What an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing these images and your perspective. I'm trying to savor every moment. Gravy like this is delicious. Go Blue!
Not making excuses, but this is what I believe is happening here. There is no other explanation. Harbaugh didn't forget how to coach or stop caring. It's all bad for Michigan, and for those of us who care about the program.
Maybe Harbaugh does exit with grace. But questions will linger and the truth will eventually squirt out like a muffed punt.
And having run off the guy with the fire, ability and drive to solidify the program for a generation, what's next?
Growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s, Michigan football was a constant that helped me weather the tough times. My son is now 14 and in his lifetime the Michigan football experience has been more soap opera than sports. Sports implies competition. We've seen flashes. But it's been more sizzle than steak, for sure.
I'm sure it is because he is being told not to get hurt. Same reason he wouldn't drop the shoulder to pick up the first down against Sparty. It's everything you need to know about this staff.
Seriously, how is it possible that we suck this bad? Seems clear that it's coaching and that the Gregg Henson comments are true. Harbaugh didn't forget how to coach or stop caring. So now what?
I saw everything I needed to see when Joe didn't drop the shoulder to pick up the first on that third down in, say, what was it, in the second quarter, I think? We ended up punting. Not the kind of effort we need. The coaches are probably telling him not to do that stuff. Hey, maybe that's the problem with this program.
This offense is garbage. If we don't find a leader or a QB -- and Patterson is neither -- we are done for. The fact that Harbaugh didn't prepare for this, doesn't realize it or can't fix it, or any combination thereof, is deeply troubling. Back into the wilderness we go. I'll bring toilet paper. What are you bringing?
Maybe at some point you have to stop chasing ghosts and legends and start fresh. The last time we did that was in 1969. You argue it's too early for that but I'm not so sure. We're in year five. This is not right. The team looked lost, unprepared and uninspired today. That's on the coaches.
A friend of mine today said Harbaugh lost his mojo against Ohio State in 2016 and hasn't found it again. I think that's accurate.
Did I hear Harbaugh call Dildodio Dantoni in the post game presser? Well played all the way around. That, on top of Chase's remarks, will stick in their craw for a year and there's nothing they can do about it. I see a few more losses on the horizon for them.
I'm furious, actually. I'm tired of bad decisions and blown opportunities across the board. I'm tired of excuses. We need more fire and less nonsense from the head coach. Their redshirt frosh QB walked in and had his way with the defense while O'Korn looked like he's never led a football team. There were so many missed throws and bad decisions. Like the other "big games" before this, the game was there for the taking. And we blew it. O'Korn was simply unprepared. That's on the staff. The proverbial buck stops with the head coach. Say what you want. Neg me if you want, sunny-dayers and apologists. I am out. And so is the football team. Enjoy the shi-TAY bowl game. Hopefully we'll field a team with depth at QB next year; you know, the most important position on the field. We had the defense. We had some skilled players with heart. But we had no real chance with this QB situation. And you all knew it. So there you go. Peace.
We are officially long-suffering. Lots of questions, few answers. Only excuses about the age of the team, injuries and blown calls. I'm glad to see Nordin donned the "Iron Jock" today. I hope Peters is OK. I'm sick of seeing missed blocks, a vanilla offense and a seemingly-dominant defense turn soft at crucial moments. It's all on Harbaugh. Every bit of it. I love the team. Always will. But I'm one bitter long-suffering fan at the moment. Go Blue. Beat the Buckeyes.
As for me, I'm not real impressed with the offense. I also was not impressed by Drevno's answers on the Jamie and Stoney show Wednesday morning, though I think he got a raw deal, being rolled out there instead of the head coach after getting rolled up on Saturday. I had the pleasure of hearing that interview twice (they played it again today) while driving out to Ann Arbor to see my dad at the VA hospial.
We heard lots statements like, "It's a process," and things about O'Korn being the right guy for the job, and how a change at QB is "one snap away." Well, Drevno was asked in a variety of round about ways about the performance of the offense, and even the methodology of the playcalling, and he basically said nothing of consequence. It was just more canned copy about being excited about the opportunity to win the next game (at home, vs. Rutgers, go figure). We need some fire, and some answers. This is not normal. It's not OK.
But seriously, these guys have been under siege all week, and it's been a long week for me. I'm getting awnry, looking for pleasant distractions, bordering on lashing out, so I'll just stop now.
Go Blue. Beat Rutgers. Move forward. Make it more than a cliche. Turn it around, boys.
You're seriously blaming Shane Morris? Or lamenting the fact he didn't pan out? Or that the coaches didn't fill that gap when he didn't? The third option is the issue, although I'd call this Harbaugh year 2.5 in terms of recruiting as opposed to year 3. I hope we can all agree that he'd better have a QB ready to start year 4 (or year 3.5, if you will) or we have to come to terms with the fact that there's a real problem.
I'm sorry, this isn't all on the quarterback, but it's time to see what Peters or McCaffery can do. The goals are no longer intact. We need to get one of the kids ready for next season. If Harbaugh does not have a serviceable QB ready to go to start 2018 then, well, that's a problem.
This sucks. But I guess it's what happens when you invest emotionally in a game you have no control over, wear your heart -- or the block M -- on your sleeve and put yourself out there. Sometimes we take lumps. Together. All of us. Many are left screaming for vengence. And I know the kids feel like shit about it. So we're left to vent, and opine. As for myself, reading what others have written here is the only thing that makes me feel better. It's become a tradition of sorts: sitting here with coffee, in the half light of morning, trying to console myself by taking in the shared misery. It's pretty sad.
My take? Get Peters or McCaffery ready. Start now. Anything else is wasted time.
Fire Drevno. Harbaugh should take over the offense.
Tell the O linemen, backs and receivers they'll be benched or replaced if they can't get the job done. Lots of guys want to play at Michigan. Make plays or sit on the bench while we find someone who can.
The weather was shit but we couldn't even get into range for Nordin to even possibly be a factor in the first half, before the rain.
And finally, Harbaugh needs to be pressed at the presser. No more cute, curt or soft answers allowed. He may try being a stoic dick, but he needs to be held accountable for this loss to a team that looked like it wanted it more and simply manhandled our O line. And what was the gameplan? What specifically was the plan offensively? Because what we saw looked like a clusterfuck.
Say what you want about the weather this, turnovers that. Sparty came to play in the same conditions. This one is on Harbaugh and the offensive staff. Sparty was 3-9 last season. It is entirely unacceptable.
Still coming down, and going up. The Blackrocks Nordskye sits to my left. On my right, Nebraska vs. Wisconsin.
Somehow, I knew it was going to be closer than we wanted it to be today, closer than most of the people on TV and on the radio picked it to be. Sparty always brings out the worst in the Wolverines, and Michigan always brings out the best in them. A few penalties hurt us but the defense held when it mattered after that first drive and the offense took care of business.
Darboh, Peppers and Speight are my three stars, not necessarily but maybe in that order.
Bottom line: Those guys came to play and got it done.
On the horizon: We should roll, but Maryland, Iowa and Indiana present varying degrees of trickiness. OSU looks beatable, if not vulnerable. They bring out the best in the Wolverines. It's looking good. Back to the Nordskye,and then sleep for this Captain Obvious. I had to get it out. Love to Michigan nation! Go Blue!
He's right. The whole world has changed. Whether we like it or not, we're living in a world where the media follows everything with a microscope and people hang on the words and whims of teenagers who post everything on social media. I don't really like all of the changes, but that's the way it is. Of course, people like Mike Valenti are going to meltdown over it -- he had an absolutely epic tantrum on 97.1 yesterday -- because they know Michigan's recruiting aggressiveness means pain and suffering for them. That said, maybe things will smooth out going forward and we can have our proverbial cake and eat it, too. But maybe not, and we should probably prepare ourselves for that.
I can't stand Drew "not too" Sharp's "writing" even when he's not ripping people off, as the contrartian click bait he peddles, in my view, symbolizes the big-money, mega-media marketing machine that continues to erode what passes for journalism these days. The fact that the Freep hasn't cut bait with this schlep or even issued a statement reinforces what I've long suspected: If it isn't about clicks from people who hate his opinions, then this guy has dirty pictures of someone. It's the only way to explain his continued employment.
This -- I repeat, this -- is why they are little brother and always will be little brother and why little brother will always be an appropriate designation for them.
###
Drawing Florida in the Citrus Bowl would be a good bookend to the 2017 opener in Dallas, I guess. I think we'd match up better with them than LSU. If by some chance we could get Notre Dame that would be fun.
In reality, I just want to enjoy Christmas in the warm company of family and friends, get a win over a quality opponent and move on. This season, while nearly reaching my most-optimistic expectations, has left a bad taste in my mouth.
Also, Sparty must lose at all costs for the future to remain tolerable.
Recent Comments
Thanks for the briefing. And now we wait and hope Warde Manuel is on top of things.
What an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing these images and your perspective. I'm trying to savor every moment. Gravy like this is delicious. Go Blue!
As a demonstration, Michigan should call their own plays on the Big House jumbotron all night and still beat Purdon't by 70.
I like this duke.
On a boat?
Weiss hacked into the Sparty mainframe to steal all the football mojo but the cupboard was bare. It's a trap!
Maybe Harbaugh can teach Cousins to line up under the center and not the guard.
https://gregghenson.com/harbaugh-out-at-michigan
Not making excuses, but this is what I believe is happening here. There is no other explanation. Harbaugh didn't forget how to coach or stop caring. It's all bad for Michigan, and for those of us who care about the program.
Maybe Harbaugh does exit with grace. But questions will linger and the truth will eventually squirt out like a muffed punt.
And having run off the guy with the fire, ability and drive to solidify the program for a generation, what's next?
Growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s, Michigan football was a constant that helped me weather the tough times. My son is now 14 and in his lifetime the Michigan football experience has been more soap opera than sports. Sports implies competition. We've seen flashes. But it's been more sizzle than steak, for sure.
I'm sorry.
I'm sure it is because he is being told not to get hurt. Same reason he wouldn't drop the shoulder to pick up the first down against Sparty. It's everything you need to know about this staff.
Seriously, how is it possible that we suck this bad? Seems clear that it's coaching and that the Gregg Henson comments are true. Harbaugh didn't forget how to coach or stop caring. So now what?
https://gregghenson.com/harbaugh-out-at-michigan
Cade McNamara: The five touchdown man.
Better, stronger, faster.
Is Oakland still in play? Asking for a friend.
I'll get negged all day. I call it as I see it. He should have fought for the first down.
I saw everything I needed to see when Joe didn't drop the shoulder to pick up the first on that third down in, say, what was it, in the second quarter, I think? We ended up punting. Not the kind of effort we need. The coaches are probably telling him not to do that stuff. Hey, maybe that's the problem with this program.
A field goal to make it 42-19? Ridiculous. Too many mistakes.
In other news, the D has come alive. Love it. Maybe we can win all of our games 10-3?
This offense is garbage. If we don't find a leader or a QB -- and Patterson is neither -- we are done for. The fact that Harbaugh didn't prepare for this, doesn't realize it or can't fix it, or any combination thereof, is deeply troubling. Back into the wilderness we go. I'll bring toilet paper. What are you bringing?
Maybe at some point you have to stop chasing ghosts and legends and start fresh. The last time we did that was in 1969. You argue it's too early for that but I'm not so sure. We're in year five. This is not right. The team looked lost, unprepared and uninspired today. That's on the coaches.
A friend of mine today said Harbaugh lost his mojo against Ohio State in 2016 and hasn't found it again. I think that's accurate.
We are in overtime vs. Army. We've already lost. This team is not good. So disappointed.
We are not a good football team. So sad and disappointed. All the sunny dayers will disagree. The proof is in the pudding.
Did I hear Harbaugh call Dildodio Dantoni in the post game presser? Well played all the way around. That, on top of Chase's remarks, will stick in their craw for a year and there's nothing they can do about it. I see a few more losses on the horizon for them.
Take us downtown, Waze!
Donovan Peoples Jones and kickoffs do not compute.
Well, that was disgusting.
Drevno, gone. Has to be.
It's going to be a long, cold winter in Ann Arbor.
Do you have a mouse in your pocket?
I'm furious, actually. I'm tired of bad decisions and blown opportunities across the board. I'm tired of excuses. We need more fire and less nonsense from the head coach. Their redshirt frosh QB walked in and had his way with the defense while O'Korn looked like he's never led a football team. There were so many missed throws and bad decisions. Like the other "big games" before this, the game was there for the taking. And we blew it. O'Korn was simply unprepared. That's on the staff. The proverbial buck stops with the head coach. Say what you want. Neg me if you want, sunny-dayers and apologists. I am out. And so is the football team. Enjoy the shi-TAY bowl game. Hopefully we'll field a team with depth at QB next year; you know, the most important position on the field. We had the defense. We had some skilled players with heart. But we had no real chance with this QB situation. And you all knew it. So there you go. Peace.
###
How about B1G championships?
(Sorry for the Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven" reference)
We are officially long-suffering. Lots of questions, few answers. Only excuses about the age of the team, injuries and blown calls. I'm glad to see Nordin donned the "Iron Jock" today. I hope Peters is OK. I'm sick of seeing missed blocks, a vanilla offense and a seemingly-dominant defense turn soft at crucial moments. It's all on Harbaugh. Every bit of it. I love the team. Always will. But I'm one bitter long-suffering fan at the moment. Go Blue. Beat the Buckeyes.
Tonight's forecast: chance of schadenfreude, 100 percent. I'm drinking it. I love it.
Tonight's forecast: chance of schadenfreude, 100 percent. I'm drinking it. I love it.
Oh, you mean the other Brian. Oh, well.
As for me, I'm not real impressed with the offense. I also was not impressed by Drevno's answers on the Jamie and Stoney show Wednesday morning, though I think he got a raw deal, being rolled out there instead of the head coach after getting rolled up on Saturday. I had the pleasure of hearing that interview twice (they played it again today) while driving out to Ann Arbor to see my dad at the VA hospial.
We heard lots statements like, "It's a process," and things about O'Korn being the right guy for the job, and how a change at QB is "one snap away." Well, Drevno was asked in a variety of round about ways about the performance of the offense, and even the methodology of the playcalling, and he basically said nothing of consequence. It was just more canned copy about being excited about the opportunity to win the next game (at home, vs. Rutgers, go figure). We need some fire, and some answers. This is not normal. It's not OK.
But seriously, these guys have been under siege all week, and it's been a long week for me. I'm getting awnry, looking for pleasant distractions, bordering on lashing out, so I'll just stop now.
Go Blue. Beat Rutgers. Move forward. Make it more than a cliche. Turn it around, boys.
So I guess that makes Western the middle brother?
Still coming down, and going up. The Blackrocks Nordskye sits to my left. On my right, Nebraska vs. Wisconsin.
Somehow, I knew it was going to be closer than we wanted it to be today, closer than most of the people on TV and on the radio picked it to be. Sparty always brings out the worst in the Wolverines, and Michigan always brings out the best in them. A few penalties hurt us but the defense held when it mattered after that first drive and the offense took care of business.
Darboh, Peppers and Speight are my three stars, not necessarily but maybe in that order.
Bottom line: Those guys came to play and got it done.
On the horizon: We should roll, but Maryland, Iowa and Indiana present varying degrees of trickiness. OSU looks beatable, if not vulnerable. They bring out the best in the Wolverines. It's looking good. Back to the Nordskye,and then sleep for this Captain Obvious. I had to get it out. Love to Michigan nation! Go Blue!
One
Have fun, but go easy.
One Hopslam = All warm and fuzzy.
Two Hopslams = A near perfect body buzz.
Three Hopslams = Something between that near perfect buzz and drunk.
Four Hopslams = Drunk, wheels coming off.
Five or more Hopslams = Absolute trainwreck.
He's right. The whole world has changed. Whether we like it or not, we're living in a world where the media follows everything with a microscope and people hang on the words and whims of teenagers who post everything on social media. I don't really like all of the changes, but that's the way it is. Of course, people like Mike Valenti are going to meltdown over it -- he had an absolutely epic tantrum on 97.1 yesterday -- because they know Michigan's recruiting aggressiveness means pain and suffering for them. That said, maybe things will smooth out going forward and we can have our proverbial cake and eat it, too. But maybe not, and we should probably prepare ourselves for that.
I can't stand Drew "not too" Sharp's "writing" even when he's not ripping people off, as the contrartian click bait he peddles, in my view, symbolizes the big-money, mega-media marketing machine that continues to erode what passes for journalism these days. The fact that the Freep hasn't cut bait with this schlep or even issued a statement reinforces what I've long suspected: If it isn't about clicks from people who hate his opinions, then this guy has dirty pictures of someone. It's the only way to explain his continued employment.