2014 Football Dreams/Premonitions
I had a dream last night that Ty Isaac got his waiver and celebrated with a Tim Biakabutuka-esque performance against ND. Nearly 300 yards and 4 TDs; schadenfreude galore in the finale of that rivalry. What premonitions or dreams do you MGoBloggers have for the upcoming season?
Michigan beats Ohio in a not that close game.
Are we including nightmares?
MOAR PHYSICALNESS!!!!!!!!!! Better yet, MOAR PHYSICAL-NUSS!!!11!!!
Drink beer and watch Michigan football. (amount of beer consumed depends upon performance)
inverted bell curve re: heavy drinking during loss to dull the pain, and heavy drinking during win to celebrate.
You might be more correct than you know. A U-M client of mine attended a large event featuring Schlissel right after he was officially announced as the next U-M President. Most of the university bigwigs were in attendance, including Brandon.
Apparently Schlissel made a comment during his remarks about the fact that most of the entries that are at the top of the list when you google "University of Michigan" are athletic-related, and that he thought this was not the way things should be. My client said that the expression Brandon had on his face when he heard Schlissel's comment was priceless.
It would be pretty ballsy for the new guy on the block to try to take on DB, but if Schlissel concludes that DB is the single most unpopular person on campus—which seems obvious to me—he might consider it a risk worth taking.
Bowl, a strong defense and consistant offense. My nightmare is more inconsistancy and mediocrity.
That's on oddly specific Michigan centric dream.
My dream last night included a house party at a mansion, people tipping a bus full of people over the edge of an onramp, someone slowly mentally torturing me in my house, making it so all my handguns didn't work and sicking their cat on me before killing me.
Needless to say I woke up sweating a bit.
having a monstrous game in Columbus. Like, a Gallon against ND type of performance.
If the line can block competently (*I know, more "if’s" and "hope’s"), I don’t see anyone on the schedule they can’t beat. That’s not to say I’d predict 12-0, but if that does happen I would predict 10-11 wins. I think the talent on the team is continuing to trend up and is filling in. It’s just a matter of time before it takes off. To hell with MSU.
Also, I kind of think Isaac will be able to play this year. Call it a feeling.
write this exact same post below then realized you already summed up exactly my thoughts. If the Oline is good, I'm thinking 10-11. Damn the odds makers and their 7.5 O/U
(internet high-five)
I had a dream we score a TD vs Sparty
The last time we scored a TD against Sparty was 3 years ago (Roy Roundtree in 2011).
- seeks out beer to drown that thought -
I awake and it is August 30, sunny and uncharacteristically cool at 70 degress. The Goodyear Blimp glides over my house flashing the message "The long wait is over".
The dream I have is that we at least get some 2012-esque performances from the offensive line if Nussmeier's system is being installed and learned at a decent rate. As a consequence, we run some successful inside zone plays and give a triple threat of RBs in Green, Smith and a newly-waivered (if you will) Isaac some moments to shine. It's rather why I hope some of the MGoFolks who will be at the Academy this weekend ask plenty of questions about the offense and report back.
a 2007esque performance in South Bend
Nuss on offense, have the best secondary and linebackers in the BIG, and find a decent pass rush. QED
...that you stop being an asshole. My premonition is you won't.
That's funny MaizeMN, I don't care who you are, that's funny. Obviously said with a Larry The Cable Guy tone
I highly doubt your dream was that precise.
...you are in a position to know any details of my dream patterns and specifics, unless you are psychic.
I highly doubt you are psychic.
I highly doubt you are correct.
that is so dominant offesenses quiver when we line up. I want to see pain out there.
I'd certainly like to see it replicated multiple times in the coming years.
because going into year four, BH hasn't really instilled confidence in the fans we thought he would based on his early recruiting. This hasn't slowed down at all, but fans who point to stars might add one caveat, "provided they receive the coaching expected at a top flight school."
Brady proved he was able to win at his other stops based on no more than the ability to win in lesser leagues due to stockpiling higher caliber players than his fellow coaches. It's obvious BH has been given far greater leeway than his predecessor here, most notably by the dickheads hired as sports writers. This is Brady's fourth year here so the two deep should be filled with experienced players to the tune of it also being their fourth year in the program unless they played early because they had proven they were ready, are incoming freshmen who are just too good to RS and by a few of RR's players whose performance prevented those recruited after them to take over at their respective positions. In that context, this team should play at the level we can expect from future Hoke coached teams should he retain his job after this year.
Based on the fact we will be led by the conference's second best qb and probably the greatest on-field leader we've had since Tom at that position(sorry about your surrounding talent Devin), coupled with a far better overall team, it's in the coach's hand, and I believe Mattison has more than proven himself and Nuss will be instrumental in putting together an offense that will be able to move the ball down the field via the two most accepted practices, both running and passing, even though it may be the passing that sets up the running. He learned from the best in the business who grew tired of continuously getting beat by who, at thet time, was one of the greatest in the business and he will teach in the manner these two did. Perfection will be demanded, and these are 4 and 5 star players who are hitting the Michigan weight room for their fourth year. They'll be as strong as their opposition and are ready to display their talent by a coach who knows how to make it a reality. They will go into each game with a plan that is well thought out and organized, built upon their proven abilities to that date. He fully realizes the talent on hand, and perhaps dreams about the future. But he's realistic enough to know the best way to have his OL execute the advanced demands of Level three play is to perfect the duties associated with the less challenging duties of level one and level two. I'm assuming many on this site watched Bama graduate an entire OL to the NFL, and then field an entirely new OL capable of playing once again for the national title, minus one of the freakiest plays we'll see for awhile. Saban's only demand was perfectly executed blocking, based on what they knew and what he taught, not unlike Bo. He mixed this in with timely passing, with full knowledge that his defense would provide many opportunities for his offense to put enough points on the board to win. So expect a great deal of vanilla to start the season and as their confidence grows by proper execution for the first time since they've been here, so too will the RBs' as they are no longer rushing for a mere yard at a time, but are actually sustaining drives that put us in the end zone in the manner Bo's team's did, by simply becoming better at your job than your opposition's.
OSU is the only team in the conference that can match us on a talent basis. Of course his (Bo's) plan was duplicating OSU's style but doing it better until they became the toughest team in the the conference. Now that they've gone to the spread, that plan is no longer a viable option, but Nuss oversaw the same type of attack at Bama, and much like Mattison has been able to put the pieces together through recruiting to the point where he can pull out more tricks than he's used to date, Nuss has inherited like talent on his side of the ball and he knows what to do with it. I trust Brady to get out of their way and allow them to have their position coaches teach technique in the way their play calling will demand it, so we should see football of the type we became accustomed to and it should start this year.
Of course there is still one coach who has to be able to motivate his players from day one, coach in a manner on the sidelines that the players know their efforts won't be wasted by the opponent's HC doing a better job and maintaining that level of confidence his players will come to have in him as they begin winning by larger and larger margins. All the pieces are in place now to the degree that any coach in waiting would love to take over such a "ready to win" program. The unanswered question, and the one that will decide whether we keep struggling to 8 win seasons or take the leap to once again begin regulary winning at a double digit clip is whether Brady has both the ability to lead us there and whether or not he wants to continue coaching here. His answers to those two questions are really the difference in this year's edition of Michigan football. They are also, more than likely, the answer as to whether he has a viable opportunity of realizing his stated desire becoming a reality and retiring from UM when he decides it's time to hang em up. As one who likes the man, I'm hoping he's coach enough to get it done.
You analysis hits the mark. This team will rise and fall on Hoke's coaching abilities. Unless he improves his and his coaches performance, look for another mediocre season. Should that happen, he still we get to finish the final year of his contract and coach in 2015.
I don't actually dream about Michigan, but here's something I'd love to see in 18 months--on the day or two right after the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game in which Michigan finally captures the Big Ten title in convincing fashion after crushing Wisconsin in a 49-17 laugher:
A fairly in-depth magazine article in a major sports publication about the resurgence of Michigan football and coach Brady Hoke. A vivid-yet-realistic version might be this:
The impetus would be Michigan being fresh off their first Big 10 Championship since 2004, and being one of the stronger teams slated for the 4 team College Football Playoff for that year due to their dominant O-Line, punishing RB corps, NFL-bound Devin Funchess, and new-but-steady junior QB Shane Morris. And of course, the electrifying play and leader of the defense, sophomore phenom Jabrill Peppers (2 pick-6es in the most recent B1G Championship Game).
But the entire article would chronicle the initial euphoria, then despair, then stabilization of the Hoke coaching regime.
It would cover the 2011 Sugar Bowl and the troublesome 2012-2013 seasons. Then it would point to spring/summer of 2014 as a critical moment when Michigan fires Borges, hires Nuss, lands a 3rd dominant RB via transfer, and the O-Line stays on campus that summer to bond and ultimately turn the corner as a unit. It would briefly cover the solid 2014 campaign in which Michigan gains a bit of it's swagger back by upsetting both Michigan State and Ohio on the road, but ultimately losing the 2014 Big 10 title game to Wisconsin in a nail-biter let-down game--but eventually ending 2014 with a 11-3 record after a victory in the TaxSlayer Bowl against Georgia.
Then it would talk about how 2015 was simply a continuation of the growth seen in the 2014 season, and an ultimate conclusion that although 2011 was a successful year for Michigan, it was largely a fluke and not a designed event, whereas the now-dominant team of 2015 represents a SYSTEM that has been methodically created over the course of a few years, is bearing fruit, and is expected to produce strong results for the foreseeable future.
OK. I'm done. THAT'S the article I want to read 18 months from now. In my dreams.
Otherwise I think you are a prophet.
Jehu Chesson gets another bowling pin block clearing the way for Canteen to throw the game-winning touchdwon to beat Ohio.
defense
DOMINATE the line of scrimmage instead of merely holding the line
offense
HOLD the line of scrimmage instead of... well you know
And then you woke up
But here's my ideal dream, and I apologize for the length: Michigan has a very quiet offseason, particularly the O-Line, which stays on campus all summer, lives in the weight room, and comes together as a unit. The same could be said for the whole team, but the O-Line more than anyone.
Opening Day comes and we don't miss a beat. Although nothing will ever erase '07, we run App State right out of the stadium. They're outclassed in every possible way as Michigan plays angry en route to a 63-3 pummeling. Angry for '07, but more importantly, angry because they have something to prove. Head off to South Bend and leave the Domers with a bitter taste in their mouths on our way to a 21-10 victory. Our new offense hits a few snags against a good Irish D, but their offense can't get anything going, especially as freshman phenom Jabrill Peppers records two interceptions, one returned for a TD.
Business as usual from Miami to Rutgers. Michigan comes into the night game against Penn State ranked #14. All the world is still slurping on Hackenburg and Franklin and how they'll come into Ann Arbor and leave with a W. Hackenburg might be the real deal, but tonight won't be his night. With last year's debacle in Happy Valley still fresh in the team's mind, we send Penn State home to the tune of a 38-10 thumping. It's this point when the O-Line really starts coming together, and a combo of Isaac, Green and Smith run to the tune of 335 yards. Hackenburg goes 15/35 for 124 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INTs.
Hoke uses the bye week to his advantage, and scores that long awaited signature road win against MSU. The game isn't pretty, but Gardner makes enough plays against a great MSU defense to win, meanwhile the defense continues to make strides and shuts down MSU. 14-13 Good guys.
We have our traditional thumping of Indiana, but slip up finally against Northwestern the following week, which is having a rebound year of its own. (I know we can and should beat Northwestern, but I just don't see us going undefeated in any scenario no matter how biased I am). This team gets angry. It gets pissed. It sees its shot at a slot in the first college football playoff slipping away. That anger shows against Maryland, which gets sent home fresh off a 49-14 beat down on senior day. Frank Clark has the monster day we've all been waiting to see, with 3 sacks and 4 TFL.
Michigan is ranked #7 heading into Columbus against #2 OSU, who is undefeated and behind only FSU. The team stays quiet all week, focusing only on the game, meanwhile the trash down in Columbus start talking like the game is already won and how they're going to make an example of us. This game will be yet another classic, but it will not go the way our neighbors to the south hope. In another classic, Peppers channels his inner Woodson and proves that he's at his best on the brightest stages. He returns a punt for a TD, picks Braxton off twice, and returns one for a TD to put the game away in front of a stunned Columbus crowd, and an even more stunned Urban Meyer. Michigan packs up and leaves town before Columbus burns to the ground that very night.
Michigan makes its way to #4, securing the final spot in the playoffs, and OSU slides to #5, just missing out. Meanwhile, we beat Wiscy 35-21 in the BTCG.
I won't make playoff predictions, mostly because I'm tired of typing, but once you get there, anythings possible.
You are lucky your dreams last that long - mine never do, I'd get to halftime of the ND game before waking up in your scheme.
My only dream is the team looks far better in Nov then it does in Sep as Beilein's teams do in Feb v Dec. If it doesn't it appears we are just going top piss away multiple top end classes and waste what will be the easiest schedule UM will have probably in 20 years in 2015.
Always happens just before the D-Day Anniversary