Golden Nuggets for 10.7.08

Hello -

I’ve got a few concerns about our “Gold Out” this weekend that range from the practical to the perceived.

First, this “Gold Out” was announced once Michigan confirmed they were not of the traditional powerhouse Michigan football variety this year. The “(name your color) out” at most other schools is used with a big game against a national powerhouse or a highly ranked team (Utah did the blackout last night against TCU, Iowa does the black out and “greene out” tomorrow against Penn State, and on and on). The fact we’re doing a “gold out” against Michigan, a 2-7 team without confidence and a starting QB, makes little sense. The Iowa game would make better sense for a “gold out.” And in case one responds, yeah, but Iowa wears gold too….

Second, this “Gold Out” could create a significant problem for both teams tomorrow. I have a sneaking suspicion Minnesota will wear the god-awful gold jerseys they sported against Ohio State last year. Point one, they look like mustard seeds (and their helmets the old mustard “cake” you flick off the top of the spout when you’re using the mustard container at a tailgate). Point two, Michigan has worn yellow pants for decades. I’m certain they’ll wear yellow pants tomorrow – it’s their only pant color. Their jerseys are white with yellow sashes down the sides. They wear dark helmets. Although I realize Fritz Crisler put the wings on the helmets in the ’40s so he could identify his players downfield, those wings are yellow.

What’s the problem? Say Adam Weber is flushed from the pocket and is trying to avoid Brandon Graham (who has 8 sacks and will be breathing down Weber’s neck all day long). Weber takes a quick look up and sees 2 uniforms – one all yellow, one half yellow and white. In the background is a complete gold mass of fans. In that instant Weber has to throw the ball. He may not be able to separate the colors from one another (not an insult to his intelligence – just the reality of instant vision recognition), and it may result in sloppy play – interceptions, bad throws, et al. (This is true for Michigan’s QB – Sheridan or Feagin – tomorrow as well). I realize a “Maroon out” may not be as visually striking. However, for the sake of our team’s efficiency and quick color recognition, especially against a team who wears yellow as its predominant road color, it may have been a better choice, because the same “gold pants” issue would arise with Iowa.

Thanks. As usual good work. My father’s a Michigan grad and I’ve supported Big Blue football my whole life. However, I’m a Minnesota alum. Tomorrow will be tough for me because I want both teams to do well. I ultimately hope that Michigan’s 2008 senior class becomes the first class in a long time (perhaps ever?) to lose the jug twice.

JG

Kafka was a more-or-less unknown quantity. Sheridan is verifiably awful. A little paranoia is a good thing, but I don’t think you need it if Sheridan starts.

Search around on the Web for Sheridan’s meltdown in the second half of the Michigan – Penn State game, and you’ll find reason for optimism.

Feagin, on the other hand, is a wildcard, a true freshman who Rodriguez recruited as a QB, but moved to slot receiver, burned his redshirt last week on special teams, and is now the backup QB this week. RichRod has said in press conferences this week that there is a package in for Feagin to take snaps at QB.

Also, Brandon Minor took direct snaps a la Darren McFadden last week against Purdue. Michigan’s running game is getting better with Minor as the starter, and Shaw and McGuffie as the wide, shifty change of pace runners. Feagin, running with these guys, could cause problems for U-MN.

I agree, but in my dreamworld, I tend to think that the employers also owe a little loyalty to their employees as well. It’s really sickening how both coaches and athletic apartments just brush aside these multi-million dollar buyouts. You figure if you’re going to extend a contract for few years, you wouldn’t fire a coach the very next season. In this idealistic vision, Tommy Bowden, Ron Prince, and even Glen Mason would still have their previous coaching jobs.

I would love to see all coaches have the same type of loyalty and build up programs for decades the way Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden have done. But that requires loyalty from the school and the fanbase as well, and that’s hard to come by today. Every delusional fan thinks that their school is one coaching hire away from having the next Pete Carroll/USC program. As a Gopher fan, part of me finds joy in listening to asinine comments from Badger and Hawkeye fans calling for Bielema and Ferrentz to be fired, but the rational part of me feels sad that this what big-time college sports is all about these days.

Anyway, there was an even better written post on this subject a few weeks ago by Mark Hasty at the Fanhouse. I’ll quit rambling and just post that link: Why Your Coach-Firing Argument Is Bogus

The Weekly Schaudenfreude?