I do not know a bigger Michigan Wolverines fan than myself, not saying that it is a good thing at the moment. I would be lying to you if I said that I didn't see this loss coming to Oregon this past weekend. Actually, I thought that if Michigan was going to lose an early game I was picking Oregon to be the preditor beginning the season. As much as I love the fact that Lloyd Carr is more than likely coaching his last season with the Wolverines, I really believe that this is the start of something I really don't even want to think about.
I guess that you can blame Desmond Howard for me becoming a Michigan football fan. Back in 1990, then 12 years old, I was watching the Wolverines get destroyed by Rocket Ismail and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But, there was this kid by the name of Howard that caught my eye. The following year everytime that the Wolverines were televised I was on the couch watching. Howard had a huge season, scoring touchdowns at will on the receiving and returning end. His biggest game came against Ohio State where he posed the famous Heisman for the crowd after returning a punt for a touchdown, this game would soon win the him the Heisman trophy that season. Michigan would have won the National Championship that year if it wasn't for the play of the quarterback Elvis Grbac in their bowl game against the University of Washington to wipe their hopes. But, I continued to watch the maze in blue and that's all she wrote.
But, back to the downfall. Michigan hasn't lost 4 straight games in more than 50 years, and hasn't been blown out by a team worse since 1959, the season before Bo Schembeckler took over as head coach. Oh, Bo died just before the start of the Wolverines losing streak. Ok, so Michigan football is probably going to replace their entire coaching staff, they can't tackle and the offense can't hold on to the ball. How are they suppose to get recruits to come to their school right now? The program with the best winning percentage in the history of college football has lost the first two games of the early season and are about to lose their entire coaching staff, what kid really wants to go to a school that is going to do a entire rebuild of a program. All the Juniors and eligible sophomores will be leaving early for the NFL draft not wanting to start with a whole new system. And, this is the time when recruits are visiting the colleges, what do you think that they are thinking when they see a prestiged program like Michigan lose at home they way they have the last two weeks. Supposedly they have a good class coming in next season, but if you saw the freshman quarterback that got in the game late on Saturday the outlook is not looking good. This kid was highly recruited last season and he is going to be the starter next season, otoh!
It irks me to say this, but I believe that Michigan is going to go into a slide the next 5 years, I hope not but it is very possible. Rebuilding a coaching staff and roster is going to be very difficult, just ask Nebraska after Tom Osbourne left. It took that program a couple of years to get back their status as an top 25 program again.
What it really comes down to with the slide is that even though Lloyd Carr has won a National Championship, he hasn't come up in the big games the last 5 or 6 years. He has ran the same offensive scheme over that time. Lloyd your time is over, you have never adjusted your coaching philosophy and now the program is suffering because of it. Good riddens Lloyd, I won't miss ya, all I miss is the players that you have coached in the past because they are the reasons for your semi-success!
I guess that you can blame Desmond Howard for me becoming a Michigan football fan. Back in 1990, then 12 years old, I was watching the Wolverines get destroyed by Rocket Ismail and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But, there was this kid by the name of Howard that caught my eye. The following year everytime that the Wolverines were televised I was on the couch watching. Howard had a huge season, scoring touchdowns at will on the receiving and returning end. His biggest game came against Ohio State where he posed the famous Heisman for the crowd after returning a punt for a touchdown, this game would soon win the him the Heisman trophy that season. Michigan would have won the National Championship that year if it wasn't for the play of the quarterback Elvis Grbac in their bowl game against the University of Washington to wipe their hopes. But, I continued to watch the maze in blue and that's all she wrote.
But, back to the downfall. Michigan hasn't lost 4 straight games in more than 50 years, and hasn't been blown out by a team worse since 1959, the season before Bo Schembeckler took over as head coach. Oh, Bo died just before the start of the Wolverines losing streak. Ok, so Michigan football is probably going to replace their entire coaching staff, they can't tackle and the offense can't hold on to the ball. How are they suppose to get recruits to come to their school right now? The program with the best winning percentage in the history of college football has lost the first two games of the early season and are about to lose their entire coaching staff, what kid really wants to go to a school that is going to do a entire rebuild of a program. All the Juniors and eligible sophomores will be leaving early for the NFL draft not wanting to start with a whole new system. And, this is the time when recruits are visiting the colleges, what do you think that they are thinking when they see a prestiged program like Michigan lose at home they way they have the last two weeks. Supposedly they have a good class coming in next season, but if you saw the freshman quarterback that got in the game late on Saturday the outlook is not looking good. This kid was highly recruited last season and he is going to be the starter next season, otoh!
It irks me to say this, but I believe that Michigan is going to go into a slide the next 5 years, I hope not but it is very possible. Rebuilding a coaching staff and roster is going to be very difficult, just ask Nebraska after Tom Osbourne left. It took that program a couple of years to get back their status as an top 25 program again.
What it really comes down to with the slide is that even though Lloyd Carr has won a National Championship, he hasn't come up in the big games the last 5 or 6 years. He has ran the same offensive scheme over that time. Lloyd your time is over, you have never adjusted your coaching philosophy and now the program is suffering because of it. Good riddens Lloyd, I won't miss ya, all I miss is the players that you have coached in the past because they are the reasons for your semi-success!
4 comments:
Michigan has fallen into a spot that no one ever thought it would be in. THIS IS MICHIGAN FOOTBALL! There are certainties in sports. Yankees make the playoffs every year, the NBA sucks and Michigan football are Top 5 in the nation with a brutal defense and intense battles with Ohio St. and Wisconsin. This is unfortunately necessary in order for Michigan to regain national prominence. Lloyd must go and a fresh face brought in. A few names pop into my head as I write this. Barry Alvarez is a top notch coach and could turn that program around in one season. He got kids in Wisconsin to stay there and play a head banging offense similar to Michigan. But will he come back? Another name that brings huge credentials and could make them another USC type program is Bill Cowher. But will he go to the college ranks after taking a team to the ultimate goal in the pros. How about Jimmie Johnson or Steve Mariucci. I understand all these names are not likely but they need to bring a breathe of fresh air. Maybe a younger go getter who will bring fire to the program. As of now, there is no fire, no rabid Wolverines, just an old lap dog who is way too old and probably should be shot, I mean fired.- Pitbull
not going to happen but it would be a dream to get cowher there!!!!
Dezmond,
Let's have ome fun with the rumor mill. Did you know that Les Myles of LSU is a Michigan alum? What about other once prominent Pro coaches who never won the big one. Jim Fassel, would you be willing to put all your chips on the table for this guy? I wouldn't, but after Carr, hell even Tom Ryan would be an improvement!!! Also, what's Rick Neuheisal been up to since winning his March Madness office pool 2 years ago? If I was the A.D. at Michigan, I'd go after Myles or Urban Meyer. If Urban win back-to-back this year he just may be interested in bringing the Maze and Blue back to the top. Every head coach wants to be THE GUY who turned a once prominent program around. Don't forget that John Gruden is also on the hot seat in Tampa. However, I can't forsee him leaving the League. Another guy might be the man at Boise State. You can only get "screwed out" of playing for the 'ship after going undefeated for so long before you want to play with the big boys and show 'em how great you really are( see Urban Meyer). I think that Rich Rodriguez would consider an offer, especially since Slaton and White both leave after this year, too bad his style doesn't translate well to the Big Ten. Too bad Schiano at Rutgers is committed to them, cause he'd win you a National Championship in year 2, at the latest. With all of this being said, If Michigan calls me Deez, I'll listen.
-Coach Mif
Mif, those are some great calls. Nueheisel or Myles would be tremendous. Speaking of Boise St, how about the guy who left there a couple of years ago to "turn" a program around. Dan Hawkins is wallowing in Colorado asking himself "why the hell did I ever leave Boise, Idaho?"- Pitbull
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