Some coaches around the country are looking at this year to define (further) whether they are great coaches or good coaches or just mediocre coaches. One is at Tennessee, which lost a lot of personnel. Another is at Michigan, which still has some horses obviously, but is facing an almost do or die situation in terms of winning a tough Big Ten division and conference.
What if Michigan indeed has a fine team but ends up 10-3 with a Citrus Bowl win over a 9-4 Auburn?
That could happen, obviously. I doubt Harbaugh is fired of course, but some grumbling might be heard. You can only show recruiting success for a few years if you don't win some hardware.
UGA fired a coach that whose last two seasons included 10 wins each and recruited well.
Expectations of course can lead to disappointment.
I wonder how Arky fans think of Bielma these days if they have a 7-6 kind of season.
USC is another team supposed to be there and might not be. And then Notre Dame is facing a year that is almost a "must win" kind of deal coming off a 4-8 campaign and a tough slate. What if they end up 8-5 or even 9-4?
yeah, no. don't see it.
UGA fired Richt because he was there for FIFTEEN years and never broke through. Harbaugh is only going on year 3. He took over a program that was in the wilderness for a decade and literally had no QB. He had to get a Kirk Ferentz reject to be his QB year 1 and he had to work minor miracles with Wilton Speight in year 2. It's not like Meyer who stepped right into a situation where the perfect guy for his system- Braxton Miller was there waiting for him- and so was Cardale Jones- the QB who eventually won that National Title.
2017 was never "the year" for Michigan. It was always about 2018 and beyond.
The schedule sets up nicely for them to go about 10-3, maybe even 11-2 if they catch some breaks. There is literally no pressure there. The guy is still playing with house money.
This Michigan team is very young, but it's extremely talented. There is more talent on this roster than they have had in like a decade. The frosh WR's Oliver Martin, Tarik Black, Nico Collins, and Donovan Peoples-Jones have all been making noise in camp. They have more explosive athletes on offense than they have had in a long time. Eddie McDoom, Chris Evans, Kekoa Crawford- those were guys who got some time last year and showed flashes. They are explosive athletes. Been a long time since Michigan has had a roster full of guys like that on offense. This is a very young team- but they are oozing with talent.
2018 was always going to be his put up or shut up year. He won't feel any pressure going forward until then. 2018 sets up very nicely. Most of the defense will be back and have experience under Don Brown, QB Speight will be a Senior, and all the WR's and young OL will have a year or two of experience. If anything he's only far exceeded expectations thus far.
