Where is the bottom?
Trying to look at this question as rationally as possible. My fear is: 3-9, Hoke and Brandon fired, ensuing search for coach botched, transfers, de-commits and in general the program in shambles. That, I think, is the nadir we're headed for. An admittedly pessimistic outlook. Someone please talk me off the ledge.
October 5th, 2014 at 3:18 AM ^
And it's going to be cold too!
Cheering your team on in "good times" feels good, almost inspiring in the cold weather.
But when we suck, and we're not a team that historically sucks (because THAT can also be a fun thing to play with!), then I'm afraid the more uppity people of Ann Arbor will not be interested in sitting 4 hours out in the cold, with piped in music, jacked up prices, and all sorts of Brandon-cheezy-glitz-and-glamour for a team that looks like it's playing only 3rd-stringers.
It's like putting diamonds on a pig and saying it's beautiful, in the end everyone looks stupid.
I think there is a serious possibility that the number goes under 100,000 if it hasn't already.
I only graduated last year, and being still heavily involved with undergrads and other students, people are pissed, and really are starting to not give two shits about football. To be honest, UM students (and it is worthy of critique) are all about "winning" in the classroom, at the job, at the bar. Which gets old of course, but, what I'm trying to get at is this, if you're not winning, they're not interested.
We're also talking about kids who take a cab instead of walking 6-8 blocks somewhere, so of course, "fairweather" and "convenience fans" is the epitome of the average student-fan.
October 5th, 2014 at 2:45 AM ^
We have all day to get all liquored up and I will have my Fire Brandon and Hoke shirt and sign ready. If it gets ugly on the field it could get ugly in the stands.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:55 AM ^
Of Michigan's 22 starters, 13 of them were ranked 4/5 stars by rivals and 18 of them had offers from programs in the current AP Top 25.
Of MSU's starters, 1 of them was ranked a 4 star (Lawrence Thomas) and only 8 of them were offered by Top 25 teams.
Either the recruiting services are completely inaccurate or something is wrong with the development of these players.
I know which one I think it is.
October 5th, 2014 at 1:31 AM ^
Michigan - Where 4 star players come to stagnate.
October 5th, 2014 at 3:17 AM ^
is a devastating bit of perspective.
October 5th, 2014 at 3:22 AM ^
Do you know what the average "class year" the players are from each team?
I'm not trying to argue one way or another, I would just be curious as to what the data may be.
I haven't looked, but I do know that, as a whole, UM only has 12 seniors (6 R.S., 6 True) and I do know that that is extremely low, something like 1-2 standard deviations away from the norm I think I heard somone say, as most teams had in the mid-to-low 20s, and ND has 29.
But yes, the development so far seems absurd.
Just curious though.
October 5th, 2014 at 1:08 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:09 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 1:25 AM ^
is admitting that cycles of irrelevance can last decades, and also realizing that college football and even football as we know it may not last decades, and that michigan may never really be relevant again.
October 5th, 2014 at 1:26 AM ^
I think we'll eek out at least another win somewhere. Today, another game, another loss. No consolation that we played better. Bad teams lose. Remember the Lions in some of there really bad years, so often close, but always on the losing end. Close..Big deal. Why wouldn't recruits decommit. If you want to go to a winning program that has reasonable player development, it is the rational thing to do.
October 5th, 2014 at 1:37 AM ^
It's is utterly insane that we are all honestly talking about 2-10 as a likely finish, but these are insane times.
I saw a team the played hard tonight and will win at lest 2 more games. 4-8.
October 5th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
I agree that they played hard last night, and I'm proud of them for that. I also agree that it is statistically likely that they win at least one more game. However, when your ceiling is 5 and 7 at Michigan, you're at the bottom. At least I hope so.
October 5th, 2014 at 2:09 AM ^
Where is the bottom? I'm beginning to wonder if we are falling into the abyss and there is no bottom... The longer the lame duck Coach (not Helfrich) is at the helm I think we will continue to redefine rock bottom on a weekly basis...
October 5th, 2014 at 2:10 AM ^
once home attendance less than 100k for consecutive games.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:08 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 2:54 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 6:03 AM ^
I don't think it really matters, we are a basketball school.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:00 AM ^
2-10 and a obliterated recruiting class while Brandon "evaluates" the coaches. That my friends is rock bottom.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^
be a thread in which DB has been retained, he actually does fire Hoke, however, every Harbaugh, Miles, Mullen, Schiano, Sumlin, etc turns us down. Honestly, who would DB even go for if that were the case? The thread should be saved and checked for accuracy when this actually happens. Who will coach this team if this scenario pans out?
October 5th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
we are here, when we are asking for RR to come back you know we have hit Rock Bottom
October 5th, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
Sorry to say this, but every "MIchigan Man" who sabotaged the team in 2008 and helped Sparty stock their team for success deserves to see "their" guy go 3-9. David Brandon deserves to see "his" guy go 3-9.
Unfortunately, the players don't, the coaches don't and the fans don't. This is truly the most dysfunctional, fucked up situation I have seen in 54 years of watching Michgan football.
October 5th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
A 2 and 10 season, Hoke gets fired, Brandon doesn't, and in early January Dave Brandon introduces the newest coach to lead Michigan back....Greg Schiano.
October 5th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
and we won't know until we've strarted digging out. Or we have an 0-12 season.