<p>We will continue to be .200 against ND and OSU if Carr (or at least the Carr/Malone/Hermann combo) is allowed to stay.</p>
<p>Think about it -- this year, would ND have come in and won in Ann Arbor with Weis on our bench and LLLoyd on theirs? Not a chance in hell. We tried the outmoded "establish the run" model against the ND CB's that would have had trouble starting for a big high school. When we did throw, we threw short little high percentage, no gain passes. To answer my own question, Weis would have opened up the passing game and absolutely buried ND for us. Carr/Malone, not so much. Also, think about it this way: playing for Michigan, would Smardja or whatever his name is be the all-american he is under Weis, or would he be the gumpy white guy we throw out there to block for Breaston as we throw a tunnel screen on third and long. It's time for an offensive shakeup. Two-wide, three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football is dead. We don't need an all out run and gun throw every down offense, either, but we do need a coach and offensive coord. that realize there are other potential pass plays besides throwing directly across the LoS and throwing a bomb on a straight streak. A mid/long range passing game over the middle would work wonders for us. To go back to the ND example, STANFORD realized how bad ND was and gave them a better game than we did. (although they blew the game by going into a LLLoyd'esque prevent turtle D -- further proof that it doesn't work in college football).</p>
<p>What can I say about the D? We were understaffed this year, but we played even below our abilities. Let teams drive the field several times in the last minute to beat us. Malone has got to go. If prevent let them walk down and score the first 3 times (against much lesser teams), why would we run it in the conclusion vs OSU? The D is just poorly coached. LB's and Linemen chasing a back lose containment all the time. DB's and safety's blow their assignments with terrible frequency. We play a soft zone even when we aren't trying to go into turtle mode (and when we do go into turtle mode all bets are off). To go back to a year ago, Hermann knew what he was going to see in the rose bowl, and he ended up seeing exactly that gameplan. Young found the endzone 5 times on the fround anyway, despite the fact that we had the talent to stop him.</p>
<p>Niether OSU nor ND outtalent us. We lose 80% of the games due to coaching. Soon, the overall sentiment around our program will fall and we'll be unable to recruit like we have in the past (see: bowl game taking Iowa over us with same record and fact that we beat them). If we lose 80% of the games when we have better recruits coming in, I shudder to think what its going to be like if recent trends continue (they both beat us in recruiting this year - can't possibly catch up).</p>
<p>When they have better talent and better coaching it's just going to get ugly. We need a shakeup, and we need it now.</p>
<p>Michigan's playing Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl! DID</a> I NOT PREDICT THIS? YES. YES I DID. I may be applying to UMichigan, but the Cornhuskers are my team and there's no question who I'm rooting for. </p>
<p>Michigan is not a bad team. If you shake things up, I guarantee you things will immediately go south, and there's no guarantee even that it'll turn out best in the long run, because it's a pretty good program as it is. However, I also must say that Michigan is going down to the 'Huskers. This game should've been played in Jan '98.</p>
<p>We played ND the second game of the season. Nobody had any clue how good they were this year.</p>
<p>We just didn't have the team we're used to this year. I thought the team was going to completely fall apart after the Minnsesota game. Carr is going to be missed when he's gone. He's still one of the top coaches in the game.</p>
<p>And sorry, but I think the only thing the Alamo Bowl is going to be this year is our revenge for the outright title you guys stole from us because of your retiring coach in 97.</p>
<p>I don't understand why we got the Alamo Bowl. Michigan was 4th in the Big 10, having defeated Northwestern and Iowa. As such, we should have gone to the Outback. I personally prefer playing Nebraska anyway, but I don't understand why Michigan wasn't picked ahead of Iowa for the Outback.</p>
<p>This is exciting for me, as my family is from Nebraska and will be here when the bowl is played. My husband (Michigan fan, obviously) is still bitter about the 1997 split so this is kind of a grudge match.</p>
<p>I love Carr, even with the things that he may not do so well.</p>
<p>Zoogies, Nebraska did not deserve a share of the title. First of all, had play revisions existed back in 1997, you guys would have lost to Missouri. Secondly, Michigan finished the regular season ranked #1 in both the AP and the Coaches polls. No team has ever entered the bowl season ranked #1, won its bowl game, and dropped to #2 in the final poll. It was a retirement gift for coach Osborne and nothing more. In fact, had a couple of coaches not voted Michigan #3 or one coach voted Michgian #4, Michigan and Nebraska would have been tied at #1 in the coaches poll, but even then, it is very strange that a #1 team dropped to #2 after winning its bowl game.</p>
<p>Oh, so that's how it was? Heh, here's the story I've been told about it: Michigan wimped out and refused to play Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. It wasn't a BCS 1 v 2 deal back then; what rank was Ohio State, anyway? As far as I know, Michigan won a close one while Nebraska throttled Tennessee. But oh well. It doesn't really matter to me who deserved it and who didn't, they both got a share :)</p>
<p>Zoogies, Michigan had no choice but to play in the Rose Bowl. That's the commitment the Big 10 had at the time.</p>
<p>And by the way Zoogies, it was the 34-8 win at then #3 Penn State that propelled Michigan to the #1 ranking. The OSU game was indeed close, but then again, OSU was 9-1 and ranked #4 in the nation. Besides, OSU is a huge rivarly. That game is seldom a blowout.</p>
<p>That's almost as funny as me being admitted to Michigan.</p>
<p>Both of which we know aren't going to happen.</p>
<p>Nebraska stole a national title that they didn't deserve. Michigan was the best team in the nation that year. Michigan was #1 and won their bowl game, and never before in histor had there been a team that didn't win the National Championship when that happened.</p>
<p>BTW - Everyone in Ann Arbor knew Michigan was heading to the Alamo or Outback bowl at that time. Don't pat yourself on your back like you know something about football.</p>