Member for

14 years 5 months
Points
3434.00

Recent Comments

Date Title Body
Still feel like Warde was…

Still feel like Warde was incredibly penny-wise, pound-foolish not to give Herbert an extra 10% and extend him two years.  Would have been best ROI imaginable.

https://imgur.com/gallery…

The redactions are: [a third…

The redactions are: [a third party digital forensics company] x 2; [the coach/coach's/the coach's] x 8; [the university/university] x 2; [the state] x 1; [state court] x 1; [redacted] x 1. 

So, Kroll (or some other forensics company); Harbaugh; University of Michigan; Michigan; Michigan state court; and redacted.  Not exactly a difficult Wheel of Fortune puzzle here. 

The Buckeyes have multiple 5…

The Buckeyes have multiple 5 star WRs returning, many high 4 star WRs returning as well, and landed the consensus number 1 recruit in the 2024 class (who is also a WR and was given a 101 rating by 247), and we are pointing to OSU's "lack of all-world WRs" for comfort in looking to go man press with our CB core against that?  No, this is not the best of all possible worlds. 

I know people are…

I know people are complaining about the lack of outside hires but this is absurdly late in the cycle - you're limited with who you can reasonably grab beyond sitting coaches who have likely been at spots for months at this point

---------------------------

Are we seriously now taking the position that even as the returning national champions, with our resources, we cannot poach a coach from the other hundreds of programs out there?  I mean, we said no one watches baseball, we didn't even attempt to go after an established big name college coach when the basketball spot opened up, but are we not even at the level of Missouri in football, who announced that they took Houston's defensive line coach today (absurdly late in the cycle)?  And this isn't a comment on Campbell; I don't know enough to comment on this hire.  This idea that Michigan cannot do what other programs are doing, that even spending a little extra on our S&C coach for continuity after saving $6M/year with a first time head coach was too much, etc.  It seems that there is an excuse for everything, and a need to spin everything as a positive.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/mizzou-hires-houstons-brian-early-to-coach-defensive-ends/article_9fe9521c-c089-11ee-b1b1-cb5c6aa3a41d.html

It's in the Hurtt threat,…

It's in the Hurtt threat, but it sounds like Herbert would have settled for an extra year or two on his contract and a 10% bump.  Given the risk we are taking with a first time coach and the continuity angle we are pushing, that seems like a small price to pay to keep Herbert:

https://mgoblog.com/comment/245241266#comment-245241266

I trust MJ14.

I trust MJ14.

If only there were a way,…

If only there were a way, perhaps using a computer network, to research whether a team like Oklahoma State was willing to give their strength and conditioning coach a 5 year contract, worth $1M annually, with Gundy noting that it was the "best and most important hire he ever made for the program." 

https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma-state/article/oklahoma-state-football-strength-coach-rob-glass-new-contract-189669062/#:~:text=After%20nearly%20two%20decades%20into,contract%20worth%20%241%20million%20annually.

Sounds familiar.  Given all that Warde is saving by taking a flyer on a first time coach (tens of millions), saving an extra $1 or 2M and hoping that the new S&C guy can keep the culture intact and this won't lead to departures of players is so short-sighted. 

This epitomizes the small…

This epitomizes the small-minded thinking of Warde.  Even though he is saving tens of millions by betting on a first time head coach with almost no experience (in part, for continuity), he cannot help but cheap out and refuse to spend another $1-2M on an extension for the person universally hailed as a key contributor to the current culture and success.  I just cannot fathom how so many people on this board can look at everything that Warde has done and defend him. 

It sounds like Warde pulled…

It sounds like Warde pulled the only move he knows: save a few dollars (that Warde's "value add"), with no thought about the bigger picture.  He is banking on the same money coming into the AD whether Michigan goes 12-0 or 9-3.  Think of all the administrators he can hire by refusing to extend Herbert a year or two and bump his pay 10%:

 https://mgoblog.com/comment/245241266#comment-245241266

Even after 2021, he didn't…

Even after 2021, he didn't return Harbaugh to his pre-cut salary.  Warde completely bungled that, and we would have lost him to Minnesota, but we got lucky.

Offering a deal on Burgergate when Harbaugh was already in Los Angeles about to sign wasn't "in time."  Again, Warde fails on Negotiation 101 repeatedly.  (Notice how the DC we are apparently looking at now had a two year show cause and was the actual bagman for Miami?)

So, why did Warde not do anything about the Pearson report for months?  Why couldn't he bothered to even try to retain Bakich?  Maybe, instead of this Panglossian nonsense, Warde really doesn't do enough to retain great coaches, to get ahead of issues like NIL, etc.  Of course, we are going to get long, condescending proclamations on this subject from his apologists, so I do not know why I bother reading, but like all Michigan fans, I must enjoy misery.   

We wouldn't give Harbaugh…

We wouldn't give Harbaugh assurances about Burgergate (until he was already out in LA signing with someone else), yet we are going to hire someone who had a two-year show cause penalty, who has primarily coached DL (we already have Elston), and whose two years as DC have apparently been very bad?  *Trying to stay positive, trying to stay positive....*

Nope - just because Warde…

Nope - just because Warde bungled 2021 doesn't mean that he didn't also bungle this year.  One example: giving in on the contract request (after months of saying no) when Harbaugh is already in Los Angeles?  The incompetence is staggering.  Could Hackett or someone with vision/drive found a way to keep him here after the 2023 season?  We'll never know, because that is not what we had.  Given everything we know about Warde's lack of effort to retain other great coaches here, dragging his feet on the hockey issues, etc., this latest turn did not surprise me.  And if you are suggesting there are other institutional problems at Michigan, I don't think the folks criticizing Warde would disagree with you. 

Did I want Harbaugh fired…

Did I want Harbaugh fired after the 2020 season?  No.

Did Warde also bungle things after the 2021 season, when he did not even restore Harbaugh's pay to his pre-cut level?  Yes. 

We got the past two seasons by luck (Minnesota dropping the ball), not by anything Warde did. 

Look where we were two years ago, when Warde dropped the ball.  The internal candidates were Josh Gattis (according to MGoBlog) or Mike Hart; reports were that Matt Rhule or Bill O'Brien (or maybe Matt Campbell?) were outside candidates.

Look what has happened with each the past two years, and please defend Warde's actions after the 2021 season.

Actually, Warde fumbled it…

Actually, Warde fumbled it two years ago as well, after Harbaugh beat OSU and won the B1G, and Warde still wouldn't even restore Harbaugh to his original contract number.  Only because Minnesota fumbled the hire did we get Harbaugh back.  

I will root like crazy for…

I will root like crazy for Moore to succeed, but it is worth remembering that 24 months ago, after Warde failed to put Harbaugh back to his pre-COVID salary and we nearly lost him to the NFL, there was a Broyles Award winning OC and internal hire lined up to keep things going.  (And after we lucked into Harbaugh coming back, that OC was not snapped up as a HC somewhere else.)

If Kent State's coach does…

If Kent State's coach does well, I expect to hear Ashokan Farewell played 30 to 40 times a game.

I have confidence that…

I have confidence that Flavor Flav will stick around after the game to talk to Harbaugh about clock management.

A balanced attack: 58 yards…

A balanced attack: 58 yards passing, 58 yards rushing (with ~3 minutes left).  

Such.  Good.  Writing.

Such.  Good.  Writing.

Thank you for doing this.

I think new Big Ten member…

I think new Big Ten member UCLA will be spending significantly on baseball (as it does now).

The Venn diagram of A and B…

The Venn diagram of A and B is larger.  The constraint is C) Coaches who are currently willing to coach Michigan based on what Warde is willing to offer (e.g., salary, shorter contract, etc.).

The idea that Lamar Jackson…

The idea that Lamar Jackson grew up idolizing Shoelace makes me feel old.  Was it really that long ago?

All that said, its difficult…

All that said, its difficult to imagine any situation where either of Wolverine bigs are around for the 2022-2023 season.

You mean 23-24 season, right?

This reffing is tough to…

This reffing is tough to watch.

Even Mel Tucker’s buyout,…

Even Mel Tucker’s buyout, which we mocked because it wasn’t that high to begin with and didn’t change a scratch when they restructured his deal, is significantly higher.

The numbers posted do not seem to support that.  Mel Tucker's buyout, like Harbaugh's, is small.  If, for example, Texas wants to give Tucker a massive MSU-like contract, and Tucker wants to jump ship, there is almost no financial disincentive.    

I agree -- that would have…

I agree -- that would have been preferable.  But from some of the information that has leaked, it sounds like UM has tried to keep this a budget-focused extension, including to the extent that the original offer was quite low (well less than the one originally made to Harbaugh seven years ago).  If I understand correctly, some boosters and Hackett worked to make that original deal happen.  It sounds like that was clearly not the case this time around with Warde.  UM likely saved some money in the short term because Harbaugh doesn't have an agent, but it sure looks like UM is again playing some of the penny wise, pound foolish games that it has historically.   

I'm sure Harbaugh would have…

I'm sure Harbaugh would have loved a MSU or PSU (Tucker/Franklin) contract (10 year guaranteed), but we do not have the boosters or administration willing to make that kind of commitment.  

Penn State's contract with…

Penn State's contract with Franklin is similar.  10 years guaranteed if they fire him without cause, yet the buyout if he wants to leave is tiny.  Anyone who sees the new Harbaugh contract and complains about negative recruiting should look at the MSU and PSU contracts.  Each gives the coach an easy way to jump ship (e.g., to Texas or Florida, etc.).  The difference is that those contracts demonstrate that the university is committed to the coach (long contracts, fully guaranteed).  Obviously, the two boosters at MSU significantly helped, in that case.

Thanks.  It's hanging on my…

Thanks.  It's hanging on my laptop, but I was able to get it on my phone.

Is anyone able to access the…

Is anyone able to access the audio (MGoBlue Audio)?  Not having any luck here.

I saw it happen two times,…

I saw it happen two times, but it looked like the same game, and on the first run, it seems he was taking an angle away from the other defenders (toward the numbers) while the defender (jersey #2) was running straight back.  The second run, it kind of looked like he might have been gassed (?).  Also, I assume one of the board members could recognize that opponent. Is #2 on that team particularly fast?  Anyway, welcome to Michigan and good luck to the young man! 

My first call would be to…

My first call would be to find a better AD.  Michigan has its best football season in 25 years, in a tougher era, and we penny-pinch a returning coach who has been to the college playoffs, the Super Bowl, loves the University and was a great player here, etc.  Insane.  Any option available to us (i.e., not Saban, not Swinney, not Smart, not Riley (props to USC - best move of the off-season), not Cristobal, not Kelly, not Franklin, not Day, not Tucker, not Peterson, not Stoops (Bob), not one of the current, successful NFL head coaches, etc.) is a riskier option, and likely a (potentially major) step back.  That Warde will think himself clever by betting on an internal hire who would not be hired as a head coach by any power 5 team....

One name I haven't seen mentioned is Jim Leonhard (Wisconsin DC).  He is a Wisconsin alum and turned down the Packers DC job, so it might be hard to pull him to Michigan.  I assume he would be the first call for UW if Chryst were to retire.  But Chryst is only 56 and has been solid for Wisconsin, so maybe make a run at Leonhard.  Don't know how well he recruits, though.

 

 

Very good point.  If I…

Very good point.  If I remember correctly, Clemson has enjoyed excellent retention (of both its players and its coaches) during its run. 

Besides elite QB play, Clemson also recruited DL at a very elite level early in its run.  Even when we managed to beat out Clemson for Rashan Gary (and sign a number of other excellent DL in that time frame), Clemson managed to put together an even deeper, more talented roster of DL.  If you're going to be elite, QB and DL are two very good areas to emphasize getting playmakers.

With us in the bonus, why…

With us in the bonus, why weren't we shooting on that last foul?  (Offensive foul on the inbounds, it looked like--they kept playing the replay, so they really didn't show the foul.)

For Georgia (when they moved…

For Georgia (when they moved from Richt to Smart), you do not need to put "buy up" in scare quotes.  

As someone who is boosted…

As someone who is boosted and very pro-vax, I don't think it helps the cause to claim that "no one ever claimed" it prevented infection.  The early tests on these vaccines absolutely were looking at infection and transmission, the data supported positive views on severely reducing infection/transmission, and that data was widely trumpeted.  Over time, the data on infection/transmission have changed (and we have now have data about how long the protection lasts).  And yes, we have new variants which also change the reality on the ground (especially with respect to transmission).  Rather than attempt to re-write history, which gives skeptical folks reason to not trust you, it is better in my opinion to explain that yes, initially we believed and hoped that these vaccines would greatly limit or prevent infection/transmission and early data supported that, but we have more information and data now, and while the vaccines might not limit or prevent infections/transmission to the same extent that we originally hoped, they are still very significantly reducing severe disease and death.   

I hope we have some plays…

I hope we have some plays ready for when Mr. Fausett starts lecturing our players about our failures in recruiting.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQKj5NdcnW8

 

When a team is winning,…

When a team is winning, coaches get a lot more leeway.  From the recent articles, it sounds like he is an extreme bully.  In college, where he delivered wins and was revered, I would assume verbal threats likely would be sufficient.  Now that he is around grown adults who don't care that he won at the college level, and who are not dependent on him for a scholarship/future livelihoods, the verbal threats are not working and he is way out of his element.  

Also, remember that he hired Kevin Wilson:

https://twitter.com/GabeIkard/status/804429644200050688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

  

Perhaps, but assaulting your…

Perhaps, but assaulting your players is a good way to get fired for cause and lose millions from your contract.  The player's agent contacted Jaguars' in-house counsel.  Sounds like an absolute tire fire currently.  

You know the answer; Fisher…

You know the answer; Fisher even said the answer:

https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/1471225907121737734

(Of course, some posters here still believe that it is a level playing field when it comes to NIL/bagmen/etc., and that all programs bend the rules in the same way.)

We landed on the moon.  The…

We landed on the moon.  The earth is spherical.  We understand: you are not convinced.  

It is somewhat unfortunate…

It is somewhat unfortunate that these discussions are occurring in a year in which Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma all did not make it in the top 4.  We quickly forget how boring most years are, and the further concentration of top talent in the top 3-5 teams that have regularly made it to the CFP that likely results (from players wanting to play in the playoff). 

I mean, the concentration at the top isn't good:

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Blue-chip-ratio-college-football-2021-16-teams-who-can-win-national-title-166530729/#166530729_4 

Orgeron tried to hire…

Orgeron tried to hire Freeman as his DC at LSU about 11 months ago, but Freeman chose Notre Dame instead.

And yes, I believe Kelly also tried to convince Freeman to follow him to LSU in this cycle.  

None of this is confirmed,…

None of this is confirmed, of course.  It could be that the path to an on-field coaching position is going to be easier in Washington, whereas it is less likely here.  Let's wait and see.  If it is just a lateral move, hopefully UM can at least try to outbid Washington with a nice raise.

Interestingly, an Iowa forum…

Interestingly, an Iowa forum discussed this recently, because the Iowa middle linebacker told a few reporters that he planned to play without one in an upcoming game:

https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/threads/ncaa-football-rules-mouthpieces-are-mandatory.366384/

 

I always liked Shane Black's…

I always liked Shane Black's twist on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPPQu2iqts

 

Fantastic as always.  Thanks…

Fantastic as always.  Thanks for doing these!

Thanks for posting this. …

Thanks for posting this.  Led me to watch ParkingGod's highlight video.  One thing that stood out on a quick re-watch -- OSU's right tackle could have been easily flagged for false starts on OSU's last offensive play (egregious) and its antepenultimate play (the 2nd and 5).  I guess Aidan Hutchinson lining up against you will do that.  Go Blue!