Yes, this season didn't go the way wanted it to. However...
This season was disappointing, on so many levels. Injuries to some promising young guys, guys getting kicked off the team, losing... lots of losing.
But, there were a lot of bright spots. Yes, the point of playing football is to win football games, and Brady Hoke did not do that well enough and will lose his job for it. However, I will applaud coach Hoke for the types of guys he has recruited and the types of values this program (for the most part, i.e. Gibbons) has had under him.
I'm going to user Devin Gardner as an example: 59.5% completion percentage. 42 touchdowns. 31 interceptions. 15-14 as a starter.
These are not great statistics for a quarterback here. They are not the standard, nor will they ever be. But these statistics are vastly more important:
Graduate of the University of Michigan in 3.5 years. Soon to be a TWO TIME graduate of the University of Michigan. Countless hours of helping around the community. A finalist for an award recognizing on and off the field excellence.
There are a lot of people who criticize Devin's performance on the field, and rightfully so. But there is much, much more to life than Michigan Football. This is something 95% of Michigan fans understand and doesn't really need to be repeated, but there are always a few bad apples.
I'll always root for Devin Gardner in whatever he does because I truly believe he embodies everything that is right about Michigan. And what he embodies is the whole reason I care so deeply about that program and school.
Thank you Devin, Jake, and the rest of the seniors who did so much for this team and this program.
Go Blue.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^
Future is bright, whereas Carr left the cupboard bare, Hoke is leaving it stocked and ready for Harbaugh to dominate. .....Any update on the severity of Drake Johnson's injury?
November 29th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
...with the possible exception of the QB position.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:46 PM ^
This really depends on if we get Harbaugh. I strongly believe he can devlop Qb's, and at the very least make a mediocore qb a "game manager." Case in point Alex Smith.
November 30th, 2014 at 12:24 AM ^
was a 4* bordering 5*. Looked great his Junior season in HS and competed with the best HS QB in the country. He got mono and did not finish that great. But he has potential to be a decent QB even though he Has had some horrible coaching the past 2 years. Some one like Harbaugh will step his play up!
November 29th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
What does his record have to do with leaving the cupboard bare?
November 29th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^
Yes, and telling Mallett to transfer was the right thing to do for Mallett.
You would rather Lloyd have lied to the kid and told him that Rodriguez's offense would have a place for him? If Mallett had stayed he probably would not have been drafted--instead he was starting for the Texans this year until he got hurt.
If you would rather Coach Carr have given him bad advice, costing him his future for the sake of the team, you're a fucking asshole.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^
Well said.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:50 PM ^
I would rather Lloyd have just shut his mouth and let Malllett talk to Rodriguez and decdide for himself. He may have very likely come to the same conclusion, but at least Lloyd doesn't come off looking like a complete obstructionist.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^
You are saying that Lloyd should not have mentored that young man, for the sake of appearances.
You're also implying that Mallett didn't make his own decision.
Forgive me if I'm not buying it.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:37 PM ^
For the sake of appearances, Lloyd should have let Mallett come to that conclusion himself if it was so obvious - that way he is supporting both Mallett AND the University of Michigan football team. No one suggested that Lloyd "lie" to Mallett.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
Carr was "mentoring" Mallett, you are the delusional one. Mallett was almost certainly out the door even if Carr had stayed. He didn't like it in Ann Arbor and purportedly Carr and the football program didn't like him either. Supposedly a different kid.
November 29th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 1:19 AM ^
Rich Rod told the players to trust in the new coach and buy in, no matter what. That is a bit of a difference from Carr's approach, and it is also interesting to note who is considered a "Michigan Man."
November 29th, 2014 at 6:04 PM ^
Carr had a lot of good and bad. The bad was that he SACRIFICED SEVEN YEARS OF MICHIGAN FOOTBALL for his own personal agenda. If you are going to give Carr credit for his accomplishments, you have to hold him resonsible for sabotaging the program and doing everything he could to see that Rich Rod would be booted out of Ann Arbor.
I am sure he had loads of fun watching Urban Meyer use Rich Rod's offense to beat the Wolverines today...
November 29th, 2014 at 6:13 PM ^
Only seven? Our record since 2001 against OSU is 2 freaking 12.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:58 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
whether or not Rich Rod's problems were mostly self-inflicted, just the fact that he perceived a lack of support is very damning.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
What the fuck are you even talking about. You are fucking delusional.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
Meh, there has a been a LOT of smoke, particular from former players, that Carr actively tried to undermine Rodriguez and made efforts to prevent the hiring of Les Miles. While I won't say who, one former player close to the administration personally told me some pretty bad stories about Carr's role after he retired.
I'm not saying it's true, and I think the claims are definitely exaggerated, but I also don't think the idea is delusional.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
State the exact claim and the source of the claim, or don't make it.
The only smoke in mirrors in this thead is your contribution
November 29th, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
did you even read "3 and out" or are you simply a John Bacon-denier. That's just one source. Now its your turn to source your opinion.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
He says "fuck" a lot, so his opinion means more.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^
I keep hearing references to the sabotage. What are the specifics other than LC wanted his replacement to be one of his former coaches?
November 29th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
If your former coaches are Larry, Curly, and Moe, it is sabotage if you insist on them being the replacement.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
Re: Carr- I have never seen a coach who accomplished so much so hated by many fans.
Its like some conspiracy theory cult- evil Carr emptied the cupboard and poor helpless RR had no option but to go 3-9 and field no defense for 3 years. Meanwhile the evil Carr keeps plotting behind the scenes to destroy UM for years to come.
Yet Bo- who won no NC- and RR - who permanently set an incredible number of negative records at UM are treated as gods.
Carr should of coached for some other team and given them the NC because he sure wasted his time on UM fans.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
last I checked he is still the 49ers head coach. And Brady Hoke is still the Michigan coach. And Greg Schiano is looking for a job.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^
One can hope, right? lol If Schiano is hired I give up.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:24 PM ^
People on this site are already setting the stage for another coaching search blunder. They are like the Jerry Springer crowd, with the subconscious belief that constant entertainment of folly is better than allowing us to build a winner with patience.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:35 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
Carr did not "leave the cupboard bare". That is a BS myth. Go look up the 2007 Wolverines roster and look at the starters in particular. Look at how many were underclassment with eligibiltiy to return. All of those players, every single one of them was in place the day that Carr retired in Jan of 2008.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:33 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
RR had Threet who is better than any of the QBs we presently have on the team. Plus you had a great duo backs of Minor and Brown. The OL certainly was better than what Hoke has assembled and the defense was pretty damn good. If RR could coach he should have had a record of 6-6 or 7-5. I tell you, I lost confidence in RR after that 3-8 season and he never gained it back. Yeah, he spread and shred all the weak B1G teams but the WI, MSU and OSU of the B1G beat his spread like a drum. Also RR felt a lot of pressure succeed here. AU was pressure free for Rod, so he was able to show his coaching skills.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^
Carr probably left at least 10 guys on the roster who would spend some time in the NFL. That's way more than most B1G teams can say. It may not have been "classic Michigan" but the notion that the cupboard was bare is moronic. The meme just keeps getting perpetuated.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:01 PM ^
Last time he walked off a field with Urban Meyer he was accepting congratulations on the win.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
Right now, Michigan is bad. Period.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
We are a good 5-7 team.
/s
November 29th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^
Define 5, then define 7.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:57 PM ^
and we fought hard all 7 days of the week.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^
5 and 7 are just statistics
November 29th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
there is no such thing
November 29th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
He will go far, and I am thankful he played for us.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
Yes, Gardner is a great guy. But the business is winning football games, and I have trouble finding "a lot of bright spots" when we just went 5-7. Besides, it's not like we didn't have major character issues elsewhere. See: Clark, Frank.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^
don't forget: York, Csont'e.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^
You try growing up homeless on the streets of LA and see how well you do, fucking prick.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:38 PM ^
I'm a fucking prick because I acknowledged that Frank Clark has character issues? Lol okay.
What part of my statement did you disagree with?