Craig's MGoMix 2010

[Author's note: Today, I'll be breaking down the songs that I put on this year’s MGoMix, the "mix tape" that I make for driving to Michigan football games. It should be noted that this is not a hype mix, it’s more in line with Will Ferrell's character in The Other Guys having Little River Band on as they drive to the call, these are songs which reflect where I am right now as a Michigan football fan. As is the rule, until Michigan wins a Big Ten title, no repeat non-Michigan songs from the previous year’s MGoMix. Also, this entire endeavor owes a debt of gratitude to Geoff for giving me the idea to do it in the first place.]

1). "L'estasi dell'oro (The Ecstasy of Gold)" by Ennio Morricone (from the soundtrack to the 1966 film The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.)

Metallica has used this as their introductory music for every concert since 1983, and it is a perfect mood setter for wanting to get something done.  The Red Wings also used it as part of their pre-game video this past season.
In the film, this track plays while Tuco is frantically searching a graveyard for the grave that holds $200,000 in gold coins.  Which is sort of an apt parallel for Michigan fans the last two seasons when you think about it.  Searching through a graveyard, looking for something shiny and beautiful.

2). "Duck and Cover" by Glen Phillips (from his 2005 album Winter Pays for Summer)

I've always been a huge Toad the Wet Sprocket fan since I was in high school, and so when this track from Glen's solo album came up on Pandora, I was immediately drawn to it.  The lyrics are simply amazing and speak deeply to the Michigan fan experience of the last couple of seasons.  To wit:

Everybody here's got a story to tell
Everybody's been through their own hell
There's nothing too special about getting hurt
Getting over it, that takes the work

Or...

Cause one way or another
One way or another
You won't get what you wanted
You'll get enough, for sure
One way or another
Winter pays for the summer
Won't get what you wanted
What you got'll be good

It is my hope that this is pretty much what will happen this season.  You won't get what you wanted, but what you got will be good.

3). "19th Nervous Breakdown" by the Rolling Stones (from the 1966 single "As Tears Go By/19th Nervous Breakdown")

When I was making the mix this year, I had it down to this track or "The Last Time" and I took it to Dave, my college roommate and longtime Michigan football partner in crime to make the decision.  He chose "19th Nervous Breakdown", not simply because it represented how we both feel about the Michigan secondary this season, but also because of the line "Well, nothing I do don't seem to work / It only seems to make the matters worse."  That's the last two seasons in a nutshell.

4). "Don't Let Me Down" by the Beatles (from the 1969 single "Get Back/Don't Let Me Down")

What is an anguished love song/plea from John Lennon to Yoko doing on a college football mix?  Because as a Michigan football fan, you're not rooting for victories, you're rooting not to be disappointed, or to have your heart ripped out in memorable fashion.  "Don't let me down" is the perfect sentiment for this.  It's trust, but verify, at its finest.

5). "Don't Let Go" by Weezer (from the band's 2001 album Weezer (Green Album)

This is the flip side of the "Don't Let Me Down" coin, not letting go.  It would be so easy to give up right now, wait for another losing season, and a new head coach and say "I never liked him, he didn't feel right."  It would be easy, but it doesn't make you a good fan.  Anyone can do that.  You picked the team for a reason, you don't just get up and leave in the middle of it because it's not going the way it had for so long.  Loyalty is a two-way street.  "Confrontations in my mind / Got me running out of time."

6). "Crossfire" by Brandon Flowers (from his forthcoming 2010 debut solo album Flamingo)
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of the Killers.  So when this rotated in on my Pandora in May 2010, I knew this was going to end up being in this year's MGoMix.  Why?
"And we're caught up in the crossfire / of heaven and hell / And were searching for shelter."  Yep, Michigan football for the last two years.

7). "Radiation Vibe" by Fountains of Wayne (from the band's 1996 self-titled album)

I was going to try and connect this to the "I went to Pittsburgh / and joined a pro team / What a bad dream / I broke a knee." but the reality is, I just really like this song and wanted to include it in the mix.  It's that simple.

8). "Reptilia" by The Strokes (from the band's 2003 album Room on Fire.)

This is where we enter the "need to get pumped" section of the MGoMix.  It's upbeat, it's guitar driven, and "I said please don't slow me down / If I'm going too fast / You're in a strange part of our town...", well, that's the Rodriguez offense for you...

9). "Let's Go Blue" by the Michigan Marching Band (from the 1993 album A Saturday Tradition)

Think of it as an interlude, a little intermission before moving on to other things.  Worth noting, "Joe Carl, a tuba player from 1973 to 1976, and Albert Ahronheim, a drum major from 1972 to 1974. It originated as a cheer at Michigan hockey games before moving to the Big House."  I can't verify this with a second source, but it sounds reasonable to me.

10). "Not Afraid" by Eminem (from his 2010 album Recovery)

I am fully and wholly expecting this will show up in a Michigan hype video for 2010, official or otherwise.  Let's run down why:

Chorus that is essentially defiant and calls for a return to previous glory?  Check.
Michigan born and raised product?  Check.
#1 song at some point during 2010? Check.

So yeah, I'm totally going cliche here and I know it.

We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road (same road)

11). “Time Won't Let Me Go" by The Bravery (from their 2007 album The Sun and the Moon)

"Whenever I look back / On the best days of my life / I think I saw them all on T.V."
If I had to figure out a way to describe so much of my early Michigan fandom, this would be it.  Desmond's catch against Notre Dame in 1991, "Hello Heisman", Biakabutuka's 313 yards against Ohio State, Woodson's interception against Michigan State, Navarre's rumble against Minnesota, the Trick Play in Champaign...all of them on TV.  (Yes, I realize that I have also been there for many great moments, Braylonfest, The comeback against Wisconsin, Forcier to Matthews, but it's just still what stuck with me.)

"I am so homesick now for / Someone that I never knew / I am so homesick now for / Someplace I will never be."
(aka The Carr Years)

12). “Show Me What I'm Looking For” by Carolina Liar (from the band’s 2008 album Coming to Terms)

Of any song on here, I think the lyrics for this track best represent Michigan football 2008-09:

Don't let go / I've wanted this far too long / Mistakes become regrets / I've learned to love abuse / Please show me what I'm looking for

Save me, I'm lost / Oh lord, I've been waiting for you / I'll pay any cost / Save me from being confused / Show me what I'm looking for / Show me what I'm looking for…oh lord.

13). “Twilight Zone” by CSS (from the 2009 Lincoln ad campaign.)

Somewhere in a lonely hotel room there's a guy starting to realize that eternal fate has turned its back on him. It's 2 AM.
And then discussing the Michigan fan civil war:

Help, I'm stepping into the Twilight Zone
The place is a mad-house, feels like being cloned
My beacon's been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I've gone too far


Soon you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
Soon you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone

14). “Singular Girl” by Old 97s (a bonus track from the band's 2001 album Satellite Rides)

You've got the teeth of the hyrda upon you.  I love the T.Rex reference.  Plus, Old 97s is one off from Old 98 and Old 97 is a pretty good year in Michigan football history.  Plus, I frequently used "Murder or a H(e)art Attack" to reference Mike Hart runs during his Michigan tenure.  Oh, also:

"I've been trying to find you / May I remind you, I'm under oath now / I've been trying to see you / 'cause I can see you, want the truth now."

15). “In Hiding” by Pearl Jam (from the band's 1998 album Yield)

It's been about three days now
Since I've been aground
No longer overwhelmed and it seems so simple now
It's funny when things change so much
It's all state of mind

It's all State of Mind.  If you believe that there's something good to be seen, we can find it.  Otherwise, we're just doing to keep seeing the bad things, finding fault, and hating life.

16). "A Better Son/Daughter" by Rilo Kiley (from the band's 2002 album The Execution of All Things)

It's highlights set to a waltz!  It makes sense.  Because sometimes when you're on, you're really fucking on and your friends they sing along, and they love you!   But the lows are so extreme, that the good seems fucking cheap! And it teases you for weeks in its absence!
I know it didn't work out last year, but I still believe this to be true.

17). "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)" by Mike and the Mechanics (from the band's 1985 self-titled album.)

OK, so it's a song about a country being over run by a war, civil or otherwise.  Instructions are being giving to someone who is caught in the middle of it.  It's not hopeful, it's practical, and honest.  If I were making a Michigan hype video for this season, it would be to this song (save the fact that you would need to find six minutes of highlights from last season.  Perhaps it's best not to think about it too much...)

Swear allegiance to the flag
Whatever flag they offer
Never hint at what you really feel
Teach the children quietly
For some day sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still

The mix then finishes with the Michigan songs run:

18). "Across 110th Street" by J.J. Johnson & His Orchestra
(aka the Michigan Replay theme.  Plus, a bonus Yaphet Kotto reset!)

19). "I Can't Turn You Loose" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)
(aka the Blues Brothers theme, but more importantly, sometimes there is cake.  You need to get a chance to hear master bluesmen practicing their craft.)

20). "The Hoover Street Rag" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)
(yeah, like I couldn't have the HSR on this.  The ragtime arraignment of "The Victors." Worth noting, the 1993 album A Saturday Tradition was picked this year in part because it is the album that my brother-in-law was a member of the band for.)

21). "Temptation" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)
(I have no idea how a standard, made popular by Perry Como, became one of the most beloved songs in the MMB arsenal, but there it is.)

22). "Hawaiian War Chant" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)
(because you can't have one without the other.)

23). "M Fanfare" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)

24). "The Victors" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)
(the standard full version of the Victors.)

25). "The Yellow and Blue" by the Michigan Marching Band (1993 edition)
Closing with the alma mater.  Hoorah for the yellow and blue.  Hail! [small fist raise])

So that's it, that's the list, 78 1/2 minutes of mix.  Probably a bit too depressed for it's own good, but who knows?  Comments, concerns, questions, you know where to find me.  Go Blue!

"Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong."

Yeah, so about that trial balloon. Consider that the optimist in me, and a naive one at best.

So, where does that leave us?

Brian has the roundup of everything you need to get caught up to speed on this matter (the Bucknuts piece is very much worth the read), but as I read, my mind wandered and I was struck by this (slightly modified) notion:

"We of the [Big Ten] administration who participated in the decisions on [divisional alignment] acted according to what we thought were the principles and traditions of this [conference]. We made our decisions in light of those values. Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong. We owe it to future generations to explain why."

That is a modified version of the opening of former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's 1995 book In Retrospect where he examined the decision making that went on during the Vietnam War in the highest levels of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. What has always struck me about this (and McNamara's later comments in The Fog of War) is that rarely do people who are making decisions think "I am making a terrible decision, but I am going to continue to do so, because I love making terrible decisions." There are reasons, and people believe they are good reasons, and it is sometimes only when it is too late to see the folly.

I guess what makes me sad is that there's no good way to do this, when you think about it:

1). Michigan and Ohio State in the same division

Pro: They would still play at the end of the season. In 9 of the last 13 seasons, it is likely that the outcome of the Game would have decided the division winner.

Con: They would not still play for the right to go to the Rose Bowl/BCS/What have you.

2). Michigan and Ohio State in different divisions, play the last game of the regular season.

Pro: They would still play at the end of the season.

Con: The game might have little to no impact on who plays in the Championship game, and if it does, it sets up a potential rematch the next week, which diminishes the value of the product.

3). Michigan and Ohio State in different divisions, play at some other point in the season.

Pro: Makes a potential Big Ten championship game between Michigan and Ohio State more appealing to television. Con: Ends 75 years of tradition. Diminishes the meaning of "The Game".

So, they'll, of course, do #3, because they'll see the revenue projections and they'll say "We'd be stupid NOT to do this. Look at the money." Meanwhile, a little part of the soul of every Big Ten fan dies. They try to make it better by introducing new rivalries, or convincing you that it's better this way, but you're not stupid, you know better. You know that playing Michigan State on Thanksgiving weekend is not only wrong, but that it actually benefits Michigan State because they actually get their Michigan obsessed existence justified. Ohio State, meanwhile, is playing Penn State or Nebraska in the final game of the season, and it's a good game, and people are interested, but it's not the same. It's like Coca-Cola Classic. Because you no longer have the real thing, you now have to accept the imitation that's close to the original, but just doesn't taste the same.

In other places, there are people who don't get it, who don't understand why this matters, and why we're making such a big deal about it. The rest of college football has changed, the Big Ten should be no different. But please be understanding if some of us feel like something that matters to us is dying. And life will go on, and we'll get through, but we will miss it, and we will be sad when we look back on what once was and what went away because of decision makers who thought they were doing what was in the best interest of the conference. And perhaps down the line some say, Jim Delany, or someone of his ilk, will come back and say "We were wrong, terribly wrong" or something similar, and it won't make us feel better, because it won't bring back what we have lost.

There's still time, there's still a chance, there's still ways to make your voice heard. I encourage you to do what you need to do to make yourself feel like you have made a difference. Even if it doesn't end up making a difference in the end. You'll be like General Winfield Scott Hancock in Gods and Generals, reviewing General Burnside's plan for the assault on Mayre's Heights behind Fredricksburg in 1862 via pontoon boat.

"No, general, we'll meet them head on. And it will be a bloody mess. We'll march up to that hill there, and we'll eat their artillery fire all the way across this field. And when it's over, we'll be able to look at ourselves and say: "We're good soldiers. We did what we were told." If we're not successful, we can say it was a good plan, but there were contingencies. You can go back to your hometown and tell the families of your men they died doing their duty."

"It's a damn trial balloon, Kenny!"

So, this happened.

David Brandon went on the radio this morning and cautioned Michigan football fans that it may be the end of the (football) world as they know it, and they should feel fine. Michigan fans, being Michigan fans, did, well pretty much the exact opposite.

As I stated over at MVictors.com, and will expand upon here, I have a theory, for what it is worth.

Consider whom were dealing with here. David Brandon. The guy who Michigan fans have been resoundingly praising as a savior for the Michigan Athletic Department, a man who exudes strength, leadership, confidence, and charisma from the Athletic Department offices. A guy who spent a long time in the business world and who played football at Michigan during the Ten Year War. He is pretty much the wish list of what Michigan fans, old school, new school, and every school in between, could ask for in an AD. This is why I firmly believe that David Brandon is test marketing this idea, just like he and his leadership team at Domino's test marketed the new Domino's Pizza. He's getting critical feedback on what matters to Michigan fans (and Ohio State fans. As I said, this may be the first thing that Michigan and Ohio State fans have ever agreed upon. Seriously, Michigan fans could say the sky is blue, and Ohio State fans would say that the sky is "OH-IO." But this, this we agree upon. "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"). He can then take it back to the other ADs and to Jim Delany and say "Look, this is a dumb idea. Here's WHY it's a dumb idea." He may be "the new guy", but when you're a smart guy, when you do your homework, when you show up with the data, people will listen. They may not agree with you, but they will listen. It's the James Madison theory of committee meetings.

Because it's not just Michigan fans and Ohio State fans who feel this way. This is becoming an MSM thing and it is being picked up by national writers. This is why I am convinced that it's a trial balloon and it's savvy business. This is the worst case scenario for Michigan and Ohio State fans, right? So anything else they come up with will seem better by comparison. But more importantly, there's still time to fix this and to placate the masses by saying "We heard you! The traditions of the Big Ten mean something to our fans and our alumni and we want to do what we can to preserve them."

Notice that no one is rolling out the old chestnuts about how Michigan and Ohio State didn't start playing until the last game of the season since 1935, about how Michigan and Ohio State have both gone to Hawaii in some years, about how the Big Ten Championship game between Michigan and Ohio State would be huge? No, because they know that they won't hold water. Eyeballs are eyeballs, but Michigan and Ohio State is about emotion, it's as close as anything in the Big Ten comes to pure SEC fan insanity (meant in the most respectful and awestruck way possible SEC fans.) On Eight Simple Rules, John Ritter's character Paul said "For Michigan fans, football is a religion. And the Ohio State game is Easter." He was right. It's a religious thing. To do this would be to tell Michigan and Ohio State fans that Easter is now in August and well, get over it.

There is also an additional benefit. With David Brandon discussing this situation in this manner, it frames Michigan in a very positive long-time, big picture light. Michigan may be down at the moment, The Game may not have gone Michigan's way during the last decade, but it still matters. David Brandon is focusing attention right now on Michigan, the brand, Michigan, the all-time winningest program in Division I football history, not Michigan, the 2010 football team, not Michigan, the house divided. Given everything that has happened this week when the focus has been on the 2010 team and how it's been Panic! in the Disco, and fire at the Taco bell, this, to me, feels like a smart CEO protecting his flagship brand by talking about changing it. Plus, in discussing changing it, doesn't it focus on what makes Big Ten football great, focusing on what many consider to be the greatest rivalry in all of North American sports? This is not just Michigan, this is Michigan and Ohio State, the yin and yang of a spiritual battle for the soul of Midwestern football. Blue versus red. The Victors versus Carmen Ohio. Touching the Banner versus Script Ohio. Winged Helmets versus Buckeye stickers and gold pants. Bo vs. Woody. Good versus evil (your side may vary).

What if this is the Big Ten football equivalent of New Coke? What if we're being played exactly like the very smart men in charge of multi-million dollar enterprises want us to be played? What if this is nothing more than a trial balloon?

That is, at least, my hope. Because otherwise, it will be the end of the football world as we know it, and I'll be very sad.

Michigan logos, a primer

The inspiration for this post comes from this post by Greg Dooley at MVictors. (If you don't already check out Greg on a daily basis, you should do so. He's exceptional at what he does.)
I also want to tip my hat to this MGoBoard thread which brought me to this place.

One of the things that has always fascinated me about Michigan is that it has had a variety of logos through the years, and even the Block M has had variations within any given space or time.   When I got the banner seen below for Christmas a couple of years ago, I became even more fascinated by the variations.

So, with this in mind, I am going to post several Michigan logos below, with captions. I will then discuss them below.

Earning your wings

Five thoughts on the contrivoversy* about certain Michigan football players not having the traditional wings on the helmet during fall practices:

1). AP teachers often discuss among themselves the idea that one of the hardest types of students to deal with is the student who has never known failure before. You've made it through to a point where you think that you're invincible, and then you're faced with a challenge where you, despite your talent, do not succeed against an objective standard. At this divergence point, some students will buckle down, redouble their efforts, and figure it out, but others will have a complete meltdown and just start to act out, like it's not worth their time, like that if they can't do it, it's not worth it. So, when faced with a talented student who does not know how to handle the situation in front of them, motivational ploys can be employed. Sometimes is the carrot, sometimes it's the stick; sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

2). This is a classic case of people seeing what the want to see. Some will see it as a great motivational ploy by a coach trying to get the most out of his players. Others will see it as a signal of a desperate coach who has lost his team and is now playing games to try and look like he still knows what he's doing.

3). One thing that confuses me about the haters on this one is, if one of the arguments against Coach Rodriguez is that he doesn't "get" Michigan, he doesn't understand the traditions and the things that mean the most to Michigan fans, wouldn't taking away the wings from a players helmet show that they are something important, something that is earned, not given? Wouldn't this go into the "getting it" side of the ledger?

4). Bill Bradley once said that "Becoming number one is easier than remaining number one." Because behind you is someone talented, someone motivated by the fact that they are being told, through empirical means, that they are not as good as someone else. Some will not rise to the challenge, but others will. In this case, it is entirely possible that we have a quarterback who has been groomed to be a quarterback his whole life who has the academic side of the game down, but is perhaps lacking in the physical tools (allowing for an injury which limited his mobility and development.) On the other side, we have a spectacularly talented player, one who has shown flashes of brilliance, but is exceedingly raw, in part because he has only had limited training on the academic side of the game, and one, who by all accounts, has taken to the training with vigor and earnestness. If that means that #2 is coming up fast on #1, well, maybe #1 needs to think about staying #1 rather than relinquishing it.

5). The season cannot get here soon enough. Seriously.

*-contrivoversy--A word coined by my quiz bowl friend and Red Sox beat writing pal Jon Couture to describe a media invented, fan fueled controversy which really isn't that big a deal in the end.

First MMB Shows of 2010

This is what we know so far:

9/4: Blues Brothers (feat. "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," "Gimme Some Lovin'," "Minnie the Moocher," "Peter Gunn," "Think," "Shake a Tail Feather," and of course, "Can't Turn You Loose.")

9/11: Assume a repeat of the "Blues Brothers" show at Notre Dame.

9/18: Lady Gaga

No details are known yet, but Ms. Gaga is performing at the Palace on September 4th. Like how Patrick Stewart conducted the MMB while he was in town, perhaps she could stick around and make a weirdly relevant appearance.

Anyway, this is a very strong start to the 2010 season!

Divide and Conquer

When I was in high school, nigh on 15 years ago, I would frequently kill time in class by designing divisional alignments for a Big Ten that would add a twelfth team and thus a championship game. That 12th team was always Notre Dame and I would always end up frustrated that the divisions would never ever seem to work out right.

Fast forward to the Brave New World of Conference Realignment and the one simple fact that on June 11, 2010, the Big Ten welcomed the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as the conference's 12th member. The Big Ten will now fully welcome the cash cow that is a championship game and will need, under NCAA rules, to figure out how to split into divisions to make that happen.

So, what will these divisions look like, and how does the Big Ten try to make the fairest, most logical, most cost effective divisions possible. (Please note: Only football needs to be in divisions. Every other sport can just be one nice big 12 team division.) Below, some thoughts, rocking out to R.E.M.'s Monster to get me back into the old high school mindset.

Before I reinvent the wheel, MaizeandBlueWahoo did some nice ground work on the topic as an MGoBlog diary, covering the classic "East/West" and "North/South" divisions.

One of the fundamental questions the league will need to answer is, what do you want to do about Michigan/Ohio State. As Michigan-centric as that question might seem, the rivalry, even if one sided of late, is still the rivalry, and knowing that it is the centerpiece of much of the tradition of the Big Ten, the rivalry must be preserved. I know that Michigan and Ohio State will not approve any divisional scheme that fails to make sure that The Game is played every year come November and this means you need to look into one of three things (as brilliantly stated and shamelessly stolen from Twitter friend Rebecca Stanek:

1. Michigan and Ohio State are in the same division. They’re guaranteed to play each other every season, but then can never play against each other in the Big Ten Championship game.

2. Michigan and Ohio State are in different divisions. Some years they meet in the Big Ten Championship game.

3. Michigan and Ohio State are in different divisions, but are guaranteed to face each other every year. And if there’s a rematch in the championship game, so be it. This is maybe the best solution, although it’s probably unfair to be locked in to the same team year after year for one of the (few) out-of-division, in-conference games. (It would work better in a 12-team conference than in a 16-team conference, for sure.)

This also applies to other major Big Ten rivalries (as defined by their permanent status in the current Big Ten schedule): Iowa/Minnesota, Minnesota/Wisconsin, Iowa/Wisconsin, Illinois/Northwestern, Illinois/Indiana, Indiana/Purdue, Purdue/Northwestern, Penn State/Ohio State, Michigan/Michigan State, and Michigan State/Penn State. Nebraska should also figure in to this mix and I suspect that Iowa will be the first permanent rival and Wisconsin the second (dropping the Wisconsin/Iowa game as a permanent rival and making a four way quadumverate of hate on the western edge.) Jim Delany stated that rivalries are important, but not all rivalries are created equally.

One of the other issues is, does having two major rivals in the same division diminish the importance of the rivalry if they could not meet in the championship game? I think that divisional rivalries are important. Consider: Texas/Oklahoma, Auburn/Alabama, Florida/Georgia, Florida/Tennessee, Alabama/LSU, Nebraska/Colorado, Kansas/Missouri, Oklahoma/Oklahoma State, North Carolina/Duke, and Virginia/Virginia Tech are all major rivalry games that are/were contained within the same division. The ACC and SEC have a "permanent rival" model for cross-divisional games, and it looks like of the 12 permanent rivalry games, the only ones that "wow" are Florida State/Miami, Auburn/Georgia ("The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry"), Alabama/Tennessee (The Third Saturday in October), NC State/North Carolina (important, but not the NC/Duke game), LSU/Florida. Everything else feels "compelled". So does that mean anything?

Now that we have all of this down, here are some of my proposed notions:

Alternating Alphabetical Triads

One and Three:

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State

Two and Four:

Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin

All I did in this one is take the 12 schools by their common name, sort them alphabetically, and divide them into four groups of three. I then took the groups and alternated them, leaving us with the grouping above.

Why is this one compelling? Because it balances the "Big Four" problem (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Nebraska are four of the seven programs in Division I-A with the most all-time victories. Balancing them 2 and 2 is likely important.) It shows that divisions need not be based on geography where football is involved. From a Michigan-centric perspective, it would ensure that Michigan would play for Penn State every year, Michigan State every year, and for the Jug every year (not important to every one, important to me.) The permanent rivals could be:

Michigan-Ohio State
Purdue-Indiana
Minnesota-Iowa
Wisconsin-Nebraska
Michigan State-Northwestern
Penn State-Illinois

I feel a little bit bad about the last two, because they feel compelled (even Wisconsin/Nebraska feels a little forced, but I already dealt with that above.)

Not bad, but can we do better.

Inside/Outside Alphabetical Triads

One and Four:

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin

Two and Four:

Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State

This one isn't as good as the model above, in part because it leaves a three/one split for the Big Four. I do think the one advantage is the permanent rivalries feel a little more "real". To wit:

Michigan-Penn State
Michigan State-Indiana
Minnesota-Wisconsin
Nebraska-Iowa
Northwestern-Purdue
Ohio State-Illinois

With the exception of the Michigan-Penn State and Nebraska-Iowa games, each of these games is a trophy game. The Big Ten would probably be pretty happy about Michigan against Ohio State, Nebraska, and Penn State every year. Honestly, of the models, this one is the most favorable to preserving Michigan's rivalries, but the divisions don't feel balanced.

The reality is that Mark Rudner and Mike McComiskey at the Big Ten office probably have dozens of magnet schedule versions of this kind of thing and are consulting with the 12 athletic departments of the conference to figure out the best possible configuration. I wish them well. For now, it's fun to speculate.

Quick note: The Big Ten now breaks readily down into three longitudinal triads:

West:

Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Wisconsin

Central:

Illinois
Indiana
Northwestern
Purdue

East:

Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State

If were a way to guarantee that each of these teams could play each other annually in a two division format, I think everyone would be happy (OK, Nebraska would be happiest, because that east is an absolute nightmare.) (By the way, doing four longitudinal groups of three is even worse, because it's Michigan/Ohio State and Penn State on the far east side.)

One more completely insane one: The Rich/Poor Divisions, based on the school's endowment:

* Michigan - $6.00 billion
* Northwestern - $5.45 billion
* Minnesota - $2.07 billion
* Ohio State - $1.65 billion
* Purdue - $1.46 billion
* Wisconsin - $1.37 billion

* Indiana - $1.23 billion
* Penn State - $1.23 billion
* Nebraska - $1.15 billion
* Illinois - $1.11 billion
* Michigan State - $1.05 billion
* Iowa - $766 million

Permanent rival games:

Michigan-Michigan State
Northwestern-Illinois
Minnesota-Iowa
Ohio State-Penn State
Purdue-Indiana
Wisconsin-Nebraska

Am I crazy, or does that work out pretty darn well?

Red Alert

If you love Michigan hockey, or just the idea that a Michigan man is something more than people realize, stop whatever it is you are doing and go read this feature article from Michigan Daily Sports Editor Ryan Kartje on Red Berenson and what he's done at Michigan, which is as much about away from the rink as it is on the ice.

Next year in St. Paul.

College Hockey Closer: Day 2

RIT 6, New Hampshire 2: A 1-1 game quickly became a decisive 4-1 advantage midway through the second period. RIT capitalized three times in 94 seconds to put away the Wildcats. They extended their lead to 5-1 at 10:01 in the third before letting UNH get one back at 17:31. The final tally was an ENG. RIT becomes the first Atlantic Hockey team to reach the Frozen Four, and have done so in just their fifth season of D-I hockey.

Boston College 3, Alaska 1: You have to hand it to the Nanooks. They hung tough with the Eagles all game. It was a shorthanded goal by Matt Lombardi that put BC up 1-0 midway through the first, and a power play goal from Andy Taranto that tied it up late in the second. BC scored the game-winner 3:46 into the third and added an empty-netter to seal the victory.

Yale 3, North Dakota 2: North Dakota may have overcome a 2-goal deficit to St. Cloud State in the WCHA final, but giving up a 3-goal lead to Yale was too much to overcome. It wasn't the sort of furious rally that RIT blitzed UNH with, but a steady build, with goals at 5:48 of the 1st, 12:49 of the 2nd, and 17:46 of the 2nd. North Dakota mounted a comeback effort with goals in the early 3rd from Brett Hextall and Matt Frattin, but the Elis held off the Sioux for 16 minutes to win their first NCAA tournament game since 1952.

Wisconsin 5, St. Cloud State 3: Four goals in the 1st, four goals in the 3rd, and an empty 2nd period. Wisconsin went up 3-1 in the first, and so it stayed until Jared Festler's shorthanded goal cut it to 3-2. Just under 3 minutes later, John Mitchell extended the Badgers' lead, but 10 minutes after that, the Huskies made it a one-goal game again. Aaron Bendickson's empty-netter finally put the Huskies away.

Miami 2, Alabama-Huntsville 1: Miami's speed and size were far too much for UAH, but the Chargers acquitted themselves well. They just couldn't stay out of the penalty box. They were assessed 4 minors in the first, 3 in the second, and 3 more in the third, and it looked like Miami was on a power play even when they weren't. When Miami made it a 2-0 game 6:06 into the 2nd on Cameron Schilling's power play goal, it felt like the game was out of reach for Huntsville. They finally got on the board with a power play goal of their own (Fun fact: All goals in this game were on the power play) and made it a one-goal game, but there were only 38 seconds left in the 3rd at that point.

Michigan 5, Bemidji State 1: If Huntsville spent a lot of time in the box, Michigan set up camp there. The Beavers took the first penalty of the night, which Michigan took advantage of. 5 seconds after Dan MacIntyre was let out of the box, Luke Glendening tipped Chad Langlais's shot from the point past Dan Bekala. After that, Michigan took 6 minors in the next 11 minutes (one was coincidental). The penalty kill and Shawn Hunwick worked wonders, and it looked like it was going to still be a tense 1-0 going into the 3rd, but Louie Caporusso took advantage of a 4-on-4 to give Michigan a bigger lead. Halfway through the 3rd, Bemidji finally cashed in on their 6th power play of the night. They caught Michigan scrambling after a failed interception attempt and kept the Wolverines off-balance long enough to get Ian Lowe open, and he put one behind Hunwick. Just two minutes later, however, Carl Hagelin and Kevin Lynch executed a gorgeous 2 on 1, Lynch making a perfect final pass with Bekala sprawling and allowing Hagelin a tap-in. Hagelin again had a gorgeous goal 3.5 minutes later. With Jeff Rohrkemper in the box for boarding, Hagelin took a perfect pass from Matt Rust to split two defenders and give him a breakaway on Bekala which he put away with a backhand. Lebler added an empty-netter to make it a 5-1 game.

College Hockey Closer: Day 1

RIT 2, Denver 1: Clearly the biggest upset of the day. Denver, the overall #2 seed in the tournament, is taken down by RIT, a school that didn't play Division I hockey five years ago. The Tigers have stretched the nation's longest current winning streak to 11 games.

UNH 6, Cornell 2: Cornell took the early 1-0 lead, and looked to stifle the Wildcats for the rest of the game, but UNH broke the dam with a puck that went through the net on a very sharp angle. Just seconds later, they followed it up with another one past Ben Scrivens. Cornell's defense continued to break down, leaving Scrivens in bad spots, and it was effectively over when the Big Red gave up an absurd, uncontested breakaway that Bobby Butler deposited behind Scrivens to make it 4-1. UNH and RIT will meet in the East final tomorrow night at the Times Union Center in Albany.

St. Cloud State 3, Northern Michigan 2: The Huskies held the lead for most of the game, with Northern playing catch up. Eric Spady scored his first goal of the season with 4 minutes left to force overtime, and had the Wildcats some great chances, but St. Cloud State was able to draw a couple of (deserved) penalties and it looked like Northern was wearing down. They made it to the end of the first OT, but it only took seconds into double OT for St. Cloud to win their first NCAA tournament game ever.

Wisconsin 3, Vermont 2: Vermont goaltender Rob Madore has played a great game, but this Wisconsin team is just loaded with talent. It's frightening to even think about having to play them. Madore faced a lot of grade A opportunities, and he's stopped most of them, but the Badgers were just too much. Geoffrion, Davies, et al look like a killer squad right now, and Gudmandson just stoned Roloff on a point blank chance. I'd be surprised if St. Cloud can upset them tomorrow night.

Midwest #3: Michigan

University of Michigan Wolverines

3 seed vs. Bemidji State, Midwest Regional (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN)
CCHA Tournament Champions
Record: 25-17-1
Coach: Gordon "Red" Berenson

I spent last Friday night in a cowboy bar in Houston, Texas. I was with my fiancee, talking with her friends and their significant others while listening to country music and watching people dance. Don't get me wrong; I like seeing them, and I was totally in favor of the evening. But the CCHA semifinal was going on at the same time. Every so often, my phone would chime, letting me know that I was getting another text message as Craig updated his status from inside Joe Louis Arena. I was terrified to look. Nothing good has happened to Michigan's hockey team this season when I was watching. They lost to Notre Dame and Miami in the only two games I attended and seemed to lose every time I watched them on TV. So I'd stopped watching, fearing I was a jinx. The second half of the season seemed to prove that it wasn't my fault, and at this point I was just worried that the other shoe was going to drop. Hard.

Beating Lake State wasn't something that had seemed out of reach. Not a slam dunk, but not prohibitively difficult. Yes, Michigan had struggled through a disappointing season. They had losing records in November (Hi there, 5-game losing streak!) and in February (Not much of a stretch run there). Yes, they were starting a goalie who's 5'7" on a good day. But the guy had split against Notre Dame, so it wasn't out of the question. It was Lake State; even this Michigan team would be a favorite. And so they swept the Lakers and the worrying could really begin.

The second round had seemed like karmic justice. You think you had us? Well, we wanted it more, and we came to end you. But this? This was Miami, a team that had dropped all of two games in conference play and had a pair of netminders any team would kill for.

And so I sat in a bar and listened to my phone while the DVR recorded the game. I didn't look at the messages, but there were 10 of them sitting there, waiting for me. When we got home, I started watching it. It was late/early, but I couldn't wait anymore. The Tristin Llewellyn goal was a shocking thing, and it gave me hope. It was Lee Moffie's goal on the spectacular 4-1 that made me think we were going to win. I was too exhausted, and fell asleep when the second period ended, but I thought we had a chance to hang on. When I awoke in the morning, I was dumbstruck by the third period. Lynch, Lebler, and then Lynch again, pouring it on, just torching The Dynasty. And I felt something for the first time since October: Confidence.

Northern Michigan was the last thing standing between Michigan and their 20th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, and I couldn't imagine them letting the Wildcats get in the way. That doesn't mean that I wasn't worried; far from it. I was furious at the FSN Detroit stream as herked and jerked along, sometimes skipping 12 seconds of gameplay, mostly because I was terrified it was going to catch up and Northern Michigan would have put a goal in the back of the net. And so it went for almost two periods, feeling like another one of those nights where Michigan could outplay the world and have nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. But in the dying seconds of the second period, the stream lurched ahead and Louie Caporusso scored a power play goal.

In the third period, the Wolverines clung to that 1-0 lead, and in the time it took me to restart the stream, Caporusso had scored one and Michigan gave it right back. It was a long, long 9:00 to end that game, rising to a crescendo with 3.5 seconds left and Ray Kaunisto cross-checking the hell out of someone's neck. And the refs called the penalty, and the game was over and Michigan was going to the NCAAs. The streak was safe.

And now I want more. I want the same thing that I wanted when Craig and I bought our Frozen Four tickets a year ago: Michigan hockey at Ford Field. It can happen, obviously, but it's another mountain to climb after a huge weekend. Can Michigan retain its focus after that? Can the defense keep Shawn Hunwick clean? Will the puck keep going into the net for the offense? I have no idea.

For non-Michigan fans, wondering who to watch, first and foremost you should keep your eyes on juniors Carl Hagelin (17-30--47) and Louie Caporusso (20-21--41). In addition to being the assists and points leader, Hagelin is a fantastic two-way player, usually dispatched to shut down the other team's top line. He plays left wing, with fellow junior Matt Rust (13-25--38) centering and freshman Kevin Lynch at RW. Caporusso is in the middle on the second line and a big force on the power play.

The defensive pairings have been shaken up a bit due to the injury senior captain Chris Summers suffered in the CCHA first round versus Lake Superior State. A preponderance of sources think he's back for this weekend. Steve Kampfer (leader in points among defensemen with 3-19--22) is probably the second best of the D.

Shawn Hunwick is the story that everyone wants to talk about, and why not? Pint-size goalie, prone to concussions, just short of giving up hockey. But he's the brother of ex-Michigan defenseman/current Boston Bruin Matt Hunwick and he walks on when Steve Jakiel leaves the team. And when Bryan Hogan (2.33 GAA / .901 SV%) injures his groin halfway through the first period against Notre Dame, Hunwick steps in to finish the game and complete the 4-0 shutout. He also happens to have earned MVP honors at that CCHA tournament while watching a Hobey Baker finalist get benched on the other end of the rink. All eyes will be on him in Fort Wayne to see if he turns back into a pumpkin. Even if he does, I just want to say thank you to him and to the whole team for making it this far. I'll be there, cheering them on and hoping they can keep the season alive.

Midwest #2: Bemidji State

Bemidji State University Beavers

2 seed vs. Michigan, Midwest Regional (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN)
At-large bid from CHA
CHA Regular Season Champion
Record: 23-9-4
Coach: Tom Serratore

Before you start, as always, we must point you to MGoBlog's Brian Cook's fantastic preview (http://mgoblog.com/content/puck-preview-bemidji-and-beyond) that is really more than any of us deserve.

"Oh no, they're bitin' him, and stealing his pants." The observations of Carl Carlson are why we can never trust the beavers to be helpful. Last year, Bemidji State did two totally and wholly unexpected things in the NCAA Tournament. First, they became the first CHA school to advance to the Frozen Four, and second, they were such a Cinderella with a funny name in doing so that they got sports writers around the country to stand up and take notice of how much fun Hockey Christmas can be. It is a testament to Bemidji State this year that while they did not win the last CHA tournament, they became just the second team from CHA or Atlantic Hockey to earn an at-large berth in the tournament, and not just that, but earn a second seed as well. As the CHA moves in to the ethereal past of college hockey, where it joins UIC, Kent, Wayne State, and Northern Arizona as ghosts of what once was, Bemidji will look to honor the departed before starting a new chapter as a part of the W next season.

The Beavers score goals in bunches (3.53 goals per game, admittedly with 18 games against the rest of the CHA) and as INCH points out, it seems to be a simple equation for Bemidji, score a lot of goals and win, don't score a lot of goals and potentially struggle. The key, it would appear, for any team wishing to shut down Bemidji would be to lock down junior forward Matt Read (who had Bemidji's only goal last year against Miami in the Frozen Four) and hope that you can make them play from behind and press. Even then, Bemidji has shown they can find the back of the net.

I make no predictions, I bear no illusions that I know the future; but I do know that if the casual observer came across the college hockey bracket, they would likely see Bemidji/Michigan and presume that Michigan is going to roll in to a Regional Final showdown with Miami. But, that is not the storyline of this season. Michigan is the hotter team at the moment, no doubt, but momentum does not keep the puck out of the net, or keep you out of the box. It puts you in a good frame of mind (hopefully), and you look to build on it. Bemidji is 120 minutes from going from feel good Frozen Four fluke to team to be reckoned with. Overlook the Beavers at your own peril, because they're clearly not out there to rescue you.

Midwest #1: Miami

Miami University RedHawks*

1 seed vs. Alabama-Huntsville, Midwest Regional (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN)
At-large bid from CCHA
CCHA Regular Season Champion
Record: 27-7-7
Coach: Enrico Blasi

I want to give full credit to Miami. In just three short years, they have gone from "random occasional opponent in the CCHA best known as where Bo went to school" to "The Dynasty** (and I dislike them intensely.)" How do you do that? Well, you play like a house on fire. You earn 70 points in the CCHA this season. You have the best goalie in the league, arguably in the country. You have what seem like dozens of guys who can score at will, who play assignment hockey on the defensive end, and who look like they're giving everything they have every shift. You dislike them intensely because, dammit, they're good. I think it's the ultimate compliment, to be elevated to unlikable, because it means you're perceived as a threat. Miami can no longer be seen as a quick 4 point weekend (well, six now, but see, that is moot now, because they're not.) They're now a raging beast worthy of their campus being blown up by Hockey Bear coming to destroy us all.

(Like Brian and his fantastic Midwest Regional Preview, I tread lightly in the next section for fear of incurring the wrath of any of the Angry Blank Michigan Hating Gods)

If you're looking for Miami to get back to the Frozen Four this season, your one worry has to be the fact that right when they need to be peaking, they are not. They're giving up more goals than usual, the CCHA Player of the Year Cody Reichard has not looked as good in the net of late, and while it would be untoward to speculate on the factors that have causes this slight derailment of the machine, the question has to be if Miami will find the form that made them look like a behemoth of a steamroller earlier this year, or is the team that has shown up lately, the team of a 4-3-1 record in their last eight games is who they are now. Just compare them across the bracket in the last eight games to Michigan, which is 7-1-0 in their last eight. Is Michigan the better team than Miami? Probably not, but based on recent performance, that gap has likely closed where it comes down to, if they were to face each other again, it probably wouldn't be a surprise if Michigan were to win again, but it also wouldn't be if Miami were to win again. A month and a half ago, I am not sure you could have said that.

If Miami is going to win, the balanced scoring that they have employed all season will be critical as will Reichard returning to form, or Connor Knapp, the 77 inches of goaltender (as opposed to the 67 inches of goaltender that is Michigan walk-on wunderkind Shawn Hunwick.) can stop all that faces them. If Miami can regain some momentum against Alabama-Huntsville, they could be an angry and dangerous team in the Regional Final, difficult for any team to knock out.

* - Because it's always fun: "When referring to Miami, please only use Miami University or Miami. Please do not use Miami of Ohio, University of Miami of Ohio, etc. The latter are not proper names for our institution. Thank you." (HT: Brian at MGoBlog)

** - Because we're not above this: The origin of the "The Dynasty" nickname for Miami (HT: Tim at YostBuilt)

Midwest #4: Alabama-Huntsville

University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers

4 seed vs. Miami University, Midwest Regional (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN)
CHA Tournament Champion
Record: 12-17-3
Coach: Danton Cole

Oh there are many people who likely lament that this year's edition of Alabama-Huntsville is the argument against why the NCAA tournament automatic bid should go to the regular season champion, and not the playoff champion. We are not among them and we're not ashamed to admit why. But just as CHN's Adam Wodon has pointed out that without the bids from the CHA and Atlantic Hockey, college hockey fans would still be looking at a 12 team tournament. So let's credit the Chargers for getting hot at the right time, and winning a tough overtime game against Niagara, at Niagara. What is the Chargers' reward for this effort? An opening round date with the tournament's overall top seed; the RedHawks of Miami University. This may seem daunting, but remember, it was just three years ago, the Chargers, also coming in with a losing record, gave overall top seed Notre Dame a major scare before falling to the Irish in double overtime.

The biggest storyline of the game for UAH will be the fact that they're the last surviving remnant of College Hockey America and that they're facing a team from the CCHA, the conference which rejected their request for membership last season. They'll be an independent and they'll do their best to scrape out a living as such as an independent. USCHO suggests that you should root for them only to root for chaos, and HSR always supports rooting for chaos. Plus, well, no, it's Hockey Christmas and you do not speak of scenarios which could be beneficial to your team. Everything stacks up that the Chargers will likely have a long night ahead of them, but if you have a hot goalie (like Cameron Talbot, the CHA Tournament MVP) and a little luck, the underdog can rise up and steal one, or more. Remember, just last year, two #4 seeds won a pair of games and ended up in the Frozen Four. One was a CHA team, the other was UAH's first round opponent. It's single elimination, anything can happen.

West #1: Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Badgers

1 seed vs. Vermont, West Regional (Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN)
At-large bid from the WCHA
Record: 25-10-4
Coach: Mike Eaves

This year's Badgers are a high-flying crew. By the numbers, they're the second most potent offense in the country, at 3.97 goals per game. And they're doing it against the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation, whereas Yale (4.09 GPG) faces the 37th. Seven different Badgers are in double digits when it comes to goals, led by senior Hobey Baker finalist Blake Geoffrion (25-18--43), 13 of whose have come on the power play. Senior Michael Davies (18-32--50) leads the team in points, while sophomore Derek Stepan (10-38--48) is tops in assists. Five Badgers have at least 30 points. Junior Brendan Smith (15-30--45) is also a Hobey finalist and leads all defenseman nationally with his 15 goals. He's made the most of his power play time, having earned 11 of his goals that way. He also leads the team in penalty minutes with 70.

On the other end of the ice, Wisconsin is anchored by junior goalie Scott Gudmandson, with his .915 SV% and 2.31 GAA. He's split time with fellow junior Brett Bennett (.885/2.31), who's appeared in 14 games, but I'd expect that Gudmandson will be the goalie for the NCAA's. The top defensemen in +/- are junior Ryan McDonagh and sophomore Jake Gardiner, who lead the team with +21. McDonagh is also right behind Brendan Smith with 69 PIM.

The Badgers are a deep, scary team. A goalie having a good night can get them, as they've been shut out on a couple of nights, most recently in the WCHA tournament semifinal against St. Cloud State, but it doesn't happen often. They've only been held to one goal 3 times. One of those was also against the Huskies, which is about the closest anyone's been to having Wisconsin's number (The Badgers are 2-3 against them on the season). As luck would have it, St. Cloud State is also in the West regional. I'm sure Wisconsin would be happy to level the season series.