Honest Question: So what, now?
As you all may hear me say quite often, "honest question." So what do we do now? Not the team...us, the MGoBloggers who eat/breath/sleep Michigan Football.
*Note I'm not suggesting in ANY way that any of us will stop watching, rooting or cheering for Michigan...*
I suppose, like myself, for many of you Michigan football ranks near the top of your list of "Things Most Important To Me." Obviously family, religion, and a few other things outrank Michigan athletics for many of us, but the fact is...it's still priority and probably our #1 or #2 favorite outlet from life.
So what are you all planning to do to cope with the rest of the season? I'm not suggesting you won't watch another game, or won't visit MGoBlog...but I'm sure like me, you're just a touch less interested and a hell of a lot less optimistic.
I suppose this is the "ideas thread." What are you plans for the rest of the season to fill that void of Michigan football? You can't speculate about the next coach for 10 weeks, or can you?
Now secretly, us suckers know that all is not lost and we're going to say we're to going to give it less attention - but we know we can still win this awful conference, so we're going to be watching and peeking through our hands currently covering our faces. Just hoping for a game, a half, a series...hell, a play that gives us hope for the next game/half/series/play.
We're going to be trying to make sense of things by saying "maybe this is the end of this curse...we started it with a horrible non-conference season in '07...and that season finished pretty good. Maybe we're finishing it now...and this season will turn out okay too!" We're going to do anything to make ourselves believe.
But in the end, it's very likely that it just is what it is...a 6-6 team that makes us all sick because we love this program so damn much.
So if it's that, what it certainly looks like, what are you all going to do to bridge you to basketball/hockey season? Again, honest question. I'll make a list and maybe we can save an MGoLife from weeks of boredom by giving him/her an MGoHobby.
September 21st, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
Maybe Minnesota starts to mean more now that we lost ND as a rival?
September 21st, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
It's probably going to start meaning more given the trajectory of our program. The jug will probably be spending more time in Minnesota then ever before.
September 21st, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
I should've clarified that...I wasn't saying anyone was going to stop watching. I just am saying...what are you going to do cope with it.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
This team, unfortunately, reminds of the 2012 MSU team.
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September 21st, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
...and I apologize for the confusion, because I wasn't saying anyone was going to stop watch. Check the signature. It's been there since the beginning...I could never endorse giving up on ANY Michigan team.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
What has helped me cope the last 6 or 7 years is coming to the realization that these are still kids playing this game. Sure, I yell at fundamental mistakes but these aren't grown men making millions on Sundays.
That being said, I will agree they deserve better from a handful of the coaches. And the coaches alone should be the focus of our ire.
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September 21st, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
Can't stop. Won't stop.
September 21st, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
goooooo lions!!!!111!!! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!
September 21st, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
I will still watch the games, but I have no optimism left so I will focus my attention elsewhere. Family has always been the first priority, but golf and fantasy football now will get me by until basketball season starts.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
over at AA news, sums it up well.
----
Asked why his team continues to struggle with the basic fundamentals game in and game out, Hoke had little to say.
"The only thing I can tell you is that we've got to keep working at it," Hoke said.
It was a boilerplate answer that simply served as a placeholder for reality.
That reality? Michigan is a poorly coached football team. Its fundamentals are poor. Its technique is inconsistent. It doesn't make noticeable improvements from week-to-week.
Instead, it takes noticeable steps backward.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
I'd be more impressed if I heard him say:
"I have no f****** idea"
September 21st, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
What now?
Bench Gardner. Try to get Butt more involved as pass outlet.
Plays need to be 3-step drop and release.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
Let's be honest here, I, like I'm sure the majority of people, will still watch pretty much the same as always. We won't be as excited, we'll approach the game more cynically, we'll bitch more, but it's still going to be a big part of Saturdays for the remainder of the season.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
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September 21st, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
wouldn't it make more sense to pay a couple hundred extra to fly?
I'd gladly do so in order to maintain my sanity.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
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September 21st, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
I plan on spending a lot of time, reading posts on topics like:
1) what do we do now,
2) who ought to be the qb,
3) next coach
4) DB hatred
I suspect this will keep me very busy.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
Well it is clear Borges was not the issue.. The rest of the position coaches are a complete trainwreck on offense..
The oline is still beyond horrific.. Especially with pass blocking. Gardner seems to go with every play that is called and never looks at more than 1 WR..
He missed funchess wide open by 20+ yards for a TD in the first half and i just gave up after that..
The stadium wasn't even close to full and the attendance that it was 103k was total bs..
No one stands up on 3rd downs to cheer, everyone is just ho-hum at the games much like what Hoke has turned this program into..
September 21st, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
Don't agree with the last point - in my section, at least, fans made a lot of noise on 3rd downs. I really don't think the fans were a part of the problem.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
I thought the same thing about the announced crowd; it sure seemed like a lot of students were missing the tilt...
September 21st, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
Well it is clear Borges was not the issue.. The rest of the position coaches are a complete trainwreck on offense..
The oline is still beyond horrific.. Especially with pass blocking. Gardner seems to go with every play that is called and never looks at more than 1 WR..
He missed funchess wide open by 20+ yards for a TD in the first half and i just gave up after that..
The stadium wasn't even close to full and the attendance that it was 103k was total bs..
No one stands up on 3rd downs to cheer, everyone is just ho-hum at the games much like what Hoke has turned this program into..
September 21st, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
Hire Borges?
September 21st, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
No. It is clear that Nuss is not able to correct whatever issues we had under Borges in four games. Whether he will be able to do that and prove Borges was the problem remains to be seen.
September 21st, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
Nuss has already corrected - or at least moved a long way to correcting - the Borges problems. Last year, when we lined up, I could tell what we were going to do and usually tell that the run was about to be stuffed. The line play this year is MUCH better even without Schofield and Lewan. The biggest remaining problem seems to be, and I am very sorry to say this because I do believe he is a terrific person, the QB. Gardner just plain holds the ball too long and is unable to do more than lock onto his primary receiver. He has gotten a bad case of happy feet, and even when his speed gets him free of pursuit long enough to make a reasoned decision, he just throws it at the first person he sees or runs it when it is still possible to find a receiver.
As someone else said, it doesn't take the opposition long to find out that we are not going to beat them with the pass, in which case (particularly if Funchess is not on the field), they focus all the more on stopping our running game. This year, though, unlike last year, there still is at least a semblance of a running game.
September 21st, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
I think Nuss has actually done a great job in a short amount of time. The following has improved:
1. Play Calling. For the most part I am not seeing entirely boneheaded plays. Save a few weird rushing calls on 3rd and longs, I am not yelling WHY every time a play is called
2. OLine play. DG has a pocket more times than not. Green has holes to run through at least some of the time. This is a massive improvement from last year.
3. Rushing game. See #2, but Green has been consistant and has been a vast improvement from last year.
At this point it's clear that DG has some serious problems that aren't coachable. He has issues that only he can fix.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
We grin and bear the rest of the season and wait for basketball.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
any more games with a bunch of Wisconsin fans. That was the worst, I don't need to be surrounded by people trying to conceal how happy they are that Michigan is losing.
September 21st, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
why do they even care? we won't even play them again until 2016.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
1.Try and see if the offensive line can improve. The team only loses glasgow in two years. They are still average at best, their pass blocking has got to get better.
2. See if Morris has a chance to be good. I am convinced, Gardner is a part of the problem. He stares down receivers, has happy feet and can't diagnose blitzes. How in the hell OSU happened last year, I do not understand.
3.Pray Drake Harris recovers next year and Canteen puts on 15 pounds. We have no deep threat and too many possession receivers. I know Funchess is amazing, just not sure he is deep threat yet.
4. Keep my fingers crossed on every recruiting post for not too many guys bailing. I will be shocked if we have a 5 star TE in a month or two. Luckily it is small class and peppers is already here.
5. Keep coming to this blog. It is therapeutic. (SP?) I love the analysis from Magnus and other's. Brian's humor and writing style is one of a kind and helps with the pain.
6. Like a fucking idiot, plan my saturdays around the fucking game.
September 21st, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^
The kids on this team deserve not to be written off. And watching for development versus regression, almost from a clinical standpoint is probably the best perspective to take at this point. It sure seems like Hoke, relative to his coachng peers, should have a lot more tools/talent overall to work with and be successful, yet less "endowed" coaches still beat him. What we are seeing now is regression, seemlingly all the way back to the point Rich Rod left off at. So sure, lets look for development. If this team improves from here, and makes a credible showing in conference, then Hoke probably survives. If this tailspin continues steadily all the way into November, I would be fine with a mid-season "Kiffin" type move as well. And yes, I will faithfully watch and plan Saturdays around every f-ing game.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
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September 21st, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
I'm going to watch, but it has gotten to the point where nothing that happens will spark any emotion in me. I'll just sit and watch like
Then when the game is over I'll just be like
September 21st, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
as our last coach desperately stated; I posted elsewhere - and will continue to post - that Shane can lead this offense to lasting improvement. It may be consistent 8-4 seasons but wouldn't that be wickedly appropriate for this fan base?
September 21st, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^
I will of course watch UM games because thats what I do. You and I Mr. Yost were very bullish on 2015 based on schedule. That is now out the door. I cannot imagine this version of UM going into Utah and not losing by less than 20. BYU coming into UM is now terrifying. The best schedule UM has in 20 years is now going to be wasted in 2015 due to a required transition.
This year is moot as all we have left other than OSU and MSU is a chance to beat up on a slew of bad Big 10 teams. We had only a small window of opportunity to play X number of decent teams and we are 0-2 headed to 0-4 in those games. Beating Northwestern and Minnesota means nothing at this point if you think UM should be anything more than a 8th place Big 10 team.
So I'll be:
a) cheering on these poor seniors who are going to have a rough year
b) watching individual players, especially underclassmen develop - will Henry continue his evolution as man beast? Have we found an awesome corner in Lewis? Do we have any safeties developing - Thomas looked "challenged" yesterday? Who else can step up to help form the basis of a 2015 defense that will lose a great LB and 2 DEs. Can Green get better?
c) preparing mentally for a beatdown in EL that will not only rival but supersede what we did to Bobby Williams and Drew Sharp's question to Hoke after that game about if he has lost the team.
d) monitoring if David Brandon will write a strongly penned letter to recruits and if the Chris Clark types will care.
e) watching games of coaches I would be interested in bringing to Michigan
September 21st, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
I've become more of an NFL fan now. I keep in touch with all of my old college roommates through our fantasy league, and I get brunch with my new med school friends on sundays to watch the lions play whenever I can. Michigan football definitely isn't the highlight of my weekend anymore, and I rarely look forward to a football saturday nowadays
September 21st, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
step your fandom up bruhhhhhhhhh