U-M/ND game was "Under the Lights," Miami/OSU is "Under Investigation"

(from MZone wire reports)  Coral Gables, FL -- After the success of the Michigan-Notre Dame game being marketed as "Under the Lights" to mark the first night game in Big House history, school officials at Miami and Ohio State have decided to rename their upcoming game "Under Investigation" in a nod to both schools' ongoing problems with the NCAA.

"It's branding at its best," said Ohio State athletic director and Jim Tressel apologist, Gene Smith.  "The Michigan and Notre Dame contest had a logo and commemorative shirts.  We wanted to do the same thing for our game.  I just hope each team has enough eligible players to actually play the damn thing."

Miami AD Shawn Eichorst couldn't be reached for comment as head was apparently still buried in the sand somewhere near South Beach.

In an online exclusive, MZone investigative reporter Rigby has secretly obtained the new logos to be used for this once in a life-time showdown (because Miami just may get the death penalty): 

Baylor to Texas A&M: I'm not going to be ignored, Aggies

We admit we've been tough on Texas A&M here at the MZone.  But in the latest controversy involving their attempt to leave the Texas Longhorn League Big 12 for the SEC, we're solidly in the Aggies' corner.

To recap, after initially being rejected by the SEC, Texas A&M was finally offered membership.  Looked like problem solved for the Aggies.

But it wasn't.

Baylor has threatened to sue to keep Texas A&M from leaving.  In fact, they were the only Big 12 school standing in the way of the Aggie departure.  To try to spin it, Baylor put out this statement about saving Texas football tradition (resisting... urge... to... make... joke... about... Baylor... football... and... tradition in same sentence).  So now they're just acting like a psycho ex-girlfriend who can't accept the fact that Texas A&M wants to break up with them.

How bad is it?

The MZone has obtained this secret recording of Texas A&M confronting Baylor. 

Ferrum @ (23) Hampden-Sydney Game Preview

After a bye week, it is a definite that the coaches at Ferrum have worked on many things since the loss to Emory and Henry. In that game, Ferrum collected 134 yards in penalties I am sure that was a focus. In that game, Ferrum gave up three rushing touchdowns, and I am sure that was a focus, and in that game Ferrum turned the ball over 4 times. These, to me, were the main difference makers in the week one loss.
Lastly, I am sure it has been important for the coaches to re- focus the team to the task at hand....
(# 23) Hampden -Sydney College.

Not since the 2005 playoff game have the Panthers played an opponent ranked in the top 25. That year they played the (# 25) Wesley Wolverines, and came up on the short end of a 59-14 score. The goal of this game Saturday is to win of course, but in the long run, it is to help the program improve. Playing tougher competition is a  positive move. Other schools that have done this in the conference are Christopher Newport who, every year will schedule at least one and sometime two strong opponents. This week, the Captains host the #24 team, Salisbury.
North Carolina Wesleyan opened their season against #14 Ohio Northern, and in the past, Averett has scheduled some very strong non conference competition.

What to expect Saturday? Well this will be a challenge for the Panthers to say the least. The Tigers are boasting the fifth ranked passing offense in the country, and overall the #1 scoring offense in the country. They are averaging 59.5 points in their first two games, and their quarterback, Travis Lane, is ranked 4th in the nation in passing efficiency. To say that the passing game is solid is an understatement, and this will test Ferrum all day.


Keys to a Panther win:


For Ferrum, first they must play mistake free football. This is not the type of team that will need any help, so penalties must be minimal.
The Tigers will throw the ball often, and Ferrum must pressure and sack the quarterback as often as possible.
Secondary must be ready for a constant barrage of passes.
Ferrum will need to win the giveaway/takeaway stat, and must convert any and all turnovers into points.
Lastly, Ferrum must put points on the board in the red zone.

In the end, this will be a very challenging game. Ferrum will have its hands full, and as much as I want to predict a Panther upset, I doubt it is in the cards this week. It is an important game for Ferrum regardless of the result. Scheduling a team of this caliber is the right thing to do. This is another step to building competitive program.

My Prediction:


H-SC   56
Ferrum  14

For the rest of week 3:


Winners are Bold and all CAPS


Averett @ GUILFORD
Maryville @ LAGRANGE
SALISBURY @ Christopher Newport
Greensboro @ NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE
SHENANDOAH @ Randolph Macon

Wallpaper Wednesday: The Invisible Man

In the wake of Jeremy Gallon doing his best PREDATOR impression by activating his cloaking device with Michigan on its own 20, just :23 seconds left, and trailing Notre Dame 31-28, Rigby came up with today's Wallpaper Wednesday. Outstanding.

UPDATE:

After seeing today's wallpaper, Jeremy's mom was kind enough to send us a couple pictures from her family photo album (What?  Of course she reads the MZone). 

Below is a picture of Jeremy when he was 11 years old playing hide-n-seek in his hometown of Apopka, FL.

"C'mon, Jeremy, no fair!  We've been looking for you for over an hour!"

And here's one from high school...

Jeremy Gallon at his senior prom

RB Balance Touch Drill

I will be sharing some RB Drills in my upcoming posts from a dvd I made for my RBs a couple of years back.  The actual drills were done by former Auburn RB Coach Eddie Gran.  He's one of the best coaches I have ever met and has coached some good ones: Deuce McCallister, Rudi Johnson, Heath Evans, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, and Monterrio Hardesty.  I added a few cut-ups on the video to go along with the Auburn cut-ups that he already had and put them in slow-motion so you can really see the skill being performed. 

The Balance Touch Drill is a good drill to start Indy time with to help your guys get loose and for them to get reps performing a very useful and important skill for the position.  If a RB is stumbling, he can put his hand down (balance touch) and keep on running instead of falling down.  This may not seem like much, but it is often the difference between scoring and not scoring, as you will see for yourself on the video. 

The key coaching point is for the RB to touch the ground first with the heel of his hand. If a RB is only touching the ground with his fingertips and he gets pushed, he will break his fingers.

The Running Back position is somewhat difficult to coach in my opinion.  A kid can have the worst fundamentals in the world (holds the ball like a loaf of bread, awful stance, etc.) and still be a great back.  These kids know that they are already good and may not be the most receptive to coaching.  I have ran into this in the past.  I think it is due to them not being sold on what it is you are telling them to do.  Coaches today often have to be salesmen and show players why what they are doing is important. 
 
In my most recent job as a RB Coach, I decided to make my guys a teaching video, and I stumbled onto something bigger than I had imagined.  All of the sudden I became a 100 times better RB Coach than before, although I wasn't teaching my backs any differently than in the past.  The video made all the difference in the world.  The upcoming videos will not only show the drills, but also the game cut-ups of the drills being used in the game.  When you show these videos to your RBs, they will be extremely motivated to learn these drills so they can put them to use in a game like the high school, college, and NFL players that they will see.  This intrinsic motivation where the motivation comes from inside the player (instead of the coach yelling at him) is a powerful thing.  Then once your players experience some success with the drill, they will become even more motivated and will bug you to practice these drills over and over again.

MZone Picture Album

While I may be able to do some basic (very basic) editing, I don't know squat about Photoshop (just ask Benny or Andy).  Thankfully for you, me and the MZone, Rigby has stepped into the starting line-up and kept all your MZone favorites and more alive. 

In fact, Rigby and I have been enjoying our creative collaboration so much (and churning out more stuff than anticipated), today marks the first of what we think will be a new regular feature here: The MZone Picture Album.  It will be a mix of 'Shops, reader submitted pix, news photos and general photographic what-not.

MICHIGAN, INC.  Now Powered by Denard!

Recently, Wolverine fans were up in arms (including yours truly) when AD Dave Brandon mentioned that he was exploring the option of a mascot for the Michigan sidelines.  According to Brandon, mascots are a way to hook the "youth demographic" on Michigan football at a young age (you know, because thrilling 35-31 victories over a hated rival with :02 seconds left on the clock have all the kids reaching for the damn Xbox).

But I think we here at the MZone may have solved both big Dave's desire for youth appeal and, by extension, the desire of 98% of Michigan fans who don't want a fucking asshat in a suit pretending to "fight" with Sparty in the endzone during TV timeouts.

Thus, MZone Children's Division has come up with a unique way to combine the best in youth entertainment with Michigan football.  Or as we call it "Branding for Brandon."  So next summer, be sure to take your kids to our first feature, Michigan, Inc.  Here's a little taste...

And yes, it also makes a great wallpaper to put on that iPad you bought for junior so don't have to have any human contact with him on those 4 minute car rides to the grocery store.

THE BIG EVERITTOWSKI

As we mentioned the other day, we thought part of the reason for the Michigan Miracle against Notre Dame was the long-haired messiah spotted on the field after the game.

But Greg at MVictors set us straight explaining that the pic was of former Michigan center Steve Everitt.

Or was it?

Maybe he was more messianic than we first thought.  Maybe he was actually The Dude.

Where's the fucking defense, Lebowski?

SCOREBOARD, BABY!

Got a couple good reader pix of the scoreboard. First, Russ sent us this dandy when the final whistle sounded:

And then Pam sent us this one right after the miracle TD with :02 seconds left:

Both great shots, but I think the second one is going to be on the official MZone holiday card that I'll make sure to send out to all my Notre Dame friends with the following caption:

Just wanted to take a couple seconds to wish you Happy Holidays!

Imagine Bob Ufer calling the Michigan-Notre Dame game

About the only thing that could have possibly made the Michigan-Notre Dame game last Saturday night any better would have been to hear legendary Michigan football announcer Bob Ufer call what one could easily argue is the greatest comeback in U-M's storied history (it's definitely the most improbable).

For those of us not fortunate enough to be at the game, we got Brent Musburger on ESPN.  Fine, professional announcer.  But no Bob Ufer.

As I savored the victory, I got goosebumps just thinking about "old man Ufer" honking his "Bo 'George Patton' Schembechler" scoring horn after his beloved Meeeeechigan Wolverines unbelievable touchdown with two seconds left.  Something tells me, he'd still be honking the thing.

This all spawned the video below.  Enjoy.  Go Blue.  And...

God bless each and every one of your cotton pickin' Maize and Blue hearts!



UPDATE: If you'd like to honor Bob Ufer's legacy, check out this post with links to the Ufer Foundation.