Michigan football Sunday thoughts: The beginning of the beginning?
Michigan football’s unexpected, one-year turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Unless you had a crystal ball or were the eternal optimist (or both), you couldn’t have predicted a Big Ten title and playoff appearance for this squad.
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After a 42-27 win over Ohio State, head coach Jim Harbaugh said, “it feels like the beginning.”
But the beginning of what, exactly? Was he talking about the start of a second season in which the Wolverines would make some noise in the preseason?
If so, he may have been on to something. The Wolverines trounced Iowa, 42-3, in the Big Ten Championship Game and are one of four teams still in contention for the national title. Though a heavy underdog to Georgia in the Orange Bowl, Michigan is confident heading into the game. Not many would be stunned if the Wolverines pulled the upset.
Some, like analyst Dan Orlovsky, have even pegged the Wolverines to win the whole thing.
But this isn’t about one season — or at least it’s not supposed to be at Michigan. Many teams could win a conference, earn a playoff berth occasionally. The usual suspects (Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma) are often in the mix. Washington’s been there as a sacrificial lamb (2016-17). After a few more solid seasons under Chris Peterson, the Huskies are looking for a new coach.
LSU caught lightning in a bottle with Joe Burrow a few years ago, proving even a poor coach could win with an elite signal caller. And in the “absolutely anyone can do it once” category — well, yeah, Cincinnati. But Michigan State used the horseshoe in the rear against Michigan in the “punt” game to become the 2016 sacrificial lamb.
Going back to the distant past for you historians — is this closer to 1964 Michigan or 1969?
We’ve compared the recent era (2005 to 2020) to the 1950s (1951 to 63, specifically). Bennie Oosterbaan and Bump Elliott’s teams went 13 years without a title. There were good teams and great players at times, as there were during the 16-year drought. The 2011 team was really good, and Denard, Robinson, Jabrill Peppers etc. rivaled Ron Kramer in the ‘50s.
In speaking with several seniors from the 1964 team for “Where Are They Now?” articles over the years, listening to their memories … it was like speaking to the seniors on this year’s squad.
They’d had enough, and they were determined to be the team that got Michigan back on top.
The following year, the team went 4-6 on the way to a .500 record over the next three years.
The 1969 squad, of course, beat an outstanding Ohio State team and went toe to toe with them for the next 10 years on the way to a number of championships.
So which path will this group follow?
READ MORE IN THE FORT: SUNDAY THOUGHTS — THE BEGINNING OF THE BEGINNING?
