Michigan Football Expectations

Submitted by RunTheFootball on

Greetings, internet!

I recently had a conversation with a friend about our expectations for Michigan football over an average 20 year period, and they were wildly different. I am quite conservative (6 B1G, .5 Natties, 8 vs. Ohio, 13 vs. Sparty, 7 #1 B1G Classes), and I was surprised by how much more he expected us to win. So, I wanted to get a reading on how good people expect Michigan to be. Please fill out this survey (or post your opinions as comments)!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DT6HZMZ

NOTE: I came (and thus became a fan) to Michigan in 2008 (whoops!), so I have not experienced the success that many before me have.

EDIT: Obviously, I would like to share the information once I've collected enough responses. Unfortunately, the monkey got me...can only see the data for the first 100 responders until I pay. I'll see what I can do regarding getting the information back to everyone in a few days.

lbpeley

January 27th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^

I would imagine most "long time" fans are going to have the Ohio series above 11, the MSU series above 14, and the Minn series at 20. And of course ND at 21+.

lbpeley

January 27th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^

I went 12, 14, 20. I also put 2 NCs in 20 years. I think I had 11 or 12 B1G championships too.

It's easy to forget that there is a large number of the fanbase that don't have any recollection of UM football pre-2000's ish. There's nothing wrong with that (obviously), just something I easily forget.

GoWings2008

January 27th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^

11-12 vs Ohio is a good number, us on the plus side of 50%. In my lifetime, I'm 45, we're historically right around the half victorious rate for the most part. Its a rivalry for a reason, afterall.

nmumike

January 27th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^

Player and team progression from the beginning of the season to the end. Basically I want to see the team get better as the season goes on, and have an offensive and defensive identity. If that happens then I think we can compete for BIG Championships.

 

Yeezus

January 27th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^

2014 is a big year for football.  If it's 2013 all over again, then Hoke (and presumably most everyone else) is gone and we've become our own worst nightmare - Notre Dame's brother.

I think we'll see better results, though.  I like the Nuss hire.  I think Jason Whitlock can be a total assclown at times, but I have to think he's right about Hoke turning it around this offseason.  I like DG as 5th year senior starting QB with a tested Morris backing him up.  I like how it's impossible for our blocking / run game to get any worse.  I like how it's impossible for our defense to be any more mundane.  

Coachspeaker

January 27th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^

Michigan is going to keep working hard in the offseason with one goal in mind - a B1G championship. They'll be focused on playing tough in the trenches and taking care of the football. There is a lot of talent and the sky is the limit for this team.

Waveman

January 27th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^

My formative M fandom years involved an almost guaranteed victory over OSU annually, so I'm for 13+ over OSU, 15+ over Sparty, 10+ Big10 titles, 1.5 MNCs, winning record against all opponents.

TIMMMAAY

January 27th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^

I'd rather just have a coach who wins, and does it while representing the university with class. I don't understand the Mike Hart obsession. He was a great RB, and one of my favorite players of all time, but what exactly makes so many people think he's head coach material?  

King Douche Ornery

January 27th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^

If not for the referees, who hate Michigan, we'd beat Ohio State 53 times over the next 20 years, and win 46 national championships.

jwendt

January 27th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^

Winning some mythical recruiting title isn't all that important to me.  Yes, I'd like us to recruit well as that's a big factor in being successful.  But, to say we'll have the top class in the conference with some expected frequency just doesn't do much for me.  All the other stuff, worth discussing.

French West Indian

January 27th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^

I really don't like to think of success merely in terms of wins and losses so from my perspective the most important thing is finding good kids, graduating them and playing fairly within the rules.

Having said that, historically speaking I tend to figure the wins/losses about this way:

50/50 against Ohio State, the near split is what keeps things intense

Probably Michigan should win 3 of 4 against the Spartans.  Hold court in Ann Arbor and steal about half the games in East Lansing.

Counting ties, probably a Big Ten championship once every three years on average.

Recruiting classes?  I don't care at all about recruiting.

National Championships?  I don't care about these either.  As far as I'm concerned the mythical championships are for the Notre Dames of the world who don't have any real championships to win.

I also figure Michigan will probably lose 4 Rose Bowls to USC but that we can probably get at least one Rose Bowl victory per decade.

And, of course, the true gold standard has always been an undefeated season (with Rose Bowl victory) but that's quite rare and increasinly unlikely with expandin schedules.

That's historically speaking.  Realistically, looking at the future and the way things are changing...I'm not very optimistic about getting any of those results and that's why my interest in college football has severely diminished in the past five years.  I really only stagger on by force of habit.

GunnersApe

January 27th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^

The greatest joy for a man is to defeat his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all they possess, to see those they love in tears, to ride their horses, and to hold their wives and daughters in his arms.

Rather be on BA

January 27th, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^

Expectations =/= wants.  I think a lot of people have a hard time separating the two.

I EXPECT one National Title in 20 yrs although these are less important than B1G titles, which I would expect one every 2-3 years, a 50-50 ish split with OSU, winning about 75% of the time versus MSU, one loss to Minn per decade is bearable (only just), and no one other than U of M and Ohio should have a top recruiting class in the BIG, so 50% on that one too.

StoneRoses

January 27th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^

Really, the bottom line is to get to the Rose Bowl. I honestly could care less about the how's and why's whether we won the Big Ten or were runner up (Big Ten champ is in playoff). My fondest memory as a Michigan fan was the Rose Bowl game against Vince Young and Texas in 2004/2005. I cannot wait to see it again, and honestly, we should be in Pasadena 3-4 times in 10 years at least.

MGoDub

January 27th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

To be in the B1G championship game every year with the the occasional just didn't make it by one game. Expect to be a top 25 team every season, NO excuses.

Magnum P.I.

January 27th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

I expect Michigan football to be disciplined and well-coached. 

  • Never lose to mediocre teams (e.g., Penn State, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Iowa in 2013);
  • Impose our will and not make it even close against clearly inferior teams (e.g., Akron, UConn, Central, and Indiana in 2013);
  • Win about half (75% at home, 25% on the road) our games against good teams (e.g., Michigan State, Ohio State, and  Notre Dame in 2013);
  • Don't do things that are completely embarassing and inexcusable for a program with Michigan's resources and history (e.g., rush for negative yards in a game, lead the NCAA in TFLs allowed)

Boom Goes the …

January 27th, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^

9 BT Titles, 1 Natty, 11 over Ohio, 14 over Sparty, 18 ove Minnesota, and 10 recruiting championships

Rochester Blue

January 27th, 2014 at 9:41 PM ^

B1G Championships: 8 (Ohio wins 7-8, 3 other teams sneak one or 2)
National Championships: 1-2
Wins over Ohio: 11
Wins over State: 15
Wins over NW: 15
Wins over PSU: 14
Wins over Nebraska: 13
Wins over Wisconsin: 13
Wins over Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Rutgers, Maryland: 104 (assuming 116 total)

NewYorkWolverine

January 27th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^

1 National Championship, but I'll readiy admit that's not easy to accomplish; 11 wins over Ohio, 14 wins over Sparty, 6 B1G titles, and frankly, I put a lot more emphasis on national championships; 20 wins over Minnesota, and 7 B1G top-ranked recruiting classes. I'd love to say 2 National Championships, but I don't think that's realistic. Six B1G titles are very realistic, if we get the right players, coach them properly, and play with the resolve that UM teams displayed in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2003.