Programs with 10+ wins 3 of the last 4 years

Submitted by ScooterTooter on November 25th, 2018 at 3:04 PM

Here it is:

Alabama (4)

Clemson (4)

Ohio State (4)

Oklahoma (4)

Notre Dame (3)

Michigan (3)

Wisconsin (3)

Oklahoma State (3)

Pending future results:

Penn State

Washington

 

Michigan is one of 8 to 10 teams to have at least 3 team win seasons over the last 4 years. How many of those programs were coming off a Hoke like catastrophe that cratered two recruiting classes that would be entering their best years in 2017 and 2018?

At the very least, Harbaugh has Michigan back in the top-10 range. 

 

Cold War

November 25th, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^

 And he walked into a .500-ish program. I'm quite happy where he has us. Our rival in this time frame has a top two or three program as well as a top two or three coach. Judging his performance based solely on that game isn't realistic.

Yesterday was an anomaly. For the folks saying he can't beat Urban Meyer, I'd suggest you think back two years to the last game in Columbus.

I'd also be curious where we rate in a cumulative four year poll after this season.

DrMagician

November 25th, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^

what about programs with 11 wins, 12 wins....?

what about programs with 10 wins but without conf champion or division champion?

what about programs with 10 wins but with November/bowl collapse?

which coaches are most overrated?

ScooterTooter

November 25th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^

I mean, you're looking at roughly 4 schools in the 11 win department: Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama and Oklahoma. 

Michigan now has a division championship (bitter as it is). But with what you're saying: A lot of that, especially in the era of the conference championship game is fluky. Northwestern has a division championship outright. Are you saying Pat Fitzgerald is a better coach that Jim Harbaugh? James Franklin is 1-3 vs Harbaugh but has a conference title. Is he better than Harbaugh?

Michigan is in the second tier right now. As opposed to whatever tier they were before Harbaugh got here. 

Lakeyale13

November 25th, 2018 at 3:35 PM ^

When mentioning a Coach, such as Harbaugh, inheriting a mess of a program, I think its important to acknowledge why the program was in shambles.  Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez and then powerful people within the Athletic Department tried all they could to undermine him and his program.  Because of these people and their actions, there was no way RR was going to be successful at Michigan.

Then, you have a massive DB as an AD who hires a good man with a great heart, but way over his skis in Brady Hoke.  He was not competent to be Michigan's Football Coach.  After Michigan continually shot itself in the foot over and over, they finally hired a man that had / has the abilities to Coach Michigan

Brodie

November 25th, 2018 at 4:54 PM ^

Plus, I think people around here don't realize that the reason our rivalry with OSU attracts so much attention from unaffiliated randos is that it was so consistently competitive for a ~30 year period. That is not the norm in rivalries, even ones with blue bloods... like Notre Dame reeled off a 13 year unbeaten streak against USC from the early 80s until the mid 90s before USC went on an 8 year run in the 00s. The Red River Rivalry has featured like seven 5+ year long unbeaten stretches by one team, Florida-FSU is similar as is Florida-Georgia, and Alabama-Auburn. Oklahoma-Nebraska once featured a 16-0 run for OU, Alabama has beaten Tennessee 12 straight times. 

These types of runs are very normal, the weird thing is that nobody had one in M-OSU for decades. 

Der Kommissar

November 25th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^

So he did beat Urban Meyer two years ago in Columbus? THAT'S GREAT!!!!!!!

Everyone seems to be under the impression that Ohio State won that game and Penn State got to go to the B10 title game instead of us as a result.

I hope we let the proper people know this new development so we can correct it and get the shot at the 2016 title we deserve.

Lakeyale13

November 25th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^

I think maybe he might be saying Harbaugh hasn't Coached very well in "big games".  Coaches are paid the big bucks to win the big game.  There are plenty of coaches that can win the games they are supposed to. 

He should have won 2 of the last four against OSU.  Last year's Bowl Game loss against SC was a mess of a performance.  I think he is suggesting that if you look at JH's performance on the biggest stage at Michigan, he has crapped the bed more than he has kicked ass.  I think Michigan's performance the last two years in big games warrants a good deal of scrutiny towards Harbaugh.

ScooterTooter

November 25th, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^

Sigh. He's had some good ones and bad ones. Like any coach does. 

How'd Urban Meyer coach against Oklahoma last year? Clemson 2016? Shit, Michigan 2016 where he was bailed out over and over again by things that had nothing to do with coaching? Michigan State 2015?

Michigan State 2015 was an offensive disaster on par with what we saw yesterday from Michigan's defense. 

Der Kommissar

November 25th, 2018 at 5:03 PM ^

When your "good ones" result in things like national titles, multiple B10 titles, undefeated seasons, Rose Bowl victories, and signature victories against your main rival.......then the "bad ones" are a lot easier to take.

Meyer's and Dantonio's good ones have resulted in some of those things for them. Harbaugh's have not.

ScooterTooter

November 25th, 2018 at 5:18 PM ^

Again, a lot of that is just luck. 

Dantonio won a conference title in 2015 because Blake O'Neill dropped a punt and Urban Meyer decided that running Ezekiel Elliot was for fools, not because of how he coached. 

James Franklin won a conference title because his team pulled out a junk 4th quarter against Ohio State at home in a game they were dominated...while meanwhile, Michigan was dominating Ohio State until a junk last 2 minutes of the third quarter gave Ohio State life. Even then, Meyer's brilliant playcalling had Ohio State go 3 and out on their final drive in regulation until the refs decided to gift them a PI call. 

Brodie

November 25th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^

I think he's saying that you can think Harbaugh loses big games, but that before he was here we weren't playing any big games. Like the most amazing thing to me about the blowout yesterday is that we hadn't already given up nearly 70 points to OSU at some point in the past 10 years. We can all lie and say that we'd be happy with a 1-11 season that includes a win over them, but I sure as hell know that in from 2008-2014 I just always assumed OSU was a loss anyway. The disappointment is a function of how far we've come in 4 years. 

pinkfloyd2000

November 25th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^

In the Big 10, for quite a few years now, it's been OSU alone in an "elite" tier, with the second tier folks (which includes our guys) far, far behind.

Sure, there's been some occasional minor blips on their radar -- Iowa last year, Purdue this year, etc. -- but for the most part, to bastardize Bo's famous quote, when the ol' season is over, you and I know...it's gonna be Ohio State again. Ohio State.

It sucks, but it is what it is. 

Ghost of Fritz…

November 25th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^

Three 10 win seasons in four years is really good.

But not good enough. 

Fix the offense (yes it is under performing), keep recruiting dudes for D, get D.Brown to have a more multiple D that can play zone and zone blitzes competently against OSU/Meyer/Day offense...or forget about ever becoming a true top 5 program.

Michigan as a program right now is comparable to Washington or Penn State.  But Harbaugh has to change and improve to get to the OSU/Clemson level. 

 

Ghost of Fritz…

November 25th, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^

I could write a long rebuttal.  But to be brief I'll just mention one thing...

You have Patterson plus DPJ, Nico, Black in last month, and other solid receivers.   DPJ and Nico each get about 4 targets per game.  Black gets 1. 

EDIT:  One more thing.  DeBord had a better offensive game plan for IU against Michigan than what Pep/JH had for Michigan against OSU.   Anybody fine with that?

 

 

Durham Blue

November 25th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^

Clemson's road to domination of their division in the ACC was a much easier road than Michigan's.  Clemson's one true rival (South Carolina) has been mostly bad with the exception of one or two Spurrier years and they don't even play in the same conference!  FSU (recently) and Miami have taken downturns.  Harbaugh has had to deal with two big rivals in the B1G East both of whom are/were peaking.  And now ND is back on the yearly slate.

I think Harbaugh has done an admirable job in a difficult situation.  Just need to continue killing it on the recruiting trail and shore up some loose ends (OL, offensive playbook).  I still think we'll get to OSU's level.

JPC

November 25th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^

Baseline? Be honest. Up until now, it's been our ceiling. This bowl game is going to be VERY important for the program. 11-2 shows an upward trajectory. 10-3 confirms the ceiling. 

If the team shows up flat and underperforms again this year, Harbaugh will be all out of good will with a lot of people.