UPDATE: Apparently today it’s 2007. Tomorrow it will be 2008. One full year from then, it will be 2009. Thus I’ve edited the title of this post accordingly.

At the risk of looking like I’ve stolen a totally original idea from Hire Jim Essian, I’ve decided to make a few New Year Resolutions for HLS.

Her Loyal Sons resolve to:

• Let you know each and every time we hear about Urban Meyer lying to a recruit, putting feelers out in Atlanta, San Francisco, and New York about NFL jobs, or manipulating “discipline” to make sure none of his really good players ever really miss out on important playing time.
• Win an award. Any award. And if we can’t win an award, then we at HLS will create the Alabama Memorial Award for National Champion Blog and award it to ourselves. Obviously, the trophy for this award will come in the form of “Leg Lamp.”
• Bad Kermit will finish out the Friday Night Lights episode review series that he started a millennium ago. You readers can thank me, domer.mq, for ensuring that this happens.
• Biscuit will shout less in his posts.
• By the start of the 2008 season, domer.mq will complete a new Michigan (sucks!) function on the site so that every time someone writes “Michigan” (sucks!) in a post or a comment, the term “Michigan” (sucks!) will immediately be followed by the term “(sucks!)” thus alleviating the need for posters and commenters to write the term “(sucks!)” every time they write the term “Michigan” (sucks!).
• The HLS Expert Picks will become automated and may, MAY, even become open to our tens of readers. This will result in a more active community around HLS and more time with the wife for domer.mq. Bow-chicka-bow-bow.
• Any of the HLS will punch Mark May in the nose if and when we ever meet him. We will then explain that we fully understand that the constant belittling of ND is just something he does because his producers tell him to do. We’ll explain that, being Christians, we forgive him for being so weak that he’ll just do whatever his bosses want him to do. We’ll then punch him in the nose again.
• We’ll recognize that TheBigLead.com and Deadspin.com have really just become the internet versions of The Best Damned Sports Show Period if The Best Damned Sports Show Period mated with The Man Show and then became a blog.
• We will not take ourselves too seriously even though we’re clearly the best college football blog with a focus on Notre Dame on the entire internet. As with modesty, a sense of humor becomes us.
• We’ll continue to call “Lurch” “Lurch” even if he does transfer from Michigan (sucks!) immediately after their bowl game.
• We’ll lose some weight.

That’s it, really. There’s not much upon which we can improve. When one has essentially maxed out on their potential, what more can be done?

If you’ve got any suggestions, feel free to make them in the comments of this post. In the meantime, let us all give thanks to Rudolph for saving Baby New Year.

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Looks like the rumor that Meyer is interested in coaching in the pros, particularly for the Atlanta Falcons, has picked up steam enough to get noticed by the “real media.” Assuming that “Florida Today” isn’t just some really snazzy blog.

ORLANDO – While there have been some mild whispers that perhaps the Atlanta Falcons would be interested in trying to lure Urban Meyer away from Florida, he stopped that talk before it could get started.

Meyer said after UF’s practice Sunday he hasn’t been contacted by Atlanta. If the Falcons called, would he listen?

“No,” he said. “I’m really happy where I’m at. I’ll give you the Coach 101 speech, but mine is from the heart.”

I wonder if it came from Meyer’s heart when he promised Jevan Snead that he was only recruiting Tim Tebow as a linebacker? You think it’s from the heart when Meyer tells recruits that he’ll be able to start them right away because the guys that already play for him will be academically ineligible?

Meyer will be in the NFL within 2 years. Stone.

(HT: Karl at NDN)

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We’re not surprised that Urban Liar Meyer may be headed to the pros.  We’re just surprised that he isn’t headed directly for Cincinnatti.  That shock is reasonable.  After all, if Meyer were to go to the pros, wouldn’t he want to go to the team that defines lack of character?  Wouldn’t he want to go to a program where it seems that half the squad was arrested last year?

Because, after all, that’s the kind of program he runs down there in sunny Gainesville.

UF apologists will point to the school’s pretty co-eds, easy academics and sunny weather as reasons to go there.  All true, and all pretty good things to advertise to 18 year old football player recruits.   But those same people won’t mention that Urban doesn’t care about his kids’ future beyond playing ball.   They are certainly not at UF to learn.  Just 30% of African American players at UF graduate according to the NCAA.   They’re not there to stay out of trouble.  They’re there to do whatever they want, so long as they can put up 6 or blow up an opponent’s screen pass. 

Want facts to back up all this rhetoric?  Fine, just check out the litany of ‘player issues’ below.  Reminds you a bit of the Bengals last year doesn’t it?  Cincy had 13 arrests last yar.  Even though I only have details on 8 arrests below, it looks like there were 12 UF-related arrests in the past 8 months.   Giddeyup!

Arrest 1:  Florida LB Arrested in Parking Garage Brawl

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida linebacker Dustin Doe has been charged with fighting in public for his involvement in a large brawl in a downtown Gainesville parking garage.

Police responded to the scene at 2:25 a.m. Sunday, and Doe was observed fighting in a group of 20 or more people. Doe and two others, Raymond Leonard Smoaks and Jeffrey Brown, were arrested, according to police reports.

When police approached the scene, Doe turned away to leave the area, according to a report.

Doe was arrested and charged with fighting in public, a misdemeanor. He did not answer a telephone call Monday seeking comment.

Doe is scheduled to start this year for the Gators. He played in every game in 2006 in a reserve role.

Arrest 2:  Ronnie Wilson Fires AK-47 During Argument

(Biscuit Edit:  FREAKING AK – 47!!!!!  These ‘college players’ are strapped with assault weapons and are somehow called students.  This is madness.)

By Lise Fisher
Sun staff writer
4-5-07

Universityof Florida top offensive lineman Ronnie Matthew Wilson was arrested early Thursday on charges of aggravated assault, simple battery and useor display of a concealed weapon during the commission of a felony, aGainesville Police arrest report stated.

Police accused Wilson, 19, of shooting a semi-automatic rifle after a dispute with another man, according to the report.

Wilson later told police he took the rifle out of his trunk and fired one shot into the air because he wanted the other man “to know how it felt to be scared,” the report stated.

Wilson was being held at the Alachua County jail pending a first court appearance.

  

Arrest 3:  Student Accuses UF Football Player of Robbery

4/23/07
By MIKE MCCALL
Alligator Writer

Five UF football players were involved in a confrontation at a weekend party, according to a Gainesville Police Department report.

The players, identified on the scene as scholarship football athletes by a UF student, were involved in a robbery at a party at Cabana Beach Apartments on Saturday.

The players have not been named bypolice, and UF coach Urban Meyer has yet to confirm that they are football players, the report states.

On Saturday, a UF student was taking kegs out of his truck when the men approached him. One 6-foot-4, 280-pound man attempted to steal his keg, cutting his neck in the process, according to the report. The cut was 5 to 6 inches long, the report states, and it appeared to be the result of a finger nail or ring.

The other four players on the scene restrained the attacker, who then broke away and assaulted the student again, slamming him into his truck, according to the report.

After the second attack, the players forced the attacker into a red Ford Taurus and began to leave the scene, the report states.

While the car was still moving, the attacker again tried to run at the victim, but was stopped by his teammates, who likely prevented a third attack,according to the report.

Several more players were at the party, but were not involved in the incident, the report states.

The incident is the third this month involving a UF football player.

Earlier, linebacker Dustin Doe was charged with fighting in public.

Offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson received felony charges of aggravated assault andt he use, display or concealment of a weapon or firearm.

Saturday’s incident is not the first involving UF players and kegs.

Two years ago, linebacker Taurean Charles was dismissed from the team following another keg-related incident.

He was charged after throwing a keg at a UF student.

Arrest 4:  Florida DB Munroe Charged with Theft

By ANDY STAPLES The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 29, 2007

       

DESTIN— University of Florida safety Dorian Munroe was arrested last week and charged with theft after Munroe admitted to a UF police officer that he had removed a UPD ”boot” from one of his tires and placed it in his trunk.

Munroe was charged with a third-degree felony, according to a police report, because the boot was valued at $385. UF’s police department places the boots on vehicles whose owners either have three or more outstanding parking tickets or five guilty citations within a year.

According to the report, Munroe was called to UPD headquarters on May 22. There, according to the report, Munroe told officer Brian Boydthat he had taken the boot off his 1987 Mercedes. The boot was removed from Munroe’s trunk, and Munroe was arrested and transported to Alachua County jail. He was released Wednesday.

UF athletic department spokesman Steve McClain said Tuesday that Gators coach Urban Meyer is aware of the incident and that there is an internal process in place to handle such matters. Munroe, a rising sophomore from Miami, is expected to compete for significant playing time this season.

Arrest 5:  UF Football Player/Hoops Player Arrested on Drug Charges

Alachua County
POWELL, BRANDON CHARLES ASO07MNI005526 FA 06/12/2007

JAMES, BRANDON K ASO07MNI005525 FA 06/12/2007

By Lise Fisher
Sun staff writer   

Two University of Florida athletes, one a basketball player and another a football player, were arrested overnight by Gainesville Police on allegations of drug possession, jail records showed.

Brandon Charles Powell and Brandon K. James, both 19, were being held at the Alachua County jail on charges of purchase and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, according to court records.

Powell was a freshman last year with the college’s basketball team, while James was a freshman who played a major role in the 2006 national championship football team as a kickoff and punt returner.

     

Arrest 6:  Former UF Receiver Faces Multiple Charges

By Jonathan Okanes

Cal wide receiver Nyan Boateng was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., last week and was charged with burglary residence, battery and criminal mischief.

According to Gainesville police Sgt. Chuck Reddick, Boateng attempted to enter the home of his former girlfriend early Thursday morning. When she refused to let him in, Boateng kicked in the door and entered anyway.

Boateng, a transfer from the University of Florida, is scheduled to sit out this season because of NCAA transfer rules. He will be a junior in 2008 and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Boateng was a football and basketball star at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was basketball teammates with the NBA’s Sebastian Telfair. Boateng played one season at Florida, catching two passes for 44 yards as a freshman.

“We’re aware there was an incident in Florida and we’re gathering all the information we can,” Cal athletic spokesman John Sudsbury said.

Boateng worked out with Cal during the spring and looked like a potential star. With junior wide receiver DeSean Jackson possibly leaving for the NFL after this season, Boateng could be a perfect fit to fill in.

The burglary charge is a felony while the other two are misdemeanors. A court date is pending.

    

Arrest 7:  Gator Player Charged with Burglary

By Karen Voyles
A senior on the University of Florida football team was arrested early Tuesday and charged with burglary according to Gainesville  Police.

Earl A. “Tony” Joiner, 21, was arrested at 4:59 a.m. outside the fenced impound lot of Watson’s Towing at 516 SW 1st St. 

Senior defensive back Earl A. “Tony” Joiner, 21, was arrested at 4:59 a.m. outside the fenced impound lot of Watson’s Towing at 516 SW 1st St.

Joiner, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 194 pounds, was accused of pushing a heavy electric gate open to enter the lot in an attempt to retrieve his girlfriend’s car which was being held in lieu of a $76 towing bill, according to police reports.

According to Gainesville Police, witnesses said a man pushed open the gate at 4:30 a.m., got into a car, drove the car out of the lot and was trying to close the gate when he was confronted by one of two witnesses. The witness said the man drove the car back into the lot and waited for officers to arrive.

The officer who arrested Joiner, Robert Concannon, noted in the arrest report that Joiner was on a phone talking to someone when Concannon walked up to Joiner. Concannon said he heard Joiner talking into the phone and saying, “I am probably about to go to jail ‘cuz I did push the gate open.”

    

Arrest 8:  Cunningham and Demps Arrested on Burglary Charges

By:  Lindsay Jones

Starting defensive end Jermaine Cunningham was arrested early Wednesday morning on a misdemeanor battery charge after reportedly causing a disturbance at an sandwich shop near campus.

According to a Gainesville Police report, Cunningham and former Gator linebacker Jon Demps got into an argument with an employee at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich shop, located on University Avenue. When the employee reportedly told Cunningham and Demps they had to pay for a bag of potato chips, Cunningham and Demps became “verbally abusive” and began throwing items, including empty soda cups and a sandwich, at the employee.

Cunningham and Demps left the store, and were arrested on campus at 2:49 a.m.

According to records from the Alachua County Jail, he was booked at 3:56 a.m. and was still at the jail at 10:30 a.m.

Cunningham, a sophomore who has started every game this season, is third on the team with 62 tackles (34 solo). He has 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.

Former LSU wide receiver Xavier Carter was also arrested after the incident on a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest, according to a GPD report. Carter, who left LSU to run professionally, recently moved to Gainesville to begin training with UF track coach Mike Holloway.

Carter was reportedly with Cunningham and Demps on University Ave. after the incident at Jimmy John’s, but ran from police when Cunningham and Demps were arrested.

These arrests range from the insanely criminal (AK-47’s anyone?) to the stupid (who STEALS a car boot rather than pay a parking ticket?) to the typically-meat-headed (yeah, let’s start whipping cups and condiments at this tool who is insisting on CHARGING US 99 cents for these chips!!!!).   But regardless, Urban doesn’t have control of his players or his program.  And that spells trouble for some of these kids.  Trouble they don’t need if they want to succeed in college, the pros, and after/instead of the pros (e.g. the ‘real world’). 

If I’m a recruit, I think twice about UF.  If I’m a player’s parent, I think 30 times.   As a player, I am just as likely to end up in jail as I am the starting lineup.  And if I’m African American and don’t go pro?  I have just a 30% chance of graduating (in sports management or phys-ed most likely).  Wow.  Questionable outcomes at best.

UF has been doing well on the field lately.  Urban can coach and recruit.  But he doesn’t build anything other than winners now.  He doesn’t build character, and he’s not getting these kids ready for any future, beyond those very few that will go pro and play more than just 1 or 2 years. 

Kids, just say no to Urban Liar.  Unless you’re thinking about a career with your local SWAT team, that is.  Great target practice down there at UF!

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 Well, Michigan fans got their ‘great’ hire. 

And he fired everyone on the staff.

Guess you get what you ask for.  I wonder how much this will affect this year’s recruiting?  And unless Dicky Rod brings back a few guys in re-hires, or at least brings in a few ex-Michigan guys, how much they’ll ‘get’ Michigan (meaning, understanding how much the school sucks).  2 days ago everyone was proclaiming their desire to crawl up into bed with RR and propose marriage. Now, they’re upset that he cleaned house. 

Seems like UM fans are about as loyal as RR.  A match made in…Ann Arbor.

PS - the point isn’t that RR shouldnt have done this.  If I were him, I would’ve.  The point is that it’s funny how much UM fans are whining about it.  And to get the picture above on our site.

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UPDATE 3: Apparently there are rumors that Urb doesn’t get along real well with the Florida Athletic Director.

UPDATE 2: Apparently Urb has a huge buyout in his contract if he wants to take another college job, but there’s no buyout at all, meaning it would cost him nothing, if he wants to take an NFL job. Interesting way to get a contract written for someone who doesn’t want to be “upwardly mobile.” In contrast, Charlie Weis’ buyout is huge for both college and pro jobs. Charlie had that done to end rumors created by other coaches (supposedly Urb being one of them) that Weis would leave for the NFL if given the chance.

UPDATE: The AJC is reporting that Bill Parcells will likely accept a job as head of football operations for the Falcons. Which is sort of interesting with the Urban rumor. Urb’s not part of the “Parcells Tree,” I don’t think, but I do know that Urban has talked with Bill Belichick in the past, having Bill down to UF and also visiting the Pats himself. Now, Belichick and Parcells are rumored to not be all that warm with each other any more, but there is some form of a connection to the “Parcells Tree” in that way at the least.

******************************

Totally unverified rumor of the day: Urban Meyer wants to try his wares out on the pro circuit.

We don’t get a lot of “tips,” except when we dance at the Cheetah, but those are the sort of tips that support various habits. The tip we got this morning is of the sort that wont support anything, sort of like your no good drunk father. Christmas is canceled this year, kids! Again! Anyway, the word is that Urban has a select few NFL teams he’d like to coach, and the Atlanta Falcons happen to be one of them. So this week some feelers originating from Florida have been poking around Hotlanta. Talk about a coaching carousel! Does Urban even know that Mike Vick, who would probably be the best QB in Urb’s spread offense ever, is now in prison? Can Joey Harrington run the spread? Is Joey Harrington even on the Falcons? Is he still playing QB in the NFL? I have no idea. I just think this is an interesting rumor.

What will Urb say about this rumor? And should we believe him? He’s not exactly the most honest guy this side of the Mississippi.

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Dear Michigan,

You suck. But we’ve covered that countless times. No doubt you understand you suck much like everyone’s fat cousin that always sits at the singles table at weddings is well aware that they will be alone for their entire lives. But at least those cousins have cats. Cats make fat, lonely people feel better. What do you have, Michigan?

You’ve got a new coach. For now, anyway. It took 26 days to find the guy. Care to guess what sort of multiple of 26 days will equal his tenure at Michigan (sucks!)? See, you just bought a coach that is the sort of person that could walk away from the position of Head Coach, Football for his alma mater (a D1 school to boot) because of “an offer he couldn’t refuse.” What offer? 2.5 million a year? That’s not really top-tier pay. Heck, Saban makes 4, and he’s already looking around. Petrino makes nearly 3! So let’s say Richie Rich does really well in Ann Arbor. You gonna bounce that salary up to 3.5-4 next year? If not, who’s going to make Richie the next offer he can’t refuse?

I’m betting Rich is on his way to “bigger and better” things within 5 years. That, or he’s fired by then. He’ll either be hugely successful, and the pros will take notice, or, heck, some college program with looser purse strings will notice, or he’ll lose to ND and Ohio State so often that he’ll be burned in effigy by 2012.

Congratulations on that “A-List Hire.” I’m sure Ryan Mallet is already absorbing the new run-oriented playbook with vigor.

domer.mq
HerLoyalSons.com

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Oldie.  His work remains unparalleled.

Though honest and all-encompassing, it shows we’re still ND.  We have pride, promise and prospects.  (alliteration rules!)  September can’t get here fast enough.

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He’s in.  After a long and sometimes tumultuous recruitment, all-universe offensive lineman Trevor Robinson has committed to Notre Dame.  (Shout out to John on the Shout Boxx for the tip). 

Irish Roundup has a great run-down chalk-full of a ton of links on the story.  So head over there and check them out. 

All I can say is that this is good stuff.  Good, good stuff.  I mean, this is RECRUITING INSANITY, and this class is going to be legendary at Notre Dame.  LEGEND-ARY.

And also, I will say that if I were to see Trevor, I would probably shake his hand.  And I would probably smile and say some combination of the following words:  Stud, Awesome, Family, You, A, To, Welcome, Are, The, Notre Dame.

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Some discussion has popped up on various ND message boards about Corwin Brown and his defense. So I decided to really take a look at the numbers and see where the 2007 Notre Dame defense, under Corwin Brown, stacks up against the 2 defenses that Rick Minter helmed in 2005 and 2006. After all, Brown was brought in to replace the fired Minter. I spend a lot of time comparing Weis to Willingham. Might as well do it with the assistants!

The Stats:

First and foremost, the “total defense” ranking has made a significant jump. Granted, these rankings could change quite a bit when the bowl season is all said and done, but ND has finished their 2007 season ranked 43rd in total defense. In 2005 they finished 75th and in 2006 they finished 65th. That’s a pretty nice jump from Minter’s average of a 70 rank. So from a big-picture, objective stand-point, it can already be said that Corwin Brown’s defense played better than Minter’s defenses.

And now the “but.” And here it is: The 2007 Irish gave up an average of 357 yards a game and 39 touchdowns. That’s compared to a 2005 yield of 396 a game and 35 TDs and a 2006 yield of 340 yards a game and, again, 35 TDs. And the 2006 season included an extra game. So Brown’s defense didn’t improve a ton in “yield.” It did improve in habitually succumbing to the big pass play. Problem was, most offenses didn’t need the big pass play to beat ND.

The book on how to beat Notre Dame in 2007 was went as follows:

• Let the Irish kill themselves
• Just keep grinding against the D
• Score on all Irish mistakes and get a big lead
• Kill the clock

And that’s why the stats for the defense look like they do. Still, that’s not an excuse. And most of the big, macro numbers would probably have looked a lot better if not for one seemingly “small” number: 0.41 as in 0.41 more yards per rush gained against the 2007 Notre Dame defense than what opponents averaged against the 2005 and 2006 ND Defenses. That caused the per rush average to jump from 3.87 yards to 4.28 yards, effectively jumping the proposition of rushing against the ND defense from “fair” to overwhelmingly “promising.” And so opposing OCs could use the easiest, lowest risk types of plays (runs up the middle) to beat the Irish. Which means opposing OCs were beating the Irish with “man-to-man/hat-on-hat” football, indicating a failing in proper technique by a number of Irish (watch the middle linebackers for excellent examples).

Here’s a funny stat: In 2007, the Irish gave up 20 rushing touchdowns and 19 passing touchdowns. Whereas, in 2006, the Irish gave up 24 passing TDs, and just 11 rushing TDs. Is that because Corwin Brown’s first defense at least required opponents to grind into the end-zone versus Minter’s 2006 defense that let so many opponents score from well beyond the 30? Or does Brown’s defense have no real serious weakness? Or no real strength? Usually when a team isn’t very good, there’s a preferred way to score on them. If they stink against the pass, suck them in on play-action and score on them just like everyone else. So why are opposing OCs choosing either/or?

I do believe that Corwin will put together a very good defense in 2008. But I have to base that belief mostly on things that I see on the field but can’t read in the numbers. He’s got some young linebackers and defensive linemen that play like maniacs. He’s got at least one true “shut down” corner. And he’s got one of the most gifted and truly nasty safeties in the country. Brown’s also shown early in many of the 2007 contests that he’s able to put together effective gameplans that, at the very least, work until the Irish’s own mistakes kill them off. It’ll be very interesting to see how he performs in situations where he has to play “chess” for an entire game.

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Lloyd.

Simply because soon enough, there will be no one else left.

Welcome back LLLLLLLLlllllllloyd! We missed your witty humor and sunny disposition!

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Just for kicks, here’s what’s happened in the college football world (when only really looking at coaching careers) since Llloyd Carr retired and Bill Martin set sail on this fantastical journey he calls a “coaching search.” It is by no means an exhaustive timeline, but it sure is a long timeline.

click here if you can’t see the timeline

In a way, it seems that the Michigan (sucks!) coaching search isn’t part of the coaching carousel. It actually is the coaching carousel.

If you can think of any events that really should be on the timeline, let us know!

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“There are no ethics in these situations…”

That’s Brian Cook from MGoBlog on why it’s okay for Les Miles to completely and utterly lie, go back on his word, chaunce, screw over and publicly mock his current team, employer and university.  He goes on to make himself and his school look like the scrupulous tools they truly are in this latest post. 

Miles’ name has resurfaced as a candidate, even though Miles has publicly stated over and over that he’s staying at LSU.   Apparently, Michigan called him this week to discuss the job. 

Now, we don’t know if he’s seriously considering UM again.  He may be ready to jump ship the day after the NC game, thus screwing over his players and team, discrediting his word completely, and proving that he is 100% a Michigan man.  Or maybe Miles does have integrity, and he was just being nice taking the call, and he’s not the scUMbag UM deserves.

LSU’s AD Skip Bertman seems to think this is a done deal and that Miles won’t be leaving the Tigers any time soon:

“He and Bo Schembechler were real close,” Bertman said. “If Bo Schembechler were alive, I doubt he could have got him to go to Michigan. It’s hard for people who don’t live in the South to understand.”

“Les made a decision he wanted to stay. He loves Michigan, but the truth is, for Les Miles at this time, this is probably a better place,” Bertman said.

But the best part of all of this is Cook’s statement that ethics don’t play a role in these situations.  ETHICS don’t play a role?  It doesn’t matter what people do and say, how they handle themselves?  A man’s word means is meaningless?  Apparently that is the case, according to Cook (and, by default, many UM supporters).

That right there defines why Michigan is Michigan, and why UM fans are UM fans.

What does it say about UM and its fans that they WANT Miles to do this?  UM fans are freaking slobbering all over themselves for a guy that, by definition, has to be a jerkoff if he comes to your school.  Because if Miles backs out on his players and his program after all he has said about them (damn fine team, i am not leaving, i love this team and school, i will be at LSU, blah blah blah rah rah Tigers) and how happy he is to be staying at LSU, he can’t be anything but a jerkoff.  Okay, maybe a lying jerkoff.  And if that happens, I don’t know how anyone at any point in his career could take Miles’ word on anything:  administrators, players, assistant coaches and especially recruits.  At this point, Miles has to know that this is what people would think of him if he bounces to Michigan. 

Which is why I don’t think he will.  I am really hoping that Miles isn’t a complete tool.  That he isn’t a true Michigan Man.  That he’s better than that.

But if he does jump ship?  Well, a good number of people would be getting exactly what they deserve.  Just not LSU.

EDIT/UPDATE:

Miles doesn’t seem to agree with Brian Cook on that whole idea of ethics:

BATON ROUGE — LSU football coach Les Miles issued the following statement on Tuesday regarding the conversation he had with Michigan last week:

“I had a conversation with Michigan last week that covered a wide range of topics. I was doing nothing more than helping them with their search for a football coach, just as any loyal alumnus might do. It was nothing more than that. 

“I’m not a candidate for that job and I will not be a candidate for the job. I was only assisting them in their search for a coach. I have a great job at a wonderful place, a place that my family calls home. It’s time that Michigan goes on with their search for a football coach. I’ll say it again, I’m going to be the coach at LSU next season.”

Good find MQ. I gotta think, though, that there’s NO WAY that Michigan didn’t beg, scrape, kneel before and re-beg Miles to re-consider during that call.  Miles said no again, and was nice enough to say he was helping out as a cover.  As if that can reduce the level of embarrassement suffered by UM in this whole fiasco. 

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Nothing “witty” today. I’m just sort of bummed to learn that “Navy’s Paul Johnson” is about to be “Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson.” It’s a fantastic hire by Georgia Tech, a program mired in Chan Gailey Mediocrity for the last several years. Sure, hiring a guy known for running the triple-option is a risk, but Johnson’s career has involved nothing but taking what he’s given and making not just the most of the situation, but accomplishing far more than most would ever dream. He turned Navy into a program that’s won 60% of their games while he was at the helm. I’d have to guess, but it’s a pretty good guess that such a winning percentage is in the top third of all NCAA programs during that same time. And he did it with freaking Navy. I could have played for Navy. Heck, I’d have been a prized left tackle for Navy. And that’s not meant to disrespect Navy. As I’ve said time and time again, the only program in college football for which I cheer other than Notre Dame is Navy, so I’m really sorry to see him go. Johnson deserves a shot with “the big boys,” and Georgia Tech is an excellent venue for Johnson to test his mettle. While Georgia Tech is not on any ND football schedule for at least the next few years, I’ll be watching the Jackets and this experiment with great interest.

The Roundup:

• Here’s the piece on Paul Johnson leaving Navy
• Here’s the obligatory worrying over whether PJ’s option attack will work at GT
• Here’s Pitch Right’s thoughts on how PJ altered his own Navy fandom and here’s how Pitch Right feels today.
• Here’s the obligatory flip-flop from the original source that worried so much.
• Here’s an interview with PJ about the decision.

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This is a real article from MSNBC.  I swear, it’s not fake.  I didn’t write any of it.   It’s hilarious on one hand, and totally wrong on the other.  Calling these players student-athletes (well, the >50% that actually graduate anyway) is a joke.

 COLUMBUS, Ohio – With kick-off for the national title in New Orleans still 34 days away, the Buckeyes have already won the battle of the brains.

In the classroom, The Ohio State University football players have a slight edge over their opponents from Louisiana, NBC 4’s Paul Stelzer reported.

According to a study conducted by the University of Central Florida, OSU football players have a 53 percent graduation rate whereas LSU football players have a graduation rate of only 51 percent.

OSU students on the oval Tuesday were not surprised that the Buckeyes fared a bit better in the classroom than the LSU Tigers.

“It’s much harder to get into OSU than LSU,” Brent Hawk, an OSU student, said. “We hold ourselves to a higher academic standard.”

While the Buckeyes have a slight advantage over the Tigers, both fall far short of the two bowl teams with the highest graduation rates.

Navy’s football team has a graduation rate of 95 percent and Boston College scores 93 percent.

When it comes to OSU’s least favorite opponents, the University of Michigan’s football team has a graduation rate of 73 percent with the Gators at 72 percent.

The Buckeyes are hoping that their victory in the classroom translates into a victory in the BCS championship game.

Wow. 

Thanks to rmartin4 at NDNation for the pick-up.

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Last year after losing the “Littles” at the last hour, Charlie said he’d be re-evaluating the way he looked at recruiting verbal commitments.  No longer would ND honor ’soft’ or ’silent’ verbals.  It was very cut and dry, black and white, clear-cut.  You’re either in, or you’re out.  Some people had a problem with it.  But, obviously, this strategy resonated with players as well, given our current #1 haul. 

Irish Eyes’ Mike Frank got a few great quotes from Charlie on this topic recently:

“I took a pretty big backlash last season when I said we were really going to get down to the word commitment and give them a clear explanation of what a commitment was, and I think that the guys that we’ve gone after have all understood that right from day one, what our stance was,“ Weis said, who had a few commits switch to other schools last year on National Signing Day. “And we’ve supported them and they’ve supported us and their families have been involved and their coaches have been involved and everyone has clearly understood that this was the way we were going to do it.

So Charlie changed the word, but he also changed the way he went after recruits.  He laid things on the line, developed those relationships, and he got the kids to commit to other members of the class.  He went after those all-around student-athletes that fit best at ND, but he didn’t lower standards in terms of on-field performance and upside.  He also did his best to get the kids recruiting one another – to make them a true class, a cohort, a group of friends NOW, rather than waiting for the kids to create those relationships on their own once they get to campus. 

“And I think that because when you recruit a bunch of high character kids that all are involved with all the other kids that you’re recruiting, they do it themselves. I think they’ve already kind of bought into that. That’s the way they’d like it to be done. Really it makes it a lot easier when the players are recruiting themselves. I mean, they’ve already got relationships going. They can’t back out on their friends. They’re already close with a whole bunch of these guys.”

And if anything, these early friendships will only help the team gel more in the future, help create that cohesion and sense of camaraderie that’s so important in this game.  Hopefully all of these steps will lead to zero defections this year.  Given Charlie’s tireless work in this area, and the high character of the kids in this class, I expect just that.

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