Greetings from Michigan Stadium, a.k.a. Le Grande Chateau. We're about two hours ahead of the kickoff on a sublime day in the double-A. The most noticeable change in the environs? The luxury-box suites, which are three stories high and extend from end zone to end zone on either side of the stadium.Michigan Stadium was long known as being the quietest place to house 109,000 fans--and not because Wolverine fans are not raucous. They are, especially the students. It's simply that the bowl-like construction of the stadium, i.e., the dearth of decks (unlike, for example, Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, which always produces a din) has long allowed the noise to waft out of the stadium.
Get John's observations all game after the jump.
Not anymore. Michigan Stadium is in the process of being renovated--that's right, Le Grande Chateau will soon become Plus Grande Chateau. And though the luxury suites are not yet open for, um, luxuriating, their presence will cause the sound to reverberate when something good happens.
Do Mess With the Zoltan
Rarely do the Irish, or any other team, hope to see a lot of the opposition's best player. Except for today. Michigan's biggest talent is actually the punter, Zoltan Mesko. The 6-foot-5 Romanian native averaged 42.95 yards per punt last season and was a Ray Guy Award semi-finalist. Oh, and he's the ideal player for Midwesterners to adore: His father was a professional bowler.
From Jack White (see our headline) to Nickelback
Expect to see the Irish in a modified nickel package more often than not this afternoon. What with Michigan employing a spread offense--necessitating that the Irish have more speed on the field defensively--and the fact that Notre Dame's front four totaled just four tackles against Nevada, defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will go with his best playmakers. Expect to see a lot of fifth DB Sergio Brown, as well as four LB packages in which perhaps Scott Smith or Kerry Neal drop off the line.
Tweet Suite
Follow us on the Twitter today (feed below) and/or feel free to comment. The Hugh Johnson Project is not the only place for college football wit, and chances are that at least here your comment will run. I'm eager to hear from you, and not just because you're dying to tell me that 1) Notre Dame is no longer relevant or 2) Their coach is obese.
And Finally...
Walking over to Michigan Stadium this morning with my buddy Mike Rothstein, and he notices a sign at a Chinese restaurant reading, "Middle Kingdom is Michael Phelp's favorite place to eat." Yes, and in South Bend, Parisi's is Digger Phelp's favorite Italian restaurant.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John, none of your twitter feeds are being posted
Yay, GO BLUE! I'm a proud wolverine!!!
As I watch this Notre Dame-Michigan game, one thing is absolutely apparent. Charlie Weis is not a big time college coach. With superior athletes against, at best, a one dimensional team he does not belong at this level. And this defense as time runs down is terrible, Michigan can't throw the ball and his DB's are playing so far off a Pop Warner QB could complete a pass. Both Weis and Rodriquez who is also over his head should be removed.
I am happy to see that the Irish are overranked again!! How does this happen? How can they start the season ranked after what they did last year?
About the same as Michigan, who wasn't ranked and just beat them. ND preseason rankings are the best proof that the system is corrupt and controlled by clients of ND Football.
So true, so true. Number 18 my ass! Notre Dame sucks!!!!
The Flaccid Irish and Fat Charlie blow it again! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Notre Dame SUCKS!!
My feelings exactly. That was great play calling to pass twice and take a whole 5 seconds off the clock leaving Michigan with over two minutes. They could have taken a minute and a half off the clock, or forced Michigan to use their time outs, but they gave it away. Brilliant!!
ESPN and their "experts" can now take ND out their collective mouths for another year....Lou....Oh,Lou.....
I felt that winning this game was an uncertain sign for either program, but I am so happy that I am not going to have to puke at the comments by the ND loving commentators that would have been made if they had won, OMG, two games in a row!!
Let's face it... "Chuncky Charlie" is the SECOND best thing to happen to USC Football (next to the arrival of Pete Carroll) and the BEST THING that could have happened to UM Football today!!!