Frederick County’s smallest manufacturers is landing some of the biggest names in retail.

Mama Biscuit’s, the first gourmet biscuit company in the country, is an all-natural handmade baking operation right outside the heart of Frederick. Founded in 2014 by Lesley Riley, the sweet and savory snack can be found in Wegmans – one of the first supermarkets that she approached, and online at Amazon and QVC – two retailers that approached her.

And starting in July 2018, Mama Biscuit’s is hitting the frozen food shelves in Walmart.

According to Riley, every year Walmart opens up applications for small businesses looking to expand their reach. After reviewing the applicants, 500 companies are chosen to visit the company’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and are placed on Walmart.com marketplace.

For Mama Biscuit’s, it became the chance of a lifetime.

“I was one of the 100 who got a green ticket to go on their shelves [in stores],” said Riley. “It’s a 10 year commitment. It’s a great process for small businesses and it’s something they should seek out…those who are looking to expand their business into a larger market.”

But who is Mama Biscuit? Lesley Riley is a former restaurateur that has traveled her way up and down the East Coast. Originally from Pennsylvania, Riley credits her love of baking to her grandmother. Hear more about Lesley’s upbringing and journey into manufacturing in the video below.

This holiday season, try the top seasonal flavors recommended by Lesley – chocolate orange rum, cranberry cherry pistachio, or the biggest crowd pleaser, eggnog peppermint.

Riley opened her own restaurant in North Carolina before auditioning for the television competition Master Chef in New York. While Riley was ultimately eliminated from the show, she gained a following of supportive fans on social media that encouraged her to keep chasing her dreams.

She later moved to Maryland to be closer to family and jumped back into the kitchen to start her own biscuit company.

“When I started doing this in 2014, I had the goal to have 50 types of biscuits by the end of the year,” said Riley, who frequently brought her baked creations to her day job. Her coworkers provided open and honest feedback, allowing Riley to explore a variety of flavors with her test audience including chicken pot pie, apple pear pistachio, and Kahlúa stuffed brie.

Now available in more than 50 flavors – and a gluten-free alternative – Riley has high hopes for the business and hopes to get back into the creative side soon while still managing the business as a whole.

“We’re growing. We’re on that journey and we kind of want to see where it takes us. I can see an expansion here soon.. with Walmart, for sure,” Riley said.

Riley’s advice for up and coming entrepreneurs and small businesses is to have everything in line before you take the leap. To become America’s first gourmet biscuit baking company, Riley had to fly under the radar to avoid being ripped-off or replicated. In the end, it was worth the wait.

“Have a good attorney and accountant – have all your paperwork in order first. Don’t be so quick to quit your day job. Work your business until you can get it to a good point,” said Riley.

“A lot of the time, people will jump out too quickly. I think the key is to take your time with it and have everything in order.”

Stay tuned to MamaBiscuit.com for updates and future announcements.

The post Mama Biscuit’s savors growth in gourmet foods market appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/12/mama-biscuits-savors-growth-gourmet-foods-market/

Michigan Tuesday: The First Rebel Commits

As you saw all over the place, Shea Patterson made it official yesterday afternoon.    As soon as I leave to grab some lunch, he of course pulls the Twitter trigger on a commitment.    Can't wait to see who commits today when I grab some Jersey Mike's.


I know we have covered this up and down, so I will move on to other subjects, but it will be interesting to see how this all works out after the NCAA rules if they are immediately eligible.


Ruiz welcomes his former teammate:

History Repeats Itself 💯 Welcome To Family Brotha #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/m1pag2XcFS

— Cesar Ruiz 🐻 (@_OverCees) December 12, 2017

• Rumor mill is spinning that Van Jefferson transcripts are still being reviewed by Michigan Admissions and was at Louisville last night.

• Rumor is also that JaRaymond Hall might be looking at Central Michigan and might have visited Mt. Pleasant this weekend.

• Michael Barrett might make his commitment on Thursday, which is his birthday.  He is considering being an athlete at Michigan or an option QB at Georgia Tech.

• Big Mo Hurst was named to the AP All American 1st Team.  Bush was named to the 3rd team.

• Michigan will have Outback Bowl practices at Berkeley Prep. Home of top OT prospect 5-star Nicholas Petit-Frere.  Nick stop by school and pick-up your math folder during Michigan practices!  As long as he doesn't talk to anyone, its legal.

• Michigan Basketball plays Texas tonight.

• James Hudson is making strides on the offensive line:  "I think everybody that's redshirted has really been stepping up but the one that probably has been really stepping up is James Hudson," Kugler said. "Moving over from the d-line, he's been playing great lately. Really taking the offensive line role and it's really good to see him do that. He's definitely turning some heads so that's definitely one that stands out to me."

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-tuesday-first-rebel-commits.html

Michigan Monday: A Watched Phone Never Rings

That is really an old saying.  If we want to update it a bit, how about this?:  A watched site, never updates.


Michigan was expected to have huge news this weekend with up to 5 new commits with the Rebel 3 highlighting the announcements.    Those announcements didn't happen.  


Inside reports are that the Rebel 3 are still expected to transfer to Michigan and that Shea Patterson and Deontay Anderson are pretty much done.   They will announce the transfer when it make sense.   "Moving" Van Jefferson is also still very much expected to become a Wolverine.  


So why not announce this weekend?  Could be many reasons, there has to be transcripts transferred, U of M admissions process, and they even might have to finish off classes at Ole Miss.  


Insiders still remain very confident the Rebel 3 are in the boat, so we should be as well. 

• OT Jarrett Patterson seemed to have enjoyed the visit (and hopefully the snow) but will still visit instate UCLA this weekend again.  Jarrett won't be signing until February and it seems like a Michigan vs. UCLA battle.   I still give an edge to UCLA.

• 3 star TE Tommy Tremble whose offer list looks more like a strong 4 star will announce his decision on Thursday.  Many think its a Michigan - ND battle for the talented TE. 

• 2018 Athlete Michael Barrett who visited this weekend and was also on "commit watch", didn't commit this weekend but is still expected to.   Some recruiting guys, feel this guys might be one of the best players in the class.

• Michigan Basketball had a very nice come from behind win against UCLA at home on Saturday.   This team is so young they are going to look great for stretches and terrible for others. 

 

• Jimmy lost a coach this weekend as Safeties coach Brian Smith is taking the DC job at Rice.   It's a bit strange to have a specific safeties coach, when you have a DB coach in Mike Zordich who seems to be doing an excellent job.   Michigan will have two assistants spots open when next month the NCAA will add another full time coach to everyone's staff.    I agree with Mgoblog that Michigan needs a WR coach to coach all these young talent receivers on the team.   Maybe one promotion from Jimmy's staff and another outside hire?

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-monday-watched-phone-never.html

How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Mobile Business

“Change Is Essential. It Transforms the Way We Think.”

Be it technology or business, adoption of latest trends is inevitable. We need to understand the fact that traditional methodologies won’t stop working but technology revolution can accelerate business growth. The whole new tech paradigm has shifted the focus on mobile friendliness.

It is so notable what an app can do by using AI algorithms. For instance, it offers you solutions for finding gifts on special occasions or finds out new discounts on holiday packages. It can even help you with creating instant shopping list while recognizing loyalty points.

According to Gartner, intelligent apps are the latest strategic trends for 2017 and more than world’s 200 largest companies are going to develop smart apps within next year.

The developers of the steadfast mobile app company will push the envelope by using pioneering technology to enhance user’s experiences.

Here’s what to expect when it comes to integration of AI into your mobile apps :-

1. Mobile AI Entice Customers

AI technology is forming new frontiers for redefining the platforms of mobile apps. Major retailers use smart apps to serve the best and retain their customers. On an everyday basis, business apps harvest a wealth of data from different medium including POS and online web traffic. Using the AI algorithms, the retailers manage to create contextual notifications and personalized marketing messages. It is a smart engagement technique to not only attracting new customers but also increasing loyalty among retaining customers.

2. AI benefits IoT

IoT devices are generating tons of data and AI is employed to structure and analyze that information which improves customer service and efficiency.  Also, it plays a significant role in enhancing the security of IoT devices.

Uday Veermachaneni, the co-founder of PatternEX says, “Machine Learning is an essential component of IoT security.” The main problem with IoT is that the data massively distributed so in case of any attacks you need to react in real-time. With AI, you can develop a solution for greater attack detection.

3. Increase Efficiency of Marketing Strategies

What about converting your ads into customized pieces to attract users. Yes, it can be done. Artificial intelligence will do the job. It helps you developing personalized ads catering to the needs and connecting with the problems of the users. By applying defining patterns on accurate data for better targeting will increase productivity.

4. Task Automation and Proactive Response

Mobile apps with AI can predict what you need and thereby keeps it ready. Thus, users just need to press a single button instead of a multi-step process to execute the same task. Active responses keep users happy.

Takeaway Point –

The future looks bright for artificial technology thus every android app development company is using AI for consumer’s betterment. After some time, all non-modern apps with boring interfaces will end up in the dark and will be replaced by intelligent apps for future growth. Thus, it is important to choose a reliable technology partner who can drive your apps in the right directions.

The post How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Mobile Business appeared first on Baltimore Tech.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/how-artificial-intelligence-will-impact-mobile-business/

Michigan Friday: Big Recruiting Weekend Could Bring Big Results

We know the 3 Rebels will be on campus for a visit.  It seems that Shea Patterson is a lock and even some insiders are reporting he is already in the Michigan's Active Directory.   "Moving" Van Jefferson and Deontay Anderson are also expected to pull the trigger on a Michigan commitment.  My expectation is all 3 will be enrolled in January, but I haven't heard any details on when they will be getting to Ann Arbor officially.


Another insider is expecting 1 more commitment this weekend as well.   Here are my best guesses:


Top Guess:   2018 Athlete Michael Barrett.  Mike is rated as a 3 star athlete as he is a 5'11 218 pound dual-threat in GA.  He is expected to play RB or LB at Michigan.   His offer list includes: GA Tech, MSU, Tennessee, LSU, Memphis, UCF, Maryland, South Carolina and many more.


Next Best Guess: 4 star 2018 OT Jarrett Patterson, who just de-committed from "You Play To Win The Game".   Jarrett is planning to visit UCLA next weekend, even though he has been out there already.   With the numbers being tight in the 2018 class, Could Michigan could get two Patterson's this weekend? 


If Michigan pulls this Ole Miss transfer situation off and all 3 become eligible for next season, this could be the college equivalent of the NFL Cowboys - Viking trade of Hershel Walker.  Stay tuned.

• Big Mo is considering sitting out the Outback Bowl.  Can't blame the big man at all.  I would love to see him play one more time and it sounds like he got an insurance policy, but it was heart breaking watching Jake Butt tear his ACL in the Orange Bowl last year.  That one play cost Jake a couple of rounds and his rookie year in the NFL.

• Nik Stauskas was traded to the Nets last night.  He will get to play with Caris again.

• Instate 4 star OT Antwan Reed de-committed from PSU last night.  Michigan doesn't seem to be interested at this point.

• Big Mo and the Missile were named to the Walter Camp second All American team. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-friday-big-recruiting-weekend.html

Michigan Thursday: Ole Michigan and How The Numbers Work

All reports are this is happening.  Michigan will be hosting 3 Ole Miss players this weekend and it seems there is a high probability that all 3 will become Wolverines:

• Shea Patterson, was part of the 2016 class and was the #1 rated QB out of IMG.  He is 6'2 and 200 pounds.   He played some as a true freshman and completed 54% of his passes in 2016.  This season he played in 7 games before getting hurt and completed 63% of his passes. 
• Van Jefferson was another 2016 recruit out of  Tennessee.  Van is also 6'2 and 200 pounds.  He caught 49 balls as a freshman and scored 3 TD's.  This year he caught 44 and scored 1 TD in 10 games.
• The 3rd Ole Miss player from the 2016 class is Safety Deontay Anderson.  DA is 6'1 and 220 pounds.  He played in 11 out of 12 games in 2016 and had 31 tackles.   He redshirted this year.

Bob, what is this going to do to our 2018 recruiting class?


There are reports that up to 7 players are interested in transferring to Michigan from Ole Miss.   The issue is that would kill the rest of the 2018 class, which still needs a few players. 


The 2018 class has 16 players in it currently.  (The only guy I'm concerned about de-committing is Georgia LB Otis Reese, he has been spending a lot of time in Athens and I heard Georgia made the playoffs after winning the SEC)    Michigan right now has 16 scholarships available after the recent transfers.  It's expected that after guys leave for the NFL and more 5th years guys decide to play elsewhere, Michigan will have around 20 spots in the class. 


With taking 3 guys from Ole Miss, Michigan would be filling 19 spots right now and we all want Chase Winovich to come back and not head to the NFL.   These guys are open question marks:  Ian Bunting, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Lawrence Marshall, Noah Furbush, Bryan Mone, and Brandon Watson.   We should know quickly after the Outback on what these guys are planning.  


It's pretty easy to see that Michigan would not have room for 4 more transfers from any school.   The only player that Michigan would even consider is OT Greg Little and he doesn't seem to have any interest in Ann Arbor right now (even though he and Rashan Gary are friends).


If all 2018 commits sign on 12/20, there might be only 1 or 2 more spots left in the entire class.   That could be a boring NSD in February. :-(

• Is this news related to the above?  2018 4 star OT Jarrett Patterson has de-committed from ASU.  Jarrett is visiting Ann Arbor this weekend and UCLA the next. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-thursday-ole-michigan-and-how.html

Add some Maryland holiday spirit to your celebration

As part of our #BuyLocalMD series this holiday season, the Maryland Department of Commerce hopes to inspire you to explore the small businesses in your own community.

Get into the holiday spirit with help from our local breweries, wineries, and more. Here’s a toast to our favorite picks throughout Maryland.

Lost Ark Distilling Company
Based and bottled in Howard County, Lost Ark’s goal is to have you taste the spirit of Maryland with each and every sip. Named after the story of the first Maryland settlers, the company creates artisan-crafted spirits using as many locally-grown ingredients as possible.

The distillery even names its spirits after staples in Maryland’s history, including Anne Arundel – the wife of Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. Tip: The Terra Mariae Spiced Rum features hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and is perfect for any Christmas gathering.

MillStone
Known as an American farmhouse cidery, MillStone prides itself on being traditional, handmade, and delicious. Since 2011, MillStone’s single barrel fermenting method has created more than 1,500 batches of rustic cider, with no additives or filtering along the way. Visit the restored grist mill Friday through Sunday for tastings, or catch MillStone at local farmers markets until the end of December.

Scorpion Brewing Co.
Calvert County’s Scorpion Brewing Co. opened in October 2014 after running a successful Kickstarter campaign. The microbrewery stays true to its local heritage by naming the business after a fleet of ships that battled the British during the War of 1812. Visit on December 16 and bring your presents – the Calvert Marine Museum will be on hand to wrap gifts while you sample the brewery’s selection.

Dove Valley Vineyard and Winery
Built with the dream to create a family-legacy, Dove Valley is the first vineyard and winery in Cecil County. The business rests upon a 100 acre family farm in Rising Sun, where multiple generations of Hepbron family members hold the same passion close to their hearts. It looks like all their hard work is paying off – the winery has won a multitude of awards since 2009. Check out their accomplishments here.

Cushwa Brewing
Located in Western Maryland along the West Virginia border is Cushwa Brewing, which gets its name from the basin within the C&O Canal. The Cushwa team’s goal is to not only produce a stellar product, but also have a major positive impact in the community. We are sure the town of Williamsport is loving their presence.

Hoop Tea
Founded by Fell’s Point resident Danny Robinson, Hoop Tea is an adult iced tea manufactured in Ocean City. The tea – which is almost entirely organic – is brewed with tea leaves, purified water, organic cane sugar, herbs, fruit, and an old fermenting process is used to create the alcohol.

Robinson considers Hoop Tea a healthier alternative for the alcohol industry, with a focus on wellness and sustainability. The beverage is sold in environmentally-friendly pouches and currently available in bars and liquor stores throughout Maryland and the surrounding states. Find a seller near you. Tip: Pair the peach tea lemonade with your holiday meal.

Charm City Meadworks
The only meadery in Baltimore City, the founding of Charm City Meadworks was a joint effort between two Chesapeake Bay protectors and avid beer aficionados. Now co-owners, James Boicourt and Andrew Geffken turned their mead-making hobby into a full-time business adventure. This honey and water combination is taking Charm City by storm. Did you know that mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage in history?

Real Ale Revival
Built in a former bowling alley along the Chesapeake Bay, Real Ale Revival may be small but it certainly has a huge following. Proudly brewed in Cambridge, RAR offers 12 taps that are always changing. The brewery’s products are sold in various stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. Find a store near you.

The Urban Winery
Based in Silver Spring, The Urban Winery is a one-of-a-kind destination. It’s known as the first winery in the region to be located in an urban environment, and, it’s the closest winery to Washington, D.C. The winery also offers a “make your own wine” experience—the only one offered in the entire Mid Atlantic region. We can’t think of a better personalized gift for the holidays!

Discover more wineries, breweries, and distilleries in your area on VisitMaryland.org. Read even more #BuyLocalMD suggestions here.

The post Add some Maryland holiday spirit to your celebration appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/12/add-maryland-holiday-spirit-celebration/

Wolverine Wednesday: Is Michigan's QB Play About To Get Much Better?

I have a post in my head that I've been thinking about writing on how bad the QB play in the Big Ten was this year.   Can you name an NFL QB in the Big Ten right now?   The Big Ten QB of the year might play in the NFL as a tight end or full back.   JT's accuracy and arm strength is going to be a huge issue for NFL teams considering taking a flyer on a late round draft pick. 


Michigan played 3 QB's, Maryland played 5, Minnesota's starter has transferred and the list goes on and on.   Did you watch the Big Ten Championship game?  That was a tape on how not to play the QB position by both teams.


Michigan was solid QB play away from a spot in the playoffs two seasons ago and wins against OSU and MSU at home this season. 


Wilton and Alex Malzone have transferred and JOK will be gone after the Outback.   The hot news this week is that Shea Patterson is visiting Ann Arbor this weekend and probably will transfer to U of M.  Michigan will also get two new QB's in this class and both are expected to sign two weeks from today during the early signing period in December.   Joe Milton is expected to enroll in January and not sure when Kevin Doyle is planning to make it to campus.    Michigan loses 3 QB's gets 3. 


Brandon Peters is healthy again from his concussion and will play in the Outback.  Michigan coaches also seem very excited about true freshman Dylan McCaffrey.  We expect the QB play to be better against South Carolina and take giant step next year.   Whether it's Peters, Patterson, or both, Michigan should see their QB play be much better since Jake Ruddock tore up Florida in the Citrus Bowl two years ago.


It's also clear that OSU's best QB is clearly sitting on the bench as Dwayne Haskins is both a throwing and running threat and won the Michigan game after being down a TD in the 4th quarter.

• Visitors from Ole Miss this weekend include: Safety Deontay Anderson, WR Van Jefferson, and of course Shea Patterson.

• Also visiting this weekend include:  2018 Athlete Michael Barrett, 2018 OT Jalen Gross, 2018 DE Ronnie Perkins, and 2018 WR Kyle Philips.  Already reported OT Jarrett Patterson will also be visiting.

• FSU pulled a fruit from the Harbaugh coaching tree in hiring Willie Taggart after one year as the head coach of Oregon.   Now the Ducks own the best opening in college football.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/wolverine-wednesday-is-michigans-qb.html

Michigan Tuesday: Updates a Couple Weekend Visits

The Shea Patterson drama will continue this weekend as he and some teammates will visit Ann Arbor.   Reports are that 3 or 4 of his Ole Miss teammates will take a flight to Ann Arbor to look at a new opportunity.   Michigan might be interested in a Shea and one of his WR's, unfortunately we don't have any reports that Greg Little one of the best OT's in the country is interested in leaving.


Its seems probable that both sides feel that Shea will be granted an NCAA exception and be able to play right away.  Otherwise, it doesn't make much sense to transfer anywhere.

• If you needed more Patterson news, here it is:  Michigan will also host 4 star Arizona State commit, Jarrett Patterson this weekend as well.   Jarrett hosted Coach Drevno last week and would like to make a decision between ASU, Michigan and UCLA.   Jimmy expects to be in home in a week or two.

• Michigan Basketball might not be watchable for another month or so.  They were leading by 20 points in the first half in Columbus and then lost by 9. 

• UCF has hired Josh Heupel former Oklahoma QB, Oklahoma OC, and Mizzu OC.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-tuesday-updates-on-couple.html

Fresh Christmas Trees: Buy Local Maryland

As part of our #BuyLocalMD series this holiday season, the Maryland Department of Commerce hopes to inspire you to explore the small businesses in your own community.

Guest feature: Julie Oberg is the Communications Director for the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Follow along with MDA @MdAgDept and Maryland’s Best @MdsBest.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is encouraging residents to support Maryland farmers and buy real, fresh cut, locally-grown Christmas trees, rather than artificial trees or those grown out of state. To showcase its support, the department is displaying a 27- foot Maryland-grown Norway Spruce Christmas tree at its headquarters in Annapolis.

“Christmas trees are an agricultural crop. They are grown to be cut, enjoyed and then new ones are planted again,” said Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “Farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide wildlife habitat.”

Not only do real trees look and smell beautiful, they are also a renewable, recyclable resource that keep unwanted waste out of our landfills and are good for the environment. Artificial trees are often petroleum based, imported from overseas and do not biodegrade so they eventually end up in landfills forever. Buying locally grown trees, including choose-and-cut trees, supports family-owned farms and businesses, preserves farmland, and protects the environment.

At the end of the season, trees are recycled a number of ways, such as being chipped into mulch, that return important nutrients to the earth. While growing, Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit fresh oxygen, unlike artificial trees which are petroleum-based. When growing in open space, a 3-inch diameter Douglas-fir tree can reduce atmospheric carbon by 23 pounds and intercept 102 gallons of storm water runoff per year.

“Maryland farmers work year-round to provide customers with high-quality, fresh, fragrant Christmas trees for the holiday season,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “Visiting a local farm to find the perfect Christmas tree is a great family activity and a fun way to spend an afternoon. Many Maryland farms have additional activities as well, such as sleigh rides and visits with Santa.”

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture for Maryland, there are more than 170 Christmas tree growers in the state with nearly 2,200 acres in production. In Maryland, Carroll County has the greatest number of cut Christmas tree farms with 20. Anne Arundel, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, and Montgomery round out the top six counties for Christmas tree production.

There are about 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S., and more than 100,000 people employed full or part time in the industry. Tree planting, shearing and mowing can take up to 65 hours a week, 52 weeks a year.

To find a Christmas tree farm near you, visit marylandsbest.net. For more information on trees in Maryland, visit marylandchristmastrees.org.

Read recycling tips by clicking here, and check with your county about tree recycling programs. Lastly, click here for the department’s Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Fresh, Locally Grown Christmas Tree.

The post Fresh Christmas Trees: Buy Local Maryland appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/12/fresh-christmas-trees-buy-local-maryland/

Michigan Monday: Likes Steak!

When Michigan was announced as the Big Ten's representative for the Outback Bowl, it seems only the MSU fans were surprised.   Brett McMurphy predicted this match-up of Michigan vs. South Carolina in Tampa weeks ago. 


Why are MSU fans so mad?  Well, its a process and you will have to follow the long path on this one.

1. OSU beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship by two field goals
2. The College Playoff committee picked Alabama over OSU for the final 4
3. Which means the Big Ten went from the Playoffs to the New Year Day Bowls
4. The Big Ten Champ can't go to the Orange Bowl and if a BIG 10 team is selected to play in the Orange they lose their spot in the Citrus Bowl, which would go to the ACC.
5. Wisconsin is picked for the Orange Bowl (be careful there is an Orange Bowl Curse!)
6. Which pushed MSU out of the Citrus Bowl spot and pushed ND in
7. The next best Big Ten Bowl is the Outback
8. The Outback picks Michigan which pushes MSU to the Holiday against WSU.

MSU fans feel they should be in the Outback on New Years Day not the late night Holiday Bowl in California.


Couple thoughts why:  The Holiday Bowl matches two ranked teams, the Outback has a match-up of two un-ranked teams.   MSU historically doesn't travel well and Michigan does.   Michigan brings a ton more TV viewers.   That is why. 

• Guess what?  Michigan seems to be back in the Shea Patterson lottery again.   Sam Webb reported last week at this time, that they weren't interested.  He has retracted that take and now says Michigan is.   He is visiting this weekend.   Ole Miss got hit with two years of a bowl ban, which would not make Shea immediately eligible.   It seems Shea wants and needs to be eligible next year if he is going to transfer. 

• Jimmy said a few things on the Outback tele-conference: 

-Peters has been cleared and will be the #1 QB in bowl practice
-Jimmy is still leaning on keeping the medical redshirt on Tarik Black if he is healthy


Couple tips if traveling to Tampa for the Outback:

• Tickets are either $170 or $80 for the game.  The 2nd tier is not real high, the third tier is. 
• Hotels:

1. Best place to stay is in Clearwater on one of the nations best beaches.  That is still 45 minutes or so away from the stadium.  Hotel will be pretty big $$$$$
2. Tampa really has two hotels districts in the Downtown/Bay or at the Airport.  

Downtown/Bay is nice but not a ton going on down there.   There is a Westin and Embassy Suites.
The Airport has a lot of hotels and will be your best bet on price.   There is a really nice Westin near the airport that is on a little lake that you can rent wave runners, etc. 


If your traveling with kids, your not too far from Disney if you want to take a day at the park (if you stay in Tampa).  Tampa also has a decent theme park in Bush Gardens and your not far from Lego Land either. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2017/12/michigan-monday-likes-steak.html