Paul Finebaum is back at it, and this time Michigan is the target.
The ESPN and SEC Network voice has never been shy about poking at fan bases, and on “The Film Guy Network” he singled out Michigan supporters as one group he doesn’t think is worth the energy. Finebaum said the Wolverines’ fans act like the sport centers on them, and he didn’t stop there.
"Michigan fans, they're not worth the time," Finebaum said. "They think college football revolves around them, and they've won two and a half national championships in 70 years, and they cheated to get the last one."
That’s the kind of line that will land hard in Ann Arbor, where pride has never been in short supply. Michigan has only three national championships, but the program still stands as the winningest in college football, which helps explain why its fan base carries itself the way it does.
The Wolverines are also stepping into a new era. The school moved on from head coach Sherrone Moore after the regular season last year because of off-the-field issues, then turned to longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to take over. Whittingham spent 22 years with the Utes and finished with a 177-88 record.
Michigan is looking for the same kind of traits Whittingham built his reputation on: detail, toughness, discipline and defense. That was the blueprint for the Wolverines in 2023, when Jim Harbaugh led them to a national championship.
Year 1 may not be smooth, but the expectation is that Whittingham can steady the program and eventually get Michigan back to being a real factor again. If he can bring that same physical, disciplined edge from Utah to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines should stay in the national championship conversation.
Finebaum’s comments only add another flash point to his ongoing run-ins with Big Ten programs. For Michigan, though, the focus is on what comes next under Whittingham.
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For a roster that is still taking shape, the important part is not just who is on the field but who is fighting for more than a temporary look. Some players are there to get back on track, others are trying to stay in the conversation for the active roster or the 16-man practice squad, and familiar names will have to prove they still fit as camp begins this week. [Read more 🡒]
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Sewell also offered a glimpse into the day-to-day side of camp life, including his impression of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, whom he described as smart and fast-talking with a lot going on in his head. And before the football talk fully took over, Sewell was part of a fan event at Panda Express in Livonia, another reminder that around here even the biggest names on the roster can still end up as the face of a community stop between practice sessions and preseason buildup. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Camp Opens With Major New Concerns In The Secondary
Training camp opened with an early hit to the Lions secondary depth, as Detroit placed safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Tight end Tyler Conklin also landed on PUP, leaving the team to sort through a few health questions right as practices begin and roster spots start to come into focus.
For a defense that has leaned on its back end in recent seasons, the timing matters. Branch is working back from a torn Achilles, Joseph is recovering from a knee injury, and the Lions may spend the preseason evaluating other options if those absences linger. That could push more attention onto the next wave of defensive backs in camp, with Detroit needing answers before the pace picks up and the real decisions start to narrow. [Read more 🡒]