Wolverine Wednesday: How Long Is The Bridge?

CBS Sports is reporting that Michigan could be in the head coaching market again this off season.   

Insiders believe that Coach Whitt was just a bridge hire and if the Wolverines go 6-6, they could elect to make a move after a new AD is hired.   

That leads me to this question?  How long is the bridge?

If the Regents are true leaders, they have a plan for this.  They knew a few things at the end of last season.  

1. Sherrone has to be fired 

2. We have to get out of the Warde business.  

It will have taken to the end of this year but both goals were completed.  But there seems to be some legitimate signs this was the plan all along.  

Coach Whitt is near retirement and was looking for a soft landing after Utah pushed him out.  He brought instant credibility to the role after Michigan had distratous off the field issues and NCAA penalties.  He has also acted like a leader that has no worries as his team sits near .500. 

Now, I don't believe Coach Whitt "mailed in" this season, but I also don't think he has any pressure to fire his terrible OC.  This is not his long-term gig.  

Michigan currently doesn't have a President or AD and Coach Whitt can do what he wants, because he has a contract and a short term strategy for retirement. 

Another sign is the two year prove it contract for Mike Boynton that Michigan offered after Dusty jumped ship to Dallas.  

Are there signs, this wasn't the plan?  The biggest one is that Michigan started their AD search just now and not back in August.  Hopefully the Regents have a short list already vetted.  

Either way, right now the Michigan athletic department has more bridges then Madison County. 

Michigan Tuesday: Run on Top In-State QB's

College Football has had a run on State of Michigan former High School QB's leading top teams.  Some were 5 Stars and others were under the radar.   I've been watching college football for a long time and never recall so much talent at QB position from the Great Lakes State. 

Oregon - Former 5 star QB Dante Moore picked UCLA out of HS and then transferred to Oregon.  Unfortunately, he took an illegal hit in September which resulted in a serious concussion.  He is out for the remainder of the year.

ND - CJ Carr will probably lead the Irish to the CFP this year.  This of course is Lloyd Carr's grandson. 

Michigan has two on its roster:  Bryce Underwood 5 star and current starter Tommy Carr who was a 3-star QB and heading to the MAC before he got the call to come to Ann Arbor.  Lloyd's other grandson of course. 

Ole Miss - Trinidad Chambliss, who might be the best out of all the Michigan QB's spent time at Ferris State before Lane Kiffin and staff picked him out of the transfer portal.   All the instate programs missed out on the talented QB out of Grand Rapids. 

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I'm starting to lean very strongly that Coach Whitt was a bad hire for the Wolverines.  He is acting like an out of touch CEO of the Michigan Football program.  

These remarks just rip at my soul:

-Now is not the time to panic 

-I'm not a micro manager 

-If I hear an offensive call I don't like, I stay quiet because it could be setting something up later in the game.

-I'm mainly a defensive guy 

-We are a few plays away from being 6-1 or 7-0

Coach, you and Coach Beck have failed us on the offensive side of the ball and your lack of leadership is illuminating brightly.  I'm now understanding why Utah pushed you out.  Did I mention Utah is ranked #6 in the country and 7-0.  Maybe that is what he meant when he said, we are a couple plays away from 7-0.  The "we" is Utah. 

• Yax went for 31 last night against Denver! 

• Michigan has started its search for it's next AD
• Couple questions?
• Why are you starting now?
• Would be great if we had someone already in place as your football team implodes and your basketball coach is on a two year prove it contract. 

• The lack of leadership at U of M right now is unbelievable.  

Photo from Coach Whitt's Monday's Press Conference

 

Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham says he's aware that programs across the country are making coordinator changes right now. But at Michigan, "right now, I don't think it's time to panic."

Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham says the season “hasn't been a complete disaster.”

“Two or three plays, and we're 6-1, and maybe even better. … But that's shoulda, woulda, coulda.”

Also said, "he isn't a micro manager"

Kyle Whittingham: 'Plain and simple, we're not getting it done from a coaching standpoint at this point in time.' (only truthful comment the entire conference)

Michigan Monday: Too Early Look and You Weren't Hired For You

College Head Football coaches think they understand two things.  1- What Success looks like and 2- Their approach and system can work anywhere.

Both of those assumptions are completely wrong and 100% wrong in Ann Arbor.  Michigan doesn't hire head football coaches to bring their "system" to Ann Arbor, they are hired to take what historically been in Ann Arbor and improve on it.  

Success at Utah, Minnesota, Iowa, is different then success at Michigan.  

Rich Rod thought we were hiring him and his weird offensive system.  He cried and got fired.  Hoke came in with success at Ball State and SDSU and flamed out quickly.  Jimmy who should've known what it takes to win at Michigan, took a really long time to understand it, and finally got there.  Coach Whitt doesn't have those years to learn.  This is a destination job.

Coach Whitt thinks Beck is a really good OC and is standing by his guy.  He has seen successful with Beck's offense at Utah.  He brought his system and its currently the 130th total offense in the country.   It's completely broken and so is Coach Whitt's leadership.   This is the Big Ten and Michigan.  

Another issue is Michigan has zero leadership right now.  The lame duck AD is probably in the Bahama's and the new President doesn't start until 12/1.  Things are in really good shape right now.  😒

Too Early Look at Rutgers (2-5)

Best Win: Maryland 

Worst Lost: UMass 

Pass: 242 Yards Per (87th)

Run: 152 (74th)

Score: 28 (68th) 

Give Up: 33 (127th)

Rutgers is terrible but they have a better offense then Michigan does.  The Wolverines at this point, can't over look anyone and has to win on defense.  If Coach Whitt loses this game, there will be a large black SUV waiting for him and Beck outside the stadium to go boat shopping with the Sopranos.  

• Yes JJ, maybe its a Harbaugh thing!
• Blake another TD! 
• In the NFL, I now don't root for teams, I root for former Wolverines!