Has Michigan Football hit bottom yet?

Image via Wikipedia

After the expected beatdown today that is the only question left.  Has the Michigan Wolverines football program reached the low point?

- First time ever to lose to a MAC school.

_ First losing season in four decades.

- Not going to a bowl game for the first time in over thirty years.

- First time in history Michigan has lost more than 7 games in a season.

- First time Ohio State has won five in a row against Michigan.

This “historic” season has been a cruel and unusual punishment for Michigan fans.  This was the first Ohio State Michigan game in my memory where I simply knew we were not going to win – where I was without hope.

It was a weird experience.  There was a lot less tension and anger.  It was kind of an empty feeling.

When Warren picked off that Pryor pass and then the offense proceeded to fail to score any points I knew the game was over.  I just knew the offense was not going to be able to score enough points to win.  I was hoping for something that didn’t seem embarrassing.  But even that was out of reach.  Nick Sheridan simply isn’t a capable enough player to win against a competent foe like Ohio State.

Want to talk about offensive impotence?  Out of 12 games Michigan failed to score in two or more quarters 9 times!  In two thirds of their games the offense failed to score for half of the game!

So here is the question: assuming Michigan has a Division I caliber player – even if a freshman – can Michigan return to competitive football?

Only time will tell, but I say yes.  As bad as things have been this year, with a capable QB Michigan wins 6 or 7 games in my opinion.  There are a lot of young players who got valuable experience this year both in playing and in learning the system.   I have to think these players will only get better next year.  Provided the horrendous turnovers don’t repeat themselves. I can see Michigan winning 7 games next year even with a freshman at QB.  Heck, Chad Henne had a great freshman season.

Rich Rodriguez has a history of turning programs around and I think at Michigan he can recruit the talent to get it done.

But all that is just hope.  Right now the program is ashes.  The question is whether there is a Phoenix lurking.

Michigan fans have to suffer a long off-season to find out.

From the Ashes