The Harbaugh Way

Things in Ann Arbor surrounding the Michigan Football team have been quite interesting lately. I thought after the hiring of Jim Harbaugh on December 30, things would die down a bit until Spring Ball. I was wrong. Then I thought after Spring Ball it would cool off and we'd have the summer to wait before any big news would come out of Ann Arbor......wrong again.


I came up with a new word, one that I am certain will find it's way into Merriam-Webster's. It describes a feeling, a total sense of faith, belief, and loyalty. An unabashed confidence in what the future holds. And even a dash of arrogance. My new word is Harb-awe.


I've come to a realization that this man, our coach, is at the very least, a football genius. Let me support my claim from the beginning of the hiring process through the present.  My Pick 6 points will be embedded in this blog.


When it was inevitable that Michigan was going to be in the market for a new football coach, Jim was number one on the list.  Yet, he wanted to finish his current job before thinking about his next move. He knew he was out in San Francisco, but that didn't change his approach to coaching his current team. He wanted Brady Hoke to be treated fairly, with integrity, and humility. Point #1


Then, upon the signing of his contract and the negotiations of his pay, he said he didn't want to be the highest paid coach in football, an offer that was on the table. He wanted to take less pay, so that he would have more in the budget to hire the best coaching staff possible. He knew the existing staff wasn't meeting the expectations and he would have to revamp the entire staff. Point #2


He knew the most important position on a football team was also the most lacking in talent development. So, what does he do? He accepts an unprecedented 7 scholarship quarterbacks on his roster to increase the competition and development. Quarterbacks are his specialty. Point #3


It is no secret to anyone that breathes, that there is a heated, intense rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State. It is often very difficult to lure the top prospects out of Ohio because, like us, they've been raised to hate the opponent. So, Mr. Harbaugh finds a creative yet genius way to increase his chances of landing such recruits. He hires one of the top Ohio High School coaches, and former coach of the one and only Jabril Peppers, as part of his staff. This gets a foot in the door with a familiar, successful, friendly face. Point #4


Realizing that SEC and Pac 12 territory is another place in the nation that has top talent, yet is so hard to recruit, Mr. Jimmah Harbaugh takes another unprecedented approach to get to the kids and show them what Michigan is about. He sets up several satellite camps around the country, focusing on these areas, so he can recruit and advertise Michigan for the great university it is. Genius, I tell ya. Point #5


Point #5 obviously didn't please the one and only Mr. Nick Saban, calling them ridiculous and calling for the NCAA to put a stop to them. Mr. Harbaugh reaches out like only he can do. The king of trolling in the "most sacred" land for football. He invites 2 representatives from EVERY, yes EVERY football college or university in the country to come to his camps at Michigan. This move is multi-faceted. It let recruits know so many things about the way he coaches. He doesn't hide from competition. He loves football and everything about it. He wants athletes to learn from the best and do it the right way. And he can tell the recruits, "Look, I invited_______ to come to this camp, but he didn't want to. I'm here running this show. Who do you want to play for??" Point #6


Sure, he rubs some people the wrong way. He's at peace with it, and I am too. Michigan fans have one of their own at the helm and we take the good with the bad. But let's be honest, there isn't any bad. If you hate him, these moves make you hate him more. If you love him, you love him even more. Which is why I declare myself to be totally in Harb-awed with the man.


Cordially yours in football, (he came up with that one, too)
Bekki


~Go Blue!

Signed. Sealed. Delivered. He's ours.

A while back I wrote about the day Michigan football changed. Today, I'm going to write about the same topic, but with a much different tone. The previous blog covered the day Bo died and how Michigan had never been the same since that day. Things have been on a downhill slide for about the last decade. That all changed today.


Today, Michigan got it's man. In a well orchestrated coaching search conducted by Jim Hackett, an interim Athletic Director, Michigan landed the hottest coach in football.The guy that was the long shot. The guy that no one, No. One. thought they could land. The guy that had NFL dreams and would never "come back down" to college. The guy that was at the prime of his career and could have any job in the country, NFL or college. What people don't understand, is that Jim Harbaugh loves Michigan. He said in his press conference that he's dreamed of this job since he was 9 or 10 years old.


Today, a man gets to live out his life long dream. While standing at the podium delivering his press conference speech; he smiled a lot, spoke of how grateful he was for the opportunity, offered thanks for the faith and trust Jim Hackett has shown him, and gave a pledge that he will uphold the greatness and excellence of Michigan.


Today, Michigan fans are united. The factions that once existed that prevented Michigan from landing him 4 years ago are gone. The argument of spread versus pro-style are a thing of the past. Today everyone is just excited to see how this develops.


Today, bygones were set aside, mistakes were admitted, and forgiveness was given. No doubt things have been rocky these past few years. Things have been said and done that left many hard feelings. Those days are nothing but a memory and all the people that matter are rallying behind the new coach and offering support in anyway they can. Former coaches, players, equipment managers, businessmen, university officials, were in attendance today to show their support.


Today, a wife supported her husband. It had been widely reported that Sarah Harbaugh, Jim's wife, didn't want to move again. She loved the west coast and wasn't interested in coming to the Midwest, much less Michigan in December. But she sat in the front row with their children, attended the after party and supported her husband and his life-long dream.


Today, families were reunited in Ann Arbor. Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, Jim's parents, are reportedly moving back to Michigan. They, along with his sister and her family were in attendance. Clearly they are all supportive of Jim and excited with his new coaching position.


Today, thanks was given to the men of the past. Jim credited past coaches with building a great foundation for over a century. There was an absence in body in the crowd, but everyone knew Bo was there and smiling down on that press conference today. No doubt they could all feel it.


Today, it wasn't about money, it was about love of Michigan. Details of Jim's contract have been released and the reported 6 years for $48 million was inaccurate. His contract was the same he was making at the 49ers, $5 million for 7 years, with incentives.  He told Jim Hackett that he didn't want to be the highest paid coach in the NCAA or even the B1G, he wanted to save some money so he could hire awesome assistants and pay them accordingly.


Today, is one of the days I'll tell my kids about. I'll know exactly where I was and what I was doing. I traveled to my parents' house so I could watch the press conference with them, one of my brothers, and my girls. This was a family occasion, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.


Today, I wore my maize and blue and wasn't feeling like I needed to be prepared with a comeback for heckling that was sure to be thrown my way. I wore it with a smirk on my face and with a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation.


Today, rivalries were renewed and faith was restored.


Today, was a good day. The great days are still ahead.


My Pick 6 quotes from the press conference by Jim:
1. I'm not comfortable with being referred to as the savior of Michigan football.
2. I don't believe this is a turn-around, this is greatness.
3. I want to build one and live in it permanently.
4. Like you know your name, I know Michigan football.
5. I'm standing on a foundation that has been built for over 100 years.
6. I made a decision from the heart.


Go Blue!
~Bekki

M cubed

As I hinted at in a previous post, this week's blog will focus on The Michigan Man Mantra (M3). In preparation for this blog I Googled "Michigan Man." Much to my surprise there were several hits that offered several different explanations for the meaning of "Michigan Man."  I learned that Fielding Yost used the term in several of his speeches. However, I first remember the words being muttered by Bo Schembechler when he was Athletic Director at Michigan. He found out that Bill Frieder, the basketball coach at the time, had signed a contract to coach at Arizona the following season. Bo fired him the day before the NCAA basketball tournament was to begin. He said, "A Michigan Man will coach Michigan."

In light of the press conference yesterday to announce, to no one's surprise, that head football coach Brady Hoke was dismissed from his duties, this question was asked by a reporter. "Will the new coach be a Michigan Man, something we've all heard so much about?" Interim Athletic Director answered this question directly and with great poise and confidence. I couldn't have been more proud of they way he handled it. In fact, I had to hold back," Can I get an Amen!?!?!" when he gave his answer.

I have long held the belief that Bo's words have been misinterpreted by people with personal agendas, misinformation, and people who think they know about Michigan, but really have no clue.  So, here's my personal interpretation of what a Michigan Man is....

A Michigan Man is someone who leads their life with integrity, first and foremost.  And by this I mean, just as Merriam-Webster defines it, a person who has the quality of being honest and having strong moral principals. That quality is the most important one to me.  I don't want a coach that isn't going to play the game, and everything that goes with it, honestly and with strong moral principals.

Secondly, a Michigan Man is someone that has an undying loyalty to Michigan. Someone that will do whatever is humanly possible to represent the university the best way possible, as long as it is done with the first quality I mentioned at the forefront.  And yes, this means winning games. That's part of the job of a coach.

Next, a Michigan Man must have compassion. There are so many situations in this world, some of them right at Mott's Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, that need a hero.  This has been a long standing tradition at Michigan. Players and coaches go visit, bond, connect, and establish relationships with the patients and families at Mott's. I hope the next coach follows in this tradition. It builds character and brings the student-athletes to an understanding that life does not begin and end with football.

Additionally, a Michigan Man is one who has a bit of an edge to their personality. Someone who is firey; yet calm during adversity, honest; yet compassionate when necessary, and driven; yet focused with eyes wide open.

And lastly, a Michigan Man is one who understands, or is willing to learn, what Michigan is all about. The traditions. The beliefs. The former legendary coaches and players. The history. The winged helmet. The Leaders. The Best. The Song. The Victors.

So you see, a Michigan Man doesn't have to be a male or someone with direct ties to the university (student, player, coach, or otherwise). It just has to be someone that "get's it."

“But do let me reiterate the spirit of Michigan. It is based upon a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways; an enthusiasm that makes it second nature for Michigan men to spread the gospel of their university to the world’s distant outposts; a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours.”  

Fielding Yost, 1942

My Pick 6 interview questions if I were on the search committee:
1. What is your equation for success?
2. How will you unite the factions that exist at Michigan?
3. Why do you think our previous coach wasn't able to win?
4. How will you establish leadership on the team?
5. What will be your selling point(s) to potential recruits?
6. Do you value seniority or hard work more?

~Bekki
Go Blue!

Give me a P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C!

The vision for this blog when it first came to fruition was to be about football from a woman's perspective, with an occasional rant and rave.  I never thought my first football season as a blogger would be as tumultuous as it has been. I haven't written in quite some time and I'm not exactly sure why. One day I think it's because there is nothing worthy of writing about, because the team is so bad. Then, the next day I feel like there is so much to write about because there are so many things that need to be fixed, on and off the field

So, in order to focus my thoughts. I guess I'll just stick to writing about the on-field performance, or lack of, for now.

Call me hopelessly optimistic, or maybe I'm just delusional, but I actually thought Michigan had a chance to win the game yesterday.  And to some degree, I was right. Had they put all of the pieces together at the same time, they could have had a chance at the end to make a game of it.  That, however, didn't happen. I should have expected this, given their past performance.  Chris Spielman pegged it when he said, "Michigan is a team of almosts......almost made that tackle, almost broke for a long run, almost made the catch, almost got the sack." Almost, doesn't cut it. Not for me.

The O-line looked as pathetic in the first half as I've ever seen them, but came out in the second half and actually gave Gardner some time.

Gardner looked like, well, Gardner. Scared. He made poor decision after poor decision and turned the ball over like only he can do.  I'm not exactly sure what he saw with that shovel pass that resulted in a Pick 6, because I saw nothing. It's pathetic that I watch a game just waiting for the turnover(s).

The receivers: They just plain didn't show up. Dropped pass after dropped pass. Funchess needs to return the coveted #1 jersey to the equipment manager. He doesn't deserve it. He played yesterday like a half-hearted goat. It was awful. Then Darboh got in on the action too.

The defense played average, they gave up some big plays and missed some key tackles, but when you've been on the field as much and as often as they were yesterday, it wears you down.  I haven't seen a ToP (Time of Possession) stat yet, but it would be scary, I'm sure. If the offense was even close to average, the defense keeps them in the game enough that it could have been a game at the end.

I'm not sure where they go from here. By all accounts, Hoke will be the coach until the end of the season, so I guess my only hope for them is that no one suffers a career ending injury at the hands of a staff that clearly can't prepare them to play.

Ugh! Just plain, Ugh! Never felt so hopeless about a team in all my years as a fan. It's so difficult to watch and root for a team that has so much undeveloped talent. They are just plain bad with a capital B-A-D.

If I were queen of Michigan football here are my Pick 6 things to fix to get them back:
1. The Athletic Director---because the type of head coach we need, won't come with Brandon at the helm
2. The Head coach---Brady is a nice guy, not a good coach
3. The O-Line coach---no comment needed
4. Attitude---everyone's attitude, from the top down, is not focused
5. The Michigan Man mantra----this may be my next blog
6. Strength and Conditioning---these guys get man-handled in the trenches

Go Blue!
~Bekki

The Day Michigan Football Changed

The day started like any other day for me.  I went to work and was going about my day with 12 preschoolers, and then there was a knock on my door.  It was a paraeducator from an upstairs classroom. I was a bit confused as to why she was at my door during the mid-morning. I had no idea that what she was about to ask, and then subsequently tell me, would change the course of my day and the following 8 years as dramatically as it did.

Lady from upstairs, "Do you know who Bo Schem...?

"Schembechler? Yes, I know who he is. Why?"

"Well, my husband just told me that he died."

Me, completely in shock with a lump in my throat "What?!?! You've got to be kidding me?"

The Game was only a couple days away and had been built up with as much anticipation as a National Championship game.  Michigan and Ohio State were the two top ranked teams in the country, the biggest rivals in all of sports, and now this.  How could this be happening?

I immediately went to the phone to call my dad the first moment I had a chance.

"Dad, is it true?" I said with tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Yeah, Bek. It's true.  He was doing what he loved. Talking about Michigan. No better way for him to go."

"I'm so sorry Dad. I don't know what to say. I know how much you loved him. I can't believe this is happening right now. He won't be able to see the game."

"Yeah he will. He's gonna have the best seat in the house to watch our guys beat the Buckeyes."

"Ok, Dad. I gotta go. I'll come over after school."

Bo Schembechler was my Dad's idol. He looked up to him for so many reasons. He was firey. He was honest. He was intelligent. He was a motivator. He operated with integrity. He was successful. But most importantly, he loved Michigan. He would do anything and everything to make sure they were successful, the right way.  He never compromised that. Never.

November 17, 2006 is the day things changed in Ann Arbor. And they have never been the same since.  Michigan didn't win The Game and it has been a downward spiral ever since that day. I realize there will never be another Bo Schembechler. How could there be? But I honestly believe, if he were still alive, things in Ann Arbor, in Schembechler Hall, on State Street, and the surrounding areas, would not be the way they are today.  Bo wouldn't have allowed it to get to this point.

It seems inevitable that Michigan, once again, will be conducting a coaching search and possibly an Athletic Director search, too. I hope that the people who control this search, do a little soul searching for themselves.  And during this search, the first question they should ask themselves should be, "What would Bo do?"

My Pick 6 criteria for a new coach
1. integrity
2. passion
3. winning record
4. honesty
5. love for student-athletes
6. great motivator

~Bekki
Go Blue!

Cue the Circus Music

I had a totally different blog in mind for this week, but given the recent Barnum and Bailey's Big Top Circus that has rolled into Ann Arbor, I'll save it for another time.  Instead, this week, I will address the fiasco that is taking place in one of my favorite places in the entire world.  Ann Arbor.

In my best circus announcer voice: "In the far left corner of the circus please feast your eyes upon the Offensive and Defensive Coordinators for the University of Michigan, Greg Mattison and Doug Nussmeier. You will notice that they are amazing recruiters that come with a whole resume full of great talent at previous prestigious positions.  Watch closely as they under develop players, have only 10 players on the field at times, and call questionable plays time and time again. This is really something magnificent and mind-boggling to see."

Continuing with my circus announcer voice: "In the far right corner of the circus for your viewing pleasure you will see Head Football Coach Brady Hoke be eaten alive by lions, tigers and bears. Oh my! He will be hung by the trapeze with no safety net below him. He will make unfathomable and dangerous decisions without even knowing it.  And he will do all of this with absolutely no preparation. Only the Circus Director (aka David Brandon) will know what is really going to happen, but will not tell Brady. This is an example of complete and utter miscommunication at its finest and quite a sight to see."

"In the center of this amazing and crumbling circus you will see David Brandon. He happens to be wearing an invisibility cloak, because now that the shit has hit the fan he doesn't want to be seen or heard from.  He'll let the guys to his left and his right take all the attention away from him, while he tries to some way escape the circus like David Copperfield."

This is my best assessment of what has transpired over the last few days. I hope. And pray. And beg. And plead. Just make it stop. Get it right. And let's get back to playing Michigan Football.

Forever and Always, Go Blue!
~Bekki

My Pick 6 Flubs of the week aside from the abysmal game :
1. NO ONE on the sidelines seeing the hit on Shane Morris
2. Russell Bellomy not being able to find his helmet
3. Shane Morris being put back into the game
4. The Monday press conference that Brady was ill prepared for
5. David Brandon knowing on Sunday that Shane had a concussion and not telling anyone
6. The much delayed and suspicious statement from David Brandon released in the wee hours of the morning

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!