NOWHERE TO BE FOUND: U-M football not in SI's top 25

[Kamd50]

NOWHERE TO BE FOUND: U-M football team not in SI's preseason top 25

With U-M undergoing its first head coaching change in a decade and a half, many Michigan fans are wondering what to expect next season. Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel made his best effort to answer that question.

The early verdict: It doesn't look good for the Wolverines.


Mandel completely left U-M out of his preseason top 25 list.

Ohio State (2), Wisconsin (9), Penn State (20) and Illinois (21) are the Big Ten's four representatives on Mandel's list.

The Wolverines were ranked in the AP top 25 for all but 11 of Lloyd Carr's 161 career games.

TO VIEW HIS ENTIRE TOP 25, CLICK HERE.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/01/16/power.rankings/2.html

[CarlE]

Yeah, I'll take THIS to the bank. Who IS Stewart Mandel, anyway? Howie's little brother?

[SuperBran]

i don't think it's a shock to anyone that michigan isn't in the top 25.........including michigan fans. they simply lost too much. also, considering how bad last year was for michigan, i'm sure that plays a part as well.

[CarlE]

Ironically, it looks like Chad Henne is lighting it up in the Sr. Bowl practices. At least that's the word coming to Tampa from the Bucs coaches that are there.

[austinsm11]

I have a feeling that Michigan will surprise a few teams...I just hope Ohio State isn't one of them.

[massillon catholic]

I have a feeling that Michigan will surprise a few teams...I just hope Ohio State isn't one of them.


Bet they dont surprise App. St.

[warren1st]

Wanna bet that we're there at the end of the season?

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

People will take their shots at Michigan. Let them do it but you watch...they will impose their lethality on teams who don't see it coming!

P.S. Don't forget that the Wolverines plucked the fastest high school football player from Warren Harding High School, something Ohio State couldn't do!

[SuperBran]

P.S. Don't forget that the Wolverines plucked the fastest high school football player from Warren Harding High School, something Ohio State couldn't do!

that's right.


osu plucked the man who ran the fastest 100m EVER in ohio (10.38).......something michigan couldn't do.

that's in-saine-ly fast.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

SuperBran,

Mario Manningham would have smoked Brandon Saine in a 100-yard dash.

[SuperBran]

SuperBran,

Mario Manningham would have smoked Brandon Saine in a 100-yard dash.


sure he would.

[SuperBran]

Wanna bet that we're there at the end of the season?

i hope that michigan is ranked in the polls at the end of the season, for the big ten's sake. it will be a tough road, though. perhaps the fact that many people don't have high expectations for next year will work in michigan's favor. teams may take them lightly, and michigan may just relax and play ball.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

SuperBran,

Have you ever seen Mario run? Dang it, he is fast!!

[TigerLily]

i hope that michigan is ranked in the polls at the end of the season, for the big ten's sake. it will be a tough road, though. perhaps the fact that many people don't have high expectations for next year will work in michigan's favor. teams may take them lightly, and michigan may just relax and play ball.

They should be just fine until the final game -- as long as they stay away from “Appalachian State”!!

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/mittelgrosse/medium-smiley-034.gif

[CarlE]

SuperBran,

Have you ever seen Mario run? Dang it, he is fast!!

Well, if I weighed a buck sixty soaking wet I would be fast too. By the way, as a receiver he MIGHT want to learn to hold onto the ball when someone's coming. Just a thought.

[SuperBran]

SuperBran,

Have you ever seen Mario run? Dang it, he is fast!!

i have, and he is fast. however, saine is bigger and faster.

[warren1st]

i have, and he is fast. however, saine is bigger and faster.
..............but not as talented.

[warren1st]

Well, if I weighed a buck sixty soaking wet I would be fast too. By the way, as a receiver he MIGHT want to learn to hold onto the ball when someone's coming. Just a thought.

I know you've always been a huge fan of Mario but take it to the bank, he's a first round draft choice. Guys drafted in the 1st round normally "hold onto the ball."

[SuperBran]

..............but not as talented.

but that's a different question.

[CarlE]

I know you've always been a huge fan of Mario but take it to the bank, he's a first round draft choice. Guys drafted in the 1st round normally "hold onto the ball."

Really? Tell the scouts to watch his last two Ohio State games. Dude was butterfingers because he heard footsteps. How is toothpick boy going to react when PRO D-Backs are bearing down on his boney ass?

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

CarlE,

You forget about Manningham's game-winning TD catch against Penn State? How about his days as a Warren Harding High School Raider? Don't underestimate the speed of this soon to be NFL standout.

[Out-N-Up]

Speed isn't being underestimated here, I don't think, he has had some big drops when the pressure was on.:ohno:

[CarlE]

CarlE,

You forget about Manningham's game-winning TD catch against Penn State? How about his days as a Warren Harding High School Raider? Don't underestimate the speed of this soon to be NFL standout.

God, how do you even respond to this lunacy. Dude, I don't CARE what he did as a Warren Harding Raider. I know how many passes he dropped against OSU in the last two years. Or did you forget about that?