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Usually, when Ohio State AND Michigan State both lose on the same weekend, it's a great day for Michigan football.
However, that couldn't be farther from the truth. It was an ugly Saturday for Michigan and an all-around awful day for the "Big" Ten Conference.
As if the perception wasn't bad enough-after today, hard imagining the Big 10 champion being in the final 4.
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 7, 2014
Is today the worst day in Big 10 history? If it isn't I sure am glad I wasn't around for the one that was worse!
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) September 7, 2014
Lord, the Big Ten West is a tire fire. Minnesota might win it. Why not?
— Adam Jacobi (@Adam_Jacobi) September 7, 2014
It's only Week 2 and I'd put the Big Ten's chances of placing a team in playoff at < 10%. Credibility shot.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 7, 2014
Things have gone from bad to worse in Ann Arbor.
Remember when Michigan used to win Big Ten Championships, be in the National Championship discussion and actually win big games on the road?
If it seems like it's been a long time since that happened, you're right. Rich Rodriquez came and went in a brutal three year stretch, and if Brady Hoke's track record is anything, things are not looking much better for Meeeeeeeechigan.
Hoke is a heck of a recruiter and by all accounts, and all-around good guy. That's fine and dandy if you're talking about an assistance at a mid-tier level college. At Michigan, that's not good enough. Not close.
If I sound a little angry, I am. Maybe not a level of anger like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, but that's another story.
Taylor Swift: Katy Perry stole my dancers, and I'm PISSED!! http://t.co/7uFLDdDlXj pic.twitter.com/uNSfKR3ANK
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 10, 2014
This isn't someone being irrational. I expect big things from Michigan, and so should any Wolverine fan.
While the recruiting classes at Michigan have been stellar for Hoke, the proof is in the pudding. Either they're not developing talent properly, and if so, that's falls on the coaches. Or, Michigan is not targeting the right players and falling in love with rating systems when it comes to recruiting. Whatever the case may be, no one would argue that the Michigan roster is void of talent.
There are some future NFL caliber guys on the Team 135 roster but, as a whole, they unit still appears to have no identity. After an embarrassing loss at Notre Dame and another L on the road, the Wolverines are in a delicate position.
A season full of promise and high hopes looks like it could have a downward spiral. The Wolverines might be 7, 8 or 9 games, appear in a New Year's Day bowl game and look as though they are better. Beyond winning at Michigan State AND Ohio State, Hoke's job, from the outside, looks to be in serious jeopardy. However, as long as Dave Brandon is in charge of the Michigan Athletic program, Hoke's job in safer than it should be.
Michigan needs to be better. The Big Ten needs it. The fans should be shouting for it. No more mediocre seasons. Enough is enough. The money is there, there is an unlimited amount of resources and a loyal fan base that packs the Big House year in and year out.
All Michigan can do for now is take things one game at a time and try to rack up some W's.
On to the next one:
MIAMI (OHIO) AT MICHIGAN - 3:30 P.M. EST. - BIG TEN NETWORK
Michigan will look to get back to some sense of normalcy this weekend by returning back to The Big House.
Miami of Ohio isn't exactly the toughest competition in the world, but for Michigan, the opponent's these days are not the issue. Michigan needs to look from within to play up to it's potential and work toward achieving some legitimate success.
Hoke on ESPN Radio: Work ethic and leadership good... have bigger goals... put the game away on sunday and moved on
— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) September 10, 2014
Brady Hoke on with @SVPandRussillo "Our kids are working hard, we've got great coaches, student support and we get to play at home now."
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) September 10, 2014
Michigan has quite the weapon in Devin Funchess. Rumor has it that he was seen wearing a walking boot around Ann Arbor this week, and that could spell big trouble for the Wolverines. Funchess is the best target for QB Devin Gardner and if the two are on the same page, they are quite the duo.
Maybe not as good as this other duo in Michigan, but that's another story.
.@Lions, @tigers and @MiguelCabrera throwing a pass to Calvin Johnson, oh my! http://t.co/FRiEVxPStD http://t.co/ujaBvw1wRw
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 10, 2014
Gardner's performance at Notre Dame last weekend was bad, to say the least. He tried to force things and couldn't make the correct reads on the defense.
As bad as it was, it could've been worse. Take a look at this during the first Sunday of NFL action:
Josh McCown with the funniest/worst interception of the young season (via @anthonyvslater) http://t.co/vOPbQ6l0tj https://t.co/SUwOedQrku
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 7, 2014
How not to football. https://t.co/XuS7bq6eq2
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) September 7, 2014
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2014
There a few things to look forward to this Saturday beyond the slate of college football games.
'College Gameday' is headed up to Fargo for the second consecutive year. If it's anything close to last year, it'll be must-see television.
GameDay is heading to Fargo! #GetUp4GameDay pic.twitter.com/Anu5YOxm9h
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 8, 2014
Also, Maryland will be wearing some patriotic uniforms.
Maryland’s new uniforms commemmorate the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner: http://t.co/Cl4ch5Jkne pic.twitter.com/8K5SuP1uSR
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 10, 2014
#6 GEORGIA @ #24 SOUTH CAROLINA - 3:30 P.M. EST. - CBS
Georgia is a hot team when it comes to the College Football Playoff.
A lot of "experts" have them in final four, as either the top 1-loss team in the SEC or the SEC Champion. Whatever the case may be, they'll earn their spot there if they keep winning.
They already beat Clemson in week one and now face another tough test against South Carolina.
Steve Spurrier's crew got embarrassed during the first week of the season and they'll be out to prove they're not a joke in 2014. Georgia had better be careful and be ready for a hostile environment.
South Carolina has allowed the most yards after the catch (454) of any Power Five defense. #UGAvsSC
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 10, 2014
KENTUCKY @ FLORIDA - 7:30 P.M. EST. - SEC NETWORK
So far, so good for Florida's new offense. The Gators destroyed Eastern Michigan last week, 65-0.
This will be their first SEC game of the season and while the Wildcats are more of a basketball school, to say the least, they're still a competitive bunch.
Florida missed out on an easy win during week one, being rained out against Idaho. The Gators are finally healthy after an injury-filled 2013 season and they'll need every win they can get to save their coaches job.
In 2013, UF ranked top15 nationally in scoring DEF & total DEF as well as holding opposing QBs to QBR of 31 #EMUvsUF pic.twitter.com/dOzXYfbNLU
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) September 5, 2014
PHOTO: Florida has turned Kentucky RB Jojo Kemp’s guarantee into a motivational poster http://t.co/tYpahDuXFf pic.twitter.com/9NU8AaiZ8n
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 10, 2014
TENNESSEE @ #4 OKLAHOMA - 8:00 P.M. EST. - ABC
What a difference a week makes.
From a wild time last weekend to now, they premier games are quite different. Oklahoma is a prohibitive favorite to make the College Football Playoff and this will be an important game for their resume.
Tennessee is rebuilding and trying to get back to it's winning ways like it did with Peyton Manning on campus. The Volunteers aren't there yet but they are playing a tougher brand of football and will look to crash the dreams of Bob Stoops and company.
Rocky Top vs Boomer Sooner. #TENNvsOU http://t.co/gFXvpfaVxv
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 9, 2014
Tennessee has held its last four opponents to fewer than 20 points per game, tied for the longest active FBS streak. #TENNvsOU
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 10, 2014
PHOTO: This Tennessee fan really likes Peyton Manning. http://t.co/2QwOav0g1l pic.twitter.com/7dEgoKMQ8S
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 6, 2014
#12 UCLA vs. TEXAS - 8:00 P.M. EST. - FOX
One of the only teams who can feel Michigan's pain is Texas.
A former powerhouse just lost to BYU and is now facing another rough season. The Longhorns know that their program has buckets of money and should be competing for conference championship, at the least, every season.
UCLA hasn't been impressive thus far in 2014 but they're a favorite to win the PAC-12 conference. If the Bruins want to get back into the National Championship discussion, they'll need to play a more impressive level of football.
These fans look ready for Saturday! #FOXPhotoBooth @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/m4aVRRML2S
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) September 9, 2014
Bruins ready for game day @UCLA CoachMora @uclafootball at the Rose Bowl pic.twitter.com/TkOEe41yVR
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) September 7, 2014
Tailgates, @shelbsstrohla, and Texas football make me happy regardless of the outcome \m/ pic.twitter.com/FMwuBadxGI
— Angela Shortreed (@angshortreed) September 7, 2014
:01 LEFT
Bro shadows @BlueJays cheerleader without spilling a drop of beer: http://t.co/AHquFxJ7Rq And one and two and one ... http://t.co/xUEMFun3Jb
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 10, 2014
Pumpkin Spice Oreos are a thing http://t.co/TTLgPeY6gz pic.twitter.com/lCFzs5q8Ih
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) September 10, 2014
Man drops himself into a volcano and takes a selfie. Casual. http://t.co/gQWvSHtqof pic.twitter.com/UkqMsgbJAX
— Mashable (@mashable) September 5, 2014