Jonas Mouton Drafted by San Diego

Former Michigan safety/linebacker Jonas Mouton was selected with the 29^th pick in the second round by the San Diego Chargers. I follow the draft pretty close, and I never saw him ranked above a 6^th round prospect. This is most likely a situation of a guy impressing a team on an individual workout, and reaching to make sure they get him. Mouton was a five star safety recruit when he arrived at Michigan, but eventually outgrew the position and moved to linebacker. He led the Big Ten in tackles last season but seemingly lacked the speed to be an early draft pick.

Regardless, I wish him the best of luck in San Diego. Worst case, you can always say you were drafted ahead of Greg Jones.

Go Blue!

Joe Bolden commits to Michigan

Michigan picked up commitment number 7 on Friday, securing a pledge from OLB Joe Bolden. He is the #27 OLB in the country according to Scout.com.  Bolden held offers from Penn State (Linebacker U), Tennessee, Stanford, and North Carolina. He joins Royce Jenkins-Stone and Kaleb Ringer to most likely finish the linebacker class for 2012. This means James Ross from Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s will probably be going elsewhere.

Bolden comes from Cincinnati Colerain High School, home to former Michigan players B.J. Askew and Mister Simpson.

Welcome to Michigan, Joe. Go Blue!

Positional Analysis-QB

Quarterback is a pretty big position of need in this year’s recruiting cycle. Hoke, Borges, and company need to get a guy that fits their system. After striking out on Zeke Pike, I decided to do an in-depth analysis of the quarterback position.

Playing catch-up

There have been some smaller U of M related items the past couple of days that I figured I would cover at one time.

First, the bad news....

Point Guard Darius Morris has officially declared for the NBA Draft, but has not hired an agent. College underclassmen have until May 8th to withdraw their names provided they haven't hired an agent. This is a fairly common move for players who break out like Morris did. I would be surprised if he didn't return to Michigan, but it only takes one team to "guarantee" to take him in the first round. More to come as this develops...

On the football side, CB Cullen Christian has decided to transfer. He was a highly regarded recruit, but got passed on the depth chart by everyone who could spell "cornerback" last year. This is case 23,187,069 why recruiting is an inexact science. It helps open a scholarship, but will hurt the APR.

As expected, Zeke Pike took the money gave his verbal commitment to Auburn. He was a strong Michigan lean until he visited Auburn. He said "It was a God thing, I can't explain it" after committing. I'm sure Cecil Newton could explain it. Enjoy your vacated wins, Zeke. This leaves the big targets at QB as Gunner Kiel and Maty Mauk. There are a few "fallback option" guys as well. I may devote a whole post to this this week. 

On to better news. As I mentioned , Michigan received two commitments yesterday. I wondered how they would affect Ron Thompson, but it looks like Funchess can play WR and Williams will be playing OT, so Thompson shouldn't get squeezed out. Funchess should also help with his FHH teammates Aaron Burbridge and Mario Ojemudia. I also really like saying and typing the name Funchess.

This is a great video. It chronicles the strange path of LB Marell Evans. I remember him as a recruit, forgot about him, then heard he was back on the team this spring. I am pulling for him.

Rich Rodriguez speaks on Michigan, calling coming here "a mistake". I believe the mistake was hiring Greg Robinson and Scott Shafer. I am still a fan of RR, but he should probably speak less.

This just goes to show that there is no "off season" in major college football. Go Blue!

Michigan picks up two TEs

This will be quick since I was about to walk out the door when I heard the news. Michigan received commitments from two tight ends this afternoon. I like how the commitments are coming in pairs from the same position.

Devin Funchess is the #6 TE in the country and is from Farmington Hills Harrison. This is a school that always produces Division I talent. I would venture to guess that he will be primarily a pass catcher at 6'4'' 205. Funchess also held offers from Nebraska, Virginia, Illinois, and Michigan State.

A.J. Williams will be the blocking TE of the two. He is 6'6'' 260 lbs. He is from Cincinnati and picked the Wolverines over Illinois, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Michigan State.

I again apologize for the brevity, but this news came fast and furious. Michigan now has 6 known commitments. 2OL, 2LB, and 2 TE. The difference between the Hoke regime and the RR regime is already showing.

Go Blue.

Zeke Pike to Announce Today

Today could be a huge day for the Michigan Football team. How huge? Around 6’5’’ and 235lbs. worth. Kentucky QB Zeke Pike will be making his college decision at 2:30pm today at his high school. Pike is the #2 QB in the nation according to Scout, and will be a 5 star to every recruiting service. He would be the highest rated QB to commit to Michigan since Ryan Mallett. But things aren’t looking that great for the Wolverines.

Pike has been one of the more vocal members of the 2012 class. He has stated his intentions of forming a “super class” with guys like WR Dorial Green-Beckham and RB Keith Marshall. He has said positive things about Michigan whenever he’s been asked, and has Michigan in his final 3. But he visited Auburn Saturday. And we all know how much they love their Quarterbacks down there, so we’ll see.

His final 3 consists of Auburn, Michigan, and Purdue.  So yeah…

On a brighter note, Michigan picked up their 5^th commitment over the weekend. We just don’t know who. The player silently committed to the coaches, and won’t be making it public for a few weeks. The hints have narrowed it down to an in-state, non-linebacker, defensive player. So it leaves guys like DL Matt Godin, DE Mario Ojemudia, and CB Terry Richardson as the most likely candidates. Or the hints could be wrong/false and it could be anyone.

So tune in here after 2:30 for an extremely upbeat “Zeke Pike commits to Michigan post” or a quick update to this post cursing Auburn’s name. And if it somehow ends up being Purdue, I hope you enjoyed my time here as much as I have. I'm not sure I could go on.

Go Blue. Pike would be a huge catch. (Yep, I made a pun)

EDIT-As expected, Pike chose Auburn.

Royce Jenkins-Stone commits to Michigan

The Wolverines got another huge pick-up Saturday, when Detroit Cass Tech LB Royce Jenkins-Stone gave his pledge to Brady Hoke. Despite Cass Tech being a Michigan recruiting pipeline, there was doubt that RJS would be Blue. Cass Tech has sent many players to U of M, but none with the offers of Stone. He chose Michigan over the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami (FL), Michigan State, and Oklahoma. He is listed as the #7 OLB prospect according to Scout. He will team with Kaleb Ringer and probably one of either James Ross or Joe Bolden to give Michigan a superb LB class. He is also thought to be somewhat of a package deal with Cass Tech CB Terry Richardson. Richardson is the #8 CB with offers from Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, and USC.

It’s always great to get top in-state players, and RJS is among the best. Let’s hope the ball keeps rolling. It’s a great year in-state, but there won’t be many scholarships to give. This could end up being a high quality, low volume class.

Congrats Royce, and Go Blue!

Kaleb Ringer commits to Michigan

Michigan will gain its 3^rd football commitment, Kaleb Ringer, “officially” on Friday around 6:00 PM. I say officially because he told the Dayton Daily News early, and they stole his thunder and leaked the story. Not to get on my blogger soapbox, but this is why people get their news from the internet. Anywho….

Kaleb Ringer is a LB from Northmont High School in Clayton, OH. As I mentioned previously, his name should be familiar. He is either the cousin or nephew of former Spartan and current Tennessee Titan RB Javon Ringer. There are conflicting reports on his exact relationship, but it matters not.

What does matter is that Ringer is a good player at a premium defensive position. He is listed as the #8 middle linebacker prospect in the country according to Scout. Rivals hasn’t gotten around to scouting him yet, but I would imagine he will be in the high 3 star to low 4 star range. He also held offers from Illinois, Indiana, Syracuse, and West Virginia.

This Saturday is also Michigan’s Spring Game. TomVH at MGoBlog has a comprehensive list of attendees. These events usually bring at least one commitment (which would have been Ringer) but could bring more this year.

Without any inside info, I wouldn’t be shocked if Michigan picked up another commitment in the next few days. Some players to keep an eye on are:

Joe Bolden-Linebacker from Cincinnati

Ron Thompson-Tight End from Michigan

Zeke Pike- Quarterback from Kentucky

This could be an exciting weekend, recruiting wise. Congrats Kaleb, and Go Blue.

(I know it seems weird to bash the Dayton paper for leaking the story before Friday, then posting this, but other sources are citing it now, and I already had most of this written)

Good Luck Michigan Hockey

 

 The university of Michigan is looking to win it's first National Championship in Hockey since 1998.  Go Blue!!

Check out the AnnArbor.com article by clicking here

"For Sale" sign is gone!

The "For Sale" sign is finally gone and the Pistons can finally move on and get back to winning.  The organization has fallen apart since the decision to sell the team started and now we finally have an owner. 

Read the whole story reported by the Free Press.... click here

Pistons' sale timeline

 March 13, 2009: William Davidson dies at age 86 and, in his 19-page will signed a week before his death, appoints widow Karen Davidson as one of three beneficiaries. Media reports about the will later reveal details about the Davidson family's plans for the franchise. Before Davidson's death, while his health is failing for most of 2009 and the franchise is valued at about $430 million, he says repeatedly that he will not sell the team and wants it kept in the family after he dies.

 Jan 20, 2010: Karen Davidson confirms in a one-sentence statement that the Pistons are for sale. News comes a day after The Detroit News quoted ex-minority owner Oscar Feldman as saying a potential Pistons sale was the "word around town."

 Feb. 17, 2010: After 32 years in the organization, Pistons CEO and president Tom Wilson resigns and joins Ilitch Holdings a week later as CEO and president of the new Ilitch Sports and Entertainment. He's considered the point man for a possible new downtown Detroit sports arena the Pistons and Red Wings could share if Ilitch buys the NBA team.

 March 12, 2010: Detroit mayor Dave Bing, a former Pistons player, tells reporters he hopes the Pistons' new owner moves the team downtown. Bing's interest in a Pistons move to Detroit prompts Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson to wage a fight to keep the team at The Palace in Auburn Hills.
 April 13, 2010: Karen Davidson hires Citigroup to assess the franchise's value. Several experts say the team could be worth between $300-350 million.

 July 16, 2010: Pistons and NBA officials deny a Las Vegas Sun report that claims the franchise could move to Sin City. The Sun story quotes Chris Milam, CEO of International Development Management LLC, as saying an unnamed team is "under contract" to relocate if "other pieces of the puzzle fall into place."

 Aug. 9, 2010: Mike Ilitch and his family make it clear in a conference call that they will pursue buying the Pistons. "Detroit is our home," Ilitch said in a statement read by his son, Chris Ilitch. "When I read in the paper there was the chance that this great sports town could lose one of its professional sports franchises, I just didn't see how we could let that happen." Chris Ilitch said the family remains committed to a new downtown Detroit arena for the Red Wings, regardless of whether the family purchases the Pistons.

 Aug. 13, 2010: Former NBA star and Michigan State legend Magic Johnson, a Lansing native, confirms in an interview with NBA.com he's been contacted by prospective Pistons owners about his interest in the franchise, and hints he is willing to explore the opportunity. "If Mike Ilitch or somebody — you've got a good guy back there already in Joe Dumars … if somebody said, 'Hey can you come and think about helping Joe Dumars?' then I would think about it," Johnson said.

 Sept. 23, 2010: Karen Davidson, at a team charity event, said the sale is "progressing very well," and expects it to be finalized by the start of the regular season.

 Oct. 6, 2010: The Detroit News reports Mike Ilitch is the frontrunner to purchase the Pistons and made a bid in excess of $400 million. Ilitch and his family decline comment. Businessmen George Postolos and Tom Gores, also believed to be bidders, decline to disclose their interest in the franchise.

 Oct. 21, 2010: NBA commissioner David Stern, attending an NBA Board of Governor's meeting, tells ESPN.com he expects the sale to be finalized in November. "It's not as fast a track as Golden State (another pending sale)," Stern said. "But we're looking for something definitive to happen in the month of November."

 Oct. 22, 2010: Johnson tells the Los Angeles Times he will talk to Mike Ilitch about a possible purchase of the Pistons, after speculation that the NBA Hall of Famer is involved in the sale. Johnson adds he will look at "every opportunity" to be a majority owner of a sports team.

 Oct. 29, 2010: Karen Davidson tells reporters before a Pistons home game she will have no public comment about the pending sale when it's finalized. "I'm going to hand over the keys and walk away," she said.

 Nov. 8, 2010: Mike Ilitch tells Yahoo! Sports he's "close — real close" to finalizing a deal to purchase the Pistons. Ilitch, attending a Hockey Hall of Fame ceremony in Toronto, also tells the website his company, Ilitch Holdings Inc., wants to build a stadium in Detroit that houses the Red Wings and Pistons.

  Nov. 13, 2010: After failing to reach a deal during a 30-day exclusivity period, Karen Davidson reopens the bidding process, contacting other possible suitors, including Gores.

 Dec. 16, 2010: A Forbes.com report asserts Mike Ilitch has reduced his bid to buy the Pistons from more than $400 million to $360 million.

 Jan. 7, 2011: The Detroit News reports Gores has solidified his position as the frontrunner to buy the team and is granted a 30-day exclusive negotiating window.
 
 Jan. 27, 2011: A Forbes magazine report said the worth of the Pistons has dropped from $475 million to $360 million in one year.

 Feb. 9, 2011: Gores sits with Davidson in her Palace suite, fueling speculation a deal might be near.

 Feb. 11, 2011: Despite incorrect reports that Gores had agreed to buy the team, Pistons officials announce that they have extended exclusive negotiations with Gores for two more weeks.

 Feb. 26, 2011: The period of exclusivity has ended with Gores, but the sides continue to negotiate.

 April, 8, 2011: Gores' firm, Platinum Equity, announces it has a "definitive agreement" to buy the Pistons.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110409/SPORTS0102/104090349/Pistons--sale-timeline#ixzz1J2bkoMDZ

Tigers show promise but lose 2 of 3 to New York

The first game of the season is always full of emotion when your favorite team is involved. When the Tigers kicked off the 2011 season last Thursday I was filled with the anxiety of an off-season’s worth of anticipation and expectations as well as the grief off being stuck in a meeting from exactly 1pm until 4pm. Looking back on the opening series it’s easy to get caught up in a 1-2 start. Thankfully I’m blessed with the wherewithal to understand that we have 159 games left before the regular season is over. With that said, I think we all have our concerns.

  

Verlander looked ok through six but let his pitch count get away from him early. I think it’s going to be a tragic story when he blows his shoulder out after one 100+ pitch game too many. Thursday’s problem was the Tiger’s .19

4 batting average. The front of the lineup looked weak and no one else tried to step up.

 

Saturday saw Penny roughed up early and New York couldn’t miss the ball if they tried, and I think they did at one point. Watching Penny get knocked around gave me that uneasy feeling like when you buy a new car then you start realizing how much you don’t really like it. I hope it works out with him but a so/so spring and a bad first start puts him in kind of a hole so far as I’m concerned.

Sunday brought us our first win and man it was great to watch. Detroit put on an offensive firework display and it was finally enough that the Yank’s couldn’t catch up and pull ahead.

So here we are after the opening series. I think it’s a small bump at the start of the road and it’s going to take some time to get it together. We are heading to Baltimore who have been hot since  last July, so let’s stay calm and see where we end up at the end of the week.