The Rich Rodriguez era starts off with a loss due to the lack of offense in The Big House

The Rich Rodriguez era starts off with a loss due to the lack of offense in The Big House. 0-1.Game 2 vs Miami (OH): While Miami (OH) should contend for the MAC this year, I look for Michigan to eke out a close one in The Big House in the 4th quarter 1-1.Game 3 Notre Dame: This is a tough one to predict. I am leaning towards Notre Dame purely on the home field and revenge factors. 1-2.Game 4 vs Wisconsin: Wisconsin will be coming off a bye week and looks like the kind of team that will just wear the Michigan defense down with their power running game. 1-3.Game 5 vs Illinois: While Illinois will struggle with the loss of Rashard Mendenhall, the Illinois defensive speed will be too much for the Michigan offense to overcome as it is still struggling to assert itself. 1-4, and the natives are getting antsy about their bowl eligibility that Minnich predicted would be in jeopardy.Game 6 vs Toledo: Redemption comes in the form of Toledo Michigan wins this one on depth alone 2-4.Game 7 Penn State: Penn State is eager for this one. The annoying Nittany Lion roar that occurs seemingly every thirty seconds only adds salt to the wound of ending the long steak of Michigan dominance over Penn State 2-5.Game 8 vs Michigan State: Look out for Coach Dantonio.

The true Jim Tressel disciple, he has been counting this one down since last year's choke job in East Lansing and he wants this one bad. 2-6, and Michigan is now on life support for bowl eligibility.Game 9 Purdue: Joe Tiller smells the blood in the water. He will savor his opportunity to end the bowl streak in his final game versus the Wolverines. 2-7, with the Rich Rodriguez/West Virginia lawsuit now in full force in the courtrooms.Game 10 Minnesota: Purely for pride, Michigan wins The Little Brown Jug over Minnesota. 3-7.Game 11 vs Northwestern: The last home game of the year, Michigan wins over Northwestern in a close one. 4-7.Game 12 Ohio State: THE GAME takes on even more significance next year when Coach Rodriguez gets talent better suited for his beloved spread option offense. This one will be over by mid-3rd quarter but Ohio State fans better savor the flavor because next year Coach Rodriguez will be ready THE GAME takes place 141 days from July 3rd.

Michigan ends its season 4-8.I am sure the Michigan fans will be all out in force for this post -- again, this is written with tremendous respect for Michigan's program. Will Michigan once again be The Victors? Certainly, but that year is not 2008. This article is also featured on From The Mind Of Minnich. EPA Recognizes Pacific Gas and Electric Company With 2009 ENERGY STAR(R)Sustained Excellence AwardUtility Earns Award for Protecting the Environment through Energy EfficiencySAN FRANCISCO, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of Pacific Gas andElectric Company's (PG&E) leadership in protecting the environment throughenergy efficiency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded PG&Ea 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award.PG&E, an ENERGY STAR partner for nearly two decades, was honored for its2006-2008 energy efficiency portfolio accomplishments, including its LargeCommercial Automated Benchmarking Service, Appliance Rebate Program, Businessand Consumer Electronics Program launch, ENERGY STAR New Homes Program and'Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR' national campaign promotion. "PG&E is committed to energy efficiency through our diverse array of programs,services and campaigns aimed at helping our customers save money and energy,"said Jan Berman, senior director of Customer Energy Efficiency for PG&E. "Ourlong-time partnership with ENERGY STAR demonstrates our strong commitment topreserving the environment through energy efficiency. We view our ENERGY STARpartnership as a key way to fight climate change."Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are leading the way toward amore energy-efficient future through participation in ENERGY STAR.

Last yearalone Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $19 billion on theirenergy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29million vehicles.The 2009 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group oforganizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year.These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achievingaggressive goals, employing innovative approaches and showing others what canbe achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoingleadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products,services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and publicsectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations thatparticipate in the ENERGY STAR program."EPA is delighted to recognize PG&E with the 2009 ENERGY STAR SustainedExcellence award," said Kathleen Hogan, director of the Climate ProtectionPartnerships Division at the U.S EPA. "PG&E's leadership on energy efficiencyhas yielded impressive results for their bottom line and our globalenvironment, showing us all what can be accomplished through sustainedcommitment and action." PG&E is a national leader in energy efficiency programs. Since the inceptionof these programs in 1976, PG&E customers have achieved cost savings of morethan $24 billion, avoiding the release of more than 155 million tons of carbondioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of , is one of the largestcombined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in SanFrancisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation'scleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and central California.