July 10th, 50 days before the kickoff of college football's first Saturday. This is a time that brings hope and optimism to fans that no longer want to travel to Boise or Detroit for bowl games, but yearn for something bigger.
It's a time in which we believe reports about how our new starting sophomore running back who played all of three games in mop-up roles last season has been amazing in practice all offseason and is supposed to lead this team.
Or how our QB, who couldn't stay in the pocket longer than three seconds at the end of last season (Boeckman), has worked on that problem and it's now fixed.
But in Michigan, this offseason has been a series of Debbie Downer events. With even die-hard Wolverines fans in need of a depth chart guide for the first game against Utah, Michigan has had a personnel overhaul that is unheard of in recent memory for a marquee program.
Besides a coaching change, they lost eight offensive starters (QB, RB, two WRs and four of five offensive linemen) also four defensive starters, including their captain Shawn Crable.
No worries, they'll sign a marquee coach who will come in, land some recruits before signing day, and turn us around.
Define marquee.
Rich Rod's debut as Michigan coach has thus far been a series of unfortunate events, from losing players to transfers (Ryan Mallett and Justin Boren the biggest, five total transfers), to losing out on the Terrelle Pryor sweepstakes.
Hey, I'm not sold on Pryor yet, but I'm just glad he didn't go to Michigan. I did not want to face him for the next four seasons.
And then there were the accusations of eroding family values under Rodriquez, his profanity laced tirades during practice. The drinking, the coming home late without a courtesy call or explanation. The messy divorce with the ex a few states over, a settlement that cost both the new lover and Rodriguez a lot of time, money and headache.
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All of this has happened in the span of six months.
As a fan, I'd be ready to throw in the towel already on this season. There is no hope for me this year; and with how Rodriguez has handled his business thus far, I'd be worried about the future too.
But I heard nothing from Wolverines fans, no talk of being upset, and no talk of failure. They were still optimistic on this season. And then I came across this, this afternoon an article from the Detroit Free Press ripping Rodriguez worse than Jon Stewart rips President Bush.
This article is a firsthand account of what has happened to the team, and what will continue to happen under Rodriguez's tenure. You know it scUM fans, you're just in denial right now.
It's unsettling to see someone that was once proud, mighty, and rich to be begging for quarters. In the same way Bill Gates would never run out of money, you would think Michigan would never run out of wins, or car factories (oh wait...).
But you got what you paid for scUM. And no matter if your new George Carlin of the sidelines (no death pun intended, but rather the profanity angle) turns you into a perennial winner, won't you always worry?
Is it quite possible that the same coach who recruited Pacman Jones and Chris Henry to what was a nothing West Virginia program (seriously, seven seasons with more than eight wins in the 30 seasons prior to his arrival), will recruit the same "quality" to Michigan?
Won't you always worry about him leaving you for a new, trendier, better paying school? Won't you worry about how he's getting his recruits? Or worry about how he treats his players in practice? Would you be surprised to hear a report of Rich-Rod physically confronting one of his players? I wouldn't.
Don't you worry that a guy who had difficulties speaking to the media at West Virginia could say anything at anytime now? I mean look at the guy, he just looks like he killed his wife and got away with it. His wry smile and stare make me nervous for you.
I go to bed at night not having to worry about these things, with or without winning. There is no overhanging cloud of conspiracy at OSU, no matter what ESPN tried to force feed you four to five years ago.
So as a fan looking forward to yet another college football season in which my team is supposed to be near the pinnacle of college football's best, I pity you scUM fan. I feel sorry for you. I can't imagine what it feels like to go through all of the summer knowing there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Fall does not bring better days ahead. Hope does not exist for you. And that makes you weak. I pity you.
And then I stop my pity and laugh my a** off. Way to screw up again Morons!
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about 1 month ago
I read that Free Press article. Michael Rosenberg is wrong. I usually enjoy his writing style, but he's just bought into the line that WVU has continuously been selling since December. Its disappointing to see.
I promise you, those loyal to Michigan are still quite optimistic. RR has a top 5 recruiting class so far for 2009, and it might be a rough season by Michigan standards, I'm thinking somewhere between 7-5 and 9-3. But this hire will look good in the long run.
He's not the ideal coach for Michigan but he's what the team needs. A shock to the system.
How you can call this a disaster before a single down has been played is beyond me. Its just ridiculous. Not much thought put into this article, just more rambling and hating from a buckeye fan.
We'll see you in November.
from about 1 month ago
Well I'm glad someone out there sticks up for him, because he's not getting too much support anywhere else. I guess I'm just kind of thrown by how M*ch*g*n went about hiring RR, especially after looking at his background. Doesn't make sense for a program that hired it's last two coaches in house to go out and hire RR.
It will be a rough season, but my idea of rough varies greatly from your. I can very easily see you all putting together a ridiculous season and going 9-3 or even 10-2 (you are due to beat OSU, and it's in years you aren't expected to that you usually do it). But i could also see a Notre Dame like collapse in which your team's youth is just outmatched. Anywhere in between those two wouldn't surprise me at all.
Final note, I didn't want to call this a disaster at all. The editor changed my title. As you can see I've changed it back to what I originally wanted it to be.
about 1 month ago
Disaster? Wishful thinking from one of many Michigan haters.
from about 1 month ago
Disaster was not what I wanted to say. The editor changed my title. I've changed it back.
And yes it is wishful thinking. Hopefully it comes true...just like you'd enjoy seeing OSU tank to Youngstown State this season.
about 1 month ago
Wow. Did you really just say the man looks like he just killed his wife? I just threw out the credibility of your entire piece. You're a joke.
from about 1 month ago
Really? He doesn't look like a creepy guy?
about 1 month ago
Sounds like wishful thinking of a bucknut. What's the matter, scared now that Lloyd is out?
from about 1 month ago
Were you unhappy when John Cooper got fired? Of course I wanted Lloyd to stay, he was wonderful.
about 1 month ago
Nobody wants to remember 4 years ago, when the Michigan offense had 2 true freshman starting in the backfield - they were taking over for the all time leading passer in Michigan history and a top 8 running back... the sky was falling back then too, just like it is now.
How'd that season pan out? A Big 10 title and a trip to the rose bowl.
Now, there's no way Michigan takes the big 10 this year, OSU is way too loaded, and well coached to have that happen. And you're more likely to see a doughnut last 5 minutes in front of Rosie O'Donnel than you are to see Michigan in a BCS game.
As a die hard maize and blue fan... I'm torn between what will come of all this. I can see RR taking Michigan to unprecidented heights (a'la USC and *cough* OSU) - or I could see him "Callahan"ing the whole thing and Michigan is no better off than Nebraska.
High Risk, High reward... is it worth it... My cardiologist says no!
about 1 month ago
I was going to say something along the same lines Dustin. Also, I generally enjoy Michael Rosenberg's articles, but this one was a bit out of a line... I'm not really sure where he was coming from with that one.
As a Michigan fan I'm not OSU lover, but calling us scUM seems a bit extreme. Isn't being a fan of the Big Ten all about rooting for them at the end of the day? I was rooting for OSU during the championship game. You don't see me going around posting OSU CHOKERS everywhere.... lol.
from about 1 month ago
scUM is a nickname Ohio State has for you guys. It is what it is.
And I'm not a fan of the Big Ten, I'm a fan of Ohio State, if you want further clarification of that point, read my newest article about getting back to hating.
Finally, OSU Chokers doesn't have a good ring to it, it doesn't flow. You can do better.
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