College Gameday [OPEN Thread] (Note: Michigan feature)
A little early for the College Gameday thread, but just saw that they're doing a Michigan "feature" today: Malaise & Blue (a feature after being in Ann Arbor for the week)
If your week wasn't long enough, if you like torture, or if you're just a fan of the entire country trolling us...tune in at 9am.
In the words of Charles Woodson. "Just win."
"The only thing I can tell you about 1997 is this: In the preseason, the media in Chicago ... everybody there is looking for a story," Carr said. "And the story in 1997 was Michigan, the M stood for mediocrity."
Carr recalled his team's first meeting that season, which lasted for hours as the Wolverines grappled with how to exceed those expectations. Finally, Charles Woodson, a player who just months later would cement his legacy as one of the program's finest players, settled things.
...this ain't '97, this ain't a national championship team, and I...like you, am tired of hearing about the glory days. But some things are timeless. JUST WIN. Just win, whether it's 3-0 or 30-0 and this stuff will eventually go away. And for this year, that'll be just like a national championship.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
...he didn't need to get specific. He was saying what we're all saying in this thread, but he just has to be more PC than we do. He was saying people are pissed at Dave Brandon because he's too CEO and coorperate and he's out of touch with his fans.
His point was that the team is bad, but the people also aren't coming...which in the past the people still came when the team was bad, but they're not now because they hate Brandon.
I didn't need him to say it anymore than he did...I knew exactly what he was talking about. Howard doesn't have a filter so he'll say it. This team has no swagger outside of an injured true freshman. No one wants it the way they should.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
No one was bitching about the experience being too traditional. They used piped-in music and a lot of people then said it was ok and some said they liked it, but it's not like people were clamoring for it beforehand.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
I am tired of all the bluster from former players ripping the fans for criticizing Hoke. Enough already. Four years is plenty of time to determine if Hoke is the right guy or not. In my mind all he has left is the B1G season to determine his fate.
It is a losers mentality that suggests we should be patient with the poor product and allow someone that has not demonstrated an aptitude for the position to continue collecting a check after 4 years. This all comes down to the mentality that you can put anyone in that spot and they will win "because it's Michigan".
This is Brady Hoke's opportunity to show he can fight through adversity and has what it takes or it is time to move on. It will not set the program back if you find the right coach with a philosophy that fits the players on the roster.
The bottom line is "just win"! I am not interested in former players or fan opinions trying to prop up his job performance. He is paid $4M/year to win games! In year four, it's time to demonstrate competence.
Keep trotting out former players ripping the fans and watch this ship really sink! Whether the players get it or not, it IS the fans and Alumni that prop up this program by attendance and donations! Lose them and it's over, regardless of the traditions!
September 27th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
For the "4 win season" call by Corso honestly it is not out of line if we do not improve the offense. Minnesota and Northwestern are the only 2 teams left who do not have a functional offense - i.e. something our defense can hold to less than 20 pts. Which right now seems the only way we can get wins.
Every other team we face has enough weapons to put up 24-28+, yes even PSU and Rutgers. Remember there will be turnovers by our offense leading to short fields, even Miami OH scored on short fields. Our punting team has been a disaster this year as well so we are not winning the field position wars versus most teams.
Our team cannot even get to the red zone right now against functional defenses. Do you see it scoring 28+ on 90% of power 5 conference teams ? This not MSU 2013, OSU 2002 or UM 1997 defense - it is a solid defense that will have breakdowns versus competent offenses a few times a game. If it was paired with even an average offense this team could be 6-2 in the conference. But it's going to face ridiculous stress.
Once you get past Minnesota, Northwestern (on the road), Rutgers (on the road) the quality of offenses really jump. Maryland, PSU, OSU can roll 28+ on us. MSU and Indiana can roll 35+.
So while Corso is piling on a bit there is a roadmap to 4 wins and a 2-6 Big 10 season. We were 3-5 last year folks, its not that far off the mark to entertain 2-6 if the offense doesnt do a 180, or at least a 90.
(Also I disagree with Des being that down on the guys - you see Ryan Glasgow and Henry must have put in the work, Lewis is putting in the work, I am sure Jake Ryan is not out there loafing at practice. Can't speak to the offense but I still see the defensive guys improving and that doesnt come from being weak in practice)
September 27th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
Well I wasn't depressed about todays game, but I sure am now - thanks ESPN!
September 27th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
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September 27th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
pretty specific conclusion to jump to
September 27th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
...not one that jumps to one specific player.
I mean Gardner wearing #98 would be just as foul.
But why does a jersey number mean so much to people? I'm pretty sure Desmond wasn't talking about who fits their jerseys number. That's not the test of a player, whether he measures up to the best player to ever wear that particular number.
I'm pretty sure he wasn't calling out one player for not living up to a jersey number. I'm pretty sure he was commenting that outside of one player, he didn't see any player with any kind of swagger that said "I want to be the best." His observation...but certainly had no more to do with Countess than it did Jake Ryan.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
He said, paraphrasing: "When I go to a practice I can tell what guys want to be great. When I went to a Michigan practice I didn't see one guy -- except for maybe Jabrill Peppers -- that wanted to be great."
Ouch.
That's a damning statement.
Desmond Howard could be wrong about this. His impression could be incorrect.
But if true, then it suggests a degree of complacency ... and that's a fundamental problem.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
The biggest problem I'd have with complacency is this team and Hoke haven't done shit yet. Complacency is the thing you usually hear about when some coach has been around a while and the teams start underperforming, like with Mack Brown.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
That statement seemed completly ridiculous to me. First of all this is the same Desmond Howard who voted Michigan number 6 in his pre-season poll. Has he been to practice in the last few weeks, if not and he saw this before the season why did he vote them 6th?
If he has been there recently I would be intrested to know if there is actually a difference in how practices are going since the ND and Utah game. Finally to single out just Peppers also seems ridiculous to me. So no one else in practice, not Jake Ryan, not Jourdan Lewis, not Frank Clark, not a single other player on the team wants to be great?
I like Desmond and I am glad he is a big, well known supporter of Michigan, but he is almost always emotional and biased when talking about Michigan. He is either way to positive or way to pessimistic, I just don't trust him to give an unbiased opinion. He could very well be right that the team is starting to quit, I personally don't believe him though.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
if all the focus on challenge and compete is splitting valuable reps that it takes to really tune up the starting lineup to one that plays largely mistake free.
What I mean is if the focus is on trying to build depth and have one guy push another across the whole team, the counterpoint is that the guys you are relying on to start and play the majority of the game aren't being able to get the refinement. I think both are ultimately needed to make a great team so as injuries occur the team isnt decimated. But how to split.
Mattison has done what I consider a nice job with this with steady improvement up to this point. But you see how long its taken in terms of seasons. Nussmeier just got here and so it seems like he should just pick up the shattered house of Borges and build it 5x stronger in 16 practices, but I don't think one season will be enough.
I think its good of Dez to call out the entire team. I thought he did it in a way that will grind every player's ego out there just a little but not to the point of overstepping.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
He loves this team. He's probably trying to light a fire under their asses because he thinks Hoke and the coaches aren't doing it. If they are really just going through the motions, as he implied, that's a damning assessment of the job Hoke is doing. It also says something about the players. They shouldn't need a coach to motivate them to work for excellence. I know we all love to comment how we support the players even if not the coaches (bullshit), but they need to be accountable as well. Maybe we need a Charlie Strong type situation where Harbaugh, Miles, whoever, come in and clean house.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
I understand that. I didn't mean to imply the players are breaking rules, doing drugs, etc...I just meant that perhaps there are bad elements on the team from an effort, fire, leadership perspective that need to be purged either by transfer, running them off the team with harder work than they are used to, etc...Probably a bad comparison with Charlie Strong. My bad.
Bo ran off a huge percentage of the team because he came in and ruled with an iron fist. He worked the guys so hard that only those who really wanted to be great stayed. We need that, and we need it bad.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^
But that type of culture within the team is fostered by coaches who set the example. Hoke is a players coach. He (rightfully) tries to support all his players, but it ends up allowing the guys who don't really deserve to be there to stick around when they probably would quit or transfer under a more demanding coach/culture of expectations.
September 27th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
You really think the team's lack of toughness is on the players?
September 27th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
I think the players and coaches are both responsible for poor performances. Coaches can't play for the players and the players can't control whether Hoke and company coach poorly. To say that a player is not responsible, at least in part, for his motivation and performance is insane and sends the wrong message to this team and any team. I, for one, live in a world where men take responsbility for their own life, actions, desires, and motivations. What world are you living in?
September 27th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
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September 27th, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
Not sure, Clueless?
My name is actually based on Adam Banks from 'The Mighty Ducks.'
September 27th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
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September 27th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
...and go controlled no huddle.
I also think we should play both QBs and just ride the hot hand. Give Gardner 2 series, if he's doing well...keep him in. If he's not, let Morris get 2. If he does well, keep him in, if not, take him out.
I don't like predetermining when the next guy should come in. I use the basketball train of thought. If you're playing well...keep playing. If you're not, come sit next to me and let the other guy have a shot.
Neither guy has earned the right to play a full game no matter what is happening on the field.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
ESPN hates women.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
We live out of state and are heading in today for the game. Where is the best place to eat lunch near campus to get the greatest experience before the game?
September 27th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
I don't know about greatest experience, but I like their sandwiches. They're on South University just west of Washtenaw.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
Only Bret Bielema goes to Vegas to get his wife. Wonder how much he paid for her...2.5 years later, still going strong.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
Can we please take a minute and take in the fact the Bret Bielema met his wife in Vegas at playing black jack....
September 27th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
44 year old with a lot of money, hence the 28 year old.
Do not try this at home.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
Ok, it's official. We need to hire Dan Mullen for his wife.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
On BTN, Dinardo pointing out that the O should have been adjusted to Devin's talents and wondering why Hoke hasn't landed a truly elite pro-style QB yet.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
I was under the impression that WIlton Speight fits that description. 6'6" 240 with a very high recruting ranking.
I think we might actually see him get some legit playing time this season.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
And who out there did he miss on?
Kyle Allen at TAMU?
I mean what elite pocket passing QB is out there tearing it up that Hoke could've/should've had?
I hate when people say that. He got Morris, he got Speight. I thought he should've taken David Cornwell who went to Alabama, but regardless, he's a true freshman this year. The only other elite guy that I can think of is still in high school and played last night - Josh Rosen.
So WTF are these people talking about? Who's the pocket passing elite QB that Hoke missed?
September 27th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
Nuss really likes WS.To the point he is nearly showing favoritism to the kid. WS spends a lot of time in the Film Room. Not only watching Michigan games, but also watching Philip RIvers film because he believes that is who he most closely mirrors. If I had to bet today, I'd bet he starts Game 1 of next year.
September 27th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
I think there is no doubt he is the future, and very well could be the present. If Nuss's job and reputation ends up on the line, he could get the starting job.
September 27th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^
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September 27th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
Interesting that 2 guys are picking Arkansas over A&M.
September 27th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
Just trolled the entire crowd.