Let the Debate Begin

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Unhealthy Addictions

I can't stop playing NCAA 2003 for the X-Box. It has become a serious problem. In anticipation of the coming season, and because I can't bear to watch the Colorado game on ESPN Classic anymore, I have actually watched the computer play itself on several occasions. The realism is ridiculous, and JJ (soon to be nicknamed The Firestarter) and I have often bet on the games being played. Upon being greeted by Lloyd Carr saying "It's in the game." when I started up this afternoon, I felt the fantasy world and the real world were coming dangerously close.

Sound ridiculous? It is. But the college football and tailgating season is supposed to be ridiculous. Come one, come all, and live a fantasy life with your surrogate family. Don't worry, they're all alcoholics, so you'll fit right in. Throw all your cares aside, except for one. Rest your laurals in the hands of a group of 18-24 year old amazingly conditioned atheletes wearing the most recognizable uniforms in all of sport, and plan your Sundays accordingly, for sulking or celebrating, but know that the family will return the following week to do it all again.

The Simulated 2002 Overview

So, in an attempt to make a season preview without my Michigan tilted mind involved, I used the NCAA 2003 for the X-Box. First, let's look at the the final season rankings up to Michigan after all of the games were simulated.

1. Texas

2. Florida

3. Miami

4. Oklahoma

5. Oregon

6. Utah (yes, Utah)

7. UCLA

8. Ohio State

9. Florida State

10. Marshall

11. LSU

12. Michigan

Texas wins the National Championship, beating Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. Florida QB Rex Grossman wins the Heisman, throwing for 4587 yards and 51 TDs....thats alot of friggin' TDs.

Michigan's game by game analysis will come week by week as the season progresses, but Michigan will end the season with 10 wins, and 3 losses. Michigan earned a bid to the BCS, and travelled to New Orleans for the Nokia Sugar Bowl. They reached as high as #4 in both polls during the season.

Statistically...

John Navarre completed just over 50% of his passes (157/302) throwing for 2216 yards with 18 TDs and 13 INTs. Spencer Brinton received limited action, going 24/42 with 1 TD and 1 INT. Ronald Bellamy caught the bulk of the receptions, with 660 yards and 8 TDs.

Chris Perry leads the team with 979 yards rushing and 11 TDs. BJ Askew came in with 439 yards and 6 TDs.

Defensively, Marlin Jackson lead the team with 6 INTs and 2 defensive touchdowns. Victor Hobson lead the team in tackles with 61.

On the special teams front, Philip Brabbs went 15/22 on field goals, his longest being a 44 yarder.

Summing Up

What does this all mean? Well, considering the lackluster output by the offense, the defense must have stepped up and scored some points as well as giving Michigan some solid field position. That may be the story on the field this year. However, I would hate to weather those 13 interceptions given up by John Navarre. So there it is, the season in review...er, uh...preview. Whatever, August 31 is coming up awfully quick, so I will have to set down the controller, and pick up my mug. Note to Godfather: Bring enough Coke.

Next week: Washington preview

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Looks Good...On Paper

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9 vs. 10 Matchup Starts Season

Ah, the dawg days of summer. The Michigan Wolverines are ranked #10 in the pre-season ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Analyzing what it means to be number 10 is mind boggling. Granted, it is only the preseason poll. Much of the polling can be attributed to school prestige, and moreover, not having a major conference like the Big Ten represented in the top ten would be unheard of. By process of elimination, and by recently being named as the preseason media favorite in the Big Ten, we get the nod. What an opportunity we have been presented with. Granted, by virtue of it still being the pre-season, every 1A team controls its own destiny, but our path to the BCS...don't laugh just yet...seems to be a "maize" bricked road.

So, here is who is in front of us: Miami, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida State, Tennessee, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, and Washington.

#1: Miami, #4: Florida State, #7 Florida, #5 Tennessee

#1 Miami plays Florida, Florida State, Tennessee. Can they win all three of these? #7 Florida plays Tennessee, Miami, and Florida State. Somebody has to lose. #4 Florida State plays Miami and Florida, as mentioned above. #5 Tennesse is the only exception...only playing Florida.

#2 Texas,#3 Oklahoma, #6 Colorado, #8 Nebraska Yes, 4 teams from the Big 12 are in the top ten. #2 Texas plays Oklahoma and Nebraska. #3 Oklahoma plays Colorado and Texas. #6 Colorado plays Oklahoma and Nebraska. #8 Nebraska plays Texas and Colorado. Looks like a round robin elimination.

Confused yet? Too crazy a scenario for you yet? Were left with one more team #9 Washington. Defeat the Huskies, and your guaranteed to be at least #8. That's #8 after game 1. The top eight teams...those are your BCS teams. Even a less than #8 ranking can get you into the Rose Bowl with a Big Ten Championship. Ya, I'm taking alot for granted here, and I'm not saying I even believe that the Wolverines are a national power. We have to win the games. But you can't be disappointed with the position we find ourselves in going into the season...on paper, and if we win the first few games, the national spotlight will start to burn a little brighter as the Wolverines crack into the single digit area.

The Rest

With 8 home games, Ohio State comes in at #12. Sparty is #18. Wisconsin and Penn State, despite sub .500 records last season, are #23 and #24 respectively. Utah, #20 in Athlon Sports preseason rankings, has 44 votes, good enough for 38th place in the poll. To put that in perspective, Purdue received 45 votes, Notre Dame received 18 votes, Iowa received 11, and Minnesota just 2. Not quite the pushover you were looking for.

Upcoming

The X-Box is plugging away, determining the season preview for UMTailgate.com. Look for that next week.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

New for '02

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UMTailgate.com Version 2.0

Hello again everyone. I hope you enjoy the new format. Bear with me as I go back and update previous pages to fit into the new format. I have attempted to go back and change the links so that everyting works in the interim, but I am sure I made some mistakes. If you find any errors or weird occurances, please email them to me...webmaster@umtailgate.com. A couple of new things have been added. First, all of the menu links are now imbedded at the top of the page. The Extras link will take you to a new page that has some downloadable desktop wallpapers. The Events page has been improved with added graphics and pulldown menus for each year. The Home section replaces the previous 'News' section and will have the latest cover story as well as links to recent stories.

Summer...AKA The Period Between the Spring Game and the First Game

I really miss writing those childhood essays entitled How I Spent My Summer Vacation . Last year, that essay would have been a half torn piece of paper soaked in Red Bull and Panchero's Salsa, with one crayon etched word...Kg'wreat. This year, it's been a little less exciting, a little less hazy, and a lot less expensive. Nonetheless, it has been eventful...

Event #1: Another Michigan Fan

On June 29th at 10:15AM Danielle Tabar entered the world. Now a one-month old, Danielle and mother are both doing great and Andrea loves her new little sister...as long as everybody knows that she's still number one. Caleb...don't even think about it.

Event #2: The End of an Era

The Lonestar Steakhouse Ann Arbor, home of the UMTailgate.com annual birthday party and post-game celebration, has closed it's doors for good. No longer will Captain Michigan, Goody and friends be able to sexually harass their fine staff. No longer will The Godfather be able to demand that he be able to receive Captain and Cokes in his giant mug. Yes my friends, Dennis has cried his last tear in the private backroom of Lonestar Steakhouse.

Event #3: A Night In Manchester

Never mix your tailgating life with your real life. That's the quote that they'll put on my gravestone someday. On July 3rd, I attended the annual Manchester Fireworks Extraveganza. Captain Michigan, Janet, Goody and friends were all on hand, swilling spiced rum at accelerated rates until the fireworks began. The fireworks in Manchester is something really special. It's basically 20 members of the Men's Auxillary sitting in nearby trees continuously lighting and throwing sparklers. Fun.

The night progressed following the fireworks, as toothless wonders from surrounding areas gathered en masse at The Beer Tent. At this point, Goody and I were slightly more than faded. From there, memories are spotty at best. Beer was served in (hopefully rinsed out) old half-gallon milk cartons, and it seemed that many people felt the need to just give me these half-gallon beers. You see...red-necks, um...give things to eachother.

Flash-forward... I woke up at 5:30AM alone in the backseat of my car. Nice.

Upcoming Updates

Season preview and more fun stuff is coming up next week...stay tuned.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Spring Into Action

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Practice Makes Perfect for Team, Tailgaters

On Saturday, April 13th, the Wolverines took the field against the Wolverines in the annual Spring Game. An estimated 25,000 maize and blue faithfull showed up to watch. They didn't paint the endzones, they didn't keep score, and each unit's jerseys didn't even always match... but nobody seemed to care. We came to release ourselves from winter cabin fever, break out the dusty picnic tables and coolers, get the flag down off my apartment wall, and reunite in a place where we are most comfortable, the Big House. A record number of UMTailgaters were in attendance for the Spring Game tailgate, and that butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling that we felt walking into the stadium for the first time in 5 months was second only to the heartfelt reception prior to game.

Who won?

If your talking about the game, they REALLY didn't keep score. If your talking about the quarterback job, I'm already sick of all the press, and John Navarre is getting the pressure. He was outperformed statistically by both Gonzales and Brinton. But it's Spring, and from what we've all been told, the job is still John's to lose, and what we saw Saturday had little to do with the offense we should see in the fall.

If you are taliking about the 2nd annual UMTailgate.com tournament challenge, the top 2 point-getters were in attendance, and they received their checks (can you say 'BOUNCE'?) as well as a token gift of a personalized coffee mug from the Godfather. Much to my surprise, I got one too, inscribed with the "Team Leader Award". That old guy just keeps getting more creative with all of his spare time. Note: I sold mine on EBay...and I think the Godfather bought it.

If you are talking about the Big Game Lottery, no one won that, and the jackpot is at $300 million+ on Tuesday. My plan when I win is to purchase our corner of the golf course, move the green back 40 yards, and put up a small tailgating house with bedrooms for our visitors, a kitchen for our tailgating cullinary artists, and bathrooms for our ladies.

If you are talking about the "Who came the longest distance to watch a practice?" contest, that winner was Tuba, who received a specialty drink, a variation of the 'Manhattan' called 'The Bronx'. 3 parts watermelon pucker, 1 part Captain Morgans... tell your local barkeep.

The next event is still in question, but there are a lot of things in the works for the summer, so stay tuned. 4 and a half months until the Dawgheads come to town.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Wolverines Make the Frozen Four!

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Wolverines Advance

You can take the 'M' off the ice, you can take away our home lockeroom, but you can't take away our fans. On Saturday night, in front of a raucous crowd at a neutral looking Yost Ice arena, the Wolverines showed everyone what they're made of. Jed Ortmeyer's goal with 1:21 left to play in the 3rd period iced it for the Wolverines, who advance to the Frozen Four yet again. They will meet Minnesota for the frozen version of the Little brown Jug on April 4th, with the championship game being played on April 6th. Games will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN2...so I see no reason why we shouldn't use this as an excuse to tailgate, drink, and/or take to South U in celebration.

Wasn't Sparty In Our Bracket? Where's Sparty?

Sparty? They're at home. They've been home since early Friday evening after they got blanked 2-0 in the afternoon game against Colorado College. Ron Mason has no cup, no Frozen Four, and can happily settle in to his job as the Michigan State Athletic director. His first order of business? Hire another coach that sucks.

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Searchable Tournament Pool Results Available

The results of the 2002 UMTailgate.com Tournament Challenge are now available. Please use the Tournament Scenarios menu to see the possible winners. There will be no update next weekend as a Fearsome Foursome including the Webmaster and JJ are heading to Atlanta to see the tourney play out first hand. There will be a full update from The Final Four upon our return. Wish us luck... we're gonna need it.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster