One thing I'd like to keep from the RR era at UM
One thing I'd definitely like to keep from the RR era of UM football is for the players to continue to directly hand the ball to the officials. In my opinion, after having watched decades of games, this is one of the most classiest moves a player can make on the field and reflects very well on the University itself.
Too many times you see kids dancing around and acting with overblown memememememe type antics, that RR's players handing the ball to the refs is refreshing.
Anything else to keep? Or scrap everything?
January 13th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
I would've liked to keep Rich but what do i know........
January 13th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
but what's done is done.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
...Michigan now has a chance to, you know, win Big Ten games. I'm looking forward to the watching Michigan football again.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:21 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
Let's hope they're easier to win than MAC games
January 13th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
IMO so would Rich. Bringing back 19 of 22 starters plus TW is a pretty impressive team. Add in the recruits we would'nt have lost and a new DC (and maybe even special teams coach) and I'm pretty sure the expectations for 2011 would've been higher for RR than they will be for Hoke.
Alas we shall never know.....
January 13th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
Even if all that held true, we'd have had a very, very ugly offseason to navigate until then, with continual speculation about RR's job. Our 2012 recruiting class will probably be better now than it would have been with RR sitting on a scalding hot seat. The players also won't have to be asked if they're playing to save the coach's job every week. Would you really want the team to have to go through all that again? The team we saw on Jan. 1 did not look like a team fighting its guts out for its embattled coach. It looked like an emotionally beaten team just waiting for the season to end.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
et tu brute?
January 13th, 2011 at 10:51 PM ^
3-5-7 in the first three years does not equate to 9 wins in Year 4. RR lost five Big Ten games last year.....all of them by double digits (and a bowl game by 38 points). He won three Big Ten games....one of them by double digits. The other two were extremely close until the last minute (and Illinois went in 3 OT's). In short, his losses were much more convincing than his wins. I'm not trying to be a jackass, it's just the truth.
I hear what you're saying about returning starters but you realize that this was the worst defense in Michigan's 100+ year history, right? It's hard to brag on that defense (and scheme) returning next year.
The team needed a new direction and a new philosophy. It just so happens in this case that "new" means reverting to the past. Since RR's three seasons at Michigan resulted in the three worst conference records in the past 40+ years, I wasn't really eager to see what Year 4 would bring. I'm all in for Hoke and believe that he gives Michigan a much better chance to win in the Big Ten.
January 14th, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
3-5-7 in the first years could equate to 11 wins if we're dealing with prime odds
January 14th, 2011 at 7:48 AM ^
I have been trying for days to get logged on here to comment. After seeing your post I don't need to anymore, you said everything that I wanted to say, however, better. I am with you on needing change. RR just was not for this team or University. He came in with far to much baggage, and is now leaving with just as much baggage (NCAA violations and worst record in M history.) Come on folks are you serious when you think RR was the coach for us. I as well, am all in for Hoke.
January 14th, 2011 at 1:23 AM ^
January 14th, 2011 at 1:44 AM ^
2-1 in the 90's.
January 14th, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^
January 14th, 2011 at 1:49 AM ^
Me too. :(
January 13th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
God I hope not. That's way to much like the truck drivers for me and it will drive me crazy.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
While I'm not a huge fan of them, the stickers are not an OSU innovation. Bo used them first at Miami (Oh.), and Woody copied him.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
That school in Ohio has them
January 14th, 2011 at 1:18 AM ^
And that's why I love Hoke already.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
Amen to that!
January 13th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
keep he running up to the line the whole game. conditioning is important.
January 13th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
Our team would sprint to the other end of the field where the ball would be spotted. It always looked good and really made other teams look out of shape and tired.. dk if im the only one who noticed it but always loved it
January 13th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
And that play where Denard play-actions to himself.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
I would also like to keep the Denard-running-all-over-Notre-Dame. That was a nice feature.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
the Victors Walk. Great to see the team heading into the stadium on game day!
January 13th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
Amen to that too!
January 13th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
(was that what it was called?) alumni as honorary captains (he didn't reach out? Really?)
January 13th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
I'd put the chances of "Circle of Death" returning at 0.00%.
And I'm pretty happy about this. I couldn't stand hearing AC;DC at Michigan Stadium.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
The best offense in the Big Ten?
January 13th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
I'd like to see them continue to do the Victors Walk before the game. I think it gives the players and fans a great chance to interact and show support before the game, but it's early enough in the day that impact much game prep.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
DREADLOCKS
January 13th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
Circle of Death.
That is all.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
We kept the crying at press confrences part.
Just waiting for Brady Hoke to break out the Josh Groban now.
Too soon?
January 13th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
I hope the Victors Walk and the act of handing the ball to the refs remains. I can't tell you how many people (non Michigan fans) commented to me how classy our team was.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
1. Going for it on fourth down
2. RR's recruits
3. Fred Jackson
4. The open-door policy for access to the program
5. Two-game winning streak against ND
January 13th, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
Personally, I'd prefer a three game winning streak against ND for 2011...
Good news is #3 is already happening.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
I also like the handing of the ball to the ref. I'll always remember Barry Sanders scoring on ridiculous highlight reel touchdown runs, then humbly handing the ball to the ref.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
Not only was it classy, but it stopped anyone who was scoring a touchdown to haphazardly drop the ball on the 2 yard line which must happen 10 times a year in college ball. Also helps with a hurry-up offense.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
...Special K.
This is footbaw, not a rawk concert.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
I'm liking those new additions to the Big House that they added during the RR era. Here's hoping those stay for a while.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
Celebratory antics will cost you big time. You can lose the game if you celebrate the touchdown before crossing the goaline. Ask Kansas State how they feel? So handing the ball to the official will most assuredly be part of the training.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
plastic cup my $6.00 soda came in at the Wisconsin game.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
Pahokee.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
The QB sweep? I am thankful that denard appears to be sticking it out! I hope Hoke and the new OC study lots of tape of Denard and keep some of RR's schemes. Please Please use Denard effectively!
January 13th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
Yes... Victor's Walk... Handing the ball to the Ref, and this play...
(15 seconds in)