The Back Alley Archives

http://www.freep.com/article/20090829/SPORTS06/90829021/?imw=Y


Couple quick thoughts:

1. Paging Mr. Shanahan. Blue courtesy telephone, please.

2. I heard a shameful interview with a Michigan-loyalist radio or TV guy out of A2 who played a whole bunch of predictable and regrettable cards: these players don't actually understand the rules. It's unmanly; shut up and practice. The players should never have complained to anyone else but Rich Rodriguez. This goes on at every program. It's the anti-Rodriguez media.

None of these defenses bring any credit to the program. None of them are really defenses.

That guys would skewer their own program in this way suggests that they've got a serious in-house problem. Which problem? That'll come out in the wash.

Wow, they paid a lot of money to bring in RichRod and now the program is falling apart on his watch.

Today he got all choked up and declared himself innocent.

Explain away six of your guys taking substantial risks -- it is no easy thing to snitch on your team, to be a whistleblower -- to report this.

Big problems. I see the Blue going 7-6 and I hope that's enough to get him run out of town.

Agree with your earlier line. Shanahan's phone will be ringing soon.

Just saw his clip on ESPN. Not sure what would make him nearly cry. seems to me I'd be pissed off if someone was spreading rumors, not sad. Great image for the team, times are tough and the coach is crying.
I'd have had more respect if he'd have gone all OK State coach Mike Gundy. "I'm a man, I'M 40"

Shanahan is only 57. He could have a good decade in him, easy.

What I like about Shanahan: his Broncos teams ran an effective passing game coupled with serious line play. Didn't matter who the back was: they got a thousand yards.

He was offensive coordinator for the Gophers and the Gators.

To me he seems like a sensible interview, at least, for Michigan. I would be thrilled to see them pick him up.

I favor anything that hurts the Wolverines.