What happened to Michigan Wolverine athletics? Nobody really knows because nobody cares enough to write about the subject. (I’m referring solely to basketball and football here, for the record.)
When I was growing up, Michigan was THE school. The basketball team won national championships and made it to multiple Final Fours. The football team was winning titles and Rose Bowls.
Lately though, there’s not a whole lot to get excited about for the fans of the Maize and Blue.
I realize the Wolverines did manage to upset Florida in the Outback Bowl to send Lloyd Carr out with a win, but let’s be honest—Florida’s defense would have given up 40 points to a fifth grade girls Powder Puff team this season. And, it still only improved this highly regarded senior class’s record in Ohio State/Bowl Games to 1-7.
The recent impotence led to Lloyd Carr’s "retirement." Who did the athletic department choose to get this team back to respectability? The ultimate sleazy scumbag: Rich Rodriguez!
Bravo, Michigan A.D. Bravo!
Rodriguez, who employs the Spread Offense, couldn't land top QB prospect Terrelle Pryor...even with a guaranteed starting spot. Pryor instead opted to suit up for Jim Tressel's more traditional offense (and no guarantee of starting) at Ohio State.
Now, as for the basketball team—yikes. Tommy Amaker couldn’t even get this squad to the NCAA Tournament...and how many years did he coach there? Like 12? Who knows? Nobody knows!
What did coaching at Michigan do for Amaker? Landed him a job with powerhouse Harvard. So at least now he'll actually have a chance of making the NCAA Tournament!
(Also, it should be pointed out that the whole Fab 5 Era—well, it didn’t even exist, due to rampant NCAA violations. That may have an effect on the current state of the program.)
This year’s team? Well, watching Michigan basketball this year is kinda like watching Roseanne Barr take a shower. It’s ugly, it makes you puke, and the day after you puke some more.
So I guess this article is kind of pointless. Who would even read this? Who will Michigan’s quarterback be next season? The running back? The starting point guard?
Nobody knows. But, there is one thing we do know. Those answers will be found smack dab in the middle of the back page of the sports section.
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3 months ago
Jux - I don't squat about football, but I do know a little bit about basketball. Let me tell you, John Beilein can coach. His scheme is most certainly unorthodox, which speaks to the team's struggles this year. It has paid off significantly at stops in Richmond and West Virginia. I'm telling you, don't sleep on Michigan Basketball in the next two years.
3 months ago
I can second that^^^^^^^^.
3 months ago
Yeah well right now Michigan is a glorified pile of giraffe shit
3 months ago
Yeah well right now Michigan is a glorified pile of giraffe shit
3 months ago
They're right up there with West Virginia among the most embarrassing piles of feces on earth.
3 months ago
They're right up there with West Virginia among the most embarrassing piles of feces on earth.
from 3 months ago
I'm betting that "Jux" and "Tom" are OSU fans.
3 months ago
Aaaahhhh . . . The mental giants are putting forth their wisdom. Mentioning feces left and right I can see you're at least confining the conversation to what you know best.
As far as JB goes (directed towards those who contribute interesting dialog) I agree. Wherever Beilein has gone, has been better after implementing his system. Give him a couple years. Guy hasn't had time to do anything with a less than stellar cast to direct (that he did not recruit either).
The rest, pile on though. We'll see.
3 months ago
It's not really the University's fault. People don't really care about the traditional powerhouses anymore, especially powerhouses in a state that is a complete economic disaster, has brutal winters, bad roads, and a team that lost to Appalachian State. If I were a recruit, I would rather go play in a better geographical location than Michigan (except New England, Mississippi or Arkansas).
3 months ago
Yeah,that West Virginia athletic program,especially in Football and Basketball, is really in the shitter!!
48-28 Blowout win in the Fiesta Bowl against a totally outmatched Oklahoma team (BCS Bowl,I might add) and ANOTHER appearance in the Sweet 16 in basketball!! Yep......looks like everything is going MUCH better with those shiny,new coaches in Ann Arbor.......
3 months ago
Recruits will go anywhere if there is a school, coach, and infrastructure there to support them. Witness the improbable dominance of Kansas (a much more undesirable location than Michigan). Ann Arbor is a sweet town and despite Michigan's economic woes, U of M has plenty of money. SO WHY DON'T THEY UPGRADE THEIR BASKETBALL FACILITIES? They are the absolute worst. In state recruits go the Lansing (MSU), visit with Izzo, and lounge on leather couches while playing xbox on 50 inch HD flatscreens in the locker room. In Ann Arbor (U of M), they shoe away the rats. For some reason, the school has simply not allocated the resources to keep a winning program there. I think the coaching will be fine, if only the team could get some university support.
3 months ago
Rich Rodriguez is by no means "the ultimate sleazy scumbag." Granted, I am a Michigan fan, but I am still not happy with the whole lawsuit thing. I'm going to assume thats why you've given him your eloquent title of scumbag. That along with your "giraffe shit" comment makes me wonder how you're a Columnist. I'm just waiting for the whole contract debacle with RR to end so we can get on with preparing for next years football season. It should be very interesting.
As for Pryor, you say that Rodgriguez couldn't land him even with a guaranteed starting spot. Even I saw that coming. Let's think about this: if you were in Terrelle's shoes, what would you do: go for the team that even though has the perfect type of offense for you they are basically rebuilding from scratch, or play with a team that has back-to-back BCS championship appearances and has had the Big Ten title for several years running?
I would have loved to have gotten Pryor on the Wolverines team, but I never had high hopes.
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