The Fall Guy

Many people have asked me why I don't write a blog right away after a game. What takes me so long to collect my thoughts and put them into words?  Passion. That's the best way I can describe it.  I have so much passion for Michigan Football that I want to make sure what I put in writing are my true feelings and not just half-cocked emotions that I end up regretting.

Outside of my family and co-blogger, no one really knows or understands how I feel about The University of Michigan. Especially football.  I can't really explain it very well either. It's almost like an extension of my family.  You know, it's like, "I can talk trash about them all day, pick apart every minuscule thing, but if anyone else even thinks of muttering a negative word, I'll bite their head off like a momma bear protecting her young cubs." Yea, that's close to how I feel.

So that's why I take some time to digest, reflect, and analyze my thoughts, feelings, and emotions regarding my team and the week's game before writing.  Then I read articles from reputable sources, gather information, read press conference transcripts and put together my final thoughts into words.

If I had written a blog after the debacle that was Saturday's game it would have read something like this.....Fire Brady Hoke! Fire David Brandon! Bench Devin Gardner! Now! The end.

However, after a couple cooling off days, I've come to the following conclusions.....

1. I think the real problem is David Brandon.  From what I've read and been able to gather, he is way too involved with the football program.  He watches game film. He sits in on team meetings. He attends and stands in the back of the room during press conferences. He's on the field during games. He has made Brady Hoke a puppet. I equate this to my principal attending everyone of my parent/teacher conferences. Sitting with me while I write my lesson plans. Standing in the back of my classroom during every lesson I teach. This doesn't exactly scream, "I have confidence that you can do your job and do it well.  I trust that you know what you are doing and will get the job done." On the contrary, it shouts from the roof tops, "I don't think you have a clue what you're doing and I'm going to micromanage every move you make, because I don't trust you to do it the way I think it should be done......which is obviously the right and only way to do it." So, I ask you, "Would you be able to do your best job under those circumstances?" I think not.

2. These players are putting their all into this. They work their tails off. They are pulled in a million different directions. They have the weight of the university riding on their shoulders. So, I ask you, "At 18-22 years old, would you have been able to handle the pressure?" I think not.

3. Yes, Devin Gardner is a 5th year senior, he is not however, a 5th year starter.  He is a guy who has had to learn three, yes THREE, different offenses. He's played wide-receiver in one of those systems, back-up quarterback and starting quarterback.  He's a smart guy. He's getting his Master's degree in Social Work from Michigan. He deserves the fans' support. So, I ask you, "How would you feel if he was your son? Would you want a fan base as large as Michigan's to be bashing YOUR son?" I think not.

4. Yes, Brady Hoke seems to be in over his head. It appears that he doesn't know how to coach these kids into their greatest potential, but refer back to point one. I think this is part of the reason for Brady not living up to what he was painted out to be. He has become the Fall Guy for David Brandon. If things don't turn around this season and quickly, I believe that Brady will be fired.  Which will result in losing recruits, possible transfers of current players, assistant coaches and coordinators leaving, and then we start all over again. A new coaching search. Trying to salvage a recruiting class. A possible change in offensive and/or defensive schemes. And if this all happens, another 3-4 years of the same thing we've been dealing with for the past 7. So I ask you, "Do you really want to start all over.....again?" I think not.

I want this team and this coaching staff to get it right. Turn it around. Turn on some light bulbs and win some damn games.

My Pick 6 things I'd like to see going forward:
1. Devin Gardner get some confidence back
2. Jake Butt get healthy
3. Jabrill Peppers used more effectively
4. Special teams improvement
5. Defense stop giving up big plays
6. Convert on 3rd down

~Bekki
Go Blue!