Being a Michigan Football fan, there has been a lot of ups and downs over the last 15 years. This week might’ve been the last straw for me. They decided to cancel “The Game” against fourth-ranked Ohio State due to Covid-19. But I think there is much more context that goes into this. There’s also rumors that they are looking to give Jim Harbaugh a contract extension. With these reasons, I’ll take you through how Michigan is becoming an embarrassment to fans themselves.
Cancelling “The Game”
On December 8th, Athletic Director of the University of Michigan, Warde Manuel, made the call to cancel the game between Michigan and Ohio State. He said that “Much wouldn’t have changed during the course of the week, so for that reason they cancelled earlier on for Ohio State and the Big Ten to have the ability to adjust where necessary”. I find this cowardly at the least. If it was due to Covid-19, why were the Wolverines able to go through limited workouts Monday and Tuesday after being cleared? The Big Ten did change their rules from having to play in at least six games to be eligible for the title game. So now, Ohio State won’t have to play Saturday and will still be eligible. So, Michigan squeaks by without any blood on them by the Big Ten rewarding Ohio State a bid. I find this whole situation a reason for Michigan to get out of being embarrassed on National T.V. for the fifth time this season.
If it really was due to Covid-19, I totally understand the cancellation, but I just don’t believe it. I think they should’ve marched down to Columbus, lost by 50 and took their butt-whooping like men. It was the coward’s way out.
The Harbaugh Decision
The second reason, I’m questioning my fandom over this team is the rumors on giving Jim Harbaugh an extension. If this rumor is true, I think I’m going to be sick. It’s just inexcusable for this man to get an extension for the job he hasn’t lived up to. Harbaugh is 100% the most overrated coach in the country and maybe in sports. Jim Harbaugh hasn’t done one thing in his six years at Michigan to give him an extension. Since he took the job, Harbaugh is 3-3 against Michigan State and 0-5 against Ohio State. Not only that but he is 1-6 against the rivals at home. It’s been embarrassing and it just keeps getting worse.
Under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan is now 1-6 at home vs. Michigan State and Ohio State ? pic.twitter.com/Xg8TErKYxV
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 31, 2020
Harbaugh has also never won a game as an underdog. Never. He is 0-12 as an underdog at Michigan. Not only is he 0-12 as an underdog but he is 11-16 versus ranked opponents and 1-4 in bowl games. The only good stat that Harbaugh has is that he’s 37-5 against unranked teams. You know who also could beat unranked teams? Brady hoke or any other coach in college football. It’s not the just the on-field stuff though, it’s also recruiting. There’s a story where five-star offensive tackle, Isaiah Wilson, was visited by Harbaugh but he wouldn’t take his cleats off when he visited Wilson’s home. Wilson had a 92-percent chance of going to Michigan, per 247Sports, but he committed to Georgia a couple days later due to this stunt. In no way, does this man deserve an extension.
The Fans
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As I wish I could blame this entirely on the coaching staff and players, I can’t. As a program, I don’t think any other team in the country gets more overhyped. Every year the media says that it’s going to be Michigan’s year to finally win the Big Ten, when it’s not the case. Then when the team doesn’t meet the expectations, you have the biased fans that keep giving Harbaugh and the program excuses. It’s the same excuses over and over again. The excuses go from “Harbaugh’s a Michigan Man, he’ll get us out of this” to “Just wait until he gets his recruits in here”. Well he’s had his recruits for three years now. You hear about him being a quarterback guru. Well he hasn’t made one quarterback into an NFL player, let alone a consistent college quarterback. From transfers like Shea Patterson and John O’korn, to his own recruits such as Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton. The quarterback position has been a disaster.
It’s not just the excuses for Harbaugh, but it’s also the excuses for the program. You always hear that Michigan has the most wins in college football history. It makes me cringe when people say that. They have wins that count against high school teams. In 1897, they have wins against a Grand Rapids high school and against a team that called themselves “Physicians & Surgeons”. Michigan has 11 national titles in their program. They have won just one since 1948. The lone championship was in 1997 in which they shared with Nebraska. The expectations are just so high at Michigan and I question as to why they are so high.
In conclusion, I’m very disappointed in the mess of what the University of Michigan program has become. As of now, I would say we are the utter embarrassment of college football.
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