Babcock to UM rumors: "There's nothing to it - zero to it"

Submitted by Ghost of BCook… on

Mike Babcock confirms that the rumors of him replacing Red upon his retirement were a misunderstood joke.

Sometimes Babcock has fun with the rumor and speculation. There has been a persistent whisper that he will take over for legendary coach Red Berenson at the University of Michigan. He has joked to reporters that if the Wings don’t want him next season, he’ll be Berenson’s assistant so he can stay close to his daughter.

“That’s just me entertaining myself,” Babcock said. “I don’t know who started those rumors, and now I keep them going. There’s nothing to it – zero to it.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ignore-all-the-rumors--mike-babcock-will-r…

Ghost of BCook…

May 19th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^

Agreed,  This was the only explanation that made any sense, yet the wrath brought upon some of those posters who suggested Babs to UM wasn't going to happen was fierce.  Brian didn't help matters by suggesting in a front pager that there were "legs" to this. 

gwkrlghl

May 19th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^

this wasn't a brand new rumor when Babcock joked about it the other day. Numerous well-connected individuals (such as Daily reporters) have heard that it was a possibility. In fact a tweet from a Daily reporter recently said something like "In 2009 I heard from multiple sources close to the program that Mike Babcock would take over for Red"

I don't think Babcock backtracking on it here totally lays it to rest. It's still wildly unlikely, but it's a rumor that's come up multiple times over several years and only just got 'refuted' till now. Certainly Babcock probably got tired of addressing the Michigan-thing after he joked about it, but I don't think that means it's still out of the question that he could coach here one day

Ghost of BCook…

May 19th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

If this doesn't work for you, what can he say for you to finally understand he's not coming to Ann Arbor except to visit his daughter?

Denials are one thing - they mean nothing in many instances.  Denials where a coach elaborates and mentions its for his personal entertainment are another.  You don't say more than you have to if you plan on going back on that denial since it comes back to bite you in the ass. 

HE'S NOT COMING. 

Bando Calrissian

May 19th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^

It's really amazing to me people actually thought this was ever a thing. 

Mike Babcock is not going to coach at Michigan. He was never going to coach at Michigan. 

umumum

May 19th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^

always a joke.  Similarly, can we now permanently remove Cowher from the list of potential football coaches---and, frankly, at this point, Harbaugh as well (unless he gets fired, I guess)?

WolvinLA2

May 19th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^

When I watch these gifs, I always wonder to myself what the kid was actually trying to do.  Sometimes it's clear, and with others it's a little murkier.  Here, I haven't a clue, because based in his jump and foot placement it's hard to think he felt anything other than what happened would happen.  

DealerCamel

May 19th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^

I once saw a gif where a girl lined up and kicked a bunch of guys in the balls, and they reacted predictably.  I was like, "Well what did you think was gonna happen?"  Turns out they had pretty much expected the end result; the only question, apparently, was who could hold out the longest. 

In this case, maybe the kid just thought, okay, if I landed nuts-first on a basketball rim, would it break or would it break me?

ChiBlueBoy

May 19th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^

There are at least two other people watching this. I guarantee at least one of the people watching, and probably everyone, said, "Yeah, that's a cool idea. Go for it."

Wolverine Devotee

May 19th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^

All I'm concerned with is the serious problems with this team.

They are 1-seed level talent-wise. Maybe now that Guptill is gone, his 50% every night will be replaced by players who actually seem to give a shit.

I am seething with anger every time I think about the fact Michigan has a losing record against a team that has been around for two years.

rob f

May 19th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^

to head off the "seething anger" you speak of?

Get a Prom date and get lucky.  That'll take the edge off!

Here's an idea that might work for you:  use your love of sports to your advantage, like this kid does:

 

Blue in Yarmouth

May 20th, 2014 at 7:58 AM ^

I can't believe anyone gave this any serious thought to begin with. I don't mean to be offensive because I'm a UM fan as well, but why on earth would Babcock go to UM? Forget the fact that it would be an obvious step backwards in his career, he has no ties to UM whatsoever. He started his coaching career off coaching university hockey in Canada and got out of it as soon as he could. Mike Babcock is a very ambitious man, he wouldn't move backwards.

Having met him a couple of times and having friends who know him quite well, I would say the next step in his career path will be moving up the ladder in the NHL to GM or president of hockey ops or something. This man has very little to prove at this point in his coaching career so I could see him taking a coaching job for sentimental reasons if the upper management jobs he's looking for aren't available yet, but why would that be UM? Again, I'm not trying to be offensive but I have to question anyones ability to reason who thought this was an actual possibility. 

Oh, and if anyone is going to justify their position by saying "well connected reporters said" please don't bother. Reading a report that something is a possibilty shouldn't cause one to blindly accept said report. Even a very small amount of critical thinknig on this subject would have brought most anyone to the conclusion that this was a ridiculous rumour.