One Last Blind Stab In The Dark

This still isn't going to end well.  I wish Stanford was in the Rose Bowl so this could end on Sunday.

I don't think the transition under Harbaugh will be as rough as the transition from Carr to RR. Instilling a spread offense with the style of players we had back in 2008 is nearly impossible. Ryan Mallet or Steven Threet are never going to be very effective in spread formations, but Denard/Tate/Devin can all develop into great pro-style QB's. Offensive recruiting will change slightly, simply because some players (i.e. Dee Hart) want to play in spread heavy offenses. But Dee Hart would be a great running back in a pro-style offense as well. JH also won't have the number of tight ends that would be optimal for his offense, but he knows how to recruit them, and he'll already have Kevin Koger. But it's not as if recruits only consider either spread-heavy offenses or pro-style offenses, in most cases. I think we put too much weight on the style of offense RR runs and how it effects subtleties in recruting and within the games themselves.

Defensively, we obviously are young, but I don't think most of us can really quite grasp how young we really are and how dificult it is for guys like Avery and Vinopal to step in. Yet, they've been effective. Those guys have the potential to be great and the fact that people seem to think they're any where near their ceiling is laughable. JH would have to bring in a few more D-linemen than we have now, but again, he knows how to recruit. There isn't going to be an empty depth chart as long as there isn't a mass exodus, and those who stay will be more prepared size wise and experience wise than they were this season.

That being said, I want RR to get at least another year. It'll be a damn near travesty for the fan base to basically force out a coach after, in reallity, only two seasons with a team. I go to other blogs and see people comment on how they hope Mississippi State murders UM just so RR is fired. Those people are pathetic excuses for humans, let alone "fans", and to think there is an audible minority that is of that opinion is cringe-worthy.

I hope RR is retained. It's beginning to look more and more like he won't be, though. When JH is announced on Jan. 5th, if that's the case, then I'll be excited for the last month of recruiting and the spring to come. Godspeed to him and I hope we return to where we once were. RR will become a head coach somewhere else, and I'll take solace for how he's been treated by many fans by having a new team to root for in all games that don't involve Michigan as the opponent.

that Rich Rod's offense isn't suited for the Big Ten, SEC, or Pac-10.  Particularly considering the champions of two of those three conferences this year run offenses that are variants of Rich Rod's scheme.

Also, I don't think his defensive scheme struggles against power so much as his current defensive personnel struggles against power. 

With the sound of music

to my ears that Brian is 65-35 Harbaugh...YAY!

Three years ago we should have hired Miles. Instead...major embarrassment.

I PRAYYYYYY to GAWD UM can't screw this up a second time.

The technicolor dreamcoat is ready, Jim. Come home. It's time. We NEED you. There can be no greater triumph than restoring YOUR Michigan to its former greatness after the hatchet job done on it the last three years.

And if Denard Robinson chooses to transfer? Onto the trash heap with him--and the rest of the guys who just don't love Michigan enough. AMIRIGHT? I mean, we only talk about players who want to play for MICHIGAN, AMIRIGHT?

How lucky are we to have Brian as the voice of reason.  I do not want another 3 years of rebuilding, hoping against hope that RR stays on. 

The thought of Denard wearing a different jersey makes my stomach ache

Here's hoping for a big win on New Year's Day

I realize that our program is in deep shit - one way or another.

If RR stays - the rumors will continue unless he has a B10 conference win next year.

If JH comes - he'll need 3 years of rebuilding

Top it up with the losing recruiting battles and players transferring - we are in a hole.

Maybe I am just being overly pessimistic but just what I feel.

Genuine Question - Can we have Co-head coaches? RR for the Offensive Side; JH for the defensive side

Well... it looks like we have come to the end of the dark tunnel and it looks to be darker.  My wife and I were in Zingerman's Deli yesterday around 11:30 when I spotted Brady Hoke.  I walked up when he was leaving and congratulated him on his bowl win and asked what he was doing in Ann Arbor.  He said "just visiting friends for the New Year".  I do not buy it at all.  I guess I wasn't that good this year if this is what Santa thinks is the present I wanted for Xmas.

If anyone was in Columbus this year ... You would know that Rich Rod is the Enemy... He needs to be GONE FAR FAR AWAY

Jimmy is the man I think we all know this...the only problem is does Jimmy wanna be the man? Ahhhh please oh please Jimmy we NEED you... :)

Brady isn't as bad as everyone thinks as a second choice....if he brings back Ron English as Def. Cord. it might not be a bad dual...I mean let's not forget 2006

...got it backwards, Brian.  As time goes on, the emotional rationale for firing RR (i.e. frustration after the OSU and Wisc losses) gets thinner, while Harbaugh now has: 1) another enticing job option (the 49ers) and 2) Andrew Luck coming back for 2011.  

To me that strengthens the case for bringing back RR and weakens the appeal of Michigan for Harbaugh right now.  

This is my 4th ever post on this board, I've been a reader for awhile.  This is a great blog, many of you are solid contributors and I thank you for that.

I've been watching Michigan football since my childhood in A2, going back about 25 years.  The first game I attended in person was a 20-17 win over Iowa in 1986, avenging our only loss from the 10-1-1 season the year before. My Dad brought me to that game, I was 8 years-old at the time and Jim Harbaugh was the starting QB.  I was a UM undergrad student in 1997, I vividly remember Charles Woodson's punt return TD against OSU and not caring about the taste of Tom Goss's pepper spray after the game.  Maybe it's bias or the way I was raised, but from 1986 until 2010, when I walked into the stadium or turned on the TV for any Michigan game, I always thought we had an excellent chance to win.  Always.  Hell, I was 100% certain that Tate was going to lead an insane 4th quarter comeback against Iowa this season, and screamed my head off in the stadium even after the stands had thinned out by a third.  But heading into this season's final two games against Wisconsin and OSU, for the first time in my life, I felt we had no chance to win.  That feeling disturbed me.  I cheered like hell the way I always do, because frankly I don't know how else to behave.  But the loss of hope stung me almost as much as the results of the games.

You can call me a "blue hair" (I'm not that old) or a "townie" (guilty as charged), and that's fine.  There are many people just like me who would love to see JH coaching at Michigan not only because we remember the successes of the past, but because we think he would restore lost confidence and bring RESULTS.  Personal attacks on Rodriguez have no place in this debate.  He gets paid $2.5 million to do a job.  Many of us "old school" types simply think Harbaugh would do it better.