Michigan Football, the 2020 Abbreviated COVID Season

[Mike]

Am I the only one who was a bit surprised that Wiz correctly identified former?

No. I had to go back and read it again.

[THE_WIZARD_]

heh

Imean..I mean...fucking asshats...

[iam416]

God bless twitter...

"If you can dodge a Buckeye, you can dodge a Hawkeye!" -- Patches O'Hallahan, errr, Patches O'Harbaugh, December 15, 2020.

[Tom W]

Michigan’s refusal to include actual numbers and data in their public statements only makes them look weaker. Did they have a Covid outbreak? Sure. But to have zero cases going into PSU... lose to an 0-5 team, then suddenly 3 days later they have to cancel their next game because they can’t even field a team? Looks a little hokey.

I don’t think Schlissel is pulling any strings on this stuff. From what I can observe, he doesn’t want anything to do with sports. Doesn’t care. Wants someone else to handle it. Period. IMO, IF Michigan is goosing the numbers as an excuse not to play, it is a 100% conscious effort by Manuel and Harbaugh to avoid further embarrassment while they search for safe harbor.

If they had gone 2-7 with blowout losses to OSU and Iowa, it makes a tough situation (negotiating a new contract/exit) nearly impossible.

You think?? This whole situation is lining up like the closing moments of Reservoir Dogs - although I fully expect Schlissel and the walk away unscathed because, well, Science and Safety are on their side. Harbaugh, and quite possibly Manuel, can depart due to "administrative differences". How convenient.

[THE_WIZARD_]

God bless twitter...

"If you can dodge a Buckeye, you can dodge a Hawkeye!" -- Patches O'Hallahan, errr, Patches O'Harbaugh, December 15, 2020.

Classic.

[WingsFan]

Harbaugh and Warde Manuel meeting today to discuss coach's future at Michigan.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I doubt this is about JH. It's more likely about assistants and who is staying and who is going - M doesn't fire assistants; they move on.

If I've got the time line correct, Ward put an extension on the table for Harbaugh 2 weeks ago to be discussed "after the season." So, that's out there already. Likely pay-cut, not based on performance but based on reality of the AD's bottom line. DB is likely staying but also taking a pay cut. Gattis is likely staying. The rest? No clue.

[lineygoblue]

I was thinking that its possible the reason why we lost two top defensive commits yesterday was because Don Brown told them he could not guarantee he'd be there next year. s

I could be wrong. Maybe they just liked Maryland and UCLA more.

[iam416]

If they keep the band together....wow

[Jeff Buchanan]

I was thinking that its possible the reason why we lost two top defensive commits yesterday was because Don Brown told them he could not guarantee he'd be there next year........

....... or maybe its because he is going to be there.

[lineygoblue]

Maybe.

The more important thing to be concerned with is that M administration seems to think that things are just fine. To me that's more disturbing than keeping Don Brown around. There are more things wrong with this program than just Don Brown.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Right now, I'm going with "much ado about nothing." This has been an unprecedented college sports season. It's an extreme outlier. I took Mike's post which articulated the position the U administration, outside the Athletic Department, isn't involved in the situation within the football program to the extent some of us think it is as a good one. The point that Schlissel has not in the past and does not want anything to do with M football program going forward is strong.

The BT conferences abysmal handling of the COVID season has had an impact on football that is beyond Harbaugh's or Manuel's control. Demoralizing? That's an understatement.

Many have said you can point to the loss of Greg Mattison and Al Washington as the starting point for M's defense going from top 5 to mid 50s statistically. Recruiting has cratered on that side of the ball.

Still, Harbaugh is the HC. There are plenty of reasons to simply shit-can attempts to nail him for whatever is going on inside the program. There are also plenty of reasons not to.

At this point, given the likelihood that JH is staying on as M's HC, I'm simply a disinterested bystander.

[WM Wolverine]

I've mentioned for awhile that the incoming talent on that side of the ball has really fallen off, 2020 class was good enough other than the areas where they needed help the most, corner and defensive tackle... Even when Don Brown did have elite talent, he was getting torched in every big game...

I'd like to see more than a small shake up on the defensive coaching staff.

[iam416]

I'm now of the mind that Don Brown is jut a plain bad DC at the CFB level. That positions requires the adequate attraction and development of talent as well as the coordination of scheme with said talent. IMO, he is, at this point, a disaster. I hope to fucking christ he stays.

[Hannibal]

I don't care if he stays. Brown has enough of a track record that it looks more to me like Harbaugh is the problem. If Brown gets fired, whoever replaces him will suck ass.