4 losses...

Submitted by rbgoblue on

to teams that have combined for 3 losses on the year, including the #1, 2, and 4 teams in the country.  All 4 losses came on the road or at a neutral site.  Just a brutal schedule this year.

Still one game to be played to see how we remember Team 133, but I, for one, am damn proud of how they played the schedule they were give, never made excuses, and never gave up.  Let's send these seniors out with a bowl win.

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LSAClassOf2000

November 24th, 2012 at 9:43 PM ^

I am curious to know, however,  which teams you're talking about. In the current BCS picture, for example, even Alabama, Oregon and Notre Dame are less than a decade distant from losing seasons actually (none under their current coaches, but these are all teams that were not "great" in the fairly recent past), and even under Bo, we did not go an entire decade without an 8-4 or 9-3 season.  Actually, since 1969, we average 8.75 wins (so, say nine) per year ourselves, so 8 wins is not a horrible season for Michigan over the past 45 seasons or so. I personally might be disappointed with 8-4, but the numbers don't lie here. Very few teams have even this level of success consistently. 

In any event, I agree with the OP - I am very proud of this team. They played their hearts out and have gone out there, given it their best and not made excuses. Go Blue, Team 133. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130627

Yeoman

November 24th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^

Can you name one school that's had a decade of ten-win seasons?

Don't bother looking for a second, there's only ever been one.

Unless you're talking Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater. They're great but I'm not sure that's quite what we're hoping for.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

Tater

November 24th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^

First blame goes to David Brandon, for letting Lloyd Carr finally get to name his successor, three years after he was "kicked upstairs" for allowing the game to pass him by.  The "manball" mandate has done considerable damage to the Michigan "brand."  

I don't blame Brady Hoke for taking his "dream job," nor do I blame Al Borges for coming along.  But I do blame David Brandon for his incredible botching of the RR situation, and I blame him for turning the Michigan job into such a cesspool that everyone he interviewed with experience at a BCS program turned him down.  

Those who called the last five years of Lloyd Carr "Michigan football" and wanted it "back" have gotten exactly what Carr used to do: an average of three or four losses a year, and a bunch of optimistic fans saying, "wait 'til next year."  And, of course, an utter waste of Denard Robinson's last two years in a Michigan uniform.

And now, Ohio and ND both run the spread, which "won't work in the cold northern weather,"and both are undefeated.  Meanwhile, we are stuck with "manball" and four losses. That is not a coincidence. 

Michigan's only chance is to give Borges the green light to develop a hybrid style of attack. It would be utterly classless to fire Borges or Hoke without giving them five years to get their own personnel in.  However, Michigan is simply not going to compete with the "big boys" if they use a 20th century offense and their main rivals are using a 21st century offense.

 If this is what "Michigan football is back" means, there are a lot of people with pathetically low expectations.  What's happening now will keep the donors donating, and fill David Brandon's coffers to the brim, but it's not going to win any National Championships, or even the Big Ten Championship.

It's time to let Al Borges show the "mad scientist" we've heard so much about.  It's time to put the manball mandate into a time machine and ship it back into the 20th century, where it belongs.  Most of all, it's time for Michigan to become "leaders and best" again.  It's been way too long.

 

 

Joined: 08/13/2008

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buckeyeh8er

November 24th, 2012 at 8:02 PM ^

Do you think we have been playing "manball" all year? This offense is only 3 games old this year. I think that when our offense is clicking that we will look similar to that of a lsu or Alabama, but that isn't apparently an offense that can work or so you believe. I just think this is how good we actually are. The offensive line isn't up to Michigan expectations and as for today the second half play calling was questionable at best.

Joined: 08/16/2009

MGoPoints: 541

Zok

November 24th, 2012 at 8:19 PM ^

UM should not have gone ofer in ALL it's BIG games. Let's be honest, with the tire fire MSU is we should have won handily. It's a decent season, nothing special. Hats off to the D. They very flawed from a talent stand point but play well as a unit. Wish we could say the same for the O.

Joined: 03/24/2009

MGoPoints: 689

jtmc33

November 24th, 2012 at 8:24 PM ^

2008 wasn't that long ago. Neither was 2009 or even 2010. 8-4 is pretty good Not great by any means, and not worth bragging about, but, pretty good.

Joined: 04/15/2009

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

November 24th, 2012 at 9:02 PM ^

We were very fortunate to beat Northwestern and MSU was super close. We are an 8-4 team given our schedule, injuries and poor execution on the road. Dont forget, we have a very significant overall talent deficit to OSU, ND and Bama based on the recruiting rankings over the last 4 years. 8-4 sucks, but its probably fair with so little luck and spoty offense this year. Guys played hard and showed class. Better talent, schedule, luck and records ahead.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18049

SpartanShadows

November 24th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^

UM was very close to losing to MSU and Northwestern and finishing at 6-6, like MSU, rather than 8-4.  Also, I am not sure the BIG was down this year.  OSU went 12-0, Penn State finished well, and Northwestern had a great season.  Was the BIG down during all the BIG 2, Little 8 decades?

Joined: 01/28/2011

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Wolverinebaboo

November 24th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^

One thing that is being overlooked is that home record hoke holds, which if it continues will make for a pretty special season next year. The challenge remains to duplicate that success on the road. Which makes msu next season the most important game of 3 years for hoke and staff to prove themselves and settle the fan base.

Joined: 11/24/2012

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Clarence Beeks

November 24th, 2012 at 9:48 PM ^

I do agree with your general sentiment, but it's all the more frustrating to me that three if those four could have easily been wins. Those are the experiences, though, that will help next year's team be great.

Joined: 09/06/2008

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Perkis-Size Me

November 24th, 2012 at 9:53 PM ^

we had some bad luck this year. alabama was the one game this year we never had any chance of winning. we could be an 11-1 team, but we could also be 6-6, maybe even 5-7 with Air Force. the team played its ass off every week, and they deserve our thanks regardless of the record. we're getting close to where we want to be. mattison's defense is proof of that. borges has his issues, but i think he will ultimately work out. i can't wait to see where this team will be in 2-3 years. meyer will have his offense, but as long as we have mattison at the helm, i'm confident we'll have the better defense. and defense, my friends, wins championships.

Joined: 11/30/2011

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