Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Wolverine Wednesday: The Number Doesn't Matter This Week

Since the CFP started, I've said Michigan Football's #1 goal needs to be The Big Ten Championship.  I still stand on that soap box today.  Michigan needs to play its best game of the season on Saturday night in Indy.   As great as last weekend felt, it only matters if Michigan beats Iowa on Saturday.   Then we will let the CFP take care of itself.  

Michigan Basketball plays an important road game at North Carolina tonight.   The struggling Wolverines have had a week to practice and fix its issues.   We will see tonight if any of it stuck.   I've had no problems with Michigan playing a tough schedule, but it seems they are playing everywhere except Crisler and that hasn't helped a young team gel early on.  

  • Forner Michigan assistant Roy Manning might have been recruiting for USC while employed by Oklahoma.  Just a rumor at this point. 
  • Mike Hart has you know is a candidate for Temple's head coaching job, one job I didn't think about is IU's OC where he could be in the mix. 
  • Hutch wins Big Ten Defensive Player and DE of the Year
  • MSU's Mel Tucker won the Big Ten Coach of the Year for finishing 3rd in the East
  • Michigan got bad news when Domani Jackson dropped Michigan from his top group last night.  It's now just a USC vs. Alabama decision.   Michigan has a very good shot at California 4-star Safety Zeke Berry on Friday.   They're also in the mix for Clemson commit Keon Sabb as well. 
  • Speaking of Michigan's secondary recruiting, Tennessee is trying to flip Michigan commit Kody Jones.  Kody is Michigan's 3rd ranked player in the class. 
  • There are also rumors that Washington is after Michigan's Director of Player Personnel Courtney Morgan.  The offer could be an on field coaching position.   Michigan and Washington are in a recruiting struggle over 5-star OT Josh Conerly Jr. who lives in Seattle. 

10 comments:

Voice of Reason said...

I agree with Sam Webb and Steve Clark, coaching is a mercenary profession. There's no integrity left on all levels of college or the pros. I get it that the administration contributes the problem that they've helped to create, and I also get it that people can move on in other professions as well. I guess gone are the days of good dedicated people being lifers and being a part of "the Family." IMHO!!!

Justwin said...

Bummer about Domani. Think Lincoln heading to USC was the kicker. Oh well.

MichiganMan said...

How many of you guys are going to the game on Saturday?...I was finally able to find a ticket...it is not the best seat in the house, but at least I will enjoy the atmosphere....Good luck to the good guys...I posted several days ago about Domani not coming to AA...only got backlash from a unknow delusional fan...who of course thinks we have all five star recruits and won the last 10 national championship....

Blue for life
Fire and Hire Don Brown

MichiganMan said...

Let me know if anyone is long on travel stocks!

Voice of Reason said...

As a program, you'd want to keep your top targets at home. Michigan tried to do that but it won't be over until signing day because kids still change their minds (think Dax Hill and Rayshaun Benny). However, after you've truly done your best, you have to let the kids go to where they choose because after dealing with the difficult practices and competition, if their hearts aren't in being there, they will quickly hit the Transfer Portal which is unfortunate, then you have to fill that spot with another young player that has to go through the same thing and prove himself; but you'd have more success if that guy truly "wanted" to be there.

In other words, wanting to be there makes the grind and hard work worth it. Many of these kids unfortunately read their own high school press clippings and think that just because a media service staffed by a number of folks that have never played the sport on a high level gives you X-amount of stars that means that you're not going to have to compete. Then they get to the top programs and they are surprised.

I shared a true story years ago on this blog where a retired professional football player talked about his own experience. He was an All-American in high school and was recruited to a national power. He went to fall camp and was stunned and disappointed. He called home and said, "Mom, all of the players at my position are very good, I don't know if I can get on the field with these guys. I want to transfer." His mother said, "You're not going anywhere, you stay there do your best and compete, you'll be fine." He did and was drafted by the pros. He didn't have a choice, he was forced to do or die. In fact, Charles Woodson also told his story about calling home telling his mom he wanted to leave but she said no and made him compete; now is one of Michigan's greatest and loves Blue. My point is, that sometimes it takes strong parents to help ground their kids to be willing to compete.

Yes, we want Damani here with us, but he's going to have to learn to compete wherever he goes (even here) because he may not be the best DB when he gets to camp. He'll have to learn disciple and it's that disciple that will make him a winner and in turn will make the school a winner that he is seeking. Don't believe me, ask Adin Hutchinson, Hassan Haskins, David Ojabo, etc. IMHO!!!

Goblu said...

Good post, Voice. Agree. Domani not coming (obviously nothing to do with weather), is a bummer but fine. When Lincoln went to USC, it was going to be hard to get him to leave. He of course may end up at Bama, but I would think that's less likely.

Rudy said...

Any chance ND has contacted Jimmy? seriously, hear me out. JH has said repeatedly that his 3 loves are family, faith and football in that order. Could ND try to play the "pope card" and tell him to honor his faith? He's a clean coach who believes strongly in academics. His style of play is not only classic UM but classic ND as well. He'd bring the MW recruiting ability with him. And Jimmy's pay is currently very low. Could the Domers back up the brinx truck and "pope card" and get him to punch? I say no, but would also have said Kelley would never leave for an SEC gig either. Good chance he goes to the playoffs and gets the monkey off his back, good time to punch?

Voice of Reason said...

Of course we should never say never, but JH is here because of his love for Michigan. After he received his pay cut in the new contract he could have left to save his pride but he stayed again for his love for Michigan. It's good for him (and Michigan) to have the tenacity to want to stay rebuild the program. Michigan (imo) is a tough place to coach because the expectations of the students and alumni are so high (almost unrealistically high).

Keep in mind that when coach Carr retired it was difficult to get someone good to come to coach here. WE thought that other coaches would leave their jobs and run here but that didn't happen. Instead we got Rich Rod and Brady Hoke and these were huge mistakes that hurt the program. Now we have JH who took longer than expected to rebuild but now he has his own players and coaches and look at where they are now. IMHO!!!

szanreno said...

I can't imagine a coach giving away all his bonus money and then leaving. As I understand it he's giving away all his bonus money that he earns this year, not just from last Saturday. That's a class act...

MichiganMan said...

Guys all the post today are very informational.. I like the way you guys are thinking outside the box.. and hopefully we win the Big ten and maybe win a couple of playoff games...

Blue for life
Don't take away Jim harbaugh