Future Opponent Watch: UCF hiring Babers?

Submitted by Brendan71388 on

According to CoachingSearch.com, who credits 247 Sports with the scoop, UCF is set to hire Bowling Green coach Dino Babers as their next head coach. We play them September 10 of next year in Ann Arbor.

http://coachingsearch.com/coaching-search-ticker

Babers has been discussed on the MGoPodcast a few times because of of the Big Ten teams BGSU played this year. He is an Art Briles disciple and to me, this makes this matchup somewhat scary. 

According to USA Today's Dan Wolken, however, no deal is done.

https://twitter.com/DanWolken/status/671126013590437889

Brendan71388

November 29th, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^

Well for starters, I'm a very pessimistic fan and despite the relative success we had this year I'm still easily scared about losing to opponents we shouldn't. Seems like he's the kind of coach who could install a system with existing players and have success right away.

You're right though. It SHOULD still be a blowout.




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champ009kd

November 29th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^

Should this happen, and it probably will since it's been rumored for weeks amongst the BG faithful, I really don't see a huge problem for Michigan next season. The Babers offense relies on a heavy dose of, "FUCK IT GO DEEP". If we do just as Tennessee did to Bowling Green this season, we should be able to wear them down....just like Ohio State did to us on Saturday (i know, it's too soon). 

Wolverine Devotee

November 29th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^

He may be a good coach, but he's walking into a disaster that went 0-12 this year.

Similar to Gary Andersen. We're fortunate to play him in year one.

Michigan4Life

November 29th, 2015 at 8:08 PM ^

The same UCF who won the American Athletic Conference last year and went to Fiesta Bowl a couple years ago? O'Leary mailed it in this season like Spurrier. UCF could be in a big bounce back year next year like Houston with Tom Herman. Babers offense has been explosive and relies on spacing so Michigan secondary will be tested regardless. It's an uptempo passing spread offense




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alum96

November 29th, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^

Were they mailing it in in game 1 and 3 when they lost to FIU and Furman?  Most teams at least try a few games before 'mailing it in'.

Saying what they did a few years ago is meaningless in college football.  Those players moved on.  The year after Ball State had its big year w/ Brady Hoke they fell apart - what did the prior year do too help them with 1 or 2 years down the road.  Countless other examples of similar ilk.  UCF is not Georgia or hell South Carolina.

Its still a PTSD fanbase man.  UM took care of the teams it was supposed to this year because we have real coaches.  It lost to two teams with 1 loss and a 3 loss Utah in game on that is top 25.  It didnt have close games with complete garbage outfits.

Gentleman Squirrels

November 29th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^

Babers has done well wherever he's gone. However, just because he's an Art Briles disciple, doesn't mean he's the same as Art Briles. It will be a good game and I have faith that Harbaugh will have our team ready for it.

weasel3216

November 29th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^

It would make the matchup scary if he was going to inherit a good offense. UCF was the 125th scoring offense and 127th total offense. There are 127 teams in FBS.

alum96

November 29th, 2015 at 8:18 PM ^

So you are scared of a team that went 0-12 due to a MAC coach taking them over?  That will travel to Michigan in the first game of that dude's career UCF....to face a team led by Jim Harbaugh in its 2nd year.

Wow some people are seriously PTSD.

Look at Matt Johnson's 2013 season (pre Dino) and tell me what UCF QB that he inherits has that skill set.  It sort of helps to have a top end QB to run your Baylor offense.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/513573/matt-johnson

The mighty Dino Babers machine lost 68-17 to Wisconsin in his first season at Bowling Green, the only team within an iteration or two of the type of team UM will be fielding next year.

UMichStudent2019

November 29th, 2015 at 8:33 PM ^

He's walking into a situation worse than Harbaugh did back at Stanford. Barbers is a good coach, but to turn a program around as quick as Harbaugh turned around Stanford would be nothing short of a miracle. If the matchup was three or four years down the road, I think concern would be a little more reasonable.

Michigan4Life

November 29th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^

Situation worse than Harbaugh? UCF won AAC last year and went to Fiesta Bowl two years ago. They had two consecutive 1st round picks in Bortles and Perriman. Babers will find athletes in Florida and take players who wouldn't get recruited by Florida schools bc of off field issues.




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McSomething

November 30th, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^

A lot can happen in 2 years. Look at Michigan in 2006, then look again in 2008. How many of the players from UCF's Fiesta Bowl team were even still around this year? How many will be on the team next year? Things can fall off quick, and take quite awhile to recover. Not saying UCF is gonna be a 35+ point route, but I doubt they'll come in ready to pull much of an upset either.

Mr. Yost

November 29th, 2015 at 9:27 PM ^

Relax...I know UCF inside and out...probably second to Michigan. Worked in that athletics department for many years - better half is an alum so I follow the team. #HouseDivided, we'll be at the game next year. I don't care of Nick Saban is coaching UCF next year, unless they get every 5th year senior in the SEC to transfer to UCF...it's not a big deal.

They're 3-4 years away.

Next year we're likely going to be facing a ton of freshman and sophomores. The roster is horrible. Remember how Lloyd Carr left Michigan? That's what O'Leary did to UCF...only at a much lower level.

They're going to be terrible. They may go 2-10 next year or something like that.

That said, they could easily be 6-6 in year 2 and back towards the top of the American in Year 3.

UCF is a sleeping giant, they could've been TCU if they were managed properly. They still can be, but it'll take some time.

As for the game with Michigan, it'll be like the UNLV game where they're just happy to be there and know they have a young team in a new system.

Qmatic

November 29th, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^

I've been saying for years that UCF could be TCU if they managed it right. Second largest student body in the nation, right in the heart of Florida, and no tradition which in their case is great. They have a relatively new stadium, and a talent oasis in their own backyard.

By 2020 if they hire the right coach, they could be in the talks of going to a Power 5 conference

Mpfnfu Ford

November 30th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^

Is an amazing indictment of Syracuse, Rutgers, Illinois, Virginia and (maybe, we'll see if they get Durkin) Maryland. 

An AAC job in a fertile recruiting area is officially more attractive than a bottom barrel P5 job.