Michigan Football Season is Most Anticipated in Years

There are many reasons for Michigan football fans to be more excited about the 2016 season than any other in recent memory.

Ever since Michigan football pounded the Florida Gators in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, the anticipation for the 2016 season has been high, higher than any season in quite some time.

The last time the Wolverines were ranked this high (No.8 in Preseason Poll) going into a season was back in 2007, when Michigan football was coming off an 11-2 season and were within a win of playing for the national championship.

That season, the Wolverines had Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Mario Manningham, jake Long and defensive stalwarts like Brandon Graham and Shawn Crable.

Unfortunately, that Michigan football team didn’t live up to the hype. Those were the Wolverines that lost to Appalachian State and also finished the regular season 8-4 after injuries ravaged the team.

Hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself and there are many reasons why it may not, but there are also reasons why it could.

Obviously, that 2007 team was talented, it even beat Florida and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow in the Capital One Bowl. This year’s Wolverines are talented too. It’s a team that is filled with potential NFL draft picks, both on offense and defense.

It’s possible that 10 Wolverines will be picked next April in the 2017 NFL draft, maybe even as many as three of four in the first round. Other than quarterback, where the starter is pending a competition, Michigan really doesn’t have any noticeable weaknesses.

The offense should be good. Michigan has a stable of backs, three extremely talented pass catchers and a solid offensive line. On the other side of the ball, Michigan football might have as good a defensive line as anyone in the country and the secondary is pretty darn good too.

The Wolverines also have Jim Harbaugh, a coach who seemingly has the midas touch. But as I said there are still questions and challenges that will need to be overcome.

For instance, Harbaugh still doesn’t know who his quarterback is. Both Wilton Speight and John O’Korn have talent and should be fine, but it’s still a question mark. There is also a big difference between an average quarterback and a good or great one.

That difference may be the defining factor in some of the Wolverines’ biggest games this season. Michigan football will face three difficult road games, at Iowa, at Michigan State and at Ohio State.

Those three games will define the season and as we all know, winning on the road usually means getting good play from the quarterback.

Now, the Wolverines are good enough elsehwere that they will be able to cover up a lot, but make no mistake, if Michigan is going to win 10 or more games and compete for a Big Ten or national title, the quarterback will need to play well.

But regardless of the question marks, this Michigan team will be one of the best in recent memory and its the first one in more than a decade with a real chance to make an impact on the national stage.

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Harbaugh has made the Wolverines a must watch, but their talent and their chance to win a championship, conference or otherwise, since 2004, is the only thing needed to make Wolverine fans rabid with anticipation.

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