If seven years ago someone told you this would be the state of U of M football. What would you have said?
Take yourself back to 06. One game away from a National Championship appearance. Sure the season didn't end the way we all hoped, but the future still looked bright. I would never have believed you if you told me we were in store for:
- Losing to App. St
- Have a 50-39 record
- Winning zero Big Ten championships and not even be a factor
- Going 1-6 vs OSU
- 2-5 vs MSU
Obviously there have been a few bright spots,(beating Florida in the Citrus and winning the Sugar bowl)but by in large being a Michigan fan has been pretty damn rough. Two years ago I was certain Hoke was the guy to bring us back, but now I have serious doubts. I’m starting believe he is just a good position coach who absolutely loves Michigan, but is in over his head.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
You said it best-
ff ff jjj
EDIT: This post doesn't make sense since the OP deleted his words of wisdom.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:06 PM ^
Don't worry I upvoted you. I don't know what happened the first time I posted.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
Sarcasm sign.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
the Hoke apologists will lynch you
December 29th, 2013 at 3:55 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
I AM optimistic for next season. Based on my own personal expectations, this staff exceeded expectations in 2011, fell short in 2012, and this year either treaded water (or fell just short). 2014 is still a make or break year, but I'm willing to say that I had unrealistic expectations for the o line after Lewan announced his return. We were young, we struggled, and the bowl game was bad, and I've got serious doubts about all of the coaches after last night.
But I can't say I'm too surprised - I figured we were in for a rough offensive output sans Denard and four OL. I personally reset my expectations because of Lewan's return and that was silly.
I have high expectations for 2014. I reserve the right to pick up a torch and pitchfork at the conclusion of next season. But I'm not pulling them out just yet.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^
Honestly, I think we will be a better team next year as well. I think our defense will be the best we've seen under Hoke/Mattison. This year, the defense was an average Big Ten defense. If that's the low point of a Hoke/Mattison defense (and a defense, which, unlike the offense, suffered a number of key injuries), I feel very good going forward.
I think the offense will be more consistent. They may not have the crazy Indiana/OSU bursts, but they won't be as terrible as they were for stretches this year.
However, we might very well end up 8-5/7-6 because all three of our rivals have homefield advantage and under Hoke, we've been terrible on the road. So I fully expect us to blow those three games and at least one more. Depending on the bowl match-up, we could end up anywhere between 6-7 and 9-4. I don't see us doing much better than that unless the LBs (Ross, Bolden, Gedeon) really make a leap, Pipkins and someone else do the same on the line and Peppers/Thomas live up their recruiting hype and the defense is truly MSU-style dominant.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
I wouldn't disagree with your anticipated outcomes if I thought that all was well between players and coaches, and if I thought our coaches were competent, which I don't in Borgess' case and which I am starting to question with Mattison, although the jury is still out on that one.
December 29th, 2013 at 3:36 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
It's always two years.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
Been a rough stretch but we can't change the past. I still have some belief that the future is bright.
December 29th, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^
"damn, that's the worst possible outcome i was reasonably expecting. thanks for bringing out the pessimist in me, michigan."
December 29th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
I would of said to shut your dirty whorish mouth.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^
Though technically, we didn't get the black president until a little more than two years later...
December 29th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
I'm tired of looking back.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
Hoke's hiring was completely reactionary. We need to go out and find a proactive new coach to move this program into the future.
December 29th, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
I'm just waiting until the day when we can say "Remember when we sucked at football?" This may take a few years/decades if the coaching staff isn't changed.
December 29th, 2013 at 3:38 PM ^
Remember early 2k's in basketball?
I just hope it's not the same kind of ten year spread given it's been the better part of 7 now.
December 29th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^
I've tried to have forgotten those years, but those were absolutely awful. Here's to a better 2014 and beyond.
December 29th, 2013 at 8:08 PM ^
If it is a ten year kind of thing then we only have what, three more years, to go?
The closest stretch in modern history - i know, depends on when you peg that - is the latter Oosterbaan-Bump Elliott period, which saw Michigan eclipsed by Ohio State coached by Woody Hayes and Michigan State coached by Duffy Dougherty. That ran for 13 years if you count Oosterbaan's final two years.
Looking back, that seemed like a long stretch. We're close to matching it right now.
So what that means to me, is that the ship ought to be righting itself pretty soon. Question is how this could happen.
December 29th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
Michigan is different, the B1G is no longer the Big11Ten, and CFB is getting a playoff. And yet I still think our best days are in front if us. We've just been through a rough patch.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
FIRE BORGES!
December 29th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
You think Morris is going to start next year based on an above average performance in a 31-14 loss? Gardner had 75% of our offensive yards this season. He played out of his mind against OSU. He had a broken foot for half of that game. I usually try to be nice when I disagree with someone, but you are either under the age of 16, old enough to remember segregation, or watched very little of our season if you think Morris starts over Gardner next year.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:53 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
The Notre Dame game? Minnesota? Indiana? Also, both Gardner and Morris will have a hard time appearing successful when there is absolutely no threat from the run game. This is another reason we need Gardner to start, he actually adds the threat of possibly running the ball for positive yardage. Also, Gardner had more yards passing this season than any other Michigan QB save for Navarre in 2003. With Al Borges as his coordinator.
Our offensive gameplanning for most of the year was poor to average, something completely out of Gardner's control. Can you count how many times this year Gardner miraculously pulled a long run for a first down or improvised his way for a TD, largely saving our bacon? I'm not blaming Morris for the loss whatsoever, but we only scored one TD and that was after the game was decided. Like I said, he had an above average game, but if you think that performance justifies benching Gardner, you're crazy.
December 29th, 2013 at 4:09 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 4:16 PM ^
But the reason Gardner finished with such good passing stats is because of the play calling and coaching from Borges. This is even more impressive given the terrible state of our offensive line.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
We just lost 5 of 6 games. We just regressed again year over year. Our defensive genius got torched yet again. And, you think the future is bright?
Why do you think next year will be any better? Because our team is one year older? Gonna take more than that to do the trick.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:47 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^
You're singling out exceptions. They were also redshirt freshman and quarterbacks who were surrounded with weapons and veteran offensive lines and players on both sides of the ball.
It has also been well documented (even on the front page of this site) that oline experience is extremely valuable and correlates to the success of the oline. Auburn is the most exceptiony exception you could have made. Is not the norm good sir.
December 29th, 2013 at 6:38 PM ^
When 2014 comes and goes and we're still getting rolled by MSU and OSU, what will the excuse be?
December 29th, 2013 at 4:34 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 6:04 PM ^
why defense sucked so much with a lot of 2nd and 3rd year players and a few 4th year players? And please do not tell me that our DL was light. They were no lighter than KSU. It is coaching, something that we do not have.
December 29th, 2013 at 2:48 PM ^
Exactly how I feel. I agree with this 100%. Most fans seem to think winning immediately with an immense amount of underclassman is the normal path to success for some reason.
December 29th, 2013 at 3:04 PM ^
December 29th, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^
"Trust in the process" - the underclassman who has the number 1 ranked veteran help in the country at the moment
December 29th, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^
But expected to see improvement. Look at KSU. They started 2-4 lost to a non-BSC team, but they steadily improved. Look at MSU's offense. Their QB was terrible at the beginning and now is a 2nd BIG selection. I would have been OK if we started 2-5, but finished 5-1. Then there would be hope for next year. I think we are going to be worse next year. This is a below average coaching staff and this is going to be an average team next year as well.