Wilton Speight had something to say about Pep Hamilton:
““It is what it is,” he said. “The same guy in 2016 and 2017, I didn’t change who I was. It was definitely a little bit different. That’s why I was able to get back to my ways in 2018 and let it rip.”
Speight’s version of “letting it rip” at UCLA was 60.6% completions, 7.3 YPA, 6 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Before he got hurt in 2017, he was at 54.6%, 7.2 YPA, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Basically, the same numbers except a higher completion percentage at UCLA. Speight was bad for the final two years of his college career, and he’s attempting to throw his former coach under the bus. Add that to his whiny, woe-is-me attitude on Amazon Prime’s docuseries, and I think it’s pretty clear that he’s pretty incapable of looking at things objectively.
Hit the jump for more.
Former Michigan running back Kevin Grady is in more trouble for drunk driving (LINK). In case you don’t remember him, he was a 5-star running back who ended up being a…an underachiever.
Ohio State-to-Miami transfer quarterback Tate Martell is eligible immediately (LINK). I have to imagine this pretty much opens the door for anyone to transfer and play immediately. His only good reason to transfer was for more playing time, and that was good enough for the NCAA.
Ted Nguyen looks at how Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham, Jr. could be an elite combination with the Cleveland Browns (LINK).
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Speight comes off as a bratty, whiney, spoiled QB who grew up only hearing how great he was. Truth is, he’s a subpar QB who looked okay when surrounded by NFL talent and playing weak opponents. Take away either variable and we get 2017/18
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Speight continues to be very underrated by bitter Michigan fans. 13-3 as a starter. Few can match that. Jake Rudock didn’t.
Anyway this is a pretty spot on quote from a guy who seems to be maturing:
“You look at a program like this – and there’s nothing wrong with it – I’m not bashing the fans, I’m not bashing the media – there’s just more attention. I’m sure Shea saw that, obviously, with the light that he kinda shined on that. I saw it with Devin Gardner, I saw it with Shane Morris, I saw it with Jake Rudock, when he was – people were calling for his name in game four, when we played like Oregon State (I don’t remember who we were playing). It’s just part of it. It just comes with the territory. I think after I stepped away and played a season elsewhere and kinda getting ready for the NFL, I’ve matured a little bit and realized it’s just part of it. I think Shea’s done the same thing. And, hopefully quarterbacks moving forward here at the University of Michigan get that picture, too.”
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I’ve seen some comments along the lines of “it’s like this everywhere”. It’s not. Speights quotes reflect that. My first-hand experience on campus at three top-tier college programs does too. The atmosphere is different at Michigan — in some ways better in others not. It continues to evolve too. IMO the culture of the program is significantly different than it was 20 or 30 years ago.
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I’m not sure which campuses & fanbases you’ve been around, but the bigger programs – the ones with expectations – can be even worse
I was stationed in NOLA while they were demanding Miles be fired, despite top recruiting classes, 10win seasons, and an always-packed Death Valley. When I traveled a lot for work, Bama, Auburn, UGa & Fla fans acted as if THEY were going through RichRod/Hoke. Again, I don’t know where you’ve been, but perspective matters: the big-time programs have the most demanding fans. The most demanding fans have big-time programs
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There are different ways of being demanding, different attitudes during games, different treatment of players, etc.
The programs I’ve seen first hand have all finished in the top 5 while I was there, including the one that has its own network.
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I hope you’re not implying Texas. Those fans went nuts after the McCoy era
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There is no question in my mind that success breeds entitlement and encourages bad fan behavior. I’ve seen that (success followed by bad behavior) everywhere I’ve been. People lose perspective fast.
Between 2000 and 2009, Texas had a decade of amazing success including a national title and five top 5 finishes. They exceeded 3 losses zero times. Then they fell off a cliff and spent the next 8 years hovering around 500. That’s not going to go over well anywhere.
BUT, my anecdotal experience with Texas fans has been far more positive. I haven’t experienced the same level of negativity and antagonism. Maybe mine is not representative of overall fanbases…
Even so, Michigan hasn’t had it nearly as dramatic. They never had the same level of success*, not even under Bo. Nor have they experienced the same level of extended failure.
In general, compared to Michigan fans, I found Texas fans to be less analytical and resilient but more fun-loving, faster to move on from losses, and less self-destructive/self-hating. They are demanding but less delusional about their place in the college football hierarchy. I don’t see them disparaging good players as much as Michigan fans do.
I will say Texas fans have seemed to be more critical of their coaches though race was probably a factor there and Michigan fans got snookered by Brady Hoke’s ability to say the things they wanted to hear.
*In the modern era anyway.
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If you have a conversation with a MICHIGAN fan who you already have a few things in common with, I’m pretty sure you’ll find level-headed thoughts & insights. If you spend hours a day on Longhorn blogs, I’m sure you’ll find the same complaints that drive you nuts about MICHIGAN… the internet is funny that way
I’ve had this discussion with fans on another board, and have gone as far as sharing game threads from Florida, UGa, Bama, and Texas. Once I even shared an IowaSt Game Thread. People on the internet want to blow some steam, and find comfort that they’re not the only ones about to chuck a remote at the TV
Perspective matters: don’t take it personally when “the loud mouths” are who you read most from on a blog. The reasonable fans you assume all reside in Austin are probably just reading our comments, without chiming in
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I’m not basing my views on message boards.
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Then, what’s it based on?
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He threw his coach under the bus – leaders don’t do that
He bragged on himself (letting it rip*) – leaders don’t do that
*as the OP points out, this was a very dillusional statement
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He’s not the most likable dude, that’s for sure.
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There were a lot of excuses made for Rudock — him having to learn a new offense in 2015. I notice that Speight closed the season pretty strong in 2018. 466 yards against Stanford. 335 against ASU.
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Speight won the job over a TrFr, who also didn’t have any experience in the offense – it was a new coach – no one knew what to expect. As soon as he went down, he lost his position to that Fr; only another injury got him back on the field. I didn’t watch his last two games, but I’m assuming he looked as innacurate he did in other outings, with similar demonstrations of poor arm strength
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Rudock won the job over a 3-star RsFr, who also didn’t have any experience in the offense – it was a new coach – no one knew what to expect. I didn’t watch his last two games, but I’m assuming he looked like the same uninspiring player Iowa was happy to let go after multiple seasons of unexceptional play or the guy that lost the Utah game by throwing 3 interceptions. If he did anything good it’s probably because of all the NFL talent around him or opponents who didn’t care.
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Haha, you really compared rudock 2015 v speight 2018… Classic
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Yeah, the argument sounds whack doesn’t it?
Glad you caught that.
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Maybe this is about Jedd Fisch. He did his best with Jedd Fisch
in 2016, 61.6% completions, 18 TDs, 7 INTs
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