Despite rumors that this is the most wonderful time of year, it has been a tricky couple weeks in Ann Arbor. However, there is still plenty to be grateful for and plenty of requests that will hopefully make their way to the North Pole before next Thursday.
Here is our holiday wishlist for Michigan Athletics for the upcoming year.
A new football coach
The Red Ryder BB gun of this year’s wish list, everyone’s top priority should be finding a Sherrone Moore successor. When a job of this magnitude opens up, everyone and anyone
will be mentioned. We have heard Kalen DeBoer, Kenny Dillingham, Kyle Whittingham, and plenty of other top candidates.
Regardless of who the department chooses (and can convince to help clean up this mess), it would ideally be someone who has done more with less at a previous stop. Michigan does not need a Brian Kelly program manager or a recycled, stale choice. The Wolverines need an infusion of life, energy and commitment to developing Bryce Underwood.
Warde Manuel fired
The timing will be complicated, as having an athletic director usually helps with the head football coach search, but the Warde Manuel era has already gone on far too long. Under his reign, the athletic department has been the subject of numerous scandals, such as Connor Stallions’ sign-stealing, the whole Mel Pearson situation within the hockey program, Matt Weiss, and now Moore, to name just a few.
Not every single problem within Michigan Athletics is solely Manuel’s fault, but the issues continue to stack up and there needs to be a change.
Winter sports banner(s)
We Wolverines are a restless bunch, and nothing cures hunger quite like championships. As of today, the men’s basketball, women’s basketball and ice hockey teams look poised for deep playoff runs.
No, it is not realistic to expect not only Final Four and Frozen Four appearances but victories, too. But these teams have the goods, and, ultimately, this is a wish list, not a demands list.
For both hoops teams — can they continue to gel on both ends of the court and prove their mettle in Big Ten play? For the hockey team, can it finally get over the NCAA Tournament hump and take down the veteran champions of late? (Please, Santa).
