Marcus Ray at UM Flint
November 25th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
If you care to look, there are a lotof similarities between 2015 UM and 2007 Bama.
Bama was coming out of severe sanctions - loss of 21 players over 3 years. Mike Shula was the coach during the sanctions, and Bama was too impatient to see what he could do once sanctions were over. Saban comes in, goes 7-6 his first year then 12-2.
Hoke has filled in the holes he inherited on the roster with 3 highly ranked classes. Whoever takes over will have seniors and juniors. I believe I'm correct in saying that if Miller starts next year, he will be the 1st SR center since Molk.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
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November 25th, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
And look at the thanks he got.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
November 26th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
different recruiting bases, different admission standards, different expectations for student-athletes, different cultures, etc - the only similarities of consequence bw '07 bama and '15 michigan would be experienced players molded under prior HC.
mattison pretty much said it in his presser the other day, something like "you can go out on the street and find more talented kids but not the right kids for um" or something like that. speaks volumes and thats why theyll never win back to back naitonal titles in this era - but does not mean they cannot compete for league titles every year and maybe get a shot at the big ring every decade or so, bc they potentially could with the right hire
November 25th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
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November 25th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
November 26th, 2014 at 1:30 AM ^
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November 26th, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
Saban misses Meyer. He's definitely coming here.
Who's going to break it to Harbaugh gently?
November 25th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
If you think that Michigan is a reclemation project, you have no idea what coaches are looking for. BH has taken this program from a reclemation project to an airliner running the tarmack toward the sky. Recruits, recruits, recruits.
November 26th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
recruiting. That's a fact, jack. So, when Marcus suggests this, he knows from where he speaks. Lloyd chased him out of Michigan. My God, look at who he competed against Giese, Brady and Woodson, two HOF and a guy who won an NC and RB MVP. Can we acknowledge that our guys succeeded. There are guys in the pros today who competed against MSU when Saban coached there. Michigan got guys.
Why is it so hard to accept that Saban who started at Kent State, like Meyer started at Bowling Green, like Dantonio started at Ohio University, like all the great coaches that Bo worked under have the same pedigree and background as the best fucking coaches in the all came out of Ohio and the Midwest. I find it amusing that the SEC talks about its great coaches when they all came from the MAC and then worked their way to the SEC through the Big Ten, when the Big Ten didn't pay as well, has stricter recruiting standards. and doesn't pay kids under the table.
You know that Lloyd after he won the NC, still had to lobby the regents to get pay raises for his staff.
The irony is, of course, that guys like Bo and Woody Hayes, who never got paid squat, and didn't care that he did, are the icons of a sport and have set the stage for the huge success of the sport today and its incredibly overgenerous financial remuneration to those in the game.
Yeah, so when Marcus says that Saban might be a name worth considering or suggesting. It's not a flippant idea borne out of wishful thinking. It's got some substance behind it.
November 26th, 2014 at 7:13 AM ^
Sure he's a short term solution, but look at this way; Saban takes over, coaches another 5 years and then we have Lane Kiffin cued up to succeed him and keep the mojo flowing....
/head explodes
November 26th, 2014 at 7:10 AM ^
Looking forward to the inevitable "CC: NIck Saban" thread.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
Saban is not retiring at Alabama.
November 25th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^
what better way to stick it to Sparty?
He left EL because he refused to give him what he thought he needed to win.. .
Imagine if we did?
Did Marcus give a rationale as to how that could happen?
November 26th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
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November 25th, 2014 at 9:03 PM ^
One I forgot above: Wellman.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:12 PM ^
November 26th, 2014 at 12:51 AM ^
But it was a hell of an iconic tackle on a douchebag buckeye.
November 26th, 2014 at 4:13 AM ^
wrong post reply
November 25th, 2014 at 9:12 PM ^
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November 25th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
He did exactly what MGOBLOG wanted him to do, he fired Al Borges. Change you can believe in, and it certainly did change Michigan, and Hoke's, fortunes.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^
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November 25th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
I think your comment was directed at Hoke and if so you are right. His opportunity does not continue to exist until he gets recruiting and hires right. The job at Michigan is not for on the job training. You either are qualified or not. It's not Hoke's personal toy.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
He lost all credibility, when his objective view is that Hoke hasn't been given enough time and his constant advocacy for Butch Jones. It seems all very self serving and transparent.
I turn off the dial now when he comes on. Absolutely no interest in someone that wants to denegrate the fan base that props up the program.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
Frankly, I'm not sure if I'd like Saban here. He's obviously a great recruiter and coach, but someone like Harbaugh(better coach, could be as good of a recruiter at Michigan)who doesn't necessarily need to cut corners would obviously be a better fit.
I like how in the past Michigan was a program that molded boys into men, and cared about his guys outside of football. Saban isn't doing that down in Alabama.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
November 26th, 2014 at 2:12 AM ^
November 26th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
For one thing JH was doing it at Stanford where things are a little less freewheeling than at Alabama, to put it nicely.
November 25th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
and he's spoken knowledgeably and articulately about Michigan's DB coverage, tactics and strategy on several occasions on the local radio. I think he says a lot of stuff to get a reaction, like the bit about Manning seriously considering coming here, which I'll believe when Manning himself confirms it. Plenty of guys visit schools they have no real intention of committing to, like FSU commit Auden Tate visiting Michigan for the Maryland game. The bit about Michigan being Saban's supposed "dream job" is even more ridiculous. If you added up all the coaches that are supposed to have Michigan as their "dream job," it would be half the FBS list.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
Replacing 4 assistants isn't going to make this team any better.
I'm sure Saban is just dying to come here too.
If this is the kind of shit former players under Lloyd are going to spew then Hackett/whoever is in charge needs to tell them to kick rocks and that their opinion means jack.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
Speaking of assistants I saw a question to Nick B today on the assistants in terms of has he ever interviewed them. He said Hoke only makes coordinators available. Position coaches are totally off limits. When asked how common that is, he said very uncommon.
It is not a huge deal and if we were winning no one would care but it speaks a bit to a lack of accountability.
The comment about Marcus losing chemistry is a bit funny. Strange things happen when the best player in college football leaves your side of the ball and indeed your unit. Everyone else tends to get more exposed - special players make everyone around them better.
Saban and Harbaugh are ruthless with assistants - if it doesnt work you get kicked to the curb. Ask Nuss. Only exception seems to be the Bobby Williams clause. Hoke is like Carr - he has made the position coaching a place to grandfather people and keep personal friends. Not saying they are all bad coaches but I see a lot of very average guys out there. They were trying to push Mallory out last year in a very UM / Carr way - find him another job rather then fire him. When it didnt work out, he just stayed here rather than upgrading. Funk, Jackson, and Mallory are weak links.
Saban to UM is the nonsense that has other fan bases laugh at us i.e. "they think everyone on earth wants to coach at UM." Saban basically has a group of 5 schools where he could go (Texas, USC, Bama and probably UF/FSU) in tier 1 and everyone else is not in the same league.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
I agree with your points about Hoke and Carr. I am starting to think that all of these coaches think Michigan is a special place because they get a degree of security with their buddies that other schoools don't accept.
It really disappoints me that these coaches seem to think that this is some type of gravy train for them and their friends. Mattison's ridiculous justification for keeping the gravy train going seems to fit this same pattern.
Excellence seems more like a catchy slogan than the mission!
November 25th, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^
how else could Mike Debord still be part of the athletic dept???
November 25th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
Saban to UM is the nonsense that has other fan bases laugh at us i.e. "they think everyone on earth wants to coach at UM."
Except nobody thinks that.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
I would have to think literally not being permitted to play in half the games due to an NCAA suspension for taking money from an agent had more to do with his struggles as a senior than losing Woodson.
Hard to play well when you aren't in fact playing.
November 25th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
MVictors did a story on the Manning-to-Michigan tale. It was included in a Michigan Daily story about us getting Scott Dreisbach instead of him. Pretty fascinating.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
Stopped being interested in what Marcus had to say relative to Michigan Athletics, when he went on his rant against the fans. His blind devotion to Hoke is too much!
I guess being a former player while Hoke was a position coach makes you an expert on his ability to lead one of the top programs in the country.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 10:51 PM ^
Everyone comes with a persective. Everyone has their biases. Marcus Ray is a well intentioned person. He's not wrong about Saban, and it's been said here before. That said, MR's perspective and allegiances lie in a place many here are uncomfortable with. He's not wrong. And he does have a few resources. But not many, and certainly not privy to information.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
I don't get all the haters on Marcus Ray. He's doing the best he can, and he brings a different take.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
After reading about Marcus's speech on this blog, I feel inclined to take a little more time to hear what he is saying next time.
One of the most damaging things this program has had happen is the player/former player comments towards the fans. It is a personal pet peave of mine associated with all sports. There seems to be a mental disconnect on the part of the players on who is really footing the bill for their potential/actual career path.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
November 25th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
Frankly, Marcus Ray has a better understanding of the MIchigan program than any of us random internet people. Who here has a better understanding of the Michigan football program than Marcus Ray? Even if you people disagree with him, seems a little ridiculous to ridiculue his thoughts or say anything derisive. Funny to watch some fans worship a player until he graduates. Or maybe more accurate to say worship him as long has he produces at Tom Brady-esque levels, and otherwise hate on him if he falls on hard times or is in any way human.
If Marcus Ray says it sounds crazy to say Saban may come to Michigan, but that he has some reason to think he will, then maybe his opinion deserves some respect.
Random note: I attended some Scottish Claymore games when Marcus Ray was playing for them. I'm pretty sure I was one of only about three people in attendance at those games. It was like having my own professional sports league.
November 25th, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^
I'm going to listen intently to Ray when he breaks down Michigan's DB unit, since he's familiar with the Michigan personnel and he speaks from personal experience and expertise. It's a different matter when it comes to Nick Saban, since he doesn't seem to have any particular connection to him. I doubt Nick's calling him up and telling him "yeah, I'd really like to leave Tuscaloosa and rescue the Michigan football program." Ray is just offering his opinion with no hard evidence to back it up. It would be different if Marcus was saying "Butch Jones's dream job is Michigan" since Ray worked for Jones at CMU.
It's the same with Bacon, whom I like personally and respect professionally. When he talks about Schembechler or RR or the workings of the AD under Brandon and Martin, I'm going to listen closely because he was directly connected at that time. Now he's not, and his opinions on coaching succession are just that—opinions, which he freely admits. When JUB has evidence to back things up, he says so too.
November 26th, 2014 at 3:44 AM ^
He said last week that the Borges firing was done by Brandon and that Brady would have kept him. He also supported him getting another year with some assistant changes. The worst part is he sounds like a guy that hates Harbaugh.
November 26th, 2014 at 2:02 AM ^