Well, I have identified the source of my depression. If you are a true Michigan fan, no matter how much emotional detachment you practice and preach, this season had to get to you. And the season was put into a nutshell for us on Saturday – in the first defensive and offensive series.
Steve Brown picks off Pryor and returns it to the OSU 13. You get excited and let yourself believe that this could happen. That the ghost of Bo is somehow overseeing this team and they are going to put it all together. Then the offense comes out and does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Highs to lows, highs to lows….
The rest of the game started to implode in a train wreck that summarizes this season. I won’t comment on all the players that are considering transferring. If they want out, well, I guess I would like to know exactly why. That will start to reflect on Rich Rod. How much of this “Me against the World” attitude can he continue to throw around before it becomes a problem and kids don’t want to come to Michigan because underclassmen keep transferring? Anyone? Help me out here.
Which leads me to another thought, something that occurred to me on Saturday when I saw that LSU was getting pounded by Ole Miss…Seeing as how you are only as good as your last win in the SEC, wouldn’t it have been interesting this year if THIS was Lloyd’s last season? Mallet and the host of receivers are still around. Coaching staff hasn’t changed. Michigan is probably 7-5 or 8-4 looking at a bowl, but not New Year’s day. LMU is looking to dump the guy that has 4 losses that led them to a National Title last year. Hmmmmm…Does Les Miles look like a good deal and the right fit for Michigan? Regardless of what an interfering Lloyd might think or try to do…Sailboat Bill can make the call without worrying about the “wrath of Carr” too much because he wasn’t coming off a successful season, anyway, and we were getting tired of the Lloyd excuses. And Les would not have been in a hunt for the National Title and in the national Lime Light…So, yeah, it would have been interesting.
Timing is truly everything. I am planning on a season review of the Rod, but it won’t be pretty. 3-8 isn’t all talent, I’m afraid. There’s coaching to be held accountable in there somewhere. I am not sure I can handle another season like this….And next year, with the returning players may not be that much better. That hurts too much to think about.
The Rest of the Mess
DOMERS vs. the ‘CUSE: Class. All Class describes the Domers and their fans this year. Losing to an 8 loss team, the first time in history, has some of the Domer faithful demanding the Wuzzles resign. And they pelted the team with Snow Balls in the process. Oh my, I thought he was the savior? The Chosen One? The NFL guru that was going to turn everything around for the Domers? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the Domers did make a change. And it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they kept Wuzzles for his entire contract. The only thing that WOULD surprise me is if the DOMERS did the right thing and cancelled their NBC contract, made nice with the Big 10, and said, “Let us in.” If you clowns still haven’t learn that there is strength in conferences, well, I will give you a list to look at and study: Kansas, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi St., Oregon St., Boise State, UTAH, Ball State, etc..... Did anyone anywhere think that 5 years ago, any of these teams would be potential Bowl teams? Or even potential BCS teams? Didn’t think so. The power of the conference makes you better. Without it, you are nothing, and will continue to be nothing…. Think about it.
TEX TECH vs. LATERS: Wow, I don’t know how you don’t make the LATERS the number 2 team in the BCS. Yes, I know, Texas beat them. Big Deal. In rivalry games, anything can happen. My guess is if the LATERS played the Shorthorns like they played TEX TECH, well, Texas would have two losses right now. I remember reading something about losing early and redeeming yourself or something? And not losing later? What was that rule? The LATERS deserve to be ranked over TEXAS. Enough said.
SPARTY vs. PSU: Wow. I could go into a lot of superlatives here, but Sparty knows by now what it takes to be an elite team in the Big 10. And no offense, but PSU spanked you worse than they spanked Michigan…
GATORLAND vs. Citibank: I think that’s who they played and crushed….Too bad you had to lose to Ole Miss or you would be in the BCS driver’s seat….
USC: USC...I bet they wish they had that Beaver Game Back…..This could be the best post season match up – Gatorland and USC. Better than the National Championship game.
BCS STANDINGS:
1. ALABAMA – Bye’s are nice.
2. TEXAS: This sucks…How can you get beaten by Tex Tech, not play ANYONE NON-CONFERENCE, and still be #2? Just because you beat the
3. LATERS – Beat the team that beat TEXAS, but lost to the Shorthorns…Still, they looked better beating Tex Tech than Texas did losing to them..
4. GATORLAND - Best Team playing right now – too bad about Ole Miss
5. RUBBERS – NEEDS A LOT OF HELP – In fact, I can’t see a way for USC to get there based on the way the coaches poll and current BCS average is stacking up….Someone explain that computer system again, please…Oh, and don’t get too close to Pete Carroll when you explain it.
6. UTAH – I am still puking from last week about this…Michigan almost BEAT THIS TEAM!
7. Tex Tech – Well, you had to drop, but this is shameful. I will take Tex Tech over UTAH any day, any week, any year. And bet the house.
8. PENN STATE: You can only go down from here….
9. BOYS STATE – This team seems to live off their Oklahoma defeat from 2004…isn’t that over yet?
10. Suckeyes – At least you won’t get pounded by USC in the Rose…Maybe they will match you up against each other in another bowl somewhere….
IDLE THOUGHTS FROM SATURDAY
1. So, Texas beat the Laters on a neutral field, 45-35, rivalry game; Tex Tech Beat Texas (and Texas looked like doggy doo-doo) and the Laters Beat Tex Tech – BAD….And that means Texas is #2?
2. If Rich Rod wins 6 games next year, are you happy? I am not sure this team can even win 6….God, how did it get this bad?
3. When does the national press start riding the Rod? I mean, Michigan recruits itself, right? Does Rod become the next Callahan? Looking for a head coaching position somewhere? Anywhere?
4. Will this be the nail that also seals the fate of Bill Martin? And Martin’s folly? A 110,000 seat stadium that no one comes to?
5. Michigan hasn’t lost to the Domers, Suckeyes, and Sparty in the same year since 1987 – Courtesy of the ESPN Bottom Line that kept reminding us of that fact all Saturday Night…..
6. The Big Ten needs a 12th team. Wouldn’t a play-off between PSU and Someone from the West Big 10 (Minnesota or Northwestern, or a rematch with Iowa) make an interesting game and give PSU more credibility?
7. The PAC 10 needs the same thing….Bring in Boise State or Utah and get them out of the WHACK and Mountain West and then when they are ranked up near the top I don’t have to feel so sick….
8. Texas Tech definitely runs hot and cold – Especially on Defense. Feast or Famine….
9. Notre Dame STILL SUCKS! And we couldn’t beat them.
10. Say what you want, the bowls will be boring this year looking at who’s in the top 25. People do not want to watch nobodies from nowhere playing for nothing. Gives us the traditional names and we’ll tune in.
11. Well, Michigan isn’t as bad as the Lions…Who WILL NOT WIN A GAME THIS YEAR! I am taking bets…
12. I love this shot of the ASU cheerleaders – too bad it showed up on You Tube and got everyone thrown off the squad…..
HOT SEAT
This week’s hot seat mascot: Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund! I thought it would be appropriate to get a True Michigan Link as a Mascot and seeing as how she actually won something vs. the other Michigan teams that aren’t doing so good, well, you can see the logic. The GONE list due to the most recent blood letting is one of it’s own now….The Hot Seat is still in tact and continues to grow..
GONE LIST
T. BOWDEN – GONE
1. Fullmer – GONE – Quit before he could get CANNED….
2. Wilingham – GONE ….Another one bites the dust..
3. AMSTUTZ (Toledo) – GONE After Beating Michigan, he gets CANNED.
4. Brent Guy – UTAH STATE – GONE
5. Robinson – Syracuse – GONE
6. CHUCK LONG – San Diego State – GONE
7. Jeff GENYK – Eastern Michigan – GONE
8. JOE GLENN – WYOMING – GONE
HOT SEAT
1. Tommy Tutone – You better Beat Satan…
2. Spurrier – Game Cocks fans are restless - there is now a blog calling for Spurrier's ouster...so, who you gonna' get???
3. Zook – come on, you are telling me that beating Michigan and not making a bowl is progress?
4. Bielema – Wisconsin…It started with Michigan. How long do the faithful back the Iowa Tight End and Barry Alvarez Annointed One?
5. RICH ROD – Worst record in Michigan History? Lost to Sparty, OSU, and Domers all the same year? He needs to beat two out of three next year or people will start screaming. Well, Screaming louder.
GETTING WARM:
Bill Martin and Mary Sue…I will continue to call for their ouster until all is right with the world….
Every other coach that has been eliminated from the 32 bowls that currently exist….
RIVALRY WEEK II
FRIDAY ( I love Thanksgiving!)
1. WVU at PITT – The Backyard Brawl
2. LSU at ARKNSAS – LSU needs this game…
SATURDAY
1. GATORLAND AT FSU: Can Bobby ruin Urban Legend’s National Title Chances? Doubtful….
2. OKIES at OKIE STATE: If the Laters can’t beat the Cowboys, well, they lose the National Title Argument…
3. Auburn at BAMA: THE IRON BOWL. Tommy Twotone is coaching for his job…Satan has everything to lose…Can you say UPSET? I like Auburn…
4. DOMERS AT THE RUBBERS: Hee, hee, hee…..Pete Carroll looking for style points in the BCS…Domers on the west coast…This will be a beating that might not stop till Sunday….
