The MMQ : Cruisin' Into The Season

The Mailbag…

I got a little feedback on running into Lloyd, MeyerGate, Maryland and the pre-season….

Russ - So I guess I’ll be the rain on this parade, but first, I’m glad that you had this enjoyable opportunity (running into Lloyd). I must say, just from a Michigan Football fan perspective, that his actions and inactions in the post NC times had a great deal to do with why we have suffered so much for so many seasons. He did not leave the team in good shape and then he actively undermined his successor (Rich Rod). When his entire M coaching career is examined, I find that the best that can be said is he was above average. When his actions at the end are factored in, I find him to be a neutral factor as M Football history is concerned. I’m glad that he’s a nice/good man. I suppose that’s more important that being a great football coach.

There’s a lot to address here. As far as Lloyd’s actions and inactions creating Michigan’s fall from glory: Read "ENDZONE" by John U Bacon for a whole bunch of insight. Lloyd definitely played a roll in the downfall, but the majority wasn’t all on him. I will agree that he didn’t do everything that he could have with Rich Rod. That still irritates me and we are in agreement there. Why Rich Rod didn’t keep DC English is still a mystery to me, and I wonder what would have happened had English stayed on board…

But, for a guy that was unexpectedly thrust into the position after a very emotional dismissal of Gary Moeller, I think Lloyd Carr was, at the time, the best thing that COULD have happened to Michigan Football.

To be transparent, I was actually VERY CRITICAL of Lloyd Carr initially and in his first three seasons. I honestly could barely remember the guy when he was named the head coach. I worked mostly as Moeller’s manager and with the offense. Lloyd was defense and I don’t ever recall him ever saying much. However, at the end of the day, Lloyd was a perfect fit for Michigan and truly defined what it meant to be a “Michigan Man”.

That being said, I will agree that the first 6 years of Lloyd’s coaching career at Michigan and his final 6 years (with the exception of 2006) are kind of mirror images of each other. However, it also shows you that you can recruit the best and still have difficulties winning. Chad Henne was a great QB that NEVER BEAT the suckeyes, which is still a sad thought for me to this day.

But, Lloyd did win a NC in 1997 and for that, I will put him in the great coach category. There are currently only 3 active coaches with NC’s to their name: Satan, Swinney and Meyer. Those Coaches are above great and hall of fame type guys. Never the less, Lloyd still ranks up there somewhere.

Do either Durkin or Meyer coach another game at their respective universities?

Good Question. Actually, GREAT Question.

Let’s start with the easy one: Durkin. In today’s environment of no screw-ups and especially no practice related deaths, it’s hard to see a path where Durkin survives his drama. There’s just too much information available in this day and age with respect to getting kids in shape the proper way and doing it safely. I really thought the days of “No water breaks until someone goes down!” were done and over with – like 20 years ago. Again, Durkin can’t answer the question, “Did you know this type of activity was going on?” There’s no way he can answer the question where he’s not screwed. If he knew, then he’s culpable. If he answers that he DIDN’T know, well, WHY THE HELL NOT? It’s your job as the head coach TO KNOW!!!

I give Durkin a 10% chance of coaching another football game at Maryland and a 0% chance of being a head coach elsewhere. He’ll be relegated to the OC or DC world of either college or pro football…

Meyer is a little trickier. Now that the prez has come out and stated that the “14 days is only an estimate and we will close this investigation once its complete” is telling. Meaning: We’re looking at EVERYONE in this mess including Meyer, Gene Smith and EVERYONE ELSE. Again, depending on Zach Smith’s interview with the investigating panel and how that played out, I’m guessing he’s doing everything in his power to shoulder the entire blame and shield Meyer for all the years he had a job underneath him. I’m also guessing, purely from what I know about Meyer and his shiftiness, that Zach is probably going to be “financially” rewarded if his testimony saves Meyer’s bacon. Just sayin’! He’ll never coach again (Smith) that’s for damn sure. And when you re-watch the Smith ESPN interview, he seems like a guy that’s doing everything he can to protect Meyer. Which, if you read between the lines, he’s not a disgruntled fired guy, but a gut that’s somehow going to get rewarded if Meyer survives.

Sometimes you have to connect the dots…

If I was an odds maker, I’d give Meyer about a 60% to 70% chance of surviving this at this point and continuing to coach at osu. However, Gene Smith may take the fall, also, in a coordinated effort to save the best coach that the suckeyes have had since Woody. I give Smith about a 60% chances of surviving the investigation at this point. Why Smith? If Meyer in fact escalated and Smith didn’t take the right measures to monitor Zach’s activity, it’s a problem. Again, along with Durkin, IT’S SOMEONE’S JOB TO KNOW what the hell is going on!

It seems like there was a way to prevent what happened at Maryland. Any insight?

Yes. Tons actually…

After what happened to Michigan’s Shane Morris in 2014 and countless other incidents in games and at practices, I think there are easy solutions that would protect player safety. Especially with some of the budgets that these programs have at their disposal.

1. Always have a doctor on the sideline at every practice. They are on the sidelines now during games and it should be easy to have one at practice. It can be a staff doctor from the university. Simple and effective.

2. Another solution, and coaches everywhere are REALLY GOING TO HATE THIS ONE, but it’s something that would eliminate any kind of abuse knowing that you’re being observed. Open practices to local news media. Have multiple cameras filming EVERY PRACTICE and workout!!! I’m not saying everything that’s filmed is put out in the public domain, but you would now have a “watchdog” making sure there’s no shenanigans going on with respect to player abuse. Again, coaches will hate it, but I’m thinking of player safety here.

3. This is extreme, but there’s devices available that can monitor critical vital signs that every player could wear that would alert everyone to a possible medical condition. Especially heat stroke. These are similar devices to what astronauts wear. I’m not saying it would be cheap, but again, player safety.

I don’t like what I’m hearing about the O-Line out of pre-season camp. Are we going to be screwed again?

Patience…

Look, we know that the O-Line is going to be a place where there is going to need to be a lot of improvement, in a really fast way. I’m not as concerned with a mobile QB that can also chuck it downfield as they can hide a lot of O-Line defficiencies. You can mask a lot of O-line problems with a dual threat QB. Denard did NOT have great O-lines, but he made very quick decisions and MOVED! Let’s see what we get in the first game before we begin panicking about what’s coming out in pre-season press conferences…Again, I’m sort of in the camp that “It CANNOT BE WORSE THAN LAST SEASON!”

Which Games are the most concerning to you this season? Does Michigan “even the score” in rivalry games?

In all honesty, there’s two games (maybe 3) that really concern me: the suckeyes and Wiscy. The suckeyes, ‘cause, obviously. Wiscy is loaded and watching the BTN tour at Wiscy and seeing some of their personnel perform, well, I’m nervous. I also hate playing the Purple Kitties on the road in Evanston right after what could be a very emotional and close win over the Cornhusker. Michigan seems to have trouble in Evanston…

PSU is probably the next on the concern meter. But the game is at HOME and PSU is down some key players due to injuries in pre-season camp (that may not return) and Saquon Barkely is going to be way too much offense to easily replace. Once defenses can figure out that they can key on McSorely, well, he’s going to be sore! LNU wasn’t that great last season (statistically) and Michigan really should have beaten them easily. If not for a rainstorm deluge and horrific QB play, Michigan would have won that game. Again, LNU’s strengths directly match up to Michigan’s strengths, and Michigan has the revenge factor. The domers are down their key running back at this point and there’s some other issues, including Wimbush’s confidence. If Michigan’s D can rattle Wimbush early, I expect Michigan can find a way to win in South Bend. It should be a very defining game.

I Really Thought This Was A Joke

A loyal reader texted me this photo and I laughed out loud when I saw it and I wondered who would take the time and effort to create a meme like this. Than I did a google search and saw that all the news outlets were reporting these alternates for the domers that they will wear when they play Syracuse in the Shamrock Series at Yankee Stadium.

There’s no way this was a decision that a committee made. This was one individual looking at this thinking, “Oh, this is really cool!” I gotta’ believe ole Jack $warbuck$ made this decision unilaterally.

I know I’m a traditionalist and I believe classic uni’s should be left alone and that alternates are for schools that don’t have a classic look, anyway.

ETC

If You’re A Car Guy, You Have To See This!!!

Of course, this weekend is the Annual Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise that brings in over 100,000 car enthusiasts from all over the USA and the world. Steve McQueen was the star in what is billed as the “Movie that started the Car Chase Scene” madness when he filmed “Bullit” and the movie hit the theaters in 1968. The car, now owned by Sean Keeman, whose father purchased it in the early 1970’s, has been kept in it’s original condition! No restoration and minor upkeep since the movie was filmed in 1967. I like the fact that he hasn’t attempted to restore it. It’s a little piece of automotive history that is being preserved.