Memorial Day Pondering And Rants

First, let me begin by saying thank you to all the men and women in the armed services, both current and veterans. Without you, I would not be able to feel safe in my home with my wife and kids. Happy Memorial Day and just remember folks, say thank you every day!

Now on to my Sunday Night Special. Or Kyle's Korner. I need to come up with a catchy term like Peter King's MMQB. Anyway, I am going to let you in on a widely known yet over-analyzed secret. Preseason rankings do not matter! Oh, and by the way Ohio, you will not take Mike McCray from us.
   
Phil Steele has Michigan ranked as 22nd in the nation, College Football Live has Michigan ranked as 10, and Athlon Sports has Michigan ranked as 7th. Why such the wide disparity? On the flip side, I've seen MSU ranked as 7th and 18th as well.

Yes, Michigan is returning 13 starters from a team that made it to the Sugar Bowl last season. Yes, Michigan has lost some of the leadership provided by Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen, and Troy Woolfolk. But, what we've lost is also made up by what we're gaining. Kyle Kalis, Eric Magnuson, Joe Bolden, Royce Jenkins-Stone are just some of the big names that are part of the 2012 class.

Preseason rankings is just about as flawed a system as the BCS. Outside of the top 3 teams, when are they ever correct? I can write for one of those prediction magazines and put Alabama and LSU in the top 2 spots like everyone else. Oh, let me throw in USC or Oklahoma every now and then as well. The rest of the rankings are just a guessing game. Notice how they continue to put Notre Dame in the Top 25 every year? Notice how Notre Dame doesn't finish in the Top 25 every year? (Yes, you Brian Kelly).

As for the MSU faithful who think they're going to contend again this year? Who's your quarterback? Andrew Maxwell? A redshirt junior who hasn't seen a lick of playing time and missed the spring game due to injury? Or Connor Cook? The redshirt frosh who has the physical size, but not the experience. Where's your wide receiver core? Deanthony Arnett, a hardship transfer from Tennessee who only is going to State because Michigan didn't have an open scholarship (before Stonum was dismissed). Any others come to mind? Nope. This is a major reason why I have never understood, or agreed with preseason rankings. Can I get an agreement on that?

On a side note, and I'll write more about it for Tuesday's column, is Meyer's seemingly desperate attempt to poach Michigan recruits. You tried it with McCray, and he'll probably turn you down. You tried it with LTT, and he burned your letter offer. Keep sounding more desperate Urban, it works for me.