But I would recommend CB's spot with Skene to both Harbaugh and, especially, Warde. It's one thing when the lunatic fringe is saying it. It's another when a moderate, insightful alum like Skene is saying it.
I don't know that I've ever heard anyone I respect associated with Michigan say they don't know if we can get back to being a real rival for OSU. But it's happening now.
Winning is a skill. The ability to train, prepare, play, and close out big games is a skill. The older players teach the younger players and feed your culture. Michigan lost that a long time ago. Now the fans don't believe that there is any realistic hope that, at any time in the near future, it will ever be a real rival for OSU. If the team feels the same way -- and how can it not? -- something invaluable has been lost. Sadly, Skene hints at the notion that reversing a losing culture has to be done at the outset of a coach's tenure -- the way that Tressell addressed it at OSU. And, Dabo $winey aside (I have nooooo idea how he changed thing$ around) there are very few examples of where coaches reversed their school's fortunes mid-stream.
I have been in love with Michigan football since I was 9 years old and I won't stop now. But for the first time in my life I don't believe that Michigan can restore the rivalry with OSU in a meaningful way. If it is going to happen, I think Harbaugh is still the best candidate. But he needs to receive the feedback that games are providing and start making some major changes to his program. There's no time to waste and this is probably his last chance to get it right. His legacy hangs in the balance.
I don't know that I've ever heard anyone I respect associated with Michigan say they don't know if we can get back to being a real rival for OSU. But it's happening now.
Winning is a skill. The ability to train, prepare, play, and close out big games is a skill. The older players teach the younger players and feed your culture. Michigan lost that a long time ago. Now the fans don't believe that there is any realistic hope that, at any time in the near future, it will ever be a real rival for OSU. If the team feels the same way -- and how can it not? -- something invaluable has been lost. Sadly, Skene hints at the notion that reversing a losing culture has to be done at the outset of a coach's tenure -- the way that Tressell addressed it at OSU. And, Dabo $winey aside (I have nooooo idea how he changed thing$ around) there are very few examples of where coaches reversed their school's fortunes mid-stream.
I have been in love with Michigan football since I was 9 years old and I won't stop now. But for the first time in my life I don't believe that Michigan can restore the rivalry with OSU in a meaningful way. If it is going to happen, I think Harbaugh is still the best candidate. But he needs to receive the feedback that games are providing and start making some major changes to his program. There's no time to waste and this is probably his last chance to get it right. His legacy hangs in the balance.
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