I got into a lengthy discussion with some fellow diehard fans on a text chain late last night about the type of football program we wanted Michigan to be. Not surprisingly, there were a few different opinions. I'm curious to see where The Fort lands on this.
Option A - The Michigan We Grew Up With
This might be a little bit of a rewrite of history, but the basic idea is that Michigan will do what we've always expected it to do - follow the rules explicitly, prioritize academics and integrity over everything else, and make it clear that we are an institution of higher learning that participates in intercollegiate athletics. With the tacit acknowledgement that doing this probably relegates us to a lifetime of 9 and 10 win seasons and nothing more unless we have a very special year.
Option B - An Evolved Michigan
This is Michigan acknowleding that things have changed in college football and in order to compete we may have to evolve a bit. There will be no sacrifice on integrity, but there would be more emphasis on the athlete part of student athlete. This would mean more online classes for players, embracing the NLI for athletes to get some additional compensation, and in general acknowleding that college football players aren't normal students or even normal student athletes and we can treat them differently. The net result would hopefully help some in recruiting as well as dedicated practice time and focus on football. Not breaking of the rules, but definitely pushing the envelope and taking advantage of every loophole and opportunity there is. This is sort of what I expected at the beginning of the Harbaugh era.
Option C - The Football Factory
This would be where we take on the Alabama/Clemson/Ohio State approach and become a semi professional football outfit that has an association with an institute of higher learning. Recruited players would understand that football is the priority and that we will do whatever we can to help them win games and get to the next level. Academics will stil be part of it, but not the main focus. This would probably also include things like ignoring minor and perhaps even major recruiting and practice time rules and in general thumbing our nose at the NCAA. Basically the "whatever it takes" mentality.
I'm firmly in camp B. I think Camp B gives us a chance to be very good most years and occasionally elite and I'm ok with that as a tradeoff for still maintaining some semblance of amateurism.
Thoughts?
Option A - The Michigan We Grew Up With
This might be a little bit of a rewrite of history, but the basic idea is that Michigan will do what we've always expected it to do - follow the rules explicitly, prioritize academics and integrity over everything else, and make it clear that we are an institution of higher learning that participates in intercollegiate athletics. With the tacit acknowledgement that doing this probably relegates us to a lifetime of 9 and 10 win seasons and nothing more unless we have a very special year.
Option B - An Evolved Michigan
This is Michigan acknowleding that things have changed in college football and in order to compete we may have to evolve a bit. There will be no sacrifice on integrity, but there would be more emphasis on the athlete part of student athlete. This would mean more online classes for players, embracing the NLI for athletes to get some additional compensation, and in general acknowleding that college football players aren't normal students or even normal student athletes and we can treat them differently. The net result would hopefully help some in recruiting as well as dedicated practice time and focus on football. Not breaking of the rules, but definitely pushing the envelope and taking advantage of every loophole and opportunity there is. This is sort of what I expected at the beginning of the Harbaugh era.
Option C - The Football Factory
This would be where we take on the Alabama/Clemson/Ohio State approach and become a semi professional football outfit that has an association with an institute of higher learning. Recruited players would understand that football is the priority and that we will do whatever we can to help them win games and get to the next level. Academics will stil be part of it, but not the main focus. This would probably also include things like ignoring minor and perhaps even major recruiting and practice time rules and in general thumbing our nose at the NCAA. Basically the "whatever it takes" mentality.
I'm firmly in camp B. I think Camp B gives us a chance to be very good most years and occasionally elite and I'm ok with that as a tradeoff for still maintaining some semblance of amateurism.
Thoughts?
