MSAC announces more than 100 artist awards

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) has announced that $246,000 has been awarded to 105 Maryland artists through the 2019 Individual Artist Awards (IAA). 

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/msac-announces-more-100-artist-awards/

Michigan Tuesday: I Was Close But Picked the Wrong Guy

Prior to the draft, I predicted the Green Bay Packers would take Chase Winovich in the second round give him #52 and have an able replacement for Clay Matthews (who signed with the Rams).    I was close, they actually used their 1st round pick on a former Wolverine DE Rashan Gary, who now is expected to wear #52.

Good luck to Rashan and Chase in New England.

• Speaking of former Wolverines, TE Ian Bunting is getting a shot in the NFL with a UDFA with the Chicago Bears.  Ian did a grad transfer to CAL this past season. 

• Michigan finally has a better QB room then OSU.  Case in point, OSU has just accepted a grad transfer from UK QB Gunnar Hoak.   He is from Columbus and will have 2 years to play or actually back-up.  The kid gets free grad school, so you can't blame him. 

• The Michigan Football Team leaves for Africa this week.  Photo below is an example of the Jordan gear they will be wearing on the trip.  

• Peppers sponsored an Adidas shopping spree in NYC yesterday. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/04/michigan-tuesday-i-was-close-but-picked.html

Michigan Monday: Wolverine Draft and Free Agent Signings in Review

We know what happened Thursday night in the first round, so we will skip the success Devin Bush and Rashan Gary had.

It really started Friday night when Chase Winovich gets picked by the Patriots in the 3rd round and then a few picks later David Long by his hometown Rams.  Both locations are really good situations for both players.  Chase will get a chance to compete at DE right away in New England and the Rams have some high price talent at CB that won't be there for long :).   Getting drafted by both Super Bowl teams is a home run in the 3rd round!

Then the draft slowed down for the Wolverines with only Zach Gentry going to the Pittsburg Steelers in the 5th round, joining his first round teammate Devin Bush.  I'm happy for Zach as he had a terrible Combine but a much better pro day in Ann Arbor.  Mike Tomlin was in attendance for Michigan's Pro Day and drafted 2 Wolverines.   The Steelers love a big TE and if Zach can catch the ball, he should have a great shot of making a roster that is trying to get younger.

If Gentry was the only Wolverine drafted on Saturday, that means RB Karan Higdon went un-drafted.  I know many of you will be upset he skipped the Peach Bowl Exhibition but I personally won't blame a player for trying to stay healthy after watching Jake Butt a few years earlier.    Higdon said on social media that many teams where concerned about his health and a surgery.   I wasn't aware of any recent surgeries.

After the draft ended on Saturday, the flood gate offers for Michigan's un-drafted players opened up.   Some will argue that being an UDFA is better than being drafted in the 7th round because as an UDFA you have options on the team you sign with.

Here is the run down of the Wolverines that signed UDFA contracts:

• Higdon - Signed with the Texans.  Which is a good spot of him and team where he will get a legit shot to make the team.  
• Kinnel with the Bengals 
• Watson with the Jaguars 
• JBB to the Redskins
• Marshall to the Bears
• Mone with the Seahawks 
• Former Michigan QB Wilton Speight to the 49'ers

Now the question remains, who has the best shot to make a roster?  Higdon has the best shot with the Texans but I also like Mone's chances with the Seahawks.  

Good luck to all the former Wolverines in their pro careers!  

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/04/michigan-monday-wolverine-draft-and.html

Renovated historic property promotes tourism and luxury on Tilghman Island

Guests of the Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island may find themselves questioning whether they are at a destination vacation spot like Martha’s Vineyard or the Hamptons. The white wrap-around porches and balconies of the 1989 original buildings offer stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay and all who voyage out on her waters for commerce, pleasure, or sport. The Wylder’s nine acres on Talbot County’s Tilghman Island are deeply entrenched in Eastern Shore fishing history, a story that attracted Wylder’s CEO and founder, John Flannigan, to the property.

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/renovated-historic-property-promotes-tourism-and-luxury-tilghman-island/

Meet the Marylanders: Lauren builds a strong cybersecurity career here

Great STEM programs at UMBC originally attracted Lauren Mazzoli to Maryland for undergraduate education. And it’s the state’s the great STEM ecosystem that kept her here after graduation. The two-time UMBC alumna and Northrop Grumman Systems Engineer recently talked with us about her decision to live and work in Maryland. 

from https://open.maryland.gov/blog/meet-marylanders-lauren/

Michigan Friday: Happy For #10 & #3

If you asked me to rank Michigan's defensive players on performance last year.   This is how I would have ranked them:

1. Devin Bush 
2. Chase Winovich 
3. David Long
4. Rashan Gary 

The NFL Draft research coverage is getting much better.   I used to scratch my head when it came to Wolverines in the Draft.  It seemed the analysts didn't watch enough tape on the Wolverines and had strange takes on former Michigan players.   I have also been wrong, I never expected Frank Clark to sign a $100M contract.   

The reviews on Gary is spot on, he didn't have the production numbers he should have, but he commonly was double teamed (which freed up Winovich) but he also played through a shoulder injury that he injured in that disastrous practice prior to the ND game that also took out Black.    Green Bay is considering playing Gary at LB in what I expect is the Clay Matthews role.   Gary is still an athletic freak and I can see him doing big things in Green Bay.  

Devin is just a missile and a great pick for the Steelers who pride themselves on great LB play.  He is a perfect fit for the Steel City and Chase Winovich's home town.

Congrats to both Devin and Rashan on getting drafted by legendary NFL franchises. 

I expect we hear Winovich and Long's name in the second round tonight.

• I wasn't surprised about Haskins dropping but was surprised that Daniel Jones went #6.   The Giants have had a head scratching off season. 

• Coach Gattis and Coach Brown are traveling this week visiting recruits in the 2020 and 21 classes.  

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/04/michigan-friday-happy-for-10-3.html

Michigan Thursday: Important Day For Rashan and Devin

Good luck to Rashan Gary and Devin Bush tonight.   Both are expected to be taken in the first 20 picks of the NFL Draft.  

Time to keep an eye on the Transfer Portal...………….

Michigan still has too many guys on scholarship right now.  I have heard Michigan currently has 92 to 87 players currently on scholarship which clearly puts them over the 85 limit.   Some are walk-ons that received a scholarship (which are usually just for 1 year) and others are taking a spot when they probably have a foot out the door.

These numbers don't give the Michigan coaches a ton of flexibility with transfer portal and trying to fill needs for next season.   The two areas we all know too well are DT and RB.    The breaking news is that 5 star RB Tavien Feaster is planning a graduate transfer and has put his name in the portal.  He is expected to graduate at the end of the summer.   Of course, there isn't any rumors yet if Michigan is looking at him.   He of course would have interest in the Wolverines and the academics to get admitted to graduate school.

We will see what happens but this new process could get Michigan a chance at a new contributor.

• Port Huron Northern DE Braiden McGregor is expected to visit A2 again this weekend.  He continues to be a top prospect for the Wolverines in the 2020 class. 

• 4 star NJ RB Jalen Berger from Don Bosco (Peppers old HS) is also expected to visit this weekend. 

• 4 star Daniyel Ngata RB from California will also visit  

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2019/04/michigan-thursday-important-day-for.html