Be more like Bo... Please

Schembechler coaching Harbaugh
The Detroit News

     Let’s consider Michigan’s last three games against ranked opponents. The trend is not good. We were trounced by Ohio State 62 – 39 in the last regular season of last year.  We were embarrassed by Florida 41 – 15 in the Peach Bowl, and we were manhandled by Wisconsin 35 – 14 in the first Big Ten game of this season. In the first two games of this season, we struggled against Middle Tennessee and it took two overtimes to beat Army. 
     After the Wisconsin game, there was an explosion of posts and discussions calling for a coaching change at Michigan. 
I get it. We are football fans living in the glory days of our program and so wanting a return to those days. We want our Wolverines to be one of the premier teams in the country. We are frustrated that we are not and have not been one for most of this century.
     We are looking for the next Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, or Bo Schembechler to deliver us to that promised land. That did not happened with Rich Rodriguez. It did not happen with Brady Hoke. Now, large swathes of the fan base believe it will never happen with Jim Harbaugh who came in with everyone not only believing but knowing that he was the second coming of Bo. His record against the elite programs is not impressive:

• 0-4 vs Ohio State
• 1-9 vs Top 10 teams
• 0-7 where Michigan has been an underdog
• 1-6 on the road against ranked teams
• 5 loses by 21 or more points where 3 of those have been in the last five games
• On the other hand, his record overall at Michigan is 40-15
  

     Oddly, many fans were calling for Michigan to hire Urban Meyer…. Immediately, if not sooner. He left Ohio State at the end of last season and has been working as a commentator this season. So, he is available. If not Urban Meyer, the number two choice seemed to Les Myles. Personally, I can’t even conceive the possibility of Urban Meyer taking the job. The rivalry is simply too big for something like that to happen. On Facebook, someone advocating his being the next Michigan coach, posted a doctored photo of him in a Michigan wind jacket so we could imagine him on the sidelines. The photo made me want to puke. 
     Me? I am not very keen on a coaching change three games into the season. Yes, it is not a great start and if we play like we have thus far, we could lose to Iowa, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Ohio State. I cannot even imagine the uproar if that happens. I don’t see how Harbaugh could keep his job with a six loss season, no matter how big his contract is. 
     Back in the Schembechler heyday, Michigan lost the last three games of the 1979 season to Purdue, Ohio State, and North Carolina in the Gator Bowl. They began the 1980 season with a win by 7 points over Northwestern. They then lost two games back-to-back to Notre Dame and South Carolina. Things looked pretty dismal back then. Michigan then ripped off nine straight victories including getting the first bowl win in the Bo era by beating Washington in the Rose Bowl. Bo had lost his first seven bowl games. 
     Is it possible that this team under Harbaugh could do something like that? Win-out the rest of the season and whatever bowl game they get to? Sure, it is possible. Is it probable? I don’t think so. In 1979, we lost to Purdue and Ohio State by three points each. We lost the bowl game by 2 points. We lost to Notre Dame by 2 and South Carolina by 3 in 1980. We were in each of those games. In Harbaugh’s case we lost to Ohio State, Florida, and Wisconsin by 21 or more points. We were not in these games. 
     I have no clue how the rest of will unfold. I certainly hope that we win out and do not have to experience yet another coaching change. 
     Go Blue!