This is the most complete UM sqaud in a long ling time. Why? Leadership from the top down. JH, the assistants (especially DB) insist on accountability and focus. Have to go back quite a few years to find this. I said (as did others) Harbaugh's biggest obstacle to overcome was attitude (encompassing work ethic, focus, the team, etc.). It didn't get this way overnight and it is not fixed overnight. Where did the train start to get off the tracks? My best guess is mid-2000s. After the loss to Minny in 2005, we heard of things 'rotting from the inside,' along with later stories of players being 'overly excused' for things. 2006 was a nice surprise with a very senior-laden, talented team...then the wheels came off, Appy State, Ore, and RRod was hired. A coach who succeeded in the Big East with low expectations. We also saw little leadership from the AD and University, everyone was not onboard. Would this have helped? Probably not, but it sure helped the gang pile on. So out with RRod. Then came Brady, who I have been told is a good guy and henerally sounds that way. Early success, able to have a defense...things looking up, but then again expectations came and we saw a lack of leadership when things got tough. 2014 was possibly the worst UM football season of all time, and most embarassing. Teams were unprepared and threw in the towel. Out with Brady. Was the talent that lost to Maryland, Rutgers and Minnesota that much different in 2015?
JH came in and along with it, unreasonable expectations, it goes with terrority. A program that was broken for a decade is supposed to be turned around overnight, with no QB. The first two seasons of 10-3 were satisfying and frustrating with some awful luck in between (MSU punt, Newsome's injury, OSU call...). I think JH changed his leadership/philosophy a bit too (especially this year). In his other jobs he inherited bad teams (I think Stanford was 1-10, maybe the Niners were 2-14?) and they had to feel as though they were the downtrodden, misfits, left-behinds. They had to 'look for trouble.' I dont think we will see many "What's your deals" or shoulder taps for Jim Schwartz (or whatever that was). Michigan is different, you are the hunted, expectations are high, period; however, when the bully comes you have to be ready. The bully showed up yesterday and UM was ready. No more Devin Gardner getting trucked out of bounds by ND or MSU. I usually cannot stand personal foul penalties, but a few "You want to go" flags were ok. You can be Michigan but when the bully comes you have to be ready. I see not only the season but the program ascending with solid, stable leadership. That's what has been lacking from the top down. The players are all in.
JH came in and along with it, unreasonable expectations, it goes with terrority. A program that was broken for a decade is supposed to be turned around overnight, with no QB. The first two seasons of 10-3 were satisfying and frustrating with some awful luck in between (MSU punt, Newsome's injury, OSU call...). I think JH changed his leadership/philosophy a bit too (especially this year). In his other jobs he inherited bad teams (I think Stanford was 1-10, maybe the Niners were 2-14?) and they had to feel as though they were the downtrodden, misfits, left-behinds. They had to 'look for trouble.' I dont think we will see many "What's your deals" or shoulder taps for Jim Schwartz (or whatever that was). Michigan is different, you are the hunted, expectations are high, period; however, when the bully comes you have to be ready. The bully showed up yesterday and UM was ready. No more Devin Gardner getting trucked out of bounds by ND or MSU. I usually cannot stand personal foul penalties, but a few "You want to go" flags were ok. You can be Michigan but when the bully comes you have to be ready. I see not only the season but the program ascending with solid, stable leadership. That's what has been lacking from the top down. The players are all in.
