Maize n Brew gives you your daily (or semi-daily) rundown of all the Michigan Football, Michigan Basketball, College Football, and College Basketball news you need to get through the tedium of your boring desk job. For good measure we'll throw in a little irreverent information, comedy and commentary to help you salt away the time until the clock strikes 5pm. We're on a Facebook and Twitter drive, so be our friend or follow us! If you don't know what that means, you're old. If you want Maize n Brew in 140 characters or less, follow us on Twitter! Or you can friend us on Facebook and become a fan of Maize n Brew on Facebook for more links. Here's What's ON TAP:
There's Really Nothing Out There Today
News Shortage Grips Nation - It feels like that.
Big Ten can learn from failed 16-team WAC expansion experiment - Andy Staples delivers an outstanding, non-judgmental piece on Big Ten expansion that focuses on what went on with the 16 team WAC and steps the Big Ten should talk to avoid the same fate.
Manny Harris stands by decision to leave U-M, enter draft - Harris has worked out for Houston and San Antonio. The Pistons are among a number of teams he'll work out for in the near future. Good luck, kid.
Big Ten Expansion
Big Ten Expansion - the case for Texas - The Daily Gopher has all these reasons to bring in Texas, and even got Peter Bean of Burnt Orange Nation to give some quotes. Surprising aspect of this: "out of a grand total of 1,196 football games played, Texas has played exactly 19 of them against Big 10 schools." Considering the program's history and the length of time both Texas and the Big Ten have been in existence, that's stupefying.
Thoughts on Conference Expansion: Why Expand? - Roll 'Bama Roll takes a look at potential SEC expansion and comes down in favor of expanding the SEC a tad.
Wrapping up the Big Ten meetings with a message from Kirk Ferentz, thoughts on expansion - No one knows anything.
Michigan Football
More than 15 Michigan football recruits expected on campus for BBQ at the Big House - Bunch of high profile recruits are coming in.
College Football
USC could lose their 2004 BCS Title...should we care? - Conquest Chronicles poses an interesting question in the face of the coming NCAA investigation announcement. That's one way to look at it. Personally, getting stripped of a national championship because my school was complicit in paying some of its stars would irk me. And after the Chris Weber fiasco, it still does.
BCS 'Bush plan' could put USC's 2004 title at risk - The pain will be brought to USC, soon.
Things To Freak Out About for 2010: Red Zone Offense - As SCM's recent post points out, red zone efficiency means the difference between a successful season and a crappy one. In the case of Michigan, well, things weren't so rosy. Well it ain't just us. Alabama's red zone offense was held out of the end zone more than half the time it was in action last year, the most recent example of a downward trend in the unit's productivity.
College Basketball
John Calipari: Delivering the Good Stuff - A Sea Of Blue says University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is delivering on the promise his hiring held. We all knew it would turn out well for the 'Cats on the hardwood, but the jury's still out on just how he keeps reeling these kids in. No disrespect to our buddies at ASOB, but man, you can't help but look at his recruiting success without arching an eyebrow.