A Time of Uncertainty with Michigan Wolverine Football

I know I have been on a sports kick recently, and I promise I am going to get back to more pop culture stuff in the coming days and weeks. I have my best of lists coming up, I am going to get caught up on some shows and movies I have been holding off on, and I will definitely be writing about them all. But I want to do one more, for now, piece on Michigan football.

I know we just did a podcast about it, and I have had a lot to say on the website. But, as of yesterday, their season is all but over. They had to cancel their game against Iowa because they have a COVID outbreak that is not getting any better. Reports said they would've been without upwards of 50 players had they tried to play this weekend. It would have been pointless to travel to Iowa City to let third stringers and scout players get the snot beat out of them. I also fully expect them to not take any bowl invite. I know every team is eligible this season, but they do not deserve, nor should they, go play in a bowl game. The season is over, let these kids go home and get better and start focusing on next season. This season has been a wash, it has been brutal and they were not good. Not at all. This may be one of the worst Michigan teams I have ever watched. They were unprepared, under coached and got flat out beat by most teams. They did beat Minnesota, a mirage game I have been calling it, and they had to go to three overtimes to beat Rutgers. They probably should have been 1-5. And if they played these three games they had to cancel, they would have finished 2-7, maybe 3-6. All of it would have been pointless, just like this whole college football season.

Originally I was all for these kids trying to play, but as I stated on our most recent pod, I have come full circle, and I do not think any of these kids should be playing. They are essentially free laborers for their schools, and the coaching staff. The players make zero dollars, and they are risking their lives to play a game. I would be saying this if Michigan were 8-0 right now too. This has nothing to do with how bad their season was, this is all about how dangerous, more so than ever, this season has been.

For all intents and purposes, Michigan football is done for 2020. A bad year was closed out by a third straight cancelation. Jim Harbaugh is telling current players and recruits he is "committed" to Michigan, yet a three year extension sits on Warde Manuel's desk waiting to be signed by him. This off season is going to be as odd as I can remember, and it will chart the direction Michigan is going to go in for the foreseeable future. I do feel for the seniors on this team that really wanted to play. I also feel for the underclassman that will be declaring for the draft. They didn't get a full year, it was bad when they did play, and who knows how many may have played their last football game ever. But, for the kids returning, and the ones that are signing their letters of intent today, and in the future, I wonder where their head is at right now. Harbaugh, as mentioned, is still keeping everyone in limbo. If he signs the extension he will be at Michigan for another four years. I think that would be best for the program. Yes, this year was bad, but it is one season. And yes, I know they have really struggled against top ranked teams and their rivals. But I'd like to give Harbaugh the life of the contract and the extension. I know some have said that he has interest in the NFL, but I don't know if that is reciprocated. Some people in the know say yes, others say no. I also don't know why his stock would be any higher now, after a few less than okay seasons. Also, why would he want to leave Ann Arbor when he can do whatever he wants there. He is the king of that city. He makes more money than any other state employee. He is a rah rah guy. None of that would be true in the pros. He would make less than most of his players, and he would essentially be a CEO. He would be told by the GM and owners who to play, and when to play them and how much time. In college he makes those calls, and no one else. That is not the case in the NFL. The people higher up make those choices. They want their rookies, and cheap guys to play. If Harbaugh does decide to leave, and this team needs to hire a new coach, they are rebuilding. There will be more attrition than ever, and they would easily be a bottom feeder in the Big Ten. I don't want that, and I know most sane Michigan fans agree. Michigan also has a solid recruiting class coming in, but all that crumbles if they overhaul the entire staff. They would also lose a ton of talent currently on their roster. The kids at Michigan now came to play for Harbaugh and for his staff.

I hope Harbaugh stays. With that being said, they probably should make some changes on both sides of the ball. I am as avid a Don Brown fan as can be. I love his attacking style and his demeanor. He has had some great defenses at Michigan. But his refusal to make changes will be his downfall. I think they need to move on from him, as much as it pains me to write that. He was great, but he just isn't cutting it anymore. Their defense has been bad against top flight teams his whole tenure, and this season they were bad against everyone. They need a change. On offense I don't want them to get rid of Josh Gattis. I want them to fully hand the offense over to him. It is clear that Harbaugh is still making choices on that side of the ball, and it has killed this team. They haven't really got to try the whole "speed in space" thing to its fullest extent yet. There has been too much running and predictability. I love establishing a run game, but to run it every second and long has become boring and easy to stop. I also want to see the QB, whoever it may be, let it rip. I want them to air it out. If the university of Ohio State and Alabama and Clemson can do it, Michigan can too. They need to adapt. This isn't the late 80's, early 90's three yards and a cloud of dust anymore. They need to start passing to set up the run game more. I do think some position coaches may need to change, cough cough, Jay Harbaugh, and let Gattis pick the replacements. This team also needs to get tougher and meaner and play with more pride. They need more Devin Bush like players. I miss him so much. Michigan is still Michigan. They can still play with anyone, and win 10 games and be important. They just need to remember that. I also think they should try and retain Harbaugh, but with all the caveats that are on the extension they are waiting for him to sign. This team can still be good. But, this off season will either make or break this team.

I really hope it works out for obvious reasons. But, as always, I have my doubts. Time will tell.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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