Michigan 2011 and Michigan 1969
After today's press conference I couldn't help but think of the potential this team has to be the next 1969 team. In both cases, after about a decade of consistently losing to Ohio, we bring in a coach that was raised there. The Game will also be played in Ann Arbor. Much like the 1969 team, this 2011 team will also have the talent to compete. Here's to Hoke and THE TEAM! Let's Go Blue!
January 12th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
I'm not alone...
January 12th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
No you are not alone, I have a few reservations, however, I really think BH can make the changes to the D that have been long awaiting. As for RR being fired, we do not know what was said in the meeting, and for that may never know. I am just wondering if DB gave RR a choice 1- you fire you entire D staff and start from scratch, or 2- you are gone. Once again we don't know and probably will never. I am just excited to see what next years team will look like. I am hoping for an explosive D and an even more exciting O. Here is to the team, LETS GO BLUE.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:58 PM ^
I can hoke. I mean hope. (Haha, did you catch that?)
January 12th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
I have Hoke Hope.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
I'd like this to happen, it's unlikely we'll come up with an epic win like '69. I'll be thrilled with 8-4, 2/3 vs, ND, Sparty and OSU and a New Year's Day bowl game.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:53 PM ^
I'm going to keep a spreadsheet of everyone's "I'd be happy with ..." quips and then see how we end up after the season. More on this in approximately 11 months.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
a big raise, some Ben and Jerry's, and some fellatio.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
MMMMMmmmmmmmmmm.......Ben and Jerry's...
January 12th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
But hold your expectations in check.
Remember that the *exact* same things were said about RR, and with a few added parallels. Outsider comes in to refocus stagnating program, weaker links fall off, those who stay etc etc.
I hope for the best with Hoke, but let's keep expectations reasonable. If it happens, I'll be more than ecstatic, but let's get through September first, yes?
January 12th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
I don't think that many ppl believed RR would have a 1969 season, from what I remember as a student there when he was hired, people were mostly talking about how he was completly changing things and not to expect too much.
I love optimisim too but I don't think too much right now is a bad thing. Hoke wants to compete for Big Ten championships next season, not three years down the road.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
If memory serves me right, after we missed out on Pryor, Boren and Mallet transferred, and Manningham left for the draft, you and I had a conversation where we hoped the defense would be good enough to carry us to a bowl. It wasn't and it didn't. Sad, but illustrates that nobody seriously thought 2008=1969 beforehand.
I don't think it's impossible in 2011, especially if Denard stays. Evne if he leaves, I'm hoping Devin can lean on the veterans like Henne in 2004, and that the D takes a great leap forward. Still, I think 8 wins is much more realistic, and would have me pretty excited.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^
well 1969 went 7-2 without bowl consideration...8-4 isn't too far off.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:27 PM ^
BTW....do you want to come to corpus this weekend??? Three day weekend, plus there's an auto show that I'm going to. Otherwise you can come the weekend after, there's a circus in town...booyah.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^
i saw tom dixon (former all american center) the spring of 2008 after he'd been out to see the team and he told me then they would be lucky to win 4 games- so unfortunately i was somewhat prepared for that season
January 12th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
Well said. Everyone was saying the exact same things in 2007. Outsider taking over the program after years of stagnation, etc. Honestly I don't see a lot of parallels from 69 to our current situation. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing... let's give Brady a chance to create his own legacy.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
everyone said the exact same shit back in 2008.
RR even brought in players from the '69 team to talk to the team.
lets calm the fuck down, chill, and just let hoke do his thing, instead of trying to overanalyze everything. go and grab a beer or 100, and before you know it, you wont care about trying to draw a useless analogy.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^
Except BH is starting out with a much better roster than RR did. 18 of 22 starters returning, Denard, etc. We can have a good team next year. If Brady can ratchet up the defense, we will.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
But I'm not going to hope too much until we see what the team looks like on the field. Even then I'll probably quietly dream.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
well my dad graduated after years of bad football in 1968, and I am graduating this year (even though after 8 years of being here and having some good years, so yes we are gonna be good next year!
January 12th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
The 1968 team had grown stale under Bump Elliot. They had decent personnel, but too many were lazy and filled with a sense of entitlement. The 2010 team worked extremely hard, but didn't have the personnel on defense to make a difference. The 1968 team was a lot more like LC's last team than like last year's team.
Bo needed to change the country club culture at Michigan when he came in. RR has already done that for Hoke. Now, all he needs is the personnel and a scheme that fits the kids he already has.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^
Much more talent on the 1969 team. Look at the number of All Americans and All Big Ten Selections
| All-Americans: James M. Mandich, Thomas N. Curtis | |
| All-Conference: Jim Mandich, Phil Seymour, Tom Curtis, Dan Dierdorf, Guy Murdock, Billy Taylor, Marty Huff |
Can you find 8 first team All Big Ten players on the 2012 team? How about 2 first team All American's?
January 12th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
All American: Molk and Robinson
All Conference: Roundtree, Lewan, Omameh, Demens, Cam (playing near the line of scrimmage), Martin
January 12th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
That's a big stretch.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
Cam is the only one I feel like is a big reach and you could easily replace him with a guy like Koger who could have big success if he gets the ball thrown his way more this year.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
I guess I was thinking 1st team. Denard may have hype on his side, but he needs to stop turning the ball over so much to really be an All-American level player. Molk has a shot, but is probably transitioning to a system that won't favor his skill set. Lewan--star in the making, no arguments there.
Demens and Gordon aren't going to improve to that level. They're bottom third level Big 10 starters now. I'm hoping for mid-level play next year. Martin could be a first-teamer, especially with Liggett leaving, but he'll need to stay healthy and the other players around him will need to improve--neither of which is guaranteed.
However, I hope you're right and call me out for it after Martin sacks Pryor to cap a stirring 77-0 win over OSU next year.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
I hope so, but I'd say no to all except maybe Lewan, Martin
January 12th, 2011 at 8:54 PM ^
Molk coming back as a fourth year starter after being a Rimington finalist seems like a likely candidate for AA status. Robinson coming back after finishing 6th in the Heisman voting as a raw true sophomore seems like a strong possibility too. It's hard to watch other teams' o-linemen close but I doubt many guys are as gifted as Omameh and he now has a year plus of starting experience. Roundtree finished third in the Big 10 in receiving yards this year and second in catches as only a sophomore (and could have had bigger numbers if he cleans up the drops).
Maybe I'm higher on the defensive guys than most, but that offense should rake in a lot of individual honors if departures are kept to a minimum and the natural maturation process takes its course.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
Omameh, Demens and Cam would be considerd stretches. I'd replace omameh with Hagerup. Demens can stay just because I think he will fit in well with the D Hoke brings. And as for Cam, I'd have better hope for woolfolk but that's only with a full recovery.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:36 PM ^
at best i rate him third best WR on the team.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
Did you watch our games this year?
January 12th, 2011 at 8:54 PM ^
I see three guys with All-American potential: Denard, Martin, Molk. There's quite a few guys with All-Conference potential (especially since guys can make a big leap their sophomore or junior year). I would single out as potentials: Koger (big beneficiary of coaching change), RR, Junior H, Taylor L, Roh (also should benefit from Hoke), and Troy W. I would love -- love -- it if Kovacs turned in an All-Conference season. I'm not saying all these guys will do it, but they can.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
Even if we don't win the b10 legends conference, I hope we can finally beat OSU! It's been a long time coming!
January 12th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
January 12th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^
have to beat ohio!!!
January 12th, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
whenever we hire a new football coach, let's just compare them to Bo in 1969. we've totally never done that before