Seasons Worse Than Last
Forget winning percentage... we've had worse years than last season.
1958: Oosterbaan ends his coaching career with a 2-6-1 season and a single Big Ten win.
1962: Michigan again only manages two wins and a single victory in the conference. We finish last in the Big Ten.
Alright, so this was in an era of nine game seasons. So? Do you think people in 1962 were thinking "Two wins is fine, it's only a nine game season"? The point is, I'm sick of hearing about historic lows. We've been to the bottom. We've been there in a lot of fan's lifetime.
You tell em Brodie
We could've easily been 7-5 last year (Utah, Toledo, NW, Purdue). We were also leading MSU, PSU, and Illinois at various points of those games. And perhaps if we didn't turn the ball over 48 times vs ND we would've had a chance there too. tOSU, well, that's for another day.
Regarding last year, it was a recipe for disaster. I honestly remember thinking before the season (my friends can attest to this) that we would be looking at a 5-6 win season, still didn't think 3 wins.
Anyway, new coaches + new scheme + young team + no solid QB play + very, very little upperclassmen leadership = disaster.
We have depth at QB now, our OL is worlds better, all of our RBs are back and we should get solid output from our WRs. The defense in my mind is a question mark only on the line. Our LB core is back and our secondary, well, they couldn't be worse than what they were last year. And from everything i've read/heard, Donovan Warren is due for a break out year + BooBoo at CB, that's a good combo.
We just really need guys like Van Bergen and Mike Martin to lead the DL. And I really think that both those guys in particular are going to shine this year. I got faith in Greg Robinson turning our D around.
Trust Turbo Cool, we'll be fine this year. And it will only get better.
could easily have gone 1-11. Miami(OH) was no domination, and Wisconsin...
the glass is half full.
It would be a stretch to have gone 7-5 maybe 6-6 is more likely. Point is, Purdue outgained us by somewhere around 200 yards, Utah dominated most of the game, Toledo got lucky with the INT and missed FG, and we scored 0 offensive points versus Northwestern.
It still doesn't make me feel better.
I do appreciate what you're trying to say though. People love to use any excuse that they can to kick a national power. Add to that the MSM's love of hyperbole and you get statements like "Tim Tebow makes life worth living".
This has been the longest off season ever and I can't wait for 9/5.
those seasons do not mean as much to me... I also did not get to experience the Yost years or the greatness of the late 40's. No matter how you compare it - last year sucked.
But last year is over. Now is the time for moving Michigan back to greatness. And though there will still be speedbumps, I expect fans will see better efforts and results. Just beating who you are suppose to beat will give the team a great start.
Go Blue!
I don't think that last year even comes close to Michigan's worst season.
In 1934, Michigan went a dismal 1-7, not just that but they were shut out 5 of the 8 games they played, scoring only 21 points all season (and you think we've had offensive struggles).
In 1936, Michigan had the same record, however they were only shut out 3 games, scoring 33 points along the way.
During the 3 seasons between '34 - '36, Michigan lost to Ohio State all 3 times by a combined score of 0 to 93.
Harry Kipke was the coach during this time, who earlier had led Michigan to 2 National Titles. Also, Michigan football's most famous alumnus, Gerald Ford, was the center and linebacker during these years
It was mainly caused by injuries, but the 1984 season was 6-6 with a home loss to Sparty and lop-sided away losses to tOSU and Iowa. It all got capped off by losing to BYU in the bowl game which gave them a weak NC.
When you have only a handful of bad seasons in the long history of the program, I can live with that. Now we need to start a new era where we go another 40 plus years before our next losing season. By then I will be dead or that season will cause my death.
...and reflect on how fortunate each Michigan fan is to actually be a Michigan fan. I think I've seen a stat where Michigan has had something like 13 losing seasons. Period.
That's ridiculous.
a million times over, this ^
It's incredibly difficult to come up with a team that has consistently dominated the way Michigan football has dominated.
(Lindenwood roller hockey comes to mind, but M football obviously has a huge leg up in years playing)