Expectations…
One of the hardest things for fans to manage
is their expectations of what can be accomplished in any given season. This season, I had high hopes because, well,
Harbaugh and what he would be able to do with a returning Speight, even though
there’d be a new cast of characters
around him. I’m always a little more
optimistic in thinking with respect to Michigan and pessimistic with everyone
else.
Bill Connelly is reminding Michigan fans “Not
To Panic”.
A refresher from Bill on what was lost:
It might be difficult for UM to progress in 2017.
The Wolverines
must replace their leading rusher, four of their top five receiving targets,
three all-conference offensive linemen, their top three defensive linemen,
their best linebacker, and their top five defensive
backs, including nickel back and Heisman finalist Jabrill Peppers.
And his take on the future:
From a macro view, the rebuild is going well and leading to one hell of
a 2018. From a narrative perspective, though, 2017 will be interesting.
Harbaugh has had an
incredible career despite a list of almosts — almost took Stanford to the BCS
title game, almost won the Super Bowl, almost got Michigan over the hump
— and will likely win even bigger at UM, but that will probably have to wait
another year.
Winning with young players is tough. Hoke left the cupboard almost as empty as it
was left for Rich Rod after Lloyd’s last season. At least Hoke enjoyed the end of some of Rich
Rod’s success stories, but things on the offensive line have been a disaster
for a while. Bill sees all that and
wraps it up quite nicely:
You can’t take a “wait ‘til next year” approach
when you’re still projected as a top-10 team, but if Michigan does lose a
couple of late games and keep the “Never better than third in the Big Ten
East!” meme alive, you should get your laughs in while you can. Because this
program is probably a year away from ignition!
September
2018 can’t get here fast enough!
Sometimes, When You’re Supposed
To Lose
Urban Legend gets this rivalry. Harbaugh FOR SURE Gets this rivalry. Which is why its anyone’s ball game.
I know I was bummed on Saturday and there was
a definite carryover affect. A lot of
that had to do with the piss poor play calling, but sometimes you have to beat
the referees, too.
I vividly recall several Games where the
suckeyes were supposed to destroy Michigan.
Albeit they pretty much all occurred under the Cooper Tenure. I don’t know if those outcomes would have
been any different if Cooper HADN’T been the coach, but it was fun while he was
there.
But I remember many years going into the Game
thinking there was no chance and 85 guys dressed in Maize and Blue proved me
wrong.
I’ll never doubt and that’s why you gotta
play ‘em!
Fleck Offered a 1-Year Contract
Extension
Presumably because too many schools were
calling and asking for permission to Interview.
I’m sure Fleck is talked about for better jobs, but he’s got mid-west
roots and I believe he’s in for the long haul if the Gophers are.
Harbaugh Rumored to Be In Negotiation
For Lifetime Contract
Probably due to constant “Authority Figures” with
“Solid Confirmation” of Harbaugh to the NFL and also the likes of UCLA (That
one really cracked me up!), Michigan is doing this:
“I talked to someone
who’s kind of an insider within that program, and we had a long, drawn out
conversation,” Quinn said on
FOX Sports Radio, according to Mike Sullivan. “What he told me was that they’re working on a lifetime
contract. I swear to you, that was his words. I kind of pressed him on it and
said ‘Really?! A lifetime deal? What would that even look like?’ He couldn’t
give me the particulars, but he said that’s one of the things they are talking
about. That’s how confident, that’s how good they feel about Jim Harbaugh and
how glad they are to have him there. So maybe that’s something Harbaugh wants.”
THE FMQ
Well, that sucked….Too many points given in good match-ups. Probably make the same mistake this week…
Loser…
Rivalry
Week is finally here! I don’t like that
it’s on T-Day Weekend now, but it does make for a great weekend!!
On to this
week’s picks (Rivalry Names Where Appropriate):
The Egg
Bowl - Ole Miss @ Miss State (-14): I have no idea where the name for this one
came from other than the trophy, built to look like a football circa 1927,
looks more like an egg, hence the name. Ole
Miss is in a world of hurt having to travel to Starkville and steal one from
the surging Bulldogs. Plus, COWBELLS!!!!
Take Miss
State and lay the 14 for $25
Iowa @
Nebraska (+2.5): There’s actually a history behind
this game. In 1973 in the early
part of his career, Hayden Fry upset the Cornsuckers in Kinnick, avenging the
previous season’s beat down (40 something to Goose Egg), winning 10—7 and dashing Nebraska’s
National Title hopes….
Take Iowa
and lay the 2.5 for $25
The
Commonwealth Cup - Va Tech @ Virginia (-8): The two teams have been playing since
1895 and started playing for the Cup in 1996.
Look for Va Tech to take this one home…
Take Va Tech
and lay the 2.5 for $25
Florida St.
@ Florida (+3.5): Kind of like the Game, this one doesn’t have or need a name. However, someone started calling it the “Sunshine
Showdown” some time in the 50’s it’s rumored.
Worst records of both teams since they began playing each
other. FSU is slightly better here.
Take FSU and
lay the 3.5 for $25
Georgia @
Georgia Tech (+12.5): Again, when you’ve been playing
and hating each other since 1893, the game really doesn’t need a namel. Georgia needs this bad, but Georgia Tech might
keep this close.
Take Georgia
Tech and the 12.5 for $25
Wiscy @
Gophers (+17): Originally, these two
universities played for the “Slab of Bacon”, but that disappeared in 1943. In 1948, they began playing for “Paul Bunyan’s
Axe”. These are the games that
the Gophers hired PJ Fleck to come in and win.
And Wiscy needs this bad in order to stay perfect.
Take the
Gophers and the 17 for $25
The Iron
Bowl - Bama @ Auburn (+7): Been battling since 1893 and the
name derives from the areas contributions to the Steel Industry. Auburn at home looks and sounds good
to this bettor. But Satan is always
going to be Satan.
Take Auburn
and the 7 for $40
Sparty @
Rutgers (+14): Neither of these teams
has ever had an “End of Season Rival”, making them a perfect match in the B1G
East. Rivalries usually start with an upset. Any chance that could happen?
Take Rutgers
and the 14 for $35
Clemson @ South Carolina (+16): Carolina-Clemson Game. Also, two schools compete in all sports and
its called the “Palmetto Series” Having
travelled to and worked in South Carolina, I can tell you how passionate these
fans are. The Plant Manager simply asked
me “Tigers or Gamecocks” first time we met.
I said I didn’t have a preference and he said, “That’s not going to work
out here. Pick”
Take South Carolina and the 16 for $25
Texas A&M @ LSU (-10): Not quite a Rivalry
yet. But it should be the game that
finally cooks another coaches goose, which it has a couple of times.
Take LSU and lay the 10 for $40
Domers @
Stanford (+2.5): Domers are probably the
better team, but I will never doubt who the smarter kids are on the field and
who the better coach probably is.
Take Stanford
and the 2.5 for $25
The Game –
osu @ Michigan ( +14): Really? We’re still seeing these kinds of spreads in
The Game? After the suckeyes went on the
road and got lit up by the same kind of team offense that Michigan runs? Okay, I’ll stick with tradition and
take the points here.
Take
Michigan and the 14 for $25
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