The Bucket Problem

“This sounds alarmingly like Michigan’s 2020 situation.”

“I don’t think you’d be wrong in saying that.”

The solo show is now the bonus feed, though still without its own feed for one last free show, because we are bringing on guests. Patrick Mayhorn (@patrick_mayhorn) of Buckeye Sports Bulletin, The Outside Zone, and Flipping the Field joins the pod to talk Ohio State’s loss to Oregon, what Ryan Day might do about defensive coordinator (at the moment) Kerry Coombs, whether the defense can keep it together enough for OSU to remain the Big Ten favorite, surprising teams both good and bad in the conference, and more.

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This week, the whole crew is together again to discuss our big moods after a thumping of Washington, discuss the game’s big takeaways, and maybe possibly perhaps touch on Ohio State losing to Oregon before refusing to give a vote of confidence to their defensive coordinator. We also make our weekly picks, including a horrifying Duke-Northwestern matchup that nobody stopped from being scheduled.

Topics include: Big House after dark, which Hutchinson is Aidan’s father, the “Mr. Brightside” discourse, the phenomenal run game, the offensive playcalling, Hutchinson’s edge dominance, proper angles to take against Blake Corum, Mike Macdonald’s varied looks, the fake punt, and more.

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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Content warning: the Robert Anderson case is discussed from the 2:30 mark to the 15:15 mark. Contains references to sexual assault.

Introducing The Bucket Problem's Solo Show! This will be a weekly mailbag, guest interview, postgame reaction, or something else along those lines from host Ace Anbender. It's free this week; it'll be part of TBP's subscription package with its own RSS feed going forward. More details on that soon.

This week's episode covers your football questions after the WMU game, regarding recalibrated expectations, who'll take over as the leading receiver, head coaching intrigue, and Michigan's NFL draft steals.

First, unfortunately, there's another story about Michigan mishandling the Robert Anderson case to discuss. It's time for Mark Schlissel to go.

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At last, we have a football game—in the Big House with fans and the banner and everything—to discuss. Alex Cook, Connor Southard, and Dan “Thicc Stauskas” join me to provide each of our Big Moods following the 47-14 victory over Western Michigan. Ronnie Bell news aside, it’s hard not to feel good after that game.

We then dig into some nitty-gritty talking points: the excellence of Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins, which players will step up to replace Bell’s production, whether the offense was the right level of vanilla for week one, if the defensive line did its job, what a great defense looks like in 2021, and more. Finally, we finish the pod with our week two picks—we regret to inform you that you maybe should listen to Dan—and a little tease at some upcoming site news.

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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Our three-part football preview concludes with a (very) brief look at the special teams, a game-by-game run through the schedule, season predictions from the entire crew, and week one picks. Can we talk ourselves into 2021 Michigan Football as we become progressively less sober? Do we think Jim Harbaugh will be back in 2022? Would we consider that a good thing? Tune in!

Highlights include Dan calling a potential starting quarterback a coward for ducking his high school, Dan calling another starting quarterback a “big red fraud,” Dan calling Bill Connelly a “hack,” Dan giving a touching pep talk, and Dan accusing Connor of trying to prevent you from winning money on a truly horrifying football game.

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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Our three-part football preview deep dive continues with a position-by-position look at the offense. Once again, we need a few minutes to cover a topic before getting to the meat of the pod; this time, it’s a discussion of the “alliance” between the Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12, featuring some hilariously painful press release jargon.

Once again, Connor makes the bullish case for each position group, Dan makes the bearish case, and your host decides which is most likely to occur. Then we do the same for the offense as a whole. The individual talent is apparent. Can it come together?

Before we head out, we make our picks for Nebraska-Illinois (lol) and read a few listener reviews.

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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Our three-part football preview deep dive begins with a position-by-position look at the defense. Before your host, Connor, and Dan get to that, however, the group brings their perspective on how to decipher reports coming out of fall camp. What can you trust? (Almost nothing.) Who can you trust? (No one who’s willing to talk.)

The conceit that we definitely didn’t come up with minutes before recording: Connor makes the bullish case for each position group, Dan makes the bearish case, and your host decides which is most likely to occur. Then we do the same for the defense as a whole. There’s some optimism! Guarded optimism, sure, but that’s still optimism!

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock. Homefield Connor, if you’re reading this, the ad read went great, no need to listen.

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Your host goes solo this week to handle listener mailbag questions as football season approaches. Topics include reasons for optimism, what it’ll take to have a cohesive offensive game plan, how the Washington outcome will impact the team’s outlook, the record it’ll take to be comfortable with Jim Harbaugh returning in 2022, and more.

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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“I don’t actually care one way or the other about Michigan football.”

In a special bonus episode, we welcome on Steven Godfrey of Split Zone Duo and Secret Base. Yes, that Steven Godfrey. Yes, on a Michigan podcast.

We begin with the origins of Godfrey “hating” our team, which delves into message board culture and the “diverse ecosystem of fans,” as he puts it. Laquon Treadwell’s recruitment is mentioned (by your host, sorry). The discussion moves into recruiting philosophy and why recruits choose certain programs over others (money is far from the only draw) before we get into the ramifications of realignment, including how it may impact the Big Ten and Michigan.

Godfrey talks about why he’s pulling for Iowa State to win the national title (same, brother), why the rules from the last round of realignment don’t apply, the history that provides context for these moves, why it’s fine for the Big Ten to take its time responding to the SEC’s expansion, and why Michigan shouldn’t be too concerned with this particular problem.

Then we get into Michigan football’s problems and how the program/athletic department can address them, what other Big Ten coaches say about the program, the difference between M and OSU, the blueprint Willie Taggert laid down for a Josh Gattis offense, who might be the next man up if Jim Harbaugh doesn’t pan out (Soup Gang, assemble!). You may be surprised by our guest’s outlook.

“Michigan’s problems are fixable by Michigan.”

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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NOTE: We recorded this episode before Moe Wagner signed a two-year deal with Orlando. We’ve put away the pitchforks.

The gang’s all here to talk NBA Draft, free agency, and football fall camp. The draft talk takes an early detour into discussion Michigan’s basketball history; your host feels old, though we get to decide which current Big Ten coach is most likely to pull a Bill Frieder. We eventually get into how Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers each have an opportunity to make an early impact with Orlando and Detroit, respectively, and why Duncan Robinson and Tim Hardaway Jr. each re-signed on sizable free agent deals. Alex calls Luka Garza a “Wario Boban” except smaller, obviously.

After a brief recruiting discussion—turns out it’s hard to land top talent when your coach’s contract has such an obvious out for the program—we move on to Fall Camp Bingo, inspired by Dan’s belief in the early camp hype surrounding Mazi Smith. Dan’s name for the fan club may lose us our only sponsor. We also do our vibes of the week, featuring football dreams that won’t even let a Michigan fan get past halftime with a lead in The Game.

Use promo code BUCKETPROBLEM for 15% off your first order at homefieldapparel.com, your home for the best, softest, retro logo-est, dunking mascot-est, most fashionable licensed collegiate gear you can imagine. Yes, they have Michigan—and Slippery Rock.

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