Michigan Thursday: Looks Like McElwain Is The Guy

Sam Webb and 24/7 are reporting that sources have confirmed former Florida head coach and Alabama OC Jim McElwain is expected to take a role on Jimmy's staff as it's final assistant.   This is the role that Dan Enos had a cup of coffee in before heading to Alabama, where it seemed he wanted to be all along.  


If you read this blog, you know where I stand on this hire.  I don't see much reason to bring Jim in at this point as his program at Florida had very similar issues to what Michigan has right now.   With that said, he does have a nice coaching resume and is over qualified for the role. 


What might be more interesting then the hire is what is projected to be his role in the offense.   Insiders are saying the McElwain will be taking over the OC and WR coaching role.   With Drevno being demoted to OL coach and Pep to QB coach.   Now the question remains, do you pay your OL and QB coach a $1M a year?  They both have contracts, so I guess the answer is Yes.


I have been a big supporter of Jimmy and his off season actions.  I love the European trips, the satellite camps, IMG spring breaks, and Signing of the Stars.    I just don't get this off season at all.  I don't get what seemed to be a de-prioritization of the 2018 class,  I don't understand what is going on with his coaching staff and his recent hires.  Not to mention a completely poor performance in the Outback Bowl and the questionable status of players like RB Kareem Walker and WR Grant Perry. 


The one coach Jimmy has been able to beat, he hires after his time at Florida goes down in flames.  At this point, its hard to tell if Jimmy is a coaching genius or a desperate coach looking for a Hail Mary.   To say the least, I'm very concerned at where this is heading.  Yes, those fears are a bit pre-mature but there seems to be more questions then answers at this point.  


With all of that said, Jimmy can erase any doubt with an eligible Shea Patterson and a double digit win season next year. 

• Michigan Basketball got its win against Iowa last night.   They host #8 OSU on Sunday and then hit the road for two final games before the Big 10 Tournament in NYC.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/02/michigan-thursday-looks-like-mcelwain.html

Wolverine Wednesday: Michigan Takes on Iowa Tonight

The Michigan Basketball team plays Iowa tonight at Crisler.  It's an early 6:30 tip and will be on BTN.  The 20 win Wolverines are favored by 11 in the game and looking to continue it's NCAA resume.   Tonight is a must win for the Wolverines as they host OSU on Sunday and then go on the road to finish the season against Penn State and Maryland.   Those 3 games are winnable but we know the Wolverines sometimes struggle on the road. 

• West Bloomfield (MI) 2019 4-star LB Lance Dixon and 2019 3-star WR Tre Mosley are visiting Ann Arbor on Thursday.

• Calvin Anderson will be visiting Oklahoma this weekend and then will make a decision between Michigan, OU, Texas, and Auburn. 

• Michigan has offered 2019 Walled Lake (Mich.) Western QB Sam Johnson

• Jimmy said on his podcast that he expects Ryan Hayes to be a OT at Michigan.  That being an athletic TE in high school should only help prepare him to be an OT.

• Michigan again lead the nation in football attendance with an average of over 111,000 people at the Big House.

Happy Valentines Day!





from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/02/wolverine-wednesday-michigan-takes-on.html

Celebrate Black History Month in Maryland

This month we celebrate Black History Month. All across the nation, Americans from every background are pausing to reflect on the courage, bravery and sheer tenacity of Black activists throughout history. Ranging from the writings of W.E.B. DuBois to Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, American history has no shortage of Black culture woven in the pages of its history book.

Here in Maryland, some of history’s strongest activists have deep roots in the state. Harriet Tubman, for instance, was born into slavery near Cambridge in Dorchester County. In 1849, she escaped to the north but returned to her home state multiple times over the next decade to help many families reach freedom. Frederick Douglass, born in Talbot County, escaped from slavery by catching a north-bound train out of Baltimore and went on to become one of the most well-known abolitionists and writers ever.

With these and other prominent historical figures, Maryland offers a variety of family-friendly exhibits and educational experiences in celebration of African American culture in February and all year round. Here are a few ideas to try this month.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center
Located on the Eastern Shore, the newly opened Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center welcomed 100,000 guests over the past year. Tubman – who played an instrumental role in not only American history, but Maryland history – is recognized for her heroism in the Underground Railroad. Visitors are able to immerse themselves in the landscape Tubman and others would have experienced in order to escape to freedom. The center hosts educational programs on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am – 5pm.

The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Located ten minutes from the Inner Harbor, the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum houses more than 100 life-size figures of esteemed African Americans. The exhibits are displayed with sound effects for historical accuracy and lead visitors on a journey through time from the Middle Passage to the election of President Barack Obama. Wax figures of outstanding Marylanders such as Billie Holiday and Bea Gaddy stand as positive representations of extraordinary Blacks in American history.

Frederick Douglass Bicentennial
In honor of Frederick Douglass’ 200th birthday, the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum in Baltimore will host a book fair on February 24 from 12 – 4pm. Authors, publishers and spoken word performers will have the chance to showcase their work during this event, which is free and open to the public.

In addition, Frederick Douglass’ new wax figure – which will be housed at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum – is set to be unveiled at the maritime park on February 17 from 12 – 4pm. Read more.

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum – a celebration of Maryland’s African American community – has an outstanding set of exhibits on display this month. Reginald F. Lewis, a Baltimore native, owned a venture capital firm and was recognized by Forbes one of the 400 richest men in America in 1992. During his lifetime, he donated more than $10 million to non-profits and gave a $5 million grant to fund the museum in his name.

Special exhibitions on display this month include Intimate Portraits of Iconic African Americans and Freedom: Emancipation Quilted and Stitched.

Find even more ways to celebrate Black History Month here.

The post Celebrate Black History Month in Maryland appeared first on MDBIZNews.

from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2018/02/celebrate-black-history-month-maryland/

Michigan Tuesday: An Early Look at 2019 Recruiting

It seems Jimmy and staff started to prioritize the 2019 class back in the middle of the 2018 recruiting cycle.   Not sure what the thinking was but Michigan fans are expecting a top 5 class and the Wolverines are off to a great start. 

 

Current Commits:
5 Star DE or OT Chris Hinton - Rated #14 in the Country by 24/7
4 Star OG Nolan Rumler - Rated #63 in the country and from Akron, Oho
4 Star DE Stephen Herron Jr. - Rated #69 and is from Louisville
3 Star LB Charles Thomas, from IMG

 

As you can see Michigan already has committed players ranked higher then the entire 2018 class.  They are also strongly in on the following:

• #1 Ranked RB Quavaris Crouch
• 6'7 and 325 pound OT Xavier Truss
• Teammates at Belleville High School:  5 Star OL Devontae Dobbs and 4 star MSU Commit DB Julian Barnett.  Michigan has some ground to make up with both guys but it seems a strong push lately has gotten the talented duo's attention.
• Maryland OT William Harrod
• IL OT Trevor Keegan

and many more....................

 

Michigan has changed recruiting strategies for 2019 and will go back to coaches being in charge of a certain area or state.   They have also blasted out a ton of offers, so expect their board to be pretty much in flux.  A large class over 25 players is expected.    Both lines will also be a priority as they were a big miss in the 2018 class.

• Michigan of course continues to recruit Rice Grad Transfer OT Calvin Anderson .   Calvin visited Auburn last weekend and has put them in his top group with Michigan and Texas.  Calvin continues to enjoy the recruiting process and probably is still a month or so away from making a decision.   He did say that this is a business decision and a 7 month commitment to get him to the NFL.  So leaving Texas is a possibility as he wants to pick the best program that will continue to develop his skills and get him in the NFL Draft.  

• Nebraska has already sold out their Spring Game.  Lots of excitement for Scott Frost and being  able to install a new offense in 14 practices. 

• ESPN brought out their first look at the NBA Mock Draft, Wagner was not listed in the first round.

• Michigan lost a recruiting staff member in coordinator Cooper Petagna who is headed to Washington.

• Another name has appeared for the 10th coaching position in former Jets OC and Harbaugh assistant coach John Morton.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/02/michigan-tuesday-early-look-at-2019.html

Michigan Monday: More Rumors About McElwain

There continues to be more buzz around Jim McElwain being hired by Jimmy as the 10th/WR coach. There was one report that even suggested he was going to call plays.   I am  and will remain 100% against this hire.   I get that he is over qualified for the role, that he was a great offensive mind at Alabama (who isn't?) and did a nice job at Colorado State with our old friend Dee Hart.   I get it. 


His offense at Florida was terrible and the only thing that kept him in that role was a great defense and a down SEC division.  He had historic QB troubles and was a complete disaster at the end.   Remember when he said he got a death threat from a fan and later it was found that he made it up?  He also isn't a big fan of Jimmy's see the below GIF of ESPN asking him for one word to describe Jim Harbaugh. 

So, Coach McElwain, any thoughts on Jim Harbaugh? https://t.co/kIXkkdbV5D pic.twitter.com/2scuYCHpUF

— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) August 11, 2016

At least Michigan is surrounded by fresh water lakes.  I also wouldn't have him recruit South Florida, just in case he wants to do some deep sea fishing.

• Michigan Basketball got a win in Wisconsin yesterday.  The Badgers are last in the Big Ten this year but the Kohl Center has been a house of horrors for the Wolverines in the past.   They were up by 22 in the first half and won by 11.  This was the programs 20th win on the year.

• It's time to start focusing on the 2019 class, which seems like the coaches have been doing for about 12 months now.   We will start looking at some targets and review some of the commits already in the boat as the week goes on.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/02/michigan-monday-more-rumors-about.html

Michigan Friday: Good News on Grant

Grant Newsome spoke to the Detroit News yesterday at Mott Children's Hospital and it says he feels like he could play right now and has been doing winter conditioning with the team.  Chase, Grant, and Don Brown were at Mott to deliver the check for the funds that were raised prior to the bowl game.  

“It’s up to the doctors at this point,” Newsome said. “I feel confident that I could play right now and I could contribute to this team, but ultimately, it’s up to the doctors. Obviously, they’re going to make the decision that’s in my best interests and I’m going to respect that because obviously certain things are bigger than football.

“I feel like I’m in a good place in my recovery, and we’ll see what they say, if it’s clearance now or it’s clearance we want you to wait a little bit or if it’s we want you to retire. It’s really up to them, but I have the utmost faith in them and their decision.”

If Grant can comeback and play, that would be great news for the offensive line and a great motivator for that unit.

• The next candidate rumored to have been interviewed for the 10th coaching position is former Michigan assistant and LSU OC Cam Cameron.  I like this hire much better then the Shark Lover.  Cam was also the OC for the Baltimore Ravens.

• Jimmy on new Utah DB grad transfer Casey Hughes on whether he will play safety or corner:  “Another thing to be determined," Harbaugh said. "He has the ability to be a corner. Also has the ability – by what compiles our best secondary – to be a nickel or safety. He's got the ability to play all three of those, and we'll determine that when he gets here. Coverage ability plus tackling ability. He's made quite a few tackles and he's a strong tackler.”

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/02/michigan-friday-good-news-on-grant.html

Michigan Thursday: Harbaugh At A Cross Roads

Things have not been going well for Jimmy and Michigan's program lately. Things we thought we knew about Jimmy have not really materialized as Michigan head coach.  For example:

• Perception was that Jimmy was one of the best developer of QB's.  He hasn't been successful doing that at Michigan yet and has relied on 3 QB transfers from other programs.
• Michigan would win its rivalry games - Jimmy has yet to beat OSU and has one win over MSU.
• Michigan's power run offense would attract top level offensive lineman - that unit has under preformed and the 2018 class has two tackles and one could end up as a TE.
• With his NFL experience, recruits would flock to the Ann Arbor to be prepped by the former Super Bowl coach.  I would give him a push on this one, his other classes have been pretty good, the 2018 was a bit disappointing. 
• Jimmy's offense and play calling would be an advantage - In his presser he said, they were self-auditing their offensive strategy.   The last two years have been very disappointing on that side of the ball.

With his top choice at QB TBD if he can even play this year and the toughest schedule in the nation.   Jimmy and staff have their work cut out for them this off season.  


Don't get me wrong, things are not on fire like they were with Rich Rod or Hoke but Jimmy is starting to question his offensive approach and making some good moves like hiring Ed Warinner  former OSU and Minnesota OC as an offensive analyst.  Jimmy couldn't stop talking about Ed at his presser yesterday.


He also has to hire a 10th coach to replace Enos and I hope he makes a good hire for that role.  I'm strongly against the hire of shark lover Jim McElwain.   His offense was terrible at Florida and he couldn't develop QB's either. 


I do tip my hit to Jimmy hiring Warinner and University of San Diego OC Tanner Engstrand.  Those guys will bring some new ideas and approaches to the offensive side of the ball.  Time to make some changes and right now that doesn't seem to be letting go Drevno or Pep.   Jimmy also mentioned he was having interviews on NSD for the 10th assistant role. 


I know we can all be prisoners of the moment, but for Michigan to strike out on offensive lineman or defensive linemen between the signing days is very disappointing and just continuing the narrative of Michigan Football losing the off season.


-------


How did Michigan finish in ranking for the 2018 class?


24/7: #21
Rivals: #25
ESPN: #20


This is one of the lowest ranked classes for Michigan since the Hoke - RR transition year. 




from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/02/michigan-thursday-harbaugh-at-cross.html