MichiBlogger

I WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT THE WOLVERINES WOULD HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE: Rutgers coach Schiano tells U-M no.

CALLED OUT: Cowboys hope to beat Lions and shut up QB Jon Kitna

Kitna said Cowboys linebackers were not effective, among other things, and ripped No. 56, Bradie James, in particular during a radio interview after leading the Lions to an improbable win at Dallas to end the 2006 regular season.

James said Sunday’s game at Ford Field has been circled on his calendar all year and called Kitna’s comments “classless” when the team returned from a long break after beating Green Bay.

“In a sense, we’ve all been called out,” Dallas linebacker Kevin Burnett said.

The last thing Dallas needs is another reason to beat Detroit, but they’ve got it anyway.

In three previous games against NFC East teams (which is Dallas’ division), the Lions are 0-3 while being outscored by a combined 106-34.

PICS FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND’S GVSU PLAYOFF WIN OVER CENTRAL WASHINGTON. With commentary by the photographer. Click each for a better look.

#61 is Brandon Barnes, Offensive Captain & Senior OT from Detroit Pershing at 6-2 and 315 lbs.
#4 is All-American Senior LB & Defensive Captain at 6-2 and 234 lbs., Anthony Adams of Troy, Michigan.

Also, #6 Junior TE, Scott Basko at 6-5 and 265 lbs out of Lansing. He is a stud as is Adams!

Their QB is #13, Sophmore Brad Iciek (pernounced I-check) of Grandville, Michigan who is up for the Harlan Hill Award.

(more…)

HUGE BASEBALL NEWS: Tigers acquiring Cabrera, Willis in mega-deal

The Detroit Tigers reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday to acquire Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Florida Marlins for a package of six players, an unexpected blockbuster trade that developed quickly at the winter meetings..Florida gets lefty Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin and four other prospects from the Tigers, a baseball official with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been finalized.

The Tigers are going to have quite a lineup if this happens.

TOMORROW: National Ammo Day. Buy 100 rounds per gun. Follow the link to GunPundit for more info.

GRAND VALLEY FOOTBALL ROLLS ON: 20 Lakers Earn 2007 All-GLIAC Plaudits

Grand Valley State placed 20 student-athletes on the 2007 All-GLIAC teams it was announced Wednesday by the league office. In addition, fourth-year head coach Chuck Martin was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career, while OT Brandon Barnes picked up his second straight GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year award, CB Brandon Carr was named the Defensive Back of the Year and RB James Berezik was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

JUST PLAIN MEAN: Michigan Ave. in Columbus, Ohio, gets new name ahead of big game

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — While Ohio State and Michigan re-ignite their rivalry, a Columbus aluminum siding business couldn’t deal with its address on the city’s Michigan Avenue.

So, APCO Industries contacted City Hall to see what could be done.

During a celebration featuring Mayor Michael Coleman, Ohio State President Gordon Gee and mascot Brutus Buckeye, a new scarlet and gray street sign was unveiled Wednesday with the name “Buckeye Way.”

That’ll show us.

OPENING DAY: A great photo at Michigan in Pictures.

If you’re a hunter (I’m not) good luck, shoot straight, and be safe!

OOPS: Big Ten may have made a very costly mistake:

Did the Big Ten make a $4.5 million mistake by allowing an officiating crew that was facing a suspension this weekend to work last Saturday’s Illinois-Ohio State game?

As I reported last week, a source told me the conference plans to suspend the crew that officiated the Nov. 3 Purdue-Penn State game based on a review of its work in that game. That same crew worked one of the biggest Big Ten games of the year last weekend in Columbus.

Incredible.

Why would the Big Ten assign the crew — a few of whom could be fired for their work in the Purdue-Penn State game — to a game of this importance?

Tom Dienhart of the Sporting News makes the point that “perception matters more than reality” and that the conference should not have used this team of officials for such an important game. I can’t really disagree, but it also doesn’t seem that these officials did anything questionable that cost OSU the game. (Buckeye fans might have a different opinion, of course…)

This is worth pointing out and should be taken as a lesson learned by avoiding what could have been quite a mess if this crew messed up and it then came out that they were already being investigated for earlier issues. Now that would have been a “very costly mistake.”

It didn’t happen, though, so let’s not get too worked up about it.

JAY NOVACEK CALLS TODAY’S GAME THE “UPSET SPECIAL”:

Lions (6-2) at Cardinals (3-5)

It’s the upset special – Kurt Warner will get back on track against the Lions. He can be very dangerous when he’s healthy and in synch with his receivers, and Arizona will regain some mojo at home.

The Cardinals defense will rise up and slow down the Lions. Detroit hasn’t faced much adversity this season and will struggle when they fall behind.

Pick: Cardinals.

Lions fans know that this is exactly the sort of game, coming off a big win against a lowly team on the road, that the old Lions would invariably lose. These aren’t exactly the old Lions, but they have yet to prove that they’re the new Lions.