Thoughts on 2018-2019

[tinselwolverine]

The National Championship Game of College Baseball yesterday brought an end to the ten-month sports year that was 2018-2019.

Quite an eventful year for us Michigan fans as all of football, basketball, even baseball were in the national championship discussion throughout much of the seasons, also perennial contender softball as well.

One thing for sure-our teams kept our attention all year.

Secondary sports men?s and women?s soccer and men?s and women?s cross country all get started a little before football starts this fall.

Please share thoughts on the year that was, and thoughts and expectations on the year ahead.

 

[Michchamp]

After last season, I've resolved to care about football a lot less. I thought about flying back for a game or two this fall (I'm already getting ticket package offers in the mail), and I realized I'd more or less only be doing that to see people and tailgate. Care very little about the game itself. Not going to plan my weekends around the Michigan game anymore. Life's too short.

It's a brutal, corrupted, overrated sport, with too much hype and WAY too much money swirling around it, and I sincerely hope over the next few decades people stop playing it. It bears little resemblence to the Michigan football I grew up watching and caring about. Money ruins everything.

baseball, basketball, and soccer are not as bad; all are good or good enough. I'll watch those more next season.

 

[tinselwolverine]

baseball, basketball, and soccer are not as bad; all are good or good enough. I'll watch those more next season.

Hopefully after this will see the networks more interested in televising Michigan baseball going forward.

 

[wheels002]

It was a good year. There were some disappointments for sure. I think we forget sometimes how good Michigan athletics are top to bottom. Not long ago the women's basketball team was really bad and now they are fringe top 25 program. There are a lot of questions we will have going into the 2019-20 calendar.

1. Will the change to Josh Gattis bring Michigan football a more explosive offense.
2. How big will the loses of key players be to the Don Brown defense.
3. How will Juwan do trying to replace the irreplaceable Beilein.
4. Can the women's basketball team continue to take baby steps forward.
5. How big of boost will the CWS be to the baseball program.

 

[Michchamp]

Hopefully after this will see the networks more interested in televising Michigan baseball going forward.

When are college games usually played? Mostly day games or night games?

 

[tinselwolverine]

When are college games usually played? Mostly day games or night games?

It seems to me more day games.

 

[byco42]

Football -- letdown at the end of the season was all that I saw, because I was not watching any television.
Basketball -- three losses to MSU marred a successful season
Hockey -- not up to standards, but Cameron York joins the team next season (R1, Pick #14) and beating ND outdoors was a highlight

 

[thewolverines24]

Football - par for the course. Good season with a disappointing ending. I expect the exact same thing this season, but hope the Gattis offense can surprise me.

Basketball - School record 17-0 to start, throttled UNC and Nova, in the thick of the B1G race the entire time, disappointing results against MSU, third Sweet 16 in a row. Very solid overall. Hoping Juwan can pull Franz from Germany. That's a huge deal going into this year. If he can't, temper first year expectations. Not having a 2-guard in the B1G will kill us. Really need Franz.

Baseball - Hell of a run. It made my wife enjoy baseball on TV (this is a miracle). I'm hoping she says that again next year so I can watch even more games.

 

[Michchamp]

Football -- letdown at the end of the season was all that I saw, because I was not watching any television.
Basketball -- three losses to MSU marred a successful season
Hockey -- not up to standards, but Cameron York joins the team next season (R1, Pick #14) and beating ND outdoors was a highlight

If that was all you saw of the season, I actually think you were probably less let down than most.

 

[hungry]

Football, disappointment, even though they went 10-3. 2nd place finish in division

Basketball, disappointment, even though they won 30 games. 2nd place regular season, 2nd place Big 10 tournament...

baseball...2nd place nationally

Michigan is great if you like 2nd place

 

[hungry]

Michigan baseball finished the conference regular season in 2nd place...

 

[Michchamp]

Football, disappointment, even though they went 10-3. 2nd place finish in division

Basketball, disappointment, even though they won 30 games. 2nd place regular season, 2nd place Big 10 tournament...

baseball...2nd place nationally

Michigan is great if you like 2nd place

I guess it's all about framing and context.

I prefer the way Byco framed the baseball season, in that other thread. And I'd say that framing should be extended to the basketball season as well.

I am super disappointed in the football season, though, but I'm not blaming Harbaugh and staff (except I guess for Mattison and that other dickhead), or the players, as much as I think the whole sport is just rotten now.

But looking at it from a more positive angle, it's not like any other university has as many competitive teams across the board. that in and of itself is impressive.

 

[dubbsco]

After last season, I've resolved to care about football a lot less. I thought about flying back for a game or two this fall (I'm already getting ticket package offers in the mail), and I realized I'd more or less only be doing that to see people and tailgate. Care very little about the game itself. Not going to plan my weekends around the Michigan game anymore. Life's too short.

It's a brutal, corrupted, overrated sport, with too much hype and WAY too much money swirling around it, and I sincerely hope over the next few decades people stop playing it. It bears little resemblence to the Michigan football I grew up watching and caring about. Money ruins everything.

baseball, basketball, and soccer are not as bad; all are good or good enough. I'll watch those more next season.

Man, I would argue that basketball is just as corrupt, if not even more than football. I doubt that the lesser sports have things going on at those levels, but I'm sure there is still some shady business here and there.

 

[byco42]

If that was all you saw of the season, I actually think you were probably less let down than most.

I suppose, but I have had letdowns in the 70s that make this one seem like the ending of It's a Wonderful Life.

 

[thewolverines24]

Man, I would argue that basketball is just as corrupt, if not even more than football. I doubt that the lesser sports have things going on at those levels, but I'm sure there is still some shady business here and there.

Basketball is very corrupt, but you can still compete because you don't need as many guys to make a good or even great team.

You need 35 great recruits on the roster at the same time to compete with Clemson and Bama.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Basketball is very corrupt, but you can still compete because you don't need as many guys to make a good or even great team.

You need 35 great recruits on the roster at the same time to compete with Clemson and Bama.

Basketball is probably more corrupt because one guy can make a huge difference and what a school is willing to pay to get that guy could be significant. Then you've got the players' angle where they all want to get to the league ASAP (maybe getting rid of one and done soon will help some of that).

Still, the insane sums of money that are made in football means there's probably a lot more to throw around to multiple players even though paying 1 or 2 big money isn't going to turn your whole program around.

I can still tune in to a football game and be entertained enough (more likely college than NFL nowadays) but to piggyback a bit off what michchamp said, the football "culture" in this country is something I've grown tired of. The insane amounts of money it generates and how that corrupts. How I'm actually supposed to give a crap about how the local High School team is doing. How rotten the NFL is in general as an organization. Heck even got tired of everyone always obsessing over their fantasy football teams (I abruptly quit my league last year 3 days before the draft, and probably lost a few friendships because of it. Oh well, don't miss it one bit).

 

[thewolverines24]

Basketball is probably more corrupt because one guy can make a huge difference and what a school is willing to pay to get that guy could be significant. Then you've got the players' angle where they all want to get to the league ASAP (maybe getting rid of one and done soon will help some of that).

Still, the insane sums of money that are made in football means there's probably a lot more to throw around to multiple players even though paying 1 or 2 big money isn't going to turn your whole program around.

I can still tune in to a football game and be entertained enough (more likely college than NFL nowadays) but to piggyback a bit off what michchamp said, the football "culture" in this country is something I've grown tired of. The insane amounts of money it generates and how that corrupts. How I'm actually supposed to give a crap about how the local High School team is doing. How rotten the NFL is in general as an organization. Heck even got tired of everyone always obsessing over their fantasy football teams (I abruptly quit my league last year 3 days before the draft, and probably lost a few friendships because of it. Oh well, don't miss it one bit).

You mean like Duke buying Zion and his family a house? No, no. That would never happen with such an immaculate coach like Coach K.

Still got them nowhere. That's what I mean by being able to still compete in basketball despite teams pulling bullshit like UK, Duke, Arizona, Kansas, etc.

 

[Michchamp]

...

Still, the insane sums of money that are made in football means there's probably a lot more to throw around to multiple players even though paying 1 or 2 big money isn't going to turn your whole program around.

...

Yeah, that's the crux of the matter. I don't think basketball is clean by any means, but football is just excessive... the giant stadiums & practice facilities are a boon to local construction & all the corrupt dealings that come with it.

and the size of the coaching staffs, and how much money they all make are way out of wack as well. With few exceptios, these guys are all basically glorified Phys Ed teachers, and personal trainers, yet they're given way more responsibility & power (and money) than they are capable of handling.

I'm thinking of that clown we had on staff as an analyst, who got fired after it came out all he did was booze all day. He got arrested after wrecking his car, and was in the news last year. He was making $250K/year or something like that to do what? watch football videos and report on it? fucking ridiculous

This is not Bo Schembechler's college football, or Michigan. Or even Lloyd Carr's... this is a ravenous beast!

 

[thewolverines24]

Yeah, that's the crux of the matter. I don't think basketball is clean by any means, but football is just excessive... the giant stadiums & practice facilities are a boon to local construction & all the corrupt dealings that come with it.

and the size of the coaching staffs, and how much money they all make are way out of wack as well. With few exceptios, these guys are all basically glorified Phys Ed teachers, and personal trainers, yet they're given way more responsibility & power (and money) than they are capable of handling.

I'm thinking of that clown we had on staff as an analyst, who got fired after it came out all he did was booze all day. He got arrested after wrecking his car, and was in the news last year. He was making $250K/year or something like that to do what? watch football videos and report on it? fucking ridiculous

This is not Bo Schembechler's college football, or Michigan. Or even Lloyd Carr's... this is a ravenous beast!

Nail meet sledgehammer.

 

[tinselwolverine]

This is not Bo Schembechler's college football, or Michigan. Or even Lloyd Carr's... this is a ravenous beast!

I?m still going to watch the games on Saturdays.

I probably won?t ever get so disgusted that I?ll tune out.

I may eventually tine out because I become senile, but probably not because I?m disgusted.