I think a change is needed, but I wouldn’t expect a big improvement unless Urban Meyer walks through the door. I think being a B1G and CFP contender once every 4-5 years is the ceiling for Michigan. OSU is going to be a juggernaut under Day. Things are not slowing down post-Urban. Michigan might be able to beat OSU once every four-five years if a senior/junior laden team with NFL talent emerges, but the rivalry will not be competitive every year like it was in the past. College football is Alabama, Clemson, and a rotation of OSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, and Notre Dame. Michigan State, Oregon, and Washington also were in the mix, but have since faded. Harbaugh had Michigan on the cusp in 2016 and 2018. Harbaugh seems to have lost the team and should go, but I think the fan base needs to adjust its expectations. We’re not the cream of the crop anymore, but should be able to contend twice a decade. 

Of course there is no mention of Milton coming in and looking completely clueless.

So sad this is considered a recap. Ace has lowered himself to the professionalism that Brian has decided to show the last couple of seasons. A site that prides itself on being analytical and not just meathead feelings ball commentary has just given up. 

Yes, this is a very disappointing season, after three seasons that have ended in very disappointing fashion. But provide the context for why this team is where it is. Hint, it's not a lazy Harbaugh sucks and needs to be replaced hot take. I get frustration and criticism. But this is just a tantrum level reaction. So weak.

Here is the truth and the context people should be judging the offense in. Today, three true freshman, four RS freshman, four true sophomores, two RS sophomores played. 11 of these 13 men have no experience or almost no experience before this year. There are 5 upperclassmen who played today, and one of them is a first year starter. Two of the upperclassmen, Evans and Eubanks, are role players. Every offensive lineman is a new starter and only one of them has been on the team for more than two years. There is no way anyone should be expecting greatness or even any type of consistency from this group. This offense is performing about as well as any reasonable person could expect, especially when the defense lets the other team dominate time of possession and they only get to run 55 plays.

The defense is a much bigger disappointment. But again, there is a lot of inexperience. One true freshmen, 2 true sophomores, and 5 RS sophomores played today. Four of those players had no playing time or only very little before the start of the season. We had 6 upperclassmen play, but two were walk-ons with almost no experience, and Paye was not playing at 100%. At the beginning of Fall camp Don Brown had no idea he'd have to field a defense without Ambry Thomas, Aiden Hutchinson, Cam Magrone, and Brad Hawkins for most or all of the season. Having to reinvent the defense with mostly first and second year players in the time of COVID was going to be a high mountain to climb. 

None of that is to excuse the poor play of the experienced players or the 5 stars who should be playing at a higher level, but part of their disappointing play comes from being asked to compensate for the inexperience and backup level talent of most of the rest of the people on their squad. They aren't being put in a position to succeed because they are being asked to do too much or are taking on too much because of the rest of their young and inexperienced teammates aren't ready to pick up the slack.

All of which is to say, yes this sucks to watch. But it mostly makes sense, and it isn't only or even primarily about the coaching. This team is very, very young and inexperienced, and it has been bitten badly by the injury bug and key opt outs. The secondary has made great strides in the last few weeks and the running game has started to look much better as well. There are green shoots amidst the manure. This team, if it sticks together, will be much better next season, and could be on par with the 2016 team in two years. The fact that Ace and Brian can't step back and see this larger picture or account for it in their commentary is a huge shortcoming on their part, at least as big as the failures they're complaining of in the UM coaching staff.

Whose got it better than us?.............eeeeeeeverybody

Just watched the post game presser and I’m not sure which was worse, the game itself or seeing JH mumbling incoherent statements.  Both were painful though it was truly agonizing to see JH in this state.  CTE, depression, some other medical condition?  Warde needs to step up and relieve JH and the fans of his misery.

This is year 6. This team doesn’t have a lot of talent. I realize we had departures and injuries,  but this is not a talented team. Least talented team we’ve had since early Rich Rod. 

If Harbaugh had a shred of integrity, he’d resign.  I don’t expect that to happen. 

Our University no longer cares about competitive football. That is why Harbaugh will probably get a contract extension. I'm just hoping he is getting sick of losing and will jump ship to the NFL, which would be in his best interest instead of coming back to a team that he can no longer motivate or teach. Our presidents and regions probably think football is a barbaric game and the sooner it implodes the better. I guess this is just the way society is trending, why put children and young men in danger of severe injuries that could damage them for life. I think we will slip to a point where football is no longer important to this University, much like Harvard. I'm just glad I'm old enough to remember and relish the good years under Bo, Mo and Carr. It is sad knowing the future of our once good football program is so bleak.

Not as Advertised

I used to live on the West Coast. I saw a lot of Jimbo Niner games. I also hate USC. So when his Stanford teams upset USC I loved it.

Those teams had great QB play. A string of future NFL linemen. And defences that looked like you juiced up a whole bunch of big white dudes to make something fast and stout. And all this with what I assume was with Stanford's academic requirements. 

I thought we were getting that guy. Spice with Michigan's ability to recruit a handful of elite athletes to get them one step beyond and it was an exciting time. 

The team Harbaugh heads now is badly coached. Even setting aside all the worthy excuses it's not well coached. The game yesterday wasn't Penn State Michigan. It looked like 1977 Northwestern v Indiana. ...The real losers of yesterday may turn out to be PSU if they think that game indicates they should keep going with Franklin. 

I rarely write here. So many others do it better. But if its some sort of show of hands I have logged onto say that I really like Jim Harbaugh as part of the Michigan pantheon but I ask that he step down and a new coaching search begins. 

Go Blue

Infolinks = Harbaugh

He’ll get a pass on 2020, and will only not be here if HE decides to go to the pros.  Otherwise, he’ll get an extension.

That’s what our athletic and academic administration is going to do, whether we approve of it or not.  We have not been very relevant since Bo passed the day before the 2006 OSU game. That’s where we are,