Hey IU fans, if you want some sympathy for what it has been like to be an IU hoops fan throughout the past decade, Michigan football fans are in a similar situation.
Michigan football has been in a state of unfamiliar mediocrity ever since the end of the Lloyd Carr era in the mid-2000s. Rich Rodriguez was not the answer and, despite a promising first season, neither is current coach Brady Hoke.
Meeting this Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich., are two teams in a mutual state of chaos.
Michigan is 3-5 and self-combusting, and IU is 3-4 and trying to move on after losing junior Nate Sudfeld as quarterback for the ?season.
This is not a game that will exactly be luring a large viewership, but there are a few things to watch for that may be entertaining if you look at it the right way.
How much will Diamont’s dad be mentioned?
What? The new quarterback at IU’s dad was on “The Young and the Restless”?
Guys, this is massive news.
I am joking, and I do not blame Diamont or his father, Don, for people making it seem like such a big deal. It is just funny — you would think it is Jaden Smith going out there for the Hoosiers by the way some people keep bringing up Diamont’s dad.
How many “whoa” plays will Tevin Coleman have?
This will be fun to see because the Michigan run defense has been pretty solid.
The Wolverines have only given up 100 yards on the ground in two of their past seven games.
On the other hand, Coleman leads the nation with 170 yards per game.
Not that he hasn’t been already, but Coleman will be operating with an even greater “Let me take over” mentality in Diamont’s second career start as QB. I am interested in seeing what IU attempts to do this week in order to open things up.
Also, I would not be shocked to see IU pound it on the ground more often even if the defense isn’t giving them much to work with.
Talk of Brady Hoke’s job security
It is no secret that Hoke, and Athletic Director Dave Brandon, is in the hot seat right now. His teams have gotten worse each year he has been at the helm.
Hoke has brought in two top-10 recruiting classes and has been in the top 20 each of the past three years.
The thing is, he does not seem to do particularly well at managing all of this talent.
Like IU basketball, Michigan football boosters expect the Wolverines to be a title contender year in, year out. Whether that is a reasonable goal or not, Hoke has brought Michigan even further away from that goal with this disaster of a season.
Personally, I would be surprised if he lasts the ?season.
How good will Devin Funchess be?
Funchess, a wide-receiver-tight-end hybrid, is a force of nature and a rare bright spot for this offense.
The difficult part seems to be getting it into his hands as Devin Gardner has thrown 10 interceptions this season and the squad has a turnover margin of -14.
The IU corners will likely struggle to compete on jump balls, and he is not exactly easy to bring down when he has it either.
At 6-foot-5, 236 pounds, the junior can run over your average cornerback, and I have also seen him hurdle defenders.
Prediction time
Neither team has earned much of an edge here. Michigan should be better than it is, and IU is playing without its quarterback.
I am tempted to say the team with the biggest game-changer, Tevin Coleman, should win, but the quarterback situation is too ?problematic.
It’s not like I think Diamont is incapable of improving, but what evidence do I have that would give me faith?
My prediction: Michigan wins 28-21.
brodmill@indiana.edu
