I think for me what is the interesting part is that Saban has not runoff any players.  I think it is fair to say that many if not most Alabama fans wanted Saban to do this last year.  I still think if we had gotten rid of some of the players we might have enjoyed more success.  

The fact is that there are plenty of players who are not doing the right thing at many schools, and there is nothing wrong with getting rid of them.  I think it is naive to have this idealized image of CFB players.  The kids are not choir boys.   He uses an anecdote about one player who had to enroll at UM, this was one of the main cruxes of his argument as to what happens to these poor kids who offered full scholarships to college.  It sounded almost too hokey.

Brian can try and disguise his argument however he wants, but this was not some pointed article at looking at a national social ill.  This was a short-handed attempt to take a shot at someone he hates, Saban.  

1. Let me say first, that you for at least offering a legit argument to Brian's piece.  If you read through the AOL comments, there is not one concrete argument worth pointing out.  The fundamental difference in view is whether or not you see scholarships as binding (Michigan/Big10) or whether or not its a mutual commitment (Alabama/SEC).  *Please note thats not all schools in both conferences, just the general idea.
2. In an attempt to grasp a better understanding of the Alabama version, how many of the student athletes are lost for performance on the field?  The general consensus (Not just in Big10 country, but around the nation as I lived in Texas for a few years, and am currently on the West Coast) is that most of your cuts aren't necessarily to academics, but several are to players that deservingly would have made a team in many other schools.  Those players were left without a scholarship available, and coach so & so of the time had to make difficult cuts (much the same way I do it on NCAA 08).  I'm just looking for insight here, not to start a flame war.
3.  Brian's argument about the "Mallett Transfer" said he would expect 2 or so to transfer.  He's not saying its fair for us to have it, but that it is less of a deal when you at least keep his scholarship open.  Mallett would have been nice to keep, but if he hadn't left when he did, we would have kept the scholarship open for him.  This point is very hypothetical, I admit that.
4.  Please note these are questions and comments presented in a more civil manner.  I do not have a beef with either Alabama or Saban.  Nor do I have a beef with the SEC, although many of your fans act like obnoxious assholes, not everyone is like that, and even so, many of your schools have excellent programs.

This is, and has always been, primarily a campaign against uppity Southerners that don't remember their place. When we get these high-falutin' ideas of winning and championships, our massahs in the Nawth are always ready to raise a stink.

You are bringing up Appalachian State? Wow, congratulations. You have nothing good to say about Alabama so you are taking shots at Michigan, because some other team beat them? Congrats, guys.

Gerry Dorsey, if you could fucking read, you would know why Brian didn't "attack Minnesota for signing 30+ players." A team is allowed 85 scholarship slots at a time, and while Alabama is going quite a bit over that limit, Minnesota is not. Fucking idiot.

Oh, and:

"Guess this is the flipside of being successful at something [recruiting]."

Yeah, fantastic recruiting season until you guys let go of as many as you need to to meet the limit, and then it's just a good class.  You guys still don't have an impact on the season, again.

Roll Tide, you fucking idiots!

You are doing a good job as Brian's mouthpiece, though!

And it is a fantastic recruiting class because if we are to accept Brian's argument wholesale as you do (and move closer to the idiotopia that would ensue from that line of thinking) then only the best of the best players will be retained and so when they re-evaluate the class, our rating will improve and angst over what Alabama is doing will wash over Michigan once again, giving you something to talk about instead of why you aren't helping pay for the buyout of the coach you are at the very least co-conspirators with.  

Brian ahows a typical Michigan union attitude that players should remain on the roster based upon seniority not production.  Next year coach Rod will do exactly what Saban is doing, getting the best players possible for his system. It will nice to watch Brian justify the same actions he comdemns.

Notes one more time for some of you:

As for cutting players, Michigan doesn't cut players unless its medical, the player chooses to transfer, the player is in trouble with the law, or the player enters the draft/leaves the team.  Our medical losses are still awarded their scholarship (same thing at Alabama I believe), even after being removed and do not count toward the 85 scholarship players.  

Minnesota had enough eligible scholarships to have a class over 25. IIRC, 28, could be mistaken.  Again, the Big10 forces a school to produce where the scholarships are coming from if you are to over-sign.  They have done so.

If you expect anything better than "stupid southern jokes," you are way overrating any comment section on any site.  Everyone has their idiots.  On that note, I would like to commend you guys for not posting stupid comments on how Michigan is America's armpit or Appalachian state this or that.  By the way, saying "Go buckeyes" doesn't actually piss us off.

Last point, AOL Fanblogs are probably the most retarded pieces of sports writing available.  The writers, IMO, try to start flame wars.  This is the third  "blog war" Brian has been in this offseason.  Black Shoe Diaries (you think stereotypical Michigan stuff is bad, what until you read Penn State), Black Heart Gold Pants (Brian's sarcasm reader didn't go off), and now Roll Tide.  I want to say there were some minute tussles due to some other fan house posts as well.  Let me tell you, Montanans love their football and will protect it more than CBS does the SEC.  

RECAP:  Again, this boils down to the belief that over-signing is binding or a two way street.  Or in broader terms, loyalty vs worthiness.  However you want to look at it.

Well, I'm glad this is 90% over.  Have fun bashing Michigan some more.