Urban Meyer on Michigan: "Don't lower your standards"

Submitted by UMxWolverines on December 12th, 2020 at 8:28 PM

Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, and Urban all discuss Harbaugh. Urban mentions that he grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and saw what we could do as a program and that he refuses to believe Michigan can't compete with Ohio State and to not lower our standards. He also said "blow things up" not necessarily meaning change coaches but that the approach to everything really needs to change.

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MichAtl85

December 12th, 2020 at 9:22 PM ^

Schlissel gave the ok to offer Jim more money than god. I don’t think he likes football but he sure as hell seems to realize it’s importance. 
 

What is Schlissel doing to keep Harbaugh down? Refusing to recruit DT and CB while also refusing to develop a QB? Football programs seem to be Harbaugh’s. 

Don

December 12th, 2020 at 9:49 PM ^

"but when you have an Ivy league president then you settle with a mediocre football program"

Harold T. Shapiro, President of U-M from 1980 to 1988; PhD Princeton

James J. Duderstadt, President of U-M from 1988 to 1996; BA Yale

Lee C. Bollinger, President of U-M from 1996 to 2002; JD Columbia

Michigan football from 1980 to 2002:

1 National Championship; Won or tied for conference championship 11 times; 14-8 record vs Ohio State; 14-9 in bowl games (including Outback Bowl win after 2002 season); two Heisman Trophy winners; produced Tom Brady.

What's really ironic is that Bollinger's successor, Mary Sue Coleman, was the first U-M President since 1979 with no Ivy League background. She was President from 2002-to 2014. What was the trajectory of U-M football over that time period?

trueblueintexas

December 12th, 2020 at 8:47 PM ^

Meyer specifically said he’s not saying to fire Harbaugh. He was imploring Harbaugh to fix what isn’t working. 
The question is if Harbaugh is capable of fixing what is wrong.

I would also like to know what Meyer thinks is wrong. I believe he quickly mentioned recruiting and QB. I bet there is a lot more he has noticed.

mitchewr

December 12th, 2020 at 9:01 PM ^

I believe he also mentioned player development as an issue that needs to be looked at. 
 

The video I watched of him last night he said that you have to look at your approach on two things:

1) Talent Acquisition (recruiting)

2) Player Development 

Basically, are you getting the right type of players you need to be getting for your program and also, are you developing the talent once you get it? If one of those things isn’t working, then you need to look at your approach...do you have the right assistant coaches, are you targeting the right areas, is everyone doing their jobs, are forging the right culture, etc. 
 

If there’s anyone who knows how to build a championship program, it’s that man. He could seriously start his own program coaching consulting service and probably turn a lot of programs around lol

JTP

December 12th, 2020 at 9:07 PM ^

Well the QB situation hasn’t gotten better in 6 years, the player development has gotten worse, the game plans are in reverse and he’s never been a clock or game manager while here, the culture is worse off, so I think Urban is saying replace the guy in charge of those things.

trueblueintexas

December 12th, 2020 at 9:40 PM ^

Thank you, that’s what I couldn’t remember when I was typing. 

In summary, Urban is harping on the same things the people on this blog complain about with regards to Harbaugh (recruiting and player development). 


1) Hearing Urban mention recruiting is a non-starter for me. While Harbaugh’s recruiting balance issues are widely known and accepted, what Urban is referring to is the cheating part. He said it when he joined the Big Ten at OSU. He’s said it every chance he gets. He wants the Big Ten to cheat the way the SEC does. OSU has certainly bent to this standard. I don’t see any other teams willing to go to that level.

2) This is pretty damning. When a former coach who is widely respected for his coaching success (not respected as a person necessarily) says your coach has an issue developing players I’m not sure what more you need to know. It’s year six and there are still problems finding a staff to develop players. It’s hard to believe that gets fixed by the current staff.

ERdocLSA2004

December 13th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^

So Meyer is basically saying revamp how they do everything.  I’m not sure how or why you keep a coach with the premise that they need to change everything they know and do.  That’s like when George did the opposite because every instinct he had, was wrong.

How hot is Kristine Leahy.  She’s like the hottest teacher from my wildest dreams that I never had.  

AMazinBlue

December 12th, 2020 at 10:37 PM ^

He clarified his comments,  he said don't  hange coaches, change recruiting strategies fix the things on the inside.  But he also pointed out the quality of the university and the program.  What he didn't say was OSU would have canned their coach if he went 0-5 to Michigan and 1-4 in bowl games etc.

gm1234

December 12th, 2020 at 8:50 PM ^

2nd tier programs? Did you miss the game where they took 2 overtimes to beat Rutgers? And when they got curbstomped by an average at best Wisconsin team? 
 

This team hasn’t looked good since Minnesota...and maybe that was more the opponent...

WindyCityBlue

December 12th, 2020 at 8:56 PM ^

I suppose I should explain. I believe we should “blow things up”, but contrary to what UM said, we also need to lower our standards to compete. Not doing so, will be more of the same. 
 

I’ve posted in a previous thread that I caught up with a family friend who’s son was one of the top 100 football recruits several years ago. I got lots of insight, and guess what? OSU pays (like most other top programs). 
 

Urban knows they pay and I take his thoughts about Michigan not lowering standards as a ploy to continue to keep us down. 

THE_Rational_BUCKEYE

December 12th, 2020 at 9:33 PM ^

This is ridiculous. No they don’t. If that’s the case then I want you to explain to me how Gary and people like DAX go to UM. Those kids especially DAX Hill could be starting right now in Alabama. Competing for championships. While getting paid according to you. Instead he miraculously switched his commitment from Alabama to UM. For what? More playing time?  
 

 

 

gm1234

December 12th, 2020 at 9:43 PM ^

No, he turned down their cash for a degree from UM, that won’t pay him nearly as well as the NFL future he could’ve made by going to Bama...And yes, I believe Hill will get drafted, but not even close to as highly as he would’ve if he’d have gone to Bama because he still looks raw and isn’t getting the quality of coaching that he’d get there 

KO Stradivarius

December 12th, 2020 at 8:35 PM ^

What's funny is that they are now saying his NFL stock isn't that high as of a few years ago, yet every year prior to this the negative recruiters mention that he is hot NFL commodity.

Absorbine Sr.

December 12th, 2020 at 8:55 PM ^

I really can’t see a franchise located in the the heart of the UM fan base looking at what Harbaugh and saying “Just look at the job he’s done over at Michigan and the support he has from their fans. We need him here ASAP!”

On the other hand, it is the Lions we’re talking about here.  

TyWheatley6

December 12th, 2020 at 10:04 PM ^

It appears someone knows something. The Lions could do worse than hiring a coach that went to the Super Bowl in his last pro gig(even though I think that man is gone). They sell Harbaugh on not having to uproot his family.  All top 10 NFL coaches make over 8 million. They could offer Harbaugh a strong bases with even bigger incentives....it’s not illogical. 

The Homie J

December 12th, 2020 at 9:28 PM ^

Michigan doesnt need to cheat

The idea that Michigan needs to cheat is such a fucking copout.  Is Indiana "cheating" right now?  Is that why they're sitting atop the B1G just below Ohio State, losing in Columbus by 1 score?  Is cheating why Wisconsin blew our doors off and generally wins the B1G West most years?  Iowa is 6-2 and decisively beat the Wisconsin team that destroyed us.  Are they cheaters?  Oh how about Northwestern, the school with probably the hardest standards to meet in the B1G.  They've now been to 2 conference championship games in 3 years.  Are they cheaters too?

Were we cheating in 2016 when we came within a fucking inch of the championship?  GTFOH with any idea that we're stuck because our standards are too high or we run too clean a program.  The basketball team kept up just fine with the Kentucky's and Duke's of the world in a similar situation.  It simply comes down to coaching, and lately, Harbaugh hasn't been up to snuff

WindyCityBlue

December 12th, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^

I kinda get what you’re saying, but your examples are bad

1. Indiana. They caught lightning in a bottle in a weird year. They have never been a contender in any way shape or form...except this year. I bet they come back down to earth next year. 
2. Wisconsin. They are in the big ten west. They would likely never make a big ten championship game if they were in the east. 
3. Northwestern. Same as #2. Plus they can’t beat Michigan, including Hoke teams. 
 

And the basketball team has NOT kept up just fine with the Kentucky and Duke. Before Juwan, they have been head and shoulders ahead of our program in every facet. 

RockinLoud

December 12th, 2020 at 10:06 PM ^

Exactly this, couldn't agree more. Go watch Iowa play. Those guys play hard, play disciplined, execute what they do at a very high level, and their coaches recruit guys that fit what they want to do and/or adapt to the players' strengths. And this was a team in turmoil in the off-season with all the racist accusations and even firing the S&C coach if I remember right. Go watch them play, it's clear they receive elite level coaching, far superior to anything UM is doing. 

Absorbine Sr.

December 12th, 2020 at 8:42 PM ^

Meh, lowering your standards isn’t the worst thing in the world. I did so several times in college as closing time approached and the alternative was going home alone and rubbing one out to a Jenny McCarthy Playboy video.