Slight change of subject off the SEC stuff so I can rave a bit, now that I'm down from the high of the Michigan game and getting over my anger at the Gator Bowl happenings......
Normally I don't buy the idea that the results of a bowl game carry over into next season and the team uses it as a springboard. Coaches do a pretty good job of pounding it out of their system in spring practice and in fall practice by demanding they look to the task at hand and not dwell on the past. Certainly, Florida will have this behind them by tomorrow. They've got big things on the horizon. In Michigan's case I think things are different. This whole year was a mess. 2005 was a crummy season too, but for some reason it didn't feel as crummy as this one. Started really by getting blown out of the Rose Bowl on New Year's, then App State and Oregon put the whole program into a malaise. Winning felt more like escaping rather than beating teams because we were supposed to. Definitely finished the regular season on a down note, and to top it off we "earned" a matchup with the nation's hottest quarterback that looked absolutely terrible for us on paper. Everyone who thought Michigan would pull it off, raise your hand. OK, now put your hand down because you're a lying SOB. I didn't think they could do it and neither did anyone. We were all set to send off a terrific bunch of seniors with a big goose egg to show for their efforts in the eight games that they care most about, and we were going to send off our beloved and respected coach in the worst possible way. The big bad Heisman winner and his cohort of speedy receivers was going to Gator-chomp Michigan right off the national stage to irrelevancy, joining Alabama in a parade of Independence Bowls. That about sums up the state of mind of Wolverine Nation, right there. Next year, who knows what'll happen. None of the players know what their role is going to be. But that's a hell of a lot better than not knowing what their role is going to be, and riding a big fat losing streak to boot. This way, our players' shoulders are carrying their coach, as they should be, instead of drooping under the weight of losing. Lloyd Carr can take his place alongside Bo Schembechler and Fielding Yost and nobody will deny him that, because he left us with the sweet taste of victory one last time.
Sorry, I know it's a Buckeye board and what goes on in Ann Arbor doesn't much concern you except once every other year. But you know....Michigan fans took one look at the result this November, realized you guys have no seniors, took another look at the bowl game matchup, and pretty much wondered if 2009 was looking good yet. I figure you oughta know this too - next year looks much, much sunnier, and it's a rivalry again.
Go Blow!
