The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

The first time I heard that song by Timbuk 3, it was while watching one of my favorite cheesy movies of the 1980's (My Best Friend is a Vampire). Why do I bring this song up? First, to make reference to a movie that I feel everybody should see at some point in their lives, and secondly, and more relevant to this blog, that is the song playing in my head right now whenever I think of Michigan athletics.

Basketball:

• 2011-2012 Thoughts: The basketball team has me so excited that I'm fondly remembering the last time I viewed the team this way, and I thought I would never fondly remember the 90's teams ever again. I grew up with the first teams I followed had rosters with such players as Maurice Taylor, Tractor Traylor, Louis Bullock, LaVell Blanchard. Big name players, big time expectations. Then, before I ever had a chance to truly get into Michigan basketball, it was all gone. Sanctions given, Steve Fisher fired, and years of talented but troubled or undeveloping players led by incompetent coaches led to the hiring of John Beilein to save the program. For the first time in years, I'm genuinely excited for a season. If Darius Morris had returned, this section right here would be predicting that Michigan would be a thorn in Ohio State's side and a legit contender in college basketball. As it stands, the 2011-12 team will once again make the tournament, this time behind the scoring of Timmay Jr, the tenacity of Novak, and the (hopefully) developed interior play of Morgan and Horford. I see a team that gets into the tourney with a middling seed.
  
• Why The Future's So Bright: So why would a middling seed team make me so giddy? Because this season is a foundation layer, a season in which the young players learn how to play Big Ten ball from Novak and Douglass, and gain experience in high pressure situations. This will be very important for next season, with the arrival of the most highly touted Michigan recruiting class of this millennium (yeah I went there). When Mitch McGary (#2 overall recruit in the country), Glenn Robinson III (Little Big Dog), and Nik Stauskas (The Man from Mississauga) step on campus next fall, the talent level of the Wolverines will finally be at the level to compete for the school's first national championship in 23 years. In fact, Beilein has the classes loaded with top 100 recruits for the next three years. It seems things are going great, and they're only getting better!
  

Hockey:

• 2011-2012 Thoughts: The moment the national championship game was over last season, I was devastated. I knew that that was our best chance to win a title, as that team was loaded with seniors. There was no way this season's team could make it that far when the roster was so heavy with freshman. My hope going into the season was to compete in the CCHA and keep the tournament streak alive. Eight games into this season, and my dreams have gone back to national titles. I am not saying this team is the best in the country, not by a long shot, but as we all know, college hockey come tournament time is as kooky and unpredictable as it comes. This year's edition of Wolverine hockey is much more potent offensively than the last few years, and is doing so with it's most talented player in Jon Merrill suspended for at least 12 games. And it also has probably one of the best, if not THE best, goaltenders in the country in Shawn Hunwick. This team may not win a title, hell, maybe not even a CCHA title, but it's strong enough to get my hopes up again.
  
• Why The Future's So Bright: This is yet another Michigan program that's not losing much after the season, with only four seniors (Hunwick, Wohlberg, Glendening, Pateryn) and not many early defection possibilities (Merrill, Brown). On the opposite side, if the Wolverines can hold off the slimier-than-the-ol'-Southwest-Conference OHL's advances, they bring in a freshman class that will have an immediate impact on the roster. First, the big names in Jacob Trouba (predicted to go in the top 10 of next year's NHL draft), Boo Nieves (another predicted first rounder) and Jared Rutledge. These three represent the top prospects available at D (Trouba), forward (Nieves) and goalie (Rutledge), and will all get loads of ice time immediately. To go along with those three, Connor Carrick (US U-18 team), David Milne (USHL) and Justin Selman all bring talent that should push the current roster. This results in a Michigan roster that, going forward, looks mighty strong and promises to keep the Michigan boys in the tournament and title contention for the foreseeable future.
  

Football:

• 2011 Thoughts: This year's Michigan football team has me so frustrated, yet they are 7-1 with the possibility of still playing for a Big Ten Championship. I love what Greg Mattison has brought to the table already, and look forward to having great defenses again at Michigan. I think Brady Hoke is a good coach with great intangibles, we'll see if that's good enough to keep the job. I think Al Borges is a little bird-brained at times, but I also understand it's hard to change what you've always done to fit your personnel and appreciate that he's trying. In the end, I see this year's team going 10-2 (as I predicted in August) and missing the inaugural title game. Still, a good showing in the bowl, and we're doing alright, getting good grades.
  
• Why The Future's So Bright: Brady Hoke rocks my recruiting junkie world! I have always loved following recruiting, and seeing the quality and quantity of recruits Brady is bringing in has me all tingly in my nether regions. Combine that with the fact that the Wolverines are only getting rocked by departures on the defensive line (hopefully Big Will and Death Roh are ready to step up after a year under Mattison), and next year's team looks like a good team already depending on what the freshmen bring to the table. While next year is Denard's senior season and I want to predict great things, that future season is nowhere near as bright as the few to follow, with Devin's senior season and the rise of Shane Morris...ooh, I get shivers down my spine just thinking of it.

So in summary, while my five years living in Ann Arbor will go down as the worst stretch for Michigan athletics collectively in history, the future is crazy bright by my estimation. This current trio of coaches (Brady Hoke, John Beilein, Red Berenson) are all at different points in their careers, but they do have one thing in common: they are all heavenly blessed and worldly wise, and leading my Wolverines to new heights! Now if only the athletic department was being led by such a leader...but that's for another day and another post. Go Blue!