Soooo, how's things?

"Had we performed better during the season, it wouldn't be an issue," Brandon told The Detroit News on Monday, referring to Rodriguez's job security. "People are concerned and they're unhappy with the way the season unfolded and particularly the way the season closed, and I understand that.

"No true Michigan fan is happy with where we ended up in the Big Ten and how the season unfolded, particularly the end."

"I said when I got this job our expectations are very high," Brandon said. "We want to compete for championships, we want to be among the best, and we clearly did not do that this year. I'm not happy about that, the coaches aren't happy about that, the players aren't happy, the fans aren't happy — nobody is happy with where we ended up this year."

"The team has the opportunity to practice 15 days and prepare for a bowl game, which they've earned the right to," Brandon said. "I have so consistently stated what my process is, how I do this, and what is in the best interest of the program. That's what I do, and that's what I'm going to do. All of this desire for information sooner, all this speculation is fueling curiosity — it doesn't change how I'm doing my job.

"Back when we were 5-0, I said (this would be the evaluation process), along the way, I've said it, after exciting wins I've said it. This is how I'm going to do my job. I have not equivocated on that at all. Just because people out there are stirring the pot, that's not going to deter what I'm going to do."

Robinson Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year

PARK RIDGE, Ill. – The 2010 Big Ten Football Awards were announced Monday evening (Nov. 29) during a live show on the Big Ten Network, with University of Michigan sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach HS) winning the conference’s offensive player of the year award from both the coaches and media. Robinson was also named to the All-Big Ten first team by the media and earned honorable mention recognition from the coaches.

Robinson directed the league’s top-rated offense that racked up 500.9 yards per contest. The Wolverines led the Big Ten in rushing (251.1 avg.) and were second in passing (249.8 avg.). Robinson set the NCAA record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,643 yards on 245 carries this season. He led the Wolverines with 14 rushing touchdowns. He completed 155-of-250 passes for 2,316 yards and 16 touchdowns. Robinson became the first quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for 1,500 yards in a season with his performance in 2010.

Joining Robinson on the coaches’ first team was senior/junior center David Molk (Lemont, Ill./Lemont Township HS); he also earned All-Big Ten second-team honors from the media. He started all 12 games in 2010 after missing the majority of the 2009 due to multiple injuries. Molk was a Rimington Trophy candidate the past two seasons.

Junior nose tackle Mike Martin (Redford, Mich./Catholic Central HS), fifth-year senior linebacker Jonas Mouton (Los Angeles, Calif./Venice HS) and junior/sophomore Roy Roundtree (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison HS) earned all-conference second team honors. Martin received his selection by the coaches with Mouton and Roundtree collecting their honors from the media. Martin also collected honorable mention accolades from the media.

Martin collected 36 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks during an injury-riddled season. Roundtree is the league’s third-leading receiver with career highs in every major receiving category, collecting 63 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns. Mouton led the Big Ten in tackles with an average of 10.1 stops per contest; posting a career-high 111 tackles this season.

Fifth-year senior left guard Stephen Schilling (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS) earned honorable mention All-Big Ten from both the coaches and media. Junior/sophomore safety Jordan Kovacs (Curtice, Ohio/Clay HS) earned honorable mention from the media.

Fifth-year senior linebacker Mark Moundros (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS) was named the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient for the Michigan program.

University of Michigan Football Injury Report

At Ohio State, Nov. 27, 2010

OUT (0% PLAY)

Ferrara, John                             Knee

Floyd, JT                                       Ankle

Jones, Mike                                Leg

Jones, Teric                                Knee

Odoms, Martavious                Foot

Van Slyke, Jared                       Clavicle

Williams, Mike                           Head

Woolfolk, Troy                          Ankle

QUESTIONABLE (50% PLAY)

Hemingway, Junior                 Head

PROBABLE (75% PLAY)

Gallon, Jeremy                          Shoulder

Martin, Mike                              Ankle

Roh, Craig                                    Head

Smith, Vince                               Head

Stonum, Darryl                          Ankle

Chris back in the day, sporting his full Buckstache.

"Look, one word of warning. Any time you've got an offense, you've got a puncher's chance. And Michigan has a puncher's chance against Ohio State. A lot of things got to go their way. Ohio State has to throw interceptions, they have to put the ball on the ground. But anytime you have … I think, really, he's the fastest football player that I've ever seen play in person, Denard Robinson. 

"That's the one thing, here's my warning if anybody is listening over at the (Ohio State football facility) Woody Hayes, here's my warning: You think he's fast. He looks fast on film. You don't know how fast this kid is until you see him play in person. And that's something that our guys are going to have to adjust to, because their offense is explosive, they can score points in a hurry, and it's going to be a challenge on our defense against their offense."

"Now their defense on the other hand, it is the worst Michigan defense ever in the history of Michigan football in my opinion. They are so bad. They can't tackle. In my way of thinking, I don't know how they got this bad on defense. You look at Ohio State, when they lose players, we've had injuries, has this defense taken a noticeable step back? No. It still maintains. It still goes.

"Everybody is saying, 'Well, they're all young, they're all coming back.' Well, yeah, they're all coming back. It's on the worst defense in the NCAA they're all coming back. Is that so exciting for you? It's bad. (Nose tackle Mike) Martin is the only guy that could start at Ohio State -- the only guy that could start. He would roll in there. He's a good player. But other than that, these guys would be excellent special teams guys. Very good on special teams.

"It's not for lack of trying. They have a scheme, they can't execute the scheme. I'm not a big fan of the scheme because there's a lot of bubbles. And what I mean by that, there's just areas to run. They're not gap sound. They make a lot of mental errors. I think some of it is youth, but some of it's got to be talent, right? Here's the deal with this whole defense at Michigan, I mean, I think this, I'm pretty sure this is going to happen. There's going to be a huge evaluation of what direction they're going to go defensively. What do you want to do philosophically? What type of player are we going to recruit? Are we going to have walk-ons from outside of Toledo be our starting safety (Jordan Kovacs) or are we going to get kids who can play?

"At Michigan you shouldn't have to play … and the kid's tough he plays hard, I love him, he's a battler, he's a warrior, all their kids play hard, they're Michigan kids, they're going to play hard, but that doesn't get it done at this level. When you have a team like Wisconsin that can line up and run the ball 34 out of 35 plays, 24 or 25 straight times down your throat and you know they're not changing and you can do absolutely nothing to stop it, you have a talent deficiency, and it's clear and evident that they do. (Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez) needs to reevaluate, 'What's our philosophy and what type of player are we going to get?' And we better get on our recruiting high horse and start going into living rooms and getting All-Americans and getting players that fit the Michigan defensive model that's been established over 100 years of talented players, NFL-ready type players who come in, play hard, play it with a level of tenacity and talent, which I'm used to seeing at Michigan. They had a defensive back (Charles Woodson) from Ohio who won the Heisman Trophy for crying out loud, the NFL MVP, they don't have any of those guys. Frankly, they don't have any of those guys on their roster.

"It's a combination of poor recruiting, in my opinion, I think coach (Lloyd) Carr (who retired after the 2007 season), to be perfectly honest, left the cupboard bare in his last few years. I don't think they recruited the talent because you look at the upperclassmen that they have. They're all great kids. I had a chance to meet with a bunch of them. They practice hard, they play hard, and they're tough, but it comes down to one thing when you're talking about playing at a high level like Michigan is used to playing at, and that's talent. And they have zero on defense. One kid, the Martin kid. Other than that, a lot of guys would be nice little subs at Indiana."

Yikes!

Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced a series of adjustments to football playing rules in order to enhance student-athlete safety for the Illinois-Northwestern game to be played on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Big Ten worked with both Illinois and Northwestern to review a number of potential rule or field adjustments to provide the safest environment for the student-athletes. The conference requested and received waivers to several NCAA playing rules in the interest of student-athlete safety.

The following rule changes were determined to be the best of all options and will be in effect for this game only based on the unique layout of the field.

                                                                                                                         

1)    All offensive plays will head toward the West end zone, including all extra points and all overtime possessions.

2)    All kickoffs will be kicked toward the East end zone.

3)    After every change of possession, the ball will be repositioned for the offense to head toward the West end zone.

4)    As a result of a coin toss held by the conference office Friday morning, Illinois will occupy the West team bench in the first half and Northwestern will occupy the West team bench in the second half and for all overtime periods.

“The health and safety of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “Both Illinois and Northwestern did significant due diligence over the past 18 months, but after seeing the actual layout of the field, all parties felt that it was appropriate to adjust the rules to further enhance the safety of our student-athletes. Wrigley Field is one of the most historic venues in the country, and playing the Illinois-Northwestern game at this facility will provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

Oh, Bret.

Game Stuff

Wisconsin 37, Michigan 28: The Badgers' offense isn't quite as dominant as it was last week, while Denard Robinson and the Michigan attack play a cleaner game against a Wisconsin defense that will allow some points. This is a close game for three quarters before Wisconsin pulls away in the fourth behind its offensive line and running backs Montee Ball and James White.