Michigan Tuesday: Time is Not on Your Side Kyle

Kyle didn't come to Michigan to learn about Michigan Football and coach a Top 10 team.  He came to save face after Utah pushed him out and to ride off into retirement with a nice contract.  He finally had the resources and recruiting he needed to take his former mediocre results and turn them into championships.

Guess what Kyle, we have had way too many examples of that failing and you are doing and excellent job of failing spectacularly.  Yes, the Beck firing gets you a few more weeks.  But those weeks are a trip to Oregon and Columbus, while hosting a top 5 UCLA.   Your days are number my friend.  

BTW, regarding trophy games still left.  Michigan and OSU don't play for a trophy but if you knew anything about college football, its the top rivalry in football and maybe all of sports.   Thanks for coming to Ann Arbor, I hope your home sells quickly.  

How does Michigan fix this mess?

1. Michigan needs to hire a very strong AD.  This person needs business experience not necessarily academic experience.  They need to understand Michigan and what Michigan needs.  It's a unique place with unique needs.  No not a David Brandon type of hire, a Jim Hackett type of hire. 

2. Fire Kyle the Sunday after the OSU Game.  This year could not have gone any worse. 

Go drop a huge bag on Bob Chesney of UCLA.  Michigan needs a young smart aggressive football coach that runs to work everyday.  I also like the ring to Big House Bob! 😀  Bob, will get to see Ann Arbor and the Big House in person in two weeks. 

3. Start to rebuild this battle ship.  It doesn't take years anymore with the transfer portal, Michigan can have a good team next year with the right leadership. 

• As College Football continues to morph into a professional football.  The 2027 24 team playoff that nobody asked for is now official and the death of the Big Ten Championship game has happened next season.  This will be the last year of the Big 10 Championship game in Indy. 

• It really is time for the the Group of 6 leagues to have their own playoffs.  Play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and crown a National Champion.  I would assume the Bowl Games are now dead as well. 

• Michigan Basketball after a bit of a rough UConn game plays Marquette on Wednesday. 

Michigan Monday: It's About Becking Time

It seems there is some Michigan leadership with a pulse still in Ann Arbor.  Because somebody got to Kyle Whittingham as he had zero intention of firing Beck after the MSU game.  He was using his press conference speak to basically say the following: now is not the time to make a change, but I will review all positions on the staff in the off reason, as this is a results business, bla bla bla........

On Sunday, Warde sends out a press release that Beck has been fired and later that Offensive Line Coach, Jim Harding will be taking over.  

Now let's review this decision.  

• Was there a Beck or you conversation with Coach Whitt?  Best Guess:  Yes, there had to be.  Kyle who had been protecting Beck all year, decided his salary was more important then standing by Jason Beck any longer. 

• Why Jim Harding?  When Jim was hired all we heard were things like, "best OL coach in the country" talk.  Then we have watched the O Line just be terrible all year.   So the question is, Was that Beck or Harding causing the issue with the line?  If the answer is both, Michigan does not have a net gain here.   If it was Beck, then maybe the line can play better.  

• What does this mean for Coach Whitt's future in Ann Arbor? Not much, this was a desperate move by a desperate coach that doesn't have any answers.  I expect he will be removed as soon as the Ohio State game finishes.  This was a failed experiment when Michigan had limited options at head coach.  He was a bridge hire and the bridge got washed away. 

I can't imagine if your are a donor who helped pay for this $40M roster and getting these results.  Someone had to be fired and the changes are not over.   I sure has hell would not want to be taking those calls in Schembechler Hall right now. 

At Our Whitt's End

When Kyle Whittingham got hired at Michigan I had a few concerns.  My biggest concern was Michigan is hiring a guy that Utah pushed out and clearly felt was holding them back.  I didn't bang that drum too loudly as everyone in the media just raved about the hire.  You couldn't find one person to say one bad thing about him.  

Then he got to work, saved most of the roster, re-did the weight room, brought over All Americans from Utah and hired what seemed to be a strong staff.  Something then fell apart and now the Michigan program is completely broken as last night they lost to the worst team in the Big Ten, instate rival, and a team playing mostly 3rd and 4th stringers due to injury.   Not to mention the worst QB in the history of the program ran the ball down the middle of Michigan's top tier defense all night. 

That's it for Coach Whitt in Ann Arbor.   The only issue is U of M doesn't have any leadership to pull the trigger.  It's lacking a President and AD.  

Here is what I learned as we all have watched this team implode:

• Beck is looking to get fired, he wants out.  There is no way you call a game like that and think you have a job on Monday. 

• The boosters that fund this team and spend Millions, will not be writing that same check next year with this staff and that performance.  A change has to be made. 

• Coach Whitt has lost this team and his staff, he doesn't do shit on the sideline except peer off into space.  

• Utah is undefeated and will be #1 or #2 in the next CFP rankings. 

• Watching Utah I now understand how Beck's offense works.  During passing downs the QB isn't supposed to throw, he is supposed to scramble for 15 yards each time.  He just needs to be a "serviceable" thrower to open the run lanes.  The problem with Bryce is, he was always trying to throw on throwing downs. 

• The University of Michigan is not prepared to run a professional football and basketball team.  Their academic backgrounds don't fit this model.  I'm sure the lady from Vandy will run a great University but I'm 100% sure she is not ready to run multiple professional sports teams. 

• I'm really tired of getting coaches out of the discount bin.   Sherrone, Biff, Coach Whitt, and (it's still early) Coach Boynton.  While we miss out on other coaches that were on the staff doing things in the NFL like winning a Super Bowl for example.  Or program changers like UCLA, UK, and IU have. 

• Who is to blame?  You don't have to look too far, its Warde.  Cignetti or Day didn't run off to the NFL.  Hurley got a huge contract offer from the Lakers but still stayed at UConn.  Something is broken at Michigan and it starts with leadership.  

• Michigan's defense is not as good as we think.  They don't get 3 and out's, they don't tackle well, give up very long drives, and they get run on.   Yes, they don't give up TD's but there are a ton of holes in that defense. 

• The offense line has no idea what they are doing.  They are spinning around like tops out there.  Might be the worst OL in 10 years. 

• You can't make your highest paid player, a recruit out of high school.  If your going to spend that type of money it has to be for a proven QB at the college level. 

So now what?  This team does not deserve your time, it really doesn't.  It's a really poor football team.  They have 3 more loses on the schedule and then it's over.  No Bowl game this year, but who cares about that anyways. It's not like this fan base it going to dig into our pockets and travel to the Liberty Bowl.

A clear lack of leadership will continue to bear its ugly head as Michigan has been completely neglectful on keeping a lame duck AD and not hiring a new one.  Michigan has to get a AD hired quickly and allow him or her to do their job aggressively and quickly.  

Either way, the one things that needs to happen is Coach Whitt needs to get on his motorcycle and head into retirement a few years earlier than expected.  

Preview MSU

Time: 7:30
Location: Big House
Weather: 44 No rain
TV: Peacock/NBCSN
Line: Michigan -13.5

This is one game that really doesn't need any introduction.  Michigan and MSU clearly just don't like each other.  It doesn't help now that Michigan Basketball won a National Championship which Sparty felt was their domain.  The uniqueness of this match-up is neither team is very good.  MSU has lost 6 games in a row with its new coach Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan is standing at 5-3 struggling on offense with its new head coach.  Michigan has 3 ranked opponents after this game, so they dearly need this W. 

We also know this game is the only way Sparty can save their season.  Fun times. 

Dear Coach Whitt,

You seem like a guy that likes a good hypothetical? Is that a fair to say?  I've seen comments like we are a couple plays away from being 7-0 and talk like that.  Here is a deep hypothetical for you.  Should you be fired from Michigan if Utah makes the playoffs this season?  Something you were not able to accomplish in your 100 years there.   Here is how I see it:  You were pushed out because your good teams always had bad finishes and didn't win Championships.  You get the Michigan job and take 4-5 of the top players from Utah and bring them to Ann Arbor.  Not to mention the struggling OC and some family members who accompanied you as well. 

Let's check on Utah who hosts BYU (which is an instate rivalry game if you need a reference for this week). Utah is 8-0 and ranked #3 and hosting #9 BYU.  Now there is time for the Utes to implode and not make the playoffs still, so that is why this is a fun hypothetical question.  If the place you left, automatically becomes a lot better when you leave after you take staff and their top players.  Were you the problem all along?

Since we got that out of the way.  Let me try to prep you for this weekend.  State is struggling and will put up their best effort of the year on Saturday.  They have one chance to hold their heads high this season and Saturday night is it.  You know how I told you weird things happen when you play Iowa and that actually happened.  This game will have that 2x.  Expect fake punts, onside kicks, fake field goals, reverses, everything Sparty has in the playbook your going to see Saturday night. 

Here is a special nugget for Saturday.  Sparty will try to get Michigan into personal foul penalties, its really important your squad (which has not done a good job with that this year) understands that.  Let MSU make the mistakes as your team laughs at the attempts.

As I continue to watch your team this year, I'm starting to draw some conclusions.   I believe the offensive line has played poorly most of the year.  You have a great backfield full of RB's and there just isn't the holes.  Yes, the defense is loading the box, but they have done that for 100 yards of Michigan Football.  It would be great if that unit played with some passion and got a 100 yard rusher.  

Carr just needs to do what he does.  Not be afraid of the moment and execute the best he can.  Yes, would like to see a few deep balls completed but love his moxy and his accuracy when throwing the ball. His running game is your only running game at the moment.  If he protects the ball and Michigan can move the ball on the ground, it should be a good evening for the Wolverines and its fan base.  If your turn the ball over and get dumb penalties, you are going to keep Sparty in it. 

I really like Coach Hill and his aggressive style, but that style kept Rutgers in the game last week.  We need to be able to get pressure with the front 4 and lock down the WR's, TE's, and RB's with the secondary.  Selective blitzs are smart but don't tip your hand.

Coach, don't be naïve the Hate is real between these two teams and programs.  Don't under estimate it and make sure the Wolverines play clean and smart on Saturday.

Michigan 28 MSU 14