Does anyone feel like this season's gonna be different?

Submitted by MaizenBlue93 on July 24th, 2021 at 7:48 PM

I just feel a completely different energy this time around. Harbaugh seems to be acting completely differently in a good way, there are all of these incentives in everyone's contract, and the offense is loaded with talent. 

 

If Michigan can get past Washington and Wisconsin, the team will have so much momentum and will start getting into the playoff talks. 

 

I'm so optimistic about this season a friend offered me 2-to-1 odds on 8.5 wins with the agreement that if a game is cancelled for any reason it goes down to 7.5 and I took him up on it. 

BlueUPer

July 24th, 2021 at 8:15 PM ^

I am one of the many Harbaugh apologists, UM Football apologists.  I cherish our September Heisman winners.  I love UM Football!!  Go Blue!

Sultans17

July 24th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^

I agree whole heartedly with the OP.  Our expectations have been driven so far into the dirt that we almost can't help outperform them. Have a funny feeling our D won't be nearly as turrible as feared, hearing all the positive rumblings about Macdonald that we all are. And I suspect our QB is indeed a generational talent.  Unfortunately, I don't trust myself; I'm Charlie Brown, eternally fooled by Lucy. And worse, I'm Heath Ledger. I can't quit you, Michigan. I just can't. 

Go Blue Eyes

July 24th, 2021 at 8:22 PM ^

I have always felt optimistic going into the season only to be disappointed as the season goes along.  This year I am truly pessimistic anticipating 4 or 5 losses. So hopefully this season is different.  

The Deer Hunter

July 24th, 2021 at 8:24 PM ^

If 5 wins is different than 2 wins then yes, this year is going to be absolutely different. Also, as opposed to last year we get to be trucked by OSU at the end of year. Not a pessimist, just a realist. 

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uminks

July 24th, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^

Not really! Last year was a fluke but we will probably be back to our 4 or 5 loss seasons. It just seems under Harbaugh we keep saying in 2 or 3 years we may become a good team and it never comes to fruition. 

Jimmyisgod

July 24th, 2021 at 8:33 PM ^

I will root, I will go to a couple games, but I’m a realist. We were 2-4 and would have been 2-6 if we played our last 2 games. We’re installing a new defensive system that we scarcely have the right personnel for.  We lost our best LB, our best DE, our best DT, our best OL, and a few other contributors.  
 

So there’s nothing wrong with optimism, but there is little in reality that says we’ll be better than last season other than people thinking we have to get better.  It’s the least talent we’ve had since year 1 of Rich Rod. 

Angry-Dad

July 25th, 2021 at 9:21 AM ^

I get this position and I am not saying it is wrong.  I think realistically 8-4 seems right, I do think they surprise and win one of the games they should not.  

Probably do end 2-6 last year, but our best DE was out, our second best DE was out, our best OL was out, our best WR was out, our best CB was out.  Last year was a perfect storm of a shit show.  Some teams handled the COVID season better than others, clearly Michigan did not.  I would argue the Big Ten did not handle the COVID season very well.  

Last year sucked for many reasons, but I don't think it is a complete accurate picture of were this team is talent wise or program wise.  I get the emotional safety net of low expectations, but this team is not as bad talent wise as year 1 Rich Rod in my opinion.  There are good players on this team and I think a momentum building season is likely in the cards.  

huntmich

July 24th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^

I think the 2017 class was weirdly cursed. I don't know why. But I think moving past that class is going to be significant. We've made necessary coaching changes, and I think we are going to start playing like the top 15 class we've been recruiting like. Penn state game won't be at night, Wisconsin didn't have a very good season last year, and Indiana doesn't have a solid enough recruiting history to best us twice in a row.

 

Last year sucked. I don't think this year is going to suck.

Eng1980

July 24th, 2021 at 8:41 PM ^

It would feel different if 

a) there was a rumor (feeling) that Michigan was practicing a two minute drill

or

b) there was a rumor (feeling) that Michigan philosophy included re-running plays that worked until the opponent proved they could stop it.

jethro34

July 24th, 2021 at 8:56 PM ^

Here's the thing with Harbaugh. Harbaugh is Charles Barkley. Extremely good at his job (outside of last year). Better than most, even. But Barkley did his thing while Jordan, Zeke, Bird, Olajuwon, Malone, Magic and others were doing it. Saban is Jordan. Dabo is Magic. Ryan Day is Olajuwon. I guess Orgeron is Zeke. You get the deal. Barkley came close and tried to win it all with multiple different teams but always had at least one team blocking him from winning it all. It sucks and it's part of his legacy......but Barkley could have been Larry Johnson. Grandmama was a #1 pick, played the same position at a similar size during a similar (overlapping) era. LJ was a 2 time All-Star with a nice career, but no one is confusing him with a top 50 player. We have Harbaugh. It could be better. It could be significantly worse. I've learned to settle because optimism ends up hurting me.

naplesblue

July 24th, 2021 at 8:58 PM ^

I feeling hopefully confident that we will be better than 7and 5 that they are predicting. I really realy am keeping my fingers crossed and sacrificing small animals

KentuckianaWolverine

July 25th, 2021 at 9:38 AM ^

Literally, 1 eight win season in 5 (full) seasons.

1 nine win season in 5 (full) seasons.

3 ten win seasons in 5 (full) seasons.

Where are you getting "the usual 8-4/9-3" stuff from?

It seems, to me, like you are projecting your life long disappointments on one coach, instead of the many coaches who have been here.

Just like someone posted something earlier about the last 19 seasons being why we need a change.  What in the actual hell?  How is that relevant in regards to a coach who's only been here for 5 1/2 seasons?  ?

You can't bitch about "usual 8-3/9-4", when it's certainly NOT been "usual".  ?‍♂️

uncle leo

July 24th, 2021 at 9:19 PM ^

Nah. 

I tried. I approached each season with the utmost of confidence, bought Lindy's magazines (I know), read everything I could on the team, and would inevitably get all excited when the team went 4-0 in the preseason.

I know the story of Michigan football; it's the same one I have been watching pretty much all my life. 

They have gone the way of the Lions for me; I'll emotionally invest again once they beat OSU or reach Indy. Until then, it's all talk.

blueheron

July 24th, 2021 at 9:33 PM ^

I can see some early season fuck-ups (a Michigan tradition) followed by some wins that show genuine promise as far as the new staff is concerned, and then the annual ass-kicking from Ohio State. In summary, a typical Michigan season of the last twenty years or so ..... this program does not traditionally move before necessity. It moves only after it's brutally obvious that the status quo (establishing the run) is entirely expected by the opposition and definitely not working.

I'm most curious about the QB position. I wonder if Harbaugh will "Schembechler" Cade McNamara and reduce his effectiveness. I wonder how quickly McCarthy will be ready and whether Bowman will be involved.

As always, I'm also looking forward to seeing lots of new players all over the field. In person, too!

tkgoblueoh

July 24th, 2021 at 9:36 PM ^

I’m very positive as I mentioned in previous post.

Just curious - what kind of bets can u place on Michigan football right now in Michigan.   May make at trip up to AA/ Mden before summer is over so just wondering what options are.
 

Can u bet on them to win division, big ten, etc or number of wins?