I think what we are learning is that the "culture" of Alabama, OSU and Clemson Programs is decidedly different
Today, Michigan is a college football program with student athletes
These programs are professional-style football programs loosely affiliated with a university
Cardale Jones, 'We ain't come here to play SCHOOL'
A Professional Style Football Program loosely affiliated with a University
I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I know that the details are everything:
I don't think that Michigan has ever embraced that culture due to its nature of being on the margins
The Fallacy of "The Next Coaching Hire is the Answer"
If the next coach comes in and plays by the book, retains the culture and does it by the rules, respects the role of the student athlete, the best outcome is Notre Dame's BCS results
They can get into the BCS because of a weak schedule, a good record and a good name
Then they get just kicked, abused and embarrassed like a MAC team by the "professional" programs
Michigan unfortunately plays in the same division as the second best "professional-style" program in college football.
No coaching hire will fix that.
Thinking that this is a coaching problem is misunderstanding the nature of the problem
if you bring in Matt Campbell, Brent Venables, or Luke Fickell it will make no difference UNLESS they transform the program in the image of OSU, Bama, Clemson (See above)
If you transform the program into a professional style football program which is loosely "affiliated" with a University, the winning is not so much coach dependent. (See Ryan Day)
Perhaps I'm a romantic for a bygone era of college football
The Right Question: Will Jim Harbaugh choose the OSU route, build a professional-style program loosely affiliated with a university or the Traditional Michigan/Notre Dame route and strive to build the best possible college style program with student athletes?
Today, Michigan is a college football program with student athletes
These programs are professional-style football programs loosely affiliated with a university
Cardale Jones, 'We ain't come here to play SCHOOL'
A Professional Style Football Program loosely affiliated with a University
I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I know that the details are everything:
Reduced priorities on academics
More "Sports Hospitality" majors (demanding majors strongly discouraged or simply not allowed)
More lifting
More film study
An environment of fierce internal competition, "Lose your job, lose your scholarship"
Weaker kids are not pushed down the depth chart, they are pushed out of the program entirely, quickly
The Transfer Portal is a free agent market where players are actively targeted, encouraged and recruited even before they hit the portal (Justin Fields)
NCAA rules are treated like suggestions
There is a highly professional INDEPENDENT booster network that knows what they can and cannot get away with. "Plausible Deniability"
Everything takes a back seat to building the best possible football team. EVERYTHINGI don't think that Michigan has ever embraced that culture due to its nature of being on the margins
The Fallacy of "The Next Coaching Hire is the Answer"
If the next coach comes in and plays by the book, retains the culture and does it by the rules, respects the role of the student athlete, the best outcome is Notre Dame's BCS results
They can get into the BCS because of a weak schedule, a good record and a good name
Then they get just kicked, abused and embarrassed like a MAC team by the "professional" programs
Michigan unfortunately plays in the same division as the second best "professional-style" program in college football.
No coaching hire will fix that.
Thinking that this is a coaching problem is misunderstanding the nature of the problem
if you bring in Matt Campbell, Brent Venables, or Luke Fickell it will make no difference UNLESS they transform the program in the image of OSU, Bama, Clemson (See above)
If you transform the program into a professional style football program which is loosely "affiliated" with a University, the winning is not so much coach dependent. (See Ryan Day)
Perhaps I'm a romantic for a bygone era of college football
The Right Question: Will Jim Harbaugh choose the OSU route, build a professional-style program loosely affiliated with a university or the Traditional Michigan/Notre Dame route and strive to build the best possible college style program with student athletes?
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