Michigan News and Notes

• The word on the street is that Jay Hopson is the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator position at Michigan. Coach Rod says his focus is on recruiting: "I know a lot of people in this profession," Rodriguez said Wednesday at the National Football Foundation/Detroit Free Press all-state banquet at the Dearborn Inn. "My main focus right now is recruiting, and that's what I've been concentrating on." "Obviously, as a head coach, it's my responsibility to find the best fit for the program, and I'll do that," Rodriguez said. "I don't have a specific timetable other than I hope to have it by the time our student-athletes come back on Jan. 7. I'd like to have it in place by then, but I don't have to." It seems maybe RR is open to looking nationally for the next DC and that Jay is not a slam dunk.
• Michigan is still expecting 6-8 recruits to enroll early next month. RR: "I really think recruiting's going very well," he said. "We're going to have quite a group come in at midterm (in January). Anywhere between six-eight, and that's pretty exciting."
• Does the loss of Shafer as the DC affect "Big" Will Campbell decision in schools? "It really doesn't affect me because my defensive line coach is still there," Campbell said, speaking of U-M assistant Bruce Tall, who also attended the banquet. "It also doesn't affect me at all because I don't know where I'm going. Even if I was still committed there, it probably wouldn't make a difference because my coach is still there." That is good news, I think?
• LLP is ready to play! For those that don't know that LLP is short for freshman guard and Arizona transfer Laval Lucas-Perry who is eligible to play in Michigan's game this weekend against Oakland University at the Palace. LLP is 6"3, 185 and is expected to be a physical presence at point guard. Things are point up for the Michigan Basketball program right now! At 7 wins they have 70% of the wins they had last year and were not in the Big Ten season yet.
• Snake Oil Alert: WR Auburn commit Travante Stallworth says he is still committed to Auburn but will take a visit to Ann Arbor 0n January 9th. He told Mgoblog: "With Michigan there’s so much history. My coach called me two weeks ago and said Michigan is interested, and my eyes got big, because not everyone gets that opportunity. I already know what kind of offense they run, and it’s the same offense we run in high school."
• If Michigan is interested in former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis and/or former Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, they better hurry because they are both rumored in the DC opening a Clemson.

News: OSU loses 2 players for NC Game

• Donald Washington, a starting cornerback, and backup Eugene Clifford will miss the BCS national title game in New Orleans on Jan. 7 for the unspecified violations, according to reports by WCMH-TV on Wednesday night and The Columbus Dispatch on Thursday.
• Former Arizona guard Lucas-Perry makes it official. This also means Alex Legion now can take his circus act to Notre Dame or Illinois.
• Coach Rod to make more then Tressel? List of big ten's coaches salaries. JoPa you might want to ask for a raise before your 100.
• Play that funking music, unless it's the Michigan fight song in West Virgina: A Charleston DJ and U-M fan has been suspended indefinitely from his post as co-host of a morning show on Electric 102.7 after playing the Michigan fight song repeatedly following the departure of West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.
  The Charleston State Journal reported, Coach Kidd was warned three times to stop playing Hail to the Victors, but after the third warning, he played the song back-to-back.
• WVU may look to the Wild West to hire it's next coach. Doc Holliday is rumored to be the leading candidate. Terry Bowden is pulling out all the stops and even asked daddy for help!
• Coach Rod at practice, working on buy out and new Michigan contract.

Wednesday News and Notes

Regarding the hiring of Coach Rod:

• Rodriguez lawyers are saying $4 Million is a bit high of a buy out since WVU didn't hold up it's end of the bargain. Let's work something out.


• I will resign my post on January 3rd. Oops I meant to say December 18th. It was just a typo, my bad!


• The WVU Boosters feel the WVU Administrators messed this whole thing up and they are to blame for Coach Rod leaving.


• Those folks in West Virgina are not a happy bunch. They are taking down signs and putting up new ones. Signs, signs, everywhere are signs.
  
• The rumor mill on the West Virgina interview list includes: Terry "this is my dream job - please hire me" Bowden, Butch Jones current head coach of Central Michigan and former WVU assistant, Some FSU assistants not named Jimbo, and maybe just maybe Nick "the quick" Sabin.

The Next Woodson?

• Sporting News names Donovan Warren Big Ten defensive freshman of the year.

Help for the Basketball Team?

• The good news could come today as former Flint standout and recent Arizona Wildcat Laval Lucas-Perry could transfer to Michigan. As we all know, this team needs some help!