The Morning After

Tell dipshit to pack up his spittoon and go  get a job as an assistant with the Ravens.  They look like they need someone to fuck up their quarterback play a bit more.

I spent the night in the hospital because of a kidney stone and it was more enjoyable than watching that game.

Can anybody tell me why Harbaugh didn’t challenge that dropped catch that led to Sparty’s last Game winning score? This is just like the trouble with the snap game where he stopped coaching at a critical moment. Time out is your friend. Attention to detail is key.

I’m fine and ready for a strong Sunday. This board is an exercise in futility. Harbaugh’s not going anywhere, but if he does it’ll be his choice, so might as well save your outrage.

Luke Fickell, lol.

I guess he was coaching the last time we beat OSU.

Ryan Day was hand picked by one of the great college football minds and modern era coaches (Urbz) to run the Death Star.

Fickell was cast off like the red headed step child.  Urbz knows footbsll, Urbz knows coaches. 
 

Harbaugh must go.  OSU cast off Fickell is not the answer.

I detached myself from UM Football 2 years ago when I said JH needed to go and received nothing but backlash. Maybe everyone will see the empty suit now. 

I had night terrors if Rocky Lombardi throwing the ball 25-40 yards down field into single coverage.  It lasted about 3:30, it was crazy, but good thing that didn’t actually happen.

I’m right back to where I was during much of the 2014 season: just indifferent. It’s very clear at this point that Harbaugh’s Michigan just is what it is at this point and that’s not going to change. If we play the rest of the season the way we played yesterday, there isn’t a game outside of maybe Maryland that we should be favored in. And I’ve accepted that. This team is just not very good. The DT and CB recruiting have taken a serious nosedive and it showed all over the field yesterday. 

Has Harbaugh upped Michigan’s game since his arrival? Absolutely. But six years have gone by and we’re not any closer to catching up to OSU now than we were in Hoke’s final season. In fact we may be even further away. This season is going to end very much the same way it has been. A skullfucking from OSU, a full-on prison shower moment, and then laying a big fat goose egg in a bowl game that we clearly don’t want to be at, losing to an opponent that is jacked up to play and make a statement against a big program like Michigan. 

I hope the team does well. I’m not rooting against them. But it’s hard to be excited when you know how this is going to end and your football team goes back to being a national laughingstock. 

I’m also indifferent because I just refuse to let OSU fans get the satisfaction of letting this bother me. I’ve seen so much heartbreak and underperforming from this team over the last 15 years that it’s easy to just let it go at this point. 

After Wisconsin last year I was ready to fire everyone. Then by the time we beat ND and MSU and other bad teams I was willing to continue with the mediocrity due to fear of the unknown.

So I feel similarly despaired today and I guess winning out would bring me back, but that’s impossible because it would require beating OSU. We already lost our chance to beat MSU for some modicum of redemption.

Its self evident.  We know the defense won't cut it here and are already seeing Gray get torched by Place, and are stuck with the thought for a year. We know Harbaugh coaches scared and lost his nerve with Jack and paternal pressure looming over him.

They should just lose out and get a nice draft pick. 

It feels like Jim is following Dantonio’s full circle approach.  You have to make sure you give back any progress you made as a coach before you leave.

Your headline reminds me of the song that came out  when I turned 10, it seemed fairly popular song by Maureen McGovern She was really good looking back then but not so much now.

Our team did not look very good.  I think WI and PSU will beat  us fairly easy unless the offense can find a way to score a lot of points. In 1973 we beat MSU 31-0 on the road, how I long for the good old days!

Don Brown needs to go.  He cannot be defended anymore.  His last 4 games going back to last year is just awful. The defense is Gerg like. 

Putting aside the Minnesota Mirage, we are where we thought we would be:

We have an inexperienced QB that locks on one receiver and has not developed touch on long passes.  We have a completely new OL configuration that does not run block or protect very well at this point.

On defense we have an enormous hole at CB.  We have DT's that can not pressure the QB.  All of this in a (stubborn) system that is heavily dependent on lock-down CB's and DL pressure on QB's. 

We knew all this, but we drank the Minnesota Kool Aid.  Well that party is over, and that pitcher is dry.

So fuck it, I'm treating this bizarre season as an epic Spring Game, complete with the empty stadiums.  Let's get everybody some reps and some experience and see what they can do.  Develop the team for the (real) season.

I’ve been on the border of keep him or fire him. Yesterday was a game he couldn’t lose. I’m done with Harbaugh. How many times does it take to figure it out that running the ball up the middle is not working. We were beating them to the edge. Corum looked good. Why not keep doing that. I would be all in on hiring Urban. I know he would never come. Harbaugh has to go. We are a laughing stock of college football.

Black pit does not even begin to explain the distraught I am feeling.  This team is lacking a killer instinct.  This game should have been circled not only because it is an in state rival.  Not only because it was one of only 8 game.  Not only because it was a divisional game.  But it was an opportunity to set a tone with a new coach.

What the hell is going on!!!!  I know the OSU beat downs are hard to deal with, but any causal observer can tell you that they more depth and talent across the board.  But to lose to a team that has far less talent, scraping to get their crap together because they had no spring practice, no summer workouts, minimal fall camp is unacceptable.  By the way the game was played a casual observer would have guess that it was us that didn't have all that was lost over the past 7 months....

I stayed off the blog on purpose yesterday cause I was so wound up.  On the bright side, someone I had stayed in touch (a Sparty alum) with  cause my oldest son liked him is out.  He is the worst Sparty fan on the plant and when he went off like a typical RCMB slappy after the game, it went south in a hurry.  Wont be hearing from him anytime soon.

As for JH, I have been a big supporter of him for all 5+ years.  But yesterday was a tipping point.  Expectation is that they win the next 6 games, and look and play like a football team that gives a damn that they are out there trying to win.  Yes, I am writing off the OSU game. 

If that doesn't happen, then change in leadership is needed.  The NUMBER 1 rule as a coach is to put your players in the best position to succeed.  Hanging out CB that can not defend 1 on 1 if piss poor coaching.  Running the damn ball up the middle on 2 - 340# DT is piss poor coaching.  And having your team ready to come out and DOMINATE (not just show up or 'try' to win), but DOMINATE an opponent is basic coaching 101.  If you can't get the basics down, then we need to find someone that can.....

Ward needs to ask/tell Harbaugh to retire at after the OSU game or he will be let go. He can say covid has made him reevaluate his priorities in life and he wants to step down. give him an out, but he's gotta go. We'll let the year play out and see if Gattis' can get the O going. He's coaching for his job basically. D. Brown is done. As others have said, he has one pitch and it ain't what it used to be. Too easy to figure out his D. Need multiple D in this day an age or else even teams like MSU will make you pay

For the first time in the harbaugh era I’m convinced he can’t get it done. To have your least talented team in year 6 and also get completely out coached because of arrogance is inexcusable. Losing to Ohio state sucks but is completely understandable. This is the first real sign of broken program 

Not feeling any better about this even with an extra hour of sleep. I've been a big supporter of Harbaugh from the beginning. What I saw yesterday was nothing I would have expected to see in his 6th year. Coming out with a game plan that wasn't working is okay. That's football. To not make adjustments in the game especially after halftime is inexcusable and that's on the coaching staff. Not sure what to do moving forward. There's 6 more games (hopefully) to make this right. Otherwise I think it's time to move on and look at other coaching options. 

After learning that Mayfield was injured, I would want him to take the year off. Nothing to compete for and a serious injury would be a huge hardship to him and his family.  Love he came back but it’s not in his best interest to stay. 

I think Harbaugh may be thinking Michigan is like the Titanic and he needs to get off the sinking program and make his jump to the NFL. There is now way we beat WI and PSU and we will probably lose to IU on the road. So we are looking at 5 loses, Harbaugh is going to jump ship, so lets start the coaching search now and not get surprised next January.

I think it’s abundantly clear that the fan base and the program itself has been pretending that the emperor has clothes on for quite a while now. But everyone has been to scared to admit the truth and face reality.

We’re in year six and we still...

1. Don’t have a quality QB. We have a raw QB who has lots of potential but still isn’t ready for the big time, still can’t hit the down field pass or carry the team on his back. Yet Lombardi looked like a hero yesterday.
2. Have holes all over the roster. How on earth, after six years of Harbaugh coaching, development, and recruiting are we starting a walk-on at center? How is the secondary this bad? It’s been rumored that recruiting under Harbaugh has lacked organization and clear strategy but again, everyone just plugged their ears, closed their eyes and shouted “la la la, I’m not listening”
3. Play offense like it’s 1985. Where were the QB reads and RPOs? Where was the speed in space? I saw this offense continue to try and run the ball straight up the middle into a stacked box over and over. And after half time, no adjustments. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
4. Play man coverage and leave our corners out on islands when it’s beyond clear they aren’t capable of handling that kind of single coverage. Did we make adjustments? Yup, we took out a poor player and substituted in one who was even worse and then asked him to do the same thing. Insanity.
5. Have special teams constantly make boneheaded mistakes and we can’t kick field goals. Oh, and we’ve already had a point blocked and turned into a quick touchdown.
6. Have no playmakers on offense. We recruit more talent than just about anyone else in the conference and yet none of our guys ever stand out. They’re just guys in a system. For the love of God, put an end to this running back by committee nonsense.
7. Are unprepared to play and lose games in ugly fashion we should be easily winning. I think I’ve lost count of how often this team fails to execute across the board. Is there a coach in the country that continually does less with more, more than Harbaugh and company?
8. Suck at making adjustments based on what the other team is doing. Once again, insanity.
9. Have players bailing on the program. Why don’t our guys want to stay and continue playing here? It’s almost as if they can’t wait to get out.

On top of all that, we’re 0-5 against OSU, 3-3 against MSU, only ever beating Mork’s really bad MSU teams. NEVER beating them when they had a decent to good season. 1-4 in bowl games, and we always close out the season in embarrassment. Oh, and it’s been known that Harbaugh is a terrible team motivator, so we have that going for us too.

Ultimately, we have to completely forget about beating OSU right now. We can’t even handle the rest of the B1G with any semblance of consistency, despite having the paper talent advantage. This speaks to coaching, gameplaning, and player development deficiencies...after six years of supposedly one of the greatest minds and coaches in all of football.

There’s nothing left to be said at this point. Harbaugh is incapable of getting this team to perform to their ceiling let alone above it. QB whisperer? Forget it. Offensive genius and innovator? Forget it. The savior of Michigan football? Forget it.

The jig is up folks, the emperor’s new clothes aren’t real and the more we keep pretending, the more we become a laughingstock.

I missed it. Don’t think I’ll be tuning in the remainder of the season. Team is a joke.

Brown needs to go.

2020 was always a rebuild year, surprised? despair?

Michigan currently top 5 school NFL current roster count. Harbaugh and NFL experience resonates, he recruits well. For whatever weird reason, offense has been patchwork since Harbaugh came to Mi. 2 NFL qbs are Brady and henne. 0 mi Rb in nfl, only 1 wr in nfl, dpj. 

Michigan has been offensively deficient since Harbaugh. 

Harbaugh has never coached a complete team. 

OSU has multiple skilled rbs qbs and wide receivers in NFL. 

Given how arrogant this board was about MSU the whole week, you realize that "pride comes before the fall" has a real meaning beyond using it to mock Mark Dantonio.

The hype train around Michigan after last week was something to behold. Based on what? Minnesota's D being a sieve? I'm sure it's effing hilarious for non-Michigan fans.

By the way, when exactly did Joe Milton go from "likely career backup" to "best Michigan QB since Henne"? After the end of last season, everyone talked about how great McCaffrey is going to be, now the dude isn't even in the program. Let's be real here, the QB position has been and remains a disaster zone at Michigan, and Harbaugh is as far from fixing it as he's ever been.

The amazing thing is that before yesterday's game you had the media talk like this is Michigan's year. In reality, this might actually be Harbaugh's worst team. The D looks like it'll be the worst in several years, and that alone will be a huge problem. This might well be the year for Indiana to beat Michigan.

it's hard to remain an optimist lately my dudes

I am going to load up on weed and coffee and enjoy a perfect fall day, enjoy my family, my dog and my land

I'll spare you all the reasons my life sucks in 2020, many of which I have in common with you all, including that freaking horrific and unacceptable loss yesterday

appreciating what I have, especially my time.... trying to not let that loss turn into a another loss by (trying to) keep perspective.... that's my mindset for the day

1. Need to use OSU as bait to snag a coordinator that wants to get knocked down and is forced to get back up over and over again.  Someone who wants to compete with the ALA of the north year in and year out. Someone with fire in the belly. The engine that does not stop.
2. Losing to MSU was really bad.  How bad?  This team was recruiting in 30’s/40’s the last 3 years.  They had a 1st year coach with a previous 5-7 record. It was in our stadium.  They were starting a new QB.  Their OL was newer like ours.  They lost to Rutgers the week before.  If this was an MSU team coming off a B10 title with everyone returning, then I say I get the L.  But, this was a really bad MSU team we lost to. 
3. Don Brown should have been gone 3 years ago.  When you get smacked as bad as we did against OSU, and cannot adjust, time to move on.  Harbaugh is stubborn and refuses to change fast enough on D.  
4. Coaching has become increasingly suspect.  Whether Harbaugh is overriding Gattis and/or Brown I do not know. What I do know - we get out-coached on a consistent basis. Minny was the exception over the last 6 games. 
5. Gattis is a keeper. need to see more from him but he is a keeper. We are modernizing and I would like to see a spread HC let a spread OC do his thing.
6. As an Alum, I am embarrassed and expect more as ‘Leader and Best’. Shit. I am not asking for OSU level year in and year out.  How about we at least get close every 2 years?  3 years?  Can we at least compete and be in the hunt every 3-4 years for a NC?  I’ll take ND level at this point in time. 
7. Warde needs to earn his money here. Make the right decisions to move the program forward.  While I am not in the rich Alums, I can always put my slim $$ elsewhere than supporting this shit show. 
8. Recruiting. Why can’t we recruit a QB that develops?  Why can’t we recruit quality DL consistently?  Why son many players rotating out of program year over year?
9. I said 4-4 for 2020 and I stand by it.

It’s at the point where you figure the best thing for everyone involved would be Harbaugh getting the LA Chargers job so everyone can walk away from this with their dignity.

The only way Harbaugh saves his job here is to win out. I don't see it happening. I am usually better the next day, but after yesterday I feel similar to the App. State Horror. Can't lie, there isn't any coming off this one feeling better for a long time. Love my team and always will, but now there is just despair for my beloved Wolverine football team.

I've been disgusted for the last 20 hours or so.  Can't get rid of this sick feeling.  Yesterday was the tipping point for me with Harbaugh.  His demeanor, in general, is infuriating and I've looked past it.  Has he just gotten too comfortable from a personal standpoint in AA?  I really don't know what the answer is, but the school is not getting its return on investment as it relates to football results.  Unless he wins out (highly unlikely and more of wishful thinking), I can see this being an amicable divorce where both parties decide its best to part ways.  That WILL leave a stain on Harbaugh's coaching career that will eat at him forever......

Fire Harbaugh!

I was more interested in the stickers the players had on their helmets. Didn’t really care who won the football game 

Just watched the “Inside Michigan Football” interview Jon Jansen did with Harbaugh. What the hell? Harbaugh looked like he just woke up or drank too much cough syrup. No fire, no anger at getting his butt kicked. Time for a change. We need a coach who acts like he wants to be here.