I'm guessing that OSU loses everyone that is suspected of going pro. Barrett and the remaining players will be very, very good. With Cook leaving, next season is a great time to take out some frustration on Sparty.
That all being said, I think Michigan goes 2-1 against the tough road games. The loss will probably be to Iowa as my knucklehead brother-in-law is a huge Hawkeyes fan and the football gods will spite me for the laughs...
...are the SDSU Aztecs. They're the local team and they're quite a bit of fun to watch play. I like that Steve Fisher has gotten a chance to redeem himself and turn an afterthought of a basketball program into a consistent winner and threat to beat anyone.
As far as a second favorite college football would probably be any PAC-12 team other than USC, Utah, OSU (it's the initials...sorry), or WSU (as a Chargers fan, I can never forgive them for Ryan Leach).
Michigan beat Colorado State 24-14. First game I ever saw Michigan play. One thing that stands out in that game was that one of the Black Knight skydivers landed really hard and had to be carted off.
I also went to a Holiday Bowl where Nebraska played Arizona. We moved around the stadium and rooted for both teams. The Husker fans were, without question, more enthusiastic and less obnoxious. Too bad they lost...
I imagine it has to be Oregon. While they may be good, they're nothing compared to what he's going to face from the Ravens, Seahawks, Lions, or even the Bucs. There's little chance this guy's speed is going to do him a lick of good when the Defensive linemen of the NFL are as fast as the receivers he's used to dealing with. He doesn't show the type of pinpoint accuracy or pocket presence required to be successful at the next level.
That being said, I don't think another year of college would help him at all, it'd probably make things worth with his off-field issues. He's probably making the best decision he's made in years to get paid now before the league realizes that he's probably more drama than dreamy.
I live in San Diego...we LOVE Mike McCoy. We are very understanding if the Bolts fail to make the playoffs this year. Rivers has gone through 4 (or is it 5 now?) different Centers due to seaon-ending injuries. The Chargers have gone through three Running Backs due to injuries as well. On all sides of the ball, the Chargers have fought to remain competitive in spite of injuries which have stretched them a little beyond their capabilities. Still, they're just a step or two from being up there with the Broncos and Patriots (played both extremely competitively).
That....and the Spanos family is incredibly cheap and have a young, dynamic GM who will not cede authority to a coach. We had Norv Turner as head coach for what seems like forever. He was replaced with a coordinator who is turning things around. There is literally no way they get into a bidding war for Harbaugh.
*Outside the Bowl is a Christian organization, if that renders it null according to your outline, please donate instead to any charity that provides food and resources to children in need.
Should Harbaugh coach elsewhere, I will donate $25 to the charity of your choice...
...while I hope he's right about the coaching search, his other postings make me feel all sorts of tainted, the kind that only gallons of soul-cleansing Bactine can clean. I'm sort of looking forward to this search being over so I can dismiss Mr. Henson back to the dustbin of the intertoobs.
Michigan competed with Urban/OSU in 3 1/2 out of the past four seasons with our previous coaching's lack of attention to fundamentals, O-line, Offense, etc.
If there is any Div. I coach who is afraid of The Game, he has no business accepting the interview. I'm damn sure that the Harbaughs, Miles, and Mullen would relish the opportunity to partake in the greatest rivalry in sports. Anything less needs to stay put at the school where they are now.
...we're always hearing about the Chargers being one of the two teams that end up in L.A. There's talk of competing interests trying to build stadiums up their in a couple of different areas (using the Coliseum until the new stadium is built). The Chargers ownership says the right things about wanting to stay in San Diego, but cannot (or will not) settle upon where they even want their new stadium to be built. The target sight has moved from next to Petco downtown, to La Mesa, to Oceanside, back to next to Petco, to wherever they think they want it this month.
I'd bet dollars to dounts that the Bolts are gone and moved to L.A. with the Rams coming back as well. The Raiders could stink up the deal and steal the Chargers spot (which would be fine as I love the Chargers and don't want to hate them if they move).
Long story short...I believe the Raiders stay in Oakland and/or move to Texas as an outside possibility. I think the dysfunctional ownership of both the Raiders and Niners will keep Harbaugh away from that job.
This part of the fanbase would be ecstatic with a Bob Stoops hire if Harbaugh is intent on staying in the NFL. The guy's resume is packed with BCS bowl game after bowl game with a few national title appearances to top it off. His team was pre-season top-5 and, according to you, he has underperformed. Let's take a look at this unimpressive 2014 performance
LA Tech W 48-16
@ Tulsa W 52-7
Tennessee W 34-10
@ West VA W 45-33
@ TCU L 33-37 (to a playoff contender)
Texas W 31-26
K State L 30-31 (1 point to a top-10 school)
@ IA State W 59-14
Baylor L 14-48 (OK...this one was bad)
@TX Tech W 42-30
KU W 44-7
OK St tbd
In this disappointing season he's sitting on an 8-3 record (likely 9-3) with two of his three losses being extremely close. A turnover here or there and this season could be 11-1 with talk of a playoff spot.
I'd take his record of sustained success over Dan Mullen any day of the week. At Michigan he'd be able to get the players he wants, he'd have access to the resources he needs to compete annually for B1G championships. That...and he has a pretty good record against his main rivals, Texas and OK State. If Hackett pulls this hire off, I'd be thrilled.
That guy coached the Chargers for a season or two and was dreadful. What on earth are they thinking...that can't possibly be the best guy they could hire for the job. Florida and Nebraska both underwhelmed with their hires.
If I were a Huskers fan, I'd be so disappointed with this hire. I can't imagine a top-flight institution making a more lackluster choice (other than ichigan-May a few years ago) in recent memory.
haven't been explosive be a reflection of the fact that his defenses have been, perenially, in the top-10 to top-20 in the nation? It appears to me as if he's running a team which resembles a Bo Schembechler-style crushing defense which, by design, runs a slower tempo offense to minimize the other team's opportunities to score. Wouldn't that reflect in lower offensive production?
Ultimately wouldn't his W-L record be a more important metric when you're looking at someone who is running a defensive juggernaut as opposed to an Oregon or OSU offense?
I remember watching the '97 team and I can tell you that cheering for a steam-roller defense is every bit as thrilling as a high-tempo offense. Having both would be better...but I'm not ready to write off Miles just because his style runs more towards crushing defenses than the Oregons of the world.
...by all accounts Brady is a good guy. His players love him. He got the job because past colleagues must've loved him too. I have a friend whose husband coaches here in San Diego and knows Brady quite well and they can't say enough good things about the man.
That being said, he and his assistants did not have a successful tenure in Ann Arbor. I hope, much as is the case with RichRod, that Brady finds a great location and meets with much success. If letting him go to pursue another head coach can ultimately become a win-win for Michigan and Brady Hoke, I'd be extremely happy. Like you, I certainly don't wish him ill at all...
If Urban can recruit top-10 talent at OSU, I imagine Miles can recruit top-10 talent at Michigan. Les has cultivated the same territories that Urban has down south and has to be at least as slick a recruiter to keep LSU a perennial power every 3 out of 4 years.
I don't think he'd necessarily get the same kids he has with LSU, but I think he'd compete for and develop the same kind of kids that OSU gets...and from this vantage point tha would be one heck of an improvement.
That all being said, I'd prefer either Harbaugh or Patterson, but I'd take Miles over Schiano any day of the week.
For the sake of this thread, assuming that neither Harbaugh is a legitimate option, Miles is clearly the best choice. Schiano (as well as Mullen) are products of maximizing one's marketability after a couple of good seasons at best. Miles has routinely competed with Saban and Myers on an even playing ground. Assuming that Urban has to play nice in the B1G, I think it's reasonable that Miles would compete on equal footing against him again, using the same rules that OSU abides by. Sure there's probably skeletons in Miles' closet that we won't necessarily like...but what outright scandals and investigations has he been involved with?
There might be better options, but given Miles v. Schiano, I'd be incredibly happy if Miles were selected.
That's what I thought.
I can't believe that the programming types figure SoCal has any interest in Texas or KState. If it's not one of the PAC schools (specifically USC, UCLA, or Oregon), few teams rival Michigan as far as a San Diego fan-base presence (ok...maybe the Buckeyes and Seminoles have some fans out here too). Thinking back I can't think I've ever run into Longhorn fans...even at the zoo, Disneyland, or one of the other tourist-heavy spots.
On ESPN at the moment they're talking about this. One of the commentators (bald guy, can't remember his name) seems to think that Jerry Jones is going to open up his wallet and see if Saban can breathe life into the Cowboys. Granted, it's just some ESPN dude filling dead air, but that seems to me to be his more likely route out of 'Bama if he were to consider leaving (which he probably won't).
...if I were the Buckeyes. Certainly OSU will be favored to win (and should win) that game; however, the last time the Aztecs rolled into Columbus against a highly ranked Ohio team, this happened:
The Aztecs were a bowl team last year that beat Boise State in Idaho. They return a bunch of players, especially the young playmakers on offense, and Coach Long has done a pretty good job of maintaining what Hoke started here.
To be straight...I do not expect SDSU to win. What I am saying is that if OSU overlooks them, SDSU is much more likely to beat them than a really, really poor Cal team.
OSU will be favored by twenty-plus but will have to work for every bit of another 5 point win or less.
...is that the tools for the DRM will remain in the machine. Once 20 million units are moved, what's to stop them from changing their minds again? I don't feel like rewarding a company that considered it a good business practice to put in place draconian measures dictating what I can and cannot do with discs after I've bought it. Sony might not be perfect, in fact, last gen their arrogance cost them a ton of momentum which gave the Xbox 360 room to breathe in the first place; however, this gen they seem to be asking, almost begging for my business while Microsoft is doing everything they possibly can to piss me off.
I've owned both current gen machines and enjoyed both and have had both break on me (RROD x2 for 360, just finally wore out for PS3). Though I'll wait until 2014 to see what second wave games come out and which exclusives are more in line with my gaming style...I am much, much more likely buy the PS4.
The San Diego Union Tribune has and will always suck. They may be the biggest paper in town (and maybe the only one left here), but that doesn't mean that they have stopped trying to lower the bar. If you can think of any contribution they have made to the field of journalism, then you certainly know more about 'em than I do....and I live here.
When I heard that Teo was drafted, I do have to admit that my first thought was that all of my Raider-fan friends were going to start asking me how many imaginary Superbowl trophies Teo would help us win...but then I realized that he *might* be a decent addition to the team. He's a bit slow and got epicly exposed by 'Bama, but I'm hoping he can contribute. More than anything I wanted the Bolts to get Denard because Rivers isn't getting any younger and the Charger QB depth isn't all that great. I also envisioned using him in the backfield with Rivers throwing a little dump off pattern pass to #16 and give Shoelace the option to throw/run from there. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Now the talk around town (amongst the water cooler types, not sports radio or anything approaching official) is brigning in Tebow. Ugh. I guess it's another year where the Raider fans can point out their trophy case and laugh at the empty one in here in San Diego...
I do have to second Grumbler's sentiments though...it is a great place to live.
As a San Diego Wolverine I have to caution everyone that SDSU is a much better team than people are giving them credit. True, they haven't beaten many better teams of late, but they pushed TCU, Utah, and BYU to the brink last year. They did struggle against Army earlier this year, but having seen them play quite a few times, they really have the look of a mid-tier PAC-12 team (which they/we would love to be if not for that pesky academics issue. SDSU stands for Still Drunk, Still Undecided btw).
I think Michigan wins this game, but like the MAC games, the separation happens in the second half of the game.
...I look forward to two opportunities a year for the Chargers secondary (if TP ends up playing receiver) to put him on his ass, over and over and over.
OR...should he play QB, I look forward to the Charger DL putting him on his ass, over and over and over.
I've been really happy with it so far...with 2 notable exceptions.
1) Terrelle Pryor is still on the Buckeyes. I know this will be rectified with updated rosters, but I found myself wanting to yell "FREE TATS!!!" at the TV while I was playing the Buckeyes.
2) I didn't like that Denard didn't have dreads. Little qualm, I know...but c'mon...how hard was that one to do?
What I really like is the running game vs. last year's edition. I actually feel like there's a reason to hand the ball off and get the opposing D to start inching in to stop it and bang 'em with some quick passes to the TE for a quick 10-15 yard gain. If they drop deep; however, Denard is going to make 'em pay with a 20 yard scamper. He does get hurt a lot in the game though....which, while true to last season, sucks - seeing as I have it on good authority that he's made of pure adamantium this season.
Truth be told, I like it a good bit better than last years, but it's very evolutionary - with little that is a huge leap forward from previous editions.
yards shouldn't be a measuring stick. I was responding* to the OP who mentioned that the 500-odd yard performance against Navy was an abherration. It clearly wasn't...SDSU did it 5 other times.
My singular point was that, despite a statement made about the spread, Hoke used the athletes he had at SDSU and managed to put up points and yards and wins that run contrary to the amount of teeth-gnashing that's going on here. Even SDSU's four losses were incredibly close affairs. 3 of them, in all honesty, should have been wins if not for a poor QB decision (Utah), dumb luck (Missouri), and perhaps the worst replay review this past season (BYU). The TCU game was not as close as the final score, but it was close enough that Horned Frogs were worried at game's end. Hoke got the most out of what he had and a very few of his own players (Hillman), and turned the Aztecs into a conference contender. SDSU is out-recruited in the MWC by BYU, TCU, Utah...and most really good local prospects in San Diego to to UCLA, USC, or Oregon. In a place where he has every organizational disadvantage possible, he found a way to succeed.
For that...I'm all in for Hoke at beloved Michigan....and saddened to see him go from my adopted home team SDSU.
* I do need to apologize to the OP, however, since he did not at any time state that Hoke was incapable of executing an explosive offense. While several have bemoaned the "Basketball on grass" statement, the OP did not...and as such, apologies to him.
yards shouldn't be a measuring stick. I was responding* to the OP who mentioned that the 500-odd yard performance against Navy was an abherration. It clearly wasn't...SDSU did it 5 other times.
My singular point was that, despite a statement made about the spread, Hoke used the athletes he had at SDSU and managed to put up points and yards and wins that run contrary to the amount of teeth-gnashing that's going on here. Even SDSU's four losses were incredibly close affairs. 3 of them, in all honesty, should have been wins if not for a poor QB decision (Utah), dumb luck (Missouri), and perhaps the worst replay review this past season (BYU). The TCU game was not as close as the final score, but it was close enough that Horned Frogs were worried at game's end. Hoke got the most out of what he had and a very few of his own players (Hillman), and turned the Aztecs into a conference contender. SDSU is out-recruited in the MWC by BYU, TCU, Utah...and most really good local prospects in San Diego to to UCLA, USC, or Oregon. In a place where he has every organizational disadvantage possible, he found a way to succeed.
For that...I'm all in for Hoke at beloved Michigan....and saddened to see him go from my adopted home team SDSU.
* I do need to apologize to the OP, however, since he did not at any time state that Hoke was incapable of executing an explosive offense. While several have bemoaned the "Basketball on grass" statement, the OP did not...and as such, apologies to him.
I'd like to think that the first several games of the 2011 season are winnable - and can allow the team to gel. Notre Dame is a potential problem, but I really think that a new defensive scheme might take some of the pressure off of the defensive backfield...making it a winnable game.
Pie in the sky predicition, but I think that Michigan can win 10+ games this year. The cupboard isn't nearly as bare as some folks would have us believe. The athletes that are here (and hopefully stay) are capable of winning every game on the schedule.
Whether it was RR or now that it's Hoke, 8 wins should be the absolute minimum that is achievable.
Should Hoke (and I'm saying nothing negative about RR) get this team to buy-in and pick off the majority of the other 4 that are in debate (MSU, ND, OSU, Neb), this could be a great season upcoming.
The OP states: Which is just bluster about a 555-yard aberrant performance, but also true considering SDSU put up more points (35) in this year’s bowl game than any Midshipman opponent since 2008 (including two ND squads, 2009 Ohio State, and 2009 Missouri). That year, Niumatololo’s cadets gave up 42 to Pitt, 41 to Duke, and 35 in a loss at Ball State which was coached by … oh, Brady Hoke. So score one against the “Brady Hoke makes us ND” meme, because here is a guy who can definitely beat Navy.
Let it be noted that San Diego State put up 500+ yards in 5 contests this year, 450+ in 8 contests this year...and they won half of the contests where their offense did get stymied.
This meme that SDSU and Hoke don't know offense is complete and utter garbage. I totally understand if some folks are underwhelmed by the hire - heck, I wanted Gruden...but just go over to ESPN or some other stat site to do just a little research.
Everyone wants to quote Hoke saying that the spread is basketball on grass or something to that effect, and deduce that means that his offense *must* be 3 yards and a cloud of dust.
Please check how many Aztecs are among the confernce leaders in offensive stats. QB is 2nd, RB is first, as are the next 2 receivers.
The obvious response will be, of course, that this was against inferior opponents...which is mostly true. But it's also true that said offensive explosions were using inferior athletes as well....folks simply cannot have it both ways.
Now living out here is San Diego County, I'm totally of mixed minds on this hire. I was born and raised in MI, my best childhood years at Pittsfield Elementary School. I bleed MI blue and want them to dominate the Big10 and college football in every possible fashion. However, I also really enjoyed the progress that Hoke was making with my local team out here. It was really nice to be able to see the Aztecs finally be able to generate some local interest - long dormant since Marshall Faulk went pro.
Hoke's a very good, perhaps even a great, coach that turned around a school that was regularly getting beaten by 1-AA schools - at home.
If you don't like the hire - fine. But please don't misrepresent that he can't utilize the tools he's inherited when he very clearly can...
EDIT: I forgot to include the Navy Bowlgame. SDSU put up 500+ yards 6 times and 450+ 9 times, including the bowl.
Recent Comments
I'm guessing that OSU loses everyone that is suspected of going pro. Barrett and the remaining players will be very, very good. With Cook leaving, next season is a great time to take out some frustration on Sparty.
That all being said, I think Michigan goes 2-1 against the tough road games. The loss will probably be to Iowa as my knucklehead brother-in-law is a huge Hawkeyes fan and the football gods will spite me for the laughs...
...Harbaugh goes for 2 and the win
Ryan Leaf.
Got me.
Ryan Leaf.
...are the SDSU Aztecs. They're the local team and they're quite a bit of fun to watch play. I like that Steve Fisher has gotten a chance to redeem himself and turn an afterthought of a basketball program into a consistent winner and threat to beat anyone.
As far as a second favorite college football would probably be any PAC-12 team other than USC, Utah, OSU (it's the initials...sorry), or WSU (as a Chargers fan, I can never forgive them for Ryan Leach).
Michigan beat Colorado State 24-14. First game I ever saw Michigan play. One thing that stands out in that game was that one of the Black Knight skydivers landed really hard and had to be carted off.
I also went to a Holiday Bowl where Nebraska played Arizona. We moved around the stadium and rooted for both teams. The Husker fans were, without question, more enthusiastic and less obnoxious. Too bad they lost...
I imagine it has to be Oregon. While they may be good, they're nothing compared to what he's going to face from the Ravens, Seahawks, Lions, or even the Bucs. There's little chance this guy's speed is going to do him a lick of good when the Defensive linemen of the NFL are as fast as the receivers he's used to dealing with. He doesn't show the type of pinpoint accuracy or pocket presence required to be successful at the next level.
That being said, I don't think another year of college would help him at all, it'd probably make things worth with his off-field issues. He's probably making the best decision he's made in years to get paid now before the league realizes that he's probably more drama than dreamy.
It is absolutely magnificent today. Today's high will be mid-70s with no wind, clouds, or precipitation.
This weekend, however, back to low-60s and sweaters.
Michigan will go 10-2 in regular season play and neither loss will be to MSU or OSU.
I pick:
OSU and the points. I think Bama wins, but by 7 or less.
I think FSU wins outright. The 7 1/2 seals the deal.
Auburn giving 7 seems ok to me since I think they're going to crush Wiscy.
MSU and 21/2.
Minnesota and 4 1/2.
I live in San Diego...we LOVE Mike McCoy. We are very understanding if the Bolts fail to make the playoffs this year. Rivers has gone through 4 (or is it 5 now?) different Centers due to seaon-ending injuries. The Chargers have gone through three Running Backs due to injuries as well. On all sides of the ball, the Chargers have fought to remain competitive in spite of injuries which have stretched them a little beyond their capabilities. Still, they're just a step or two from being up there with the Broncos and Patriots (played both extremely competitively).
That....and the Spanos family is incredibly cheap and have a young, dynamic GM who will not cede authority to a coach. We had Norv Turner as head coach for what seems like forever. He was replaced with a coordinator who is turning things around. There is literally no way they get into a bidding war for Harbaugh.
If Harbaugh is announced as head coach of the University of Michigan for the 2015+ season, kindly make a $25 donation to Outside the Bowl*.
http://outsidethebowl.org/
*Outside the Bowl is a Christian organization, if that renders it null according to your outline, please donate instead to any charity that provides food and resources to children in need.
Should Harbaugh coach elsewhere, I will donate $25 to the charity of your choice...
...while I hope he's right about the coaching search, his other postings make me feel all sorts of tainted, the kind that only gallons of soul-cleansing Bactine can clean. I'm sort of looking forward to this search being over so I can dismiss Mr. Henson back to the dustbin of the intertoobs.
Michigan competed with Urban/OSU in 3 1/2 out of the past four seasons with our previous coaching's lack of attention to fundamentals, O-line, Offense, etc.
If there is any Div. I coach who is afraid of The Game, he has no business accepting the interview. I'm damn sure that the Harbaughs, Miles, and Mullen would relish the opportunity to partake in the greatest rivalry in sports. Anything less needs to stay put at the school where they are now.
...we're always hearing about the Chargers being one of the two teams that end up in L.A. There's talk of competing interests trying to build stadiums up their in a couple of different areas (using the Coliseum until the new stadium is built). The Chargers ownership says the right things about wanting to stay in San Diego, but cannot (or will not) settle upon where they even want their new stadium to be built. The target sight has moved from next to Petco downtown, to La Mesa, to Oceanside, back to next to Petco, to wherever they think they want it this month.
I'd bet dollars to dounts that the Bolts are gone and moved to L.A. with the Rams coming back as well. The Raiders could stink up the deal and steal the Chargers spot (which would be fine as I love the Chargers and don't want to hate them if they move).
Long story short...I believe the Raiders stay in Oakland and/or move to Texas as an outside possibility. I think the dysfunctional ownership of both the Raiders and Niners will keep Harbaugh away from that job.
This part of the fanbase would be ecstatic with a Bob Stoops hire if Harbaugh is intent on staying in the NFL. The guy's resume is packed with BCS bowl game after bowl game with a few national title appearances to top it off. His team was pre-season top-5 and, according to you, he has underperformed. Let's take a look at this unimpressive 2014 performance
LA Tech W 48-16
@ Tulsa W 52-7
Tennessee W 34-10
@ West VA W 45-33
@ TCU L 33-37 (to a playoff contender)
Texas W 31-26
K State L 30-31 (1 point to a top-10 school)
@ IA State W 59-14
Baylor L 14-48 (OK...this one was bad)
@TX Tech W 42-30
KU W 44-7
OK St tbd
In this disappointing season he's sitting on an 8-3 record (likely 9-3) with two of his three losses being extremely close. A turnover here or there and this season could be 11-1 with talk of a playoff spot.
I'd take his record of sustained success over Dan Mullen any day of the week. At Michigan he'd be able to get the players he wants, he'd have access to the resources he needs to compete annually for B1G championships. That...and he has a pretty good record against his main rivals, Texas and OK State. If Hackett pulls this hire off, I'd be thrilled.
That guy coached the Chargers for a season or two and was dreadful. What on earth are they thinking...that can't possibly be the best guy they could hire for the job. Florida and Nebraska both underwhelmed with their hires.
If I were a Huskers fan, I'd be so disappointed with this hire. I can't imagine a top-flight institution making a more lackluster choice (other than ichigan-May a few years ago) in recent memory.
Morseo than with Miles. I'd still prefer Harbaugh by a little bit, but Stoops would be a homerun hire.
Anyone other than Schiano, Norv Turner, or Shanahan.
haven't been explosive be a reflection of the fact that his defenses have been, perenially, in the top-10 to top-20 in the nation? It appears to me as if he's running a team which resembles a Bo Schembechler-style crushing defense which, by design, runs a slower tempo offense to minimize the other team's opportunities to score. Wouldn't that reflect in lower offensive production?
Ultimately wouldn't his W-L record be a more important metric when you're looking at someone who is running a defensive juggernaut as opposed to an Oregon or OSU offense?
I remember watching the '97 team and I can tell you that cheering for a steam-roller defense is every bit as thrilling as a high-tempo offense. Having both would be better...but I'm not ready to write off Miles just because his style runs more towards crushing defenses than the Oregons of the world.
...by all accounts Brady is a good guy. His players love him. He got the job because past colleagues must've loved him too. I have a friend whose husband coaches here in San Diego and knows Brady quite well and they can't say enough good things about the man.
That being said, he and his assistants did not have a successful tenure in Ann Arbor. I hope, much as is the case with RichRod, that Brady finds a great location and meets with much success. If letting him go to pursue another head coach can ultimately become a win-win for Michigan and Brady Hoke, I'd be extremely happy. Like you, I certainly don't wish him ill at all...
If Urban can recruit top-10 talent at OSU, I imagine Miles can recruit top-10 talent at Michigan. Les has cultivated the same territories that Urban has down south and has to be at least as slick a recruiter to keep LSU a perennial power every 3 out of 4 years.
I don't think he'd necessarily get the same kids he has with LSU, but I think he'd compete for and develop the same kind of kids that OSU gets...and from this vantage point tha would be one heck of an improvement.
That all being said, I'd prefer either Harbaugh or Patterson, but I'd take Miles over Schiano any day of the week.
For the sake of this thread, assuming that neither Harbaugh is a legitimate option, Miles is clearly the best choice. Schiano (as well as Mullen) are products of maximizing one's marketability after a couple of good seasons at best. Miles has routinely competed with Saban and Myers on an even playing ground. Assuming that Urban has to play nice in the B1G, I think it's reasonable that Miles would compete on equal footing against him again, using the same rules that OSU abides by. Sure there's probably skeletons in Miles' closet that we won't necessarily like...but what outright scandals and investigations has he been involved with?
There might be better options, but given Miles v. Schiano, I'd be incredibly happy if Miles were selected.
Keeping up the prayers and well-wishes.
Just the sort of thing to really put things into perspective. Keep up the fight, Chad!
That's what I thought.
I can't believe that the programming types figure SoCal has any interest in Texas or KState. If it's not one of the PAC schools (specifically USC, UCLA, or Oregon), few teams rival Michigan as far as a San Diego fan-base presence (ok...maybe the Buckeyes and Seminoles have some fans out here too). Thinking back I can't think I've ever run into Longhorn fans...even at the zoo, Disneyland, or one of the other tourist-heavy spots.
On ESPN at the moment they're talking about this. One of the commentators (bald guy, can't remember his name) seems to think that Jerry Jones is going to open up his wallet and see if Saban can breathe life into the Cowboys. Granted, it's just some ESPN dude filling dead air, but that seems to me to be his more likely route out of 'Bama if he were to consider leaving (which he probably won't).
I thought that San Diego was getting the Texas KState game...is it possible that we might be able to watch Michigan instead?
I'm up in Vista/Oceanside, but I hope you have a great get together to watch the game.
UConn 20
Michigan 52
UConn 20
...if I were the Buckeyes. Certainly OSU will be favored to win (and should win) that game; however, the last time the Aztecs rolled into Columbus against a highly ranked Ohio team, this happened:
OSU 16
SDSU 13
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232490194
The Aztecs were a bowl team last year that beat Boise State in Idaho. They return a bunch of players, especially the young playmakers on offense, and Coach Long has done a pretty good job of maintaining what Hoke started here.
To be straight...I do not expect SDSU to win. What I am saying is that if OSU overlooks them, SDSU is much more likely to beat them than a really, really poor Cal team.
OSU will be favored by twenty-plus but will have to work for every bit of another 5 point win or less.
...is that the tools for the DRM will remain in the machine. Once 20 million units are moved, what's to stop them from changing their minds again? I don't feel like rewarding a company that considered it a good business practice to put in place draconian measures dictating what I can and cannot do with discs after I've bought it. Sony might not be perfect, in fact, last gen their arrogance cost them a ton of momentum which gave the Xbox 360 room to breathe in the first place; however, this gen they seem to be asking, almost begging for my business while Microsoft is doing everything they possibly can to piss me off.
I've owned both current gen machines and enjoyed both and have had both break on me (RROD x2 for 360, just finally wore out for PS3). Though I'll wait until 2014 to see what second wave games come out and which exclusives are more in line with my gaming style...I am much, much more likely buy the PS4.
The San Diego Union Tribune has and will always suck. They may be the biggest paper in town (and maybe the only one left here), but that doesn't mean that they have stopped trying to lower the bar. If you can think of any contribution they have made to the field of journalism, then you certainly know more about 'em than I do....and I live here.
When I heard that Teo was drafted, I do have to admit that my first thought was that all of my Raider-fan friends were going to start asking me how many imaginary Superbowl trophies Teo would help us win...but then I realized that he *might* be a decent addition to the team. He's a bit slow and got epicly exposed by 'Bama, but I'm hoping he can contribute. More than anything I wanted the Bolts to get Denard because Rivers isn't getting any younger and the Charger QB depth isn't all that great. I also envisioned using him in the backfield with Rivers throwing a little dump off pattern pass to #16 and give Shoelace the option to throw/run from there. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Now the talk around town (amongst the water cooler types, not sports radio or anything approaching official) is brigning in Tebow. Ugh. I guess it's another year where the Raider fans can point out their trophy case and laugh at the empty one in here in San Diego...
I do have to second Grumbler's sentiments though...it is a great place to live.
As a San Diego Wolverine I have to caution everyone that SDSU is a much better team than people are giving them credit. True, they haven't beaten many better teams of late, but they pushed TCU, Utah, and BYU to the brink last year. They did struggle against Army earlier this year, but having seen them play quite a few times, they really have the look of a mid-tier PAC-12 team (which they/we would love to be if not for that pesky academics issue. SDSU stands for Still Drunk, Still Undecided btw).
I think Michigan wins this game, but like the MAC games, the separation happens in the second half of the game.
Michigan 38
SDSU 24
Score at half will be 17 - 17
I've seen that wasn't taken with the intent to be horrifying. If I remember my D&D correctly, would he be a mummy, lich, or zombie?
...I look forward to two opportunities a year for the Chargers secondary (if TP ends up playing receiver) to put him on his ass, over and over and over.
OR...should he play QB, I look forward to the Charger DL putting him on his ass, over and over and over.
Either way is okay by me.
I've been really happy with it so far...with 2 notable exceptions.
1) Terrelle Pryor is still on the Buckeyes. I know this will be rectified with updated rosters, but I found myself wanting to yell "FREE TATS!!!" at the TV while I was playing the Buckeyes.
2) I didn't like that Denard didn't have dreads. Little qualm, I know...but c'mon...how hard was that one to do?
What I really like is the running game vs. last year's edition. I actually feel like there's a reason to hand the ball off and get the opposing D to start inching in to stop it and bang 'em with some quick passes to the TE for a quick 10-15 yard gain. If they drop deep; however, Denard is going to make 'em pay with a 20 yard scamper. He does get hurt a lot in the game though....which, while true to last season, sucks - seeing as I have it on good authority that he's made of pure adamantium this season.
Truth be told, I like it a good bit better than last years, but it's very evolutionary - with little that is a huge leap forward from previous editions.
Western Michigan (This game is easy win) - W 1-0
Notre Dame (This game plays out much like last year, same result) - W 2-0
Eastern Michigan (The back-ups get some playing time) - W 3-0
San Diego State (This game requires a Denard last minute comeback)- W 4-0
Minnesota (Michigan dominates)- W 5-0 (1-0)
Northwestern (Michigan wins in shootout)- W 6-0 (2 - 0)
Michigan State (The streak against Sparty ends)- W 7-0 (3-0)
Purdue (Go Blue!)- W 8-0 (4-0)
Iowa (Hawkeyes lose too much talent) - W 9-0 (5-0)
Illinois (M scores nearly as must as last season. Gives up 17) - W 10-0 (6-0)
Nebraska (Looks good, but really paper Huskers) - W 11-0 (7-0)
Ohio State (At long last the streak ends - in overtime) - W 12-0 (8-0)
B1G10 Championship vs. Wisconsin - L (12-1) (8-1)
Record: 12-1 (8-1)
Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida State W 35 - 27
Season: W 13-1 (8-1) Final Ranking #4
Hasn't Auburn already suffered major penalties? What's the chances that they get the SMU treatment if/when the crapstorm with Newton blows up?
I was sort of hoping he'd leave.
That game will be tougher, but it's still just a hill...and we're destined to be mountain climbers.
yards shouldn't be a measuring stick. I was responding* to the OP who mentioned that the 500-odd yard performance against Navy was an abherration. It clearly wasn't...SDSU did it 5 other times.
My singular point was that, despite a statement made about the spread, Hoke used the athletes he had at SDSU and managed to put up points and yards and wins that run contrary to the amount of teeth-gnashing that's going on here. Even SDSU's four losses were incredibly close affairs. 3 of them, in all honesty, should have been wins if not for a poor QB decision (Utah), dumb luck (Missouri), and perhaps the worst replay review this past season (BYU). The TCU game was not as close as the final score, but it was close enough that Horned Frogs were worried at game's end. Hoke got the most out of what he had and a very few of his own players (Hillman), and turned the Aztecs into a conference contender. SDSU is out-recruited in the MWC by BYU, TCU, Utah...and most really good local prospects in San Diego to to UCLA, USC, or Oregon. In a place where he has every organizational disadvantage possible, he found a way to succeed.
For that...I'm all in for Hoke at beloved Michigan....and saddened to see him go from my adopted home team SDSU.
* I do need to apologize to the OP, however, since he did not at any time state that Hoke was incapable of executing an explosive offense. While several have bemoaned the "Basketball on grass" statement, the OP did not...and as such, apologies to him.
yards shouldn't be a measuring stick. I was responding* to the OP who mentioned that the 500-odd yard performance against Navy was an abherration. It clearly wasn't...SDSU did it 5 other times.
My singular point was that, despite a statement made about the spread, Hoke used the athletes he had at SDSU and managed to put up points and yards and wins that run contrary to the amount of teeth-gnashing that's going on here. Even SDSU's four losses were incredibly close affairs. 3 of them, in all honesty, should have been wins if not for a poor QB decision (Utah), dumb luck (Missouri), and perhaps the worst replay review this past season (BYU). The TCU game was not as close as the final score, but it was close enough that Horned Frogs were worried at game's end. Hoke got the most out of what he had and a very few of his own players (Hillman), and turned the Aztecs into a conference contender. SDSU is out-recruited in the MWC by BYU, TCU, Utah...and most really good local prospects in San Diego to to UCLA, USC, or Oregon. In a place where he has every organizational disadvantage possible, he found a way to succeed.
For that...I'm all in for Hoke at beloved Michigan....and saddened to see him go from my adopted home team SDSU.
* I do need to apologize to the OP, however, since he did not at any time state that Hoke was incapable of executing an explosive offense. While several have bemoaned the "Basketball on grass" statement, the OP did not...and as such, apologies to him.
I'd like to think that the first several games of the 2011 season are winnable - and can allow the team to gel. Notre Dame is a potential problem, but I really think that a new defensive scheme might take some of the pressure off of the defensive backfield...making it a winnable game.
Pie in the sky predicition, but I think that Michigan can win 10+ games this year. The cupboard isn't nearly as bare as some folks would have us believe. The athletes that are here (and hopefully stay) are capable of winning every game on the schedule.
Whether it was RR or now that it's Hoke, 8 wins should be the absolute minimum that is achievable.
Should Hoke (and I'm saying nothing negative about RR) get this team to buy-in and pick off the majority of the other 4 that are in debate (MSU, ND, OSU, Neb), this could be a great season upcoming.
I'm all in!
The OP states: Which is just bluster about a 555-yard aberrant performance, but also true considering SDSU put up more points (35) in this year’s bowl game than any Midshipman opponent since 2008 (including two ND squads, 2009 Ohio State, and 2009 Missouri). That year, Niumatololo’s cadets gave up 42 to Pitt, 41 to Duke, and 35 in a loss at Ball State which was coached by … oh, Brady Hoke. So score one against the “Brady Hoke makes us ND” meme, because here is a guy who can definitely beat Navy.
Let it be noted that San Diego State put up 500+ yards in 5 contests this year, 450+ in 8 contests this year...and they won half of the contests where their offense did get stymied.
This meme that SDSU and Hoke don't know offense is complete and utter garbage. I totally understand if some folks are underwhelmed by the hire - heck, I wanted Gruden...but just go over to ESPN or some other stat site to do just a little research.
Everyone wants to quote Hoke saying that the spread is basketball on grass or something to that effect, and deduce that means that his offense *must* be 3 yards and a cloud of dust.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/conferences/statistics/_/id/17/moun…
Please check how many Aztecs are among the confernce leaders in offensive stats. QB is 2nd, RB is first, as are the next 2 receivers.
The obvious response will be, of course, that this was against inferior opponents...which is mostly true. But it's also true that said offensive explosions were using inferior athletes as well....folks simply cannot have it both ways.
Now living out here is San Diego County, I'm totally of mixed minds on this hire. I was born and raised in MI, my best childhood years at Pittsfield Elementary School. I bleed MI blue and want them to dominate the Big10 and college football in every possible fashion. However, I also really enjoyed the progress that Hoke was making with my local team out here. It was really nice to be able to see the Aztecs finally be able to generate some local interest - long dormant since Marshall Faulk went pro.
Hoke's a very good, perhaps even a great, coach that turned around a school that was regularly getting beaten by 1-AA schools - at home.
If you don't like the hire - fine. But please don't misrepresent that he can't utilize the tools he's inherited when he very clearly can...
EDIT: I forgot to include the Navy Bowlgame. SDSU put up 500+ yards 6 times and 450+ 9 times, including the bowl.