To beat our opponents we must go behind enemy lines and study their movements…

Here is updates on all of U of M’s scheduled opponents this year:

Incoming transfer TE Dallas Walker once sang the following song at his freshman initiation.  To find out more interesting facts on Walker, read the Q & A featured on the Western Michigan Football Site.

Purdue Blog Hammer ‘n Nails predicts that Notre Dame will prevail over them 24 – 20 with Jimmy Clausen leading the way for the Fighting Irish.  Let us listen to Joe Theismann’s take on Jimmy Clausen:

Athlon Sports gives the pros and cons of new coach Ron English.  The pro’s amount to his defensive resume and his familiarity with the program due to spending five years coaching at Michigan.  Only one con is listed and that is his laid-back coaching style.

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Tom Dienhart, Rivals, wrote a article on the woes of the Michigan defense last year and how the Wolverines plan to fix them.

Rodriguez on Last Season: "I don't think you ever anticipate 3-9 bad. I didn't even back in my first year at West Virginia. I thought defensively we'd be better. I don't know if it was because the offense was ineffective that it put pressure on the defense. We just didn't play as well defensively as I thought we would.”

"But there never is just one reason why you lose. We had so many unforced turnovers. I mean, we just dropped the ball. The Notre Dame game, we didn't even give ourselves a chance. Some areas, we were going to struggle regardless of what we did.”

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Here’s a highlight filled video that was posted on YouTube yesterday:

During the ESPNU College Football Podcast (7/2/09), available on ITunes, the top ten NCAA basketball and football rivalries for the upcoming season were discussed.

Coming in 10th for basketball was Purdue/Michigan.  Here is what was said (paraphrased) on the matchup:

Pat Forde: “I’ve got Michigan/Purdue as my number ten rivalry. Largely because I think both teams are on the road to being good. Michigan’s on the road to coming back with Beilein. But also because of the flying elbow of Manny Harris probably lingering on the mind of Purdue fans.”

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Very good “hype” video about Michigan Football to prepare everyone for football season.

Props to Brian @ MGoBlog for posting about this video first.

Sam Webb, Michigan Recruiting Guru, reported in a article for the Detroit News that Warren Mott standout C.J. Olaniyan is close to setting his Top 5 of college choices.

On MSU and U of M: "I get a chance to see them a little bit more than other schools. I've got a little bit more feel for them. It probably gives them a little bit more advantage.

On his 3 visits to U of M: "The first time I went to the junior day, the second time we watched practice, and the third time we went to the spring game. When I went to the spring game I was very impressed by the freshman QB (Tate Forcier). He was doing a lot of good stuff."

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Daniel Hamburg of WNUR Sports, home of Northwestern Sports, predicts that Michigan will go 2-6 in the Big Ten next season; finish 5-7 overall.                                                                    (Provided by WNUR)

Offense:  “To say that the Michigan Wolverines struggled offensively in year one of the Rich Rodriguez era would be an understatement.. While it would be convenient to blame the Wolverines anemic offense in 2008 on the adjustment to Rodriguez’s spread offense, the real issue was that Michigan lacked its traditional store of offensive talent.  But that should change with the arrival of freshman quarterback Tate Forcier.”

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Mark Snyder, Free Press, recently caught up with incoming freshman basketball player Darius Morris.

On playing for John Beilein: “When (John) Beilein got the job, my brother saw something he liked in the program and Coach Beilein and the opportunity to try to get me. (Beilein) knows about the game and is trying to teach me everything."

On this upcoming season: "I'm working out really hard. I know I have to be ready -- the expectations are really high.

On playing time: "That was a big part of me choosing Michigan. ... Everybody knew that I was looking for early playing time. ... It's a great university with an opportunity to go in and play."

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Ryan Kartje, Michigan Daily, blogs that Michigan may open the Big House in 2010 against SEC power Georgia; subsequently travel to Athens in 2011.  I have to be completely honest with everybody, I don’t remember the last rumor that made me:

You see, I moved to Atlanta, GA, last September and I live 45 minutes from Athens.  I can’t be impartial on this rumor.  But lets think about this for a minute.  Going into this year both teams are in rebuilding years, non-national championship contenders.  (Note: Don’t let my neighbor know I said this) With the losses of Moreno and Stafford, Georgia needs a year to be primed and ready to go, so a possibly U of M/UGA match-up in 2010 could be huge.  Think of the storylines: 1) Big Ten vs. SEC 2) RichRod vs. Georgia.  Remember what happened last time Rich Rodriguez faced off with Georgia?

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Luke Santini on SoFLAfootball.com reports that Booker T. Washington RB and 2010 Recruit Eduardo Clements has named his top 3.  Rivals currently rates Clements as a 4-star recruit.

Clements on his Top Three: “I got a top three and it is Georgia, Michigan, and UM.”

On Michigan: “The whole coaching staff is a great group of guys. The things Coach Rich (Rodriguez) is trying to do with the offense this year, and the guys from Miami (area) who are there now look like they will play early. I just liked the whole campus and the whole atmosphere.”

Schools he would like to visit this fall: “My official visits are to Georgia, Michigan, UM, Tennessee, and South Florida,” said Clements

On his ability to catch and run: “That part of my game came from Optimist. I was like 12 or 13 and I had to go both ways and do different things for the team. Playing receiver was one thing I had to do and I took the time to do several catching drills with my dad and my coaches.”

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Tom Dienhart, Rivals, wrote a preview of Michigan and ranked them 46th overall in the nation.

OFFENSE

THE SCHEME: “Coach Rich Rodriguez is the modern-day pioneer of the run-heavy version of the spread offense…. The attack has worked at every stop since.. there's no reason to think it won't start humming now as he further blends personnel with scheme.”

STAR POWER: “Senior RB Brandon Minor looks primed to be one of the Big Ten's top backs this fall. (He) is an explosive combination of size and speed who can run inside and outside.”

IMPACT NEWCOMER: “True freshman QB Tate Forcier graduated high school early (and has) impressed coaches as a runner and passer in the spring. He'll be pushed by fellow true freshman Denard Robinson, a terrific athlete who.. is built for this attack. Rodriguez loves the promise of both, but worries about their youth and inexperience.”

WATCH FOR HIM TO EMERGE: “Offensive coordinator Calvin Magee.. knows a good tight end when he sees one. (He) thinks highly of sophomore Kevin Koger.”

STRONGEST AREA: “Rodriguez's attacks at West Virginia never featured deep receiving corps, but look for him to take advantage of the talent on hand. The group will be led by senior Greg Mathews and sophomores Martavious Odoms and Darryl Stonum. If the quarterbacks can deliver, these guys are ready.”

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Pete Cunningham, Scout, recently caught up with 2010 WR Recruit Drew Dileo.  Dileo committed to U of M without ever seeing the campus.  Dileo finally visited the Big House and here are a few excerpts from the article:

On Visiting Michigan: “Everything was great up there – facilities, campus, the people – even better than I expected. I met with all the coaches, shook their hands, and met coach Rodriguez for the first time face-to-face. It was great.”

On receiving a scholarship offer: “Whenever you talk about the University of Michigan, you think about all the history there. The championships, coaches and players. When the offer came, I just thanked God I had the opportunity to come up there.”

“Most people’s reaction is the same -- they say, ‘Man, its cold up there. But hey, that’s what they make jackets for! If you have the opportunity to come to Michigan…yeah it may be cold, but it’s the University of Michigan!”

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