Thank you Coach Borges

Best of luck to him on his next job. I was really optimistic that Al would be a great OC after the 2011 season. He kept most of the spread offense and Robinson had a great season. But after this past season I changed my opinion.But all the best to him.

I don't blame the failure of this past year on the offense per se. I saw the season as some indescribeable malaise of spirit and execution where the will was there but the management of its control slipped away. Somebody lost the grip on perception of how this team should perform based on actual ability and talent, and the gap bewtween that uncertainty and performance led to the result: poor blocking, no run game. 

Al wasn't the real problem. Well, maybe in the Penn State game. That result was a seasonlong hangover, a buzzing headache that influenced every succeeding outcome prefaced, of course, by near-losses in the preseason to lesser-lites. Bottom line: there was no development in the Oline game and rushing attack. A lost season. Someone had to pay. Al got stuck with the Old Maid card.  

Really, was the offense to blame in the bowl game failure? Not really. The defense sucked big time. Al got the shaft because things didn't get better and the outlook seemed murky, if you are set in your philosophy even if your game day bag of tricks is filled with every conceivable sleight-of-hand possibility. Too bad, you didn't come up with a simple call on a two-point conversion play against the Evil Empire. One call, and this thread wouldn't be necessary. 

People would still be playing Heiku with Heiko after your press conferences. Gorgeous Borges. You had an answer for every defense and a host of creative plays calls. Michigan won some memorable games with your throwback screen and fades against ND in UTL, the Sugar Bowl win with just enough big plays. 

Even if fans were upset with the final play call against Ohio this year, the overall plan worked better than anyone thought and Michigan scored more than anyone thought possible. Getting the ax seems more like placating the rabble. But that's the life we chose, isn't it. Good luck in your next gig. 

Obviously it didn't work out in the end, and I have no problem with letting Borges go and getting someone else in, but he did do a lot of positive things for the team.  I'm not sure there are many OCs out there who could have blended Hoke's philosophy with Denard Robinson's skill set and come up with the 2011 season that Michigan had.  And there were games where the offense just seemed damned near unstoppable, and those were fun to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt46XDuz2kE

Good luck and best wishes. While the results were not what anyone wanted, Al poured his heart, soul, and the majority of his life the last 3 years into the program. I thank him for his time and effort. 

When I post on here, and elsewhere, I have readers in mind.

We're making a difference. 

We're special.

We're here. And at some point, Al, you were too, and really, that's all that matters now. 

Best of luck Al, as they say, if a you can watch the plays you gave your life to, broken for negative yardage, and stoop and build ’em up with worn-out bubble screens. Yours is the neo-West Coast offense and all the yards that’s in it, And which is more you’ll be an offensive magician, my Borges.

Im one of the few that like Borges both as a person and as an OC. 

* He has experience and success for many years as an OC.

* He was tasked with an extremely difficult transition from a spread style to pro style, with players that he did not recruit...and an OL that was decimated by attrition and poor recruiting by the previous regime.

* He was creative in drawing up plays, especially to start the game...this covered many of the OLs weakness for a little while, but good opponents such as MSU were able to make adjustments eventually.  Other than Devin running, the run game was not existent due to lack of talent and depth at RB and a very young and poor interior OL. 

He did what he could.

Im not one to annoint "Nuss" (funny how people are already calling him that) just yet... but he is most certainly walking in to a better situation at Michigan talent-wise than what Borges walked in to.

I'll never forget the Vincent Smith throwback screens.

were courtesy of Coach Borges: the 2012-13 Outback Bowl vs. SC, the 2011 and 2013 OSU games, and the 2011 Nebraska game.  There were other great offensive performances, such as ND 2011 and 2013 and Indiana 2013, but I always viewed those more as attributable to outstanding playmaking by the QBs and WRs more than the O plan, though obviously you can't separate the two entirely.  

Wish everything had worked out better, but Coach B is a good guy who did the best he could with the cards on the table.  Wish him the best.  Thanks Coach.

Thank you Coach Borges.

Being the OC at Michigan is a thankless job, and I thought you did it with class and style.  I can't imagine how knowing all that you know (football knowledge and experience, intimate understanding of your players and what goes on in practice, what it's like to coach during a game, awareness of the team's dynamics) you never once "lost it" on the media or fans. 

Thank you.

99 upvotes and 3 downvotes?  OK.  That is weird.  

Thank you, Al Borges.  As a gesture of my gratitude, I would like to present you with this bubble screen:

Like most "pro-style" guys these days, they need mega-talent to be successful.  Unfortunately for Al, he never got that chance.  First he had talent, but spread-style talent.  Then he had less spread-talent, then he had none.  The void was filled with very young and inexperienced talent.

For Michigan, it's good to see what a guy can do when he doesn't have talent to fall back on, b/c sometimes your talent doesn't perform, gets injured, doesn't develop, has attitude, etc.  The great ones get it done regardless of talent--by which I mean good college football players, not necessarily future NFLers.  Pro-style guys need pro-style talent.  Spread and option guys need only good college players, e.g. Denard.

Al is a nice guy and a good coach, just not a great one.

Good effort and some great wins. 

The guy came into a tough position for which he was ultimately incompatible with. No need for any animousity towards him, especially now. Best of luck in the future and thanks for the hard work, even if it didn't work out on the field.

Yes, thank you Coach Borges. I wish it had worked out differently, but best of luck to him in his future endeavors!

but the last two years,of your body of work ,been quite frustrating to watch. Take care and GO BLUE!

And good luck in the future!

Good luck in the future Al. I wish you well in all things.

who just don't get the family angle and just can't wait to say get the hell out! If you like the family atmosphere that UM presents to recruits, players and their families, then stop telling people who spent their time and effort to get the hell out or good riddence. Especially if they really didn't get to use the best UM had to offer in the way of talent (small SR and JR class IMO). I don't hold this true in my heart of hearts but mine does break a little when a guy comes to UM thinking they will get a fair shot at making it happen and then maybe not getting that fair shot I just can't say get the @#*% out. Then say what a great family atmosphere we have at UM and feel honest about it. So good luck to Al and his family in any endevours they may choose. We at UM wish it would have ended well for you and not just for selfish reasons, but because you were and always will be a part of the UM family. Go Blue!!!

how many people thanking Al thanked (or were even willing to thank) prior fired Michigan football coaches.

LSA2000 does an analysis of this thread: How many times "Thank You" posters also used some derivation of "Fuck Al Borges" throughout the season.

to a man who was so stubborn with his play calling that he cost UM games. He was paid better than 99% of the populace. More "thanks" than he deserves.

The PSU game alone was evidence enough that Borges was not getting the job done. Don't talk to me about execution. You have to adjust your playcall when you repeatedly try to run up the middle for either no gain or loss of yards on 80% of your rushing attempts against a mediocre PSU defense.

I wish him well but will not say thanks.

Good luck Al, and thanks for the time and effort you put in here over the last 3 years.

Just an FYI.  Al Borges is apparently being considered for ND OC job.