How we got here - in MGoThreads **UPDATED**

Submitted by readyourguard on
How did we get here?  How did we got from years of stability and competitiveness to turmoil and mediocrity?  We'll be debating that for years to come.
 
Here's how we got to where we are today - in MGo thread titles
 
Sept 27. Brian's recap of the dismal Minnesota loss where he states "if you believe the first job of a head coach is to protect his own players, worthy of a firing"
The shitstorm began after Shane Morris was re-inserted into the game despite his clear wobbliness.
The fumbling of facts by Brady during his press conference was only eclipsed in absurdity by the cowardly 1 a.m. press release from the David R. Shepherd Director of Athletics.
 
Brian followed that up by flatly stating "Brady Hoke is too incompetent to be Michigan's coach" with THIS IS NOT MICHIGAN on Sept 29
 
Ace went HAM later that day with One Frame at a Time: Fire Hoke
 
There was a report that Michigan reached out to Bates, Manuel
 
We had a student rally to Fire Brandon
 
And then, unbelievably,  just 1 month into the 2014 season that promised a new and improved offense and stellar defense ("Wait. You just wait and see.") we're right back where we were 4 years ago: Coaching Candidates Part 1: The Power 5
 
The Minnesota loss was the 2nd of a 3 game slide, including Rut-fucking-gers.  And because the cosmos hates Michigan football, it broke Derrick Green's collar bone because why not?
 
 
We did manage to beat Penn State in UTL III, but then got our shit pushed in by Sam the Eagle Dantonio because Joe Bolden is a big, fat meanie who rammed a tent spike into the hallowed grounds of the Giant Parking Structure.
Fuck him (Sam, not Joe).
 
 
Out of the misery, we were treated to some truly joyous dancing by my new favorite Wolverine, Dennis Norfleet.
If you can't smile at that, we can't be e-friends.
 
We took a step away from the NO POLITICS rule in an effort to get our house in order.  Mike Behm eventually won a seat on the Board of Regents.
 
As if anything couldn't get worse, Dave Brandon suggests you find a new team to root for.
Fuck him.  (Dave, not Joe).  Yo, Brandon, here's a parting muppets video as you pack your boxes.
 
 
In the midst of De-commit-palooza*, we actually got a football commitment from Dele' Harding.  Go figure.
*Future Blue Origi....er, ball busters:
George Campbell
Mike Weber via Twitter as Maryland took the lead in the 4th quarter.
Chris Clark
 
Drake Johnson came in and gave us a sliver of hope by rushing for 100+ yards against the world's worst defense.
 
News from San Francisco claims Harbaugh is on the way out after his team fell to 4-4 and Niner legends Jerry Rice and Steve Young pinned the poor performance on a disconnect between the players and their coach.
 
The cosmos hadn't had enough fun with Michigan yet, so it knocked out star recruit/proclaimed savior Jabrill Peppers for the season.  Hurray for a 5th year.   LOL.   Who am I kidding?
 
Of course, some of the best content in times like this (which we now know all too well) are the CC posts from the community.  Everyone from a guy named Jim, to his brother, a dude with the #1 team in the #1 conference (who eventually pulled a 2015 QBs offer weeks before he was going to enroll early), Greg Schiano, Anyone BUT Greg Schiano, and MGrowOld's cat.
Here are some others:
Les Miles again....and again...and again...and again
Ron Zook.  You read that right: Ron. Zook.
Pep Hamilton
Chad Ochocinco
Following that riveting Northwestern victory where Fitzgerald outdumbed Hoke, we took time to contemplate who would or would not make it:
Nuss won't make it - Year 2
Funk won't make it
Jack & Jill won't make it
and Coach Heck won't make spaghetti tonight
 

While you're at it, How about showing some support ????.  4 question marks.  FOUR!!!!  Dave Brandon is impressed.

We got to eat our own and re-hash whether we should have retained Gorgeous Al Borges while trying to make a case for retaining Hoke.

Hypothetical CC: Chip Kelly

Daily Jim Harbaugh articles: 11/14  11/19 11/24 9ers possibly trading Harbaugh to Jets Shefter:Harbaugh to NCAA unlikely
BTW, Stephen Ross would rather have Harbaugh at UofM.  OF course, it helps that his team is actually playing good football right now.

"Why are you defending Hoke?", damn you.  And while you're contemplating that, ask yourself, "When did Hoke lose you? and "What is the main thing for a Michigan Football HC?"

Larry Foote tells the world we have too many trust fund babies and that we should get back to recruiting the 'hood.  Frank Clark takes it upon himself to prove Foote wrong.  He was promptly dismissed from the program.  Coach Hoke released a statement on Clark

Florida one-upped us by firing Will Muschamp in his 5th season in Gainesville.


Nebraska pulled the quick trigger.  OT: Bo Pellini Fired




And then, on Tuesday December 2, Athletic Director Jim Hackett addressed the media and confirmed what everyone expected:  Brady Hoke Fired



So there it is.  After having 3 coaches over a span of 4+ decades, we now look for our 3rd coach in 5 years.  My have things changed in Ann Arbor.

At the end of the day, we're talking about a bunch of college kids playing a game.  These boys put their time, effort, and well-being on the line so we can enjoy 12 Saturdays every Fall.
A poor kid with a battered brain felt the only reasonable remedy was to take his own life. His body was found near his apartment with a pistol nearby.  God rest your soul, Kosta Karageorge.



To conclude, here's a picture of Devin Gardner. This photo reaches deep into my soul perhaps more than any other I've seen.  Look at the face of those two young men and immerse yourself in that very moment. 

It makes me feel ashamed that I've ever spoken a bad word about a college football player.
Here's to hoping for a more content future.
Go Blue.
 

Football
threads

Comments

Tater

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^

The stale air of the 2014 season is giving way to a fresh blast of optimism.  This board is becoming more fun again.  If Hackett gets this hire right, the board is going to be a lot of fun.  Imagine 2015 beginning with spring practice under Harbaugh or Mullen and a deep run for the basketball team in the NCAA Tournament.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

saveferris

December 4th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^

Hell, if the incoming coach is able to flip even a third of those guys back to Blue, that would be an accomplishment at this point.

I will say that including Campbell as part of the decommit fesitval is a little unfair.  He got off the train long before the shit hit the fan.

Joined: 07/02/2009

MGoPoints: 24841

Baughlieve

December 4th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^

Jeff Tedford

I reserve the right to change my mind about this pending a review of the other attractive candidates (and the results of the forthcoming season), but Tedford should be the first name on the list*. What he's done at Pac-10 Indiana is staggering. He runs a pro-style offense that would fit Michigan's current talent well (and better than, say, Rich Rodriguez' spread option). He turned Joey Harrington into the third pick in the NFL draft. He's young enough to coach Michigan for 20 years but experienced enough (and in one place) to have built the sort of track record Michigan can be secure in. If he wants it, he should be the guy.

*(assuming that the real pipe dream guys like Meyer, Stoops, etc. are excluded; this list contains only reasonable candidates.)

And this...

Les Miles

Joined: 11/22/2014

MGoPoints: 5753

Other Andrew

December 4th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^

Hell of a collection you've put together.

However I think the true downward slide began against Penn State in 2013. Here's that post:

Position to Fail

...followed by:

27 For 27: A Document
 

This was the point where we had reason to believe that the coaching staff was not competent. This was what led directly to:

  • Missing out on Da'Shawn Hand.
  • Offensive explosion, but defensive WTF aginst Indiana.
  • Negative rushing yards vs MSU
  • Dileo Slide™ vs NU
  • 24-21 loss vs Iowa
  • Good effort vs OSU, but that damn 2-point conversion call
  • KSU bowl game

That was the moment when it all started going to hell. And we kind of knew it right away.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 7682

Moonlight Graham

December 4th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^

the delay of game penalty near the end of regulation of the Penn State game. We have our shit just slightly together enough to avoid that, we get Gibbons closer for the field goal and it's game over. Iowa and Nebraska games were winnable, too. Northwestern was lucky, of course. Could have easily been a 9 or 10 win season. 

But that delay of game ... you're right, we knew it right away. 

Joined: 09/12/2011

MGoPoints: 7559

Jonesy

December 5th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^

I feel like Hoke was on his way out before the concussion thing.  I also still feel it's ridiculous to blame him for that and that it's a failure of the medical staff, you know, the people with the job of telling Hoke who can't play due to injury.

Joined: 03/14/2012

MGoPoints: 10548