Following the Indiana game:
The Hoosiers exposed a few issues on defense and frankly that’s ok by me.
Sure, it might give the Buckeyes a few ideas but my money is on this staff & its ability to fix the kinks in the armor.
Yeesh.
I’m not sure what was worse, the degree to which the base defensive plan was exposed, or the reality that no adjustment could be made to do anything to stop them. Truly shocking. That was so tough to watch. I never turned off the broadcast but I’ll admit I begged the clock to hurry up and run out.
More:
- Fans. I understand that the vocal minority screams when things are in the valley. Knowing this I’m still surprised by the spittle-filled vitriol unleashed after the game. And the calls for Harbaugh’s job? Come on. Maintain your dignity. Go ahead and tweet away shots at Schembechler Hall but I have to ask: do those calling for heads really believe that Warde Manuel would even remotely consider a coaching change right now? Seriously? Zero percent chance.
- Money. One thing I never have understood: when Harbaugh is criticized many point to what he and his assistants are paid. I never got why that matters. This athletic program generates a staggering amount directly for the football program and indirectly for the university. This is a point of pride. Guess what? The U-M head coach and his assistants should and heretofore will be paid a crapload vis a vis their peers. Perhaps this will comfort you: it’s covered by the Michigan Stadium popcorn receipts. If Harbaugh simply made Lovie Smith money ($5M/year+incentives) would that make folks feel better? Criticize away, I suppose, at his coaching performance but the money argument is hallow and pointless.
- Chase. Between us girls, no, I’d rather not have players jawing, talking crap before games or flocking to the media spotlight. But I don’t mind so much the Winovich-led Revenge Tour stuff partly because through 12:04pm Saturday it was thoroughly backed-up. Including (maybe especially) by Winovich himself. And as #15 tweeted, it was indeed quite a ride. While certainly this one counts more than any other, it doesn’t wipe out the remarkable 10 game run. Regarding paybacks–I never worried about repercussions because it doesn’t take a t-shirt or a quote for opposing teams/coaches/fans to circle your beloved Wolverines on the schedule each year. Take a number. It will always be that way. Go ahead and print up your Loseovich(TM) t-shirts.
- Pasadena. So a weird footnote to all this is the possibility of the Rose Bowl. That didn’t seem to be in the cards, win or lose, before Saturday’s game. I’d love to go back to Pasadena, even under the less-than-ideal circumstances we face at this moment. One thing that could legitimately impact that decision for fans, including me, to go: Would many or most of the U-M players with NFL draft potential sit that one out? Bah. I sure hope non-playoff bowl games don’t turn into early spring games.
Misc. The mood is down as you might imagine.
