BTW, the real problems who were Nutt and Broyles have been eliminated. And fans are well aware of the tough upcoming year given the lack of talent Nutt was able to recruit AND retain, especially on defense.

@8 – Because he’s rarely seen carrying a (read: “The”) book.

I wish I could disagree. There’s hope that Dantonio can solve that problem, but after the debacle against Michigan last year I’m just hoping he’ll at least learn from his own mistakes, since he didn’t seem to learn from his predecessor’s.

>> Ryan Mallet? WHO NEEDS HIM?!?

I realize your post was a total spoof – except that this is, if last year’s performance was any indication, absolutely true. Mallett would have been the most hilariously inept QB in the nation last year (despite occasional flashes of competence) if not for Jimmy Clausen. Henne played better with his arm falling off.

/I actually enjoy watching his highlights.

Michael, Notre Dame fans have no trouble understanding last season’s debacle. The team was young and not very good at football. In many games, including the one against Michigan, I’m not even sure that Notre Dame was playing football, at least in the “blocking,” “tackling,” and “gaining yards” senses.

Second, Notre Dame fans never expected a team of sophomores and freshmen to go 10-2 (or 11-2 or 10-3). We hoped, certainly, but we both know hope springs eternal in August. But the media was sure quick to jump Notre Dame’s and Weis’s shit when that team of sophomores and freshmen played like a team of sophomores and freshmen. It was a fucking strawman.

Honestly, we ND fans are in the same situation as you describe for Michigan’s fanbase: 8-4 (plus a bowl win, for the love of God) will be a triumph, and 7-5 (again, plus a bowl win, even if it’s the Diamond Almond bowl or the Weedeater bowl) will not be met with too much derision.

I hope you were tryig to be sarcastic. If so, bravo, hilarious post.

If you were actually serious (and judging from what I’ve heard talking to the Michigan fans I know you are) then get ready for a surprise. The reason the odds are set at 5:4 are because of what you just said, “most Michigan fans are expecting 8-4.” If that isn’t lunacy, I don’t know what is. As you so eloquently stated, “the offensive line is a hodge podge of players who couldn’t beat out the starters from last year’s mediocre unit … the quarterback isn’t a good fit for the most recent iteration of the RR offense … the offense lacks the supply of short, fast people needed to properly run the spread bone … the safeties are a huge question mark.”

Expect that bowl streak to come to a screeching halt this year. Seriously, make sacrifices to the gods if UM reaches 6 wins.

It wouldn’t be a Michigan post without mentioning how much ND SUX and how delusional their SHITTY fans are! Let’s see if you can score a touchdown this year with Jimmy “the Ostrich” Clausen! Good luck turdboyz! Now that’s something Michael and I can agree on! Oh yeah, Charlie Weiss is FAT!!

Git ready to git pwn’d, Tressel! You might want to bring an extra set of Pampers, because we are gonna make you dump in ur pantz this year!! Im calling it now: UM 31 OSU 6….in ur face, Pryor!

-Barwis

Second, Michigan fans have come to expect average coaching in the post-Bo era. It’s not like the bar is set especially high.

Third, Michigan fans understand quite well that the offensive line is a hodge podge of players who couldn’t beat out the starters from last year’s mediocre unit. We understand that the quarterback isn’t a good fit for the most recent iteration of the RR offense. We understand that the offense lacks the supply of short, fast people needed to properly run the spread bone. We understand that the safeties are a huge question mark. Again, we’re a detached, realistic bunch. Something about the secular humanism that Bill O’Reilly is always bitching about, I guess.

In sum, most Michigan fans are expecting 8-4. 7-5 won’t be met with too much derision. Yeah, people won’t be happy if we aren’t winning big in three years, but THAT’S TRUE OF EVERY MAJOR PROGRAM. No coach has a license to be mediocre for years. (But see: Paterno, Bowden, etc.) I can say quite confidently that Michigan fans are not irked about RR having to pay a buyout to WVU, unless Michael Rosenberg = all Michigan fans.

In sum, don’t dream up dissent and dissatisfaction where none exists. We’re not ND Nation. We aren’t assuming that a bunch of sophomores are about to go 10-2. We’re too busy naming our sons “Barwis.”

My take:

“Winning program w/ a losing coach” Burp, ND/Chollie The Hutt

“Losing program w/ a winning coach(es)?” Fits the USChikins/SOS-Loooouuuu to a tee.

“Winner w/ a coaching problem?” Bammer pre-Satan

“Coach w/ a losing problem?” Anybody who is dumb enogh to be head coach at Michigan State.