Counter-Drone Leader Brings Big Idea to Maryland

Wolverine Wednesday: More Bad News

Michigan Football is continuing with this new theme of losing the off season.   As most of the new news continues to be bad.   Yesterday was no exception as Ian Bunting is transferring and CA 2018 offensive tackle Jarrett Patterson is no longer considering Michigan. 


I'm at a loss when it comes to Ian Bunting.  My eyes tell me he is an NFL TE and walking miss-match for defenses.  I thought Ian would take over for Jake Butt and be one of the best TE's in the nation last season.   How did my prediction go?  Ian had one catch all year. 


Ian barley played the last two years and his best game was the Orange Bowl after Jake went out with an injury.   His decision to transfer for his 5th and final year is not a surprise as any new program will give him more opportunities then Jimmy has the last two years.   So what's the issue?  I can only guess he had trouble blocking, which kept him off the field.   I wouldn't be surprised if Ian lands on his feet at another program and ends up in the NFL Draft in a year.


That news was expected, this one wasn't.  As Jarrett Patterson is no longer considering Michigan per his father and is down to UCLA and ND. 


Remember when I said yesterday that NSD could be boring, now it could be a shut out for the Wolverines.   Michigan also took a preferred walk-on spot from kicker Adam Culp which probably means that gray shirt candidate kicker Jake Moody might be looking at some other opportunities. 


Now what?  Michigan has a week to flip some offensive or defensive lineman from other programs.   If they can't, NSD will be about trying to hang on to Otis Reese.  If Michigan doesn't add any lineman that will be a huge loss and more speculation about Drevno is not preforming in his role. 


Please note: Calvin Anderson the Rice transfer can make a decision before or after NSD and really isn't on a deadline. 

• Michigan has offered a preferred Walk-On spot to 2018 OG/DT Kraig Correll.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/wolverine-wednesday-more-bad-news.html

Show your love with Maryland pride

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, don’t forget to pick up a little something special from one of our local retailers. Maryland businesses offer plenty of options for your loved ones no matter what region you live in. Here are a few of our favorite gift ideas for the upcoming holiday.

For the athlete…
Created by Baltimore resident Susan Clayton in 2016, WhitePaws RunMitts are the perfect winter-weather gift for the athletic enthusiast. Susan knew first-hand what mitten design was best needed for a runner, so she invented it herself. These velour fleece mittens are thumbless and convertible to help keep you cool while running, and, also provide an inside layer for extra cold weather. The gloves are named after her dog, Daisy, who sports the nickname “white paws” due to her appearance. RunMitts are available to purchase online.

There’s no better way to show off your Maryland pride than wearing it for all to see. Hill Killer, a Glyndon-based athletic apparel company, takes its hometown spirit to another level through its cycling gear. Check out their Pride of Maryland jersey or Maryland flag calf warmers that will keep you comfortable (and visible!) while exercising outdoors. Order Hill Killer’s products online or find a store near you that has their items in stock.

For pampering…
Located in the heart of Frederick, Artisinal Hair Company provides each and every customer with a personalized hair care experience. Led by master stylist Christian Riser, the modern studio specializes in numerous cutting techniques and provides plenty of healthy-hair products free of sodium chlorides and sulphates. The reviews don’t lie – Artisinal’s innovative and customer-focused practices keep clients coming back year after year. Call or text to book an appointment, or, stop by the store to pick up a gift card. Click here for more information.

For a relaxing day at the spa, try Artistic Edge Salon and Spa throughout the Carroll County region. The store has expanded from one location in Westminster to additional spaces in Marriottsville, Eldersburg, and Mt. Airy since launching in 2009. With options like massages, nail care, facials, and reflexology, it’s easy to spend hours at this relaxing retreat. Learn more on Artistic Edge’s website.

For the style maven…
From wedding bands to gemstone bracelets, family business Sanders Jewelers has been offering top-notch selections for more than 60 years. President and CEO Larry Sanders is the third generation operating the Pasadena store, with his children following in his footsteps. As a member of the Registered Jeweler American Gem Society – a designation that only the top two percent of jewelers in the country have – Sanders hand selects each diamond that goes into the shop. The company prides itself on giving back to the community by holding charity raffles and donations every year.

Tip: Sanders’ is having a Valentine’s Day sale, including $50 off of any $250 purchase and $100 off of any $500 purchase, with free gift wrapping, balloons, and chocolates.

For the taste buds…
Port of Leonardtown Winery is one of the only cooperative wineries in Maryland, consisting of 12 different vineyards from St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles, and Kent Counties. Formed in 2010, Port of Leonardtown was the first commercial winery in St. Mary’s County and has since won more than 150 awards for its wines. Bring your picnic basket and taste test the Southern Maryland selections while supporting the local economy.

Cumberland’s favorite frozen custard supplier – Queen City Creamery – has the perfect gift for the loved one with a sweet tooth. Daily handmade custard from The Creamery is so good you’ll be going back for seconds. Stop in and order a freshly spun milkshake off the menu, or take home a pint or quart of custard to share later. Some special February flavors include Black Forest Cake, Chubby Hubby, and White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.

Find more ways to #BuyLocalMD products and support small businesses by clicking here.

The post Show your love with Maryland pride appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/show-your-love-with-maryland-pride/

Michigan Tuesday: This Could Be a Very Boring NSD

With most of Michigan's class already locked in during the early signing period in December.  This National Signing Day could be pretty boring.  Michigan has 5 verbal commits left to sign next week and in play for only a couple more guys.


The biggest drama might be keeping 4 star LB Otis Reese in the class and away from Georgia.  He visited the Bulldogs last weekend and has spent a number of weekends there over the season.   The school is close to home and of course they just played in the National Championship game vs. Michigan losing the Outback Bowl. 


WR Ronnie Bell is expected to sign
CB Vincent Gray is expected to sign
Athlete Michael Barrett is also expected sign
QB Kevin Doyle is also expected to sign - but his recruitment has been very quiet of late


Which new recruit might be in play?


Michigan would love to get 5 star Tampa OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, but he is not coming to Ann Arbor and probably heading to Alabama or Florida.


The next big recruit is California OT Jarrett Patterson. The latest is Jarrett is down to Michigan, ND, and UCLA.   This is the Wolverines best shot at getting a 4 star offensive lineman to finish the class.


WR LaMarr Chase is expected to go to LSU.


Northville Kicker Jake Moody has been offered a Gray shirt by the Wolverines.  Meaning he would have to pay for his first year but would be on scholarship after that.   Depending how the above recruits go, Jake might have a full ride offer on NSD from the Wolverines.


That's it folks!  Of course, Jimmy is usually good for a surprise recruit, like he pulled Julius Welschof in December.  If that doesn't happen, it really comes down to keeping Reese and getting Patterson next week.   Michigan continues to need offensive and defensive lineman.


*The wildcard is Rice OT graduate transfer Calvin Anderson who just visited last weekend.  Michigan has a good shot here but many believe he will end up close to home at Texas. 

• Reports are that Brady Hoke has accepted a job as the Defensive Line coach for the Carolina Panthers. 

• Michigan Basketball got a win over Northwestern last night at Crisler.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-tuesday-this-could-be-very.html

The Pride Comes Before the Fall

That was the famous line that Mark Dantonio said after Mike Hart dropped the "little brother" label on the Spartans Football team.


That one "label" has motivated Mark and his program ever since and the Spartans have played some good football over a 5 year period or more.    Mark had one of his best coaching performances this past season as MSU was expected to be a dumpster fire and played Top 25 football all year.  


Then ESPN rolled out it's 3 year investigation into both Dantonio's and Izzo's program.  When I first heard of it this week, I figured it was about Larry Nassar and his crimes.  It wasn't, the story was about the years of sexual abuse by Spartan Football and Basketball players.


MSU's President and AD have already resigned due to this report and the Nassar trial.  The question now remains is Izzo and Dantonio next?


Both coaches had different but similar reactions to the ESPN story.   Both men have been clearly prepped by legal not to discuss details in a press conferences.  Their body language is where they are different.  Izzo looks like a beaten man who is clearly showing the stress of the situation and a potential loss of employment.  Dantonio like I imagine a lot of things in his life, took a stiff upper lip and denied any wrong doing.  One man looked like he understood the severity of the situation, the other looked a bit "tone deaf".


Both coaches are the best MSU has ever had in role.  Izzo is a basketball coaching legend and Dantonio has won in a place that Nick Saban couldn't.  To fire them both would be a huge decision that the leadership in East Lansing will have to make.   Neither coach wants to retire but history is not on their side.   Whether you look at Penn State or Baylor, cleaning house is almost mandatory when  changing a toxic environment.  


But did they know?  Or did they conspire to hide the information, so their players could play?  It really doesn't matter, because they should have known.  That is what it means to be a leader.  A CEO whose company that had a massive data breech that cost share holders millions, has to step down.  Not because he/she is a cyber security expert or could have predicted such a bad event.  It's because it happened on their watch and the captain goes down with the ship. 


Is it possible that both men make it through this?  It's possible as these guys are legends in East Lansing.   On the other hand, so was Joe Paterno and Art Briles. 


I actually feel bad writing this story, because if these two guys keep their high paying jobs is no where near as important as what happened to those women and their families.   MSU needs to do the right thing and change their culture and do what they can for the victims. 


As Michigan fans we sometimes struggle with Harbaugh and Beilein not winning enough.   We might want to ask another question, are these man coaching with honesty and respect that the students of the University of Michigan deserve?  We see this situation at MSU and Michigan Basketball losing a National Championship to a Louisville, a team that probably will lose that title due to all their issues. 


If the answer is yes to the above question, then maybe doing things with respect and honor is as or more important then wins and loses. 













from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-pride-comes-before-fall.html

Pigtown shares secrets to economic revival

Baltimore City’s long history has crafted neighborhoods with colorful stories and unique traditions. The community of Pigtown, located along Washington Boulevard, has a past that you can probably guess centers around all things swine.

The neighborhood was home to railroad workers constructing the B&O line in the 1840’s. Once completed, the railcars from the Midwest would drop off carloads of pigs to be herded from Washington Boulevard through Ostend and Cross Streets to make their way to South Baltimore to be processed. This spectacle of hogs meandering through the streets of Pigtown gave the area their now celebrated mascot and a rich history that both residents and local businesses are proud to share.

Ben Hyman, executive director of the Pigtown Main Street nonprofit, sat down with MDBizNews to discuss the revitalization happening in the neighborhood, including the recent success of a record-breaking year investing more than $110,000 into Pigtown businesses through grants and loans.

Tell us a little about the history of the Pigtown Main Street organization.
Pigtown Main Street is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2000. We are dedicated to the Washington Boulevard commercial corridor in Pigtown, a neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore, to spur neighborhood revitalization. We provide technical assistance to small business owners and their landlords to catalyze economic development, create jobs, and attract residents and visitors to Pigtown.

What are some challenges businesses in Pigtown have faced? How are they overcoming those challenges and how has your organization assisted?
We help businesses with the basics – from securing permits to social media support. We also address issues that affect all of our businesses, like dirty streets and public safety. For new businesses, we guide them through the leasing process, including site selection, lease negotiation, business plan development, and securing permits and loans for fit-up. We focus on the barriers that our businesses face so that they can thrive and we never charge for our services!

What have been some of the most notable successes over the years for Pigtown’s economy and quality of life?
Over the past five years, we’ve recruited dozens of new businesses to Pigtown, catalyzing millions in investment and dozens of new jobs. Some of my favorites are Culinary Architecture, a woman-owned gourmet market; Suspended Brewing Company, Pigtown’s first brewery; and 9/10 Condition Sneaker Boutique, which sells high-fashion sneakers. Each of these businesses helps give Pigtown a unique sense of place and creates a destination for local residents and visitors.

What is a challenge facing the Pigtown neighborhood?
Pigtown is one of the last neighborhoods within walking distance of downtown that has not completed developed. At Pigtown Main Street, we work to address the issues holding back the business district – and the neighborhood – while preserving our unique sense of place.

Where do you see Pigtown in 10 to 15 years?
I envision Pigtown as a neighborhood on par with Baltimore’s most successful neighborhoods that welcomes residents and visitors of all kinds with great local restaurants, thriving boutiques, and engaging nightlife.

What would you say to businesses on investing in Pigtown? How can your organization be an asset?
Pigtown is two blocks from downtown, three blocks from the University of Maryland, and served by I-95, MD-295 and the MARC train. We are a great and affordable option for a business looking to market to customers downtown and throughout the region, and we have great parking. Pigtown Main Street works with business owners through every step, helping them open a location and supporting them once they’re here to achieve their goals. Better yet, our services are always free to small businesses.

Why is the Annual Pigtown Festival so important to its local businesses and residents?
The Pigtown Festival attracts more than 5,000 people to Washington Boulevard for live music, dozens of local vendors, and our famous live pig races. It helps foster our originality and generates foot traffic and sales to our local merchants.

For more information on Pigtown Main Street or to open a business in Pigtown, visit PigtownMainStreet.org or call 443-908-7038.

The post Pigtown shares secrets to economic revival appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/pigtown-shares-secrets-to-economic-revival/

Michigan Friday: Jimmy Not Winning This Off Season?

Since Jimmy arrived in Ann Arbor, he has clearly been winning the off season.  He was doing football camps all over the US, signing the #1 player, doing signing of the stars, and taking his team to Europe.   All these things made headlines when college football needed something to discuss.


How is this off season going?  Not great, Bob.  Not great.


Michigan has signed a nice class of athletes in December and will round out the rest of the class early next month.   The class has good players but lacks a 5 star.  The expectation is a top 5 to 10 class and this one is falling short of that.   They also lost  DT Tyler Friday last week that was a strong lean to Michigan for most of his recruitment to Ohio State.


Michigan looked terrible in the Outback Bowl and got beat by a poor South Carolina team. 


Jimmy has been losing staff and doing some hiring.  His two highly paid offensive coordinators Pep Hamilton and Tim Drevno are still on the staff.  Dan Enos he hired as a new coach, now seems to have left his role at U of M only weeks after taking it for a similar role at Alabama.  Dan we know is a former MSU QB.   Jimmy has also offered a position to former OSU OC Ed Warriner that he has yet to accept and maybe has turned down.


His season opening starting QB for the last two years, has decided to transfer and now is considering coming back.  That leaves more questions then answers.


The highlight of the off season is the signing of former 5 star QB and Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson.  Whether he will be eligible next season, still sits with the NCAA.  So there is a level of risk there.


This off season is still young and has not been trending in the right direction for Michigan.  Jimmy can save it with a couple 4 star offensive lineman on NSD and finding Pep and/or Tim new jobs.


On the other hand, MSU had about the worst off season you can have last year and played better football then expected.   So maybe Jimmy loses the off season this year and wins the regular season?  That would be a nice change.  


Did I mention, Michigan has the hardest ranked schedule in college football next year?   




from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-friday-jimmy-not-winning-this.html

Michgan Thursday: Is Dan Considering Leaving Ann Arbor Now?

Dan Enos probably doesn't even know where the bathrooms are in Schembechler Hall yet and now maybe considering taking another job.   Reports are that Saban is targeting another Michigan coach and this time it's Dan Enos to join his staff.


We will see how this one plays out.   If Dan leaves, that could be a sign that Pep and Drevno don't have NFL jobs lined up. 

• This is the time of year for walk-on news:  Don Bosco Prep 2018 WR Michael Geraci will take a preferred walk-on role with the Wolverines.

• Michigan Basketball plays at Purdue tonight on ESPN.

• The XFL is coming back? 

• Coach Drevno was at top golf with Rice's Calvin Anderson yesterday.

• Jedd Fisch got hired by the LA Rams.  I guess Wilton won't be transferring there.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michgan-thursday-is-dan-considering.html

Wolverine Wednesday: Michigan Gets An Athlete Commit

Many insiders believed Michael Barrett and Michigan had gone their separate ways.   Michigan already has two talented RB's in the class and is looking to fill its remaining spots with offensive lineman or defensive lineman.   Michael it was assumed wanted to play QB in college and was a better fit for Georgia Tech or Nebraska's offense. 


Michigan wants Barrett has a running back/slot WR at 6'0 215 pounds.   They love his athleticism and believe he can do a ton out of the backfield to help move the chains and score points.  He is a 3 star prospect to all the services but has a very nice offer sheet that includes:  Georgia Tech, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, NC State, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCF, USF, Virginia, and West Virginia.


Michael took his time to make a decision and did that very thing last night when he committed to Michigan as it's 21st recruit.

#sorryforthewait..🙇🏾‍♂️🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ksZGR1dlpo

— MB1️⃣ (@mikebarrett_MB1) January 24, 2018

The buzz on Michael and what he could do in Ann Arbor was pretty strong when we thought he was a lock to commit a few months ago.   After the time passed, we all thought this was not going to happen.  It did last night and hopefully Michael can have a big impact on the field.


With only a few spots left, Michigan will want to add some offensive lineman through the 2018 class or transfer and lock down Otis Reese.

• The NCAA is going to investigate MSU and how it handled the Larry Nassar terrible situation.

• Former LSU OC Matt Canada is expected to be named Maryland OC

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/wolverine-wednesday-michigan-gets.html

Michigan Tuesday: Partridge Can Now Afford A Pear Tree

Chris Partridge has done a great job for Michigan as a coach and analyst.   He helped secure Gary to Ann Arbor and is now a coach on defense.   His new role at 500K a year is Safeties and Special Team coach.  He will also be the recruiting coordinator.   Chris was getting the full court press from Alabama and Jimmy was able to get him to stay with a raise and some new responsibility.


Congrats Chris and thank you for staying.

• OSU OC Ryan Day will be staying in Columbus and won't be the OC for the Titans.

• Michigan QB Alex Malzone is transferring to Miami of Ohio, best of luck to Alex!

• Ronnie Bell had a great visit last weekend and I believe he is a lock to stay in the class.

• Michigan Basketball is now #25 after the Rutgers win and Nebraska loss last week.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-tuesday-partridge-can-now.html

Hire PHP Developer in India and Get Astonishing Results

It has become a common task in this era to hire a PHP developer in India to get high-end results at competitive costs. A reliable PHP development company is a medium to get sure-shot success in no time.

A business always needs to be the best in order to sustain for long in this high competitive web world. It become need of the hour in this context to bring the supreme features within your website and to hire a PHP developer in India is the ultimate solution for the flawless results. As PHP is the most widely used language in this arena, a proficient web developer can produce beautiful results by utilizing the fruitful concepts of this powerful scripting language.

If you want to uplift your sales, hiring a PHP developer in India is a smart approach to reduce your workload and bring out the desired results. The skilled brains from a reliable firm can help in rendering the authentic and cost-effective solutions with higher returns on investment.

Countless Benefits When You Hire a PHP Developer in India

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The essence of a quality web development team lies in its plan that includes future strategies of your website. Every business needs a futuristic approach and focused goal in mind in order to put his business online and an expert web development team does this to cross milestones and reach new heights of success.

Unique Content

Content is the king for a website but everybody does not have quality to write good content. Only a professional web development company knows the real worth of the content and will help you to write specific content for your website by making the effective use of proper keywords.

Search Engine Optimization

Merely creating a website does not guarantee its continued success over the web. It needs to be of the high quality content plus optimization techniques embedded into it to make it compliant to come on the top of search pages.

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Working with a professional web developer is that it will enable your company’s website as well as your marketing methods. A professional web developer has an inbuilt art to generate reports and go deeper into them to increase profitability of your company.

Quality Web Development

A website is the identity of your online presence as being a reliable place from where customers can contact you. A professional web development team knows how to develop a quality website that can help your business live nicely. It makes use of the latest trends and tactics to make the most out of a business.

Final Words

This post can create a great impact on your business results if the suggested facts will be genuinely followed. You only need to have one strong development team that can take care of your website as a primary concern. For this, hire a PHP developer from India and get spellbound results with the highly qualified developers. They will give the benefits mentioned above and many more beyond it.

The post Hire PHP Developer in India and Get Astonishing Results appeared first on Baltimore Tech.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/hire-php-developer-in-india-and-get-astonishing-results/

Gear up for RSA Conference’s Innovation Sandbox

Looking to take your cyber startup to the next level? Consider entering the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest, which showcases emerging cybersecurity companies. It’s fertile ground for growing your business and attracting funding. Consider, for example, RedOwl – in the year after winning the Innovation Sandbox at RSAC 2014, the company landed $21.6 million in investments. In August 2017, RedOwl was acquired by Forcepoint, an Austin, Texas, company owned by Raytheon. RedOwl, now known as Forcepoint, is located in Baltimore City.

Forcepoint Vice President Guy Filippelli, who founded RedOwl, offers these tips for cyber entrepreneurs vying to win the Innovation Sandbox Contest:

• Stay focused on the customer value, not the feature, of what you’re doing.
• The competition will be won or lost during the question-and-answer period.
• Be real! Too much technology-speak can cloud your message.

Maryland’s cyber entrepreneurs have fared well over the 12-year history of the Innovation Sandbox. In addition to RedOwl’s victory in 2014, Sourcefire – since acquired by Cisco – won the inaugural contest in 2005. Light Point Security, located in Catonsville, Md., finished among the top 10 in 2013, and SecurityDo (now Fluency Security) in College Park, Md., was one of the 10 finalists in 2015.

Just last year, EnVeil was recognized as the first second-place finisher in the history of the RSAC Innovation Sandbox. The company, which is located in Fulton, Md., has since graduated from start-up studio DataTribe and attracted $4 million in investments.

EnVeil founder and CEO Ellison Anne Williams has this advice for those considering entering the Innovation Sandbox this year:

• Just Do It. You have nothing to lose in entering and everything to gain.
• Clearly articulate what makes you Innovative and why it’s market relevant. If you have something truly unique, make sure that it’s crystal clear to anyone reading your application.
• Hone Your Pitch. If you get selected, congrats! You have 3-minutes to tell your story, so make them count. Oh, and practice, practice, practice.

Think your company has what it takes? Check out the contest rules and submit an online application here. Deadline to apply is Friday, February 9. Then take a look at the finals presentations by Guy Filippelli and Ellison Anne Williams for inspiration. If you’re selected as one of the 10 finalists, you’ll present a three-minute pitch to a panel of cyber expert judges on Monday, April 16, during the RSA Conference in San Francisco.

Good luck!

The post Gear up for RSA Conference’s Innovation Sandbox appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/24343/

Michigan Monday: Bring Me All Your Defensive Backs

I love that Michigan might have two of the best defensive minds in college football on the same staff in Don Brown and Greg Mattison.   Those two have been earning every bit of their big salaries.   What confuses me is why we need more defensive backs?


Michigan picked up two this weekend. 

• Vincent Gray is a 3 star instate sleeper that has a nice frame and was getting offers from the likes of Mizzu and WVU.   He committed to Michigan this weekend.  

• Michigan also picked up Casey Hughes a graduate transfer from Utah.  He is 6'1 and 185 pounds and can run a 4.4.  The kid can fly and played in 11 games this season.

There are a few rumors floating around that Brandon Watson is considering taking a graduate transfer year at another program.   Michigan right now is stacked at DB and has plenty of depth next year. 


How about a Offensive Tackle or Two?

• Rice OT Calvin Anderson is expected to visit Ann Arbor this weekend.

• There are reports that Jimmy has offered former OSU OC Ed Warinner for an analyst job.  No word yet if he has accepted.   So we could have a former MSU QB and former OSU OC on the staff?  Interesting.

• Wilton has picked a transfer location yet (because Jedd Fisch doesn't have a job yet)

• Michigan basketball beat Rutgers on Sunday.

• TB12 Back to the Super Bowl!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-monday-bring-me-all-your.html

Michigan Friday: Some Important Offical Visitors This Weekend

1. Otis Reese - Michigan "soft" commit and a 4 star LB.  Otis also has eyes for instate Georgia Bulldogs who had a nice season last year.  Georgia has been recruiting at an elite level and Otis might see the field faster in Ann Arbor.   He also has a brother at CMU which should help.   This will be a Don Brown full press this weekend.
2. Ronnie Bell - WR from St. Louis and new Michigan commit.   He seems like a lock to stay in the class and is very excited about being a Wolverine.
3. Olaijah Griffin, 4 star CB from the same school at Jarrett Patterson in California.  Former UCLA commit, which is also Michigan's competition for Patterson.
4. Ryan Hayes, Michigan commit
5. Vincent Gray, CB from Rochester with a recent Michigan offer.

Above list is for the 2018 class.  Brian Bresee from the 2020 class will be taking an un-official this weekend as well.

• There are some reports that Michigan might be interested in Utah graduate transfer DB Casey Hughes.

• I promise you I didn't watch - Michigan Basketball lost to Nebraska last night by 20. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-friday-some-important-offical.html

Maryland makes short list for Amazon headquarters

After narrowing down it from 238 applications, Amazon has named Montgomery County as a leading location for its second North American headquarters.

The retail giant today announced the 20 potential candidates for its future facility, ranging from Los Angeles to Boston. Locally, Montgomery County, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and Philadelphia are all listed as possibilities. See the full list on Amazon.com.

“This is tremendous news for Montgomery County, our entire state, and further proof that Maryland is truly open for business. Maryland put forward an extremely strong group of sites that were all supported by the state with incentive packages totaling more than $5 billion, including road and transit improvements,” said Governor Larry Hogan.

“Going forward, we will continue working with our partners in Montgomery County, including County Executive Ike Leggett and his team, to ensure that we do everything possible to bring this project home. This news is certainly welcome, but the real challenge lies ahead – and Maryland is ready to meet it,” he continued.

Today we are announcing the communities that will proceed to the next step in the HQ2 process. Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough – all the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity https://t.co/x1bFYbk4Ui pic.twitter.com/J2x0HHzBTR

— Amazon News (@amazonnews) January 18, 2018

HQ2 could create 50,000 jobs for the county with billions of dollars invested in the surrounding region. It is expected that Amazon will announce its decision later this year. Learn more about HQ2.

The post Maryland makes short list for Amazon headquarters appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/maryland-makes-short-list-amazon-headquarters/

Michigan Thursday: New S&C Coach and New Workout Facility

Jimmy made an off handed comment that his team needed to get stronger after the OSU game.  Most thought he meant mentally, he actually meant physically.   U of M Football is quickly investing in that very thing.


First Jimmy has hired Ben Herbert from Arkansas and Wisconsin.  He is known as one of the best S&C guys in the business and his new approach and nutrition philosophy is expected to make a positive impact on the Wolverines.  What other tools will he have?..........


Now the Wolverines have a new place to workout:

New digs. 💪💪

Who wants to work out here?#GoBlue #ThisIsMichigan pic.twitter.com/nejGwKygI8

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 17, 2018

That basketball court might have a few heated games in there!

• Otis Reese is expected to be on campus this weekend for an official visit.  Michigan will roll out the "maize and blue" carpet for him.   Side note, Otis's brother plays at Central Michigan, where he visited last weekend.  Having family a few hours away, doesn't hurt Michigan's chances.  

• Shea Patterson's lawyer told Land of 10 that Michigan hasn't submitted paperwork to the NCAA yet on a Waiver for Shea to become immediately eligible.  That is expected soon and a decision could come as quickly as late February.  (but probably longer)

• Speaking of transfers, there is talk that the NCAA might remove the one year penalty for all transfers.  That could be a mess, so I'm sure they are going to think long and hard about approving that across the board.

• Michigan Basketball is at Nebraska tonight. 9:00 BTN -Don't worry I won't watch, but you can! :)

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-thursday-new-s-coach-and-new.html

UMBC launches program to prep students for biotech careers

Guest feature: Sarah Hansen is the STEM Communications Manager at UMBC. Follow along with UMBC on Facebook and Twitter.

A new degree program developed jointly by UMBC and Montgomery College (MC), and soon to be offered at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), will create opportunities for students of all backgrounds to pursue high-demand careers in the life sciences.

The four-year Translational Life Science Technology (TLST) program, which leads to a bachelor of science degree from UMBC, will train students in the fundamentals of biochemistry, cell biology, epidemiology, statistics, lab instrumentation, and biochemical engineering, as well as give students opportunities to develop sought-after skills such as analytical thinking, teamwork, and data evaluation. The TLST program is accepting students now, and courses will begin in fall 2018.

“As the biotechnology industry translates basic research from ‘bench to bedside,’ it needs a well-trained workforce,” says Dean Bill LaCourse, of UMBC’s College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, within which the TLST program resides. “The TLST program is designed from the ground up to meet that need through a flexible and interdisciplinary approach with intensive industry-inspired laboratory skills training.”

Students begin coursework for the TLST program at Montgomery College, taking classes at the new, state-of-the-art Bioscience Education Center on its Germantown campus for the first two years. Successful completion of that curriculum results in an A.A.S. in biotechnology or other associate’s tracks from Montgomery College.

The Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education Building at The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville is scheduled for completion in 2019, and will then host the third and fourth year courses of the TLST program. Both of the educational facilities are in the heart of Maryland’s technology corridor and offer well-equipped classrooms and labs where students can master techniques commonly called upon in the biotech industry, such as polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, gene cloning, mass spectroscopy and chromatography.

The need for workers with these skills is especially great in Maryland, which is one of the top-ranked regions in the nation for its concentration of technology-related jobs. Of the more than 2,300 biotech companies in the state, more than 75 percent are found in Montgomery County.

READ MORE.

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from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/umbc-launches-program-prep-students-biotech-careers/

Wolverine Wednesday: Strange January For Recruiting

This is a strange January for coaches and recruits.  In the past, this was probably one of the busiest months of the year as teams tried to secure their class prior to Signing Day in the first week of February.   It's different this year as many recruits signed in December and many programs have moved on to the 2019 class. 


Michigan still has needs on the both lines and still trying to secure LB Otis Reese from heading to Georgia.   Otis was the first commit to the 2018 class and the Wolverines continue to try to get him to stay in the class.  Otis will be taking a number of official visits before signing day and the Wolverines will have to hold on to their commitment for the talented LB.


Michigan seems to have two 2018 offensive tackles they are interested in.  CA Jarrett Patterson and FL OT Nicholas Petit-Frere are both highly recruited and has a ton of options.  Michigan is in the mix but its always tough to pull kids across the country.  Jalen Gross another prospect on the offensive line, just committed to Greg Frey and FSU this week.




Michigan had been leading for DT Tyler Friday from NJ for many months but that has changed.  Tyler was expected to announce his decision last week and made a commitment video.   Insiders started to flood the crystal balls that it was an Ohio State decision.   Tyler held off and will now make his announcement on Friday.  There is some hope that Tyler was concerned about Chris Partridge leaving Michigan and with him staying might help Michigan's chances.  Recruiting insiders are staying with their OSU pick .


Jimmy of course is also interested in Rice graduate OT Calvin Anderson.  Ronnie Bell and Kevin Doyle are both commits and are expected to stay in the class.


Who is left as a possibility outside of those guys?

1. JaMar Chase, WR from LA.   Michigan is in the mix but Louisiana isn't exactly a Michigan recruiting hot bed.
2. Michael Barnett, Athlete from GA.  Buzz on this recruitment has fallen off a cliff.   Michael is deciding between playing QB at Georgia Tech or RB/SWR at Michigan. 
3. Vincent Gray, CB Rochester, MI.  Michigan doesn't really need anymore CB's but Don Brown does love tall corners.  Gray is 6'2.

Surprises?
Jimmy and staff are always good for a surprise or two down the stretch.  The new coaches are already making some noise on the recruiting trail and I expect a couple new names to pop out before February.   If Patterson, NP-F and Friday go to other schools.  I expect some late offers to an offensive tackle prospect and a defensive tackle.  Don't forget Willie Henry was a late add and he is now playing for the Baltimore Ravens.


Side note: Are there anymore Glasgow's available?  We could use more please!


There is 3 weeks to NSD and Michigan needs to do some serious work if they are going to finish this class with a couple strong additions.




from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/wolverine-wednesday-strange-january-for.html

Michigan Tuesday: I'm Clearly A Basketball Jinix

I enjoy watching John Beilein's team play basketball.   I'm not religious about watching it like I am a football game.   My Saturday revolves around the football game and most everything else has to be scheduled outside of that game window.    If Michigan Basketball is on TV, I of course will turn it on to watch. 


This season has been a bit up and down for the young Wolverines.   They have had a couple good wins and couple bad loses.   I watched them lose a big lead in Columbus and play poorly in Hawaii against LSU.   I didn't catch the MSU game this past weekend as we went out to lunch, I also didn't see the Texas or UCLA wins.   I did catch the end of the Purdue game, to see Michigan lose it at the buzzer.  So I got to thinking, this team really plays well, when I don't watch them live. 


I started to test that theory last night.  I watched the first half and Michigan barley scored 20 points and were down by 10 at half-time.   So at the half, I took a break from the game and kept checking the score on my phone.   I see Michigan gets the lead and then I turn it back on.   I watch the Wolverines miss free throws and shoot air balls from three.   It's now clearly me, so I turn the game off and keep track of the score on my phone.


With two minutes left, it looks like Michigan is comfortably ahead.   I turn the game back on, to see Michigan miss two free throws and Maryland hit a 3 pointer with 3 seconds to take the lead.   Ok, it's clear I'm the problem!  :-) 


Yes, I turn the game off and followed the ending of the game on my phone.  MAAR hits two free throws for the win.  Verdict reached! 

• Michigan made the Sherrone Moore hire official.  He will coach the Tight Ends.

• Michigan Basketball is now in the top 25, at #23

.

• Rice LT transfer Calvin Anderson seemed to have a positive meeting with Jimmy yesterday.  Lets hope he takes a visit to Ann Arbor.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-tuesday-im-clearly-basketball.html

Michigan Monday: Farewell to Keith Jackson and Chris Partridge Stays in A2

pasadenanow.com

"Let me tell you about Keith Jackson".   By know you have heard about the passing of legendary college football play by play man Keith Jackson.   Many of us grew up on Keith calling college football and Michigan Football games.  I get frustrated with todays announcers, because in my eyes nobody can come close to Keith Jackson.  In fact, he is attributed to naming Michigan Stadium - The Big House.   Which of course, is the name of this blog.    Thank you Keith for a mountain of memories and rest in peace greatest of all time!

• Michigan was able to keep and sign one its hottest assistants in Chris Partridge on Sunday.   Chris is considered one of the best recruiters in the country and was being recruited by a number of schools to join their staff.   Chris has been coaching LB's, but is expected to move the open Safeties coaching position.   Alabama came hard after Chris, but he is very loyal to Jimmy and Michigan and they were able to get a new deal done. 

• One of Michigan's top targets on the board, DT Tyler Friday was expected to announce his decision last Friday.   The NJ prospect had been a strong lean towards Michigan but was trending hard to OSU in the final few weeks.  One of the reasons on the quick change was the potential loss of Chris Partridge from Michigan's staff.   Tyler did not commit on Friday and has delayed his decision for a couple of weeks.   Maybe Michigan has another chance?  We will see.

• Michigan Basketball had a great win over Sparty on Saturday.  Beating the #4 team in the nation on their floor is no easy task.  Congratulations to Coach B and his entire squad!

• Trey Burke had been ripping up the G-League and is now back in the NBA with the Knicks.

• Sam McGuffie former Michigan and Rice tailback has been selected to US Bobsled Team and will participate in the Olympics.

• Speaking of Rice, Jimmy is expected to have lunch with Rice OT Calvin Anderson today to discuss playing his 5th and final year of eligibility in Ann Arbor.   Calvin is looking at graduate transfer situations and many schools are in need of a talented OT.  Calvin is a smart kid and graduated from Rice with a Mathematical Economic Analysis degree.  Wow!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-monday-farewell-to-keith.html

Michigan Friday: Wolverines Add Coach #10

As mentioned here yesterday, one of the candidates for the 10th assistant job seems to have been hired.   It's Sherrone Moore from CMU who is expected to come in and coach the TE's and be the Recruiting Coordinator, which is the role he filled at Central.

• Been a coach at CMU for 4 years
• Prior to that he was at Louisville for 5 years, 3 as a grad assistant and 2 as a the TE coach
• Played two years at Oklahoma on the offensive line

Sounds like a solid hire, but not a splash big name.  Having a younger guy that can recruit, isn't a bad thing at all. 

• There seems to be some mystery on what the heck is going on with Kareem Walker.  It seems Kareem broke some team rules and the rumor mill was spinning that he might be off the team.  A number of Michigan reporters responded last night that he is still on the team.

• FSU has hired it's second assistant from MSU as Mark Synder current DE/Special Teams coach has left for Florida State.

• Alabama to hire Texas A&M's Jeff Banks as Special Teams Coordinator.  Why is that important? Because that was probably the spot that Saban wanted Chris Partridge for. 

• Scott Turner is going to be the QB coach for the Carolina Panthers.  He was on Jimmy's staff this past year, hard to say he did a super job with Michigan's QB's this year.  (he was not able to coach the QB's on the field or in practice).

• Rice OT Calvin Anderson, a 2 time all-conference USA player is looking to take a grad transfer 5th year.  We will see if Jimmy kicks the tires.

• 2018 Rochester 3 star CB Vincent Gray is expected on campus this weekend.  I would put him on commit watch.

• Past Michigan visitor Athlete Michael Barnett has been offered by Nebraska.  It seems Michigan let him know that his scholarship spot has been filled.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-friday-wolverines-add-coach-10.html

How Will AI Impact Ecommerce World?

We all are aware of Artificial Intelligence, the hottest tech trend that has revolutionized the business world as well as mobile app startups. Big brands have started investing in AI technologies like DeepMind, Google’s $400 million acquisition with the motive to deliver exceptional customer experience. AI apps are no longer limited to digital assistants like Siri but it has been also used for various purposes. From supplying virtual assistants to providing robust customer support, AI has improved the overall online shopping experience for consumers. Many eCommerce firms are using AI-based technology to create deeply personal & highly customized experiences online.

 

Here are the top benefits of using AI that every eCommerce Web Development Company should be aware of:

 

Efficient Sales Processes

 

With the help of AI platform, organizations can collect, curate & manage data that is generated by users to retrieve information that will drive more sales by delivering exactly what they need from the site. Implementing AI helps in analyzing the entire catalog to filter items that will be ideal for the customer’s needs.

Better Search Feature

 

Users don’t want to waste time in typing to search for items they need to purchase. With the visual search, an AI-powered functionality helps in evaluating pictures submitted by users to find all the comparable items. Also, more consumers are looking forward to voice search where they can order directly using voice-controlled devices.

More Personalized Experience

 

Though AI is something that has dehumanize customer interactions, this technology has helped brands in providing consumers with highly customized personalized experiences. It can handle a huge amount of data to uncover customer buying patterns, purchase habits for an exceptional experience that hooks customers deeply.

Opportunities for AI developers

 

AI has influenced greatly in the app development market driving new possibilities & opportunities for developers also. Many startups & tech brands are hiring developers for AI apps to provide a seamless experience to users with intelligent tactics that figure out user preference based on their evolving needs.

One thing is clear, AI technology is here to stay & it will impact the eCommerce industry to the huge extent in the coming years. It not only enables businesses to provide a personalized experience for customers without relying on manual labor but also helped sellers to boost sales by engaging right products at the right time. Though there are many Web Development Company that have started using AI concept in their apps to provide better personalization, some are still unaware of these benefits. ComScore also predicts that 50% of all web searches will be voice-activated by 2020. If you haven’t started using AI for your business, it’s the time to implement one to reshape your business with better results. 

The post How Will AI Impact Ecommerce World? appeared first on Baltimore Tech.

from http://baltimoretech.org/news/how-will-ai-impact-ecommerce-world/

Michigan Thursday: More Coaching Rumors

With the NFL filling head coaching positions, its time to fill out staffs.  This means Jimmy's staff and coaches will start to get offers and new opportunities.   


Bruce Feldman mentioned on twitter that he wouldn't be surprised if Pep Hamilton joined Gruden's staff in Oakland.  For many Michigan fans that would be a positive hire for Michigan's program.


There is an interesting term in Dan Enos contract that his salary right now as $150K unless "Coordinator" is added to his title, which would include a $750K raise.   This is probably in place until Pep or Tim (or both) move on.   Dan did not come to Michigan to make $150K.  He also still could be getting paid from the Razorbacks.

• Another name that could come in as the 10th coach is ND Mike Elston who is the Assistant head coach at ND.  Mike played LB at Michigan. 

• Next name is CMU's assistant head coach Sherrone Moore.  Sherrone played on the offensive line at Oklahoma.

• The third name is Chris Bryant former Michigan offensive lineman and currently the Director of High School Relations for the Wolverines.

• Michigan has lost a staff member in Norv Turner's son -  Scott Turner, who will be going to the NFL and Carolina Panthers to work with his dad and the rest of his family. 

• Still plenty of rumors that Saban is trying to hire Chris Partridge.  Insiders expect him to stay in Ann Arbor with a raise and taking over the Safety Coaches Position.

• There is a proposed new Redshirt rule - that would allow kids to participate in 4 games of the year and still keep their redshirt eligibility for that year. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-thursday-more-coaching-rumors.html

Wolverine Wednesday: News and Notes

• Michigan Basketball lost to Purdue last night on a couple of questionable officials calls.  

• Karan Higdon announced he will be coming back for his senior year.   This is a very deep RB draft and that is a very smart decision.

• With only a few 2018 players left after the early signing period, many guys are going to get a lot of exposure and new offers.  OT Jarrett Patterson that Michigan is recruiting just got offered by ND.   DB Olaijah Griffin also just got offered by FSU.

• 2018 3 Star CB from Rochester, Vincent Gray is starting to get a few predictions to Michigan.  I believe Vincent will visit Ann Arbor this weekend.

• Former Michigan assistant Jerry Montgomery got hired by Texas A&M to coach the DL.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/wolverine-wednesday-news-and-notes.html

The Official Guide to Maryland State Travel

The Maryland Office of Tourism Development (OTD), a division of the Maryland Department of Commerce, has released the 2018 edition of Destination Maryland: The Official Guide to Maryland State Travel. This year, the free publication contains a special feature on “Uniquely Maryland Adventures” and includes themed trip suggestions as well as regional listings of attractions, history & heritage sites, arts & culture facilities, state & national parks, and visitor services.

“Destination Maryland is available in time for January 30, 2018, National Plan Your Vacation Day,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director, Maryland Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts. “Research compiled by the U.S. Travel Association and the Project: Time Off Coalition shows a marked positive impact on our relationships, personal well-being, and professional success, yet more than half of Americans skip the one step that helps them go from dreaming to traveling: planning. Destination Maryland is the ideal tool to assist in making travel dreams become reality.”

This full-color magazine includes inspirational visitor images tagged with #MDinFocus in each of our five regions and also contains a year-long listing of special events, fairs and festivals.

Destination Maryland is produced in conjunction with Miles Partnership, a leader in travel publication and content development. With more than 183 travel marketing experts, Miles is 100 percent dedicated to marketing travel destinations, and creates award-winning, innovative, integrated online and print solutions that result in increased visitation.

Copies of Destination Maryland are available for pick-up at Maryland Welcome Centers or by calling 800-719-5900. Orders can also be placed on the Office of Tourism’s web site, visitmaryland.org, where the guide is also available in a flip-book version.

The post The Official Guide to Maryland State Travel appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/official-guide-maryland-state-travel/

Need a handyman? Follow this bird!

A couple of years ago, EFynch CEO Teris Pantazes realized he needed help. But not much help, and not for long.

“I was hanging a TV in my own house,” said Pantazes, who used to run his own construction company. “I needed help for, like, 10 minutes.”

Pantazes considered something he’d observed from working around construction his entire life—that sometimes, professional crews have days where they have nothing to do and could end up being furloughed—and a new idea took hold: a freelance-style platform to connect homeowners who have repair needs with contractors who can help.

That’s the basic idea behind EFynch, which allows homeowners to privately advertise work they need done around the house and allows contractors to bid on each job. But part of what sets EFynch apart from similar platforms is competitive bidding, Pantazes said.

Instead of users receiving several independent sales quotes, EFynch allows contractors to see the highest, lowest and average bid that’s been offered for a job so they can tailor their offers accordingly. For example, a plumber who is preparing for a vacation may not charge an “emergency fee” if he sees an opportunity to fill down-time by cutting his normal rate for a guaranteed job, Pantazes said.

Users also have the tools to organize each project as if they were their own professional project managers with industry connections. Homeowners list their needs by the work that must be done, rather than the type of person they think they need to hire; this saves users time and money, and shows them all available options for completing a project.

“You can compare the availability and resumes of skill of a general handyman to a tradesperson. What if the plumber is new to the business but a handyman has completed a dozen similar jobs? The owner can find out if the options are available,” Pantazes said. “Sometimes, customers aren’t sure if they need a [licensed] plumber or handyman. We take the guess work out and simply present the solutions,” he said.

Homeowners must post some pictures about the work that needs to be done and give their general area in which they live, but aren’t required to share more if they don’t want to. Contractors are only rated on the specific transactions in which they are involved, so a person’s ratings can’t be padded with recommendations from friends or other sources, Pantazes said.

EFynch charges a small fee for an Escrow and Payment system they offer—as low as 3 percent—to the contractors for using the platform, which provides security and safety to both parties. The company says this rate is much lower than the cut taken by other platforms, and there is no fee to homeowners for using EFynch.

The platform can also serve as a resource for realtors, who should feel safe recommending the app to their clients because EFynch has verified the licensing of certain contractors (known as “Fynchnest Members”). Over a dozen local realtors are currently testing this feature, Pantazes said.

As he developed the EFynch concept and researched what he needed to do to launch the app, Pantazes talked to as many people as possible about their home repair needs—particularly friends who had just bought houses. In early 2016, Charles Paul, an old friend who attended Washington College in Chestertown with Pantazes, came on board as a co-founder.

EFynch’s website and app launched in October 2016, and the platform now has a community of about 3,000 members and has connected contractors to 1,300 jobs. The company is located at City Garage and is a member of the Betamore startup community.

Currently, the company is focusing on expanding its services by providing more information and resources for homebuyers as well as improving its algorithm that provides recommendations; one goal is to take into account how one contractor might be rated by different homeowners with different budgets or specialized requirements.

Pantazes believes every homeowner or buyer can use EFynch to fully understand who they are hiring and make an educated decision—rather than choosing the first person to come along or picking at random from a list of “recommended’ pros.

“You should get a sense of how someone fits into your price range and the level of service and skill that person provides. This helps you hire the best person within your budget or, for some, find a lower price if the work is something simple,” Pantazes said.

The post Need a handyman? Follow this bird! appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/need-a-handyman-follow-this-bird/

Michigan Tuesday: Trying to Level Set Michigan's Football Program

I hope many of you play golf so you get this example.  Have you ever had a great round and go out and shoot a 76?  Your driver is in the middle of the fairway and your irons are hitting most of the greens.  Your putter is on fire and you feel like today you have finally figured out this game.     Then you go home, turn on the TV and the PGA tour is on and wonder where you could have taken out 8-10 strokes from your round.   The game those PGA professionals are playing is a completely different then what you just did. 


The best college football program is the Alabama Crimson Tide.   What they did last night was another crushing example of where Michigan is not as a football program.  Lets start to address some of the excuses we have been using for the past 10 years. 

• The SEC gets all the talent - Alabama gets the best of the best but Michigan recruits at the same level of Georgia or others.  There is a gap here but not to the level as an Alabama to Indiana.   Michigan needs to develop its players much better then it has.

• Youth can't win in college football - We used that one a few times this past season, didn't we?  Look at the game last night, it was cluttered with true freshman.   We need to start expecting more from our young players.   Yes, they will make mistakes but they also might be the most talented.   The 3 QB's that played were two true freshman and a sophomore.   The WR the caught the game winner in OT was a true freshman.

• Your dead with a back-up QB - Ohio State beat Michigan this year with a backup and now Alabama brings its back-up off the bench and wins the National Championship.  Not to mention that Jake Fromm was a back-up at the start of the year as well.

• Play Calling - We never talk about Nick Saban's team being aggressive with its play calling.  Last night, when Tau came in, he not only turned the page of the play book, he grabbed a completely new one.   Alabama won the game by throwing the ball downfield and being aggressive.   The dink and dunk offense Michigan ran this year, was hard to watch.   You just can't run on everyone. 

Those are just 4 examples of where Michigan is lacking.  I believe in Harbaugh but this year was a head scratcher and didn't feel like a step forward but two back.  Is it coaching? Is it lack of depth? Is it a lack of talent?  The answer is probably all of the above.   Still Harbaugh and staff has to do better and get more out of the guys in Schembechler Hall.   Wisconsin does it every year, MSU was supposed to be a dumpster fire and over achieved with its talent this year.   The issue is we don't want to be in the discussion with the Wisconsin's and MSU's of the world.   We want to be in the playoff conversation and watching the game last night just showed us how far away we actually are.


Change is tough and here are two examples via the University of Arkansas:

• Michigan made it official that Dan Enos has joined the offensive staff.  Look for Pep or Tim to take NFL jobs as those head coaching spots are filled.  Dan's role is TBD but I believe they are waiting for more staff changes to make it official. 

• Change in the way the Wolverines will take care of their body under new S&C guy Ben Herbert:   “My overall philosophy encompasses a lot of different things,” Herbert said. “I think everything starts from a development standpoint, with how well you take care of your body, the types of foods that you eat, your meal frequency, the types of fluids that you put in your body — we place a huge emphasis on water.”  -----  “From a weight room development standpoint, the most important thing right out of the gate for our young guys when they come in is developing their lower body and developing their back,” Herbert said. “A lot of guys spend a lot of time (bench) pressing in high school. They don’t spend a lot of time pulling and they don’t spend a lot of time training their lower body. That’s where we see our biggest gains.
  “Teach guys how to eat well, teach them how to hydrate properly, teach them how to train the right way, focusing on lower body and back development, and we set them up for a great result.”   I don't know anything about S&C but I like what I'm hearing and trying a new way. 

•  Andre Rison's son - MSU WR Hunter Rison is transferring from MSU for more playing time and a different offensive philosophy.   Hunter liked Oklahoma when he was being recruited.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-tuesday-trying-to-level-set.html

Michigan Monday: Wood Gets To The Hall and A Sparty Leading Michigan's Offense?

Charles Woodson was named to the College Football Hall of Fame yesterday.  Still the only primary defensive player to have won the Heisman Trophy and one of  the greatest DB's in NFL history.   Charles is a no brainer for this honor and the next one will be the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


This rumor has been out there for a couple weeks, but it looks like former MSU QB, MSU coach, CMU head coach, and Arkansas OC Dan Enos will be joining Jimmy's staff.   It's still a bit unclear on what Dan's role will be as Michigan currently is way too top heavy on offensive coaches.  Currently, Michigan has 3 offensive coordinators on staff which also include Pep Hamilton and Tim Drevno.   I expect we will hear news about Pep and/or Tim in the next week or so.


Dan is a very good coach and left CMU to become a Power 5 OC.   He is known as a good coach and recruiter.   I also hope he fills the QB coach role as that position has been lacking under Harbaugh.   Quick question, who calls plays against MSU next year?  Asking for a friend.  :-)


Since Jimmy seems to love former Arkansas coaches and maybe this some strange way to hire one moving company or something, but a name to watch is former Michigan offensive lineman Kurt Anderson as well.  Kurt was a graduate assistant at Michigan, has coached at EMU, and spent the last 3 season at Arkansas serving as their offensive line coach.    The rumor mill is that Dan Enos is very high on Kurt and could be a "no brainer" hire if both Pep and Tim move on.

• Michigan Basketball keeps beating bad Big 10 teams as they won on Saturday against Illinois.  It gets much tougher this week as they play ranked Purdue and MSU.

• Michigan DE commit Aidan Hutchinson had a great Army All American game.  Nice to see a Michigan commit playing well on a national stage.

• Big OC names move on or don't.   Jedd Fisch did not get the Missouri OC role and Matt Canada was let go from LSU.   I don't expect either to make it to Ann Arbor. 

• NFL Official Jeff Triplette is expected to retire after he and his crew had a terrible game in the KC - Tenn, playoff game.   NCAA Basketball official TV Ted Valentine is also considering retiring after he turned his back on a UNC player last week.   Please more retirements and get better younger officials in place!

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-monday-wood-gets-to-hall-and.html

Michigan Friday: The Michigan Coaching Dominos

As we have expected the Michigan coaching staff is going to change this off season and could change drastically.  With a majority of the class signed during the early signing period,  Jimmy can start replacing coaches right now.   The cuts could be as deep as the entire offensive staff or just a few guys with a new 10th coach added (per new NCAA rules).   We started to see some movement yesterday in a couple moves. 


In
New S&C Coach, Ben Herbert - He is a former Wisconsin offensive lineman and S&C coach.  He has worked for Brett Bielema at Arkansas for 5 years and replaces Kevin Tolbert.  His goal is to make the team stronger and more powerful.  His hiring is now official.


New LB Coach, Al Washington - Was most recently the DL coach for Cincinnati Bearcats.  He also worked with Don Brown at BC.  This hiring is not official yet, but the word is out and his role at Michigan is still up for debate.  Some expect him to coach the RB's, I lean more to Viper/SAM coach.   He has a solid reputation as a strong recruiter.


Out


Kevin Tolbert, see above.


Greg Fry, OL and TE Coach - Jimmy loved how Greg was able to develop offensive lineman and Indiana's running game.  He recommended Greg for a number of jobs, when he didn't get them, he hired him.  Greg is now gone after spending less then 12 months on the job at Michigan.   The issue is Greg coaches a zone blocking scheme and was never a good fit for Jimmy's system.   Greg seemed like a fish out of water and now is heading home to FSU.   Don't be fooled this was a inside job and I'm sure Jimmy and new FSU coach Willie Taggart had a number of conversations about this.  


Brian Smith - Left to be the DC at Rice


In Question


Pep Hamilton - we heard rumors of a West Coast offense and a dynamic passing game when Pep was hired.  We didn't get anywhere near that this year.  Sure some of it was the talent on the field, the rest has to fall on Pep and Tim.  I don't see a ton of value of both Tim and Pep being co-OC's, either or both need to go. 


Tim Drevno - Was hired to fix the offensive line and be a strong OC.   We saw some decent signs that was happening during his first year but the last two were very questionable.   This year was a disaster and may have cost him his job in Ann Arbor.   Many thought Tim was going to be the next head coach from Jimmy's coaching tree and now it seems he could be looking for a new job. 


With big names like Pep and Tim, many times they will find new jobs before being fired.   I wouldn't be surprised if we learn soon that they are taking a new job in the NFL or with a different college program  Some inside reports say that there was a number of distractions during  Florida bowl practices for coaches looking for landing spots. 


Jay Harbaugh - I don't expect Jimmy to fire his son, but I expect he will get another role on the team.


Devin Bush, Sr. has been on Jimmy's non-coaching support staff but has been filling in as a on-field coach after Brian Smith left.  He could fill one of the opening spots.   


Safe


Don Brown - Because he is Don Brown.
Greg Mattison - Wants to be in Ann Arbor and rounding 3rd and heading home on his career.  Still a very good recruiter and one of the top DL coaches in the country.   Both sides seem very happy.
Chris Partridge - Good new coach and reports are that Alabama wants him. 
Mike Zordich - Has done a great job with the DB's and will be around unless another team grabs him with a promotion.


Michigan has 9 coaching spots filled right now (that includes the loss of Fry and incoming Washington, does not include Bush Sr.), so Jimmy can fill at least one more spot.   As mentioned above, we are expecting much more change.   Michigan will also have to work to keep Partridge on the staff. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-friday-michigan-coaching.html

Michigan Thursday: Winovich Back

Michigan Football got some good news yesterday as DE Chase Winovich decided he wasn't done playing college football and will stay for this 5th and final year.   This is a big get for Don Brown and his defense should continue to be rated in the top 10 next year.


I keep waiting for Michigan's assistant coach carousel to begin.  Which should happen at anytime.  The rumor mill continues with the familiar names like Greg Roman and Dan Enos, there is also a rumor that Jimmy will run the Pistol offense which is a better match for Patterson and McCaffrey. 

• Texas A&M wanted to hire LSU's defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.  So to stop that process, LSU signed Dave to a $2.5M a year deal for 4 years.   Wow!  If I were Don Brown, I would send that article to Warde Manual.

• Chip Kelly hired former Michigan LB and coach Roy Manning from Washington State.  Roy will coach Special Teams at UCLA.  Roy was in high demand and many PAC 12 schools wanted to hire him.

• Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold have both declared for the NFL Draft.

• The RR lawsuit at Arizona is getting ugly.  More details are here.  It will be interesting to see where they go with this opening.

• The Under Armour All American Game is on today in Orlando.   It will be on at 6:00.  Myles Simms is playing and so is Michigan target OT Nicholas Petit-Frere.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/michigan-thursday-winovich-back.html

Maryland Commerce accepting applications for nonprofit funding

The Maryland Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Maryland Nonprofit Development Center, is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations seeking short-term operational support.

The Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan Account (NIMBL) is an interest-free, micro bridge loan fund that provides funding up to $25,000 to qualifying nonprofits between the award date of a government grant or contract and the actual receipt of those funds.

“Many nonprofits depend on government grants or contacts to pay operational expenses, and when there is a delay in the delivery of those funds, it can seriously impact an organization’s ability to carry out its mission,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “This program will address an important and often overlooked gap in the nonprofit community, and provide an immediate solution to a short-term cash flow problem.”

The first recipient through the NIMBL loan program is Adventure Theatre MTC located in Montgomery County. The nonprofit was formed when two separate organizations – Adventure Theatre and the Musical Theater Center – merged in 2012, creating an academy to inspire new generations of artists and the admirers of the arts. In the past year, Adventure Theatre MTC has received numerous nominations through the Annual Helen Hayes Awards for its adaptations of Jumanji, The Emperor’s Nightingale, James and the Giant Peach, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Did you know the nonprofit arts sector in Maryland generates more than $1 billion to the state’s economy?

“The staff of Maryland Commerce helped us pull together all the information we needed and supported us through a very straightforward process,” said Leon Seeman, managing director Adventure Theatre MTC. “This legislation has enabled us to meet payroll while waiting on our government funding, and we are thrilled with the results.”

Nonprofits receiving NIMBL funding must be located in the state and determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from taxation under Section 501(c) (3), (4) or (6) under the Internal Revenue Code.

Applications are only accepted from qualifying nonprofits with written confirmation from a government entity for funds via government grants or contracts that have not yet been received. Repayment of the loan can be no later than the date of the final grant or contract payment to the nonprofit. NIMBL loans can only be used for operating expenses.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, Maryland is home to more than 30,000 nonprofit organizations, employing nearly 263,000 workers and 11% of the workforce. If you are interested in applying or learning more about NIMBL, visit commerce.maryland.gov/nimbl.

The post Maryland Commerce accepting applications for nonprofit funding appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/01/maryland-commerce-accepting-applications-nonprofit-funding/

Wolverine Wednesday: Rich Rod Gets Fired and Rumor Mill

Rich Rod has found himself in another mess as he was fired last night from Arizona amid sexual harassment claims and a pending law suit.  After being fired as Michigan's head coach in 2010, Rich Rod sat out for a couple of years before joining Arizona in 2012.  He has been with the Wildcats for six season and had a 43-35 record, which is an average of  less than 6 wins a year.


RR was on the hot seat this season but got out to a 6-2 start and seemed to have found his next Pat White or Denard with Arizona QB Khalil Tate.  The team then took a step back and finished 7-6 with a loss to Purdue in the bowl game. 


Arizona did their own 10 week investigation and cleared Rich Rodriguez of all claims but it seems the filing of the law suit and the finish to the season was enough for the University to move in another direction.     Of course, RR will fight these claims: "My coaching staff and I were very excited about the trajectory of our young team, and looked forward to 2018 and beyond," Rodriguez said in his statement. "... To my players, staff and supporters, it's been an honor to lead and serve you. As I'm sure that you would expect me to do, I will vigorously fight these fabricated and groundless claims.


------
Prior to the bowl game, there was some news that broke that we haven't mentioned here yet.   It seems Michigan has hired it's new S&C coach in former Wisconsin and Arkansas S&C coach Ben Herbert to replace Kevin Tolbert.  Ben played at Wisconsin and has been Bret Bielema's guy as he worked for Bret for 4 years at Wisconsin and during his time at Arkansas.    Jimmy mentioned he was not happy with Michigan's strength after the OSU game and quickly moved out Kevin Tolbert. 


I think the S&C coach is an important role on any team as this is the only coach that can work with the players on a daily basis.   He can help players reach their goals and keeps them motivated during the off season.   Let's hope Ben can bring some energy and some Wisconsin offensive line secrets and strength.

• JayRaymond Hall has officially left Michigan for Central Michigan.   Which seems like a soft landing place for Michigan transfers.  Mgolog heard that JayRay had lost a lot of weight and wondered if he was ever going to be big enough to play in the Big 10.   Good Luck to him. 

News is starting to leak out that there was a number of coaching distractions on Michigan's staff prior to the bowl game.  These are just rumors at this point, but it looks like Michigan could clear house on the offensive side of the ball and will have to work to keep it's defensive staff.


Names to keep an eye on for offense:  Greg Roman, Dan Enos, and Al Washington (Special Teams). 


It also sounds like that Alabama is trying to hire Chris Partridge. 


Greg Fry was on FSU campus yesterday.


Don Brown is expected to stay of course and I wouldn't be surprised if others try to come for Zordich as well.  I doubt Greg Mattison is planning a move and is expected to retire from coaching in Ann Arbor when he is ready.


Greg Roman is currently working for Jimmy's brother in Baltimore and worked with Jimmy at Stanford and the 49'ers.   Dan Enos we covered yesterday and is known as a great recruiter (but a former Sparty QB).  Al Washington is currently the Specials Teams coach for BC.


More to come on this needed change on offense.





from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/01/wolverine-wednesday-rich-rod-gets-fired.html