Sep 9th, 2007
Job Opening: Michigan Head Football Coach??
Is this the last time we’ll see Lloyd Carr on the University of Michigan’s sidelines? If it is it doesn’t seem like the fans will be too upset. At this rate Michigan should get comfortable out behind the wood shed! First Appalachian state thumps ‘em and then Oregon takes them to town, will the Irish prevail to make it a hat trick at Michigan’s expense?
I don’t think the issue here is losing. Lots of good teams and coaches lose, it happens week in and week out! (My alma mater, BYU, lost earlier today.) I think what makes Michigan’s losses significant is the margin of defeat coupled with the hype around the Big Blue and the poor level of play. Execution is key, and although blame falls on the players’ shoulders, the coaches are there to instill discipline and teach and practice execution.
The commentators on ABC today remarked that the defensive coordinator threatened his defense that if they didn’t perform they’d find themselves on the bench — well, after today it would seem that most of the defense should be sitting on the bench, think the coach will follow through?
As with all money making ventures, key stakeholders (boosters, alum and university officials) want to see results, Carr certainly isn’t making a case for himself with these two recent debacles, it’ll be interesting how things shake out in Ann Arbor. Is it too late to schedule a local high school team for a win?
With all that said, maybe the real question here deals with rankings. Last year’s national champion Gators put a hurtin’ on Ohio State, did the final score and outcome reflect an accurate prediction based on the rankings going in? So with that I add yet another item for the NCAA to come up with, along with a better championship structure, find a way to more accurately rank teams.
