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Bane

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Good god....why in the world would DeBoer even consider TSHUN over Bama unless they boot him out.
Because one more season like this and they probably do boot him out. He's in an impossible situation in Alabama and even though he's won one more game this year than last, I think this team is worse than last year's team. I'm not sure what he's done to the team, but I watched probably 5-6 Bama games this year (in part or the whole game), and was never once impressed by them and saw a team that was very, very soft. Played with zero edge, zero attitude, light in the trenches. He only got the team into the playoffs because Nick Saban used to coach there.
 

Crazy Balki

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Because one more season like this and they probably do boot him out. He's in an impossible situation in Alabama and even though he's won one more game this year than last, I think this team is worse than last year's team. I'm not sure what he's done to the team, but I watched probably 5-6 Bama games this year (in part or the whole game), and was never once impressed by them and saw a team that was very, very soft. Played with zero edge, zero attitude, light in the trenches. He only got the team into the playoffs because Nick Saban used to coach there.
I agree with this, but I will say that I think Alabama was starting to get soft in the final years under Saban.

There just wasn't that same dominance up front in the final 2-3 years of Saban. They were winning through sheer skill talent alone.
 

TracyGraham

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Why would anyone even desire an offense like Deboer's anyway? Maybe this year is an anomaly, but it seems extremely one dimensional and very hit or miss as a result.
 

stlnd01

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In the new era of college football, poor southern schools no longer have an advantage. That and constant comparisons to when they did have that advantage.
I wouldn't exactly call Bama "poor." But I agree that in the current system, schools like Michigan that can leverage a big brand and a large/wealthy alumni base are well set up to thrive. They also have a slightly easier road in the Big Ten than one generally does in the SEC (look at Michigan's schedule this year!). And DeBoer is from South Dakota. He may be happier somewhere that's not the Deep South.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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This university, athletic program and their fans wanted to beat Ohio State and win a National Championship. They got those things at an immensely heavy price. Hope it was all worth it.

They wanted Harbaugh. They got him. Plus all that came with him.
 

Irish Norseman

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This university, athletic program and their fans wanted to beat Ohio State and win a National Championship. They got those things at an immensely heavy price. Hope it was all worth it.

They wanted Harbaugh. They got him. Plus all that came with him.
Knowing a few Michigan fans, it was worth it. They get to flash their 2023 national championship around and I can’t wait for the day I can do the same.
 

MNIrishman

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I wouldn't exactly call Bama "poor." But I agree that in the current system, schools like Michigan that can leverage a big brand and a large/wealthy alumni base are well set up to thrive. They also have a slightly easier road in the Big Ten than one generally does in the SEC (look at Michigan's schedule this year!). And DeBoer is from South Dakota. He may be happier somewhere that's not the Deep South.
If you added up the endowments of Alabama, Ole Miss, Miss St, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, collectively you'd get to about half of what Michigan has. They're all poor compared to northern schools with the gloves off.
 

Armyirish47

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If you added up the endowments of Alabama, Ole Miss, Miss St, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, collectively you'd get to about half of what Michigan has. They're all poor compared to northern schools with the gloves off.


Giving for endowments isn't the same thing. They have plenty to compete at sports.
 

irishnd31

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Yep...Win at all costs...They definitely don't care.
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MNIrishman

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Giving for endowments isn't the same thing. They have plenty to compete at sports.
Endowments are a reflection of the university's donor base. In a sustained arms race without limits, schools like OSU and Michigan (and ND!) are holding all the cards
 

tirishman505

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Giving for endowments isn't the same thing. They have plenty to compete at sports.
I like to think of endowments as the untapped potential of the schools and an indicator of alumni willingness to give to the school in general. The SEC has basically been maximizing athletic spending for a long time, i don't know if they have as much head room. Whereas if the any of the B!G schools got serious, like Indiana, they can dramatically overhaul their rosters. In fairness, this also holds true in the ACC, but at least one of the schools that cares (FSU) doesn't have the money, and the schools that do have the money (North Carolina, Duke, Virginia) don't care. I've long since given up hope that would change.
 

Armyirish47

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Endowments are a reflection of the university's donor base. In a sustained arms race without limits, schools like OSU and Michigan (and ND!) are holding all the cards


They are a reflection of a University's educational donor base. Institutions that aren't there to play school are going to funnel money in a different direction that doesn't show up on a US News report. Alabama people may not care about naming a Vet school or whatever but they will give it all for another Daddy Saban.
 

MNIrishman

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They are a reflection of a University's educational donor base. Institutions that aren't there to play school are going to funnel money in a different direction that doesn't show up on a US News report. Alabama people may not care about naming a Vet school or whatever but they will give it all for another Daddy Saban.
Michigan State, one of the less well-off northern schools, just got a $400M donation for athletics. I might be wrong, but I can't seem to find a single Alabama alum who could front that amount.
 

Synoptico

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Armyirish47

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Michigan State, one of the less well-off northern schools, just got a $400M donation for athletics. I might be wrong, but I can't seem to find a single Alabama alum who could front that amount.


Alabama launched a campaign to raise $1.5 billion in 2021 and already exceeded that amount way ahead of schedule. 182,000 different donors. There is always money in the banana stand.
 

MNIrishman

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Alabama launched a campaign to raise $1.5 billion in 2021 and already exceeded that amount way ahead of schedule. 182,000 different donors. There is always money in the banana stand.
Oh yeah MSU is doing a campaign of their own. It started more recently but has already achieved $1.6B from 130000 donors----an average of 50% more per donor than Alabama's campaign. It also is aiming for $4B, more than double Alabama's biggest campaign in their entire history.

I'm not sure what you're arguing? I'm saying that northern schools in any dimension will on average be able to outspend southern schools like Alabama and the proof is unequivocal. It's like you're saying "but Alabama spends a lot!" Of course they do. But it will NEVER be able to keep up with schools like Michigan unless spending caps are instituted.
 

Armyirish47

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Oh yeah MSU is doing a campaign of their own. It started more recently but has already achieved $1.6B from 130000 donors----an average of 50% more per donor than Alabama's campaign. It also is aiming for $4B, more than double Alabama's biggest campaign in their entire history.

I'm not sure what you're arguing? I'm saying that northern schools in any dimension will on average be able to outspend southern schools like Alabama and the proof is unequivocal. It's like you're saying "but Alabama spends a lot!" Of course they do. But it will NEVER be able to keep up with schools like Michigan unless spending caps are instituted.

Cool, so all these schools can raise tons of money? How about that? Who would've thought....

I'm saying you are wrong because Alabama WILL spend whatever it takes to be good at the football no matter how deep pocketed you think northern schools are comparatively based on whatever you think matters. Everybody could spend before...Alabama and southern schools did it better. The proof is unequivocal. It's like you're saying "but look at the spreadsheet" while Alabama shines their trophies.
 

MNIrishman

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Cool, so all these schools can raise tons of money? How about that? Who would've thought....

I'm saying you are wrong because Alabama WILL spend whatever it takes to be good at the football no matter how deep pocketed you think northern schools are comparatively based on whatever you think matters. Everybody could spend before...Alabama and southern schools did it better. The proof is unequivocal. It's like you're saying "but look at the spreadsheet" while Alabama shines their trophies.
Earned while Northern schools played by a different set of rules. Now we're living in an era where the gloves are off and there IS a limit where many SEC schools won't be able to keep up. Honestly, we're probably already there. You think Alabama is going to win another trophy in the next five years?
 

Crazy Balki

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Earned while Northern schools played by a different set of rules. Now we're living in an era where the gloves are off and there IS a limit where many SEC schools won't be able to keep up. Honestly, we're probably already there. You think Alabama is going to win another trophy in the next five years?
If DeBoer channels some of his old Sioux Falls magic, he certainly has the talent to compete. I don't see it happening, but with all that talent, it's certainly not a crazy proposition.
 

Armyirish47

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Earned while Northern schools played by a different set of rules. Now we're living in an era where the gloves are off and there IS a limit where many SEC schools won't be able to keep up. Honestly, we're probably already there. You think Alabama is going to win another trophy in the next five years?

It was the same set of rules the Northern schools had. They could have spent on players, facilities, coaches, etc., they didn't. Or didn't do it as well.

Alabama just signed the #2 class, after signing the # 3 class last year, so maybe?

Michigan State with their unimaginable in Alabama $400 million sports treasure chest just hired a new coach. Who was he and how much did he get paid again?
 

stlnd01

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This is a weird argument.

Yes, the Big Ten schools have huge alumni bases and bigger endowments. Yes the SEC schools have more willingness to spend specifically on football. Also not for nothing they have more local football talent to recruit, per capita, though it's not like there's no talent in Michigan or Pennsylvania either. I do think some of the forces that have tilted things in favor of the SEC for the last decade or two have leveled out, but it's not like the SEC is going away here.

So much of it is dependent on the school and its unique circumstances. For every Bama, there's a Kentucky. For every Michigan State, there's an Indiana.
 

Irish#1

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irish4ever

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Weird trivia question, but who was the last head football coach of a P4 program to do jail time?
I honestly have no idea.

Started on an incredibly weird footing where he started his head coaching career at UM without a signed contract for awhile.
Still have no idea how that happens, and ends in thankfully not tragic but just very sad terms.

Incredibly interested to see how Michigan gets themselves out of this mess, and who takes that job.
Who knows how much longer Freeman has in South Bend, but it's no secret he has a easier chance of continued success if Michigan is in a weaker position on the field / coaching front and how that helps us for blue chip recruiting purposes, so if they want to have a decade of 9-3 to 7-5 seasons I'm here for it!
Not a head coach, but Jerry Sandusky (assistant) from Penn State 12-13 yrs. ago is about a close that I can remember.
 
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