The Ace Pod 3.2: Human Performance
This episode, as always, is brought to you by the law offices of E. Jason Blankenship, who may be socially distanced from the courthouse but is still taking on clients. You can find his new website here.
You can follow Connor on Twitter and subscribe to his newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, that includes literary analysis of Calvin & Hobbes and, blissfully, nothing about Michigan athletics. Dan is not a writer but he is @ThiccStauskas on Twitter. If you’d like to hear more, the two co-host the newly titled Yet Another Michigan Football Podcast.
[Writeup after the jump]
SEGMENT ONE: THE HARBAUGH NARRATIVE
We don’t feel anymore, so we soberly assess how Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan tenure can/should be viewed. There are too many facets of college coaching to oversimplify matters but a couple consistent themes come up.
SEGMENT TWO: SOUP
A discussion of what traits we’re looking for in the next football coach—if we’re looking for specific traits at all. Offensive guy or defensive guy? Established P5 coach or young up-and-comer? Perhaps both? The pod has picked a favorite candidate it didn’t expect to collectively choose but now we’re chanting SOUP SOUP SOUP.
SEGMENT THREE: FOOTBALL MAILBAG/WEEK FOUR B1G PICKS
Ruminating on the coordinations. Where does Michigan stand in terms of talent in the Big Ten? We don’t think salvaging the 2021 class should factor into a Harbaugh firing decision. Our sponsor cursed it, don’t blame us. A quick discussion of our favorite non-revenue sports and the barriers to actually following them.
We display a terrifying amount of faith in Rutgers and Maryland (against the spread, at least) this week. Dan betrays the Bajakian Revolution.
SEGMENT FOUR: BASKETBALL, OUR HAPPY PLACE
Alex Cook jumps in to talk about Moussa Diabate and the rest of the 2021 class. We also discuss the class fit with Hunter Dickinson and whether this year’s team may rely too much on the freshman center. Alex is now the show’s good vibes guy. Sorry, Connor.
MUSIC:
- “Human Performance” — Parquet Courts
- “Salt in the Soup” — Poets of Rhythm
- “Player’s Ball” — Outkast
DOWNLOAD:
Link.
“I’m taking a deep breath and I’m gonna deliver this next sentence as carefully as I can: from a value perspective…” [laughter]
November 11th, 2020 at 10:35 AM ^
Parquet Courts is fantastic.
November 11th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
My first preference would be Campbell, as well.
November 11th, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^
I'm completely on board if the athletic department decides to pursue Matt Campbell. He seems like an ideal fit, but there are so many factors, such as the current staff moving on before contracts expire, the AD thinking the same way, and whether Campbell would even want to come to UM and whether he would be accepted by the elite as an "outsider."
But even with all that, the way people bring his name up with reverence sounds like the way people talked about Rodriguez and Jim. And we all know how that turned out and is currently turning out. Campbell might be an ideal hire, but I'm tired of trying to find a "savior." I just want someone who can figure out how to exploit opponent's weaknesses, build and showcase Michigan's strengths and, at least, break even with OSU. You know - coach. Daydreaming about what the program could be before he even gets here seems like another recipe for disappointment.
November 11th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
"...whether he would be accepted by the elite as an "outsider.""
Herein lies the issue. I don't care who the candidate is, the UM 'elite' has shown no ability to accept an 'outsider' in any form whatsoever. I fear the Carr Mafia would raise it's ugly head - again - if a 'Michigan Man' (vomit) isn't hired.
November 11th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
Just for the record, IF Luke Fickell would EVER actually agree to be the head coach here, I don't see any reason why his ties to OSU should be a "problem". If anything, you'd think it would motivate him even more.
Also, of all the "younger" coaches out there, it does seem like a guy who's put up back to back 11 win seasons would / should be your top target.
November 11th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
As a big Matt Campbell fan, I loved this pod.
November 11th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
How you not even going to talk about Cristobal? Get the one guy who maybe has the recruiting chops to close the talent gap with OSU
November 11th, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
I think he's probably in the unrealistic section of names. Though when I looked at his contract, it is surprisingly low in terms of cost. Buyout is $8 million, plus JH's of probably around the same and adding a salary of ~$4-5 million. Campbell's buyout is $6 million from a quick google search
November 11th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
Unpopular opinion(And I'll probably get negged to oblivion): Lincoln Riley. I like his offense he runs at Oklahoma, but if we can pair that with a very good DC, Michigan would look great. Chances he leaves Oklahoma for Michigan? Probably not good, but it's just a new idea instead of the same ole names being thrown around.
November 11th, 2020 at 3:33 PM ^
Fickell is gonna hold out for the ND job? They are gonna be in the playoff this year, we are expecting him to hold out 4 years at Cincy so he can maybe get a chance at the Notre Dame job? I think he is clearly our best option and he doesn’t have any better options either.
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