View from the Stands: April 27, 2009

Now that I have one final out of the way and have some time on my hands, I think it is fitting that I take a look around and see what is going once again. Time for another view from the stands!

Is this what Rich Rod had in mind? After a tumultuous first off-season between him, the fans and the media, Rich Rodriguez' second off-season does not look any better right now. Today, news broke that Steven Threet was transferring to Arizona State to continue his football career. The departure of Threet, who started eight games last season as a redshirt freshman, seems to leave the starter's position for Nick Sheridan, who started the other four games for the Wolverines. Sheridan finished last season with 618 yards in eight appearances with two touchdowns against five interceptions. Michigan will once again be facing a tough year under Rich Rod, who is still trying to find footing in Ann Arbor. It will be interesting to discover how long he lasts in Ann Arbor, because at this rate, he may not get his chance to go 0-4 against Ohio State.

Is your fence sturdy enough to restrict your car? By now, most people have seen the horrific crash from yesterday's race at Talladega. Carl Edwards' car was sent flying on the final lap of the Aaron's 499. The crash is all that anyone can talk about today, completely forgetting who won the race. Edwards had some very harsh and controversial comments after the race, saying "We'll race like this until we kill somebody. Then (Nascar) will change it." Edwards talked about those comments and the experience on ESPN's First Take this morning.



In watching the crash for two days now, the fence did its job by keeping the car on the track...this time. If Edwards got a few feet higher, the fence may not have held his car, and who knows how many people would have died. It normally takes a death to force change, but this was close enough that something should come of it.

Michigan State wants to take on all comers! That is the feeling today after the Spartans announced they have reached a deal with the West Virgina Mountaineers for 20014-15, the Alabama Crimson Tide 16-17, and extending their series with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish through 2025. For those of you doing the math, that means kids who have yet to step foot in a school hall will be playing for the Irish and Sparty in that final game of this contract. Besides that point, this creates great schedule opportunities for Alabama and Michigan State. For the Crimson Tide, they will be playing four games against Big Ten teams over the next eight seasons, including games in Happy Valley and East Lansing. For Michigan State, they will play Alabama and Notre Dame in 2016-17. The Spartans will easily have the hardest non-conference schedule in both of those season, but they at least scheduled it where only one of those games will be on the road each year.