Why does the football program underachieve so much?
January 1st, 2018 at 6:57 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
We went 9-4 that year and beat a top 10 Florida team in our bowl game.
Are you someone who has used the injury excuse for Harbaugh? If so, you should note that towards the end of that year Henne and Hart were both playing through injuries. I'm not going to use that excuse, but if you do then be consistent.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:46 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:12 AM ^
Carr wasn't perfect, but we forced him out thinking we'd get something better. RR, Hoke and Harbaugh have all been horrendous and have made a mockery of this program in some way or another (NCAA violations, concussion scandal, dumb tweets and trips to europe).
January 2nd, 2018 at 6:59 AM ^
He was ready to retire--he'd already stayed a year longer than he wanted to because his bosses couldn't figure out how to replace him.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:48 PM ^
MSU sucked ass the whole time Carr was there except whatever year they went 10-2. It isn't the litmus test it is today when they're contending for the conference almost every year except the LOL 3-9 year where they kicked everyone off the team the next offseason.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:52 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:06 PM ^
Yeah i dont know what my point was.. just saying you can't look at carr vs msu and harbaugh vs msu as the same thing to compare. I dont care, i think harbaugh is a slightly above average coach and don't have any interest in defending him. Just saying its a way different landscape now.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
The reason I mentioned MSU is cause it's a rivalrly game. We dominated that game under Carr. I'm no fan of how we played against Tressel's OSU teams, but at least they didn't fumble away the games like they do now. They were just more mentally touch back then.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
The reason I mentioned MSU is cause it's a rivalrly game. We dominated that game under Carr. I'm no fan of how we played against Tressel's OSU teams, but at least they didn't fumble away the games like they do now. They were just more mentally tough back then.
January 1st, 2018 at 6:54 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 6:58 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:01 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:28 PM ^
was more of a mirage as well
went into the game undefeated but the D was soft and was exposed in the game and the Rose Bowl
Life of a UM fan - I guess
January 1st, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^
Or, maybe, it's unrealistic expectations at the beginning of the season?
January 1st, 2018 at 7:56 PM ^
If you think about the 'rivalry games', we are 1-5, but could just as easily be 5-1. Two - one W and one L - weren't close. The 4 others came down to the last drive, or even play. And the luck/breaks, and in in one case, call, went against us.
Time to start making our own breaks and coming up with tht big play that decides the game. That's what great teams do. And....they run the GD ball. We haven't had a running back since Michael Hart.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:58 PM ^
totally wasted and forgetable
January 1st, 2018 at 8:01 PM ^
Only won games we were supposed to win as favorite. Never won as a dog, and lost some we were supposed to win as favorite. Blew a winnable game against the Gamecocks. No killer instinct. No big performance. Bad memories. Ghosts of Hoke.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
The play calling is too consevative for my taste .. but its the QBs we have had that are 100% the weak link. If we had Jake Rudock this year (which he did a good job but was average) we would of won MSU and quite possible held in there closer with OSU and WIS.
I'm watching the OU game you can just see how much faster like Baker plays. QBs have to make quick decisions and quicker movements to make things happen. Peters even looks slow in most of his movemts. Patterson, Milton and McCaffery all have better movement. I was particulary impressed with watching Milton and how FAST he steps up in the pocket to fire the ball off.
Anyway .... don't include the entire offense. It's just a dumb statement ( I do get the frustration though). When your offense just doesn't make plays and get things going it gets tiring and brings you down. Its just natural, the QB needs to step in a FIRE them back up. We have not had that for the past 2 years. It IS the missing ingredient.
I've said this before ... we are going into a GREAT situation in my opinion this next year. We have 4 good QB's to have an awesome competition. I'm not ruling anyone out. I like Peters but he just seems to play in slow motion and needs to FIRE off the ball quicker to be our starter. I'm not sure he will be. I have a feeling it comes down between Patterson and McCaffrey. Just a feeling I have.
I am also pretty excited to see if the new S&C coach won't bring some fire into the system. Working with Wis and then Ark ... Wis always has good lineman. I like that he builds guys from the legs up. That is more important than anything to be honest ( I was a personal trainer for 20+ years and trained many athletes). Your lower half is everything for power and key to being efficent and staying in the game at a high level all game Not all S&C guys have that take on things. It's a good change I hope.
I think we WILL see a better offense for 2018. It's that simple and if we do and have the same defensive effort then games will look different next year.
Let the QB challenge begin ....
January 1st, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
January 3rd, 2018 at 1:21 AM ^
I stand corrected I guess. ( I honestly have not looked at his stats) He just didn't jump out at me like some of the flashier, gunsliunger type QBs that come around I guess is what I meant. A little bit of cocky is what we need. Rudock was an excellent game manager as well.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:46 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
Because you teach them you don't give up just because your team loses.
It makes the wins that much better. I don't hate this team or give up on Michigan football just because they lose a game or might have a losing season (which we have not since JH has been here). Pull your PANTS UP! Losses happen and we do NOT suck. We have not SUCKED since JH has been here. Sure we have lost some games we probably should of won. I get the frustration from everyone about the offense. I really believe its going to be corrected and as soon as next year.
You root for them because you don't give up just because there is some hard work ahead or some major bumps in the road! If you give up you're nothing but fair weather fan. PERIOD! Life is hard ... football is not easy ... things are not given to you. As a fan It makes it sooooo sweet when things are going well when you have been through the rough patches. Things are not that bad.
You stick with the team through thick and thin. That is what a TRUE fan does.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
Period. It hasn't met the expectations of many fans, but that doesn't mean those expectations were or are remotely realistic. Twenty eight wins in his first three years, especially coming off a 5-7 season and losing two of his three QBs in season three is pretty impressive.So let us toss out the notion of underachievement.
AS for Bo and bowl games. To state this yet again, Bo wasn't measured by his boss, the alumni, nor the student body based on winning bowl games. Bo was measured on beating Ohio and winning the Big Ten Championship. The bowl games were window dressing and a reward for a good season. The vision may be different today, but I lived through those years and I can assure you that it's true.
The troubles of the program from 2008-2014 are due to the same factors that caused the dark years of the 50s and 60s. Neglect of the program by the University administration sometimes including critical missteps by the AD. Regardless of the general quality of Rodriguez as a head coach, he was a terrible fit for Michigan and only hired because the administration and the AD utterly wasted the year they begged Carr to stay for to allow a "smooth transition". Then the administration compounded the problem by hiring the wrong guy as AD to get rid of the disastrous coach. Michigan's administration has a bad habit of getting so used to having a successful football program, and yes Bo-Carr was a successful football program, that it forgets just how fragile a consistent winning football culture really is, and assuming that the winning will continue regardless of its decisions on hiring and support. This is the "arrogance" of which we're all accused. The administration makes a couple bad decisions and the program takes a down turn that requires years to correct. So put away your tar and pitchforks. I watched this cycle in the 60s and can tell you that 1969 is just around the corner.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^