The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/382426
FROM OUR READERS State and their opponent in a bowl game. Patience paid off as Bo then forged a more competitive record in those final two games, but never domi- nated there. Gary Moeller (1990-94) and Lloyd Carr (1995-2007) were great coaches and were able to sustain the program's momentum that Bo had painstakingly built up. They both benefited from being longtime Wolverine assistant coaches, hired from within Bo's "sys- tem." Both had little trouble dominat- ing the inconsistent and unstable MSU program because the Spartan head coaching office had a revolving door on it! Watching Coach Carr take on the Buckeyes left us all scratching our heads as he seemed to have had John Cooper's number, while Jim Tressel seemed to have had Lloyd's. Wolverine fans, previously spoiled by success under Bo, Gary and Lloyd, then learned what needing patience feels like as Rich Rodriguez (2008-10) was doomed to failure by a combina- tion of a totally new coaching staff and offensive system, graduation and early departures from the 2007 team, and lower-than-average recruiting success during that time. Those three bleak years featured ineffective defensive units, a vast departure from the de- cades of Wolverine football before then. A former assistant under Coach Carr, Brady Hoke (2011-present) faced up admirably to the daunting task of bringing in a totally new coaching staff and athletes that fit the traditional Michigan pro-style offensive and for- midable defensive system. Fans must face the reality that total overhauls take time, and that the recruiting "pipeline" between high school recruit and sea- soned veteran is usually a long one. I believe that Coach Hoke now has all the pieces in place. Before Coach Dantonio took over the Michigan State program, one could depend on the Spartans beating them- selves with 150 yards in penalties per game and bonehead mistakes in clutch situations. That is not happening any- more. They are well coached, and it will take continued recruiting efforts and a game face resolve to beat them. The Big Brother/Little Brother situa- tion is, as Ernie Harwell would have said, "LOOONG GOOONE!" Out-recruiting the Buckeyes, how- ever, is another matter. When com- peting with Ohio State's high-profile tradition, talented coaching staff, and magnificent facilities, one seems to be up against something more (even more than having your hotel's water shut off while in Columbus). Wolver- ine fans are left to wonder if obeying NCAA recruiting and academic rules and bringing in bright, high-character student-athletes (with the emphasis on the student) will be enough. We need to keep reminding ourselves that so many times in the past it has been. Being the fan of a winning football team is not a destination, but a journey. We've got to enjoy the exciting ride! Patience; the future is bright Blue! Lou Hoekstra Kalamazoo, Mich. Sometimes, it's a long, hard ride, Lou. But anything easy isn't worth doing.