Friday Lowdown is Inside The Fort

Ok, so we're breaking the rules and turning the "midweek lowdown" into "whatever-day-of-the-week-it-is lowdown". We had good response from Wednesday's post, plus I kind of like the informal nature of this kind of post for stuff like this.

Before we jump in, a friendly reminder that you have just under a week to sign up for the MBN pick'em league on Yahoo!. Winner takes home a $75 Moe Sport Shops gift card. 2nd and 3rd place win prizes too. Click here for details.

University Of Michigan Responds To OKCPS Dress Code Flap

More about the Oklahoma t-shirt kid via a local OKC TV station. They just happened to be there when the family got the call from Brandon with the invite. Cooper and his family will be attending the UMass game on September 15th.
News9.com


Michigan linebacker Kaleb Ringer, offensive lineman Chris Bryant out for season 
Well, it can't all be feel good stories about adorable 5-year olds.

The injury bug claimed it's 2nd and 3rd victims so far in this fall camp. Freshman LB Kaleb Ringer and OL Chris Bryant join true-freshman DE Chris Wormley as guys who will not see the field in 2012. Ringer had surgery on his knee, while Bryant fractured his tibia.

All 3 were not starters, but this will impact the depth chart, especially the loss of Bryant. Michigan now has just 5 scholarship backups on the OL, who are all freshman.


Dienhart: My thoughts from Michigan practice
Much to the ire of local media folks who cover Michigan football, BTN was given unfettered access to yesterday's practice at Schembechler Hall to tape their 1-hour Michigan preview show (which airs at 10PM ET tonight on BTN).

BTN's Tom Dienhart was tweeting and taking some pretty good notes...including a nice interview with Roy Roundtree. Here's a few interesting bits from his post.

On Denard:

I had many observations from the practice, none bigger than Denard Robinson looked more comfortable than ever under center. He’s such a dangerously quick athlete who can legitimately score any time he touches the ball. His skills were on full display today. But more importantly, Robinson looked better as a passer—when he was able to set his feet, which always is key for him.

On Devin:

Gardner is a wild card. How much will the quarterback-by-trade play at receiver? I asked Borges about Gardner, and his eyes got big. Borges says Gardner doesn’t know how good he can be. He’s an athletic freak who will figure in the rotation. Count on it.

On receivers:

Chesson and Darboh are good-looking pass catchers with size. They will play. Gardner is a wild card. How much will the quarterback-by-trade play at receiver? I asked Borges about Gardner, and his eyes got big. Borges says Gardner doesn’t know how good he can be. He’s an athletic freak who will figure in the rotation. Count on it.

On Campbell:

Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery told me massive tackle Will Campbell looks dialed in and ready for a big senior season. For a man of his girth, he moves well and can get up the field quickly. But Montgomery said Campbell still can be dogged by inconsistency but seems primed for a big senior season.

Obama misspells Ohio
Ohio State schadenfreude. The MZone is always knows where to find it.

I understand they gave POTUS another chance to get it right and they nailed it. But that's less funny so I won't show you that.


A historical ranking of the top Heisman schools and conferences
CBS Sports' Chris Huston (aka Heisman Pundit) quantifies each school's Heisman history by assigning points based on how each school has done in the top 10 of Heisman voting ballots each year. Michigan comes in at #5.

All-time Heisman Points
1. Notre Dame, 277
2. (tie) Oklahoma, Ohio State, 191
4. USC, 166
5. Michigan, 147
6. Texas, 105
7. Army, 102
8. Penn State, 99
9. UCLA, 98
10 (tie). Nebraska, Miami, 93

Guy Names Every Heisman Trophy Winner, In Order, With School [YouTube]
Speaking of Heisman...yeah, this is sick.



The Bacon Balcony Awaits (Jim Rome Audio 08-23)
So I heard that John U. Bacon was going to be a guest on the Jim Rome show yesterday but I couldn't catch it live. I went to the Rome show website, but I wasn't able to download/play the show without signing up for a membership($). Alas, MVictors to the rescue. (Ed. Bacs has it also).

Bacon, along with the Brothers Sklar who were sitting in for Rome, jump right into a certain article written by a certain person about a certain allegation from a certain game from 2007 which we don't need to go into 'round here.


Images of USC's new John McKay Center

USC spent $70 million dollars on a 110,000-square foot football facility complete with an underground practice field. It's purdy.