$15 for the Ideal Michigan Team
Took the fun little exercise going around the net and applied it to Michigan football, but with a twist. The $1 items are, um, not hall of fame level options.
Categories are: coach, quarterback, offensive team (minus QB), defense, and schedule. Schedule is playing our schedule for that season with the given quality of opponent.
This is by no means an exhaustive or definitive list, but may be fun.
Coach:
$5 - Bo
$4 - Yost
$3 - Crisler
$2 - Moeller
$1 - Bump Elliot
QB:
$5 - Benny Friedman*
$4 - Rick Leach
$3 - Jim Harbaugh
$2 - Denard Robinson
$1 - David Cone
Offense:
$5 - 2000
$4 - 1985
$3 - 1971
$2 - 2010
$1 - 2008
Defense:
$5 - 1901
$4 - 1997
$3 - 1970
$2 - 2006
$1 - 2010
Schedule:
$5 - 2011
$4 - 1985
$3 - 2014
$2 - 2007
$1 - 2012
For my $15, I'll take Gary Moeller, Jim Harbaugh, 1971 offense, 1997 defense, 2014 schedule. Moeller was an excellent coach and Harbaugh an excellent QB. Combining one of Bo's best offenses with the best Michigan defense of my lifetime and I don't see a loss on the 2014 schedule.
*So I misspelled Benny Friedman's name. I'm embarrassed. I'll punch myself in the face as punishment.
[waits]
Done.
I would go with Crisler, Denard, 2010 O, 97 D, and 85 sched.
I just think it would be pretty awsome to see Denard running an offense designed by Crisler.
Just think Crisler is one of the most original/forward thinking coaches/football minds that ever was and man what he could do with someone of Denard's talents.
I go with the 2010 offense because of Denard and closest thing to the single wing for Crisler to work with.
The 97 D is just too damn good to say no too, plus that would enable Chuck to have some plays on offense.
That leaves me $4 so I guess I go with the 85 sched.
Which Coach shall I take?
Yost ($4) + Denard ($2) + 1985 Offense ($4) + 1997 Defense ($4) + 2012 Schedule ($1)
...doesn't matter who you play when you have this team.
Yost doesn't lose and his system and the 1985 Offense were built for Denard Robinson at QB. The 1997 Defense has the only defensive player to win the Heisman and they were, IMO, one of the best 3 defenses in CFB history. Screw the schedule, this team ROLLS to an easy National Championship.
I'll take Crisler, Jim Harbaugh, 1971 offense, 1997 defense, 2007 schedule
you can't pick a pre 80s or 90s player and expect them to be successful against a modern team. the game was too different (and slower, weaker, simpler, etc.).