Mailbag question: Regarding our opener against U Conn next Fall!
Happy New Year and thanks for your great work!
I just finished watching the Papa John’s bowl featuring U Conn vs. South Carolina.
Looking at U Conn, I saw a talented and well-coached team. Michigan will face that same U Conn team in the opener this fall. In your opinion, do you see us beating that team in our current state? I understand that between now and September, a lot will happen with both teams, but I am concerned right now after observing UM and U Conn in action in 09. Will we experience yet another opening loss in the Big House, which will make it our third in the last four years?
Thanks,
Jean P.
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Thanks for the question and comment.
There is no doubt in our mind that U Conn will be a quality opponent. They are a very physical, disciplined, well-coached team.
U Conn also returns a large number of starters, by our count sixteen or seventeen, including a quality senior-to-be quarterback, Zac Frasier. Some readers may remember that Zac was a Notre Dame commit that Michigan showed a high level of interest in during the recruiting process.
This game will give us a pretty good idea where the team is. We like the idea of a having a quality, non-cupcake opening game.
Coach Bo always liked having Notre Dame as an opener. He claimed that playing Notre Dame gave a purpose and drive through the tough summer double sessions.
We believe, for Coach Rod and this football team, there are three very important games next year that will determine how the fan-base reacts or supports this program. They are U Conn, Notre Dame and Michigan State.
U Conn is the first game and the opener for the renovated Michigan Stadium. This game, like many first games, can give the team a lot of momentum, along with getting the fan base behind the team early on. Most Michigan fans somehow consider U Conn a team "below" Michigan. Yes, they are a smaller Division One program that has not had a lot of success in the past, but lately the Husky program has become very good and the Huskies actually make it to bowl games.
Notre Dame is another big game, because the teams will be very similar regarding how the two coaches came into their programs. Coach Kelly will be switching to his scheme from a pro style offense just like Michigan did when Coach Rod came to Ann Arbor. With the similarities, Michigan does not want to lose this game because a lot of Michigan fans will be watching what happens.
Michigan State is our third game on the list and the reason why is mostly because of recruiting. They are making a stand of saying they are taking over the state, both in winning the game and also in recruiting the state. Well, in our opinion MSU can rightfully say what it wants since the Spartans have beaten Michigan the last two years on the field. And until Michigan beats them this will make a tough situation tougher, especially with how most Michigan fans feel that Michigan State is like their little brother.
Are there bigger games on the schedule? Yep, such as Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten, in which Michigan will try and get a winning record in conference this year. But we are not even going to count the Ohio State game as a win or should-be win because of what Ohio State brings back, where the game is being played at, and the fact that Ohio State could be undefeated going into that game playing for a chance to go to the national championship game.
All three of the games we listed Michigan fans believe they have a shot to win and all have a purpose.
As for a prediction for next football season, you are correct; it is way too early in our opinion. We know there is an "expert" out there who already has claimed that Michigan will be 6-0 next football season, but we will wait until we actually see this team in person in the spring, and see what they do in the off-season, before making this type of bold prediction. We will not flip-flop back and forth and try and justify fluid remarks. Michigan has a lot of young players, especially on the defensive side of the ball that must step up and be prepared to play. Right now, we do not want to just go off star rankings or potential. We want to see the players first hand to see how they have improved in the off-season and see what kind of changes the coaches are going to make scheme-wise on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
All we will say is that Michigan had better bring its A Game for that very first game against U Conn.
Written by GBMW Staff
Go Blue -- Wear Maize!
2 comments:
I like the idea of opening against a quality opponent. Connecticut should give the Wolverines an idea where they stand early on. A word of advice; DO NOT assume this team is a "lesser" opponent. I believe that is what South Carolina and Steve Spurrier did.....and the end result is self explanatory.
Bill,
Agree with you.
UConn is a better team than we are right now obviously especially the past two years they have been in bowl games where we have not.
To many people or should say Michigan fans always believe most programs are below Michigan because of the history of the Michigan program or what they have accomplished over their football time.
People also look at the big names in the big elite football conferences as well.
UConn will push Michigan and will tell us where we stand and also what to look out for the rest of the year.
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