How Jim Harbaugh made Michigan a national power once again
An interesting article on Harbaugh's genius in gaining national attention for the Michigan football program, and increasing the recruiting footprint.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14993834/how-jim-harbaug…
A few quotes:
According to Repucom's Celebrity Davie-Brown Index (DBI), which measures and qualifies celebrity influence and relevance both locally and worldwide, Harbaugh is unmatched by his peers. The index, which features more than 7,000 celebrities, doesn't include every FBS coach, but Harbaugh's Celebrity DBI score of 54.24 ranks higher than Ohio State's Urban Meyer (45.31) and Alabama's Nick Saban (44.37).
Hoke also signed the nation's No. 6 recruiting class in 2013, but his approach was more regional. The 2013 class had 17 prospects from Ohio or Michigan, and only four from outside the Big Ten footprint, including top-rated recruit Derrick Green (Virginia). Hoke signed only two California recruits and three Florida recruits in four classes.
You don't get to be a national power at the polls. You earn that on the field, and we haven't. Preseason polls in March don't mean dick.
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I don't think we are back. Yet. I think we get back in 2016.
We pussed out and couldn't win a game with a 99.8% win probability thanks to probably the most braindead punter ever.
We needed furious comebacks to beat absolute garbage teams like Indiana and Minnesota.
Then we get quit and got curbstomped versus Ohio State in humilating fashion RR style. No adjustments made whatsoever. Horrible defensive gameplan (that Harbaugh signed off on)
The playcalling against Ohio State in the redzone reverted back and reminded me of crap we did in the first half againt Utah. We actually ran the same play in both games and lost 3+ yards both times for example.
I guess retroactively, I could look at this year and being "back" - but we have to capitalize on certain things in 2016 first.
March 22nd, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
IU had probably the best offense in the Conference. They could have beaten Ohio state, Michigan State, or Michigan last year.
I submit that despite the football team's difficulties from 2008-2014 Michigan never ceased to be a national power. Over more than 13 decades, having a down decade here and there does not remove that distinction.
I fully expect that Michigan has returned to regular top ten status, with irregular shots a the play off and will contend with OSU for the top of the big ten more seasons that not. By any reasonable definition that reflects a "national power". One 10-3 season does not a national power back, but a decades long continual presence in the top 5%-10% of all college programs does.
That said I'm glad to see Michigan take a strong step tp reassert itself in the championship conversation. I didn't like the drought any more than any of you.
Don't stand on the railroad track while listening to the whistle while denying a train is coming because you don't see it yet. You know it is coming and you can't stop it. Get out of the way or get run over.
.....That pretty much sums up what this year and the following football seasons have in store. Everyone hears the whistle. Some are still in denial. You're getting run over all the same.