This week's mailbag has a definite Maize and Blue tint. Seems as if many fans are outraged that the Wolverines' mediocrity hasn't been rewarded.
From MOATPIG:
How can you leave Michigan's coach Lloyd Carr off your list for coach of the year? Only one fluky loss at Washington, a defense that's 100% improved AND an offense that replaced (insert list of NFL starters and MLB player here)!
People want to claim that the Big Ten is weaker, and it probably is, but for Michigan to have a chance to win the league undefeated in the Big Ten and then play in a BCS game is pretty astounding given who they lost and how badly the defense played last year.
Piggie:
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did or did not Michigan lose Drew Henson, David Terrell and its chance to win a national title in the process? To say that Michigan winning the Big Ten would be "astounding," uh, no. That's not right. Indiana winning the Big Ten would be astounding. Michigan winning would be a yawn. Hey, somebody's got to finish first.
From E1165D:
How could any mention of coach of the year happen and not have Gary Crowton's name all over it.
Here he is in is first year of coaching a D-1 team and already he has won as many games as the team did all of last year. And he's had to do it in the shadow of LaVell Edwards' legacy. He has my vote.
C3PO or whatever:
Mark me down for an oversight. Crowton certainly deserves props as one of the best first-year coaches around. After his rocky time with the Chicago Bears, there were questions whether he could lead a program. Now he's out-LaVelling LaVell. The Coogs are the highest-scoring team in the nation. The defense is serviceable. This is vintage 1980s stuff. Gosh, if they could line up Michigan in the Holiday Bowl they could win the national championship.
From INOJ3:
Oh, Dennis, you completely are an idiot of the highest level! I have one question for you and your completely juvenile statements about many teams in the NCAA ... Where in the hell did you play football and how many downs have you played?
Give some of these kids a break ... seems like you have a lot of pent-up frustration every time you write an article. Almost everything that you write is negative with a certain team/conference/etc. Can't you be a little knowledgeable without beating a bunch of dead horses?
Why don't you work on some articles that might be positive ... actually mean something instead of poking fun and bashing others. It's getting old! And you studied journalism in school? So sad!
Innie:
Played football in the backyard. If memory serves, about 10,260 snaps. Wasn't any good at all. What's that got to do with writing about football? Maybe my attitude adjustment should include calling people idiots. Or do you have that market cornered?
From REWOB35:
Why is there no mention about the Ole Miss Rebels? We have just beaten Alabama and have a quarterback that will be the Heisman Trophy winner, maybe next year.
As a sophomore, Eli Manning is lighting up the SEC. Who is the last team to beat Oklahoma? Ole Miss. A little positive pub for this program would be nice. Give them some credit; they have some great players and a top notch coaching staff. Start talking about them now or you will have to soon.
Rerun:
Ole Miss is a team on the come. Manning needs some seasoning. Cutcliffe needs a defense. The Rebs need a break or two to win the SEC West. It won't happen this year but it might, soon.
From JAMESDREWR1:
How do you come to the conclusion that Michigan should be #22 in your rankings (weekly SportsLine.com power poll)? You list nine other teams, with one loss, ahead of them (three in the SEC), and all nine have had a weaker schedule. Are you an SEC bigot?
Jimmy D:
Check yourself. If I was an SEC bigot, I'd be prejudiced AGAINST the SEC. If I were you I'd find more important things to complain about.
From GOBLUEHAN:
To JAMESDREWR1
His Power Ranking is a joke.
Goblue:
Wrong, my power rankings ARE a joke.
From BIGBLUEFAN10:
To GOBLUEHAN
He has to make up for that sub-standard University of Missouri education somehow! Journalism degree's are as humorus as his poll!
Biggie:
Wow, did you Michigan honks actually go to college? At least at Mizzou they teach us punctuation (degree's?) and spelling (humorus?). Feel free to proofread yourself.
From BIGMAIZE:
Are you going to explain, at some point this week, why you put Michigan at #22. It really makes no sense at all.
Maizey:
Let's get serious for a moment. Michigan is No. 22 because Purdue is its one "quality" victory. Don't run Illinois at me either. There are much better stories and much better teams. It is not Michigan's birthright to be in the top 10 because it is on top of a mediocre league. There are some good players that have done some good things, but you Big Ten crazoids can't seem to accept the fact that the country is not impressed. I am merely a conduit for that opinion.
From DHE1966:
To GOBLUE211
Isn't it interesting how his poll is fairly close to the two major polls, except for Michigan, going from top 10 in coaches', to barely top 25 in his poll?
Michigan is projected at eighth in unofficial BCS rankings, and he can't even get them in the top 20 of his rankings. So, either EVERY other poll voter is wrong, or he is. He hates Michigan, obviously. He never writes about them.
If not for one poor minute against Washington, ON THE ROAD, when UM dominated the Huskies otherwise, UM would be undefeated. Yet Maryland, who hasn't played any team of consequence, is ranked #10. What kind of crack is Dodd smoking?
Duh:
You try writing about Michigan. The Wolverines are one of the most closed shops in college football. Information comes out of the program like it's the Kremlin. It's not a bias, it's a fact. This might sound shocking, but sportswriters tend to write about subjects that cooperate. Besides, it seems to me that the Wolverines are not hurting for honors, Heisman or hype. If it helps I'll give them this ... No. 22 and rising!
