Maryland 23, Michigan 16
Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog
Which remarkably apropos moment to use here?
Should it be the innovative "running two-minute drill" that miraculously netted an end-of-half field goal?
How about when the Michigan Marching Band recreated the extinction of the dinosaurs at halftime?
Perhaps Dennis Norfleet's incredible punt return touchdown getting called back?
Could I see the argument for Mike Weber announcing his decommitment the precise moment Maryland's Wes Brown ran in the go-ahead score? Of course.
Same goes for Darryl Stonum's tweets just before and after Devin Funchess dropped another pass, this one to seal the loss on fourth down.
All of them, I guess.
As far as I know, Brady Hoke hasn't been informed he's fired, but he knows. We all do. With bowl eligibility on the line—unless you're holding out hope for a miracle in Columbus—Hoke's squad couldn't get out of its own way.
Even considering a few impressive Devin Gardner scrambles, including Michigan's lone touchdown of the game, the team's best offensive play came on a 52-yard fake punt run by fullback Joe Kerridge; Kerridge couldn't quite get to the goal line, and after Gardner's third-and-goal pass bounced off Freddy Canteen's chest, Matt Wile kicked a field goal.
The game played out in similarly bumbling fashion for most of the duration, with both teams seemingly unable to catch the football. Maryland had three drops in the first half; Gardner recorded a pick when a throw well behind Bo Dever bounced off his hands and into those of Maryland corner Will Likely.
The special teams were a mess. The flag on the punt return, however questionable, cost Michigan a touchdown. Jourdan Lewis roughed Maryland kicker Brad Craddock, leading on the very next play to a CJ Brown touchdown run; there's another four points. Matt Wile missed a 39-yard field goal that would've given M a 19-16 fourth-quarter lead.
It was a Brady Hoke loss, through and through.
[Fuller]
It's sad, of course. Devin Gardner mustered 82 yards on the ground, scrambled for a vintage DG touchdown run (above), and put most of his passes on target, only to see several go right through the hands of his intended receivers. He went down fighting in his last home game, and it sucks to see his efforts go unrewarded. Same goes for all the other seniors out there.
For the sake of Michigan football, though, this may have been for the best. There's little, if any, doubt now that Hoke won't be retained, and a loss in The Game—meaning no bowl game—is all but guaranteed. Unless the athletic department royally screws up the coaching search, the next team will have more competence at the top, a better opportunity to succeed. The bowl practices will be missed, but expediting the much-needed rehauling of this program may make up for it—and then some, when recruiting is taken into account.
We'll see how it all unfolds. For now, though, this felt like an all-too-fitting finish for Brady Hoke; whether he's present on the sideline for Ohio State—which I expect he will be—is almost besides the point.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:01 PM ^
I want to stress that I have NOT received any updated information in the aftermath of this loss. This is purely my speculation based on the things I've been told by trusted sources leading up to this point.
I don't think there any longer scenarios that involve retaining the current coaching staff.
And with a bowl now unlikely, the wait for confirmation of that belief won't take that long IMO.
Again, I didn't get this take from any of my sources this evening, and this is informed SPECULATION, but I would be shocked if they opted for retention at this point.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2014 at 11:10 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
that was Prolly The Game right there-- what was that 23-09 ??
OTOH-- there were Plenty Of Other Timely Plays that could have been made to win the game . . .
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
Well, at least Brady did that for us. Surely it wasn't just me who had involuntary fits of giggling at times during today's farce. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at Hoke's antics at the end of the half! I wonder if he pondered even for an instant just why his beloved power running was suddenly working?
Another moment of high hilarity came when BTN showed him actually wearing his headset during that pitiful spot review. I wonder what crucial info he received? It apparently was more important to him than, say, hearing from his staff in the press box telling him that perhaps a play-action pass might work...
What an out-of-control tire fire our coaching staff has become! Quite a mitzvah they have performed for the opps' staffs - they must be treated to long stretches of levity when they study our gamefilms.
It's hard for me to believe that Meechigan football has come down to this. I wonder how long it will take the new staff (hopefully this time made up of proven winners!) to turn this mess around?
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
I'm just all empty inside.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
Your observations could be the epitaph of the Hoke era at Michigan. There's no joy in calling it like it is, but it was just so typical. A microcosm of the whole lost, miserable season. As dark a moment as there's been since the Chalmers Elliott days.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
Damn dirty double post!!
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^
I don't think we're getting anymore UFR's this year and I don't blame Brian one bit for not wanting to rehash these games.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
I've been watching and following Michigan football for over 60 years. I don't think I have ever seen a Michigan coaching staff as inept as this one. Every post-game coaching comment seems to be: "...we had a great week of practice... we just need to coach better..."
Bennie Oosterbaan was a great Michigan player and a great man. He had great players but couldn't put it together, but it was not like this.
Bump Elliot was a great Michigan player and a great man (and a great AD at Iowa). He had great players, won one Big Ten championship, but it was not like this.
Eleven games into a season and it looks like this team has not practiced at all. The players have no intensity and it seems like no desire (outside of a few - Gardner, Ryan and a few others). The coaches are there to lead, to teach and to inspire their players. This team has mass displays of coaching ineptitude - bad time management, not enough players on the field, questionable coaching decsions, general disorganization - this Mgoblog write up summarizes the situation perfectly. Thanks Mgoblog!
I know this is sad time for all Michigan football fans - hang in there, IT HAS TO GET BETTER. I lived through the 50s and 60s - It did get better...
Basketball will be some comfort - we have a coach who knows how to develop players.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
I have wanted Hoke gone since ND and have rooted in my heart for them to win, but always in the back of my mind wanting whatever was needed for Brandon first to go and then Hoke. Now it is guaranteed.
I have watched every minute of every game this season and I will watch the OSU game. I will root for Michigan and hate OSU as I always have my entire life.
But now I feel badly for Brady Hoke for one reason only; this was his dream job and now he knows as we all have believed, that he just isn't good enough to handle it.
Brady, be classy and resign with dignity before OSU and get the players to fight for you one last time and BEAT OHIO STATE.
Go Blue Forever!
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
Drake Johnson has 14 rushes for 94 yds and the fucking clueless Nussmeier takes him out.
Idiots run this program. Losers run this program. Every one of those coaches is a loser, including Mattison who has no idea how to stop an uptempo attack.
Broom out all of these LOSERS.
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:25 PM ^
Meanwhile, Arizona destroyed Utah, the same Utah that beat us pretty handily earlier in the season, even though its star quarterback was injured early in the game.
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:38 PM ^
Rich Rod destroyed Utah. 9-2 Rich Rod destroyed Utah. Rich Rod who was on an upward trajectory at U of M when he was fired by Brandon, Destroyed Utah.
Sorry to all the Rich Rod haters, I understand your pain which is likely just a lot of butt hurt. At some point those of us who didn't hate him and weren't calling for his head, will stop commenting on his successes post-UM, but while we're mired in this current state of tire fire, I believe we've earned the right to point it out.
What happened to Rich Rod here shouldn't be forgotten so that there is zero chance of the "Michigan Man" BS causing it again. Coach Carr and staff can now go away and let the program succeed.
November 23rd, 2014 at 2:28 AM ^
Would you stop it with the "upward trajectory" stuff? RichRod was only trending up because he crash landed the program so so far off the map that it was nearly impossible to go anywhere but up. Hell, I bet I could have coached most Michigan teams to more than 3 wins. RichRod shouldn't get credit for setting the bar at practically zero. Not saying he got a fair shake, just sick of hearing about how much he "improved" from 3-9, as if 3-9 wasn't on him at all to begin with.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
Going to Arizona, and taking a tean that was so far off the map seems like a big win to me. If everyone had been behind him at Michigan, and had not done everything in their power to make sure he failed it would have turned out different. You can't try to take a program to the top when you were left with little talent, and most of the old coaches especially "Lloyd Carr", and old players running their mouth's, and stabbing him in the back. All i ever heard was he's not a "Michigan Man" well look where a Michigan Man has gotten you. Michigan, and Arizona shouldn't be compared at all, Arizona comes out on top everytime with a Coach who knows what he's doing, then there's Michigan run into the ground with Hoke the Joke. Enjoy the next few years of starting over with a new Coach if they can convince anyone to take the job. I'm going to enjoy watching Arizona rise to the top you'll be hearing about him for a long time. I think i'll go watch Arizona beat Utah it's awesome Bear Down Go Wildcats !!!
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:12 AM ^
By all rights Arizona is a 7-4 team. They won two games by pure luck.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
you are what your record says you are. stop with all this grey area, 'should be', 'by all right', 'pure luck' BS. They are 9-2, flirting with the top 10, have signiture wins, and in the mix for a conference championship.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
You are what your record says your are is an incredibly dumb statement. So Marshall is the second best team in the country. The ND team that Bama destroyed in the title game was th #2 team in the nation?
November 23rd, 2014 at 6:54 PM ^
If scoring 36 points in the fourth quarter is luck, we could use some of that. And don't forget the USC game which they LOST by pure luck.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
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November 22nd, 2014 at 10:36 PM ^
What was the moment that best summarized this game? I wouldn't go with the running two-minute drill -- we were moving the ball, the first downs slowed the clock down, and we got points out of it, so while it was odd it wasn't crazy. My choice would be the Funchess drops. The young man has talent, but he's gotten into bad habits that this coaching staff doesn't know how to fix, and his drops meant a pretty good performance by Gardner was wasted and the offense was still a clunker.
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
I felt nothing watching the game. I did chores...cleaned the house, did dishes, washed the floor, vacuumed, laundry. So that's what it's gotten to...this team is so boring to watch that I'd rather do chores than watch the game. I listened to the game in the background, but every time something bad happened I just shook my head and continued to clean.
I almost registered the emotion of "anger" when the Norfleet TD was called back...but then I caught and reminded myself that it just was not worth it.
It almost felt like the team was trying to find a way to lose today. I remain baffled at how many silly dumb mistakes so many different players continue to make.
Man, I feel bad for Devin. He deserves so much more than what he's gotten.
So now we know 100% without a doubt about Hoke's future. I hope for his sake he finds a way to get his team to beat OSU...I would like to see him go out on a high note at least.
My GOD. We're 0-2 against Rutgers and Maryland this year. That's astounding. Michigan football, everyone!
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^
I tuned in to watch the game, but after about 10 minutes I found myself cleaning, watching other games, doing anything but watching Michigan football.
The University better get this next one right, or rish losing a solid 12 years of alumnae that don't really care. I haven't been back for a football game in 7 years and have no desire to do so, and it blows my mind that people would spend a fortune doing so.
Watch for 15 minutes, chuckle and shake your head, and get on with your weekend.
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
THIS IS THE WORST MICHIGAN TEAM EVER
players, coaches, administration
NO EXCUSES
they all need to be dumped
November 23rd, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^
Don't blame the players. But the coaches and administration, yeah, get rid of the bums.
November 22nd, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
Hoke's offenses have not been good, regardless of coordinator. If you can't put points on the board, additional pressure is put on the defense, and the whole thing falls apart. At the end of a game the defense is tired, the opponent puts up a strong finish, and we lose.
There have been some good individual offensive games over the past four years, but there hasn't been offensive consistency.
What we saw today is what has happened in game after game, not just last year, but every year that Hoke's been here.
Hoke isn't a good offensive coach. There isn't balance between offense and defense. You can't win games unless the offense scores points. The kids deserve better coaching, and the fans are tired of wringing their hands over inexplicable losses to supposedly lesser teams.
This is a young team. But a young team doesn't have to be a clueless team. Brady must go. And I do think that the school is making a terrible mistake in not appointing an experienced AD right away, and instead leaving it up to Hackett to decide for himself whether he wants to stay in in the AD position. I mean, WTF? Who is running the fucking show?
November 23rd, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^
If Hackett can't land Harbaugh, it will be a huge mistake to let him conduct a coaching search. Are we seriously gonna allow someone with zero AD experience to select a new coach? You would think the school learned something from the Brandon fiasco.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^
If you think Hackett is soley in charge of the coaching search than you don't follow college football that closely.
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 7:30 AM ^
It's not that young of a team. There are few excuses this year.
Ohio state has a offensive line that had about the same experience than ours did and a backup qb and they're rolling over everyone.
Meanwhile RR in Arizona is 9-2 with a freshman QB.
Hoke hired Nuss and they broke the offense.
November 23rd, 2014 at 7:52 AM ^
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November 23rd, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^
Has Nussmeier been Hoke's GERG?
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
. . . perhaps we don't need to get warm fuzzies from our coach. Hoke is great guy and a good mentor for young men. He's not the unforgiving, relentless, tough SOB you will often find at the head of a winner
This is true. There is a lot of revisionist history about what a great guy Bo was, because time does that. But in his prime, Bo was a prick. There were no warm and fuzzies with Bo. Yet the man was very successful and developed men of character for the future.
I worked with a guy that played for Bo. He said Bo was the meanest son of a bitch he ever met. Bo would grab facemasks and shove players. Stuff you can't do today. It was a different era.
But even today, an elite D1 coach can't just be your buddy. He needs some prick in him. Like Saban and Dantonio and Meyer have.
And Jim Harbaugh.
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