Tuesday, January 20, 2015

A move that could rock college football

Wow, one can only imagine what it feels like to be Braxton Miller these days. This time a year ago, Miller was the toast of Ohio as starting qb for the resurgent Ohio State Buckeyes. Braxton was entering this season as a Heisman frontrunner.


 Obviously...things didn't pan out that way.


Today, Miller has a championship ring....and a very tough decision to make. Because today, qb Cardale Jones is now the toast of Ohio. After leading the Buckeyes to the national title, Jones decided to come back and compete for the starting job with Miller and J.T. Barrett. And lets not forget, Barrett was having a Heisman candidate type of season prior to his late season ending injury.


Side note...the Buckeyes' recruiting staff all deserve raises. But I digress.


Miller's task of reclaiming his old job is daunting at best. And even if he did start next season, you would have to think the pressure on him would be overwhelming. I mean...how long can your leash be with talent like Barrett and Jones holding clipboards?


Translation...and you were right Carlos Diaz...it's time for Braxton to exit stage left.


But where to?


Schools like Florida State and Oregon have already been mentioned as intriguing suitors for Miller's services, but there is another high profile school with an opening at qb that's getting no mention at all. And probably for good reason.




Yes, I'm talking about THAT school. That "school up north".




Could you imagine if Braxton Miller played for Michigan this fall? Under coach Jim Harbaugh? Off the field, it would reignite one of the best rivalries in all of sports. Ohio State says all of the right things come rivalry week but let's face it...it's hard to hate someone you can just push around. The Buckeyes have dominated the series lately, and a move like this would definitely get their attention. I can see the "taking our leftovers" memes flooding the internet.


Yes, the move would be shocking and controversial, but shock and controversy is what makes the Michigan Ohio State rivalry what it is today.




The rivalry rose to national prominence in 1969 when Bo Schembechler, in his first year as the head coach for the Wolverines, upset the defending National Champion Buckeyes (who had won 22 games in a row and were 17 point favorites). The loss was bad, but the bad blood stemmed from Schembechler once being on the Buckeyes coaching staff prior to taking the job at Michigan.


Hmm....


Antics and shenanigans aside, the Miller to Michigan move makes football sense too. With all of the talk about Brady Hoke's inadequacies and Michigan's slide, few noticed that the Wolverines had one of the top defenses in the nation. But they turned the ball over more than a spatula at a burger joint, thus leading to a dismal two year campaign, and a gaping hole at the most important position....qb. Miller's arrival would immediately quench that need, at least for this year. New head coach Jim Harbaugh would have a talented pro prospect under center to start his regime.


And speaking of pro prospects....


The move would help Miller as well. Not only would he not have to "compete" for a starting job this fall,  but he would also get a valuable year of tutelage under Harbaugh, a coach known for grooming qbs at the collegiate and pro level. Remember, Harbaugh took the San Francisco 49er's off the back of a milk carton and into three consecutive NFC Championship games with a qb that plays a similar style to Miller (Colin Kaepernick). If Miller has any pro aspirations after next season, which I'm sure he does, then who better than Harbaugh to get him there? And Michigan fans would know that Braxton would show up with something to prove...to both the Buckeyes and the NFL.


I can hear Harbaugh's recruiting pitch now.


The ugly little p word will most likely prevent that call to Miller though, and that word is pride. I'm sure that Harbaugh would not like to start his regime with an embarrassing..."Thanks but no thanks" from Miller. Because we both know that would be devastating to the Wolverines boosters. And we also know that would immediately become public knowledge for Buckeyes fans to use for eternity.


But...just for a second...what if he did come to Ann Arbor...and defeated the Buckeyes as a Michigan Man? As Keith Jackson would say...."Whoa Nellie"!!!!!


follow @plcolter


























No comments: