Michigan Football: HARBAUGH
Alright, the season starts in a month and I cannot effing wait. Bump this as necessary.
The schedule this year is full of highs and lows. A I-AA team to start (the defending national champ, but still), followed by Oregon, Notre Dame, and Penn State in succession. 6 relative cakewalks (should be, at least)in Northwestern, Eastern Michigan, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan State precede the final two tough games with Wisconsin and OSU. Certainly doable, but by no means easy.
Two big events today:
1. Michigan extends contract to play ND through 2031. Jesus Christ, that is a ridiculously long time. I guess it means we should have a solid OOC opponent for a long time, but I wouldn't have minded a little more variety in the UM schedule in the next 25 years. Oh well.
2. Sam McGuffie committed to Michigan. He is the #1 ranked All-Purpose back for the class of 2008 and looks sick. Check out this video:
Anyway, any discussion of this or any new topics would be great. Go Blue, baby.
Anyone ITT an actual UM alum? Son is a HS senior and applied there and ND for engineering (waiting on a final answer from both, though he applied early decision to UM and was pushed to the general applicant pool). Already accepted to some state schools.
It is remarkably difficult to be more than a “9-3” team - I would argue that there are only 3 teams that consistently exceed that level and it remains to be seen if Alabama stays there with Saban gone.
Well the argument is Michigan has the resources to easily be one of the those stratospheric programs. They simply don't care to be. The higher-ups at Michigan are not religious about football like Ohio State and others. I think that's true but I'm not gonna go to mgoblog and complain about that every day.
People need to accept reality and move on and it shouldn't be hard cuz we're talking about sports here. ****ing sports--a nice distraction from the shitty reality we all have to endure living on this late stage capitalism/dying planet.
But people can't accept it cuz their freaking identity is somehow wrapped up in how Michigan performs on the field. It's sick. People need to grow up. Now I know from frequenting 11W that nearly every Buckeye fan is that way. But we're not Ohio. We're better than that!
We should have learned from the RichRod and Hoke eras how hard it is just to stay in the 9-3 tier, but people seem to have forgotten that lesson.
This is why everyone who wanted Harbaugh fired in 2020 should feel ashamed forever. They should always look back and cringe at how stupid they were. Even before the magical 2021-23 run you could still say Harbaugh literally took this team out of the dark ages and brought them back to that 9-3 level.
And he did all that without ever finding a QB. And why couldn't he find that coveted QB to take the team to the next level??? Because it was obvious long before Harbaugh came that teams were no longer gonna get legit 5* QBs without illegally paying for them. Michigan wasn't willing to play that game because football simply isn't that important. Again Harbaugh brought the team out of the RR/Hoke dark ages with one hand tied behind his back. The reason Michigan wasn't living up to the expectations of idiots was institutional, not Harbaugh.
I'm a little more optimistic about next year and about Sherrone than you are but the sniping after any loss is going to be awful.
Recipe for 9-3/10-2 playoff run:
1) We need to retain all our important defensive players which I think they're gonna do.
2) Assuming no portal magic, Jadyn Davis needs to be the next Chad Henne.
That's it. Number two is the Deus ex machina we need to happen.
Assuming #2 doesn't happen I'm definitely gonna be ignoring mgoblog or any Michigan podcast after each loss. It will be unbearable.
Anyone ITT an actual UM alum? Son is a HS senior and applied there and ND for engineering (waiting on a final answer from both, though he applied early decision to UM and was pushed to the general applicant pool). Already accepted to some state schools.
Class of 2003 here. Useless economics degree.
Anyone ITT an actual UM alum? Son is a HS senior and applied there and ND for engineering (waiting on a final answer from both, though he applied early decision to UM and was pushed to the general applicant pool). Already accepted to some state schools.
Yup. I started out in the engineering program but decided in the middle of Linear Algebra that it just wasn’t going to happen. When people ask me why I do what I do, I tell them Math 417.
Good luck to your son, wherever he decides to attend. I wouldn’t trade my four years in Ann Arbor for anything.
This is why everyone who wanted Harbaugh fired in 2020 should feel ashamed forever. They should always look back and cringe at how stupid they were. Even before the magical 2021-23 run you could still say Harbaugh literally took this team out of the dark ages and brought them back to that 9-3 level.
I still remember the difference between 2015 and the six years that came before. Once Harbaugh came it was a program again. There was a basic level of competence that had been sorely missing. It was jarring.
I still remember the difference between 2015 and the six years that came before. Once Harbaugh came it was a program again. There was a basic level of competence that had been sorely missing. It was jarring.
Yep everyone who wanted Harbaugh fired had selective amnesia. It's like they didn't remember 2008-14 at all. How bad it can really get. I will never forget those years. I will be humbled forever by it. Harbaugh got us out of that wilderness and people didn't care at all, as if it was his fault Ohio State built an well oiled machine super empire. As if it's his fault he can't get that transformational QB--without paying for one--to get us to the next level. And then Harbaugh did the unimaginable. He beat Ohio State without a great QB. A good QB who I will always be grateful to, but not a great one. And in the meantime Day somehow thought McCord was better than McCarthy allowing us to backdoor into a transformational QB (something we'll never be able to do again in the NIL era). And the rest is history. Give Harbaugh a real QB and everyone is ****ed. 40-3. Three straight outright big ten titles (never been done before). 3 straight Ohio State beatdowns. And a ****ing national title. One of the greatest sports stories of all time that never would've happened if the selective amnesia morans had gotten their way.
He beat Ohio State without a great QB. A good QB who I will always be grateful to, but not a great one.
One thing I'll be super interested to see next year is whether the offensive brain trust can be as effective at game planning as last year's staff.
If they can, it makes the lack of an established QB less of a concern. If you can scheme guys running wide open, your average QB suddenly looks pretty darned good in the pass game.
Anyone ITT an actual UM alum? Son is a HS senior and applied there and ND for engineering (waiting on a final answer from both, though he applied early decision to UM and was pushed to the general applicant pool). Already accepted to some state schools.
2010 Financial Mathematics.
Best of luck to your son getting into wherever he wants to go and getting as much financial aid as possible
Happy 1 week hangover anniversary!
Still can't believe we ****ing did it. Never thought I'd see a National Championship for Michigan in my lifetime.
Came back for this, one of the original places I started chatting with UofM faithful. What a ride, what a season, pure bliss, still enjoying it each morning I wake up. Love you all be safe and enjoy this. Never thought I’d see this title either Zimmer!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Anyone ITT an actual UM alum? Son is a HS senior and applied there and ND for engineering (waiting on a final answer from both, though he applied early decision to UM and was pushed to the general applicant pool). Already accepted to some state schools.
Need a bigkid update. I have a relative that got accepted a couple weeks ago to UM Engineering. I think he's going, which is a major upset since he's from a very Sparty branch of the family.
Need a bigkid update. I have a relative that got accepted a couple weeks ago to UM Engineering. I think he's going, which is a major upset since he's from a very Sparty branch of the family.
Unfortunately didn’t get in. 1460 SATs—Purdue, ND, and UM engineering were no’s. Brutal this year…and I sure the Natty has made it even more competitive.
He has been offered a big scholarship and a path to ND engineering through Holy Cross next door (think Rudy route).
K-State and Mizzou are also options…should have a decision in the next 2 weeks.
Sorry to hear that. Competition is definitely brutal, especially for out of state spots. Glad he's got options.
Spring game tomorrow, on Fox. Will any of the QBs show anything at all? Probably not, given that they'll mostly be running for their lives. Bad enough to have to break in a new OL, but with them split between two teams and Hinton, El Hadi and Crippen all reportedly banged up, it could get ugly.
Sorry to hear that. Competition is definitely brutal, especially for out of state spots. Glad he's got options.
Spring game tomorrow, on Fox. Will any of the QBs show anything at all? Probably not, given that they'll mostly be running for their lives. Bad enough to have to break in a new OL, but with them split between two teams and Hinton, El Hadi and Crippen all reportedly banged up, it could get ugly.
TY.
Spring games are usually totally vanilla and people read far too deeply in them. I see them as a data point and honestly don’t worry too much until what comes out during fall camp. Still, gonna watch ND’s on Peacock tomorrow.
Unfortunately didn’t get in. 1460 SATs—Purdue, ND, and UM engineering were no’s. Brutal this year…and I sure the Natty has made it even more competitive.
He has been offered a big scholarship and a path to ND engineering through Holy Cross next door (think Rudy route).
K-State and Mizzou are also options…should have a decision in the next 2 weeks.
IF that is normal I could not have gotten into a single school I once did.
Sorry to hear that. Competition is definitely brutal, especially for out of state spots. Glad he's got options.
Spring game tomorrow, on Fox. Will any of the QBs show anything at all? Probably not, given that they'll mostly be running for their lives. Bad enough to have to break in a new OL, but with them split between two teams and Hinton, El Hadi and Crippen all reportedly banged up, it could get ugly.
After watching, seems pretty clear to me that Davis Warren is the next Joe Montana.
After watching, seems pretty clear to me that Davis Warren is the next Joe Montana.
I haven't watched the whole game yet, only the highlights, but yeah, looks like he had a nice outing. Orji did fine as well, even if he was just dinking and dumping. Denegal looked rough, Davis gets a shruggie since we know he's redshirting anyway.
If the schedule set up like last season, I would expect that Tuttle, Orji and Warren would each get a start in the non-con and then they'd pick (unless, of course, someone clearly separated in fall camp). But since it doesn't, there needs to be a guy for week 1. Despite his performance yesterday I'd tab Warren as third most likely to be the starter against Fresno.
I haven't watched the whole game yet, only the highlights, but yeah, looks like he had a nice outing. Orji did fine as well, even if he was just dinking and dumping. Denegal looked rough, Davis gets a shruggie since we know he's redshirting anyway.
If the schedule set up like last season, I would expect that Tuttle, Orji and Warren would each get a start in the non-con and then they'd pick (unless, of course, someone clearly separated in fall camp). But since it doesn't, there needs to be a gu
I'd sell my soul to have last year's schedule. Basically 9 freebies to figure ourselves out. Idk who the starter will be but yea it's between those 3 guys. I'm just hoping somehow Tuttle can be our next Rudock. Rudock level QB play + Orji package can get us to 10 wins, ie playoffs. Again I'm pessimistic overall but 80% of that is due to the horrible schedule. 20% is not having a QB.
Cool discussion about the Michigan-Ohio State 2021 game. 63 days til Fresno!
Just finishing watching the Harbaugh movie on YouTube and it's been delightful. Lots of clips of meatheads like Valenti and Finebaum spouting off and being proven wrong.
Also rewatched the Rose Bowl and championship game in the last week or so, I'm ready for the season.
LFG.
Just finishing watching the Harbaugh movie on YouTube and it's been delightful. Lots of clips of meatheads like Valenti and Finebaum spouting off and being proven wrong.
Also rewatched the Rose Bowl and championship game in the last week or so, I'm ready for the season.
LFG.
Yep I loved it too. That Meyers guy is the best at Michigan videos. Will be watching WolverineDevotee's videos of Penn State, Ohio State, Bama, and Washington tomorrow with my dad for the umpteenth time.
Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not but that dream is over. We can't even hold onto our 6th OL guy let alone JJ leaving and Harbaugh most likely gone. And vs that nightmare schedule we're most likely going 7-5 next year which is whatever. It's time to rebuild. Sux we're gonna waste an elite defense next year like Penn State did this year but those are the breaks. The mediocre recruiting over the last 3 years is finally gonna catch us. No portal magic will save us this time. Still
I can't believe I'm drawing very live to be wrong....the other way. Sigh. And the most depressing part about all this is next year we are projected to be worse. All our top end talent will be gone to the pros. 2026 is the first year where maaaybe we'll be a playoff contender. Thank god we won the national title.
I'm watching the Arkansas State game off the DVR since I was on the golf course this afternoon, and I'm actually more positive than I expected to be after seeing the first half. There have been some coaching adjustments on both sides of the ball, and a few changes in personnel. Good to see more of players like Ike Iwunnah who have played well, and also using Gentry as a bonus OL given the lack of a blocking inline TE. Defense played a little more vanilla, good to rep some of that stuff when you can. You can't really tell how much of a step forward the run game took given the opponent, but it seemed to make more sense.
On the bad side, of course the INTs were terrible. The pass blocking is horrendous. Link may be the worst RT I've ever seen. Jiyaire Hill isn't ready.
Michigan isn't very good, but I'm not ready to write off the season just yet. Other than RT I think they COULD fix/improve/address everything else. Doesn't mean they will but they could.
I'm watching the Arkansas State game off the DVR since I was on the golf course this afternoon, and I'm actually more positive than I expected to be after seeing the first half. There have been some coaching adjustments on both sides of the ball, and a few changes in personnel. Good to see more of players like Ike Iwunnah who have played well, and also using Gentry as a bonus OL given the lack of a blocking inline TE. Defense played a little more vanilla, good to rep some of that stuff when y
Yea my take is the offense is broken and thus were ****ed. Gonna be a brutal/painful season reminiscent of 2008 or 2014. As far as writing off the season, the cool thing is the universe doesn't care about my take. No matter how depressing it looks we can always be wrong. Even if that probability is very small it's still something to cling to. But reality is coming next Saturday. How this team performs that day will likely tell us everything. I think USC is gonna blow us out and the game will be over by half time. Hope I'm wrong.
I don't think the offense is hopeless. There is always an element of figuring it out under live game conditions. It looked to my amateur eye like there were fewer assignment mistakes. Not zero mistakes, but fewer. If you can continue to improve there the run game will be functional.
Not as confident that they can fix the pass game. Give Warren any sort of protection and he'd be plenty adequate. But that doesn't appear to be possible with RT being a turnstile and the rest of the line being below average at pass blocking.
We are Iowa this year. Fix the 3rd down issues on defense, go full Ferentz and eight wins are still possible. I don't think we relive 2008, there is too much talent and enough experience.
Always good to get a W versus Sparty. Looked pretty grim in the first quarter, but good job of not folding.
I have no idea why they refused to use Alex Orji the way they did in this game when he was a starter. But hopefully they have figured it out and keep it up. This team proved yet again that they're not strong enough to play a man down in the run game but when you play 11-on-11 good things happen.
