...Where Michigan Finally Met Expectations
by Graham Filler on Nov 20, 2011 11:46 AM CST
in Michigan
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PrintSome of you may downplay Michigan's beating of Nebraska. Some of you may bring up Nebraska's fumbles or the homefield advantage of the Big House (that's a new one). It doesn't matter, because for the first time since 2007, Michigan beat a top tier B1G team.* And for the first time since 2006, Michigan, well, played like Michigan should.
This Michigan season has been an under the radar one ever since the MSU loss. Everyone assumed it was the same old "start hot and then get shown for what they really are" Michigan team. Apparently, not so fast, my friends. So - What happened? What should we take from this season? And what's going to happen this week versus OSU?
*top tier being a relative term; I guess we could have said "ranked", but 2008 Wisconsin was ranked and turned out to be a pretty mediocre football team. Nebraska has 8 wins, including beatings of MSU, OSU, and PSU. So that's top tier-ish.
The Game
God was it a glorious beatdown. Michigan's defense...was the star, pressuring Taylor Martinez, causing fumbles, filling running lanes. A few of the blitz calls - genius. There was a jumpball-ish throw to a Nebraska wide receiver in the 3rd quarter; the Michigan cornerback, playing behind the WR, aggressively contested the throw without interfering. I turned to my friend grinning. It seemed like the coaches and defenders were all on the same page.
The Legacy
Michigan improved so rapidly this year on defense, It's like a whole different team was brought in. But let's not go patting each others backs too quickly. Michigan played in one of the weaker B1G's in recent years and avoided playing the two best teams from the Leaders division, Wisconsin and Penn State. It does seem that Tom wasn't too far off on his BCS prediction though; a 10-2 Michigan team would look pretty damn good in the Cap One.
THE Game
Michigan has defeated two teams who've beaten OSU: Purdue, Nebraska
Other than those two comparisons, we know a few things. Vegas will make UM a touchdown favorite, but I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would get arrogant or overconfident. Michigan hasn't beat OSU since my sophomore year in college - Cautiously optimistic is not a bad way to look at this game. The Buckeye defense is still top-notch and Michigan struggled mightily against a solid MSU D.
One very real positive is the emergence of Fitzgerald Toussaint. Michigan has been looking for a star tailback, someone who understands how to hit the holes created in their blocking scheme (and thanks to that O-Line, there have been holes of late). Toussaint's patience and shiftiness give Michigan a playmaker to take the weight off of Denard Robinson.
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Technically
Michigan exceeded expectations, since everyone expected them to suck. They probably will beat OSU for the first time in ages next weekend. That does not make me think they are a good team, but that’s a different matter.
FTR, my expectations are low for them next year as well. They start with Alabama and have no depth at offensive line.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
Spartan articles of faith...
1. Michigan is a bad football team
2. Michigan has always been a bad football team
3. Michigan will always be a bad football team
4. Any past, present, or future success of Michigan is due solely to (a) luck or (b) favoritism
5. Michigan girls are ugly
by PCS on Nov 20, 2011 2:57 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
In fairness
The UM articles of faith regarding MSU are just as predictable. I’ll spare you from enumerating them.
Having gone to Ann Arbor my Freshman year
before trasnferring to East Lansing, I can definitely state that Michigan girls are ugly…
And Michigan State fans display the class for which they're widely recognized
Seriously, this sort of shit is the reason why women don’t feel welcome on sports blogs. It should stop.
by TDozer on Nov 20, 2011 4:37 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
let's not limit it to women
michigan people are ugly.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Nov 20, 2011 8:50 PM CST up reply actions
this just proves
MSU and all fans of said university are f-ing douche bags.
dude, chill
they’re all true.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Nov 20, 2011 8:53 PM CST up reply actions
WOLVERINE ARTICLES OF FAITH
1. MSU recruits thugs
2. MSU will return to mediocrity when they graduate their 6th year Sr. QB
3. We still have kicked your asses more that you have ours
4. The future of MSU football will require more and more hoodlums
5. State girls are pretty, but well worn
6. MSU do not have or ever will have the academic reputation that UM has….MOOOOOO
This week's game is huge
I talked about “The Game” earlier this year with a little bit of gusto and said that Michigan would handle Ohio State, but I know that with it being a rivalry game it’s never going to be easy. The Ohio State team that comes to Ann Arbor this weekend will be the best Ohio State team to take the field this year.
And that’s the way it should be; we don’t know if Michigan is fully “back” until they win that game and take Ohio State’s best shot. Sure Michigan is 9-2 right now. Sure they have a top 5 recruiting class coming in for 2012 (and seem intent on stealing the Buckeyes’ second-best recruit after already taking their best). But beating Ohio State is fundamental and if there’s anyone that knows that it’s Brady Hoke.
I haven't even finished reading the article, in fact I just started...
Some of you may downplay Michigan’s beating of Nebraska.
Huh? what? who in their right mind would down play that beatdown?
Michigan State fans
Their complex is hurting again (for the most part). Look at the thread beneath this one: the mere thought of us jumping over them for a BCS spot has caused a meltdown. The system is twisted. so we probably shouldn’t leapfrog them, but they seem more concerned that we could feasibly jump them instead of the thought of actually winning a Big Ten title outright.
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who gives a shit.U haven't beaten us in 4 years.
If u guys beat OSU..good for you. Your ego will be stoked till next year Pittman, Rush and of course Gholston terrorizes ur over rated Denard. U can boast of a better bowl and BCS and crap. When it comes to in state, get ready to get pummeled. I am proud of this MSU team. They beat OSU in Columbus, something that u UM fans have fantasized for 11 years.
The system is tilted to big names in football because they attract more sponsorship and $$$. It is not because of the talent on the field, where MSU was better than you.We have a chance to win the first Big ten trophy and a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. We will shock Wisconsin or PSU and get that Rose Bowl berth.
by spartynation on Nov 20, 2011 1:38 PM CST up reply actions
Thank you
It’s not impossible for UM and MSU to be good at the same time. Frankly, I like that this will be a really significant rivalry in all of CFB down the road.
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My complex is the opposite of pained
I’m actually quite relaxed. Because, you know, Michigan State is the better football team and all.
MSU fans
There’s a clause in the MSU fan contract that says, “Any time Michigan does anything, it doesn’t mean anything and they’re still just as bad as before.” Some quotes:
They probably will beat OSU for the first time in ages next weekend. That does not make me think they are a good team, but that’s a different matter
It’s just that the fighting Hokes have stumbled upon a cache of inexplicable luck.
Who cares for this…good for them.
by lonewolf371 on Nov 20, 2011 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
Actually that last quote is along the lines of " the opposite of love is not hate, it is apathy".
Honestly I would rather have had NU-L win yesterday so that we could clinch with a win of our own over NU. It is what it is.
The system (BCS) is what it is. It is a system to 1) Put the most probable #1 and #2 team in a bowl game to play for the BCS championship and 2) to make a buttload of money for the four major bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fie$ta). It has no designs on fairness or even as an evaluation of what teams are better than the others. If it could the BCS would put ND in one of its games every year regardless of what the F’n Irish did during the season.
Congratulations to UM. This year they have done what you are supposed to do in the age of the BCS.
1. Schedule as many games as possible at home (8 home 4 road) . Check
2. Schedule cupcakes and an occasional team with a pulse (2 MACS, SDSU & ND). Check
3. Be a “name” program. Win nine games and qualify for an at-large berth. Check.
I don’t begrudge UM their success this season. As I have said in other places I would prefer to beat them when they are good.
The problem I have is when we (MSU) are treated as some also ran second rate program. We were screwed out of a Rose Bowl berth in ’78 (B1G champs beat UM…UM went). Screwed out of an Orange in ’99 (10-2 beat 10-2 UM…UM went). Screwed last season.
Look, really, I get it. As I pointed out above, the BCS cares more about “name” than rewarding deserving teams. Our f’n commissioner cares more about rewarding “name” teams than deserving ones. So we (MSU) must continue to win if we wish to prove we are not just a fluke. We have to win out and (especially) win our bowl game. Even though we are in an AQ conference we have to pull a Boise within our own conference.
Say what you will about our temperament, but I don’t think it is whiny to point out the absurdity of this system.
And. AND. Be assured UM fans, we are focused on our goals. Winning the B1G game and heading to the Rose Bowl.
Okay.
So you’re saying that a three-loss team (assuming that MSU loses to Wisconsin/Penn State, because this discussion would be moot if they didn’t) coming off of a loss would be more deserving than a two-loss team that has won their last three games (once again assuming that Michigan beats OSU). And don’t give me the Team A beat Team B so Team A is more deserving than Team B crap. If that was true, 9-3 Nebraska should be in ahead of 10-3 MSU.
Michigan State has a better team than Michigan, not by as much as some MSU homers think but whatever, and they have their shot at the Rose Bowl. If they lose, they don’t deserve to be in a BCS Bowl with three losses. Getting that extra loss is the drawback of having a conference championship game. For the record, I don’t think 10-2 Michigan is one of the best ten teams in the country. Can I fault a bowl game for wanting the extra attention and ticket sales from having Michigan? No.
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Logical post, but with some jabs
You guys have had a good season. You deserve some cred. Sitting down and thinking about, I can realize that Michigan State has a really good team. I’ve said otherwise at times because I envy your program a little bit and I get tired of the jabs sometimes.
Michigan beat the teams they scheduled this year. I’m not completely sure, but I believe these games were scheduled before the current administration was even in place. I think Michigan has had a good season, since no matter what you believe they have beaten teams this year that they lost to last year (no way they beat Illinois, Northwestern, or Nebraska with last year’s play).
At the very least I don’t want hear ANY of this schedule crap next season. 6 home games. We have Alabama at a neutral site, Notre Dame on the road in non-conference. In-conference, we play Nebraska and Ohio State on the road. If Michigan comes out 10-2 against that schedule they will easily be one of the best teams in the country.
Exactly.
If Michigan comes out 10-2 against that schedule they will easily be one of the best teams in the country.
I didn’t say UM wasn’t good this year. They are. It seems fitting that they beat NU-L since that puts us in another transitive feedback loop (If we beat NU next weekend it will give us another).
There has only been one 3 loss team make the BCS as an at-large. 9-3 Ilinois after the 2007 season. So MSU making the BCS as an at large at 10-3 wouldn’t be unprecedented? Is it going to happen. No. But let’s not act like a loss in the conference championship game is anything like a “bad” loss (unless one team wins by 80).
I’m not even saying that UM isn’t worthy of a BCS bowl…I’m just saying that even with 3 losses (one in the championship game) and having beat UM head to head that we are more deserving…based on our play on the field.
I’m not even saying that UM isn’t worthy of a BCS bowl…I’m just saying that even with 3 losses (one in the championship game) and having beat UM head to head that we are more deserving…based on our play on the field
Alright. We laid two eggs on the road (the same as you), one of which was to a team you’ve beaten (and both of your losses have been to teams that we’ve beaten). You’re more deserving than us right now, obviously, but I don’t know how another loss will still have you as more deserving than us. By that logic, 3 loss Nebraska will be more deserving than a 3 loss MSU team.
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Unfortunately it's the transitivity argument.
3 loss Nebraska will be more deserving than a 3 loss MSU team.
Except that 3 loss Nebraska lost at home to (in this scenario) 6-6 NU. Whereas MSU lost on the road to bowl bound NU-L and ND and at a neutral site to 11-2 (PSU or UW).
UM>ND>MSU>UM
NU-L>MSU>UM>NU-L
MSU>UW>NU-L>MSU
If we win against NU next weekend we’ll add
MSU>NU>NU-L>MSU.
I'm not arguing for a transitivity argument
but that’s pretty much the only objective way that you can say a 3-loss MSU team is better than a 2-loss UM team. Splitting a pair vs. Wisconsin isn’t a better body of work than we have.
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Agree with this take in general
But I really dislike the idea that head-to-head is so important. Giving a large role to head-to-head (1) invites contradiction in the transitive loops (2) begs to be accused of a small sample size fallacy and (3) almost always dismisses home field advantage out of hand.
Those three considerations are just too much. Give me strength of schedule considerations as talking points and tiebreakers any day.
by njd on Nov 20, 2011 5:03 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Your stance on Michigan is far too logical
Are you sure you’re a Spartan fan? You’ve violated a number of the fandom clauses.
Then you can't really say if they're a good/lucky team or not then, right?
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Chadron State could have beat the Huskers yesterday.
Embarrassing performance, especially by the offensive line and special teams.
I feel like the d line got pushed around
Happened against nw also
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Nov 20, 2011 1:24 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
Baylor and Iowa State
Did Michigan a favor. If they can beat Ohio State they will go to a BCS game. I would love to see that.
Thank goodness it looks like we'd miss Alabama and LSU in that BCS Bowl.
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I definitely do not disagree with you.
There should have been a “only conference champions” clause long, long ago.
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not that I’m saying it should have happened.. but wasn’t the.. you should have to win your conference before you can win a national championship, what the SEC was saying 2006 when there was talk of a Michigan/Ohio State rematch? I know USC argued it against Oklahoma in 2003.
Yes it was.
It’s amazing how quickly your opinions regarding loopholes can change when they start to benefit you.
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I will say this
Michigan-OSU was a great game. Alabama-LSU demonstrated that both teams struggle against good defense and that Alabama desperately needed a better kicker.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
Calling our defense top-notch is a reach.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
well
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The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Nov 20, 2011 2:30 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
I would say OSU has a top notch D
Inconsistent, but still tough and quick.
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Nov 20, 2011 2:58 PM CST up reply actions
If they played an entire 60 minutes they would be good, instead they usually play 42 minutes and are pathetic for those other 18.
Poorly coached, no discipline, poor tacklers, slow linebackers (outside of Shazier, who has played 1.5 games) Bryant and Moeller are regressing badly, Howard is always out of position or beaten to the spot. Idk how they look like studs one series and jokes the next. Poor tackling and Denard Robinson = bad news bears.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
Or even better
how they can hold the line on 1st and 2nd downs, but keep giving up 3rd and long.
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
by Pariahwulfen on Nov 20, 2011 3:09 PM CST up reply actions
No way
Travis Howard would like a word with you but he is busy getting beat or holding or interfering with the WR while the ball is in the air or thinking about going to the NFL.
"Coach Hayes always told us that when TV takes over college athletics, that would be the end of college athletics."
-John Hicks
Twitter: @normconquest
by Culp's Freaking Hill on Nov 21, 2011 10:54 AM CST up reply actions
Travis Howard has been preemptively flagged for defensive pass interference before Ohio State's game with Michigan.
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Nov 22, 2011 12:03 AM CST up reply actions
and it's during Michigan week
hey guys, I’d like to present a mascot idea, since you’ve never had one
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
by Pariahwulfen on Nov 20, 2011 3:10 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, clearly OSU wasn't going to be doing any trash talking this week
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
by Seer on Nov 20, 2011 3:26 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
try me
MICHIGAN SUCKS.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Nov 20, 2011 8:57 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
HEY THERE
"Coach Hayes always told us that when TV takes over college athletics, that would be the end of college athletics."
-John Hicks
Twitter: @normconquest
by Culp's Freaking Hill on Nov 21, 2011 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
OH HAI THERE
Some people just need a high five. In the face. With a chair.
by Ted Glover on Nov 21, 2011 2:16 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Screw Little-brother-itis
I grew up in the state of Michigan. I would love to see MSU in the Rose Bowl and UM in at-large BCS. It would be great for our state.
On MSU: If we don’t win the B1G championship game, we don’t deserve to go to a BCS. 3 losses = no BCS. End of story.
On Michigan: There’s this loose friend of mine that I went to grade school and MSU with. His whole life is one giant inferiority complex to Michigan. On facebook, every freakin’ status has something trashing Michigan. In person, it’s even worse. Even as a Spartan fan myself, it just gets annoying, really fast. Why put your focus and energy into hate?
Frankly, it’s the same with Tim Tebow and 99% of college football fans I know. Yes, he played in the SEC, yes he’s super-jesusy (I myself am non-religious), but do you really have to spend so much time and energy talking about how much you hate him? If you don’t care for him, ignore him.
In summary, stop hating.
by Arro on Nov 20, 2011 3:37 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
You're right
I guess I should just forget that they’re a rival. I also should refrain from commenting on the top post on this blog since it’s about Michigan. Or I could be engaged with the site and not betray my feelings of disdain for that school in Ann Arbor.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
Is beating this rival not enough?
Do you really have to trash them year-round? Do they have to do bad for us to do good?
Again
There’s a story about Michigan on this blog, which I read and comment on frequently. I responded with my opinion. No one ever accuses OSU fans of having an inferiority complex when they hate on Michigan, why should I be accused of the same? I would submit that it is you who is suffering from bad conscience here: you’re so obsessed with not having an inferiority complex that you stop yourself from hating a rival.
I mean, this is a blog where FUCK MICHIGAN is regularly an auto-rec (half jokingly).
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
by Seer on Nov 20, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions 7 recs
I do agree that hating is part of college football, and this blog
But keep in mind, this blog is about the B1G in general, not about just our rivalry. The article barely talked about MSU, yet a ton of the comments were MSU fans trashing them.
UM demolishes a good Nebraska team
and most of the comments are from MSU fans only talking about how terrible they are. That is what’s tiresome.
by Arro on Nov 20, 2011 4:24 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The bowl predictions thread have been similar.
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Well, 'cuz we're better at everything, so yeah.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
autorec
for the FUCK MICHIGAN line.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Nov 20, 2011 9:00 PM CST up reply actions
There is no inferiority when it comes to Ohio State talking Michigan
Hasn’t been for 7 years…
by Brutus89 on Nov 21, 2011 5:56 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No
But it certainly helps.
And we trash them year-round because that is where we are in our rivalry. They talk about us and we talk about them. I mean, when was the last time anyone talked about how much they hated Indiana? Or Indiana talked about their hatred for State?
You're fighting a losing battle.
Good luck though.
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Congrats Wolvies, you're the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference.
Never thought I’d see Michigan Men™ stroking themselves over being #3
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
by Spartan D on Nov 20, 2011 4:25 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
This place is going to be so hilarious if we go to a BCS bowl and you don't
Non-stop “Wha wha wha, we beat Michigan and no one cares! Wha!” and 50 years from now “The media loves Michigan no matter how bad they are! Remember that crappy 10-2 team in ’11 that went to the Fiesta Bowl???? Our 10-3 team that got roasted by Arkansas was so much more deserving!”
Personally, I don't give a shit what bowl UM ends up in.
In fact, I’d love to see them in a BCS bowl against a truly good team, so I can laugh like hell when they get dismantled.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
Personally, I don’t give a shit what bowl UM ends up in.
Yeah I’m gonna call bullshit on that one. Judging by MSU’s collective reaction this past year, the thought of them getting spurned by a BCS Bowl again — this time in favor of Michigan — is hilarious. The meltdown will be legendary.
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I know. I'm going to ask a question that is based in logic (What the hell am I thinking?).
If we are passed over for UM, does our fury have any basis? As impossible as this sounds, if you (or anyone here MSU/UM/B1G fan) look at this objectively, could you say that, should it come to pass, that MSU had a realistic case to feel wronged?
For my part I will say GO Green! Win out we donb’t have a problem with getting passed over. And Go Bucks.
MSU will have had a more legitimate reason to feel wronged this year than they did last year.
Yes you will have a legitimate case to feel wronged, but you will have no one to blame but yourselves. Your destiny is in your hands, and the system is what it is.
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No. Thank you.
That’s really all I ask. That someone acknowledges that we are not just acting like school girls and that we have a legitimate reason to feel slighted.
I for one hope that we take care of business and this not become an issue.
Oh no, I'd feel bad if a team that M beat made it in over us in a BCS game
It’s a perfectly understandable, if slightly narrow, viewpoint. I don’t blame you at all.
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No...
You’d have basis for your fury if there was no championship game and a bowl chose a 10-2 Michigan over a 10-2 MSU, which would be a possibility with bowl selection criteria.
But, losing a championship game has always been bad for BCS selection. The only teams that have typically overcome a championship game loss were teams with national title aspirations going into the game. Florida and Alabama each pulled the trick and maybe Oklahoma did once. But if you look at pretty much every other at large selection from a conference with a championship game, the at large pick is usually the best team NOT in the championship game. This wouldn’t simply be a case of Michigan being Michigan and being chosen, it would be not choosing the team that just traveled to a neutral site and lost and has a 10-3 record, and may not even meet the top-14 qualifying criteria.
Alabama?
When did they do that, 2008 when they went 12-0 on a schedule that included two wins over teams with winning records? I seem to recall Alabama getting squished by Utah in the Sugar Bowl that season.
I’m just going to leave this here. It should explain itself.
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Nov 22, 2011 12:08 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Yep
And Florida in 2009, whose SEC resume wasn’t much better. But really, I fail to see the relevance. My only point was that more often than not, its a team that doesn’t make the championship game that gets in than one that does but loses.
Teams that have failed to make a championship game and gone to a BCS bowl: 1999 Tennessee, 2001 Nebraska, 2001 Florida, 2004 Texas, 2006 LSU, 2007 Kansas, 2007 Georgia, 2008 Texas, and 2010 Arkansas.
Teams that have lost their championship game and gone to a BCS bowl: 2003 Oklahoma, 2008 Alabama, and 2009 Florida.
That’s 9-3 in favor of teams that did not make a championship game. Now, a couple of those were where one division clearly had the top 2 teams in the conference, which skews the results a little bit. But it also discounts teams like Kansas State who have lost championship games, remained in the top 10 and still not gotten an at-large bid that went to teams from a different conference (Georgia and Tennessee each lost a SEC title game while ranked in the top 5 and saw the same fate).
The facts are this: If Michigan wins and MSU loses to Wisconsin, Michigan will be the higher ranked team in all likelihood, will have one less loss, and won’t be coming off disappointment on a neutral field. You could replace MSU and Michigan with any two schools, and the latter will always have the better shot at a BCS at-large spot.
I speak for myself. What other Spartans fans say isn't necessarilly my opinion.
The BCS selection process is what it is. Michigan’s legions of Walmart fans will likely tip the balance to them.
But we all know who the better team is, and has been for the last 4 years.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
"Michigan’s legions of Walmart fans will likely tip the balance to them."
Or a 10-2 record is better than a 10-3 record.
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Yeah...
It will be what puts us over the likes of a two-loss Oklahoma State if we win this weekend. I’ll take it.
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MSU fans are this year's jNW fans?
Teams get jumped in the bowl selection all the time. Get over it.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
To be fair
they could stroke it all they’d like but Michigan Men are too old for anything to happen.
"Coach Hayes always told us that when TV takes over college athletics, that would be the end of college athletics."
-John Hicks
Twitter: @normconquest
by Culp's Freaking Hill on Nov 21, 2011 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The comments here are ridiculous
When a team beats you, fans of that team tend to think less of the quality of your team. Same thing happened last year with MSU fan’s perception of Wisconsin and Iowa’s perception of MSU last year.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
Congratulations, Michigan
I’m done waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your defense is legit, you have an offense outside of Denard Robinson, and I think you’re going to smoke OSU this weekend, painful as that is for me to admit. I hope you kick ass in your bowl game, too.
I’m really looking forward to Hoke v. Meyer for the next decade, so you better win this weekend.
Because they’ll be few and far between for the NEXT decade!!
Some people just need a high five. In the face. With a chair.
Fake ass Buckeye!!
No tOSU fan should ever say anything positive about tsun!! You have been away from your alma mater too long. No soup for you……2 weeks!
by biggy84 on Nov 20, 2011 7:32 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Michigan fans complaining
about MSU disrespecting them is like Charlie Weis complaining that someone ate the last piece of pie after he ate the first 7.
Seriously, lose to a team 4 times in a row and expect their fans to be cocky bastards. State fans all grew up understanding this. It’s time to accept your fate.
You're not "disrespecting" us and I don't think you're being cocky bastards.
MSU fans are just complaining about potentially losing a BCS berth to UM.
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Admit it
you’d do the same thing if the situation was reversed.
Personally, I’m one of the ones that thinks MSU needs to take care of its own business and just win. If Michigan gets an at-large BCS bid over MSU, it’ll be because Michigan took care of business and MSU didn’t.
I'd be more concerned with the conference championship game to be honest.
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I really don’t see how MSU losing in a game that they earned the right to go to over UM after posting identical regular season records (and beating UM head to head), then getting passed over for a BCS bowl will be a case of UM “taking care of business” when State didn’t. You can’t “take care of business” that you weren’t even invited to participate in in the first place.
That string of logic is simply baffling to me. If State gets passed over, it’ll be because UM travels better than state, and the perception (possibly even the reality) is that more people will watch a game with UM in it. Not because UM “took care of business”.
In that scenario
Michigan has to win over Ohio State. If they don’t beat Ohio State, they aren’t going to a BCS game. That’s what I mean by Michigan taking care of business.
For the Big Ten's at large hopes
It’s basically Michigan or bust after seeing how bad the conference is doing in the BCS standings. If OSU beats Michigan this will probably be a one BCS-team league.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
As an OSU fan reading all these UM/MSU potshots
I feel like this guy.
by BuckeyeBrett on Nov 20, 2011 9:52 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
I must say I find it a bit amusing that everyone seems to be taking the BCS stamp of approval as somehow meaningful. I mean, does anybody really like the BCS system? Does anybody really think that the BCS system identifies the best teams? And if you do…come on. Two words: Big East.
I hope the B1G gets two bids because that means an extra, what, $10 million split 12 ways? If it takes a BCS bid for UM to get it, that’s fine by this MSU fan.
I think it matters from a recruiting standpoint.
Especially when the schools that have jumped us last year or could this year are both schools we compete with for recruits.
Had Jimmy Tressel managed to stick around OSU he could say to recruits, after last season," Look MSU just had their best season in school history (record-wise) and we’re going to a BCS bowl over them in what is, for us, a down year."
Same with Hoke if in his first year as HC, he goes to a BCS bowl, in a year that MSU goes to the B1G championship. Similar vein, in that even in “down” years these schools get selected ahead of us for recognition and the “big” stage.
Recruits
That is an angle I hadn’t really considered.
I still think that BCS is functioning as an absurd totem. (Media says ‘BCS!’ People say ‘Oooo!’ for no good reason.) But it’s true that if recruits are among those saying ‘Oooo!’ then there is a secondary reason for caring about the BCS.
I don't want to see UM get a BCS bid
Not because I hate them (I do), but I want to see the B1G not get slaughtered this bowl season. We are weak this year, but if we do well in our bowls then we can start to change the perception of the league. If UM is in a BCS bowl, then that essentially means a lot of teams are “playing up”. Not a recipe for success and equals more B1G hate from everyone.
Hey Cabrera! Nice haircut!
what if we're ALL just so strong
That we can’t help but beat the crap out of each other?
by Fake Pelini on Nov 21, 2011 8:37 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I said this Saturday
Michigan is getting back to the “Michigan way.” Rodriguez threw a wrench into it, and Hoke is finally bringing that mentality back to the program. I want Michigan to be back on top, it’s much sweeter when we beat ‘em.
Give them another Brady Hoke recruiting class and you’ll see them on top in their division (sorry Michigan State, you’re losing a lot of key guys).
They need to get Nike back though, adidas unis look kinda heiny.
by Brutus89 on Nov 21, 2011 5:52 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
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