The unfortunate events of September 1st are seven months and 27 days ago. But the University of Michigan’s defeat at the hands of Division 1-AA Appalachian State still stings. This weekend’s NFL draft only helped to make that pain even more vivid.

You see, Michigan’s 2007 season wasn’t supposed to be so bad. After the surprisingly awesome 2006 season, hopes were high in Ann Arbor. Offensive studs Chad Henne, Mike Hart, and Jake Long were coming back to school, just to win a championship. Along with standout receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, the Wolverines were ranked as high as #5 in the preseason. Then It happened. Read more…

It was a rough season for Florida State, having to deal with academic fraud & player suspensions & Jenn Sterger jumping off the bandwagon. But the Seminoles have come up with a cure - start off 2008 against not one, but two I-AA opponents.

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that FSU will begin next year’s slate with two home games against Western Carolina and Chattanooga. Both teams hail from the Southern Conference, home of Michigan-mashing Appalachian State. But don’t expect any similar miracles from the Catamounts & Mocs, who went a combined 3-21 last year. (Great nicknames, though.)

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DEADSPIN calls out the cops, as they discover the real starting point for traveling down that path toward a life of crime. Poverty? Drugs?

No - college football!

(Miami and Florida International trading pigskin pleasantries.)

MARGINAL REVOLUTION comes across a paper (PDF file) from Daniel Rees of the University of Colorado-Denver explaining the relationship between homecoming and home invasion.

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NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMP. GAMES HOST REPEAT OFFENDERS: In this year’s college football championship games, it’s deja vu all over again.

As Ohio State prepares to reappear in the BCS title game, the other NCAA divisions that actually have playoffs saw some returning guests in their title contests.

Appalachian State owes Pat Riley some residuals, as the Mountaineers clinched a threepeat in Division 1-AA* with a 49-21 dousing of Delaware.

There wasn’t much of an intimidation factor from the Blue Hens, since their unis were quite similar to an earlier Appalachian victim.On the flipside, Northwest Missouri State is slowly turning into the Buffalo Bills of Division II, as the Bearcats lost for the third straight time in the title game, going down 25-20 to Valdosta State.

But in Division III, the third time was finally the charm for Wisconsin-Whitewater. After losing in the last two title games to Mount Union, the Warhawks beat the Purple Raiders to long last grab an NCAA plaque of their own.

Going back to the BCS, the Buckeyes hope they don’t have a repeat performance of last year, when they were cracked by Florida 41-14. Based on OSU’s other title appearances within the last year, the outlook’s not so good.After the destruction in the desert, the Bucks’ basketball team was bounced by the Gators in the final of the Final Four. And on Sunday, the men’s soccer team was kicked away from a title trophy by Wake Forest.

But hey, at least they beat Michigan again. That’s gotta count for something, right?

(*Yes, we know it’s now officially “Football Championship Subdivision. Quite frankly, we don’t care.)

• AWFUL ANNOUNCING via MAC G’s WORLD feels ducky about catching a catfight in the stands during Thursday’s Arizona-Oregon game:

• THE BACHELOR GUY breaks out the Wild Turkey, as they present the NFL Thanksgiving Drinking Game.• THE ANGRY T goes into lockdown, as they pass sentence on their NFL All-Criminal Team.• MR. IRRELEVANT knows how Appalachian State was able to beat Michigan - by distracting the Maize & Blue with fans like this:

• JEN’S FREE THROWS has good news for all you Phoenix basketball bachelors - Suns dancer Jenni is still on the market.• Good night to good mornings, as today marks the final edition of ESPN.com’s A.M. Jump.

LLOYD CARR READY TO RETIRE AFTER OHIO ST. LOSS GAME: Looks like Lloyd Carr is driving off into the sunset:

M GO BLOG learns that the Michigan coach is set to retire at the end of the season. Folks in the athletic department have apparently been told about his decision.The official announcement will likely come after the Ohio State game, probably at the Monday press conference, or a day or two afterwards.

Jon Wilner of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS weighs in on the possible departure of the Wolverines coach, and what it means to Buckeyes fans. Wilner refers to the coach as “Llloyd,” explaining “Yep, with three ‘L’s.”

And EVERY DAY SHOULD BE SATURDAY takes a nostalgic look at the Carr soon to motor off the Maize & Blue lot.

But he’ll be missed most of all by the fine folks over at Appalachian State, who have Llloyd to thank for thrusting their small school into the national spotlight.

APPY STATE SNOWED UNDER BY MICH. ST. MERCH ORDERS: One of the more underrated college football piss-n-vinegar train wrecks every year is Michigan vs. Michigan State.

Well-monied UM students call MSU “Moo-U” and there’s probably as many fights before, during, and after the game than any annual rivalry. So it should come as no surprise that USA TODAY is reporting a major surge in UPS shipments from Boone, NC, to East Lansing, MI, the past few weeks.

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