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.
In Other News...
Brewers Just Made Detroits Ace Dilemma Feel A Lot More Real
Milwaukees search for rotation help has taken on a familiar shape for a contender with a strong farm system and a tight payroll. Rather than shopping only for the usual short-term rental, the Brewers are weighing whether to use extra prospect capital to make a bigger swing for a higher-end starter, with the idea being to get the other club to take on more of the remaining contract.
For Detroit, that kind of market chatter only sharpens the spotlight on Tarik Skubal and the value he carries if teams start treating him as a premium trade target. The Brewers are also looking at names such as Robbie Ray and Kevin Gausman, while keeping cheaper fallback options in mind, but the broader message is clear: once clubs start structuring deals around salary relief and prospect depth, the asking price for an ace can feel a lot more real. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Fans Wont Like Which Contender Just Entered The Rumor Mill
The trade deadline is starting to loom for a Rays club that still looks like it plans to be active, with catcher, pitching and second base among the areas it could try to upgrade. For Detroit fans, the reason to keep an eye on Tampa Bay is simple: the Rays have enough need and enough ambition to wander into the same market as a lot of contenders, and that makes them a team worth watching as the rumors start to swirl.
At the same time, the Rays are not exactly making the decision easy on themselves. Recent better play from Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, Nick Fortes and Victor Mesa Jr. has given the front office more to weigh, and a recent win over the Guardians only added to that sense of a roster that is getting useful contributions from unexpected places. When a contender starts getting real production from role players this late in the season, every deadline move gets a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Hit Deadline Crossroads As Key Returns Collide With New Concern
The Tigers are entering the trade deadline with a roster picture that is starting to shift in a few important places. Javier Bez is working through a rehab assignment in Triple-A and is getting closer to a major league return, while Jackson Jobe has also progressed in his recovery and is moving toward Triple-A as part of that process.
At the same time, there is still a fresh layer of uncertainty around the clubs health. Kerry Carpenter is being evaluated after aggravating a heel issue in a recent game, and that adds another moving part for a team already trying to sort out how its next stretch should look. With reinforcements on the way and one more injury situation still being checked, Detroits deadline week has become more complicated by the day. [Read more 🡒]