Read the transcript from Tuesday's BGSU/UM's chat.

Be sure to chat with Blade sports writers Ryan Autullo (UM beat writer) and Donald Emmons (BGSU beat writer) every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. on www.toledoblade.com.

Blade sports editor Frank Corsoe also will be sitting in as host to make sure everyone plays nice.

11:59



[Comment From orangeandbrown]

Speaking of BGSU, beyond Pronty are the Falcons healthy? Anyone get hurt at Missouri?



12:01



rautullo@theblade.com:

Give us one second, please.



12:03



[Comment From Guest]

M Go Blue!Ryan did you attend Rich Rods news conference Monday? What did you think of the three players?



12:05



rautullo@theblade.com:

Troy Woolfolk was incredibly entertaining. Funny guy, doesn't take himself too seriously. Tate Forcier is a goofball, and I think that probably helps him react well to stressful situations on the field. Overall a fun press conference.

12:06



[Comment From dewey]

Phillips was named MAC Special Teams POW, but what about his kick - offs? Are they satisfied with how deep his kicks have been?



12:07



demmons@theblade.com:

I believe they are satisfied at this point. I don't consider his kickoffs an issue.



12:07



[Comment From M&B]

Any predictions on UM the rest of the season -- do they go 7-5, or at least take 6 and get a bowl game? Or are they better than that?



12:09



demmons@theblade.com:

Orangeandbrown, Until now, injuries have not been a major dilemma. We'll hear a report later today on the Falcons' overall health heading into Marshall.





12:09



rautullo@theblade.com:

M&B-Before the season I had UM at 6-6, but obviously I have new information to go with. Right now I have them at 8-4 --- 9-3 if things go really well. Injuries could eventually pile up on the defense which would be a real issue.



12:09



[Comment From Guest]

RA: what is your vantage point at the Big House?



12:10



[Comment From ffalcon]

Is BGSU the real deal this year? WIll they have some consistency, at least better than their 2008 performance?



12:10



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- My seat is at about the 50-yard line in the press box, which is an absolute sauna. I'm looking forward to November games for sure.



12:12



demmons@theblade.com:

ffalcon, After two weeks, I'd say it's hard to say at this point. Also, how does one define "the real deal? Does that mean a MAC title? If so, it's way too early to predict that scenario. I'd say they're more competitive than I suspected. I predicted they'd have an 0-2 record going to Marshall.



12:12



[Comment From dewey]

Like OSU, BG could've used a TD or two Saturday. Was Clawson too conservative in his play calling, a la Tressel?



12:14



demmons@theblade.com:

dewey,

Not at all. They just didn't execute. They didn't make the plays necessary down the stretch to put Missouri away. One more touchdown when they were up 20-6 would've done the deal.



12:14



[Comment From Roll Along]

Don, what kind of crowd are you expecting BG gets for Boise State?



12:14



[Comment From Bos friend]

Ryan, it looks like defensive coordinator Greg Robinson has made a difference this season. Your thoughts?



12:15



demmons@theblade.com:

Roll Along,

I'd say the crowd for Boise should be as large as the home opener against Troy, which was approx. 15,000. If Boise arrives ranked No. 10 or higher then maybe it will draw 25,000 to 35,000.



12:16



rautullo@theblade.com:

Bos-Robinson is a veteran coach with plenty of experience coaching defense. That's the kind of guy Rich Rod was looking for after Scott Shafer resigned. I get the impression Rich Rod basically told Robinson that he's the head coach of the defense and gave him reign to do as he pleases. Obviously the results are much better, but were you overly impressed by UM's defense on Saturday? I thought they were OK.

12:16



[Comment From um4l]

Ryan - are we prematurely excited about Greg Robinson? His teams at Syracuse were beyond awful. And the defenses were particularly bad.



12:18



[Comment From orangeandbrown]

35,000 would be pretty good since the official capacity is only 24,000



12:18



[Comment From dewey]

Don, do you think John Pettigrew will see some snaps at RB?



12:18



rautullo@theblade.com:

UM41- Everything is premature at this point. UM is 2-0 and we have no idea whether WMU or ND are going to be any good. I can only go by what I've seen and heard, and Robinson's defense has been very agressive and faster than I expected. The players speak highly of him as well. As for his struggles at Syracuase, we're comparing apples and oranges (pun intended). Some good coordinators make lousy head coaches; some good head coaches make lousy coordinators. We'll see.



12:18



[Comment From Guest]

RA: Wasn't the UM defense significantly outsized by ND?



12:19



demmons@theblade.com:

dewey,

I think Pettigrew will see more snaps as the season progresses. But the ballcarrier who will see the most PT will always be Geter as long as he's healthy.



12:20



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- ND's offensive line was big, and as Rich Rod put it, "they could eat peanuts off our guys" helmets. So yeah, UM's defense did look sort of small, but I wasn't overly discouraged by their performance. ND is going to score a ton of points this year.





12:20



[Comment From Kjfromla]

How will the commitment of the HS QB from Detroit effect the roles of the current QB's at Michigan? Also, when will Sheridan leave the program?



12:21



demmons@theblade.com:

Freddie,

Clawson brings a lot more relaxed vibe to the field. He's a player's coach, which means he's more in tune with the players' attitudes.

12:21



[Comment From Freddie]

Donald, what had Dave Clawson brought to the Falcons that Gregg Brandon might not have had?



12:22



[Comment From dewey]

Going into the season there was some legitimate concern about BG's corners. So far, they seem to have played very well. Your thoughts?



12:22



rautullo@theblade.com:

KJ- Forcier looks like the starter for as long as he's at UM and healthy. What he did Saturday was incredible. If I'm Gardner (the kid from Detroit) I am not overly discouraged as I can come in and redshirt and have two years of seperation between me and Forcier. But if he wants to see the field immediately he might want to open back up the recruiting process. As for Sheridan, he's a mop-up duty guy, even though Rod won't say so.



12:23



[Comment From Freddie]

Any local athletes looking at BGSU or UM?



12:24



rautullo@theblade.com:

Freddie- Rolf of Eastwood committed to BGSU, but that's all I know of for now. UM's class is nearly full, and I have not heard of any local kids looking at the Wolverines.



12:24



[Comment From jake]

RA, good to see you back with the blade. with michigan losing for the first time to a mac opponent last year, how do you rate eastern michigans chances this week?



12:24



demmons@theblade.com:

dewey,

The concerns at the outset have not been really concerns during the first two games. I think the concerns are more with the defensive line and stopping the run. They had trouble slowing up Missouri's running attack during stretches of the contest.

Trust me, it is something Falcons opponents will attempt to copy.



12:25



[Comment From Guest]

DE: I've heard the BGSU AD say the FB Senior Class is great, but the Jr/Sophs not so (if in numbers alone).... any prognostications?



12:26



rautullo@theblade.com:

Jake- UM was a disaster last year, so much so that it lost to another disaster --- Toledo. That won't happen this year. UM should pound a hapless EMU squad that has been bad for as long as I can remember. It could be a good opportunity to get some of the younger guys reps, specifically RB Vincent Smith who you guys are going to love.



12:26



rautullo@theblade.com:

Jake- Thanks for the wishes, by the way. I'm glad to be back.



12:27



demmons@theblade.com:

Guest,

I'd say it's too early to tell about the underclassmen. I think time on the field this season will provide a better gauge for the upcoming seasons.



12:27



[Comment From Freddie]

Ryan, Michigan have a chance against the Buckeyes this season? OSU looks vulnerable.



12:28



rautullo@theblade.com:

Freddie- Any team has a chance against the Buckeyes, who consistently play down to the level of their opponents. But the Buckeyes almost always win those close games. Right now I have to say OSU is better than UM, but let's talk again in a month.



12:28



[Comment From dewey]

RA, I kinda wish you were still on Ay Ziggy.



12:29



[Comment From Freddie]

Will there be any high school football and/or basketball chats in the future?



12:29



rautullo@theblade.com:

Dewey- This whole job thing is keeping me busy. I'll stop over and say hello soon though.



12:30



[Comment From Guest]

RA: What's your take on M State's loss to Central?



12:30



demmons@theblade.com:

Freddie,

I think so. Stay tuned.



12:30



[Comment From Frank Corsoe, sports edit]

Freddie, You can count on them.



12:31



[Comment From Freddie]

FRank the Tank Frank the Tank!



12:31



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- I was a little surprised but CMU has an excellent QB and MSU has questions on offense. MSU got really unlucky and is still probably a good team. I like Dantonio a lot.

12:32



[Comment From Freddie]

Don or Ryan, will this area ever produce a Roethlisberger-type talent again?



12:32



demmons@theblade.com:

Freddie,

Anything is possible.



12:33



rautullo@theblade.com:

Freddie- Probably not. Big Ben has won two super bowls and probably isn't done. That's tough to top.



12:34



[Comment From Freddie]

Off topic, what two mayoral candidates come out on top today? I'm on my way to vote.



12:35



toledoblade:

We're talkin' sports. Would you be interested in other news type chats in the future?



12:35



[Comment From dewey]

Don, what's the early word on Clawson as a recruiter? Can he be better than than the previous guy?



12:36



demmons@theblade.com:

dewey,

I think it's really possible. He's a young guy who understands the PR of recruiting today's talent.



12:37



[Comment From Drew]

Any comments on Tressel?



12:37



[Comment From Freddie]

I'm more of a sport guy, but sure.

12:38



[Comment From Guest]

RA: was surprised to not see Shoelaces much in Sat's game.



12:38



rautullo@theblade.com:

Drew-He needs to hire an innovative offensive coordinator. His offense can be painful to watch.



12:38



demmons@theblade.com:

Drew,

Comments about what regarding Tressel? They loss and a Big Ten title is still on the horizon.



12:39



[Comment From Frank Corsoe, sports edit]

That's for discussion on our Ohio State chat on Mondays, Drew



12:39



[Comment From Freddie]

Whoever wins, I just hope he isn't a Michigan fan like Carty lol. Thanks guys, I am off to vote.



12:40



[Comment From dewey]

I would guess, though, we will see far fewer recruits from the Chicago area now that Brandon is gone ...



12:40



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- Forcier was playing well, and at this point Robinson is almost exclusively a runner. He's not yet a polished passer. I think we'll see more of him Saturday, as EMU is not at Notre Dame's level. But there's no reason for him to take Forcier's reps.



12:41



[Comment From Drew]

I think he needs to decide when to be conservative and when not to. This wishi washy stuff isn't going to fly with SEC Teams.



12:41



demmons@theblade.com:

dewey,

i think clawson will recruit wherever possible within the 3-5 hour radius around BG. So, that would include Chi-Town.

12:41



rautullo@theblade.com:

Drew- I think your point has been backed up with quite a bit of evidence. There's no denying Tressel can coach though. He's won a lot of games and has dominated the Big Ten in a time that the conference has really taken its lumps.

12:44



[Comment From Sebo Sam]

Don, Who has surprised you after two games?

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12:44



[Comment From Guest]

How 'bout some suggestions for piped-in music at the Big House???

12:45



demmons@theblade.com:

Sebo Sam,

Bowling Green. I thought they would be 0-2 right now. They're nearly 2-0.



12:46



[Comment From Guest]

Clawson is a class-act guy. Seen prominently in the community as well as on campus and on the sideline. We are fortunate in BG.



12:46



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- I like the idea of playing music, but they need to stay clear of the cliches. No more "Don't stop believing." No more "Sweet Caroline." No more "Living on a Prayer." As long as it's not an overdone song, I'm all for it. A little clean hip-hop wouldn't hurt.



12:47



demmons@theblade.com:

Guest,

Yes, Clawson recognizes the three-fold act as a coach, which is to be successful in the community, on the campus and on GAME DAY.



12:47



rautullo@theblade.com:

Dewey- Tressel's play calling was conservative long before Pryor arrived. It's Tressel's nature.



12:47



[Comment From Frank Corsoe, sports edit]

Guest, I would prefer Chelsea Dagger by Fratellis



12:49



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- Would Celine Dion and Clay Aiken do anything for you?



12:49



[Comment From Guest]

Come on, RA! How about some specific titles? PUT EM OUT THERE

12:50



[Comment From dewey]

Piped in music? Isn't that why they have marching bands? (And please, no more "Sweet Carolne")



12:50



[Comment From Guest]

... there goes my opinion about your taste...



12:51



rautullo@theblade.com:

Dewey- There will always be a need for marching bands, no one denies that. But I see nothing wrong with getting the fans riled up with some tunes.

12:51



[Comment From Frank Corsoe, sports edit]

I agree with Dewey. Sweet Caroline is a Red Sox song, not college football.



12:51



rautullo@theblade.com:

Guest- Iowa has a pink lockerroom yet I can't request "My heart will go on?"



12:52



[Comment From dewey]

Ryan, piped - in music is what's bad about attending NFL games ...



12:52



rautullo@theblade.com:

Dewey- Loud, belligerent, cursing drunks is what's bad about attending NFL games.



12:53



[Comment From Orange Crusher]

OK, Don, is Tyler Sheehan, BG qb, gonna be drafted?



12:53



[Comment From dewey]

Big Ten games, too



12:55



[Comment From Guest]

Whatever will pump the team up. w/ TV timeouts, the bands can't do it all. Tough to hear the UM band from our seats. Troy W. would prefer a Texas brand of rap - counry?



12:55



demmons@theblade.com:

ORANGE crusher,

That's hard to say right now. All i know is if you're good enough and end up at the right situation you could still find your way on an NFL roster. So, it's really up to Sheehan to decide his future playing fate.



12:56



rautullo@theblade.com:

Woolfolk wants to hear the rap song "Stanky Leg" and I hope the UM gameday operations crews doesn't ahere to his request. Awful song.

12:56



[Comment From jake]

RArule, with a fellow fremont boy delivering a second straight loss the the buckeyes this coming weekend, the door will be wide open for michigan to win the big ten. will they cash in?



12:56



[Comment From Guest]

It was fun for this first-timer. Keep up the great job covering Michigan football. Thanks,



12:57



toledoblade:

O.k. last question.

12:57



rautullo@theblade.com:

I have a hard time seeing UM winning the Big Ten this year. Gotta crawl before you walk. Don't discount Penn State either.



12:57



[Comment From dewey]

Thanks guys. Good luck being back at The Sword, Ryan.



12:58



rautullo@theblade.com:

Thanks Dewey, hope to see you back here next Tuesday.



12:58



toledoblade:

Be sure to tune in Monday for OSU/UT and next Tuesday for more UM/BG!

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12:58



[Comment From Frank Corsoe, sports edit]

Thanks to all our chatters. C'mon back next week for more Michigan and Bowling Green football chat with The Blade.

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12:58