Tate Forcier Becomes A Tiger-Cat

Who knew that I might have a chance to write about Tate Forcier? I mean, really? Wasn't he the kid who wasn't content with being Denard's backup?

In 2009, Tate became the third true freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan. Given the state of the roster back then, in Rich Rod's second season as head coach, and having to live with Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan the previous season; there wasn't much of a choice for the coaching staff and team. Tate started out his career going 4-0, but finished the season with a 5-7 record largely involving shoulder injuries and concussions. Also, remember Tate is the guy who played second string in the 2010 spring game, and sulked after the home opener to Connecticut in the fall.

So why am I writing about him now? Yesterday, it was announced that he was drafted the the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Now, as much as I know about football, college or pro, that's how little I know of the CFL. Henry Burris is currently the starter in Hamilton (Burris used to play in the NFL, for the Packers and Bears before being transferred to NFL Europe before that league dissipated).

After Tate left Michigan, there were widespread rumors as to where he might go. Miami was a primary choice, but others pointed to Hawaii, San Diego State, and Washington as viable options.  However, due to academic concerns, he never got the chance to transfer to any of these schools.  He ended up at San Jose State, but after more troubles, he was forced to leave college football.

So again, Tate is now in the CFL. Not exactly the ideal career path for a a high-profile college athlete. History is littered with the names of great college stars, men and women alike, whose careers took a fast downhill slide. Remember Jeff Smoker? Every State fan thought he was the greatest thing they've ever seen since sliced bread, yet he never won them a title. Along comes Cousins and boom, that's their new greatest of all time (short list, I know). Plenty of athletes have been forced to go down this road, not because of their choices (well, sort of, I guess), but primarily because they don't have any other choice.  That's what happened with once bright star Forcier.

Don't get me wrong, I liked Tate when he played for us. I didn't think he'd be in our history books as a legend, but I was happy at the beginning. Yet when it came time that he was benched, he was a bad sportsman, and that will be forever etched into my memory. Hopefully, Tate has conquered his demons and will be able to be productive in the CFL, but this is certainly a tale that should be used to warn kids entering college.  Make the right choices and this won't happen.  Forcier is a classic cause of wasted potential, but hopefully he'll be able to turn his path around in the CFL.

The Role Of Concussions In College Football

Photo Credit: US Magazine

I'm going to take this opportunity to touch on a subject that I think will only loom larger in upcoming years. The controversy surrounding concussions in football. Sure, this isn't a Michigan specific area, as concussions can happen in any sport, any person, high school level, college or pro, but I still want to address it.


I'm sure you're all aware of the latest tragedy involving Junior Seau. The former Patriots and Chargers All-Pro is suspected to have committed suicide last week when it was determined he died due to a self inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Seau's family later gave permission to science to see if he suffered from repeated concussions, or possibly Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is sustained brain damage and can only be diagnosed after death.  Seau's death marks the 12th NFL player known to have committed suicide in the past 25 years. Dave Duerson of the Bears and Andre Waters of the Chiefs are other notable players. Alex Karra,s who suffers from dementia and is a former Detroit Lion, is just one of the more prominent names leading a lawsuit against the NFL. 


I know stories that involve concussions seem to grab the media's attention more often than not. Roger Goodell and the NFL will probably be investing new rules, possibly new equipment. What I wonder, is what Jim Delany, other conference presidents, and Mark Emmert (president of the NCAA) will do now. For example, Kenny Demens was recovering from a concussion and still played in the spring game. A couple years ago, Tate Forcier sustained a concussion in the game against Iowa. 


The law requires that a player who shows signs of a concussion be removed from a game or practice, and bars the player from competing again until being cleared by a licensed health care professional trained in concussion evaluation and management.  As of now, 31 states have such laws to try to curb further damage to younger players. Last year, Emmert and Goodell sent letters to other states, such as Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin to urge the passing of such laws.


Now I will say this. The volume of concussions sustained is more prevalent on the high school level than perhaps any other. That only makes sense when you think of the number of high school players who don't go on to college playing sports. That number lessens even more when you consider the tiny fraction of those players that do go on to play in college, and that college is Michigan. I don't know what all is done when a scholarship is offered to a player. Do they look at that players medical histories and records? It's impossible to look at game tape of one player, from pee wees to high school to determine whether or not they might have sustained some form of concussion or brain damage.


The parental argument can also come into play. Say you're a parent of a high school running back, and your son complains of dizziness after a game. That parent might not be aware of how most concussions occur, so they might not think anything of it and let their son go on doing normal activities. Or, you can go to the other end of the spectrum and you are one of those parents who stay on top of every possibly detail, so that when your son does indeed get his head clocked around, and he complains of certain symptoms; how do you let him continue on when you're in constant fear something worse could happen to him?


When we watch football, we cheer when we see the bone crunching hits. As rabid, bloodthirsty fans who yearn for the punishing days that were played years ago, we look forward to the gladiator style wreckage that can be seen in a football stadium. That is one thing that will never change. I admit that I cheer for our defense to deliver such hits. I don't want to see anyone get hurt on purpose, or accident, but we still want big hits. I want a good, clean match-up between Michigan and the losing team (haha). Yet, as a parent and a fan, I remain constantly fearful for the health of the players on the field. If I had to choose between a concussion, brain damage, dementia, or or another medical hardship and a win over a rival team, I would choose the latter every time.  For most of these players, they will still be trying to become productive citizens after college and these injuries could destroy their entire lives.


The pundits who are basically forecasting the death of football in a few decades? They can say what they want, and use statistics to back up their opinions. I believe the laws and equipment will be in place to prevent that. Football is a multi-billion dollar sport that won't lose steam for a long time. With such a potent fan base that we have here at Michigan, our thoughts and prayers should be the Seau family and we need to make sure that we're advocating the safety measures that will make sure the players are safe and we can enjoy football for a long time.

Spring Game Recap

Alright everybody, let's talk Spring Game. The picture of the #GoBlue on the field is fitting because I feel that the recent explosion of twitter warrants it, especially with the new recruiting classes coming in it's a pretty cool thing to see. Arkansas is already using this technique and I'm sure other universities will be following suit. This year's spring game attendance was 25,000 people (same as last year). So who knows, maybe that's a good omen. I personally would like to see more people show. My best friend is an Ohio fan and every year I have to hear his nonsense about how their spring game is much better. Well nothing at Ohio is better than Michigan we all know that, but I do think that if we had higher attendance numbers that could help us out as far as "impressing" recruits.

Spring Game Final Score: Blue 17 - White 0

Offense: 

As I expected, we wouldn't see much from Denard. No real need to since he's the clear cut starting quarterback. The couple of bobbled snaps worried me a little bit, but let's all remember that Barnum is making the transition to Center and he is replacing the best center in the country from a year ago in David Molk. Let's not freak out just yet, as there is still the rest of spring and summer for them to get things right. Fitz Toussaint had 39 yards on just 5 carries and Thomas Rawls had 42 yards on 10 carries and also had 2 touchdowns. Broke some tackles and looked great between the tackles.  Which was good and bad because as Coach Hoke said in his press conference, they weren't that strong up the middle defensively.

I think the most intriguing thing offensively is the backup quarterback job. Devin Gardner didn't look as good as I thought he would. Maybe the best choice is to move him to wide receiver and put Russell Bellomy in the backup position. Gardner is a very good athlete, on top of the fact that he's tall which is always a good thing at WR. Bellamy went 6 for 9 for 40 yards and looked very good on some of his throws. I definitely think we will be all set on offense this year and Denard is only going to be better this year, as long as he cuts down on the interceptions, which Al Borges has already stated has happened in spring practice.

Defense: 

I'd definitely say we have to improve on the D Line. Guys like Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen leave some pretty big holes to fill. Big Will Campbell should be able to jump right in, and with the improved play of Jibreel Black, I think we are ok, but the offense definitely had a few big plays right up the middle. With this upcoming first game against Alabama (who is absolutely huge on the O Line) we will definitely have to get better up front.

Linebackers looked amazing. Senior Mike Jones had 6 tackles, while Brandon Hawthorne had 5 tackles and a nice interception. Early enrolees Joe Bolden and Kaleb Ringer looked good also, combining for 5 tackles. Our secondary should be pretty good lead by Jordan Kovacs who is an absolute ball hawker at safety. Blake Countess is turning into that shut down corner and he was lights out as a true freshman so look for him to be even better this season.

Special Teams: 

Going to be interesting as far as the kicking game goes. Matt Wile and Will Hagerup will battle it out for the punter position. Both had some good kicks in the game, so I'll be curious as to who wins what job this season as both alternated duties last season.

I think we have a legitimate shot at beating Alabama. We have the most exciting player in America in Denard Robinson and if we dont turn the ball over and get some stops on defense, we can definitely be right there. It's Big Ten title or bust this year, as it is every year. With these coaches and this great recruiting class coming in, look for Michigan to do big things again this year. Go Blue!


Photo Credit: USAToday

Biggest Performers Of The Spring Game

Now that we've all had some time to sit back and look at the results of the Spring Game, we can take a look at the biggest performers and the biggest disappointments of the day.  Obviously, a lot of this is subjective, considering that Michigan was playing themselves and for every good play there is also a bad play, but I still think it's appropriate to take a look at what unfolded over the afternoon.  I've compiled a list of the players that I believe were the biggest performers of the afternoon.


1)  Russell Bellomy
A lot had been made about Bellomy's performances during spring practice and many described the massive improvements he has undergone as of late.  I think fans saw a lot of that improvement before their eyes on Saturday.  He not only completed a lot of passes and moved the ball, but he also looked poised in the pocket and under pressure, which is pretty difficult for a freshman (he will be a red-shirt freshman next season).

I remember one play that really caught my eye.  He had dropped back in the pocket and several defenders had surrounded him and it looked like he was about to get sacked.  However, he was able to get away and completed the pass anyway.  This showed a lot of confidence for a quarterback that many had forgotten existed until a few weeks ago.  He has probably been the most under the radar quarterback Michigan has signed in a long time.  This is the first time fans got to see him in action, but there was no major response as was seen with players like Gardner in 2010.

I wrote about this a few weeks back, but I truly believe that by the end of next season, Bellomy will have secured the backup quarterback role from Devin Gardner.  There are going to be a lot of people that disagree with me, but I see this for two primary reasons.  First, Bellomy has improved significantly over the last few months and there's no reason to believe that improvement won't continue.  Second, Gardner still seems to struggle with the offense in many situations and I think he is going to be so good if he moves to wide receiver that the coaches will not want to move him back under center.

Bottomline, Bellomy had the best Spring Game out of any player on Michigan's roster, especially considering his low expectations entering the game.  With his development, there are sure to be some quarterback controversies over the next few seasons with him, Gardner, and Shane Morris.

2)  Thomas Rawls

I have been a big supporter of Rawls in the past and he gave me more reasons to continue this support.  He was the only player to score a touchdown all afternoon.  He never truly dominated the game like this stat implies, but it is still something that is worth noting.  He was able to move the ball effectively against the defense and showed some serious speed and ability to evade defenders.

I can remember several situations when I thought for sure that he was going to be tackled or stopped in the backfield, but he would somehow escape or be able to throw the defender off himself.  This is something that's going to get him the extra yards and one of the biggest reasons I'm predicting that he will become the backup running back by time the season ends.  Yes, Vincent Smith is a great player and is very useful in certain scenarios (notably 3rd downs and passing plays) because of his blocking and catching skills, but Rawls has that raw ability that Smith will probably never gain during his career.

Now, don't get me wrong, Rawls is far from the best running back on the field (that title belongs to Toussaint), but I think he's going to be very good.  Right now, he is certainly more prepared than guys like Justice Hayes and I think he's going to continue that during next season.  He's not going to pass Toussaint for the starter position anytime soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if he saw a lot of action next season.

3)  Blake Countess
Countess is the only player I've chosen that was a starter last season.  This isn't because I think the starters performed badly, but rather that their expectations were significantly higher than players like Bellomy and Rawls.  Toussaint had an excellent Spring Game and probably deserved the MVP award (if there was an award), but he should have done well.  He proved himself last season and the Spring Game is typically about players that don't often see the field.  Bellomy and Rawls didn't have a lot of expectations before the Spring Game, which is why their performances were so impressive.  Players like Toussaint would have to do something spectacular to be the biggest performers of the day.

Having said that, Countess played so well that I felt it would be a crime not to include him on this list.  He was the only defensive player to get a turnover against a scholarship quarterback and did an impressive job in shutting down many of the receivers he was covering.  Granted, he didn't have the task of guarding against the best quarterback on the team, Denard Robinson, but he still did a fantastic job in coverage.  I truly think Countess is one of those players that is just going to get progressively better in college without taking those major steps back.

There had been some doubts after the Ohio State game and the Sugar Bowl that Michigan and Countess' coverage weren't that good, but I think he ended those worries when he grabbed that interception out of the air.  Countess is here to stay and he and J.T. Floyd are going to be a great duo during next season.  I feel bad for the wide receivers that have the challenge of playing against them.

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Overall, the Spring Game went pretty well for Michigan and there were a lot of improvements by many players.  There's no way to say whether these improvements will carry over to next season, but players such as Bellomy, Rawls, and Countess have got to have fans excited for not only next season, but the next few years of Michigan football.


Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com

Spring Game Tastes

On April 14th, Michigan football will take the field for the annual spring game in front of thousands of fans. There are a few reasons that college teams do this, but I tend to think it's to give fans a small taste of what's to come later in the fall. It's a good time for fans to go to a free game, although parking is not (hint hint). The upcoming season of 2012 should be a great one for Team #133 if things work out the way most envision. I want to go over a few things that I believe should be evident, even if it's just a scrimmage.

Here's a list of things to look for in the spring game:

1. The confusing mystique of Denard Robinson. Denard has a very loyal following in Ann Arbor, and one only has to watch one game to see why. This will be Hoke's second season as head coach, but I think what gets lost among the hullabaloo is that Al Borges, offensive coordinator, will be in his second season as well. Last season was Denard's first in a pro-style offense under Hoke and Borges, and while at times it looked nice and fluid; at others it looked sporadic and clumsy. It's no accident Denard threw a conference high 15 interceptions and had a low completion rate. What we need to see at the spring game is a much more confident pocket passer who can take passes from under center just as well as he would in a shotgun formation. Denard will always be able to burst out of the pocket to make a big run if he needs to, but he needs to show off more accuracy of his arm.

2. The Barnum (and Bailey) circus? Ricky Barnum is a senior this upcoming season, and primed to take over the center position from David Molk. Molk provided consistency, strength, agility, and intelligence in that position that will be difficult to replecate. Barnum has the talent to take over but not much experience. Also gone is Huyge so look to Schofield or possibly Kalis to get some major snaps at right tackle.

3. Defensive line. It was a real treat last season seeing our defense progress from one of the worst to top 20 in the country. A lot of it had to do with the arrival of Greg Mattison from the Baltimore Ravens, and a lot had to do with significant improvement from the D-line. With Martin, Van Bergen, and Heininger all gone it will be up to Will Campbell, Craig Roh, and Richard Ash to bear the load this season. Martin and Van Bergen alone were the pivotal guys and I want to see if the current D-Line, Campbell specifically, can step up.

4. Secondary should be a primary focus. With stalwart cornerback Troy Woolfolk gone, now it's up to Blake Countess and J.T. Floyd to anchor the secondary. This has been a big issue for the past few seasons; giving up the big play at the worst time; amd hopefully at the spring game they have more of a spring in their step (pun intended).

5. Receiver core. Hemingway, Odoms, and Koger are gone and it's up to Roundtree, Gallon, Jackson, and Grady to pick it up a bit. I can see Denard throwing to Roundtree on a post route, or a fade, and Gallon is speedy enough to warrant two defenders. Maybe Chesson catches a few big passes. I think the receiving core is one of the positions where depth is going to hurt the most.

I could make this a lot longer. Things are never finely tuned in the spring game and rumors are always abundant. Remember just a couple years ago when Denard started and Forcier played just a few horrible snaps? Rumor had it Tate did not put in the effort in the offseason, waas called out by fellow teammates, and lost his helmet wings. That turned out mostly true and prophetic, as he left Michigan after Denard became a star that season and transferred to San Jose State, only to flame out there as well. Position rosters are never finalized in the spring game but it does give a good indication as to how things are going to flow for the upcoming season. I think I can say that I'm more excited for this spring game than I have been in a long time.


Photo Credit: Toledo Blade

Hot Topics: Should Spring Games Be Played Between Two Teams?

Each week, our writers break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and allow them to express their opinions. Topics cover everything from rivalry games to team and fan apparel. Writers have their own opinion and readers are welcome to comment or contact them via Twitter with their thoughts.

Kyle Curtiss - Representing Those That Believe Spring Games Should Be Between Two Teams

1)  Denard throwing a pass. Denard going for a big run. Michigan's defense putting a stop to some of that. In essence, the spring game is a glorified scrimmage. Of course, we don't want our players getting hurt, but watching college flag football can be downright monotonous. Even if the powers that be decide that Michigan vs. Indiana for the spring game is a good idea, there are those who just want the privacy of their own team. I understand that but how do you know your right guard will effectively block more against Indiana or the White squad? By having them play against others they don't know as well. If it were me, I'd always end up playing differently against my teammate than my opponent.

2)  Rules can be set in stone for it. Tickets may be issues for it, and since it's just a scrimmage make it cheap. A lot of people know this but guess what: the pros do it all the time toward the middle/end of training camps and before preseason games. Spring games are always a lot more casual than the regular season. I know, you're saying "well duh"...but my point is just because it's casual doesn't mean we can't test the competition. Here's a thought, and stay with me because maybe I could have a good one here. Play the spring game against Alma. Play Wayne State. Play a college that has everything to gain by scrimmaging against us but never really has a shot onto making the regular season schedule. Neither team gets money for it, but the incoming team would get a lot of publicity for it.

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Thomas Beindit - Representing Those That Believe Spring Games Should Not Be Between Two Teams

1)  What makes the spring game special? The fact that fans can go to the stadium and enjoy their own team. Nobody else, no rivalries, no opposing fans, just their team.  No matter the result, fans can be excited about their team and avoid disappointment.  Yes, it may sounds cheesy, but I enjoy the one game a year without intensity and stress about long-term effects.  Even facing sub-par teams like Eastern Michigan now leave a small trace of fear since The Horror in 2006.  However, the Spring Game doesn't have any of these issues.  It's just a scrimmage involving one team, Michigan.  I enjoy the fact that, whether one side does good or bad, there are always positives that come from the game, which can't be said about games against opponents.

2) If the Spring Game was scheduled against another team, it would also lead to extreme hype and excitement, removing the laid-back feel currently held by the game.  Sure, having a packed stadium to face an opponent would be fun, but isn't it nice to have a donation-based game once a year without the endless crowd?  Plus, there is little doubt that the athletic department would begin selling, not just tickets, but extremely expensive tickets for the game.  Essentially, the key elements of the current Spring Game would be destroyed and replaced with just another game.  I find it doubtful they would ever be scheduled against legitimate competition, so it would only be a chance for Michigan to lose.  For instance, facing a team like Eastern Michigan is fun, but what if Michigan lost?  Facing easy competition is nice, until the team loses.  In a spring setting with a half-filled roster, upsets would be very frequent and that's not something I'd like to see.

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Final Points

Kyle - The spring game is iconic to the fans. It's a time where we can all get together and celebrate OUR team. Tomorrow I will be seeing the alumni game for the first time. For the past few years I was working a midnight job so I've been unable to see it due to sleep. The alumni game for just Michigan players is a great thing to see. Same thing with the spring game. I don't think the guidelines would ever change anyway. If the NCAA can't come to a conclusion on a BCS playoff format, then why would they change the spring game rules? I'd vote they should just to give it an extra punch. As I said earlier it doesn't have to be a conference foe, or even a FBS foe. I just truly believe that if we had a friendly scrimmage against someone else, we'd have a better idea of where we stand as a team.

Thomas - Publicity is great and I don't think there's any doubt that there'd be more excitement for the game if there was a game between two teams.  However, that doesn't mean it's the best thing for college football and the NCAA.  The spring game is a special time for fans, teams, and the nation.  Not just because of tradition, but because it's a unique experience where fans can truly experience their team.  Nobody else's team, no worries about losing, and no opposing fans.  It's a win-win situation for everybody involved.  Even programs like Michigan, that would probably annihilate the weak opponents they would play.  There's no risk of losing to a bad opponent, fans demanding a better match-up, and having to endure the annoying fanbases that travel to Ann Arbor.  I enjoy the spring game, and I know I'm not the only one, for its special place in the football schedule.  If it became a normal game, it would lose the special aspects that it holds for the fans.  Yes, it might be more exciting and get more publicity, but it would take a very special experience away from the fans.

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All writers are entitled to their own opinion and those may or may not represent the held beliefs of Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact the writers via Twitter with their thoughts


Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com

Hot Topics: Should The Spring Game Sell Tickets?

Each week, our writers break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and allow them to express their opinions. Topics cover everything from rivalry games to team and fan apparel. Writers have their own opinion and readers are welcome to comment or contact them via Twitter with their thoughts.

Kyle Curtiss - Representing Those That Believe The Spring Game Should Not Sell Tickets

1)  Spring games will never attract the attention that the fall games do. I know it's not meant to, and the Big House is rarely full. People know about it in advance, and even show up to watch some alumni scrimmage beforehand. This year, the novelty of watching our new varsity lacrosse team play Ohio in the Big House after the Spring game is just plain neat. I know I could use more descriptive words than neat, but hey- it is. It's a cheap way to bring in fans who otherwise can't afford it. Why should I have to pay for this? Which brings me to my most vital point--

2)  Michigan earns millions in sports revenue! From ticket sales, concessions, memorabilia, clothing, accessories, etc...they do not need another avenue to collect money. Here's this--ticket prices are being increased by an average of 21 percent this year to help out the debt from the expansions and improvements on the stadium, scoreboards, and Crisler Arena. We have the THIRD largest athletic budget in the country, and yes that has inflated in recent years just like everything else (looking at you gas stations). Granted, the football program generates two-thirds of that, with basketball and hockey behind. Those are the only 3 sports that generates revenue for Michigan, and even hockey isn't that great at it. Why mess up such a fun thing for fans? Free Spring game = more fans = more fans who will pay those ticket prices come September.
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Thomas Beindit - Representing Those That Believe The Spring Game Should Sell Tickets

1)  If you've ever went to a spring game I'm sure you've noticed that only about half of the stadium is actually filled.  Now, we all know that getting fans out to watch the Spring Game is an uphill battle, but selling tickets could be an effective way to ensure people come out to the game.  I'm not saying have detailed seat numbers for each ticket, but at least having a physical ticket could spread awareness of the game.  If the athletic department allowed football, basketball, and hockey ticket purchasers to buy a spring game ticket for just $5, they would probably have thousands more people realize that the spring game even exists.  Plus, all the money could go towards donations, which would raise a lot of money since many of the ticket purchasers would ultiately not wind up going to the game.

2) Tickets can also be an effective psychological tool (see Mom, I told you my psych degree would come in use one day!) to ensure that people not only remember the game, but also to get them to actually attend.  The person will have already invested in attending the game, which will give them an incentive to remember and actually show up in Ann Arbor.  Even if something is cheap or free, people will be much more likely to show up to the game.  Having more fans at the game obviously makes the atmosphere better and ultimately can lead to more donations for both Mott's Children's Hospital and the University of Michigan.  Along with this, having more people means more business for the community and refreshment sales for Michigan Stadium.

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Final Points

Kyle - Bottom line--people would pay for the spring game. It's natural. Only 5-10 dollars for this? Your regular John and Jane Doe will gladly fork that over, even if it all goes to charity. But we remain tied to tradition, to ourselves, and to our families. Bo wanted that. Bo stuck with tradition and look how revered he will always be. It's about being Michigan Men, and that's not just left to the players. We as fans need to stick with tradition and not charge for a fun scrimmage. Besides, saying I was able to see a Denard touchdown for free is a great brag to have.

Thomas -The Spring Game will probably never reach the capacity of a fall football game, even if college teams scrimmaged one another.  However, selling tickets can be an effective tool to guarantee a certain amount of revenue, while increasing attention for the event.  If it remains free to the public, people are going to generally assume it's not worth attending.  It' just human psychology.  Plus, is selling tickets for $5-10 really that bad?  If fans are really in that bad of a financial situation, I don't think they could afford driving to Ann Arbor, likely tailgating or getting food, and perhaps buying a soveneir or two.  I'm not advocating the athletic department keep any of this money.  In fact, I'd like to see it remain with Mott's Children's Hospital.  I just think it's a great way to get the word out and collect from a multitude of fans that may not otherwise appear at the game.  Think about if all the football, basketball, and hockey season ticket holders alone purchased a ticket?  You'd probably surpass what the Spring Game got last year on that alone.

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All writers are entitled to their own opinion and those may or may not represent the held beliefs of Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact the writers via Twitter with their thoughts


Photo Credit: Detroit News