Michigan Football 2.0 - A Return to the Past
For the last eight years, Michigan Football has suffered from a severe identify crisis. In his last season as the head coach, Lloyd Carr saw his Wolverines lose to Appalachian State in what is arguably the biggest upset in college football history. Michigan followed that up with another home loss to Oregon. Michigan fans were clamoring for a change, and even though Carr's era ended with a win against Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, and the Florida Gators, the tides were changing.
Michigan turned to Rich Rodriguez - a coach with winning experience but who was admittedly an outsider to the "Michigan Way." His spread offense and West Virginia twang were seen as a comic marvel in Ann Arbor, and even though his teams improved each season, Rodriguez was fired by Athletic Director David Brandon in favor of Brady Hoke.
In essence, Hoke's hire today seems more like a thinly veiled PR move to win back the hearts of the "Michigan Men." Hoke was previously on the team's coaching staff, notably during the National Championship season in 1997, but he had varying success at Ball State and San Diego State. Hoke's first season saw Michigan return to national prominence with a win in the Sugar Bowl, but his next three seasons were each progressively worse. Meanwhile, the athletic department was being headed by an egomaniac who operated a university athletic program the same way he previously ran corporations: as ruthless money making machines.
The 2014 season, Hoke's last, was arguably the height of embarrassment for one of the most storied programs in college football. Large gaps of empty seats were visible in Michigan Stadium. Tickets were being given away in exchange for purchases of Coca-Cola. Michigan's backup quarterback, who was clearly and visibly injured, was left in a game (he was later found to have suffered from a concussion). Dave Brandon threw his head coach under the bus, and Hoke was permanently branded as a clueless ninny from that point moving forward.
On Thursday, for the 136th year, Michigan Football will take the field. It won't be at the Big House, but instead, it will be a night game in Salt Lake City, Utah. Michigan won't open the season on a Saturday afternoon, but instead, on a weekday evening before Labor Day. The maize pants will be replaced by an all-white road uniform. And yet, despite the season beginning in an an unusual way, for the Michigan faithful, the 2015 season is a return to the past.
James Harbaugh, who grew up in Ann Arbor and eventually led Michigan as their quarterback, who guaranteed and delivered a win against Ohio State, who would play for years in the NFL before coaching at the University of San Diego, Stanford University, and for the San Francisco 49ers, will wear his trademark khakis and blue cap and roam the sidelines as the Wolverines' head coach. For the first time in nearly a decade, Michigan's identity is no longer a giant question mark. Michigan fans no longer have to sacrifice tradition for novelty, or competence for familiarity.
And while nobody knows just how successful Harbaugh will be at Michigan, particularly in his first season, for the first time in a long time, the program seems to be stable. That stability extends from the sidelines to the athletic department offices on State Street. Gone is David Brandon and his "God" complex. Jim Hackett, a former Michigan football player and a retired CEO, has assumed Brandon's duties under an interim tag. In the eight months since he has taken over, Hackett has dismissed Hoke, brought in the coaching candidate he dubbed "Unicorn", negotiated a new apparel deal with Nike (which replaces the much maligned Adidas brand), and has restored faith among Michigan's students, alumni, and fans that the program is once again heading in the right direction.
Michigan may not win Thursday's night game against Utah (the Utes are a 7 point favorite). Michigan is still behind Ohio State (the defending National Champions) and Michigan State (the defending Cotton Bowl Champions) in the Big Ten East - but faith has been restored. Faith comes before confidence which comes before success. Success always has been, and always will be, Michigan's truest identity.
Michigan turned to Rich Rodriguez - a coach with winning experience but who was admittedly an outsider to the "Michigan Way." His spread offense and West Virginia twang were seen as a comic marvel in Ann Arbor, and even though his teams improved each season, Rodriguez was fired by Athletic Director David Brandon in favor of Brady Hoke.
In essence, Hoke's hire today seems more like a thinly veiled PR move to win back the hearts of the "Michigan Men." Hoke was previously on the team's coaching staff, notably during the National Championship season in 1997, but he had varying success at Ball State and San Diego State. Hoke's first season saw Michigan return to national prominence with a win in the Sugar Bowl, but his next three seasons were each progressively worse. Meanwhile, the athletic department was being headed by an egomaniac who operated a university athletic program the same way he previously ran corporations: as ruthless money making machines.
The 2014 season, Hoke's last, was arguably the height of embarrassment for one of the most storied programs in college football. Large gaps of empty seats were visible in Michigan Stadium. Tickets were being given away in exchange for purchases of Coca-Cola. Michigan's backup quarterback, who was clearly and visibly injured, was left in a game (he was later found to have suffered from a concussion). Dave Brandon threw his head coach under the bus, and Hoke was permanently branded as a clueless ninny from that point moving forward.
On Thursday, for the 136th year, Michigan Football will take the field. It won't be at the Big House, but instead, it will be a night game in Salt Lake City, Utah. Michigan won't open the season on a Saturday afternoon, but instead, on a weekday evening before Labor Day. The maize pants will be replaced by an all-white road uniform. And yet, despite the season beginning in an an unusual way, for the Michigan faithful, the 2015 season is a return to the past.
And while nobody knows just how successful Harbaugh will be at Michigan, particularly in his first season, for the first time in a long time, the program seems to be stable. That stability extends from the sidelines to the athletic department offices on State Street. Gone is David Brandon and his "God" complex. Jim Hackett, a former Michigan football player and a retired CEO, has assumed Brandon's duties under an interim tag. In the eight months since he has taken over, Hackett has dismissed Hoke, brought in the coaching candidate he dubbed "Unicorn", negotiated a new apparel deal with Nike (which replaces the much maligned Adidas brand), and has restored faith among Michigan's students, alumni, and fans that the program is once again heading in the right direction.
Michigan may not win Thursday's night game against Utah (the Utes are a 7 point favorite). Michigan is still behind Ohio State (the defending National Champions) and Michigan State (the defending Cotton Bowl Champions) in the Big Ten East - but faith has been restored. Faith comes before confidence which comes before success. Success always has been, and always will be, Michigan's truest identity.
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