Voice your hope for the future
There will probably be a lot of new diaries and forum topics in the next few minutes, some negative some positive.
Myself, I'm here for the positive. I've still got hope for the future and I've still got hope in Rich. We've got freshman quarterbacks with flashes of brilliance. We've got a defense who buckled down today. We've got players who are buying into Michigan football. I won't lie and say I haven't been disheartened throughout the season. I thought we could have gotten to a bowl game, but as we are now, I'm proud of these players. They've fought they're hardest and played until the last whistle.
So here's your chance. Tell us why you're hopeful. I love this team, and if you're on here I'm guessing you do too. Here's to Michigan. Here's to Rich. Here's to Tate, Denard, Roundtree, Martin, Roh, and the future. Here's to Stevie, Graham, Ortman, and all the seniors who played today. Here's to the Victors, once and future. Here's to Blue.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
Vincent Smith and Roy Roundtree on offense are going to be incredible.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
and just look at they're offer lists...Just goes to show you that RR and staff can find those hidden gems like no one else.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
Greg Robinson put together a hell of a gameplan. The defense--especially Graham and S. Brown--played their tails off. Roundrtee and V. Smith are going to be terrific. That's all I got.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
Denard Robinson gets a cameo on Lil Wayne's next mixtape - killing David Cone.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
Speaking of the future, any word on the recruits on the sideline?
November 21st, 2009 at 3:34 PM ^
We beat DSU, EMU and WMU. BIG. We didn't lose to Toledo; and almost lose to Miami.
We played most other teams close: MSU, OSU, PU, Iowa. We eliminate turnovers, and we win at least a couple of those.
Rodriguez is still a heck of a coach. Barring NCAA violations, I fully expect him to get this turned around.
This team played hard every week. To the last whistle.
Sad this season ended, but looking forward to next season.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:35 PM ^
They were ranked #10 in the country and we were...well, we know our problems. So honestly, I thought we did pretty well today. I thought it could have been a disaster, and it wasn't. It was a loss, not an embarrassment.
Granted, I've refused to discuss/recall/contemplate turnovers, which helps this viewpoint.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:43 PM ^
Hulk will have 25 sacks along with 34 tfl's next year.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
I was really impressed how our D played today. I wish we could of helped them out on offense a little more. But proud of the way they fought hard. Tate will come around, but if he doesn't give the ball away (at least 2 of them) we would of probably prevailed. Keep fighting and Go Blue!
November 21st, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
The Future is BRIGHT.
With another year of recruiting (and some lovely competition at key positions), another year in the system and Brawissized, I think we should be in good shape next year for a 7-8 win season.
We got a lot of good talent on offense and there will be some surprises on defense. 7-8 wins is a must, especially after this season's turn of events.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:55 PM ^
While Tate's 5 turnovers were devastating and maddening, he will improve and so will Denard. If they don't, we have Gardner coming in.
Also, the O-line will improve. This will result (hopefully) in a quantum improvement in the air and on the ground.
Coaches had a solid game plan today on both sides of the ball. Defense only gave up 14 points and stood tall in key spots. If not for turnovers, Michigan has a good chance to win this game.
To anyone who wants RichRod gone after this season, I ask this question: don't you want to see, at least for one season, RichRod's offense run at Michigan with juniors and seniors on both sides of the ball?
Sadly, Michigan will not be elite next year either; I'd settle for .500 and a bowl game. But in 2011--look out.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^
Minor didn't play. Carlos Brown and Martavious Odoms barely played. 25 turnovers, or so it seemed. Fumble for a touchdown, miss a field goal ... and I still thought we had a good shot to win until the last Forcier interception. There is a a lot of talent on this team ... Rod & Co will develop it.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
...looking forward to a year of growth with Tate and the offense. I believe in these young men and think we will be just fine. Its been a hard year sitting here in Tuscaloosa, AL watching those young men leave their hearts out on the field. Especially with the hatred for the Big Ten down here but I saw enough from the team to believe that we'll be back and whether its next year or not, I'll be proudly sporting my maize and blue till we are back on top. Go Blue! Boyz Go Blue!
November 21st, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
Tate, even though he came in very prepared, is poised for vast improvement if he hits the weights. I really believe that a lot of the throws he misses are largely because he doesn't have a college ready body right now. For example, the trick pass play to Denard(not really that tricky) was a throw that I think Tate puts on the money once he gets stronger. That right there was about as far as he can throw I think.
The O line should be at least as good as they are now. Moosman at center will be replaced by a healthy Molk(please stay healthy) which will be an improvement, and whoever Ortmann's replacement is will probably not be much worse. There is, however, a lot of room for big improvement if one of the redshirt freshman stands out. I would expect that one of Taylor Lewan, Micheal Schofield, Quinton Washington, or Ricky Barnum makes a push to replace one of the current starters.
On defense, I think the overall talent level will go down, but having a DC for two years in a row should help.
My very early prediction for next year is that we improve slightly, to around 7-5, and go to a bowl game. The year we start seeing a dominant Michgan team, though, is two years from now.