FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Pat and DAWG:

I agree with you both entirely.  I was not saying it was "unusual", rather just ironic, and my comment about it being "strange" was from the sense that most people not familiar with the current playoff setup situation i.e. someone looking in from the outside, would think it odd.  But, of course, as we all know, it is not.

DAWG, indeed you only have to go back and look at the history - Adrian and Hope both were top teams in the '80's but did not get bids - of course, the playoff system was much different than today.  Also, Olivet was 8-2 just recently and they did not get a bid.  Many other examples in other conferences of this as Pat has alluded to (i.e. Franklin last year).

[Pat Coleman]

I think the automatic bid model is pervasive enough in the NCAA that people will get it.

[formerd3db]

For sure.  Yet, you might be surprised at a few of the "outsiders" who don't follow it (DIII) regularly who ask about it...and some of the people who I've talked to who aren't really fb fans, but know of my and other people's interest (because we talk about it so much ) who actually ask about that also.  Anyway, bottom line is yes - the AQ is persuasive enough!!

[formerd3db]

Hey Pat...BTW, have you taken out your winter coat permanently now for covering the remainder of the playoff games and up to the Stagg (uh, for your outside reporting and to & fro' the car/buildings, not while you are in the booth of course?!

[HOF]

Ahh yes...back online finally!

Congrats to Olivet for a great year!  Finally, Dom might quiet some of his critics.

Sad day for Michigan football. 

Any coaching changes, players transferring or any of that good gossip??

We gotta keep this board going...

[ACRULZ]

From what I hear at Adrian the rumor that the coaches jobs were in trouble were true, but I guess that is not the case anymore.

[D306]

I will start with Congrats to Olivet on winning the MIAA.
Proves that defense and belief in your system is the key to Football.
If you review a couple key games for Olivet the coming from behind victories AT Hope and AT Adrian were HUGE.

Looks like several teams get hit hard by graduation this year, so things will stay tight and shake up again next year.

I have a "sleeper" if you can call Albion a sleeper (based on History).
Albion lost several close games this year with a predominately very young team. The Brits graduate a couple key members, but I believe have more speed and talent coming up to Junior and Senior years. Close game losses while still a loss are something you learn from if you are a young team. Just a flat out loss if you are a veteran team.

Keep your ears out for incoming MIAA players and is if we can keep the board hopping.

Last Thought Congrats and Thank You to Coach Carr class act and U of M will miss him.

[ACRULZ]

I'm gone for the holiday...but I would like to wish everyone a very happy AND safe Thanksgiving!!! 

[formerd3db]

I don't want to re-type all my comments here, but was just wondering what some of you thought about who might be U of Mich's next hc?  Please see my comments regarding this over on the HCAC board.  Thanks.

[bulldogalum]

I, for one, would put Brian Kelly near the bottom of my list of candidates.  It's nothing to do with his coaching ability--he's a good head coach and a brilliant offensive mind--but instead relates to his ability to represent the University of Michigan in a way consistent with Michigan tradition.  He's a jerk, but that can be overcome.  My biggest problem is the way he handled his departure from Central last year, the acceptance of the Cincinnati job, and the opportunity to coach at Michigan State.  IMO, very shady all around, although I'm not sure how much of it has come to public light.  Again, I think he's a fine coach, but I would be very disappointed if he were to follow Carr as the head coach.

Obviously, Les Miles is the popular choice around Ann Arbor, and it's easy to see why.  He's a product of the Schembechler Era, and knows what it means to be a Michigan Man, but has also had experiences outside of the University of Michigan.  He's won everywhere he has gone, including the doormat of the Big 12 in the years preceding his arrival, Oklahoma State.  He'd bring what I would assume to be a livelier attitude to Ann Arbor, and would increase recruiting potential in the South. 

I also happen to think he's the best choice, but am uncertain as to how we're going to be able to bring him in giving the timing right now.  I'll be rooting for whoever plays LSU the next couple of weeks, as that would increase the likelihood of his arrival in Ann Arbor.

The general belief here in Ann Arbor is that nobody on the current staff will get the job.  Can't say that I would be upset if this was true.  Debord had all sorts of trouble in his attempt at head coaching at Central, and English has no head coaching experience.  Personally, I'd like to see someone who has been a head coach before, and has had some success at it. 

People have been mentioning Gruden and Petrino of the NFL, but one would assume both would have to take a considerable pay cut to come to Michigan, and on top of that, Gruden at least would have been away from the recruiting trails for quite some time.  Not sure that either would be a great fit.

An interesting NFL-style option is Bill Cowher.  Not sure if he's interested in the college game, or how long he would be willing to coach if he came to Michigan (Bill Martin says he's looking for a guy who will stay at least 10 years), but he's a solid coach, and a pretty reasonable option if he's amenable to the idea.

Jim Harbaugh is probably 2 years away from being ready, assuming folks in Ann Arbor forgive him for his comments earlier this year about the difficulty of classes taken by athletes.

Really, other than Les Miles, I don't see any clear choices.  If Miles turns down Michigan, or if Martin decides to go in a different direction, I really think we'll be surprised by the result.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

I personally think that Michigan could be very well served to look outside of the family.  It is a great program with an immense tradition but it is mired in the past.  The offense remains conservative and as such it appears U of M misses out on many of the top athletes when it comes to recruiting, every year teams know what U of M is going to do.  Defensivley the lack of athletes appears to hurt them the most as noting their lack of success against spread teams with fast QB's.

Having said all that....

Les Miles is obviously the number one choice I would think with his pedigree and his success. However he does have a 1.25 million dollar buy out which may muddy things a bit and in my opinion he would be a fool to leave the situation he has at LSU.  One sad thing is that the caliber of coach of Les Miles would not be considering this job if he were not a U of M grad, this job has lost some of its luster as has the program to some extent mainly with the rise of Ohio State and the influx of athletes across the nation.

Brian Kelly from Cinncy would seem to be a great choice he wins at every level and every where he has been and has proven himself a great recruiter with some very strong ties to the state of michigan and the midwest in general he also brings with him an innovative offense that U of M would surely benefit from.  That being said he doesnt have the DI experience im sure U of M would like. 

Personally I think Harbaugh would be a good choice.  Lack of experience aside he is a bright young coach mind who is very energetic and enthusiastic about coaching and would brong some fresh life to  Michigan.  Even though he is a Michigan man I do not believe that he would bind himself with the traditional offenses taht Michigan uses.  His comments may have hurt him from earlier this year, but the way I see it he was just saying what everyone knows and if he can recruit at stanford he can recruit at U of M.

Whatver happens I would be that Lloyd Carr will have a hand in picking his successor which may or may not benefit the program long term.  Lloyd has always been about leaving the program in better shape than he found it so I think he would do a good job with this.  That being said it is also my understanding that Lloyd is not a huge Les Miles fan so if that is the case it may diminish the likliehood of Miles being in the Maize and Blue.

[formerd3db]

bulldogalum and DAWG:

Thanks for your opinions on the subject, which I would agree with as well.  With regard to Les Miles, while coaches have to say certain things at press conferences in handling situations like this for obvious reasons, I would be very surprised if Miles left LSU at this point to go to U of M.  You may not have seen his own press conference this AM which ESPN reported on, however, he basically said that he could not and would not leave LSU presently.  He told/asked the reporters to do "exactly what he was doing and that was to put it to rest" period.  He indeed seems to be a man of integrity and I would take him at his word as he has not proven to be otherwise, unlike someone like Saban.  Anyway, as I said, it will be interesting to see what happens.

[DutchHawk]

Congrats to Olivet on their season. You guys played tough and hung tight! Hopefully we will end up going a ways in the playoffs!!

Good luck to all in the offseason!

[sac]

Les Miles is not a lock, and doesn't quite fit the profile Bill Martin laid out in one of his press conferences.  He wants a coach that will be at UM a long time, unless he feels 10 years is a long time, Miles is 54.  LC was 49 when he took over Michigan and it didn't take long for people to call him old and crusty.

Martin also wants a coach who handles the press well and represents the University.  Miles has had his slip ups, and is known to sometimes provoke the other team with his pre-gameweek comments.   Such as "I guess Alabama's an f'ing rival now" and this gem from this week pronouncing Arkansas, Are-Kansas.   Considered derogatory in Arkansas.

What Miles would bring is enthusiasm that has been sorely, sorely missing from UM for a number of years.  He knows the history and tradition, and that may or may not be a good thing.  Hiring another Schembechler protege would be going down the same path Alabama took with its long list of Bear disciples.  I'm not sure thats what Michigan wants or needs.

Les has apparently been lobbying for this job as far back as 1995 when LC was an interim coach, it is simply put, his dream job, and if offered I have no doubt he would take it for any amount of money.  The most interesting comment coming from Carr was "you do not seek this job, this job seeks you", so perhaps Les Miles is not the top candidate as most think.

If Les were hired, I think most people would embrase him and some excitement would return.   I'd be surprised if he wasn't candidate #1.  But I do not believe he's a lock for the job.

After Les I think its a long list of people no one is thinking about.  Gruden,  Cowher, Kelly etc get mentioned but I don't think any are very viable candidates for differing reasons.  The one name I think that may pop up is Kirk Ferentz at Iowa, who's made it known in the past Michigan is the only job he'd consider leaving Iowa to take.  Brady Hoke, Ball State, Paul Johnson, Navy just to name a couple others.  Chuck Martin at GVSU was thrown around in one publication I saw, longshot but he'd be a heck of a defensive coordinator.


The chances of one of the current assistants landing the job are zero in my opinion.  DeBord is one of the worst mistakes Carr made, English is just not ready and neither is anyone after him.  There are only about 2 or 3 coaches on the staff that any other college team would even take.

Whomever the next coach is I'll embrace with all my maize and blue vigor.  My only wish is that he clean house in the assistant coaches offices and strength and conditioning offices and hire an actual special teams coach.

Its been 48 years since Michigan actually went out looking for a coach, when Glen E. Schembechler was hired in 1969, no one had heard of him.   Except Woody 

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

formerd3db:

It would be extermely odd for Miles to leave before the national championship game if they make it,   and it would also be very unlikely of michigan to apparoach that early.  It would cause Bo to roll in his grave if any recall his response to Arizona State hiring Michigans Bball coach away before the final four many years ago.