First, let's get some perspective. We're talking about a non-revenue sport right? Very little tv covereage (read money) at stake right? When have you ever heard of a UM coach besides football, basketball, and hockey being on the "hot seat" for poor performance on the field? Fire JP? Nagonnahappen.
Now, coaching is definitely behind our lack of succes this year - on the defensive side of the ball. I have heard grumblings on this point from those in the know. There is some aspect of having the talent to execute, but there is also the aspect of giving up transition goals to a long stick when you're man up. Twice in one game. Landing an upgrade at DC is the prescription.
JP has a long term plan for the team that started first with building a culture (see F.I.S.T.) and he scored the support and funding (!!) to go D1 and build a beyond-top-flight facility. We are recuriting with the big boys, something else at which JP excels - no one exudes a love for Michigan and a desire to be in Ann Arbor more than JP. The recruits need to be coached up. Offense, check. Defense, see above.
But I am a homer fan for life, so take my comments with that perspective.
I don't agree with the part about how "it's time to move on after this year" re JP. After what he has already accomplished he can determine his own fate at UM v-v lacrosse as far as I am concerned.
Lots of things to discuss regarding the "right way" to do it, but here's a few notes of fact from an insider. Pretty basic stuff, nothing too earth shattering or hard to believe. In a perfect world maybe "this" changes or "that" is done another way...
but it really all boiled down to this: Money talks
The team needed to secure commitment of ~$5 million, and did it in ~2 months. 2 big donors (i.e. >$1 million each) in particular had strings on their donation:
1 insisted the jump happen immediately. Not coincidentally he had a son on the club team. (note: he also insisted that women's go varsity, but without the time table).
1 insisted that JP get the chance to be the coach. Not coincidentally he played on the club team with JP.
is to have rankings mean nothing and have on-field play determine everything. That means P5 conference champions make it in, and P5 non-champions do not.
I don't want to see the National Championship game be a repeat of the conference championship game. Give some other teams a shot.
Dominated at face offs. Won 8 all game to their 19. #21 Lott won just 1 of 5 (actually lost the draw but we won the ground ball). Had to bring in the long pole #49 Brown to try to stem the tide, didn't work out (won 3 of 10). Glimpses of bright spots though... #11 McDonnell (Fr) did win 4 draws (out of 12 so still bad, but freshman...) and #35 Young won some off the wing with hustle, and also played quite of bit of d mid and looked good there too.
Defense did too much ball watching and not enough moving their feet. Hopkins had 10 assists on 16 goals, many for backside dunks. We even got beat on a hidden ball trick (sigh) from up top, #22 Logan was literally facing the other way when the ball went in behind him. Bright spots, #4 Gembis (Sr) and #40 Bergman (So) led the team with 4 ground balls each.
No dodgers on the attack. Great finishers through. 3 assists on 9 goals. #15 Meter and #1 Joseph did each have one nice drive for the goal, but just those two.
We were in it for most of the first half. We were keeping it close by our hustle negating their superior athletes and skills. Once we got tired that was it.
With the loss, Michigan is guaranteed to finish under .500 for the season. Despite that, a win next week against Penn State secures us a spot in the B1G tournament.
because I live in DC. Wish they would mis-match the Maryland and Hopkins games so we have a home game in my neighborhood each year. Two this year but none next year (I assume, didn't check the schedule).
You gotta win to get love. I mean, that's just life. Look at...look at Don Shula. Legendary coach. Look at that Asian guy who holds the world record for eatin' all those hot dogs in a row. Look at Rue McClanahan. From The Golden Girls. Three people, all great champions, all loved.
I hope we can win the Director's Cup already (16 top ten finishes in 21 years)
Kids love this stuff, makes them feel special, and adds something to the "pro" column to offset the terrible awful winter in their "con" column for coming to Michigan.
Tied 4-4 with under 3 minutes in the first half, Michigan telegraphs a pass on the clear, OSU comes down and scores on a fast break. Then OSU wins the face off and the FOGO barrels down the middle unattended and scores 6 seconds later. OSU won another face off and added a final goal with about 30 seconds left in the half. We didn't know it at the time, but that was the end of it for Michigan's chances.
Players will take stoppages to get the call right. The might even like them for other reasons like catching their breath. Coaches might like them for extra play calling time.
according to lacrosse team manager, based on ticket sales. If counted the way they do for football (i.e. everyone in the stadium, not just ticket sales) the number would have been closer to 2,100. (not Yippee or anything, just saying).
That many people in a lacrosse only stadium sized to hold maybe twice that (?) would be much more intense and loud (like it is now in Oosterbaan).
Given how beautiful the weather was, and how few students were there, the only thing that is going to get them to trek "all the way" out to the new stadium will be to have a good product on the field.
The players love playing in the Big House. Visiting teams perhaps even more. They get to use the football locker rooms, and let's face it - it is freaking cool. They'll have a story for the rest of their lives about playing at The. Big. House.
Each sport gets its own field with its own special lines. That's how it works at Michigan with all our bazillions of dollars and athletics crazy mind set.
Quote from lacrosse team manager regarding why UM is building a separate field for each sport, "It's what Michigan does."
Great point on the murderers row of face off guys. The B1G has the most elite FOGOs (the aforementioned trio) and the ACC has really just one who's elite (Duke) and no other conference really has any elite guys (I gathered from conversations with UM coaches).
OSU's guy is probably the best in the NCAA. Coach JP tried to mix things up - putting a pole in to face off and some other things on the wing - but said he didn't have the horses (due to injuries to our best defensemen) to execute well enough to counter OSU.
We should fare better at the X against JHU and PSU the next two weeks.
Also great point that faceoffs are the biggest factor holding this team back (defense being a close second). A great face off guy can make up for a lot of other deficiencies by limiting the other team's possessions (duh). Given how thin we are at D that would be nice. Also fewer unforced turnovers would be nice too.
Have fun at practice. His displays are the opposite of sportsmanship. Hype yourself up in a less individualistic look at me way. I like enthusiasm. I hate showboats.
Fouls in basketball are for shit. Everything is a foul and at the same time nothing is.
Refs call what they expect to see. Offensive players launch themselves wildly into the nearest defender. Face slaps are not called flagrant two fouls, or even just a plain old foul do that matter.
Too infuriating to even watch anymore. Basketball has been dead to me for years.
Refs on site don't make the call for reply. Someone somewhere else does. That way there's no pressure on the refs there to hurry the eff up before our precious flow is interrupted. They can just stand there waiting like everyone else.
Recent Comments
First, let's get some perspective. We're talking about a non-revenue sport right? Very little tv covereage (read money) at stake right? When have you ever heard of a UM coach besides football, basketball, and hockey being on the "hot seat" for poor performance on the field? Fire JP? Nagonnahappen.
Now, coaching is definitely behind our lack of succes this year - on the defensive side of the ball. I have heard grumblings on this point from those in the know. There is some aspect of having the talent to execute, but there is also the aspect of giving up transition goals to a long stick when you're man up. Twice in one game. Landing an upgrade at DC is the prescription.
JP has a long term plan for the team that started first with building a culture (see F.I.S.T.) and he scored the support and funding (!!) to go D1 and build a beyond-top-flight facility. We are recuriting with the big boys, something else at which JP excels - no one exudes a love for Michigan and a desire to be in Ann Arbor more than JP. The recruits need to be coached up. Offense, check. Defense, see above.
But I am a homer fan for life, so take my comments with that perspective.
your not-first-hand knowledge is accurate.
I don't agree with the part about how "it's time to move on after this year" re JP. After what he has already accomplished he can determine his own fate at UM v-v lacrosse as far as I am concerned.
but it is very conveniently located across from the Oasis hot tubs.
I heard this was brewing last spring. Congrats to JP and the staff for being able to reel him in. Michigan is where a kid like this belongs.
Lots of things to discuss regarding the "right way" to do it, but here's a few notes of fact from an insider. Pretty basic stuff, nothing too earth shattering or hard to believe. In a perfect world maybe "this" changes or "that" is done another way...
but it really all boiled down to this: Money talks
The team needed to secure commitment of ~$5 million, and did it in ~2 months. 2 big donors (i.e. >$1 million each) in particular had strings on their donation:
Very interested to see this!
that's why
National parity > having NFL guys on your bench
P5 conference non-champions.
Don't complain - just win your conference.
Michigan will go 40-0 in bowl games in 2015
8-teams:
Goals:
is to have rankings mean nothing and have on-field play determine everything. That means P5 conference champions make it in, and P5 non-champions do not.
I don't want to see the National Championship game be a repeat of the conference championship game. Give some other teams a shot.
Don't complain - just win your conference.
Same old same old.
Dominated at face offs. Won 8 all game to their 19. #21 Lott won just 1 of 5 (actually lost the draw but we won the ground ball). Had to bring in the long pole #49 Brown to try to stem the tide, didn't work out (won 3 of 10). Glimpses of bright spots though... #11 McDonnell (Fr) did win 4 draws (out of 12 so still bad, but freshman...) and #35 Young won some off the wing with hustle, and also played quite of bit of d mid and looked good there too.
Defense did too much ball watching and not enough moving their feet. Hopkins had 10 assists on 16 goals, many for backside dunks. We even got beat on a hidden ball trick (sigh) from up top, #22 Logan was literally facing the other way when the ball went in behind him. Bright spots, #4 Gembis (Sr) and #40 Bergman (So) led the team with 4 ground balls each.
No dodgers on the attack. Great finishers through. 3 assists on 9 goals. #15 Meter and #1 Joseph did each have one nice drive for the goal, but just those two.
We were in it for most of the first half. We were keeping it close by our hustle negating their superior athletes and skills. Once we got tired that was it.
With the loss, Michigan is guaranteed to finish under .500 for the season. Despite that, a win next week against Penn State secures us a spot in the B1G tournament.
because I live in DC. Wish they would mis-match the Maryland and Hopkins games so we have a home game in my neighborhood each year. Two this year but none next year (I assume, didn't check the schedule).
Before his hair went all gray he had stripes just like the mascot. Eerie.
I wouldn't be surprised if the event staff and players counted too. They are all, in fact, in attendance.
big siblings programs, and other people who otherwise couldn't afford to experience a game at the Big House.
Giving away tickets is better than letting them go unused.
when the on-field product wasn't that great. No big surprise, not really news, nothing to see here.
You gotta win to get love. I mean, that's just life. Look at...look at Don Shula. Legendary coach. Look at that Asian guy who holds the world record for eatin' all those hot dogs in a row. Look at Rue McClanahan. From The Golden Girls. Three people, all great champions, all loved.
in an of iteself.
Me likey the new digs.
Are they over the top? Yes, and rightfully so
I hope we can win the Director's Cup already (16 top ten finishes in 21 years)
Kids love this stuff, makes them feel special, and adds something to the "pro" column to offset the terrible awful winter in their "con" column for coming to Michigan.
I'd choose turf over grass most every time. That new turf-grass stuff though, not the old knee-wrecker carpet at Oosterbaan.
It's hard to find/maintain a perfectly manicured grass field, and muddy conditions suck then ruin your field for the season.
Also, everything OSU = POS
best mixed-allegiance family tailgate in A2 or EL
Don't mess with my home uniform, or helmet!
Joe Hennessey (Director of Ops) presents plaque to former coach Bob DiGiovanni (right)
Patch on uniform sleeve
gets the start with a hungry veteran in the wings. Babcock knows how to win the second season.
before the game. Likely to be a huge Michigan contingent there.
Tied 4-4 with under 3 minutes in the first half, Michigan telegraphs a pass on the clear, OSU comes down and scores on a fast break. Then OSU wins the face off and the FOGO barrels down the middle unattended and scores 6 seconds later. OSU won another face off and added a final goal with about 30 seconds left in the half. We didn't know it at the time, but that was the end of it for Michigan's chances.
Players will take stoppages to get the call right. The might even like them for other reasons like catching their breath. Coaches might like them for extra play calling time.
Get the call right, every time, no matter what.
I don't think you get to run around like that while the ball bounces twice...
while he was running around the other way
But the hurricane is named Harbaugh
Someone has loving parents.
according to lacrosse team manager, based on ticket sales. If counted the way they do for football (i.e. everyone in the stadium, not just ticket sales) the number would have been closer to 2,100. (not Yippee or anything, just saying).
That many people in a lacrosse only stadium sized to hold maybe twice that (?) would be much more intense and loud (like it is now in Oosterbaan).
Given how beautiful the weather was, and how few students were there, the only thing that is going to get them to trek "all the way" out to the new stadium will be to have a good product on the field.
The players love playing in the Big House. Visiting teams perhaps even more. They get to use the football locker rooms, and let's face it - it is freaking cool. They'll have a story for the rest of their lives about playing at The. Big. House.
Each sport gets its own field with its own special lines. That's how it works at Michigan with all our bazillions of dollars and athletics crazy mind set.
Quote from lacrosse team manager regarding why UM is building a separate field for each sport, "It's what Michigan does."
just broke ground. Word from UM coaches is that it will be two more seasons before games will be played there.
Great point on the murderers row of face off guys. The B1G has the most elite FOGOs (the aforementioned trio) and the ACC has really just one who's elite (Duke) and no other conference really has any elite guys (I gathered from conversations with UM coaches).
OSU's guy is probably the best in the NCAA. Coach JP tried to mix things up - putting a pole in to face off and some other things on the wing - but said he didn't have the horses (due to injuries to our best defensemen) to execute well enough to counter OSU.
We should fare better at the X against JHU and PSU the next two weeks.
Also great point that faceoffs are the biggest factor holding this team back (defense being a close second). A great face off guy can make up for a lot of other deficiencies by limiting the other team's possessions (duh). Given how thin we are at D that would be nice. Also fewer unforced turnovers would be nice too.
We have three key guys out on Defense (stress fracture, concussion, high ankle sprain). Word is none of them will be back this year.
Dennis Norfleet has a career ahead of him with the Flint Tropics dressed as a seahorse.
Fouls in basketball are for shit. Everything is a foul and at the same time nothing is.
Refs call what they expect to see. Offensive players launch themselves wildly into the nearest defender. Face slaps are not called flagrant two fouls, or even just a plain old foul do that matter.
Too infuriating to even watch anymore. Basketball has been dead to me for years.
Get the call right, no matter what.