Mr. Shafer...The Door

It seems that once you rip the nice outer layer of this Michigan season, you expose everything you really hated about it, but were never really cognoscente enough to notice while it was happening.

I just assumed that the lack of production on offense was what led to Michigan's struggles on defense. And while that may still hold true, to at least some extent, now seems so much farther from the truth.

I remember Scott Shafer being so upset after one of the early season losses, maybe Notre Dame or Illinois...but either way, Shafer was so adamant in his disdain for about being out coached in pretty much every aspect of the game. Yes, it was Illinois. Now I remember. It was the 2nd half defensive meltdown that pretty much killed any kind of comeback effort. He vowed to not be out coached like that again.

Then we lost to Toledo 13-10.

Maybe the writing was on the wall after the tOSU game...I really don't know. If things were so bad, why did it take almost a month for him to resign (officially)? He was quoted yesterday that he had some "feelers" out there for a new gig...so maybe he saw this one coming. Shafer was absent from the recruiting process the past couple weeks.

"Bottom line is, I take full responsibility for the demise of the Michigan program,” Shafer, 41, said by phone Tuesday afternoon. “I accept all the responsibility."

I have no idea how things went down...but it seems as if Rodriguez gave Shafer the option to bow out gracefully and save some face while he looks for a new coaching staff to join.

It has been noted that from 1969 until 2007, Michigan only gave up 40+ points in a game a total of 4 times. And, in 2008, gave up 40+ points exactly 4 times.

Year	Opponent	Score
1991	Florida State	31-51
2000	Northwestern	51-54
2002	Tennessee	17-45
2006	tOSU	39-42
2008	Illinois	20-45
2008	Penn State	17-46
2008	Purdue	42-48
2008	tOSU	7-42

For what it's worth, Bo team's never gave up 40 or more points in a game. Prior to 1991, the last Michigan team to do so was in 1968, in a loss to tOSU, 14-50.

So, who's the next DC for Michigan?

mgoblog has a list of potential candidates. We're in the process of making a list and checking it twice. More to come soon.