Keep Calm
November 24th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
You are a brave man creating this thread today. Good luck and godspeed.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
everybody here knows that we are heading in the right direction. It just hurts more when you have the better team and lose. That is what is so painful about this year. We should be 11-1 and blowing out Wisconsin next week. The ship has been righted but this year just could have been a lot more than it was.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
We definitely could have won today's game, and that stings - but I would not say we had the better team. Our overall talent level is not where a typical Michigan team's is. We're not going to have slew of high draft picks in 2013 and '14.
I feel that this year's team didn't overachieve or underachieve - it performed about as expected. What's tough is that it comes after 2011, when we seriously overachieved, so it looks like a comedown.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
The offensive and defensive lines were mediocre, Denard is a limited as a QB, and the WR's lack speed. UM was always a 8-4 team with this schedule.
It isn't the coaches fault that you had unrealistic expectations. Michigan was what I thought it was. A solid, but not outstanding team.
November 24th, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^
By my math, we are headed in the direction of 6 losses (linearly) or 8 losses (exponentially). Unless you are an anti-fan, that is unequivicably a bad sign.
This hallowed university and its fanbase demand success in three years, or else.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^
The honeymoon is over and we're starting to realize our dream courting period (last year) might be very different from actual marriage. This is the fight trying to find the airport in Rome when the husband has gotten lost four times already and the wife just wants to ask every non-english speaker for directions.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:32 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
you do know that the BIG 10 has been terrible the last 2 years right?
November 24th, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^
Limitations at QB and on defense make these teams less than typical Michigan squads. Check back next year. I suspect we will start to see a team that looks like Bo and Mo's squads.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^
with a very rookie O-line ? Better hope the freshman stepping up are significantly better than the guys who can't block at all now..
November 24th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
completely! I hated to lose this game, but we finished 8-4 in the regular season which is what I expected.
Let's get the bowl win and move on, even though it feels butt hurt.
Go Blue!!!!!
November 24th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
To say we are going in the right direction doesn't mean Borges is helping... These thoughts are not mutually exclusive. He's clearly been the downfall of a number of games over the last two years so if that trend continues, why should we believe the resutls will be any different.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:31 PM ^
A number of games? Maybe MSU last year and OSU this year. This year you can't blame ND, Neb, or Bama on him.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
I think we have moved past the RichRod days but worry today is a sign we may linger in the Carr days if Hoke does not correct his coaching problems. Don't blame the players. And don't forget, good players don't want to play for teams that don't win the big games.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:19 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
...if this will provide any solace, but Michigan lost 4 games this season to teams that are a combined 44-3. (That said, 3 of those losses were winnable.)
I saw nothing this season to make me think that we shouldn't be optimistic about the future of Michigan football.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^
Seems like every year people are saying "We are going in the right direction" or "Wait until next year". We should be winning now. Something isn't right.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:46 PM ^
That is winning.
What isn't right is your understanding of where UM is at. Did you really expect UM to win 11 games with little speed at WR, a limited QB, and rebuilt lines? If you did then you had unrealistic expectations.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
Exactly... Look what Devin did with the passing game since NEB.
But today - and I undersand better OSU D than prior competitors- he had success then that disastrous 2nd half.
Sick of the constant losing.
HOKE - not Borges, Mattinson, this is on HOKE... He better win next year or that's 11/12 years that we've been beat. And then, really, is it a rivalry if we lose next year given the consistent losses? If you want to be rational, when 1 team beats another consistently, it may be a rivalry but lacks true outcome uncertainty.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
Bingo. It's on Hoke. (We've had "be patient" preached to us for five friggin' seasons now. Enough. There are no moral victories in football. Win. Now. )
November 24th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^
While this loss ultimately goes on the head coach's record, the losses before 2011 do not. It's not Brady Hoke's fault that you might have accummulated frustration from the 2004-10 seasons. He was not here during that time. Hoke has only lost to Ohio one time - on the road, against an undefeated team, without his starting RB and with his starting QB unable to throw. Let's keep that in mind. Before the season, if someone had told you those would be the circumstances in which we'd face Ohio, would you have predicted a win?
November 24th, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:24 PM ^
No putting Denard in motion, no mis direction plays, no short quick passes to Denard or any other of our playmakers, no use of the tight end over the middle to keep the chains moving. This was the worst display of play calling by an experience "high" priced OC I've ever seen. Hoke has to shoulder some blame for not getting on the head set and taking charge. Why would Borges keep taking Devin out after he would complete a pass? He refused to let him get in a rythm.
Calm you say!!! Calm is or after the season not now
November 24th, 2012 at 6:25 PM ^
I'm hoping today's game plan from Al Borges was an aberration and not something that's going to happen again. I hope when Brandon reviews the program with Hoke that he says something about this to him. I almost want to say Borges choked by calling a very conservative game plan when he had the weapons to do otherwise. The 2nd half 3rd down plays were horrible - running Vincent Smith and Denard into the strength of their defense. And not putting Denard and Devin in the game at the same time for more plays was completely baffling.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^
UM lost close games to two of the top three teams in the country and is possibly one injury away from playing in the B1G title game. Despite injuries to their best corner, losing almost the entire DL and OL, and next to no running game outside of Denard and Devin, the team won 8 games and has a chance for 9.
Has anybody else played the top three teams in the country? Has anybody else lost to two of those teams by one possession, on the road? This is not 1997, but it's also not 2010. There is a lot of talent and more coming in that will give us great depth for the next few years.
Believe me, I would have loved to spoil OSU's season and beat them every year, and when we lose, it sucks. That said, I am very happy that we did not get embarrassed like in 2008 and 2010, and very excited for the future of Michigan football and The Game.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:28 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^
If you knew anything about MAC football you would know how amazing an accomplishment is. Most of his losses came from his time at BSU.Then he got SDSU up and winning within two years. Hoke has a track record of success.
As to your second "point" about Hoke only beating three ranked teams in ten years is spectaculalrly misleading. At BSU and SDSU, the opporunties to beat rank teams is few and far between. At BSU most times those were BCS schools. Schools with much better players. I hardly think it a negative that he failed to beat a top 25 BCS school while at BSU.
In two years Hoke has defeated all three rivals. undefeated at home, rebuilt UM's shattered defense, and won a BCS bowl.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:19 AM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:55 PM ^
Purdue, MSU, UAB..OSU really was outcoached at times this year. Heck, even today his offense look poorly prepared. 9 pts on 4 TO's? That's awful.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:25 AM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
Could have nothing to do with it but If I am a top flight offensive skill player... i am not sure i am thrilled with what i see from Borges
November 24th, 2012 at 6:30 PM ^
Everyone does know that these players were NOT Urban's players at OSU. Last time I checked they went 12-0. I don't buy into the whole "these aren't their players" argument.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
That wasn't the case for RR or Hoke here at UM. It doesn't matter if you recruited them or not so much as whether they fit your system.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 6:46 PM ^
Get off this board and don't come back.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^
This was suppose to be a rebuilding year but I will say this again Michigan did not lose to Ohio St, Michigan lost this game on their own with poor play calling and turnovers. You can't beat a team like Ohio St with 4 turnovers. We coughed up a lot of chances to get points today and didn't capitalize. The refs and all this other BS is exactly what it is. Excuses. Ohio St was practically giving this game away in the 2nd half. With that said I am very excited for the future and with Denard gone we can now focus on the offense we are suppose to be building under Hoke and Borges. It's still too early to say "fire Borges." With the 2013 class we have coming in Michigan is going to be scary good going forward, An undefeated season is on the horizon guys. Let them have their 365. We'll have ours in 2013. Book it. GO BLUE.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:56 PM ^
Look at the recruiting a little harder. Do you see ONE difference maker on offense other than Morris? I do not see this offense getting any better over the next 3-4 years.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:02 PM ^
November 24th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^
It's still too early and everyone needs to stop being so cynical. If he regresses next year than yes fire him and replace him with somebody more capable. Next year is when we'll see if this staff is the right choice going forward for Michigan. Hoke is doing something right the man is what 12-4 in B10 play and undefeated at home since 2011 not mention bringing in 4 and 5 star recruits.
November 24th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
Look at the recruiting a little harder. Do you see ONE difference maker on offense other than Morris?
What about Kalis, Magnuson, Bosch, Fox, Kugler? Do linemen not count? That would be odd if so, since they make up five of the 11 positions on offense.
How about Funchess? Darboh? Shallman? Norfleet? All were/are four-star guys (and Funchess has clearly lived up to it thus far).
November 24th, 2012 at 6:55 PM ^
I actually do not think we are heading in the right direction. Our coaching staff is quite clearly inept at developing offense. Our defense will remain stout and we will continue to struggle mightily against good competition, occasionally winning a few big games at home. This feels a whole lot like the late Carr years.
November 24th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
The champ-sports-outback who gives a damn bowl aside, I can't wait for next season. I expect a team that is better in every way. This was a solid season, you all remember 2008 right? Someone here said prophetically that they expected an 8-4 season but a better team than last year. This is the right direction.