2008 Woodie Awards
Game On
UM searching for identity
Joshua Charles
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: Sports
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There comes a time in a fan's life when you have to decide what's important, a crossroads if you will.
Michigan Basketball fans are there now.
After the somewhat surprising dismissal of Tommy Amaker on March 17, the men's basketball team is without a coach for the first time in six years.
Amaker inherited a program that was in shambles in 2001 and did bring them a long way from black cloud days of the Fab Five, Ed Martin, and NCAA probation.
He cleaned the program up and for that Michigan fans should extend a thank you, but that is only half the battle.
In his tenure at Michigan he failed in one glaring category that ultimately defines any coach, but more so with a University that is so rich in athletic excellence. That glaring stat is winning.
While his overall record boasts success (109-73), his conference record and NCAA tournament appearances were the most influential in his dismissal.
In his tenure at Michigan, Amaker coached his team to 43-53 big ten conference record and zero NCAA tournament appearances.
While troubling times were definitely part of the initial plan, it wasn't supposed to end this way.
Amaker headed into this season with a team full of seniors and for the first time in many years was actually expected to fair better than their arch rival Michigan State.
The season has concluded and Michigan fans had to endure another season full of disappointment.
Over the course of the last two years fans have been voicing their opinions and the majority wanted Amaker out. Well, now he is and now Athletic Director Bill Martin faces his toughest higher yet.
The next coach at Michigan will ultimately determine if Michigan basketball will return to relevance or if they will be content to make post season tournaments not named NCAA.
The pressure was on Amaker to succeed and he is out; now the pressure turns to Martin. This higher could define the current athletic director and why shouldn't it?
Michigan Basketball fans are there now.
After the somewhat surprising dismissal of Tommy Amaker on March 17, the men's basketball team is without a coach for the first time in six years.
Amaker inherited a program that was in shambles in 2001 and did bring them a long way from black cloud days of the Fab Five, Ed Martin, and NCAA probation.
He cleaned the program up and for that Michigan fans should extend a thank you, but that is only half the battle.
In his tenure at Michigan he failed in one glaring category that ultimately defines any coach, but more so with a University that is so rich in athletic excellence. That glaring stat is winning.
While his overall record boasts success (109-73), his conference record and NCAA tournament appearances were the most influential in his dismissal.
In his tenure at Michigan, Amaker coached his team to 43-53 big ten conference record and zero NCAA tournament appearances.
While troubling times were definitely part of the initial plan, it wasn't supposed to end this way.
Amaker headed into this season with a team full of seniors and for the first time in many years was actually expected to fair better than their arch rival Michigan State.
The season has concluded and Michigan fans had to endure another season full of disappointment.
Over the course of the last two years fans have been voicing their opinions and the majority wanted Amaker out. Well, now he is and now Athletic Director Bill Martin faces his toughest higher yet.
The next coach at Michigan will ultimately determine if Michigan basketball will return to relevance or if they will be content to make post season tournaments not named NCAA.
The pressure was on Amaker to succeed and he is out; now the pressure turns to Martin. This higher could define the current athletic director and why shouldn't it?
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