First, I have been the guest of a couple of Michigan outlets this week. Check out my Q&A with the Wolverine Blog and my podcast appearance with the Michigan Man Podcast. Yes, with that voice, it's a wonder that I'm not in radio, right?
Elsewhere:
Game-predictions-093010 (Big Ten Blog - ESPN)
Maybe Bill Lynch is right and we'll see a "defensive shootout," whatever that means. But the overwhelming evidence points to, well, points, and lots of 'em.
Baggot: Most Big Ten football coaches want to keep eight conference games (Madison.com)
If Big Ten coaches have a say in the debate, there appears to be strong sentiment for maintaining the status quo.
All signs point to shootout in Bloomington (Big Ten Blog - ESPN)
"We could sit here and look at it and the numbers think that’s what it’s going to be and it may end up being a defensive shootout," Lynch said. "You never know."
Meet the Enemy: No. 19 Michigan (The Indianapolis Star)
Denard Robinson is scary good, but they also have really good depth," Lynch said. "I think it's a credit to (coach) Rich Rodriguez and his staff that they have a group of players that have really bought in to what they're trying to do.
Hoosiers open Big Ten season with 1st true test (Post-Tribune)
There's a different confidence about this team," senior wide receiver Terrance Turner said Monday. "We have the players to make plays and we have the players to win games, not only in the non-conference, but in the Big Ten, also.
Can Hoosiers stop Michigan's Denard Robinson? (The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN)
In a normal college football world, shutting down a Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback such as Michigan's Denard Robinson would mean pressuring him into mistakes. But normal doesn't apply to Robinson. Pressure must include keeping him in the pocket. He's manageable in the pocket. Once he gets out, disaster is one missed tackle or assignment away.
High price of stress; MSU coach Mark Dantonio's heart attack is the latest evidence (The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN)
"I don't think our profession is any different than any others. Sure, the stresses some times of the year are tougher than at others, but I don't think the coaching profession causes (health problems). You could write it that way about a lot of professions. "We all do the best we can. In a lot of ways, we have a great life. Stress is part of it."
One year later, the Michigan-Indiana football game has a familiar feel (AnnArbor.com)
Eight true freshmen have played for the Wolverines defense, including five in the secondary, so Rodriguez expected some degree of struggle. "We’re not deep enough or strong enough to dominate somebody, and hold them to seven first down and three points," he said. "But that’s the goal. … They’ve had some tough moments this season, but also a lot of good moments."
Hoosiers anticipate large crowd (The Hoosier Scoop)
Tickets are going fast for this Saturday’s showdown with the 20th ranked Michigan Wolverines, as the Hoosiers are expecting a crowd of over 50,000. As of today, about 5,000 tickets remain unsold for the first marquee match-up of the Hoosiers 2010 season.