In honesty I will say, before the bowl game, I was probably the only one who didn't even think Greg Robinson deserved to take the fall. But after seeing the game, my gut feeling is they probably all should go. Even with a month to prepare, M looked sloppy and poorly prepared, slow, and not very physical. Things that should have been fixed, haven't been. In a single word: embarassing.
That said, coaches, like QBs, get too much credit and take too much blame for things beyond their control. I think whoever the DC was this year would have been screwed by the inexperience and overmatched talent on the field, which comes down to recruiting and other issues prior to his arrival. How much RR's meddling with the defense, how practice is structured, etc. may or may not be considerations.
After the 1st Quarter in the Gator Bowl, as in so many bigger games this season, it was the offense that slowed down. In spite of all the Barwis mania 3 years ago, Michigan generally did not play well in the 2nd half.
It seems pretty clear, that Harbaugh does want to do both (Michigan and the NFL). So if he comes to Michigan now, he will assuredly leave withn 3-5 years to to go the NFL. Or he gambles on doing it the other way. Obviously taking the 49ers job now would be the least disruption to his family.
I think in JH's perfect world, he coaches in the NFL 5-8 seasons, he wins a Super Bowl or two, and then the M job opens up again, and he lives out his coaching career in Ann Arbor
They are very evidently well-coached (something M cannot say at the moment). Most of all, they have a toughness that m is lacking right now, that is needed in the Big 10.
Brady Hoke isn't as flashy as Harbaugh- but he isn't likely to leave until Michigan wants him to. Harbaugh on the other hand, clearly wants to do both- coach in the NFL and coach college.
I liked the way JH told off the ESPN reporter after the games "I asked you to respect the players".
I realize the media feels obligated to ask the questions (and create the controveries), but it really kills the buzz and devalues the game. I can't stand the way the ESPN announcers will spend more of the 2nd half of regular season games talking about BCS rankings and possible coaching changies and contrived controverisies than about the game and players we are watching.
Yes, you'd "have to" go to 16 teams. There would ultimately have to be auto-bids for every conference- there are currently eleven conferences in the FBS. Till then we'd have endless complaints and controversies and legal threats from mid-majors. Auto-bids are also probably the best way to retain the significance of the conferences and regular season for the largest number. So with any playoff you'd have a minimum of 12 slots, allowing for one at-large berth (for ND, etc.).
12 would inevitably swell to 16, as any argument against would be overwhelmed by the arguments and pressure (financial, Notre Dame, BCS conferences) to create extra slots/games. Sooner or later, whatever playoff scheme you begin with, that is where we'd end up.
"Why would the political pressure for participation be more intense?"
Because with a four-round (16 team) playoff, the stakes would be that much higher. Most- if not all- the bowls would invariably be crowded out. While some might say, 'good riddance' to them, in the current environment making a bowl is at least a realistic consolation for those not appearing in the NC/playoff game. Bowls also provide motivation and reward and a means for added exposure, which are especially important for the non-premier FBS programs (the vast majority). Making the playoffs would become an all-or-nothing proposition. Hence more pressure.
"And why couldn't you structure a playoff such that everyone worthy is included?"
Because definitions of worthiness of inclusion are even more subjective when you talk about six or eight or sixteen than when just talking about two. Even though the supposed purpose for a championship is to determine 'The Best College Team in America', simply handing the crown to a team that seems to be head and shoulders above the rest- i.e. most worthy throughout the regular season (e.g. OSU 2006) without holding a championship game only in such years is impractical; and for that matter, as often as not, an ostensibly inferior #2 (quite arguably the best among several ostensibly inferiors) prevails. Other years there are three teams arguably the best, but perhaps none clearly superior. Whatever the size, for every team receiving a playoff spot, there will always be at least one or two more than feel they are 'worthy'.
"This is common anti-playoff gambit: you can't have a good playoff that makes sense, you have to have a stupid one because of fuzzy reasons I will not justify. In it is an admission that a properly structured playoff would be awesome."
If you read the interview, he wasn't throwing out a straw man argument. He just didn't elaborate about playoff scenarios. Part of his answer to the previous question about the BCS: 'the regular season is by far the most successful of any American sport'
BTW I do very much agree with Brian et al. re: 'You'd have to play the games until the championship on campuses, so you'd be playing games at Michigan and Ohio State, weather-wise, in late December or January.' That would be perhaps the most redeeming feature of a playoff. Come to think of it, it is also what is so redeeming- and good and just- about conference alignments and schedules...
The good thing about auto-bids is that they allow teams to take more risks (i.e. challenges) with their non-conference schedule, as a tough non-conference loss will not hurt their playoff chances as much, and would help prepare them for tougher playoff competition. (Of course non-conference results would affect their at-large bid chances).
Without them, the meaning of conference is weakened, and the incentive is to make the schedule as light as possible in order to maximize the number of wins.
Stunts are nice, but as you know, they can put people seriously out of position, creating huge seams. (Seems to me that this happened often with English's defenses).
Michigan doesn't have the offense this year to make up for a quick score by the opponent, yet a pretty good defense that can stop the opponent from driving the length of the field.
Let's remember that the Big Ten season hasn't started yet- he might be holding back just a little. Might it also be that they are still learning the defense, and he wants the lineman to concentrate on whipping the man in front of them, and the linebackers and safeties to be more sure of their fits?
It would be really great if there were a network of Michigan fans over here- to gather in a bar or someone's living room to catch these games together in the middle of the night.
We are indeed a lonely breed over here- Saturday nights in autumn meaning leaving friends and lovers and possibilities early from parties or bars and clubs to come home, praying to catch a decent connection on the computer to get the game and maybe another until dawn. Girlfriends just don't understand; so this cheering at the computer ritual is usually done alone...
To be clear about the Slingbox for anyone who doesn't know: it's a box attached to a cable box/TiVo, etc. and a computer at one end (like your parent's house) where it is uploaded; and software on your computer (one copy) at the other. Been waiting myself to find the right friend or relative that has a second box and a high-speed connection.
I believe someone at Legends (in Roppongi) is a USC alum and has a Slingbox setup, but usually just for the odd USC-Cal or UCLA games.
I thought GamePlan no longer carries Big Ten games.
Recent Comments
In honesty I will say, before the bowl game, I was probably the only one who didn't even think Greg Robinson deserved to take the fall. But after seeing the game, my gut feeling is they probably all should go. Even with a month to prepare, M looked sloppy and poorly prepared, slow, and not very physical. Things that should have been fixed, haven't been. In a single word: embarassing.
That said, coaches, like QBs, get too much credit and take too much blame for things beyond their control. I think whoever the DC was this year would have been screwed by the inexperience and overmatched talent on the field, which comes down to recruiting and other issues prior to his arrival. How much RR's meddling with the defense, how practice is structured, etc. may or may not be considerations.
After the 1st Quarter in the Gator Bowl, as in so many bigger games this season, it was the offense that slowed down. In spite of all the Barwis mania 3 years ago, Michigan generally did not play well in the 2nd half.
This situation is as much about Brandon making a statement about his own leadership, as anything else.
It seems pretty clear, that Harbaugh does want to do both (Michigan and the NFL). So if he comes to Michigan now, he will assuredly leave withn 3-5 years to to go the NFL. Or he gambles on doing it the other way. Obviously taking the 49ers job now would be the least disruption to his family.
I think in JH's perfect world, he coaches in the NFL 5-8 seasons, he wins a Super Bowl or two, and then the M job opens up again, and he lives out his coaching career in Ann Arbor
Those slamming Hoke haven't watched his teams.
They are very evidently well-coached (something M cannot say at the moment). Most of all, they have a toughness that m is lacking right now, that is needed in the Big 10.
Brady Hoke isn't as flashy as Harbaugh- but he isn't likely to leave until Michigan wants him to. Harbaugh on the other hand, clearly wants to do both- coach in the NFL and coach college.
I liked the way JH told off the ESPN reporter after the games "I asked you to respect the players".
I realize the media feels obligated to ask the questions (and create the controveries), but it really kills the buzz and devalues the game. I can't stand the way the ESPN announcers will spend more of the 2nd half of regular season games talking about BCS rankings and possible coaching changies and contrived controverisies than about the game and players we are watching.
Stunts are nice, but as you know, they can put people seriously out of position, creating huge seams. (Seems to me that this happened often with English's defenses).
Michigan doesn't have the offense this year to make up for a quick score by the opponent, yet a pretty good defense that can stop the opponent from driving the length of the field.
Let's remember that the Big Ten season hasn't started yet- he might be holding back just a little. Might it also be that they are still learning the defense, and he wants the lineman to concentrate on whipping the man in front of them, and the linebackers and safeties to be more sure of their fits?
It was the end of the half...3rd & 14(!) Only 2 men rushing.
No way around it: Besides poor decision, poor execution, most of all it was a poor call. Poorly coached, poor coaching- on that play, at least.
It would be really great if there were a network of Michigan fans over here- to gather in a bar or someone's living room to catch these games together in the middle of the night.
We are indeed a lonely breed over here- Saturday nights in autumn meaning leaving friends and lovers and possibilities early from parties or bars and clubs to come home, praying to catch a decent connection on the computer to get the game and maybe another until dawn. Girlfriends just don't understand; so this cheering at the computer ritual is usually done alone...
To be clear about the Slingbox for anyone who doesn't know: it's a box attached to a cable box/TiVo, etc. and a computer at one end (like your parent's house) where it is uploaded; and software on your computer (one copy) at the other. Been waiting myself to find the right friend or relative that has a second box and a high-speed connection.
I believe someone at Legends (in Roppongi) is a USC alum and has a Slingbox setup, but usually just for the odd USC-Cal or UCLA games.
I thought GamePlan no longer carries Big Ten games.