Michigan 2008

Most sports analysts in the nation and many of us in the Michigan fan community have a pessimistic outlook for the 2008 season. Many pre-season rankings have Michigan out of the Top 25 because there are so many 'questions' for the Maize & Blue in multiple positions, most notably, QB and the offense as a whole.

However, I wish to explain my reasons why I believe that Michigan will have a very successful campaign in 2008. Now, before I say anything, I am not expecting the Wolverines to reach the National Championship in Miami, however, there are many reasons why they can continue their long bowl appearance streak, reach a decent, if not laughable bowl game (maybe even sneak into a BCS bowl) and have a 9, if not, 10 or more checks in the win column.

1. Severity of the schedule. Michigan, save for 2 teams, does not play anyone good, or anyone that can be beaten by them. The non-conference schedule includes a MWC team (Utah), 2 MAC teams (Toledo and Miami of Ohio), and Notre Dame. All of those teams do not have the talent or coaching that Michigan can provide, and will be a good warm up for the new offense and meat for the defense's grinder. The conference schedule isn't as much of a breeze as the non-conference, but isn't the toughest. Minnesota and Purdue are their normal, perennial selves, bad to very mediocre. Little brother is little brother. Northwestern (the most inconsistent team ever) and Illinois may put up a challenge, but there is where the strength of our defense will win games for us. Penn State, on top of having the streak, has lost it's main contributor on defense in Sean Lee and won't have an offense, anyway. Now, with a strong, hardnosed defense on top of a grinding running game, Wisconsin is the team that may put a halt to Michigan's early season success, the saving grace is that it is in front of 110,000 Maize & Blue faithful. For the biggest rivalry in the history of sports, Michigan and Ohio State, many are expecting this to be one of the biggest victories for Ohio State in recent memory, if not ever. Ohio State has had appearances in the National Championship game the past 2 years running (last year, undeservedly) and is returning multiple starters from both of those teams. The top Heisman candidate in the nation, Chris "Beanie" Wells and, arguably, one of the best QBs in the nation, Todd Boeckman lead the Buckeye offense and probably the best MLB in the nation, James Laurinaitis leads the defense, this will truly be one of the best teams Ohio State has ever put onto a football field. Compounded onto that, Michigan has to travel to Columbus, one of the toughest places for opposing teams to play in the nation. However, many can remember, vividly and proudly, that Bo Schembechler's first Michigan team beat Woody Hayes' best Buckeye team in 1969, when Michigan was in a similar transition. Here's to hoping.

2. The Conditioning. Mike Barwis (eeee!) has become a cult hero for the Woverine fanbase, because of his demanding and fruitful strength and conditioning program currently being implemented at U of M. Many stories are told of how his program seeks to work the players into football thoroughbreds by some of the most hardcore lifting and running and core building techniques that can be physically done by humans, and sometimes beyond. Many people are especially proud to see this because the apparentness of Michigan's dated S&C program. Players had become fat, slow, lazy and worse of all, being content with being fat, slow and lazy. Michigan will surely become a shadow of their former selves and become speed machines.

3. Players winning attitude. This is The University of Michigan football team. The winningest program in the history of the highest-level of amatuer football. Some of the greatest players in football history has walked the beautiful campus and graced the largest stadium in the United States, Michigan Stadium. The current players, coaches, boosters and fans all love being apart of that rich and glorious tradition. They do not listen to what the newspapers are saying, they do not care how they sling mud on our glorious school, they won't listen to it. Those newspaper writers aren't doing and seeing the amazing things our team is doing.

Thank you for your time.