Hang on Ohio (State), Notre Dame is the Michigan football team's most important game this season. Here's why
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has pointed his proverbial finger at Ohio State all off-season.
He installed countdown clocks for the teams' game. He refuses to call them by name, refuses to wear red. He pilfered their state’s top recruit.
OK, we get it. Hoke doesn’t want to lose to That School In Ohio. Ever.
There's something ironic about all that buildup, though: The Game isn't Michigan’s biggest game this year.
Really, it’s not.
Hello, Notre Dame. See you Sept. 10.
Hoke has said his aim is to win a Big Ten title this year — which is what he should say, although it would be something of a miracle if it materialized.
Michigan's Thomas Gordon hauls down Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist during the Wolverines' win last season at Notre Dame Stadium. The two may tangle again on Sept 10 in what is arguably Michigan's most important game of the season.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Which he wouldn’t be, of course, and that’s how it should be.
But to get to eight wins, Michigan will have to beat Notre Dame.
Here’s why.
The back end of the Wolverines’ schedule is loaded, with road trips to Iowa and Illinois and home dates against Nebraska and Ohio State to close the season. That’s three of Michigan’s toughest games of the year, and Illinois will be a tricky matchup.
Michigan will be far more competitive in the Big Ten this year, and will make measured steps toward finishing .500 in league play, which it hasn’t done since 2007.
But expecting anything better than 5-3 in the Big Ten is misguided. Four wins seems about right, considering the schedule and transitional encumbers. That means Michigan has to go 3-1 in nonleague play to get to seven wins, 4-0 to get to eight.
With should-wins against Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan bookending the nonleague slate, the Wolverines are looking to at least split -- and ideally sweep -- Notre Dame and San Diego State.
After a speed bump against WMU, Sept. 10 is the first linchpin game of the Brady Hoke Era — and it comes on national TV, in the first night game of the 84 years football has been played at Michigan Stadium. History will be made. This game will be remembered.
In a lot of ways, it will be Hoke's first foray onto the national landscape. He'll be seeking his first signature moment as Michigan coach, his dream job since he was a boy.
How will it be remembered? If the past two years are any indication, by the quarterback play.
Former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier’s trademark game came two years ago against the Irish, when he clinched victory in the fourth quarter by memorably sprinting down the middle of the field into the end zone, pointing into the crowd at the peak of his career.
Last year, Denard Robinson accounted for 504 of Michigan’s 536 yards in South Bend — which, if you’re counting at home, was about 314 percent of the Wolverines’ total offense that day. At least it seemed like it.
Now, Michigan is vying for its third consecutive win against the Irish, something it hasn’t accomplished in 111 years.
It’ll set the tone for Hoke’s first season in Ann Arbor.
What will that be tone be?
At 8 p.m. Sept. 10, surely a loud one.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
daytona084
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 4:14 a.m.
I still can't believe this story. ND the most important game of the year. It's a *non conference* game! And now ND is 0-1!
Chad Williams
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
Ok i finally get it, 7-5 last year with 3 wins against bowl. The 5 games lost were blowouts and they play 3 of those teams 2 on the road this year. Add in Neb for Wisc and NW for Psu. What im grasping is if they lose 5 games in a "good" way then its a upgrade. The fact is almost wins still isnt a W and a close loss is still a loss. Thinking that this team got any better with the same record is crazy. If the previous coaching staff sucked and this one is better shouldnt that show up in the win/loss column? 7 terrible wins last year will be the same 7 wins this year unless those wins come against the "red letter" teams which will mean they lost to inferior opponets this year. Win and losses is all that matters in sports as for the big ten title goes to the team with the most wins not most improved fundamentals. I bet the rose bowl will come knocking on the door after they see mich lose 5 times impressively.
BornInA2
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 7 p.m.
What you don't get, or don't want to get, is that for some fans *how* we win (or lose) is also very imporant. The past regime cheated. The coach blamed everyone and everything around him for his results. He exhibited infantile behavior, including saying he was going to stop the team bus on the way to Happy Valley to try to find a kicker. His teams not only didn't improve through the course of each season, but they got worse. I could go on and on, but the bottom line for me is that the atmosphere around the program stunk for the last three years and made being a fan miserable, for me. Using your logic (a win is a win) is like saying a meal is a meal, regardless of what the meal actually is. We've been eating dogfood for three years and I'm tired of it.
MRunner73
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
Mistake number one: Take 'em one game at a time. Yes Kyle "should wins against Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan". The build up to all this reminds me of the fever pitch media hype regarding Hurricane Irene. In a lot of ways, this is going to be fun week per media; print, radio and TV. In someways it might be too much. Can you say "Microscope"? It has started already and I am guilty of being drawn into this as well. We will get our first clue against Western on Saturday. Come next Sunday, we can then focus on ND. Add me to the growing list of comments in just this one article but I again caution...one game at a time. Bottom line: ND will be the first biggie for sure but I will hold saying more about that game until Sep 2nd- post game WMU.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 1:51 a.m.
I think Michigan should be favored by 7-10 over WMU. The early line is 14. They probably win this game 8 out of 10 tries. Of course, there are a lot of unknowns here, especially with the Michigan side. UConn last year was maybe their best result. UConn was completely surprised by Robinson's running ability, and Robinson was healthy (maybe the only time all year) and very accurate with his throws. UConn had a bad turnover and a bit of bad luck, and that's why the final margin was 20.
azwolverine
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
Chad...forget Toledo so soon?
Chad Williams
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 12:04 a.m.
Uconn was supposed to give michigan a challenge, wmu to years ago with hiller coming back was supposed to be very scary. Blowout losses. Michigan isn't indiana for god sake they just arent elite right now. Michigan offense is too much for their defense. Their offense might give them fits but nothing major. The talent level of a MAC school just isn't good enough to beat michigan.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:53 p.m.
That was true 20 years ago. There is more parity in college football today. WMU does represent a real challenge for a team of Michigan's caliber.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:36 p.m.
WMU is a gimmie game thats why they get paid to play at the big house. Mac teams even the best are no comp for the top half of the big ten. Mich has too much team speed and talent for wmu to compete. It will be over by halftime the MAC isnt the MWC. They should win this game easily and get players out the game by the 4th.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 10:55 p.m.
No kidding. WMU is considered to be the class of the MAC this year - maybe around 50th in the country. While this would be a pushover to a top 20 team at home, it's by no means an automatic win for Michigan right now. EMU, on the other hand, is probably the only gimme on the schedule. It is a fairly tough schedule this year, though definitely back-loaded like last year's.
Terry Star21
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
I think every game should be the most important one of the year and I believe Hoke and staff will approach it that way. The notre dame game is always exciting the week before and I am really looking forward to playing an osu team that will be playing honest football with eligible players (well, hopefully) for the first time in ten years. Before that time period, Michigan was 57-35 when both teams played honest football, but the best thing was - the games were always good, hard fought games. Still the # 1 rivalry in college football. MgoBlueForTiM.........the next game is the most important of the year. 645 days since ohio state beat Michigan, nearly 3,564 since osu played honest football.
Terry Star21
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 12:47 a.m.
@ Chad - you're joking right. Nothing you said makes any sense. This is the section you are looking for: <a href="http://annarbor.com/entertainment/comics-advice/">http://annarbor.com/entertainment/comics-advice/</a>
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
How do you play dishonest football? Liars or not its not an excuse for beaing beat 7 years in a row. Didnt think players getting discounted tattoos were equal to steriods. Take the beatings like men and get over them. Beat them on the field in and stop with these pathetic sayings about their scandal. What those players did doesnt give mich an excuse for 7 years of being out coached and out played. That being said they aint winning this year or next so whats going to be the excuse?
Mick52
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
Every game is as important as the next. You take them one game at a time. No one should be comparing osu, ND or any other team to the one next on the schedule.
BlueGator
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 6:53 p.m.
I don't think any one game will define "success" for me this year. Looking back at 2010, I believe we were lucky to win 7 games. It took 3 OTs to beat Illinois, and one of our OT TDs came on a pass deflection off a defender's helmet. We beat a crippled Purdue team in a rainstorm when they were, in effect, playing without an experienced QB. The ND and Indiana Ws were both last minute affairs that could have gone either way. And, we all held our breaths at the end of the UMass game. I'll take a solid 7 victories this year. I'm not expecting miracles. I hope that at least one of the Ws comes against a good B1G team. Beyond that, I just want to see consistent 60 minute effort on both sides of the ball. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have 8 or more Ws, but I don't think we can get there this year.
azwolverine
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
BlueGator, I agree with you completely.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
Wins are wins. They arent all pretty they may not all come in domimanting fashion. Auburn last year was an example of it. They didnt dominate every opponent they didnt play the best defense. They simply just won. In the end thats all that fans want to see. The scoreboard is the most important thing not how you got there. One week they might be able to play well in all three phases but even the best have off days its about finding ways to win. There is no such thing as a bad win or a good lost. Winning is always good and losing will always be bad. 7 soild wins and 5 solid losses = what? Last years record.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 6:05 p.m.
I said it before ill say it again =, if this team can only win 7 games than it wasnt an upgrade. This team won 7 games with a horrible defense. How can this team not win 9-10 games with the so-called defensie guru's. Its a shame that people think that beating ND, MSU, Or OSU matters more than beating Iowa or some other school. The fact is you lose to anyone that hurts your chances to play for a NC. Therefor beating ND doesnt matter if you lose to Northwestern later on in the year. Great teams see all 12 games as a must win not picking out a few games and say we gotta win those games as if its ok to lose to anyone. I would love to hear my dads voice after beating MSU but in reality beating them doesnt win us anything but pride. As one coach said pride comes before the fall and he certainly proved that point. This program needs to be about results on the field and no a bunch of talk. The history is great but it wont win you any games. The tradition is like no other but that doesnt beat anyone on the field. There for im tired of all the we are michigan stuff, teams dont care who we are they see us a team they want to beat as they would they other 11 teams they play. If this progam calls themselves the leaders and the best why predict anything less than 14-0, but this article the guy is predicting half?
Hebner
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : noon
Michigan fans are expecting the perfect season when we have the talent. This season we are optimistic, yet realistic in winning 7 or 8 games and calling it acceptable for the sake of competing for four quarters. If we compete and play inspired Michigan football we can see the light...whereas, that 7 win team last year was terrible.
azwolverine
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 12:49 a.m.
Chad...do you understand football? No, losing 6 games is not "okay." But considering how bad this team has been the past 3 seasons and how non-competitive they've been, you've got to start somewhere. True, UM returns a lot of starters, but the problem is they were poorly coached on both sides of the ball (and in the kicking game). Don't tell me the offense was good, either. They couldn't score against the heavyweights and couldn't hold onto the ball to save their lives. Further, don't forget that this is Coach Hoke's first season with a new system. Remember how far the team fell when RR tried to install a new system? They dropped 6 more games than the previous season. So, if this team does win 7 games (which is NOT the bar we are aiming for) but is competitive against the heavies and improves dramatically in their fundamentals, than their 7 wins this year will be more impressive than the 7 last season when this team got blown off the field in 6 of their last 8 games. Also, it will be a 6 game improvement (maintaining the previous year's win total) in comparison to RR's first season in which there was a 6 game decline.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:59 p.m.
When two different teams play someone has to be better right? Thats not the case with michigan. 7-5 this year says what? That they tackled better or they played more physical. Again my point is that if they improved the coaching and the coaching improved the players how do you end up with the same win total from last year?
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.
So, in your estimation, Florida and South Florida were equal last season, since both were 7-5? I chose an example where the two teams actually played each other - I'll let you look up the results.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.
Macabre: 7-5 is 7-5 no matter how you what factor you look at. The point im making if the quality of them team is better it's supposed to show up in the win/loss column not the news paper. Saying that this team will be better than last years team should mean a better record no matter how you slice the pie. By the way 7-5 today not ten years from now is 7-5. Mun: if they do win 7 games its because they lost 5 others. " No excuses" is what hoke is saying so why are you making them already before the first game.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.
You're mixing arguments. A 7-5 season, as seen ten years from now, is just like any other 7-5 season. But if you're looking to assess the quality of the team and whether it has improved, you need to look at many factors.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 10:33 p.m.
Macarbe: My point is that 7 wins is 7 wins at the end of the year. No matter how you won them its still 7 wins. There is no such thing as a bad win. Its no such thing as a good loss. 7-5 from last year is no different than a 7-5 record this year. Who cares about next year its not here yet so its a moot point to say if we lose close games this year those will be wins next year. Not true on any level. I feel like this team should win more than 7 games because the players arent fresh/soph anymore. They have experience they should have gotten better. If you play freshman like michigan has it's very hard to win at any school in any conference with any coach. Look at texas last year is mack brown a bad coach? He played with inexperienced guys.
mun
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
If we do only win 7 games this year, it will be because the players from the Rich Rod era have not gotten with the Brady Hoke program.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
First, I wouldn't take anything Rodriguez said about this team as definitive. He never did understand Big Ten football. He had no plan on defense, and seven wins was about his limit. The better teams understood his gimmicks on offense, and were able to keep Denard from setting more records (excuse me, I mean scoring a lot of points). I hope for more than seven wins, but the talent isn't there yet - we've had three years of Rodriguez recruiting to his gimmicky system, ignoring the defense. Hoke doesn't seem to be the guy who makes excuses. He expects to win every game. He won't, of course, but he will instill that attitude in every player. Some seven-win teams are better than others. The problem last year (aside from seven wins really sucking, historically - Carr won only seven once in 13 seasons) is that the team was blown out in its losses. Michigan was 4-0 in games decided by less than ten points. That usually points to a decline the following season.
Chad Williams
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
So your saying if this team who returns basically every starter from last year wins 7 games it's an upgrade. Maybe that AZ heat got your brain fried. I dont care who the coach is if this team doesnt win more than 7 than it isnt a upgrade. I understand the love for hoke but 7-6 is 7-6 no matter how you won or lost those games. If RR said this team is a 9-10 win team and if you feel he was terrible as a coach this team should exceed that. What has mich become when fans say that if they play better fundamentally im happy with 7 wins. I see why osu is whooping mich behinds. Fundamentally losing 5 games is ok i guess in this program. What a joke i will remember this when they lose a game to look at the fundamentals and not the scoreboard lol.
azwolverine
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
7 games IS an upgrade if UM improves in it's fundamentals in all three phases of the game. 7 games IS an upgrade if UM is able to actually COMPETE with top teams for a whole season rather than being blown off the field by everyone they play after the fifth week of the season. 7 games IS an upgrade if the coach continues to hold himself ACCOUNTABLE to the play of his team week in and week out and not blame everything on the players, the media, and other coaches both past and present. 7 games IS an upgrade in all of these regards because it demonstrates that the team is moving forward towards attaining the standards that UM, it's fans, and it's players have set for the program as opposed to simply throwing a gimmicky, disorganized, fundamentally rancid embarrassment to the history of Michigan football out on the field week in and week out. UM can win 7 games this year and still show that they are light years ahead of where they have been for the past three years. As for "leaders and the best"...that is the goal coach Hoke is embracing and working his butt off to attain as opposed to the previous regime who never gave an indication they were aware of the phrase.
burton163
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
Here's what ND Head coach Brian Kelly had to say in an article posted today on Mlive: "I think momentum equals confidence," .... "That confidence can be eroded if you don't turn it into winning early games in September." I read this AFTER I posted about the importance of getting off to a good start BTW...
DonAZ
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
*sigh* ... The Notre Dame game is an important game, no doubt. But not "the" most important this season. Using the logic employed in this article, then the Western Michigan game is "the" most important because if they lose that then the season is shot. As others have said, Notre Dame is much, much better under Brian Kelly than they were under Weis. And this year's Kelly team will be better than last year's Kelly team. The game will be closely scrutinized. Michigan may win it; they may not. But by no means can the hopes and aspirations of the Michigan football team and football program be pinned on one early-season game against a non-conference foe. Sheesh.
Keith
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Beat the Irish into the ground until there gold helmets turns green.
RayA2
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.
I'd love to jump on the Brady Hoke bandwagon but, without actually being on the team, I don't believe we can tell anything about him until we've seen his team play a few games. I've seen too much preseason hype throughout the years to place much value on it. It might take a couple of seasons to judge because RR left the defense and general player development in such a shambles. Importance is a very relative thing. Notre Dame will however be a much tougher opponent this year than in the past several years. They are coming off a very strong finish in their last season with much of their talent returning and what appears to be a very good coach. If Mr. Hoke can beat ND, those of you already on can expect to be sharing the BH bandwagon with me.
BornInA2
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.
The ND game is no more important this year than it was last year. Or the year before. We won those games and still had failed seasons. My two major problems with the prior staff were attitude (firing the entire staff his first day on the job, complete disregard for M traditions, etc.) and that the team failed, every year, to improve through the course of the season. So far Hoke is showing a Bo-like respect for tradition, even adding to it with his references to tsio. And as much as I would like to see eight wins this season, what I really want to see is a team that gets noticeably better through the season, especially at fundamentals: Please, please show us that you've learned how to make tackles by game 10. And to kick short field goals. And know when a blown kicking play is still alive. I don't need miracles (thought they'd be welcome, especially against tsio), I just want us to be headed back in the right direction.
catfishrisin
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
Notre Dame..you must be joking. Ohio State is still the team to beat since it hasn't been done in close to a decade.
Terry Star21
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 7:04 p.m.
I agree - and we are looking forward to playing an honest team is osu, with eligible players for the first time in 10 years. notre dame has always had better players and fans than osu, but historically beating up on osu like we have - nothing better !
RWBill
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
MikeC observes the characteristic of the Michigan, and probably all, football fans. Rich Rod was hailed as an innovative offensive genius who would bring Michigan into modern college football from the lame, predictable offenses we saw under Lloyd. With a proven staff of Calvin McGee and strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis there was to be nothing that the Michigan players wouldn't be able to do. Some of that was right. Rich is an innovative genius who has been copied and adopted and adapted everywhere from Auburn to Oregon. The praise and optimism quickly turned bitter as more physical players at Wisconsin, Ohio, and Mississippi State put a cork on the Michigan offensive bottle. The lack of defense needs no discussion. Now we, and I am included, wax optimistic because Brady Hoke and staff evoke all the great characteristics of the Michigan teams we selectively remember. By nature we look for the positive in things to come. The unfortunate thing is if these same players who couldn't make a solo tackle last year still can't make a tackle against Western, 25% of the fans exuding optimism and praise today will want Brady Hoke fired.
burton163
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 5 p.m.
Great post RWB
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
I think you're confusing perspective here. Ohio State is the most important game. Losing to Notre Dame (higher in many polls than Ohio State) would be a bad sign, but in the long run hardly memorable. What do people remember about Bo Schembechler's first season as coach? The early-season loss to Missouri? Even the loss to Michigan State? No, they remember that Bo came out and upset the Buckeyes. And given Notre Dame's predicted strength this season, it's absurd to say a loss would limit Michigan to eight wins. Michigan could be legitimate top 20 this season (no, I don't think they are) and lose to the Irish. You're new here, kid. Best to understand Big Ten football before questioning Hoke's focus on Ohio State.
Mick52
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
The '69 win over osu was big but what I remember most is that Michigan won the Big Ten Championship (tied with them). That is what I expect out of a coach. Not excuses. Michigan beat ND two years in a row now, with a bunch of first and second year players committing record numbers of turnovers and giving up record numbers of yard. Meanwhile the offense set records. With so many returning experienced players, which team should be considered the most improved? I say Michigan.
azwolverine
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
Agree completely. If UM loses to ND then goes out and beats OSU, no one will care at all about that loss to the Irish.
semperveritas
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:46 p.m.
bill is on target----the buckeyes came into A2 literally being compared to the minnesota vikings. osu was touted as the finest team EVER. there will NEVER be a bigger win than that. however, now all politics are local and for me----we need to beat the team from lansing to drown out the local din.
RWBill
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Nice. (I also remember the losses to Missouri and - the horror - MSU) But the '69 win I still regard as the best Michigan win in my lifetime, and you'd have to be old enough to have experienced the '68 game to understand why, it wasn't just b/c it was Bo's first year as younger people seem to think.
Basic Bob
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.
Rich Rodriguez beat Notre Dame. Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson beat Notre Dame. All I can say is this better be a key game for Brady Hoke - if he loses, the team has regressed to 2008 levels. But how will this coach do against the Big Ten teams they couldn't beat the last three years? Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
azwolverine
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
Any chance that ND has gotten exponentially better now that they are in year 2 under Brian Kelley? RR beat Kelley in the second game of his ND career when he was down to his 3rd string QB...and the year before that he beat ND's worst coach ever...a year after getting blown out by ND. To say that if UM loses they have regressed to 2008 levels is completely inaccurate and shortsighted.
burton163
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
Assuming we get past WMU, the ND game has HUGE implications for the season. I hate to pin so much on one game, but beating ND is almost make or break for this team. Kelly has a ton of talent on that squad, with explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball and is ranked in the top ten in most polls. Both teams are in a similar situation in trying to return storied programs to national relevance. They're a year ahead of us on that project, but we are on our home turf with a lot to prove on a national TV stage. If UM starts out with a shaky win over WMU (or God forbid, a loss) and follow up with a loss to ND. It will be difficult to gain any momentum to push through the season. Starting strong with a solid win over ND will give a young team confidence and the all-important momentum to steamroll lesser opponents that the first half of the schedule is loaded with. I realize RR started strong and finished weak, but Hoke will take momentum and build on it as his team will IMPROVE as the year progresses. Bank on it.
burton163
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
Agreed az. I especially like your comparison of Hoke and Carr. Carr was great at motivating his troops. His record in big games, even when they were a decided underdog is proof of this. Nobody had Michigan beating Florida in Carr's last game. I think they were double digit underdogs and not one TV analyst picked Michigan. I kept saying the same thing all week leading up to that game: "Michigan is not gonna just roll over." I knew that Lloyd would have his team prepared and most importantly, JACKED UP for that game. God bless you Lloyd Carr. I'm confident Hoke is cut from the same cloth. Can't wait to get this season underway. GO BLUE!!!
azwolverine
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
Burton, while I agree with much of what you say, I don't think that UM will be nearly as frail mentally as they were under the previous coach. In the past 3 years, when things started to get tough, the team crumbled and things spiraled completely out of control. So, when you say that if Michigan loses to ND it will be difficult to gain momentum for the rest of the year, I disagree. Under the previous coach...yes, it would be next to impossible to regain momentum. They would collapse. Under Hoke, I see a completely different mindset and feel like, if they were to lose to ND, Hoke would be able to use it as a learning tool and still get the team focused on the remainder of the year. Say what you will about Carr, and I'm not here to debate his X's and O's, etc, but when his last team started 0-2 with crushing losses to App. St. and Oregon, he did not let that team, or that season, get away from him. He told the media flat out that they were going to fight and win some games...and they did, ultimately getting to a New Year's bowl game and beating Florida. That is the same mental cloth from which Hoke is cut, and I don't see any loss to anyone cutting the heart out of this team.
mojo
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
On the downside - there is now lots of film on DR - lots of BigTen games where he was marginalized, so this year's opponents will see containment that works. Hoke knows that - DR knows that. If they can counter those defensive scenarios DR will again run mad over many teams and the Mighty Blue will be back - - if not, 4-7.
burton163
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
FYI: There are 12 games on the schedule, not eleven
MikeC
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 1:06 p.m.
It's kind of funny how the coaches are assumed to be better than the Rich Rod era. Was Rich Rod and his staff assumed to be mediocre back when they setup shop?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
Spot on, Macabre. Good Night and Good Luck
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Yes, they were. Instead of doing his due diligence after screwing up the Les Miles situation, Martin went for the flashiest hire he could get - never mind that Rodriguez was only known for one offensive style (a slight riff on a style older than anything we've seen here in 50 years) and paid no attention to the defense. Hoke is assumed to be better because he's an actual coach - someone who looks at what he has and tries to develop a system to maximize his players' abilities. Coaches know that games aren't won with gimmicky playbooks - they're won with players.
MichFanTex
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Mediocre, no, gimmicky, yes. Primarily though there was never talk of fundementals, which pleased much of the fan base because all they were interested in was flashy gimmick plays. Besides, the D was experienced and would carry the team. Anyway, those of us that paid attention saw the total confusion with arguing among players and coaches along the sideline during the Utah game and knew little good of lasting value was in store.
heartbreakM
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
I never thought that the former coach was a good fit at Michigan, from the moment his name first came up. His coaching ability (or lack thereof) and his assistants poor performances were immediately evident when they coached the first few games. The line play on both sides of the ball was poor, they tried to force the QB play to fit a system which they were not optimized for, and the defense was consistently out of position for 3 years. Mattison has a proven track record at many schools, and so does Hoke and Borges. Given that we have not had a great than .500 in the B10 in 3 years, we can assume that most coaches will be better than what we had.
heartbreakM
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
In honor of the east coast, let's give DR a new set of expectations. He will shower the opponents, he will blow by them like a hurricane, and he will leave them soaked and shaking in their cleats. I expect he will elevate his game and become a much better quarterback and Michigan should be competitive. And if the defense shores up its positioning and tackling, making some stops, which it should given better coaching, that gives DR more chances to lead. Go blue!! Game week.