Why I'm not panicking about last night

Submitted by Cold War on

Turnovers, 4-0.

That was the story of the game, along with some other concerning mistakes, such as the kicking game. Toss in some depletion in the secondary, big pass plays, pass interference calls that we didn't get the best of, and it was a game that got away.

We actually outgained the Irish, 289-280. The o-line, while a work in progress, looked more serviceable than it had at times. We were in the stadium of a team that may prove to be top ten and we didn't really get blown out in the helmet-to-helmet sense.

Turnovers, mental mistakes, bad judgement, and a few calls we didn't get. They are maddening, and they have to be fixed. But fundamentally, this game was far closer than the score would tell us.

If things go our way in some upcoming games, this could still be a good season. There isn't a game that's not winnable.

I'm not ready to toss aside the things we've seen built over the past few years over one loss. Let's let it play out before we raise the white flag.

MGoBoard

TESOE

September 8th, 2014 at 1:08 AM ^

This year we lost to a better team.  I'm not even entirely convinced ND was a good team which makes it all the worse.  In 2012 we had 6 TOs and lost by 7.

To take an upside on this game is to write an excuse for the loss.  We don't lose like this often.  It''s games like this that make you go hmmm.  The buck stops somewhere.  It's tolerable to lose as long as good football was played for the most part.  That just didn't happen. 

This is a harder test than any faced last year.  It will be interesting to see the team react.  Utah is going to be a stretch for this team and a possible back breaker.

You don't lose like this and feel good about it.  Seeing the silver lining is noble when there is one.  There isn't here.  Change is required.  Every player and coach needs to understand that and offer whatever they can do to accomplish it.  The units need to call each other out and be accountable for one of the worst defeats in the modern era.

I'm trying to think of a worse defeat - definitely OSU 1968.  The interception, called back TD and Gardner crack back was like the failed 2 pt conversion in 68.  Only we aren't going to get a rematch.  We will get 10 more games to put this behind us.  Redemption is the best football motivational device ever.  That is the only silver lining.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8515

carlos spicywiener

September 7th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^

Losing by 31 points after having a psuedo-bye week to prepare in App St is not...what's the term you just used..." a game that got away".Rice put up 17 against the Irish.

The last guy to coach a team so heavily embarassed in this rivalry was Charlie Weis, who i think is just about the best analogy for Hoke. Weis won early, getting his team to BCS bowls - two of em. He recruited his ass off. Couldn't get his recruits to develop and play well, though.

Joined: 05/03/2014

MGoPoints: 25160

MichiganStudent

September 7th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^

You can sugarcoat it however you want but the fact of the matter is that we got crushed 31-0 (most important statistic) and we are 3-7 over our last 10 games.

The direction this program is heading has been on a downward trajectory ever since Hokes first year. Something needs to change.

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 7223

RockinLoud

September 7th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^

While I agree the offense looked way more serviceable than the vast majority of last year, it's the little things with all 3 phases of the team that indicate it's time for a change. We were out coached and failed at, for example, jamming their WR's, panicing under pressure instead of hitting the wide open hot route, etc, that continue to NOT happen under this coaching regime.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 24460

aiglick

September 7th, 2014 at 6:00 PM ^

I agree with you for this year. Although if we go 6-6 or worse I would say Hoke doesn't get his fifth year. Next year though? We'd need to make the BTCG IMO.

If we were for some reason to stick with Hoke next year without an appearance in Indy then the next contract would need to be much less lucrative and more in line with his performance.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 21560

twgolf19

September 7th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^

First row 30 yard line behind the Michigan bench. The team looked beaten in every fashion to me on the sideline. They looked lost right away and never got better. We will win games based on schedule but Sparty will dominate us and it kills me to feel that way. Beating bad teams and getting beat by any remotely good team us getting old.

Joined: 11/19/2012

MGoPoints: 411