The mega guide: Everything you need to know about the Michigan football spring game
Fans can catch the new-look Michigan football team Saturday at Michigan Stadium in the annual spring football game.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
First, the easy answer: It's going to rain Saturday.
More difficult questions (How is Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson adjusting to a pro-style offense? Has new coach Brady Hoke found a defense, kicking game or a starting running back?) may be answered in part at the annual Michigan football spring game at Michigan Stadium.
Following is your guide to the day's events and the coverage so far.
WHAT: Annual Michigan football spring game to conclude spring practice.
WHERE: Michigan Stadium (Gates open at 9 a.m.)
RADIO: WTKA-AM (1050)
TELEVISION: Big Ten Network
THE FORECAST: Breezy, temperatures in the 50s and a 90-percent chance of rain
ALUMNI GAME: A flag football game featuring former players starts at 10 a.m. The rosters for the game were announced Friday.
SPRING GAME: Warm-ups begin at 11:20 a.m. and the final practice begins at noon.
YOUR DONATIONS: Admission is free, but donations to C.S. Mott Hospital ranging from $5 to $1,000 will come with gifts for the fans.
OUR COVERAGE
• Former "American Idol" contestant Matt Giraud will sing the national anthem • Running back Stephen Hopkins stands out in spring ball • Future Michigan running back Thomas Rawls hopes to contribute right away • Michigan coaches try to narrow competition at running back and wide receiver • Images from the Tuesday, April 13 Michigan practice • Defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen says there's a sense of urgency to improve among the players • Images from the Tuesday, April 5 spring practice • Top five things we learned from the April 5 press conference • Michigan football defensive coordinator Greg Mattison encouraged by what he's seen • Images from the Tuesday, March 29 Michigan practice • Michigan wide receivers have a big transition to make in new offense • Video of Brady Hoke talking about spring practice on March 23 • Safety Ray Vinopal left the Michigan football program, Hoke announced on March 23 • Hoke says the quarterbacks are making the necessary adjustments to his offense • Hoke: Expect to see a work in progress at the spring game • Troy Woolfolk and J.T. Floyd entered spring workouts limited by injuries • The old Michigan Stadium scoreboard is gone • It may be a while before quarterback Devin Gardner hears whether he'll get a medical redshirt OK • A question-and-answer session with offensive coordinator Al Borges • Top five quotes from the press conference on March 10 • Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison uses NFL film as examples to follow
Comments
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.
Coach Hoke has a team he needs to see play football, even if it's only the 'spring' variety. Injuries? Those happen in football but as we saw the last couple of years, if you don't practice tackle football, you can't play tackle football in games. I would love an injury-free scrimmage today. I also want to see better technique when squaring up on the ballcarrier and fewer drops by the WRs. Field goals would be nice but hard runs by the RBs and solid blocking from the O-line means more. And finally some pressure on the QBs from the 4 D-linemen would be smile provoking. So lets hope for no one getting hurt but I want to see someone bringing the "house" when tackling. TiM Go Blue!
Mick
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 5:31 a.m.
First of all, Go Blue!!! Let's hope no one gets hurt, we get to see some great plays from some great players and the dawn of a great new era is upon us. We fans deserve to see some great success on the field after suffering like we have for three looooonnnnggggg years. Hey 1st down, my alarm clock is set and my brother is coming over to watch the game just like it was a regular season game. He is a U-M grad and develops power plants globally, he's a pretty busy guy, but this is U-M Football and This is Michigan!!!
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
Mick, where you been? Right on with the comments and attitude. TiM Go Blue!
1st Down
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 2:20 a.m.
That is 9AM for West Coasters like myself.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 10:16 p.m.
Am looking forward to seeing the team tomorrow. Yes, Lorraine, it won't be anything that remotely resembles a game. That's because the staff that was responsible for the worst three-year record in Michigan history left 14 wide receivers on the roster but not enough linemen on either side of the ball for a full-blown inter-squad scrimmage. But I'm certain that, somehow, that's Lloyd Carr's fault. Good Night and Good Luck
Blu n Tpa
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
Dusty, what? Quoting you? Misquoting you? You wrote "nobody's fault" and I used quotes for only that so where did I misquote you? Was more that one or two O lineman listed as out? You wrote "But injuries to the O line sure do, and we have a few of those." Great, name them. Does the University of Michigan currently have enough O-line on their roster to practice and prepare for next season? No! Why? Your guy couldn't/wouldn't recruit players in the proper ratio to have a balanced team. Hope that helps you. I'm always here for you. TiM Go Blue!
Dusty
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
For somebody who doesn't like misquoting, you sure do misquote me a lot. DB's being hit hard doesn't have anything to do with the OL, you're right. But the injuries to the O-line sure do, and we have a few of those. And not having enough defensive lineman for a 4 man front is probably because we had a 3 man front last year. 33% more positions to fill means you'd need 33% more people. I guess it's RR's "fault" he didn't over-recruit the position by 33%. And I didn't say not having enough players for a position was inconsequential. I said not having enough players for a position to play a full scrimmage between two separate units within the same team is inconsequential. Do you have enough players to play against another school in the fall? Yes? Then who cares if you can't pick teams and play against yourself in the spring?
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
"Nobody's fault". That's right Ghost, when you are keeping players out of a scrimmage due to injuries, the biggest group hit is DBs, it affects the number of O-linemen and D-linemen you have. You should know that you only need 4 DLs and 5 OLs to play a game so why clog up your roster with those guys? (Actually last year you only needed 3 DLs, so you should be grateful there's an extra one for this year's defense. Really, the cupboard is loaded.) Ghost, remember having enough players for each of the different position groups is "completely inconsequential." Just enough, for games, is perfect! TiM Go Blue!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.
Hey, Dusty. Good to see ya!! ;-) Good Night and Good Luck
Dusty
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 2:35 a.m.
Actually, it's nobody's fault, because it's completely inconsequential. Having enough players for a full intrasquad spring scrimmage isn't a requirement for fielding a successful football team in September. Particularly when the reason you are short is because you are holding some players out who are recovering from injury who you expect to be completely healthy by the time fall practice starts. Give it a rest. Not everything is somebody's fault.
Lorain Steelmen
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 8:29 p.m.
First of all..this is NOT a spring game....it is a spring PRACTICE. We will NOT see anything, remotely resembling an offense or defense out there. The Oline will be pulling double duty, several players will be held out for injuries, etc, etc. And while the contributions to Motts are appreciated, it will be Sept/Oct...before we get a feel for the Brady Hoke era. So calm down, remember BH still has the same kids that RR had, and has only worked with them for what, a month? C'mon folks...get a grip!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
"And yet, Coach Hoke will get more done in his three months than the WCiMFH did in his three years. It's called COACHING, and Michigan has some, finally. TiM Go Blue!" Thank God! Good Night and Good Luck
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
And yet, Coach Hoke will get more done in his three months than the WCiMFH did in his three years. It's called COACHING, and Michigan has some, finally. TiM Go Blue!
PortageLkBlu
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
It's going to be sunny and 70 degrees here in the desert tomorrow I think the spring game should be played here. Now for those of you taking me serious, that was just a wishful thinking I wasn't serious. Let's hope your rainstorm (sunny here) doesn't cause any mishaps, I'm sure Hoke is aware of that potential. Go Blue!
1st Down
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 2:21 a.m.
Someone asked Hoke about whether the weather would bother them...and he was like 'nope...its football....we are going to play football'... no excuses... i love that