At Our Whitt's End

When Kyle Whittingham got hired at Michigan I had a few concerns.  My biggest concern was Michigan is hiring a guy that Utah pushed out and clearly felt was holding them back.  I didn't bang that drum too loudly as everyone in the media just raved about the hire.  You couldn't find one person to say one bad thing about him.  

Then he got to work, saved most of the roster, re-did the weight room, brought over All Americans from Utah and hired what seemed to be a strong staff.  Something then fell apart and now the Michigan program is completely broken as last night they lost to the worst team in the Big Ten, instate rival, and a team playing mostly 3rd and 4th stringers due to injury.   Not to mention the worst QB in the history of the program ran the ball down the middle of Michigan's top tier defense all night. 

That's it for Coach Whitt in Ann Arbor.   The only issue is U of M doesn't have any leadership to pull the trigger.  It's lacking a President and AD.  

Here is what I learned as we all have watched this team implode:

• Beck is looking to get fired, he wants out.  There is no way you call a game like that and think you have a job on Monday. 

• The boosters that fund this team and spend Millions, will not be writing that same check next year with this staff and that performance.  A change has to be made. 

• Coach Whitt has lost this team and his staff, he doesn't do shit on the sideline except peer off into space.  

• Utah is undefeated and will be #1 or #2 in the next CFP rankings. 

• Watching Utah I now understand how Beck's offense works.  During passing downs the QB isn't supposed to throw, he is supposed to scramble for 15 yards each time.  He just needs to be a "serviceable" thrower to open the run lanes.  The problem with Bryce is, he was always trying to throw on throwing downs. 

• The University of Michigan is not prepared to run a professional football and basketball team.  Their academic backgrounds don't fit this model.  I'm sure the lady from Vandy will run a great University but I'm 100% sure she is not ready to run multiple professional sports teams. 

• I'm really tired of getting coaches out of the discount bin.   Sherrone, Biff, Coach Whitt, and (it's still early) Coach Boynton.  While we miss out on other coaches that were on the staff doing things in the NFL like winning a Super Bowl for example.  Or program changers like UCLA, UK, and IU have. 

• Who is to blame?  You don't have to look too far, its Warde.  Cignetti or Day didn't run off to the NFL.  Hurley got a huge contract offer from the Lakers but still stayed at UConn.  Something is broken at Michigan and it starts with leadership.  

• Michigan's defense is not as good as we think.  They don't get 3 and out's, they don't tackle well, give up very long drives, and they get run on.   Yes, they don't give up TD's but there are a ton of holes in that defense. 

• The offense line has no idea what they are doing.  They are spinning around like tops out there.  Might be the worst OL in 10 years. 

• You can't make your highest paid player, a recruit out of high school.  If your going to spend that type of money it has to be for a proven QB at the college level. 

So now what?  This team does not deserve your time, it really doesn't.  It's a really poor football team.  They have 3 more loses on the schedule and then it's over.  No Bowl game this year, but who cares about that anyways. It's not like this fan base it going to dig into our pockets and travel to the Liberty Bowl.

A clear lack of leadership will continue to bear its ugly head as Michigan has been completely neglectful on keeping a lame duck AD and not hiring a new one.  Michigan has to get a AD hired quickly and allow him or her to do their job aggressively and quickly.  

Either way, the one things that needs to happen is Coach Whitt needs to get on his motorcycle and head into retirement a few years earlier than expected.  

Preview MSU

Time: 7:30
Location: Big House
Weather: 44 No rain
TV: Peacock/NBCSN
Line: Michigan -13.5

This is one game that really doesn't need any introduction.  Michigan and MSU clearly just don't like each other.  It doesn't help now that Michigan Basketball won a National Championship which Sparty felt was their domain.  The uniqueness of this match-up is neither team is very good.  MSU has lost 6 games in a row with its new coach Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan is standing at 5-3 struggling on offense with its new head coach.  Michigan has 3 ranked opponents after this game, so they dearly need this W. 

We also know this game is the only way Sparty can save their season.  Fun times. 

Dear Coach Whitt,

You seem like a guy that likes a good hypothetical? Is that a fair to say?  I've seen comments like we are a couple plays away from being 7-0 and talk like that.  Here is a deep hypothetical for you.  Should you be fired from Michigan if Utah makes the playoffs this season?  Something you were not able to accomplish in your 100 years there.   Here is how I see it:  You were pushed out because your good teams always had bad finishes and didn't win Championships.  You get the Michigan job and take 4-5 of the top players from Utah and bring them to Ann Arbor.  Not to mention the struggling OC and some family members who accompanied you as well. 

Let's check on Utah who hosts BYU (which is an instate rivalry game if you need a reference for this week). Utah is 8-0 and ranked #3 and hosting #9 BYU.  Now there is time for the Utes to implode and not make the playoffs still, so that is why this is a fun hypothetical question.  If the place you left, automatically becomes a lot better when you leave after you take staff and their top players.  Were you the problem all along?

Since we got that out of the way.  Let me try to prep you for this weekend.  State is struggling and will put up their best effort of the year on Saturday.  They have one chance to hold their heads high this season and Saturday night is it.  You know how I told you weird things happen when you play Iowa and that actually happened.  This game will have that 2x.  Expect fake punts, onside kicks, fake field goals, reverses, everything Sparty has in the playbook your going to see Saturday night. 

Here is a special nugget for Saturday.  Sparty will try to get Michigan into personal foul penalties, its really important your squad (which has not done a good job with that this year) understands that.  Let MSU make the mistakes as your team laughs at the attempts.

As I continue to watch your team this year, I'm starting to draw some conclusions.   I believe the offensive line has played poorly most of the year.  You have a great backfield full of RB's and there just isn't the holes.  Yes, the defense is loading the box, but they have done that for 100 yards of Michigan Football.  It would be great if that unit played with some passion and got a 100 yard rusher.  

Carr just needs to do what he does.  Not be afraid of the moment and execute the best he can.  Yes, would like to see a few deep balls completed but love his moxy and his accuracy when throwing the ball. His running game is your only running game at the moment.  If he protects the ball and Michigan can move the ball on the ground, it should be a good evening for the Wolverines and its fan base.  If your turn the ball over and get dumb penalties, you are going to keep Sparty in it. 

I really like Coach Hill and his aggressive style, but that style kept Rutgers in the game last week.  We need to be able to get pressure with the front 4 and lock down the WR's, TE's, and RB's with the secondary.  Selective blitzs are smart but don't tip your hand.

Coach, don't be naïve the Hate is real between these two teams and programs.  Don't under estimate it and make sure the Wolverines play clean and smart on Saturday.

Michigan 28 MSU 14

Big Ten Preview Week 10 with Injury Report and New Kicker Update

This might be one of the best football weekends of the year and The Big Ten's highest ranked team is playing as well.  That team is UCLA, which is a shocker.  The Ducks visit the Buckeyes but nobody expected they would have a combined 5 loses.  It would've been 6 loses if IU's Marsh had better field awareness. 

Friday Night: 

Nebraska (-4.5) @ Illinois:  These are the the same team.  Both teams are 5-3 and the Nebraska fans are swearing at the kids of Matt Rhule.  I don't like Nebraska being a favorite on the road.  Illinois 28 Nebraska 20 

Saturday:

UCLA (-5.5) @ Minnesota:  This is an interesting game.  UCLA is playing good football but haven't really played anyone and Minnesota keeps playing better football and probably should've beat IU last week.  I'm guessing UCLA will struggle in this one.  Minn 24 UCLA 20 

Maryland @ Purdue (-6): No thank you!  Purdue 30 Maryland 17

Oregon @ Ohio State (-7.5): The battle of the backup QB's!  Neither QB is going to be able to move the offense very well.  OSU 20 Oregon 10

Penn State @ Washington (-2.5): I don't think Iowa State will travel well to Seattle.  Wash 31 PSU 21

Rutgers @ Wisconsin (-17.5): Wisconsin is better and Rutgers isn't.  Wisconsin 38 Rutgers 13

Iowa @ NW (-2.5):  These are similar teams, with Northwestern being the biggest surprise of the year.  Their new stadium will win the day.  NW 17 Iowa 14 

Injury Report for MSU @ Michigan 

• Michigan will have some place kicking help coming next season as recruit Ryan Jung has re-classified to the 2027 class. 

Wolverine Wednesday: Losing Recruits Is Never Good

That title is a bit misleading, yes there are times where its best if a recruit and Michigan go their separate ways.  Maybe it was a really bad senior season, legal issues, or eligibility issues.   Michigan lost one recruit on Tuesday and it looks like a legacy recruit is heading to South Bend.  

Sidney Rouleau decommitted from Michigan yesterday after taking a visit to Syracuse over the weekend. Sidney is a 3-star prospect that transferred to Texas from Canada.  His name hasn't come up much lately and Sidney might of picked a school a little closer to home.  I'm pretty sure the Wolverine staff is not losing sleep over this one.  

The next one they might, 2028 Asa Burch is seeing insiders flip their predictions from Michigan to ND over the weekend.  Asa is of course the son of Alfie who was a WR and DB at Michigan.  Asa is also a 4-star edge prospect and the 89th player on the 24/7 composite.  Right now 24/7 has 100% predictions to ND. 

• Looks like Moody is back in the NFL with the Ravens.  I wonder if he is going to kick and play QB?

• ND didn't have the best Tuesday night as the first CFP rankings have them 11th barley in the playoff.  ND hosts #1 Miami this weekend and everyone expected a top 5 or at least a top 10 match-up. They are ranked #4 in the AP. 

• The Michigan Oregon game is a 3:30 kick on FS1.  Speaking of things nobody expected both seasons for the Wolverines and Ducks and their match-up being on FS1. 

• I think these early coaching searches are interesting.  NC State is interviewing all their famous former players, RG3 wants the Baylor gig, and Brian Kelly wants all the openings.  Manny Diaz winning at Duke is going to get him another job.  

• Quick question, do you think Greg Kampe from Oakland Basketball has turned down a ton of other jobs?  That guy can flat out coach basketball.