Attendances for spring practices are done for the year. The purpose of this post is to compare in "my eyes" the progress, differences, improvements whatever word you would like to use between the 2009 version of Michigan football compared to the 2008.
As most posters are aware of by now, although we consider ourselves huge Michigan football fans, we also try to be realists. Our approach to analyzing Michigan football is to be as unbiased as possible -- though to many it does not appear that way.
We weren't in the "hire Miles" camp," even though many assumed we were, nor were we blown away when Coach Rod was introduced as Michigan's new football coach. We took a wait-and-see attitude, then got a first-hand look at the program a year ago in spring practice."
To say the least was very hesitant to accept or believe Coach Rod was the right fit. Guess fell on "the program needed to be tweaked and not blown up". Last spring was a disaster in our opinion. Coaches were not on same page, kids were leaving, players at practice had their heads down, Coach Rod was a raving maniac, it was tough to watch you almost at times wanted to look the other way.
Then the disastrous season wish could sit here and say "told you", but was hurting like everyone else and hurting more in some cases because we knew what the kids were going through. By November started to wonder "Is Coach Rod going to make it" and honestly had my doubts. So much crap had happened.
1) Losing season.
2) Defensive Coordinator debacle.
3) Players leaving (some very good kids).
4) Questioning whether Coach Rod understood Michigan or its traditions.
5) Would this offense ever work (we actually longed for DeBord).
All that stuff can be argued, but would suspect most of you at one time or another asked the same questions especially how the season went.
The reason brought all this stuff up is that something happened at coaches clinic. Something very small that changed our mind and feelings completely. It was during Coach Rod's presentation and he was talking about recruiting kids and he said there is only one question he asks every kid he recruits "Do you love football".
Now some of you may say of course every kid in high school would love to play football at Michigan or some other BCS school, but that is not the question he asked. He is asking them "Do you love football enough to do what is required at Michigan's football program?"
Two completely different questions and when you get around program and listen to Coach Rod speak you start to understand what that means.
Thanks for stopping by http://gobluemichiganwolverine.blogspot.com/
If you have any questions please e-mail erocwolverine@gmail.com
Written by MaizeMan and ErocWolverine
Really enjoy the blog and the analysis. But, I think you need to elaborate a bit on why asking the question "Do you love football?" puts your mind at ease about a [huge] losing season, the Defensive Coordinator debacle, players leaving, Coach Rod's understanding of Michigan tradition, and whether his offense will ever work.
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