Michigan's problems are almost too many to count

Me: OSU has a 27 year old kicker?!


Friend who shall remain nameless: Yes. I am trying out for Michigan this spring. Aren't you? The chicks are going to go crazy for you if you can make a 30 yarder.

This was a text message exchange between a friend of mine and I during the Ohio State/Michigan game on Saturday.
Ohio State kicker Devin Barclay is 27 and a former professional soccer player.
My friend's reaction made me smile, then it made me frown.
Poking fun at Michigan's kicking game is easy. The Wolverine kickers are horrible. But the real problem is that kicking is just one of many problems that plague the Michigan football program.
The defense is laughable. Unless of course you are a Michigan fan, then it's humiliating.
The receivers have been awful. Roy Roundtree dropped five passes in three quarters against the Buckeyes.
The quarterback situation, once a bright spot, seems inconsistent. Is Denard Robinson ever going to be able to play a full game?
At least the team can punt, right?
Oh wait.
Freshman punter Will Hagerup didn't make the trip to Columbus because he was suspended for a violation of team rules.
But the biggest problem of all?
With three quarters in the books against their biggest rival, the Michigan Wolverines trail 37-7.

SEC football down this year?

With Temperance Bedford's loss to Grosse Pointe South in last Friday's Division 1 regional final, the Southeastern Conference is officially out of the state high school football playoffs. It wasn't a banner year for the traditionally strong SEC team-wise or player-wise. As opposed to last year when the SEC had multiple Division I college football recruits, including U-M signees receivers Jeremy Jackson (Ann Arbor Huron) and Ricardo Miller (Ann Arbor Pioneer) and MSU commits running back Nick Hill (Chelsea) and quarterback Joe Boisture (Saline), this season's crop of players turned out to be much thinner. This year, the SEC will be hard-pressed to have more than one or two D-I college prospects sign letters-of-intent in February. The future looks bright, however, as numerous underclassmen appear to have Division I potential. Bedford has two of the top juniors in tackle Hunter Hurt (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) and kicker Brendan Renius (6-0, 170), while Monroe has guard Jake Notario (6-4, 295), Pioneer has tailback/defensive back Drake Johnson (6-1, 195) and Ypsilanti has tailback Austin Sanders (6-0, 185). Other junior prospects include Adrian quarterback Sebastian Johnson (6-3, 185) and Lincoln receiver Kendall Thompson (5-9, 170), along with sophomore standout halfback Berkley Edwards (5-9, 165) of Chelsea. All of these players should definitely get Division I looks. Next season is shaping up to be something special in the SEC.

Huron players prepare for college basketball

This afternoon, Huron basketball players Dante Williams and A.J. Mathew will sign their letters of intent to play college ball.
The seniors will be staying close to home as Williams will be taking his game to Oakland University in Rochester, while Mathew will become a Rocket at the University of Toledo.
However, but before the players set foot on the college courts for their new teams, the pair have a little bit of unfinished business to take care of at the high school ranks.
As juniors last season, Williams and Mathew led the River Rats all the way to the Division 1 state finals before falling to Kalamazoo Central.
As the River Rats open up their season, it is clear that anything less than a state championship is going to be a disappointment.
The Huron team has high expectations, but with players like Williams, Mathew and returners Kyle Baker and Matt Hastings, there is little doubt the Rats are up to the challenge.