Ticket Giveaway: Friday Night on GOTW

WCBN will be giving away tickets to Saturday's Michigan - Michigan State hockey game at Joe Louis Arena!

Tune-in to 88.3 FM or WCBN.org on Friday night from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M. to play Family Feud against WCBN Sports' expert studio analysts. Call in to the show at 734-763-3500!

Manny Harris Suspension Rumor Mill

Michigan basketball star guard Manny Harris was reinstated today by Coach John Beilein after serving a one-game suspension for an unnamed offense that occurred during practice on Friday. While Harris has officially rejoined his teammates for their showdown with Michigan State at Crisler tomorrow evening - sparing Wolverine fans from what would have been utter humiliation - there has been no official word on what Manny L'Adorable Harris did to deserve sitting out the team's brutal loss to Purdue. WCBN Sports offers their best guesses:

• Harris, enraged when Michael Rosenberg interrogated him about the length of Coach Beilein's practices, punched the hack Free Press "journalist" squarely in the face. Beilein, while impressed by Harris' defense of his honor, was forced to suspend Harris, much to the pleasure of Rosenberg, whose vendetta against all things West Virginia continues to destroy everything beautiful about Michigan.

• Freshman walk-on and Club Trillion member Josh Bartelstein showed up to practice Friday and Manny Harris promptly delivered a roundhouse kick to his face, apparently, for existing. Coach Beilein was overhead laughing, and was seen high-fiving Harris, but out of the fear that Bartelstein's father would pull the $500,000 contribution he made to the program to secure Josh's spot, he decided to suspend Harris for one game.

What a clown.

Beilein applauds Manny doing what everyone else wanted to do.

Got other theories? Post them in the comments. WCBN Sports will continue to follow this breaking story and bring you updated rumors as they develop.

Michigan Hockey vs. Alaska Live on Sports Stream

We are LIVE at Yost for tonight's Hockey game between Michigan and Alaska. Michigan beat the Nanooks 6-0 last night and will look to sweep them for the weekend and extend the current win-streak to 5 games. A win tonight will also move the Wolverines into a tie with Alaska for fourth in the CCHA standings.

Listen Live HERE on WCBN.org's sports stream.

Andrew Seid, Andrew Goddeeris, and Rushi Vyas on the call.

Go Blue!

Coach Rodriguez...Take Notes

January was supposed to be a month to cleanse our souls from the evils of the 2009 Michigan football season--one that began with a quartet of promise and ended in conference contempt. College football has given way to hoops and hockey, although many Michiganders are busy commiserating over the Pistons, Red Wings, and Wolverines. But as the weather turns, I'm left reflecting on a football season gone awry and the prospects for improvement in 2010.

Football's 2009 Big Ten conference is largely reminiscent of basketball's Big Ten conference the preceding season. They came in with relatively low expectations and, by the end of the season, appeared to be a conference on the rise. The bowls have become a huge source of optimism for fans of college football's longest standing conference, with the Big Ten winning its four most prominent bowl games:

Champs Sports Bowl: Wisconsin 20 - Miami (FL) 14

Capital One Bowl: Penn St. 19 - LSU 17

Rose Bowl: Ohio St. 26 - Oregon 17

Orange Bowl: Iowa 24 - Georgia Tech 14

Perhaps most notable about the Big Ten's bowl dominance was the fact that each Big Ten team in the four games listed above was an underdog (Penn St.-LSU was nearly a pick'em game) in Vegas. The Big Ten, by all accounts, vastly exceeded expectations, and nearly went 7-0 in the bowl season (Michigan State led in the fourth quarter against Texas Tech, Northwestern lost in overtime against Auburn, and Minnesota lost by one against Iowa State).

And let's be clear; these games were a clash of styles. Wisconsin beat the athletes at the "U." Ohio St. beat the Pac-10 spread. Iowa took care of a gimmicky, option offense. And maybe--just maybe--while Rich Rodriguez presumably watched the Big Ten compete with the nation's best, the thought crossed the embattled coach's mind that Michigan was doing something right before he got here.

Maybe, just maybe, a team can win in the Big Ten with the type of players used by Lloyd Carr when Michigan thoroughly dismantled Tim Tebow and Florida at the 2008 Capital One Bowl. Maybe, just maybe, throwing out the playbook used by Yost, Crisler, and Schembechler was not the brightest idea. Maybe, just maybe, it was not the best idea to stop recruiting the likes of Chad Henne and Mike Hart--the top-flight NFL prospects whom Michigan could attract with their cold-weather grind-it-out style of play.

The problem with Michigan football fans today is that we are so faithfully devoted to the winged helmet that we are willing to move the bar each year for a coach who has yet to win more than two games in the Big Ten. When he got here, we expected to win the Big Ten in 2010. After a three-win 2008 season, we just wanted to reach a Bowl Game in 2009 and compete with the class of the Big Ten in 2010.

Now, we'd be content with a seven-win season against the likes of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Bowling Green. Now, we simply roll our eyes when Tony Grimes eschews the Wolverines for Maryland, Mississippi, or some school with a warmer climate than Ann Arbor. Now, we hope that our defense couldn't possibly be any worse, even after losing Brandon Graham, Stevie Brown, and Donovan Warren.

Is Rich Rodriguez the best coach for the current Michigan team? Absolutely. Would any available coach win more games for Michigan in 2010 than Rodriguez? Probably not. But that's not my question today, as I reflect on 2009.

Are we building a championship program?

I surely don't think so. And if you don't, after 2 seasons and nearly two complete recruiting classes, it may be time to begin thinking about competing with the rest of the rising Big Ten.

Help WCBN Sports!

WCBN Sports has been using YouCastr as its main audio server this year in order to give listeners an interactive, high-quality broadcasting experience. Unfortunately, YouCastr is changing its service in 2010 and eliminating its free-to-view audio broadcasts; needless to say, WCBN is unwilling to force its listeners to pay for Michigan sports audio.

So, today, we are asking for advice. Do you know of any online audio servers through which we can bring you Michigan sports without charging fees? Please let us know if you have any thoughts.

Thank you,

WCBN Sports

Listen: Michigan v. Ohio State

Tune-in to WCBN Sports today as Michigan takes on the Buckeyes in the home opener of the Big Ten season.

Game: Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines
Time: 430 PM
Venue: Crisler Arena (Ann Arbor, MI)
Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Listen: Great Lakes Invitational - Michigan Hockey vs. Michigan Tech

Tune-in to WCBN Sports today as Michigan takes on the Huskies of Michigan Tech, in the consolation game of the Great Lakes Invitational.

Game: Michigan Tech Huskies vs Michigan Wolverines
Time: 4 PM
Venue: Joe Louis Arena (Detroit, MI)
Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Listen: Great Lakes Invitational - Michigan Hockey vs. RPI

Tune-in to WCBN Sports today as Michigan takes on the Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in the nightcap of the opening day of the Great Lakes Invitational, with the winner getting the winner of the Michigan Tech/Michigan State battle in the opening game.

Game: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers vs Michigan Wolverines
Time: 730 PM
Venue: Joe Louis Arena (Detroit, MI)
Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Great Lakes Invitational Preview

By John Zaccardelli

9 and 9!? 10^th in the CCHA?? Toto, were not in Kansas anymore. The Michigan hockey team has struggled this season which has put their NCAA appearance in jeopardy. An appearance streak running for 19 straight years. First, they need to win the Great Lakes Invitational for a 3^rd consecutive season. Taking place December 29^th and 30^th, the Great Lakes Invitational will feature Michigan versus Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Michigan State versus Michigan Tech in the opening games.

Michigan’s first opponent R.P.I. is 9-9-1 and has lost 4 of the last 5 games coming into the tournament. The engineers score 2.89 per game, but give up about the same amount at 2.79 GAA. They are led by junior Chase Polacek their top scorer in goals (12) and points (26) along with Freshmen Brandon Pirri and Jerry D’Amigo chipping in 18 and 14 points respectively. Sophomore Goaltender Allen York has played majority of the games and will have to play magnificent to win the tournament. Rensselaer has played in the G.L.I. once before in 1985 finishing 2^nd to Michigan State, so they have some hope but they’ll have to do it without D’Amigo because he’ll be at the World Juniors.

Surprisingly and luckily in some sense, Chris Brown was the last cut from U.S.A.’s World Junior team. Red Berenson will not have to make too many adjustments with the top line intact. The second line will have to play more consistent and get David Wohlberg, also cut from team U.S.A., to break his 4 game pointless streak. Brain Lebler, Ben Winnett and Luke Glendening will be counted on to make hits, forecheck hard and pop in that timely goal. Freshmen forwards A.J. Treais and Kevin Lynch will play their first games at the Joe Louis Arena where they could gain some magic like Tim Miller did in his career. Michigan’s defense with captain Chris Summers and improving Lee Moffie need to keep the puck out of the net and lead the offensive charge. They need to make the smart play and crisp pass to create a smooth transition game. Bryan Hogan will have to play like he did in the College Hockey Showcase. He has improved his game in the past couple weeks but rebound control is still a must. Michigan’s objective is to score at least 3 goals. They have only lost one game when scoring at least that amount this season. They can take advantage of R.P.I.’s weak penalty kill at 79% with their power play unit that has much improved since the start of the season. Look for Michigan to play comfortably at Joe Louis Arena and defeat Rensselaer to play MSU/MTU in the championship game (most likely State). Michigan can get their revenge for two tough losses to the Spartans earlier this season.

Listen: Game of the Week

Tune in to Game of the Week TONIGHT from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M., as the WCBN Sports crew will discuss Michigan basketball, keep tabs on Michigan volleyball's trek through the NCAA Tournament, and cover the Michigan hockey game LIVE on YouCastr.com, as the Wolverines take on the 18th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Hear it all on 88.3-FM or WCBN.org and call-in to the show at 734-763-3500.

Listen: Michigan v. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Tune-in to WCBN Sports today as Michigan takes on the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, in a battle of SWAC and Big Ten teams.

Game: UAPB Golden Lions at Michigan Wolverines
Time: 2 PM
Venue: Crisler Arena (Ann Arbor, MI)
Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Donovan Warren is leaving?

With recent news circulating that junior DB Donovan Warren will be leaving to enter the 2010 NFL draft, all I can say is that I am incredibly disappointed. With this disappointment comes many fears- I fear for the program, I fear for the coaching staff, and yes, Donovan, I fear for your future.

The Program

What can I say? Our defense was horrible last year, and the outlook for the future, especially without Warren, makes next year seem incredibly grim. Without much argument, I feel it safe to say that the three best players on the Michigan defense this fall were Brandon Graham, Stevie Brown, and Donovan Warren. Notice a pattern? All three will be gone next year. The cupboard has essentially gone from bare to beyond bare, in fact, I'm not even sure if there is a cupboard anymore.


The Coaching Staff

I don't have to be an insider to tell you that Rich Rodriguez and his staff need to have a winning record next year to keep their jobs. I also don't need to be a football connoisseur to tell you that defense wins games. My question: how does Rich Rodriguez plan on winning 8 games (an approximate of what he will need to keep his job) without any defense so to speak of? I hate to sound too pessimistic, but next year when Michigan trots out onto the field, the secondary will be ugly. In fact, do we even know who will be in the secondary? Without Warren, there are no more absolutes. While I'll admit that I'm sure that Troy Woolfolk will be a starter, I can't tell you for certain at what position.


Donovan Warren

It's funny that I fear for a man who is about to make millions over the next couple of years, but I truly do. News has been broken that Warren recently applied to the NFL draft committee to see his approximate draft position, but if Donovan Warren believes any rumors about how highly touted he is as a prospect then he is a fool. I'm sure that soon the rumor mill will begin to spew an idea about Warren being project to go early second round......sure, and Alan Branch was going to be drafted early first round (actual result: early second round) and Ernest Shazor was set to go late first/early second (actual result: undrafted). Both came into the draft as juniors, and both made bad decisions.
Warren is a very talented player, don't get me wrong, but I strongly believe that he has not reached the apex of his game, and should, therefore, stay in school. Call me crazy, but I don't think that NFL tams are salivating over the idea of acquiring a player who was not even the best player on a defense that got carved up by the likes of Joey Elliott, Nick Tolzien, and Kirk Cousins.

Stay in school Donovan: If not for yourself, then for the sake of your coaches, your classmates, your teammates, and, oh yeah, my sanity.

Listen: ACC/Big Ten Challenge - Michigan v Boston College

Tune-in to WCBN Sports tonight as the Michigan Wolverines look to bounce back from a rough holiday weekend in Orlando against the 4-2 Boston College Eagles, in a game with big ramifications for the Challenge. The Big Ten and ACC are tied at 3 games a piece going into tonight, and all games will have an impact on whether the Big Ten can win the Challenge for the first time ever.

Game: Boston College Eagles at Michigan Wolverines
Time: 7:35 P.M.
Venue: Crisler Arena (Ann Arbor, MI)
Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Listen: College Hockey Showcase - Michigan Hockey vs. Wisconsin

Tune-in to WCBN Sports tonight as the unranked Michigan Wolverines look to continue the momentum from their 6-0 victory over Minnesota in game 2 of the College Hockey Showcase against the 16th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, fresh off their own whooping of Sparty, 7-3.

Game: #16 Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Wolverines
Time: 7:35 P.M.
Venue: Yost Ice Arena (Ann Arbor, MI)
Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Listen: College Hockey Showcase - Michigan Hockey vs. Minnesota

Tune-in to WCBN Sports tonight as the unranked Michigan Wolverines look for redemption against fellow struggling traditional power, the Minnesota Golden Gophers

Game: Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Wolverines

Time: 7:35 P.M.

Venue: Yost Ice Arena (Ann Arbor, MI)

Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Michigan Hockey Loses Two

On a day that should have been a joyous occasion for Michigan hockey fans (National Letters of Intent were delivered to Ann Arbor today), the ice is running red with the blood of attrition. It is confirmed that Sophomore Forward Robbie Czarnik has left the team to play for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. No word on why Czarnik, who had 3 goals and 3 assists so far this season, decided to bolt.

Even more upsetting is the news that Jack Campbell, the #1 North American goaltending prospect will sign with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League and will not honor his commitment to the University of Michigan. No official word has been passed on this matter, but Campbell did not sign a letter of intent and indications are that this was because he will sign with Windsor. Official updates to come.

UPDATE I: http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2009/11/23/1170912/czarnik-leaves-michigan-for-ohl

UPDATE II: I talked to Jack Campbell and he had this to say. "I never intended to do this but after a lot of thought I changed my mind permanently. Sorry! I appreciate the support you gave me. I'm gonna miss the fans that's for sure."

Major blow to the 2010 recruiting class, which still stands as one of Michigan's strongest in some time.

An Interview with Kenny Wilkins

Maize and Blog is once again delighted to bring you an interview with a class of 2010 football recruit, this time with Kenny Wilkins, a 4* defensive end from Trinity HS in Washington, Pennsylvania. Trinity has also produced players like OSU's Andrew Sweat, and Kenny has been described by his coach as an even better physical prospect. Kenny talked to Maize and Blog Special Recruiting Contributor and Rivals.com correspondent Lauren Winfrey about the OSU game, why he chose Michigan, and what he expects to play for the Wolverines.

Lauren: Did you attend the Ohio State game Saturday? How do you feel about the loss? Did you think we were going to win?

Kenny: Yes I was at the game, and I feel like it was the best we’ve played all year. We made some mistakes on offense, but of course I thought we had a really good chance of winning. I feel like you can never doubt a team’s abilities. There’s always a chance you can win a game. Plus it was their senior show so spirits were high, I honestly thought we had a chance.

L: How did your season go on a personal note? What areas of your game did you improve upon and which areas do you see yourself needing to improve in the future?

K: Our record this season was 6/5. We made the play offs, but we lost in the first round. I was really sick so I wasn’t able to finish out the season, or play in the playoff game. On a personal note I had a disappointing season. We expected more of ourselves. We expected to win more games, but I did have fun playing my last year of high school football. [As far as improvements go] I know I have to get bigger, faster, and stronger. I need to improve on all levels to compete with the best players in college football.

L: Are you planning on enrolling early?

K: Actually I can’t [enroll early] because I have to take another math class so I’ll just be coming to campus in June, but I’m definitely excited to come.

L: What made you choose Michigan, especially after the struggles of last year?

K: Going to Michigan has been kind of a dream for me. I’ve wanted to play there since I was six. The coaches are really nice too, and the program’s just a good program overall.

L: You're a pretty versatile defensive player. Where have the Michigan coaches talked to you about playing? Do you think you’ll be stepping in right away and contributing as a freshman?

K: The coaches told me that most likely I’ll be playing defensive end. I played liner backer and defensive in high school. I’m unsure about redshirting. The coaches told me to be ready to play because there is space for me to play if I show them that I’m good enough. I guess it all depends on how well I do this summer and at camp.

L: Do Michigan's struggles this year have any impact on your recruitment? What kind of season are you hoping for next year?

K: Michigan’s struggles haven’t had a negative impact on my recruiting because I’ve always wanted to go there. I think kids go where they feel comfortable. I think it has little to do with how well the team is doing, especially if it’s a school with an established program. I think next year will be great. Each year coach Rod keeps improving, and it takes time to take a team to the next level like he’s trying to do.

L: Are there any other recruits that you talk to that Michigan is trying to secure a commitment from? How much of a recruiting role do you personally play?

K: I’ve talked to kids like Cullen Christian. I think me talking to him kinda helps because it’s always good to look at things from another person’s perspective.

L: For Michigan fans concerned about the defensive recruiting this year i.e. fewer high rated players than usual, what do you think of the recruiting services? Do you think too much attention is paid to the star rankings in general?

K: I don’t really worry about rankings. For some kids it is a big deal to be ranked highly, but not for me because I know what I can do and I know no matter what I do I’m gonna work hard.

Struggling Rookies

At the end of September, freshman quarterback Tate Forcier had led the Michigan Wolverines to a 4-0 record with a win over the rival Irish from Notre Dame and had provided Rich Rodriguez with more wins in four weeks than the Michigan head coach had secured in all of 2008.

Meanwhile, Mark Sanchez was the golden boy of the NFL--the heir apparent to Joe Namath and the next great, young quarterback following in the footsteps of Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, and Matt Ryan, all of whom were wildly successful at a young age in professional football. Sanchez had led New York's other team to a 3-0 start with wins over the hated New England Patriots and last year's winningest team in the regular season, the Tennessee Titans.

This weekend, Tate Forcier and Mark Sanchez combined for two fumbles, two touchdowns allowed, and eight interceptions in losses against their respective teams' most bitter rivals. Michigan is 5-7 and will not qualify for a Bowl game for the second consecutive year while the Jets fell to 4-6, three games out of the division lead and an afterthought in the Wild Card standings. While Michigan's one win since their hot start came against Delaware State, the Jets haven't been much more impressive--they are 1-6 since their 3-0 start with their win coming against the lowly Oakland Raiders.

In short, it's not a good time to be a Michigan fan from the Mets/Jets side of New York. Hell, even the Yankees have more wins in November than the Jets and Wolverines combined. And now the Lions do too. Ouch. For these fans, sanity is the goal and patience is a necessary virtue.

The young quarterbacks who showed promise on the field, moxy with the media, and charisma to the fan base have disappointed. Deal with it. These are first-year quarterbacks. Where would the Cowboys of the '90s or the Colts of today be if they had discarded the struggling Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning? Expectations were low to begin with, and everyone got spoiled after a few improbable wins. It's time to move on from 2009 and understand that this was, simply put, a training exercise.

Michigan will play in a bowl game before Tate Forcier can grow facial hair. Mark Sanchez will lead the Jets to the playoffs before Rex Ryan cries his way out of town. It's frustrating--for now--but these quarterbacks will benefit from this year of triumph and tribulations.

Listen: "The Game"

WCBN Sports will be on hand for the 106th edition of the biggest rivalry in sports, as the Michigan Wolverines (5-6) hope to salvage a season and secure a bowl bid against the #10 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Game: Ohio State @ Michigan

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Venue: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, MI)

Line: Ohio State -12.5

Broadcast Link: YouCastr

Game of the Week Tonight

Listen to WCBN-FM Ann Arbor at 88.3 FM from 7-10 P.M. tonight for a preview of UM-OSU, live coverage of Michigan Volleyball (also on MGoBlue.com), and the broadcast of Michigan Hockey vs. Bowling Green (also on YouCastr.com).

Here's to this weekend, because it can't get any worse than it was two weeks ago...right?