Shortly after reading this very touching story by Mr. Bloom, I did a little online sleuthing and discovered that Mr. Bloom was not just an amazing writer, but an amazing Michigan Alumnus.

I knew Mr. Bloom was way out of our league, but I decided to send him an email asking him to join our MgoTalk team. He responded with a “for sure” and the rest is MgoTalk history.

On May 4th, 2010 the world lost Mr. Ernie Harwell, but MgoTalk gained an amazing new friend. At MgoTalk we are blessed to have Mr. Bloom on our team, and we owe it all to Mr. Harwell.

We miss you Ernie Harwell.

Read Chuck Bloom’s original Ernie Harwell story here. (- Story Link -)

The Michigan quarterback rushed 13 times for a net 13 yards. His passing numbers were equally indifferent. He completed nine of 21 passes for 117 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Granted, the Wolverine offense struggled throughout the evening with Virginia Tech’s always tough defense.

But, Robinson’s statistics dipped from the 2010 season where he was the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year and finished sixth in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy.

Last season, Michigan began transitioning from the read-option offense to a more traditional pro-style attack. “Shoelace” continued to be an outstanding option runner, but his 15 total interceptions turned off the Heisman voters.

With Michigan expecting another banner season and Robinson correcting his passing flaws this spring, the senior signal-caller is back in the Heisman race for 2012.

The early Las Vegas odds have Robinson tied with Wisconsin running back Montee Ball at 5-1, just behind quarterback (7-2) Matt Barkley of Southern Cal.

A pair of quarterbacks round out the top five, reports betvega.com. Oklahoma’s Landry Jones checks in at 13-2, while West Virginia’s Geno Smith is 7-1.

Robinson, however, couldn’t ask for a bigger stage to begin his 2012 campaign. Michigan faces defending national champion Alabama Sept. 1, in what could quickly define the Wolverines’ place among the elite of college football.

Going into his senior season, Robinson is already eighth on Michigan’s all-time rushing list with 3,229 yards. A realistic 1000-yard season would land Robinson in fourth place, behind career leader Michael Hart (5,040), Anthony Thomas (4,472) and Jamie Morris (4,393).

On the passing ledger, Robinson begins 2012 with 4,931 yards, good enough for seventh, barely behind New England Patriot Tom Brady.

Robinson has no chance of catching career leader Chad Henne (9,715) or John Navarre, but barring injury, he’ll finish his career third all-time, not bad for a dual-threat quarterback.

In comparison, Barkley completed 308 of 446 passes for 3528 yards, 39 touchdowns and only seven interceptions last season.

Ball led the nation in rushing with 1,923 yards, for a per-carry average of 6.3.

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It would probably be proper to state that Paterno stayed too long at the dance; he should have retired a decade ago (about the time he first learned of Sandusky’s behavior through McQuerry’s disclosure and allegation). I can only play armchair quarterback to ask, in hindsight, what would Paterno have wanted: a clean legacy or the victories record? I don’t think the record book, which is still a temporary position until someone else eventually replaces you, is any substitute for retaining your reputation and good name. Paterno will forever be linked to this scandal, even on the day he died.

Here’s my hypothesis: Paterno was SO old school, so rigid in his belief system, focusing all of life to football, that when he was informed of the shower incident, involving Sandusky (his trusted right-hand man for 30 years on the job) and a 13-year-old boy, he could NOT process it. Pure and simple. His mind couldn’t conceive of such behavior happening, taking place on his facility, and involving a man he trusted for three decades. In a digital age, it simply did not compute.

Paterno did inform his “superiors,” despite the unwritten understanding of who lorded over whom, and continued his business of running Nittany Lion football. He didn’t follow up because 1) it still didn’t register and he had NO idea of the depth of the depraved behavior; and 2) he honestly thought his actions were satisfactory. After all, shouldn’t school officials have taken upon themselves to go to the police?

But if you think back, right around 10 years ago, Paterno became less and less involved, on a direct basis, with the football team. His health began to decline, he spent more time coaching in the press box than on the field and most of the game decisions were left to the coordinators. Everything began to crumble – from Penn State’s on-field influence to Paterno’s physical well-being. About 10 years ago, fans began to hear the various calls for JoePa to step down and allow new, fresh blood into the program for reinvigorate it. However, Paterno would have none of it; perhaps because he saw no reason to exist other than running Penn State football.

In the wake of the nationwide scandal and condemnation, Paterno was fired on Nov. 5, and a few days later (seemingly just a few hours later), his lung cancer condition was diagnosed, followed by reports of a broken hip, identical to the one suffered a few years before.

When Paterno gave his only on-camera interview to Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post, the first half was conducted with Paterno sitting in a chair (although he wore a wig to cover the effects of cancer treatment). The second half, not shown on camera, was held while Paterno was lying in bed. The end was closer than people knew.

On Saturday night, the grim news leaked from different sources that family was gathering to say goodbye; his son bravely denied it through various messages, but … you knew it was true. Which is why his eventual death was no shock; it was more a feeling of sadness for what had transpired in less than 90 days.

Paterno SHOULD be remembered for his accomplishments and achievements as a football coach – NOT for what others criminally did through an association with Penn State football. But that’s not the times in which we live; we have forgotten that people are innocent until proven guilty and Joe Paterno was guilty of nothing other than growing old and failing to understand the depths by which some people will fall in the course of human behavior.

He was the last of his generation of coaches and perhaps the last of an era where one man held such an unflinching grip over a single program and a single university. All condolences to the State College community and the Penn State family.

But Tuesday’s dismissal of wide receiver Darryl Stonum, and the possible reopening of Jordan Payton’s recruitment to Cal, placed Michigan on a trail for another wide receiver.

Payton had verbally committed to Cal Jan. 7, but his recruiter and California assistant coach Tosh Lupoi left the Golden Bears for Washington a few days later. “Just seeing him at my house on Saturday night for an in-home visit and I didn’t even expect it,” Payton told scout.com. He’s been recruiting me for about three years now. It’s just crazy.”

Before committing to Cal, Payton had been close to Michigan throughout the recruiting process.

The 6’2″ 205-pound receiver made it to the Big House last September and will host the Wolverines at an in-home visit this week.

Meanwhile, Stonum’s career ended at Michigan Tuesday after several bouts with the law.

Last May, he was arrested for his second drunk driving offense, and was redshirted during the 2011 season in hopes he could return in 2012 with his problems behind him.

But the good intentions came crashing down when Stonum was stopped for driving with a revoked license not long after Michigan’s Sugar Bowl victory.

“I love Darryl and wish him nothing but the absolute best,” head coach Brady Hokesaid in a prepared statement. “However, there is a responsibility and a higher standard you must be accountable to as a University of Michigan football student-athlete.  That does not and will not change.  It’s unfortunate because I believe he has grown a great deal as a person since the beginning of the season.  My hope is that the maturing process continues.”

Stonum had a breakout season in 2010, catching 49 passes, while returning 22 kickoffs for 513 yards. He was expected to play a huge roll this fall, especially with the departure of seniors Junior Hemingway, Kelvin Grady and Martavious Odoms.

Other than Payton, only one other blue-chip wide receiver could possibly wear a Michigan uniform this fall. Although he’s leaning toward Auburn, Stefon Diggs could conceivably renew his interest toward the Wolverines because of Stonum’s departure. Diggs was the high school teammate of Michigan cornerback Blake Countess.

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The 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory over a very fine Virginia Tech squad brought the Wolverines their 11th victory of the season and more than immense satisfaction for its display of defensive tenacity and good fortune – on at least two overturned calls which, for once, went Michigan’s way in the post-season (just two words to say – Anthony Davis).

This victory was earned; it was NOT given by anyone. Actually, that’s not entirely true. Michigan also had lots of help from an unlikely source – the Virginia Tech coaches. On three occasions, poor game decisions and play calls led to Michigan’s win, and Frank Beamer, now the tenured dean of big school coaches, must assume responsibility and blame for what happened.

First, in what was obviously a defensive struggle from the start, leading 6-0 late in the second quarter, Beamer set aside a sure three points to call for a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 from the Michigan 4. Although Hokie QB Logan Thomas runs well in the open field, at 6-6, it’s harder for him to get that quick first step needed to make the play successful. The Big Blue defense rose up and held him short of the first down marker. And 9-0 would have been a much bigger hurdle to face than 6-0 with the ball.

In truth, Virginia Tech never fully recovered from that failed execution for the remainder of the game. Michigan, helped by a roughing-the-punter call, marched (actually stumbled) down the field until senior Junior Hemingway made one of his patented midair catches, broke free from a gambling defender and sprinted into the end zone for a 7-6 lead with 49 seconds left in the first half.

On the ensuing kickoff, UM’s J.B. Fitzgerald stripped the ball from Hokie returner Tony Gregory and Delonte Hollowell recovered at the VT 26. Three unsuccessful plays later, Michigan executed a fake field goal play … uh, not exactly.

Holder Drew Dileo did throw a pass into the end zone, which was tipped by the Hokies before it reached that destination, only to see it fall into the friendly arms of Michigan long snapper Jareth Glanda, who rumbled to the VT 8 with 8 seconds left in the half.

All those voodoo dolls being employed by Michigan fans in the stands were obviously working. They absolutely were affecting the VT coaching.

Brendan Gibbons gave UM a 10-7 halftime lead with his first field goal on the night and a team which was completely outplayed was still winning. The difference was the play of the much-maligned Michigan defense and by halftime, no one could rationally question its worth, its talent or its bend-but-don’t-break mentality.

The second Michigan touchdown came when true freshman linebacker Frank Clark literally stole a pass out of Martin’s hands, setting up the second Robinson-to-Hemingway scoring pass and a 17-6 advantage. Again, had Virginia Tech kicked that field goal instead of trying the QB sneak in the first half, it would have made, in my mind, a major difference in how the game was played.

The second VT coaching mistake was calling for a fake punt with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter; it had no chance to succeed from initiation and the punter was smothered by the swarming Michigan defense from the snap. The gadget mistake gave Michigan excellent midfield position instead of pinning the Wolverines deep in their own territory.

In a close encounter of the fourth (quarter) kind, position means everything. Michigan took advantage by kicking the go-ahead field goal for a 20-17 lead.

Finally, as regulation time rolled down, Virginia Tech, clearly marching to a possible victory, went “defensive” on offense in the final minute. Too many plays were called to merely to establish position for the game-tying field goal (which came with 2 seconds left in regulation). But Beamer never really tried anything true shot to win the game outright…or so it seemed.

—

This was the first-ever meeting between the schools and showed how a lack of familiarity can come back to bite a team (and coaching staff). For sure, the amount of team speed possessed by the Hokies could never be properly measured on film/tape. You cannot practice for it if you’ve never seen it up close and personal (not permissible since the pairing was made AFTER both teams ended regular season action).

VaTech’s speed on defense gave Michigan’s offense fits all night long, holding the Wolverines to 184 yards and just 56 yards rushing – all season lows. Quarterback Denard Robinson was the obvious focal point of the Hokie attack and with just a few exceptions, he was NOT in control of his fate Tuesday night.

Speed versus power is what distinguished the four major conferences (the Big 10 represents power football for the most part with the SEC and Big 12 displaying most of the speed). In a one-game, winner-take-all matchup, speed usually holds a significant advantage, but over a nine-week schedule, power often reduces the speed factor through sheer wear-and-tear. So it is to Michigan’s credit that it emerged victorious since speed is NOT its middle name.

The Big 10 school which manages to produce a significant speed factor over its conference rivals will dominate for the next decade and be better equipped to play Southern-based schools in bowl encounters.

—

Michigan’s win helped wipe some of the manure splattering off the Big 10 mantle during this bowl season, but it remained a sorry sight for the conference to have lost six of nine games prior to Tuesday night’s Sugar Bowl. Sparty, despite all the whining about its lot in BCS life, finally decided in the second half to show up and went into triple overtime to edge Georgia. Purdue almost embarrassed itself by barely nipping Western Michigan in the Pizza Bowl in Detroit.

The strength (or weakness) of the Big 10 Conference was not on trial; the silly (non-BCS) bowl system itself was indicted for what it actually is … a fraud. To fill all those contractual obligations, a greedy conference has allowed itself to be ridiculed and teams which had NO business playing an extra game merely got further humiliated.

Just because a team becomes “bowl-eligible” means it should be “bowl-selected.” The proliferation of these unnecessary games is hurting college football. As disclosed on HBO’s “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel,” these games often are held under some guise for “charitable contributions,” but usually don’t give a penny of money to anyone but themselves. That show outlined how the bowl executives got salaries closer to seven figures than five figures, and how IRS disclosure statements revealed no funds sent to any charities.

They are mere vehicles for sponsors to primp around the host cities like they own the damn place, and college student-athletes become their unwitting pawns. No sponsor with the name “Taxslayer.com” should be allowed to sponsor ANYTHING related to college athletics and Yankee Stadium (or Boise, Idaho), in late December, is NO place to play a college football game.

I live in suburban Dallas and I can assure you there were fewer people in the Metroplex aware that Penn State was playing Houston in the TicketCity Bowl (sponsored by a service unavailable in this area) than voted for John Huntsman in the Iowa Causcuses. And the empty seats, disguised as ticket-purchasing fans, echoed that fact. For the Cougars, it was a chance to score a big win over a formerly-decent national name; for Penn State, the game meant nothing and it showed.

Same holds true for the Buckeyes, who quit against Florida, and Nebraska, who shut it down in the fourth quarter against South Carolina. Iowa was overmatched against Oklahoma from the moment the matchup was announced and Northwestern didn’t have the talent on its roster to handle an underachieving Texas A&M team, essentially playing a home game in Houston just 90 minutes away from College Station.

Of course, Illinois and UCLA (both of whom should be in witness protection) still got to “play” in the Hunger Bowl, while neither of which had named new head coaches. I wonder if they could’ve filled AT&T Park in San Francisco if they gave those tickets away for free.

To be fair, Wisconsin fought tooth-and-nail in order NOT to lose its second straight Rose Bowl and should be commended.

But you know WHO likes this system? NCAA college presidents. That’s because schools get paid to play and the honchos get wined and dined by this various bowl representatives. Of course, these are the same people (the campus bosses) who have firewalled any NCAA-BCS playoff proposal, citing the myth of semester testing and runaway practice schedules.

This Saturday, a Texas school – Sam Houston State University in Huntsville (home of Texas’ state prison and death row) – will face North Dakota State at noon just a hoot and a holler from my house. The game will be played at a soccer stadium in Frisco, Texas, and will culminate a four-week playoff process. If it works for the Bearkats and the Bison, despite the semester finals, extra practice and week-to-week uncertainty where the next game will be held, it can work for the big schools, earning even MORE money for the NCAA and its institutions.

It’s just that no one gets wined and dined to death and no fans get scammed.

—

For the first time in a decade, the future looks SO damn bright, Michigan fans will need more than the best shades Oakley makes to hide the shine. Recruiting classes for 2012 (and beyond) are becoming the envy of the conference and the start of a permanent place in the top 3-4 in the nation. There are some big holes to fill in the defensive and offensive lines and more depth needs to be added.

But while other programs scramble to find their way in the dark, hoping old names in new places will be the magical answer, Michigan has defied the experts (and critics within its own circles) and demonstrated how making changes … properly … with the correct choice to be the leader … makes all the difference.

As said time and time again this season, in this blog, the personnel appeared to have been there all along – even on defense. It merely took the right coaches/leaders to have gotten the best (and complete) performance to come to the surface. The fifth-year seniors, recruited by Lloyd Carr and thought to be less-than-stellar performers, proved their worthiness and ultimate legacies in UM gridiron history throughout the season and especially in this Sugar Bowl.

Made all those beignets Tuesday morning taste that much sweeter.

By the way: Best sign(s) inside the Dome was “Spartan. Tears. Taste. Like. Sugar.”

Go Blue!

 - Chuck Bloom -

One thing Jehu will have to work on is his route running. I have read that some say he has good route running, but I am not so sure. For being the best athlete on the field and running away from defenders on these screen passes and kick off returns he does not create a lot of separation in man to man coverage. Plus, I’m not seeing crisp cuts, but more of a rounding off or slowing down too much to cut or come back, but these are small things that can be corrected. His high school runs a spread offense and gets him the ball on the edge by way of screen pass and lets him run with it so it is not surprising that we may not run the best of routes.

This may not be the biggest pick up, when talking about recruiting to a lot of people who follow recruiting, because he isn’t a big name and doesn’t have 5*’s from a recruiting web site, but he has several things going for him. Jehu was deciding between Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan and one thing that stands out to me is that he is pretty smart just to get an offer from Northwestern and Michigan. This means he isnt a guy you have to worry if will he get in.  Jehu may not have all the recruiting sites writing articles about him, but I see some good parts of his game that will fit this system.

by J. Banks

Western Michigan have been “bowl eligible” 5 out of the last five seasons, but have not won a bowl game yet. They hope this is the game to change that.

The Boilermakers make their 2nd appearance in a bowl game, the last time they played they faced Central Michigan. This game featured a 51 – 48 Purdue win, in front of a record number of LC Pizza Bowl fans (60,624).

Both teams played Michigan this year, with Western Michigan losing (34-10) in the game canceled by lighting, and Purdue losing by a score 36-14 in the Homecoming game.

If you’re going to be at the game, send us a text (775)346-8255 or tweet @MgoTalk!

The Official Press Release:

PURDUE TO FACE WESTERN MICHIGAN IN 2011 LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL

Boilermakers make their second appearance in the Detroit bowl; Broncos to appear in Detroit bowl for the first time

DETROIT – The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl announced today that the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten will meet the Western Michigan Broncos of the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 (4:30pm – ESPN) in Detroit.

Western Michigan enters the bowl with a 7 – 5 record, winning three out of its last four games and owning a 38 – 31 win over Connecticut (UConn) of the Big East Conference during the season.

Purdue’s Boilermakers enter the bowl with a 6 – 6 record, winning two of its last three games including an impressive win over perennial national power, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
“We are excited to have Purdue and Western Michigan in the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Both teams have significant fan bases and will no doubt bring that support with them to Detroit,” said CEO & Executive Director Ken Hoffman. “The Boilermakers played in a very competitive Big Ten this season that produced ten bowl eligible teams.

WMU played a non-conference schedule that included Michigan in Ann Arbor, Illinois in Champagne, and a win at UConn. We expect an outstanding game, with Purdue having averaged more than 26 points and Western Michigan averaging over 35 points per game, including averaging 50 point in their last four games.”

The Broncos posted a 2-2 record against nonconference opponents this season. They are led by the nation’s leading receiver Jordan White, who leads the FBS in total receiving yards (1,646), receiving yards per game (137.17), total receptions (127) and receptions per game (10.58). Quarterback Alex Carder surpassed his yardage total from last season (3,434) and has been prolific with TD passes (29). Defensive tackle Drew Nowak was the 2011 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, ranking fifth in the FBS in tackles per loss per game (1.67) and fourth in total TFLs (20.0).

“On behalf of Western Michigan University, our Football team and 114,500 alumni living in Michigan (with 33,000 of those calling metro Detroit home), we are honored to accept the invitation to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl,” commented WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard. “We’re proud to represent the Mid-American Conference against a prominent Big Ten opponent in Purdue, in front of a national audience on December 27. It is definitely a great day to be a Bronco!”

The Boilermakers posted a 2-2 record against nonconference foes in 2011. Purdue boasts the nation’s best kickoff return team (27.5 yard average) and one of the most dynamic freshmen in Raheem Mostert, who leads the Big Ten with a 31.0-yard average. The quarterback duo of Miami-transfer Robert Marve and Caleb TerBush has combined to complete 60 percent of their passes (2,361 yards, 15 touchdowns). Defensive tackle Kawann Short, Jr. tied for third in Big Ten and 13th nationally in tackles for loss (17) and tied for fourth in the conference in sacks (6.5). Kicker Carson Wiggs ranks second in the Big Ten in field goals (16-21) and has made his last nine.

“Our goal was to play one more game this year, and we will use this game against Western Michigan as a springboard into the 2012 season,” Purdue athletics director Morgan Burke said. “We’re excited to return to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. There are nearly 200,000 Purdue alumni within a four-hour drive of Detroit, and this game will provide a great opportunity for them to get together, root on the Boilermakers and share some holiday cheer. We had a great time and an exciting game in 2007, and look forward to another one this year.”

Purdue’s appearance will be the third by a Big Ten Conference team in the Detroit bowl and Purdue’s second. Northwestern, with San Diego Charger defensive lineman Luis Castillo and Pittsburgh Steeler offensive tackle Trai Essex, competed against 25th ranked Bowling Green in 2003. Purdue, led by New York Jets Tight End Dustin Keller and Detroit Lions Linebacker Cliff Avril, played against Central Michigan in the bowl in 2007.

Western Michigan’s appearance will be its first appearance in the Detroit bowl, although the MAC has been represented in each year of the bowl. Under Head Coach Bill Cubit, the Broncos have been bowl eligible five times over the past seven seasons. The Broncos, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back E.J. Biggers, played in the 2007 International Bowl in Toronto. They also competed in the 2008 Texas Bowl.

“We are doubly excited about the national promotions and enhancements planned through Little Caesars Pizza, our title sponsor,” said Ken Hoffman. “These exciting activities will make this an exceptional bowl experience for players and fans.”

The 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl will be played before a national television audience on ESPN. The game will be in downtown Detroit’s Ford Field for the tenth consecutive season, after five years at the Pontiac Silverdome.

The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is now in its 15th year of bringing major college football bowl action to football fans across the country during the holiday season. From 1997 through 2008 the bowl was known as the Motor City Bowl. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is the only major college football bowl game located in the Midwest United States.

Tickets are now on sale at TicketMaster outlets or by calling 248-645-6666. Tickets are also on sale at the Ford Field Box Office and at the Purdue University and Western Michigan University athletic ticket offices.

The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl website is located at www.littlecaesarspizzabowl.com.

The Wolverines had just lost their seventh straight to Ohio State, and coach Rich Rodriguez was on his way out.

Michigan sagged to its lowest point in years during and after the lopsided Gator Bowl loss to Mississippi State.

But things quickly turned around. Not long after the Rodriguez dismissal, Michigan’s Learjets were sighted at familiar airports as the search for a new coach unfolded.

Athletic director Dave Brandon was doing his best not to botch Michigan’s second coaching search in three years.

Botch it he didn’t, as Brandon obviously made the right choice in hiring former Michigan assistant Brady Hoke to take charge of the Wolverines.

Within days, Hoke brought in two respected coordinators, placed his stamp on the 2011 recruiting class, kept Denard Robinson from transferring and made believers out of Michigan’s ex-players, alumni and fans.

The Michigan family is anticipating a classy performance in the upcoming Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech and an optimistic future, thanks to an outstanding 2012 recruiting class.

Yes, there’s plenty to be thankful for. Let’s look at a few things that make being a Michigan fan special.

The Big House (Michigan Stadium)

From pre-game tailgating to the variety of Michigan traditions, a trip to the Big House provides one of college football’s most enjoyable game-day experiences.

Built in 1927, Michigan Stadium is the largest college-owned stadium in the country. It’s current attendance record of 114,804 was set during this fall’s Michigan-Notre Dame contest.

The Wolverines have played before 238 consecutive crowds of over 100,000 and led the nation in attendance every year since 1974, except 1997.

The stadium received an extensive renovation in 2010. Two sprawling brick towers, which house private boxes and a new press box, now rise above each sideline.

Michigan public address announcer Carl Grapentine regularly adds a nice touch to the atmosphere when he thanks Wolverine fans for “being part of the largest crowd watching a football game anywhere in America today.”

Brady Hoke
A relative unknown when he was hired in January, Hoke has been the key to Michigan’s resurgence.

While athletic director Dave Brandon appeared to be courting Les Miles and Jim Harbaugh, Hoke had just completed a 9-4 season as head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs.

He was a defensive position coach at Michigan from 1995-2002, before taking the head job at Ball State in 2003. He moved on to San Diego in 2009, finishing with a two-year mark of 13-12, including a victory over Navy in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl.

Hoke took over at Michigan for Rich Rodriguez, who as an outsider was never really accepted in Ann Arbor.

After he was hired, Hoke was immediately anointed as a “Michigan Man,” someone who played, coached or was familiar with the traditions of the Michigan football program.

Athletic Director Dave Brandon

Dave Brandon came to Michigan in January 2010 facing several concerns.

The NCAA was investigating a Michigan football team which had just suffered through it’s second straight losing season. Michigan Stadium was in its final stages of a $226 million expansion, and there were several other athletic facilities under construction.

Brandon knocked them off one at a time, fighting off the NCAA, firing then-football coach Rich Rodriguez and creating a pair of marketing successes.

He had permanent lights installed at the Big House so Michigan could host an outdoor hockey game and its first prime time football game.

The 104,073 attending the “Big Chill at the Big House,” between Michigan and Michigan State set a Guinness world record for attendance at a hockey game.

The 114,804 attending the “Under the Lights” football game between Michigan and Notre Dame set the current Michigan Stadium attendance record.

Perhaps Brandon’s biggest success was the hiring of Brady Hoke as Michigan’s new football coach. Hoke led the Wolverines to a 10-2 record and a trip to the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech.

Quarterback Denard Robinson

Denard Robinson thrilled the Michigan fanbase when he decided to stick with the Wolverines after Brady Hoke was hired in January.

The junior quarterback has accounted for 8,030 total yards and 73 touchdowns in his three seasons at Michigan. He’s completed 58.9 percent of his passes and rushed for 6.0 yards per carry. In 2010, he was the first quarterback ever to pass for 2,500 yards and throw for another 1,500.

His only negative statistic is his 29 interceptions, which will probably keep him from turning pro after this season.

Both CBS and ESPN have called Robinson college football’s most exciting player. He finished sixth in the Heisman voting as a sophomore, but wasn’t in the running this season due to a midseason staph infection and an inaccurate throwing arm.

Even so, Robinson is a threat to score from anywhere on the field, and he should give Virginia Tech plenty of headaches in the upcoming Sugar Bowl.

The Defense

In 2010 Michigan’s defense ranked 108th in the nation, allowing 35.23 points per game. This season, the defense ranked 7th, allowing just 17.17 points per game.

So what caused the turnaround? Was it coaching, the scheme or the players?

First, head coach Brady Hoke brought in Greg Mattison from the Baltimore Ravens to run the defense.

Mattison junked the 3-3-5 defense that Greg Robinson ran a season ago and installed a more conventional 4-3.

A quick look at the two rosters show very little difference in the quality of the players. Theoretically, freshmen Blake Countess, Jake Ryan and Desmond Morgan replaced James Rogers, Cam Gordon and Jonas Mouton.

Elsewhere, Will Heininger replaced Greg Banks and Troy Woolfolk replaced Courtney Avery.

So it’s not hard to see why most of the credit has gone Mattison’s way.

The Sugar Bowl

Sure Michigan went to the Gator Bowl last season, but it went as a beaten team.

This season, the No. 13 Wolverines are loaded with optimism as they head to New Orleans for a showdown with No. 17 Virginia Tech.

This may not be the Hokies best team in the last two decades or so, but look for Frank Beamer’s forces to be competitive.

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster always has a tough defense, and if it wasn’t for a pair of no-shows against Clemson, Tech would have had one of the best defenses in the country.

Michigan is a consensus 2.5 point favorite, but the Hokies have a rapidly improving quarterback in sophomore Logan Thomas and a potential first-round draft pick in junior running back David Wilson.

Logan has thrown for almost 2,800 yards while Wilson has rushed for over 1,600, a figure good enough for him to bypass his senior year.

The chief argument surrounding the Sugar Bowl is that neither team deserves to be in such a lofty bowl game.

What really matters is how the teams take advantage of the great location, a few extra weeks of practice and a fine setting for future recruits. That should be enough to make anyone thankful.