Exactly a half decade ago...
It may seem crazy, but this game was 5 years ago today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTAFYU-US4
Are we better off now than we were then? Which team would win, 2014 Michigan or 2009 Michigan? What's the one thing/decision you would have changed from the last 5 years?
I don't know, I guess half a decade is as good a period as any to look back on, and it is kind of ironic that the first of the three exciting wins against Notre Dame comes almost exactly 5 years before our worst loss ever.
September 12th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
2014 Michigan wins by a touchdown. If I could of changed one thing I would have not watched the Miss State game.
September 12th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 6:41 PM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 8:29 PM ^
. . What is the "program"? I think both are better than 5 years ago.
September 12th, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^
I have the exact opposite view. I'm not convinced this year's team would win in some crazy shootout with the 2009 squad, but there's no doubt in my mind that the program is in much better shape.
September 12th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
The program is definitely in better shape now, even if it's not as good as we'd like. Let's not forget, the 2009 team went 1-7 in B1G play, beating only fellow last-place Indiana.
September 12th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^
The team wasn't good but the pieces were in place for the team that went 11-2 a couple of years later.
Do you think we are going 11-2 this year? Or next year? Or the year after that?
If you do I would like to make a number of $1 wagers against you.
September 12th, 2014 at 11:30 PM ^
How about 10-3? Would you take that bet?
September 13th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^
There is no particular reason to believe that we would have gone 11-2 with the Rich Rod staff in place. He horribly mismanaged the defensive side of the ball. That's like assuming that Tommy Amaker would have eventually win the B1G because Beilein did.
September 12th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^
If Tate learned to "play school" too and wasn't a headcase it would have been very interesting to see how he developed. He could throw very well on the run and was pretty darn accurate.
September 12th, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
That is the thing I would change . . . for Tate to keep his head in the game and play up to his potential. But Tater had to Tate.
We'll always still have this ND game though.
September 12th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
I know there was a post about Tate signing to play summer ball this year but I'm not sure anyone posted any video. He takes the field at 11:20; I tried to start the video there but my attempt's failing for some reason.
September 13th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^
That is sad to watch. The end of the first drive just about sums up his career.
September 12th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
Look, it was a great finish and all, but what a disaster defensively. The intro to GERG. Not to mention when you realize that year was 2009......not a season I wanna look back at.
I will say 2012 at Nebraska was Forcier's moment. That's why we needed him. Michigan could win that game if he stepped in for Denard.
September 12th, 2014 at 7:41 PM ^
At least he had the 3-OT Illinois game, for the same reason.
September 12th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^
Truer words were never spoken. I'll go to my grave convinced that if Tate Forcier had kept his head screwed on more tightly that he could have been a great QB at Michigan.
But then I thought Sam McGuffie would be in Heisman contention by his junior year, so consider the source.
September 12th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
I have nothing but respect for Denard, but Tate was the better QB.
I know a lot of ''what ifs'', but Tate had a tremendous upside when he was on. He was like Johnny Football lite as the offensive line he had blocking for him wasn't very good and receivers he had were only okay.
Along with the whole ''you have to try to fail'' thing.
September 12th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
I wonder ihow the offense would have been if both of them played at the same time? Tate at QB and Denard as everything else.
September 12th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
2014 Michigan wins by 2+ TDs
September 12th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^
would wreak havoc on Gardner all day...and he'd be good for at least 3 turnovers
September 13th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
How often did a Gerg defense wreak havoc on anyone?
September 13th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
the nation in tackles for loss (or tfl's per game), and he did have 10.5 sacks. Comparatively, no one on last year's team had more than 5. With the line issues, and Gardner's penchant for turnovers, I could see some mile havoc wrought (wreaked?...not sure)
September 12th, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^
Would it count as a conference game?
No way 2009 wins if it's a conference game.
(and FWIW I agree with your spread--2014 by 17 or thereabouts)
September 12th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 6:13 PM ^
I did like me some Brandon minor.....injuries kept a great one from us.....this was my first game at the big house
September 13th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
September 12th, 2014 at 11:30 PM ^
September 13th, 2014 at 1:46 AM ^
All else aside, it's fun to look back on that day. I was in my 2nd year of grad school at Notre Dame, and had had to endure that awful 3-9 season surrounded by Domers. I even attended the game at ND Stadium in 2008. Getting the W and some revenge was amazingly sweet. I spent a good chunk of the evening just walking around ND's campus wearing my Charles Woodson jersey like a jackass. Even though that season was rough, no one could give me too much grief, thank goodness.
September 13th, 2014 at 1:47 AM ^
That's a tough one. It depends on if it's on a neutral field or not. (HUR HUR HURRR)