colonel

December 2nd, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^

Right, there are a lot of stakeholders here. Warde certainly reports to higher authorities, who might be directing him one way or the other.

Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but I find it very hard to believe that Warde and the other major stakeholders are not in some way responsive to the sentiments among the fanbase. They must be aware of the disillusionment and anger among the fans. They have to be. It's not just randos like us going off on blog messageboards. It's the announcers of Saturday Night Football, the marquis college football TV program, sharing anecdotes about the anger of fans, during the worst blowout loss in the history of our beloved stadium. That happened to be only one of the times that the team was embarrassed on national TV this year. Meanwhile, the campus newspaper is reporting on the lack of enthusiam among the players. Everybody sees that this team plays without any motivation and confidence. Everybody knows that the coach isn't getting it done, and everybody is unhappy about it. This situation looks like, feels like, and smells like something worse than just a "down year."

Surely, the AD and other powerbrokers see all this, and will do something. It is also not unreasonable to wait until the end of the season to act. I have some faith that a change will be made, but admittedly, not a lot.

 

MGoBlue96

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^

Do the people that want a change at HC for next year really not want them to play anymore games? Are these people under the impression the decision is already made? Because I think if the rest of the season isn't played the chances of a change at HC barring Harbaugh taking another job is probably close to 0%.

bacon1431

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^

I don't see how either of the remaining two games could change Warde's mind either way. If he was planning to fire him after this past week, he would have fired him regardless of what happens the next two games, barring a miraculous victory over OSU. If he was going to keep him, two more losses wouldn't have changed that IMO. 

bacon1431

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:51 PM ^

And a poster that claimed inside connections this past weekend said that the wheels were in motion for him to be gone. 

I know Warde isn't going to make a decision without consulting others. But not everyone has an equal weight to their opinion. Decisions like this are hardly ever unanimous. 

bacon1431

December 2nd, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^

Some prominent people convinced and others not. I don't think not playing hurts the people that are convinced. It'll be up to them to persuade the others. And the way Michigan is talked about in the media during this time will help the people that want to get rid of him. 

Warde's is the ultimate decision maker. If he didn't want to get rid of him before these games, he isn't going to now. If he did, he still will. Just depends on Warde's ability to sell to others. 

ESNY

December 2nd, 2020 at 3:26 PM ^

If looking incompetent against a mediocre MSU team in their first year with a meh coaching hire and getting boatraced by an 0-5 PSU team with their 5th string running back doesn't convince those prominent hold outs that a change needs to be made, I'm not so sure a loss against Maryland and getting boatraced by OSU, again, will be the straw that broke the camel's back

Optimism Attache

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:25 PM ^

After all the blood, sweat and tears I've expended trying to not care about this team in 2020, I feel completely vindicated. 

Downside: Is Harbaugh less likely to get fired with two fewer ass whoopings this year? 

4th phase

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:25 PM ^

I wasn’t for shutting down to avoid OSU. But if shutting it down makes sense then go ahead. Feel bad for the kids and was still going to watch and root for them.

So what happened here, first a bunch of positives, then they confirmed it was only 1 person...now there’s a big out break? 
obviously things change every day but if you shut practice down for a few days you’d think it would be okay 

Bo Harbaugh

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^

Lots of young talent on this team.  Lots of injuries. Shut it down please and let them improve in offseason practice.

Shut it down so there's no further loss of confidence within the program or embarrassing losses to hurt recruiting.

Find a coach (Meyer - pipe dream, Campbell, Saleh, etc, etc) that can take this talent (like Harbaugh did in 2015 and 2016) and put out an exciting product next year and an elite product by year 2.

Wolverine91

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^

I find it hard to believe that we won’t play next week. We’ll play and the result will be what we expect..

mGrowOld

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^

Somewhere a solitary figure wearing an OSU letter jacket and an ESPN identification badge has a single tear run down his cheek as he shakes his fist at the heavens and yells "I TOLD YOU THEY'D DO IT.  I KNEW IT!!"

uncle leo

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^

The pessimism in me basically assures this all but guarantees that Harbaugh comes back.

If he would have been lit up by OSU, I saw a small possibility he realized that it's hopeless and moved on.

Now, he's got the excuses built up and ready to go about the pandemic. 

Obviously, this is best for the kids. But for the football itself, this is the worst case scenario for the program's future.

SteamboatWolverine

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^

Well let's look at the bright side.  If this holds true, the 2020 team will have accomplished something no team has done in the same season since 2003...

1. beat Top 25 opponent on the road

2. denied OSU the Big Ten championship

MGoStrength

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:36 PM ^

Not looking good for the next couple fb games

Wait, that's a bad thing?  Have you seen us play this year???

mi93

December 2nd, 2020 at 1:44 PM ^

Good.  I can go back to not wasting any of my precious weekend hours watching whatever THAT is.

I want the players to get more reps and experience, but they look so lost right now, I don't think it's value add reps and experience.

pinkfloyd2000

December 2nd, 2020 at 4:31 PM ^

Ooooh...

Didn't think about that.

Provided fans are back in B10 stadiums in 2021 (that's obviously still out there, as a TBD), that OSU game is gonna be important to Michigan insofar as ticket sales are available (that's a "premium" ticket price). Perhaps one of the only sell-out games next season?

 

nine and three

December 2nd, 2020 at 3:52 PM ^

I thought harbaugh was going to get fired after this season,but not getting beat by maryland and osu not humiliating us might of saved his job! Just think that osu game would of sealed the deal for a lot of people! The msu job sealed it for me thou!