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Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

nunyabitness37 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:07:59 -0000

Yeah, Michigan would likely lose a bowl game anyway. Still, it would just be for the streak's sake. And I totally agree--we should have the longest bowl streak in history by quite a bit, in reality.

I also agree Michigan played the best, at least on offense, against MSU. I thought for a second that Graham's guarantee might have actually meant something, but I also felt that Michigan would do like always and burn out on offense. I'm not sure Michigan has always been playing down to opponents this season. I'm worried about even Michigan vs Purdue and would be worried about them vs Indiana, if they were playing them. Frankly, I'd be less worried if Painter were going to play the whole game as QB, but he's not.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

nunyabitness37 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:58:40 -0000

I completely agree with your QB comments. There is no way in the world Feagin can be as bad as Sheridan. To me, the PSU game really was over when he sent Sheridan in, particularly when the unnecessary safety happened. RR just seems like a "beat his head up against the wall" kind of guy, at least this year. He keeps doing a lot of things that clearly aren't working, and during games he'll do those things over and over for too long (i.e. times when running the ball isn't working; things are clicking on offense and then he'll send another player in and it screws up everything--he has done that too many times--etc).

To me, Michigan should never have QBs like Threet and Sheridan, regardless of what offense they're running. The fact that these guys were the best they could do this year is really sad and makes absolutely no sense. I honestly believe that if Michigan had a better QB, despite everything else they could have won enough games for a bowl game. Even if the defense was playing up to their potential, with the QBs we have Michigan could probably have managed wins against Utah, Toledo and MSU. It's not all about changing the offense, losing players and all those common reasons given. Plus, no one envisioned Michigan going 2-10 or 3-9...the lowest I ever heard discussed was 7-5.

I was wondering about why Minor wasn't playing more to start, too. Come to find out--and I don't know why this wasn't mentioned more, he apparently had some injury that made RR think he wasn't at full enough capacity to start.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Justin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:23:08 -0000

I was at the game as well. It was actually the best full game we've played all year, which is sad to say when you look at how we got the crap beat out of us yardage wise. The MSU game was the turning point on the season. If we could've won that game, we have more confidence going into the Pudrue game, which we should win if we don't play down to their level. Every team this year, we've played to their level, not ours. Utah, not a bad team, obviously if you look at the season they're having. If you know about football, you know that game really was not an upset. Miami of Ohio, we played to their level and somehow won. Wisconsin was obviously overrated, as you see they have only won one game since we beat them. Toledo game, no excuse for a game like that. However, through the first half, at least first quarter, against PSU, you saw how good of a team we COULD be, how good we SHOULD be in at least two years. 2nd half, different team came out at halftime. Gotta blame that on the coaches. Yes, we ALL know how horrible Sherridan is. It's sad when the defense plays worse when a different QB comes into the game. He has an effect on the whole team, not just the offense, and it's negative. How he can possibly be better than Feagan or anyone else on the team is beyond me. Now, as many games as I have seen this year and been disappointed in, saying how crappy we are, I still had confidence in beating MSU, and winning our next 3, and losing to OSU and be bowl eligible. I still think we could win our next 3 games, but I don't think we can take OSU, as much as I hate to say it. It's just sad to see a streak like that come to an end, especially when it should have been longer. They should have the longest bowl streak in the history of college football, but the Big Ten prevented that years ago. Teams were not allowed to go to a bowl game two years in a row, and at that time, it was only the Rose Bowl for the Big Ten. However, I don't know if I would want to see UM in a bowl game, after losing to Toledo, even if they beat MSU and won out, even beating OSU. If they were to somehow win out, I don't know if they deserve a bowl game with their record this year, and the way they have played

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

michiganstate — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:00:06 -0000

I was at the game yesteray. MIchigan still stinks!! Go State

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

thk — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:01:56 -0000

True freshman QB ala Chad Henne not necessarally a bad thing

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

MSMCWILL — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:16:31 -0000

Michigan will show vast improvement next season. I don't understand why Minor hasn't started from day one, and don't say fumbles because he would have overcame that and has overcame it now that he gets more carries. Also, it annoys me how Threet leaves every other game with a seemingly small injury. Putting Sheridan in at QB under any circumstances is a death wish. The guy is absolutely horrible, as expected considering he is a walk on. I say give Feagin a chance next time Threet goes out hurt at least he can run the spread. He can't possibly be a worse passer than Sheridan.

Obviously it is an almost certainty now that the bowl streak will come to an end. It's very unfortunate that so many streaks are coming to an end this year. I didn't have high expectations coming into this year but I never imagined it would be this bad. We play lights out for a quarter each game and then the rest of the game we play terrible. Hopefully we can beat little brother next week!!

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Brian — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:57:39 -0000

Michigan will go 2-10 (maybe 3-9 best case scenario). What I want to know is where is all the out cry ND fans had to endure from every major media pundit during 2007?

Also, unlike ND this year, Michigan will not turn it around in 2009. Michigan's 2009 starting QB isn't on campus yet. That means next year = true freshman QB = .500 record at best!

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Gatorpilot — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:27:14 -0000

I'm not sure I see a single PROBABLE win in there, much less a sure one.

Probably a losing season. Not what Mich. fans signed on for I'm sure.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

PrinceMarko — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:13:46 -0000

Michigan had a 70% graduation rate. USC had 54%. Would be a lot higher if a slew of juniors didnt go to the NFL last year.

"Every major school program in Michigan had a GSR for football and men's basketball higher than the federal norm. Among the standouts were the Detroit-Mercy men's basketball program, which had a 92% GSR (57% using federal statistics) and the football programs at Central Michigan and Michigan, which saw 70% of its players graduate under the NCAA's GSR standard. U-M had a 68% graduation rate under federal standards and Central had a 64% graduation rate."

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Tommy_Trojan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:42:16 -0000

Tomcat:

If you got a QB with speed, plus speed all over the field, then the "spread offense" is just fine. When you don't have the right QB - it is just dreadful.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

1Tomcat — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:59:49 -0000

Two words discribe Michigans bowl aspirations
Holy Toledo

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

1Tomcat — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:56:36 -0000

Tommie T
I surprized at you post
The Spread rules- speed kills
The scoreboard lights up
The option read- 4 wideouts crisscrossing- somebodys not covered, or the QB runs, dumps it off inside for 5-6 yard gain-hard to defend
I thought you witnessed the spread offense first hand against the # 1 D in the country couple years ago
Gone are the olds days of 5 yards and a cloud of dust
Darel Royal once said that three things happen when you pass the ball and two of them are bad- that philosophy is gone- the 15 to14 final score vicories are gone too
Look at the B-12 conference Texas Tech is #5 in scoring offense averaging only
46.3 points per game. Read that again thats #5 in the league averaging almost 50 points per game

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

"BC" — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:48:19 -0000

BINGO

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Zac — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:04:58 -0000

If what you've said is true, then the mistake was all TT's. He should have made certain his entire staff bought in to the new offense, and gave Tony Franklin their complete cooperation. In effect, all he really did was set Franklin up to fail.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Zac — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:02:08 -0000

This is where you and I agree. I have never understood the philosophy, "If you can't win against a particular school, you're outta here." I can't imagine Bama fans calling for Saban's head because he loses to Auburn the same season Bama wins the NC. I can't imagine OK fans calling for Stoop's head because he loses to TX the same season OK wins the NC. I can't even imagine MI fans calling for Carr's head because he lost to OSU in 6 of 7 tries, even though he brought another NC to MI. But, that's what happened. Sure, there were tons of criticism from arm chair QB's giving Rich Rodriguez hell over last year's loss to Pitt in Morgantown, but nobody called for his head...until after he snuck outta town to take the job at MI.

Personally, I like what I've seen from WVU and a couple of other schools which are adept with the spread. (Obviously, I'm not as pleased this year, but ya caint have ever-thang.) What's important is not sacrificing attention to one's defense in favor of lending all the attention to the offense.

I thought Lloyd Carr was a class act. I'm sorry to have seen him go. As for what the Wolverines do on offense, it's all the same to me.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

PsiChiPsu — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:08:24 -0000

hmmm...here's where there might be a problem....the NCAA just released the numbers for graduation rates....Michigan was NOT in the top 25 (the cutoff was Okie with just 46% grad rate).

If RichRod's scheme requires some degree of intelligence, he will have to start recruiting smarter athletes.

PS: Penn State tied for 4th place behind Vandy, Wake and Texas Tech....GO STATE

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

PrinceMarko — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:09:22 -0000

Jackass fans that have no patience. Sure Michigan is the most winningest program in college football, but we have a huge coaching change with a lot of talent gone from last year.

Give RichRod 2 more years and Michigan will be back in the top 10.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

PrinceMarko — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:08:04 -0000

Michigan needs to grow up very quickly if they are going to keep that streak alive, but i fear it over this year.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

JaredIsKing — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:51:24 -0000

Nicely put.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Tommy_Trojan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:39:40 -0000

Zac:

My problem with Michigan - is that I always liked their style of play. They were Michigan. They just beat Florida to close out last season. Why the drastic change? Why change Michigan football completely? I couldn't get it when Nebraska brought Callahan in either. Now, you see that Nebraska is gonna go back to playing "Nebraska football". There is tradition at these schools. It's what defines them. I just can't get my head around any of this. What would football be like if everybody started switching to June Jones' "run and shoot" offense? What is this spread crap? Seems to me that you have to have a really good QB to run it. You got Pat White at West Virginia and Tim Tebow at Florida. Do they run it at Texas Tech? I think they might. But, what is so great about it? Florida won the MNC with Chris Leak running a more traditional offense - sprinkled in with a little spread that Tebow was running. When has a "spread" dominated college football? I can see that Urban Meyer is bringing it along at Florida. But, look at the players that he can recruit from the state of Florida. That makes a huge difference. I'm not so sure that any of that can be done at Michigan. Just as I was quite sure that Callahan wasn't gonna be able to put a "West Coast" offense in at Nebraska. Up in the Northern Plain states, your talkin' about Corn-Fed Road-Graters, being the prized recruiting assets of that area. This dictates that a running game might be your best option. That's why the Big 10 plays the kind of ball that they play. It'll be interesting to see if Rodriguez can pull this off. I have my doubts.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

"BC" — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:17:48 -0000

here's why Auburn's spread didn't work:
the spread system is a complete system. that means new schemes for every unit of the offense (QB, OL, HB, TE, FB, WR).
the problem i saw, was that the other offensive coaches weren't capable of teaching their respective unit, the tony franklin way. so at first, tony was trying to gel with the staff, and so he tried not to push the other offensive coaches. BUT, once everything went to hell, he got pissed, so he went over to the other coaches' workouts and started telling them how to coach. that's when the s*** hit the fan, the offensive coaches went to Tuberville, and said it's us or him. and he stuck with his cronies, and it might cost him his job.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Zac — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:13:15 -0000

Ron, I honestly think Les Miles had the MI, if he wanted it. I also think, for some reason only he knows, he wasn't ready.

In other threads, I mentioned Bobby Huggins and WVU; how years ago WVU tried to lure Huggins from Cinci, when Huggins was saying all along he wanted to come home and coach his dream job. WVU offered him a 1.5M/yr package. Huggins didn't come. Five years later, at the end of the 2007 season, John Bielein leaves WVU for (Yes, you guessed it.) MI. WVU AD, Ed Pastilong, calls Huggins and offers him the job. Huggins jumped at the chance w/o question. He even took less money ($880,000/yr). In five years, Miles will be ready to return home. RR will go to greener pastures. Remember, you heard it here 1st.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Zac — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:06:37 -0000

In my opinion, Clemson is actually a much better fit for RR, than is MI. But I agree; it's rediculous to fire a coach you've just hired at a sallary of 2.5 million, and you've paid 60% of his buy-out, no less. Ya gotta give him a chance.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Zac — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:03:17 -0000

BC, you have said what I've been saying all along. I think it's a shame that Auburn fired their OC, just because the new system wasn't quite working with the existing personnel, when in one season, that could have all changed. Now, Tuberville may be losing his job. Personally, I see all of that as a crying shame.

Re: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?

Zac — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:59:30 -0000

Tommy T, remember; it didn't work for Rich Rodriguez in his 1st year at WVU. They went 3-8. The following year they were 9-4. People just have to be patient with the time required for the existing players to learn the system, and the applicable recruits to come into the system.