What's the Michigan sports-related hill you're willing to die on?

Submitted by Caesar on

Worded differently: what's an unpopular view that you feel very strongly about for Michigan athletics? Gut-feelings are at home here, but bonus points are awarded (not actually awarded) for some evidence. Examples include stuff like, "Harbaugh is overrated," &c.

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dying on hills

1VaBlue1

February 21st, 2018 at 8:40 AM ^

Scott Schaffer was one of the brightest defensive minds in college football when RR plucked him away from Harbaugh's Stanford program.  RR didn't let him run his defense, and he quit after one year.  Gerg was a 4-3 D coach, who was told to run the 3-3-5.  Giving Rich Rod a competent DC didn't matter, he made them run the 3-3-5 because that was best for his offense to practice against.

The problem wasn't the DC, it was RR.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127087

Bosch

February 21st, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^

If he had the support of the boosters and alumni, I would have liked to see him get another year... but he didn't. His support was limited when he started and had evaporated by year three. There was no question that he was on a short leash. It appeared to be affecting his players desire to compete. It also was certainly affecting recruiting. So he had to go.

Joined: 04/03/2009

MGoPoints: 8195

1VaBlue1

February 21st, 2018 at 8:46 AM ^

I've been saying this for years.  I remember his first interviews, where he told us how he ran a pass happy spread when that was the talent he had.  He did none of that 'tailor to the talent' business he promised.

Despite the divided support he had in year 1, if he would have tailored the offense to the players he had, most of the fan base would have understood it for what it was.  But he didn't, he forced it down their throats, and then blamed us for not understanding football.

Ryan Mallet made the right choice...

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127087

MichiganTeacher

February 21st, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^

Exactly what I was going to post. He probably needed two fewer years. As AD, I would have started the firing process the moment he said, "I thought this was Michigan, you just roll them out, you'll win your share."

Joined: 10/06/2011

MGoPoints: 9263

bo_lives

February 21st, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^

But after seeing his offenses/defenses at Arizona play out over the last several years, I'm convinced he would never have been able to figure it out. Since he was here, he's always had bipolar offenses that either score 0 or 60 (with the 0 usually coming against an opponent with a pulse). And he's never had a good defense again, even after he got his DC he wanted.

Also, seeing what happened off the field at Arizona, it's clear the guy is a horrible person and thus I'm glad he's gone regardless. 

Joined: 04/10/2011

MGoPoints: 7867

Kevin13

February 21st, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^

fit here, but he was building a solid team and Hoke just stepped in and had success with what RR had built. You can see what Hoke did after that first year was a steady decline. RR needed a good DC to run a competent defense. If he had one hell he might still be here.

Joined: 01/26/2016

MGoPoints: 16040

StraightDave

February 21st, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^

his first year with RR's kids.   In Harbaugh's first season with UM, Harbaugh won 10 games, lost to OSU, but won the Citrus Bowl.  Mayber there is something to this one more year thing.  Either way both Hoke and Harbaugh sucked going down the road after doing well in year one with his predecessor's recruits.  

Joined: 12/27/2009

MGoPoints: 4232

smm1198

February 21st, 2018 at 7:33 AM ^

Would be better served by the approach Harbaugh had on defense. Bring in a coach who runs the best offense in the country, and let him run it. A Don Brown on the offensive side of the ball. And no more committee coaching.

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 182

smm1198

February 21st, 2018 at 8:14 AM ^

Point. Also there is a chance (albeit small) that you could find someone like Don Brown who likely doesn't have head coaching aspirations at this point. I also prefer it to keeping assistant coaches who nobody else seems to wants.

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 182

Tuebor

February 21st, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^

Isn't that coach Harbaugh?  

 

I'd much prefer Harbaugh take more control of the offense as opposed to his "Brain Trust" approach.  Let Pep, Drevno, etc. help in game planning and even in scripting a series or two but Harbaugh needs to be the sole play caller.

Joined: 03/14/2011

MGoPoints: 17467

Indy Pete - Go Blue

February 21st, 2018 at 7:35 AM ^

Success follows him wherever he goes. What he accomplished at Connecticut was truly incredible. The success of the athletic department in the short time that he has been here is also remarkable. When he came in, we have already had some excellent coaches, and he has made sure to maintain them with competitive contracts. He has also been very decisive in the firing of coaches who have not performed up to the desired level (i.e. men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer). We have been on a binge of Big Ten championships in this 2017-18 year. Things are great now, and they are only looking up in the coming years. He doesn’t get a lot of credit on this site, particularly because he does not seem to be innovative enough to some. However, I am convinced that he is an excellent athletic director who knows his role well, and he continues to perform beyond reasonable expectations. Also, just think of the athletic director us at our biggest rivals - enough said. I am thrilled that he is ours, and he is not going anywhere anytime soon. He is at the top of the athletic pyramid; doing a great job at his beloved alma mater.

Joined: 01/23/2018

MGoPoints: 157177

Robbie Moore

February 21st, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^

...is a good man and an excellent bureaucrat. Hopefully not too comfortable where he falls asleep like Mark Hollis. When someone finally jostled Mark awake the house had already burned down. Weird thing...they found Lou Anna Simon asleep with him. Awful visual.

Obligatory MSU bashing aside...why hasn't the issue of playing OSU and MSU either home or away the same season been resolved? And then to add Norte Dame to the same scheduling fuck up? Our football season in 2018 may be the toughest in college football history. How has that not been fixed? 

Joined: 12/01/2008

MGoPoints: 46092

Bill22

February 21st, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^

I’m not so sure Harbaugh wanted it “fixed.” He pushed hard for the ND game and didn’t care where and when it was played. At the time we applauded the confidence. Now, we’re staring down the barrell of another difficult season. Let’s hope the Harbaugh magic returns and we get some good luck for a change.

Joined: 09/07/2016

MGoPoints: 6740