I’m down with 10+ wins this season, but you are only fooling yourself if you think Michigan can jump from three in 2008 to five wins in 2009 to 11 wins this season. The marked improvement on both sides of the ball and on special teams is what I’m looking for and what I’m most excited about. Players like Jeremy Gallon and Terrance Robinson. New recruits that will no doubt see time on the field.

Here are six things to look forward to in this 2010 season regardless of your love or hate towards RR, your disdain for the spread offense, or your general negative attitude towards the Michigan football program in its current state…

1. A new era for Michigan Stadium. If you love all things college football and Michigan is your team, then no doubt do you love the Big House. It’s it’s latest form, this season kicks off the output of money well spent. Officially, Michigan Stadium now holds a capacity of 109,901 fans. Since I’m not going to be frequenting any of the boxes anytime soon – I’m also going to enjoy, hopefully, shorter lines to the bathrooms. I don’t want to have any more accidents in that stadium. Damnit.
2. Experience, Yessss... Well well well what do we have here? You mean to tell me that the same players AND coaches are returning for a consecutive season? My goodness. It’s true indeed. That alone will give this team confidence and afford them the opportunity to gel into units that function and execute as they are intended and trained to do. This is the first time in Rich Rod’s tenure that he is returning a starting quarterback. This is the first time the defense gets year two with it’s (essentially) coaching staff in place from the previous season.
3. Another fall and another season. Need I say more. Autumn leaves, crisp air, hoodies, tossin’ the rock around, tailgating, brats, beers, friends, family, cornhole, the Victor’s lot, the Victor’s walk, 3:30 games, and on and on it goes. For me, it gets no better than the fall and there is no better atmosphere than the buzz of a college football campus and environment.
4. Potential break-out players will, well, break out. This team is stocked with second and third year talent that hasn’t seen the field yet. There are a whole mess of players like Jeremy Gallon, Terrance Robinson, Cam Gordon, Mike Cox, Fitz Toussaint, and Justin Turner that could make a huge impact on this team. Same goes for several incoming freshman that are sure to see the field in extended action. So don’t discount the players that RR has recruited and doled out a redshirt.
5. A momentum storm in Ann Arbor unlike any before….If the wins come. Collectively, this fan base is so freakin’ thirsty for a successful season, not just a few wins here or there, but something that is put together over the course of twelve weeks and an entire season. Even if Michigan finishes with 8 wins that is enough improvement to warrant crazy momentum going into what could be a highly ranked Michigan team going in to the 2011 season.
6. You’ll run into some wonderful people at the Big House!



Related Posts:

• It’s More Than a Game, My Friends.
• The Season Lies at your Doorstep
• Inside Michigan Football 2010 Episode 1
• The NEW Michigan – Now this is fun…
• Game 1 Links, News and Notes