A Quality Day in the Universe

Yesterday could have gone all wrong. It was a day chock full of sports I care about a lot. It also involved plenty of teams and coaches I either love, like, or loathe.  I began tempering my expectations days before, preparing for a laundry list of emotions by Saturday night, expecting disappointment. It's my M.O. -- expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised -- and for the first time in a while, I got to enjoy the surprise.

From the moment I woke until I collapsed into bed 18 hours later, it was a rare day of sports in which every outcome I hoped to see actually materialized. It started when I walked out the door into a brisk, sunny maize and blue day and ended with visions of Kentucky-- the entire state -- crying in the bitter pain of loss and the caustic fumes of burning jerseys. Here's how the day broke down for me:

The Michigan Spring Game: Fans Waking Up with Collective Amnesia

I arrived in Ann Arbor, with my MGoMan (nameless to protect his called-in-sick-to-work identity), at about 9:30 a.m. and was granted by the parking gods, a size-challenged space 100 yards from the north gate. After surgically inserting my SUV into said space, we proceeded to break out our mini-tailgate fare and watched as thousands descended on the Big House. It felt like a real game day except for our 40 yard line seats on the press box side, a view I never see on game day. I was even giddy about my Alumni Association swag - a #4 drawstring backpack which was an odd gift that totally violates the uber-restrictive Big House "bag rules," but was certainly useful and fun Saturday.

The atmosphere was lively and celebratory as 60,000 fans awoke, with collective amnesia, from seven years shrouded in darkness and dearth of hope. All due to the khaki'd man on the field, the miracle that happened. Harbaugh and AD Jim Hackett made all the right moves with this game. I've been to plenty of spring games in my life, from Bo's Blue and White scrimmages to Hoke's first (and last) hopeful effort. This was bigger, livelier, and nearly better-attended than some actual games last fall. Our national anthem was well-belted. The band played the traditional game day opening sequence. I half expected a fighter squadron to fly over. We even got a few Norfleet Atomic Dog dance moves in. The balance between piped in "Michigan-made" music and band was perfect. And there were referees. Referees! If I doubted the seriousness of this "game," I did no longer.

I won't bore you with my detailed assessment of the action. A hundred people better-qualified to judge that and report it to you already have. I will just say this: our man has his work cut out for him. While I saw many things I liked, including a defense that is finally coming into its own, the offense didn't give me a feeling of confidence going into this season. Though Jim named Shane Morris the QB winner of the day, time will tell if he wins the permanent spot at #1. I hope getting Rudock from Iowa this summer works as well as we all pray it will. We now have a stable of young, theoretically talented QBs, but they need a lot more time on the field under the tutelage of the new staff before I'll be able to watch an offensive series without an anticipatory cringe.

The high point of the event for me was just being part of a Michigan crowd enjoying the ray of hope Harbaugh brings of restoring the program to its rightful place in the scheme of things. To bring back the pride...and the quality experience...of Michigan football. In that respect, this was a perfect game.

Michigan State vs. Duke: The Battle of Two Evils

I will get a boatload of crap from my Spartan friends reading this, but that game tickled every nerve, every fancy in my Wolverine body and soul. With no apology. I almost overcame my Scandinavian sense of rhythm and danced Atomic Dog! It's not that I like Duke. Really, who does outside of maybe 30% of the Research Triangle? But I don't live around and work with (and for) dozens of irritating Duke fans. Not so with the Spartans. Did they have a good run? Yes. Do I love their 20 point arse-whoopin'? Only with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind! Especially when the slappies started blaming the officials. It was pathetic officiating, but not 20 points worth. They simply got spanked by a better team. It ended even better than I hoped. With a bus load of Spartans on a slow, sad ride up I-69 two days before the finals.

Kentucky vs. Wisconsin: Making the World a Better Place

Unless you were still clinging to the hope of winning a few bucks from your bracket, it's hard to imagine not reveling in this classic triumph of good over evil. This was right up there with Skywalker versus Vader and Frodo versus the One Ring. It was a team that stands for everything we hate, led by Calipari -- who seems qualified to star in any future Godfather film -- versus Bo Ryan and his clean cut, stay in school, dairy advertisement-ready Badgers. I kept waiting for Wisconsin to falter, but they proved you don't need an arsenal of one and dones to excel in this arena. It was beautiful and forces me now to recant the following tweet I made while at the Spring game:

Wisconsin deserves the spotlight for the biggest game in the B1G on Saturday and my hat's off to them. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I heartily support their success in this tournament because a) Michigan isn't playing, b) their success is much less a threat to Michigan recruiting than MSU's, and c) I can't even identify a Badger I dislike. Their fans' response to this game juxtaposed to the response of losing Kentucky and MSU fans says it all. 


In Lexington:

In East Lansing:

Badgers in Indianapolis...

and in Madison:

The Badgers were models of behavior and kept their cool, no doubt enjoying some Kentucky-fried Calipari Rings. Lemons thrown in by the Spartans.

Frosting on the Cake

The Red Wings snagged a much-needed 2 points with a shootout win over the Wild and the Tigers got a win over Tampa Bay as Spring Training winds down toward Opening Day on Monday. This leaves a glimmer of hope for more hockey and well, who knows what, for baseball this summer. It is what it is.

I won't worry about that now, though. For today, it's enough to wallow in the perfection of yesterday. When the sporting universe doled out a rare, but succulent taste of justice and hope.

Happy Sunday and #OnWisconsin.

The Case for Supporting MSU's Title Bid

Excellent! Now that you're reading this and thinking either a) MGoGirl is a kind, big-hearted citizen of the B1G conference -- or more likely b) what's a self-respecting Michigan blogger thinking to offer up support for MSU, I can tell you this in explaining the title topic:

There is no case. You have come to the wrong blog if you want to see me enumerate even one reason for supporting the Spartans in the upcoming Final Four this weekend. I am a kind, big-hearted person, but my Michigan blood runs thicker. As P.C. as some seem to think it is to express even mild support for MSU and Izzo as they fight for a national title, I intend to give them the same loving support they've given us over the years. I've heard all the reasons I should support them and the taunts about my decision not to. Here are just a few:  

"It's good for the Big 10."
Yes, it's wonderful for the B1G as a conference. Everyone thought this was a down year for B1G hoops and look - here they are making up 50% of the Final Four. Is that which is good for the whole equally fabulous for the 14 individuals? Not necessarily. In addition to the conference, it's perfect for MSU and Wisconsin - a boon to their recruiting, especially any kids wavering in their choice. It doesn't help the Wolverines and Beilein, though. They already have to fight Izzo for top talent both in-state and out. I'm not worried about Michigan recruiting at all right now, but to think an MSU championship is "good for us" is crazy talk. Like OSU's national title in football is good for us. Only when we beat them.

"We [the Spartans] would support you [Michigan] in the same situation."
With the exception of State friends I can count on 1 or 2 fingers, no, you would not. I've been in plenty of places both public and private when Michigan was playing a big game, sometimes to advance in or win a tournament. Those one or two Spartyfriends may wish us well, but for the most part, Sparties want us to fail in epic fashion on a national stage as much as we wish the same for them. And this is one of those times.

"But you have to admit Izzo's a great coach. You have to respect him. You'd take him in Ann Arbor in a split second if he was available."
I'll split this issue. I think he is a great coach. He did a lot with an average team this season and he's not done yet. Do I have to respect him, though? I don't disrespect him. He's 10x more likable than Dantonio, but I'm not going into paroxysms of loving praise for him, either. There's plenty of that in the media right now. I'm perfectly happy with John Beilein in Ann Arbor and don't think we need an Izzo to make another run. It was a tough year for the Wolverines, but I didn't expect greatness this time around. Sparty can keep Izzo. We'll be fine in short order.

"What an amazing tournament record!"
Yes, yes. Usually coming out of the easiest region. With the MSU AD on the tournament selection committee. His teams play well in the post-season, but it's often on the path of least resistance. Or so it seems to my highly objective (?) Wolverine eyes. 

"Yeah, well that's the kind of attitude we expect from Walmart Wolverines."
Stop with the Walmart thing and maybe I won't go on about Sam's Club Spartans. Want to remove all the Spartan fans that didn't graduate from MSU from the Spartan cash flow? You know, those ones who fit your Walmart definition? Yeah, I didn't think so. So leave our fans, however they became fans, alone.

"Michigan can't handle that MSU is elite in basketball and elite in football."
To this I say, the truly elite don't have to argue in support of their elite status with every single breath to anyone who'll listen. Elite status isn't conferred internally. It's recognized by others. If you want respect, don't keep begging for it so damn hard. Stop whining when the love doesn't come. When you call yourself elite and you need to sheepishly look to others to validate it, are you truly elite?

"So I guess you won't support Wisconsin either."
Where did you get that idea? Of course I'll support Wisconsin. The Badgers, as a whole, are pretty cool people. They don't struggle internally with an inferiority/superiority complex when comparing themselves with other B1G rivals. They aren't as big of a direct threat to our recruiting as MSU. Most Badgers I know support Michigan and frankly, everyone else in the Big 10 when those teams have a chance to do well and it's not directly impacting their own success. They're fun, happy people who can drink prodigious amounts of beer and worship cheese, both of which they gladly share. In short, they aren't small-minded mean little people who need validation. 

"All the Wolverines wish us bad luck."
In the end, everyone has their own opinion in the case for supporting the Spartans this weekend. I don't care if other Wolverines have a soft spot for overall Big Ten success. By all means, wish the Spartans well if you feel the urge. I'm just not wired for it. I'll congratulate my "normal" Spartyfriends if the situation calls for it. I would acknowledge their happiness as they would mine if the situation was reversed. Hopefully it won't come to that. This is what I foresee (although by the shattered state of my brackets, my gifts for prediction are suspect):

Finals Predictions:

My heart - Wisconsin over Duke

My brain - Kentucky over Duke 

Go Blue! And this weekend: Go Badgers!

A Day of Suspension, But Not Disbelief

There's a lot of suspension happening in Ann Arbor and East Lansing lately, but one thing that's not suspended is my disbelief. Nothing surprises me anymore about the things some college athletes, in this case football players, will do to put dents in their futures. We see it far too often all over the country. Alcohol and drug violations. Violence. Weapons. Theft. Some get a slap on the wrist and are on the field again as soon as the coach can swing it. Others pay more of a price - loss of their positions on the team, legal battles, and tarnished reputations in the eyes of an increasingly wary potential employer - the NFL.

Maybe if I was a better person (with a less medieval take on crime and punishment) I could feel more compassion for them than I do. For the most part, I can't say that I do. I guess my time on Earth has hardened me a bit when it comes to the antics of people who are being handed opportunity on a silver platter and don't seem to care enough about their own futures to seize it. (I also believe that the vast majority of student athletes are cognizant of the opportunities they have and behave in ways that honor themselves, their families, and their schools.) 

The events of the last couple days just add to my irritation with athletes who squander their futures with bad decision-making, thug behavior, and what looks sometimes like "The Untouchable Big Man on Campus" syndrome.

I'll start with Michigan State, who just suspended RB Delton Williams indefinitely for brandishing a firearm in the sight of a driver he'd just cut off after that person honked at him. (The nerve of some people to honk, really.) Williams has a concealed carry permit, but I'm fairly certain that replacing the traditional middle finger with a gun when gesturing angrily at another driver is NOT something they teach as acceptable gun owner behavior in CCW classes. I'm all for having a CCW. I would actually like to get one. I'm not for putting weapons in the hands of people who are unstable enough to think it's okay to wave a gun at others while driving down the road, regardless of their legal right to carry it.

Last I heard, Williams is now at the Ingham County Jail. My guess is that he'll be chastised "severely" by Dantonio right up until the first really big game when his thug ass is needed back in the lineup. I can almost guarantee he'll be playing in Ann Arbor. What should happen, after the immediate revocation of his CCW, is to cut him from the team. This behavior is unacceptable when representing a university (or anything for that matter). If the gun lobby is trying to promote the safety of people legally toting guns in public, then this guy is not a poster child for the movement. Maybe Dantonio will shock me and do the right thing. His track record suggests otherwise.

One person I'm not sure will be playing in Ann Arbor much, if at all, is Graham Glasgow, the senior red shirt offensive lineman who was likely to assume the starting spot vacated after the departure of Jack Miller. Glasgow was suspended by Coach Harbaugh on Monday after blowing a .086 blood alcohol level on Sunday morning, violating the terms of his probation for an April 2014 drunk driving charge. I'm very supportive of Glasgow getting help and getting his life together off the field. I don't know that it should include ongoing involvement with our football team. Harbaugh's done the right thing so far and no doubt is concerned for the young man. With the meritocracy Harbaugh is putting in place for starting positions, though, repetitive violations like this won't bode well for any player. I can't see our coach putting up with anything less than total commitment to the team and being the best. Blowing .086 in the morning isn't winning merit points.

When it comes down to it, a student-athlete can choose how they want their college career to go. Yes, it's hard not to act like a campus star when you've likely been fawned over by colleges and media types since you were in 9th grade. And it's hard to be sensible about the freedom college affords you to have fun and party the nights away like everyone else. (It explains my 2.8 GPA freshman year.) When a school chooses you and you reciprocate, you're getting an education, experiencing elite coaching, and receiving almost everything you need to be successful at something in life. You need to be more responsible with your decisions and your behavior. There are dozens of kids with talent who don't get the chance to go to or play at Michigan, MSU or any other high profile institution. They would happily take someone's place and run (or pass or block) with it. 

I know this is not a new thing. Technology just puts it in our faces with an immediacy that wasn't available when Bo was coaching. Did it happen then? Undoubtedly. But I don't think with the regularity or severity that it seems now. I know some of Bo's players drank to excess because I witnessed some Bacchanalian football parties while I was a student. (I mean Roman emperors would be envious types of parties.) If they ever got in trouble it was behind closed doors. I don't recall so many instances of assault, drugs, weapons, and other heavier issues in those days. Perhaps we were all blissfully unaware. Perhaps today's society is creating more kids with these problems.

What other coaches do to discipline their team is up for grabs and I already have a skeptical view of Mark Dantonio and Urban Meyer. I hope that Jim Harbaugh is the man I think he is and will have a low tolerance for trouble in general and zero tolerance for real crime in his ranks. I don't think I'll be disappointed in that hope. Every word from the man's mouth impresses me with the feeling that there's some excruciatingly hard work, both physical and mental, going on in Schembechler Hall. I don't see him recruiting troublemakers regardless of their skills. And if a troublemaker arises, he'll be straightened out or shipped out with a speed unknown to mankind. Or at least to other coaches.

And that's okay by old school, hard-assed, mean ol' me. 

Wallflowers This Year, But The Wolverines Will Be Dancing Again Soon

Today, the music stopped. 

Following an early exit from the B1G Tournament with a 71-60 loss to Wisconsin earlier today, what we've all likely come to accept for weeks is virtually certain. As better teams dance their way into the NCAA tourney next week, the Wolverines will be wallflowers. 

The disappointment stings a little when you think back on their string of tournament invitations since 2011 and the two deep, brilliant runs of the past two years. It'll be odd filling out my bracket and not having to talk myself out of the madness of putting Michigan in the final. I'll just be filling out one this year. I won't be needing the "Go with My Heart" version. The "Use Your Head" will suffice in 2015. 

Now normally, I get all jacked out of shape when the Wolverines have a bad year in any major sport, especially when the sweet taste of success is still so fresh. With football, the relentless long-term disappointment and frustration drove me to such bubbling anger that I started writing this blog. I couldn't hold back my words a moment longer. 

With this year's basketball team, though, I am utterly calm and accepting of their results. Of course I hoped for more than a 50-50ish sort of ending. Some of the games they lost could have fallen on the W side easily with a little more focus and end-of-game drive. The reason I can watch hoops move on without the Wolverines next week is simple. John Beilein's 2014-15 squad experienced some tough loss. Five extremely talented players left for the NBA early in the past two years. Other senior leaders graduated or transferred. Of those left in the locker room after all that attrition, injuries ended Caris LeVert's season in January and took out Derrick Walton, Jr. for some time not long after that. Beilein was left to rely on kids who probably didn't expect to see game action, let alone extended playing time, for a year or more.

And for the most part, those kids stepped up to the challenge. It may be a better example of Beilein's coaching prowess than their trip to the NCAA finals in 2013. It's no surprise when you can help superstars exceed their already high expectations. It takes coaching talent to patch together starters from the ranks of freshmen, sophomores, and the remaining uninjured junior and senior while keeping the wheels on the bus. This season could have been a total disaster, instead it was just a disappointment. A season we can write off as a rebuilding year, filled with many hopeful and exciting moments amidst the occasional forehead-slapping "what in the hell did I just watch" smack down. And not a soul is calling for Beilein's head on a platter. 

I can only explain my calm demeanor for basketball's tough season by contrasting it to my anger with football.

• I see flashes of skill and teamwork that give me hope for the next hoops season. When I saw the same flashes in football, I still had no hope -- mostly because of the next point.
• I believe John Beilein is one of the top basketball minds in the nation and trust that he will do what it takes to adjust and start winning again next year. With football, no one would call Brady Hoke a top mind. Or a developer of talent. With Beilein, you just know you have it good and he's already thinking of how to move forward next season. There's not a single brain cell that's not engaged in re-engineering his team for success. Aware. Fully aware. And that's all I need to say about that. 

Hopefully the team will get some more experience and practice time with an NIT bid. I usually mock the NIT as a way to crown the 69th Best Team in College Basketball. This year, I'd look at it as an opportunity we can exploit to better reach the our goals in the future. 

It's not Dancing with the Stars, but a useful trip to Arthur Murray to brush up on some moves. The Wolverines will be back next year ready to rumble (or perhaps rhumba?) We can only hope!

Going Wordless on the Wolverines

It's been said that the best writers are emotional, often tortured souls. Their words spring forth like the sweat on their brows after an anxiety attack or their panting breath as they compose themselves after experiencing the highest, joyful high. 

I can relate to them. No, not in the Ernest Hemingway or Sylvia Plath kind of way. Not in the stick-my-head-in-an-oven kind of dark madness. But I understand how frustration, anger, shame, and hopelessness can unleash someone's power to link thoughts to words and words to paper (even the electronic kind.)

National Signing Day was when I last wrote a single word about Michigan Athletics. I've had plenty to say on MGoBlog and Twitter because other people have reminded me that I have strong opinions (or clever and smart-assed things to say) about many happenings on campus in Ann Arbor and in the general sporting world. When it's come to sitting down to write something substantive here, though, it hasn't been so easy.

My only explanation for my odd wordlessness in this forum is: I am no longer tortured. The nightmare is over. Hoke has ambled on. Brandon has fled. The overthinking and guesswork around the new coaching staff is in the rearview mirror. The unimaginable reality that Jim Harbaugh and his rock star staff have moved to Ann Arbor has finally set in. Schembechler Hall is humming with exciting activity. We have an interim AD who absolutely gets this place. Signing Day? All things considered, decent. Basketball? An unfortunate anomaly that doesn't worry me this year. Hockey? Hanging in there and doing better than I expected. 

I'm kind of at peace with my little Wolverine world right now. And after seven years of "WTH?" and the roller coaster ride of this past coaching search, my brain cells have been screaming for some time to just soak in all this wholesome pinch-me-I'm-dreaming goodness. I knew it was time for a break when I had a long, vivid dream one night in which Harbaugh starred in his self-penned and -titled musical revue called "HARBAUGH!" at the Power Center on campus. I was watching with Jim's brother John. The entire audience was participating with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. What kind of brain dreams this stuff up? The kind that needs to stop thinking about football for a few weeks!

This period of reflection and calm won't last much longer. In fact, I could write regularly about my fascination with all things Jim Harbaugh. His intelligence, his intensity, and how he is, if not the Most Interesting Man in the World, at least the most interesting one in Michigan or the Big Ten these days. But I'll spare you all that. It would be nothing new. Half the state's in love with the man and the other half is trying to pretend that they're not concerned with him at all. 

As the Spring Game comes up in just a month and the season itself will be here before we know it, I expect plenty of news and controversy to fuel my pen. Somewhere between the coach's ongoing Twitter gems and the noses he tweaks when the new meritocracy depth chart doesn't favor seniority, things are about to get interesting again. 

I'm rested and ready to see what happens next! 

Signing Day, As I Peel Myself Away From Chair and Keyboard

At about 8:00 tonight, I finally reached my limit of all things football for one day. After waking up at 6:45 a.m. like a kid on Christmas, I've spent most of my day in a chair strategically positioned in front of a laptop and a tablet with multiple tabs opened, in view of the TV (CBS Sports Signing Day, muted) and the radio tuned to WTKA 1050 and the Michigan Insider. I broke away for just an hour to go outside and run the snowblower - and a few minutes here and there to feed and water myself. I can honestly say, I gave far more attention for a longer period of time to NSD than I do anything in my real job! Hopefully Sparty boss never figures out who MGoGirl really is.

So, I'm signing off after recording a few thoughts on Jim Harbaugh's first Michigan NSD. I guess if I have to summarize my feelings in a couple words it would be content and hopeful.

I know. That doesn't sound like over-the-moon joy, but I don't want it to sound like I'm upset either. It was harder than I thought to take the advice of my own previous post and feel "serenity now." I'd be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind that Chris Clark and Mike Weber were making big mistakes. I also found myself assuming the defensive Brandonesque posture a couple times today: "I'm glad you found a new team [you ungrateful little punk]. We'll be fine without you [we really didn't want you anyway]. Have a happy life [pulling pine splinters out of your butt riding the bench]." But in the end, I did heed my own advice and I'm rather happy with our little 2015 class. And 2016 should prove even better.

Here are a few of my Signing Day take-aways: 

• Where do I Sign? Several commits signed very quickly this morning and according to Harbaugh, some have adorable childhood Michigan "love" stories. Their urgency to say "yes" reminded me of my own quick turnaround after getting the acceptance letter I'd been watching for in the mail like a L'il Orphan Annie Decoder Ring. For some of these guys, they're living a childhood dream. And that's something everyone should experience.
• Kate Upton's Is Bigger. Many talking heads call the loss of Clark, Weber, and several other "stars" a tragedy for Jim Harbaugh's first class - making it sound like the whole effort was one big bust. I beg to disagree. I think with the talent Hoke already committed and the additions Harbaugh snagged, we'll be fine. If Dantonio can coach up a 3* and win, I'm fairly confident our coach will do even better. 
• Chris Clark - if he wants to play a lot as a TE at UCLA and play 4 years with Mora as HC, he may be deluding himself. I hope Jay Harbaugh's juvenile tweets didn't scare him away from Tight End U. It helps getting Wheatley and something tells me, Ty Jr. won't be slacking. 
• Mike Weber - it was almost sad watching his announcement and he looked tired, confused, and detached. I think he was stressed to the max, getting pulled in two directions by friends, family, and two of the most intense CFB coaches on the planet. It was also a weird setting. On one hand, Iman Marshall has a flashy, professionally produced music video to announce his decision to go to USC. Contrast that to Weber being led by the hand past a wall of white poster boards with pictures of school monograms or mascots pasted on them. Standing in front of the poster signified a selection. It was all strange and completely disappointing. Later he blamed Michigan signing 3* RB Karan Higdon when he though he was the only RB in the class. I doubt that's all of it. It's not like he'll displace Ezekiel Elliot at OSU this year and who knows who his future competition will be. He's banking on becoming an Urban Legend, but he could have disillusionment in his future just like Clark. Or he could win the Heisman and a National Championship. Whatever. Not even looking in the rearview mirror on this guy after today.
• Iman Marshall - any fan who seriously thought he would come to Ann Arbor to play was smoking a pipe dream. This became very evident upon viewing his rap video commitment announcement. The one in which he filmed 6 different endings. Just that bit of self-absorbed hype alone made me glad he stayed on the West Coast. I couldn't help imagining Bo Schembechler's reaction to that dramatic effort. It screams prima donna and means he's better off anywhere but here. 
• I Like My Recruits Lightly Poached - Harbaugh got flips today from Cal, Iowa, and Florida State. Keith Washington, Karan Higdon, and Shelton Johnson committed to Michigan from these schools and considering the short time he had to work with recruits, this is a big deal and adds to his list of flips that started strong with Zach Gentry (ex-Texas) and Reuben Jones (ex-Nebraska.) I like that he doesn't honor any gentlemen's agreement not to poach others' commits. He said today "That's the way the pickle squirts." Okay, then. I'll just leave it at completely nice guys finish last. 
• Michigan University may be back in the mix! With UCLA DC Jeff Ulbrich mulling over a last minute offer to join the Atlanta Falcons, OLB Roquan Smith, may be back in the hunt for a place to land. He never turned in his LOI to firm his commitment to UCLA ... hopefully Harbaugh and Durkin can get him back in play for Michigan University. Yep, that's one of the schools he thought offered him. Go Blue for Michigan U! (If he decides to come, he can call us whatever he likes!)
• Déjà vu all over again. Brady Hoke interviews Jim Harbaugh about Signing Day on CBS in an eerie replay of his own strange interview by Rich Rodriguez just a few years earlier. I didn't find this one awkward at all, though, and I can tell both Brady and Jim respect each other. Hoke took it all in stride and even laughed off earlier rumors that had him taking a DL assistant job at Notre Dame. It was good to see him doing well and he handled the day gracefully. It was also nice to see he didn't want to work for chickens. 

And now I'm off to bed. It's back to work tomorrow and I'm not planning to attack it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. 

Sweet Michigan dreams, new Wolverines... and you experienced ones, too. 

Serenity now, Michigan Fans

National Signing Day starts in a few short hours and it'll be the most anticipated event for Michigan football fans since our shiny new coach got settled in and we realized (after much pinching) that it did happen, he really is ours, and nobody has it better than us.

Most of us replaced our worn out F5 keys after the intense, month-long Harbaugh Watch. After a moderately "refreshing" pace watching the coaching staff come together, F5 will face another real workout as we anticipate the results of that new staff's first signing day. And I hope that whatever the outcome, Wolverine fans don't go off the deep end over the final flips or flops of Harbaugh's decidedly short recruiting season.

I think we've already seen the power of his reputation - and that of his staff - in the recent favorable changes of heart that landed us some top players formerly committed elsewhere, including QB Zach Gentry (Texas),  Grant Perry (Northwestern), and Reuben Jones (Nebraska.) We've also seen that the Harbaugh Effect isn't a seductively intoxicating brew to everyone. Some targets have stuck with their original commitments even after positive discussions with the staff and eye-widening visits to our humble little athletic campus and that, you know, world-class university associated to it. Harbaugh's crew didn't have much time to establish the relationships that coaches normally build years before a top recruit approaches NSD. We'll win some and we'll lose some in this strange, transitional recruiting year. It's a normal progression through an abnormal time. Not the end of the world at all.

What I hate to see as I spend time F5ing my way through a variety of Michigan blogs and Twitter feeds is the number of hair-trigger fans already freaking out and getting down on Harbaugh because a few recruits have said "no thanks" for 2015. I read a comment made by some armchair expert after Chris Williamson chose the Florida Gators. This guy was mad because "we were told Harbaugh could recruit." One month on the job and the man's skills are being questioned by people whose last social media rant was probably posting hateful performance reviews directly to Devin Gardner's Twitter or questioning John Beilein's coaching genius as his young team struggles to find it's way after 2014's early departures and a slew of injuries.

Michigan fans, and I use that term with some doubt, you need to relax now. 

Harbaugh's 2015 class already has some very good commits and Jimmy will know what to do with both them and the stable of talent Hoke left behind. In my way of thinking, if a kid doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here. Seriously, do you want someone who: 

• Can't look past the recent state of Michigan football to see the opportunity in front of him to work with the cream of CFB and NFL coaching talent in a legendary program? (No vision)
• Is mad because Brady Hoke got fired and isn't blown away by getting Jim Harbaugh and his rock star staff instead? (No sense)
• Believes and tells the world on TV that Greg Mattison, an ace recruiter, says he's essentially too stupid and poor to get into Michigan without football? Knowing the NCAA forbids the school to counter. (No scruples)
• Sincerely has a passion for playing somewhere else, respectfully declining the Wolverines? (No calling)
• Has gone through life being called Messiah? (Cosmically big shoes to fill!)

When the dust settles after Signing Day, Michigan will be fine. Whether we win the battle for the likes of Mike Weber and Chris Clark, or we miss out, Harbaugh will make the most of every weapon he gets or inherits. Just having him here is the home run recruitment of the year. If it was a class of one and that one was Harbaugh, we're already winning.

So as you pretend to work all day, peeking at NSD feeds and alternating between ESC and F5 (depending on the location of your boss,) relax and take it all in. Be thankful for the commitments. Be understanding of the misses. Just don't doubt Jim Harbaugh. 

Serenity now. Insanity later. (The celebration kind. The glorious victory kind.) 

Go Blue!