Wisconsin v. Oregon in the 2012 Rose Bowl: The B1G's Biggest Bowl Game of the Year
by Graham Filler on Dec 29, 2011 12:43 PM CST
in Wisconsin
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How does one determine the importance of a Bowl? Well, I think it's pretty simple. Something like -
Preseason Expectations of the B1G team +
Preseason Expectations of the opposing team +
Meaningful nature of the Bowl +
National perception of the matchup +
Regional perception of the matchup +
B1G's perception of the matchup +
Importance of the matchup on regional/national levels +
Impact on 2012 season +
Impact on recruiting =
Bowl Importance
We could rate this with HilaryLee-like equations or graphs, but I think this shakes itself out nicely to give us an answer.
DOESN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST
TAMU-Northwestern is a big game...for Northwestern. If they win, streak over. And if Northwestern does win, people will just bemoan such a talented TAMU team falling apart. But on a national level, both teams are middle of the road.
Iowa-Oklahoma is actually more important than you would think, because a win here would be such a boost to the Hawkeyes (and a rarity too - a preseason #1 losing to an unranked team in a bowl game?). But it's still just a blip on the national level.
Illinois-UCLA. If Kraft had given one million dollars to poverty programs every time Illinois or UCLA underperformed during the last ten years, we really could have fought hunger. Kraft...would be bankrupt, but people would be eatin'.
OSU-Florida. This season was written off by Buckeye fans. This season was probably written off by most Florida fans.
GETTING MORE IMPORTANT
Houston-PSU. God only knows how this game will go. Impotent offense v. Impotent defense. Explosive mid-level conference offense v. Top 15 defense. PSU is going through changes though and I'm sure the rest of the B1G doesn't want the Nittany Lions being the bell-cow program right now. And how can you call a win over a non-BCS AQ team that important?
Nebraska-SC. This game may not be a monster on a national level, but it sure would hearten B1G fans to see our new brother beat a decent SEC team and push us closer toward a 6 or 7 win bowl season. This is why we got Nebraska, right?
Michigan-VT. This is the lack of expectations bowl. When a team picked by many to go 7-5 or 6-6 surprisingly goes 10-2 and gets picked for a BCS bowl, the presents are already under the tree. Michigan is making their way back to prominence via recruiting and defensive toughness; a loss here doesn't change that and a win doesn't enhance that comeback that much. Yes, it would be very nice to see Denard Robinson holding up the Sugar Bowl trophy with confetti streaming behind him. But that kind of scene, while big for Michigan, isn't a huge coup for the B1G as long as it's Virginia Tech you're knocking off.
ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID
MSU-Georgia. Beating an SEC team? Huge, especially if Nebraska and Northwestern win. Winning 11 games for the second straight year? Big for continued national relevance. But Georgia has flown under the radar this year until some late victories put them nicely on the map, so the win quality is just okay. And Michigan State already played essentially three Super Bowls this year (Wisconsin1, Michigan, Wisconsin2). You're telling me this Georgia game is as big as any of those games for MSU? I don't think so.
THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL
Almost 3/4 of the country believes Wisconsin will lose this game. Most of you believe that if the Badgers can't slow Michigan State, how in God's name can they slow Oregon?
And that's what makes this Rose Bowl the biggest matchup of the B1G's bowl season. A blowout loss by Wisky, combined with a weak bowl performance, pushes us back into the MSM's standard "just not fast enough, not competitive enough" meme, which in turn hurts the B1G in BCS voting and recruiting. A win here shows us that the best a retooled Pac-12 has to offer isn't as good as our current bell-cow. A win in Pasadena, combined with a strong showing by B1G teams, shows Jim Delaney just might boost the deepest football conference in the land, even during a Buckeye off year. A win here erases that ugly TCU loss last year. And forgodssakes, a win here means that a B1G team won a damn Rose Bowl...and that by itself might be enough to call it the most important B1G game of the 2011-2012 bowl season.
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How dare you not mention the totally awesome bowl victory we already have
Purdue didn’t let Jordan White have a career day against us on Tuesday, we were just that terrified of him. We beat a monster on Tuesday night, earning the conference a mighty win with the program that has struggled the most against the MAC.
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
by BoilerTMill on Dec 29, 2011 12:50 PM CST reply actions 4 recs
I'll give you this
the Purdue-WMU game was at least very entertaining. Also, it was a stroke of marketing genius for the Little Caesars Bowl to dip the ball in the garlic butter they use on the crazy bread before the game.
by Jon Berg on Dec 29, 2011 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
I forgot to hit the sarcasm font
My fault
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
slippery fingers bowl
10 fumbles
7 fumbles lost
3 Interceptions
2 onside kicks
That’s football on LSD right there.
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Dec 29, 2011 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
Nothing says entertaining like 11 Turnovers!
But hey, Purdue did get us win 1. The commander in chief is pleased.
#10and0orbust
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Author @ Off Tackle Empire
by KennardHusker on Dec 29, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions
wow
#10and1orbust…I think we’ll start tweeting that
Until tomorrow
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Dec 29, 2011 2:47 PM CST up reply actions
He looks like he's being eaten by...
what are those Earth creature that have wings and go quack?
/arecforwhoeverrespondstothiscorrectly
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
by Pariahwulfen on Dec 30, 2011 10:21 AM CST up reply actions
Perhaps a clue
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
by Pariahwulfen on Dec 30, 2011 3:36 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Ah yes. The Centauri...
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
Whatever holds the image of an angel IS an angel. The eyes are not the windows of the soul, they are the doors.
Yes, I am on twitter.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Dec 30, 2011 5:40 PM CST up reply actions
I really want to root for the B1G
But it’s pretty tough when it’s the bucking fadgers that are representing us. I might not even be able to watch it. Call me sour grapes….I am.
I'm torn. I normally like to see the B1G do well in bowls, but I'm finding it tough to get behind Wisky and UM.
Wisky because of their d-bag coach, and UM because they’re Michigan and they jumped us in the polls.
I guess I hope they both win, but if they should lose, I hope it’s by 40 so I can point and laugh.
https://twitter.com/#!/SpartanKC
Fuck all of them
Every time I think about rooting for the conference, I remember why I hate that particular team. The only other Big Ten game I’m going to even watch is the Rose Bowl.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
by Seer on Dec 29, 2011 11:28 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
That's a rec for quality hate
Let it flow, bro. Let it flow.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
Eh, I don't hate most of the rest of the B1G
I can’t root for Michigan or Ohio State unless they’re playing one of the few teams I find equally despicable (the JerryWorld game next year will be one example) or a win for one of them is necessary to help us in some way (more than just making the conference look good). The rest of the conference, I’ll allow it. (I don’t even find Wisconsin that despicable, at least in football.)
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
I will never root for Michigan.
Ever.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
Whatever holds the image of an angel IS an angel. The eyes are not the windows of the soul, they are the doors.
Yes, I am on twitter.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Dec 30, 2011 5:41 PM CST up reply actions
You might be underselling the Cap1 interest level.
Aside from historically being a big draw (sometimes more than some BCS bowls)…
…and attracting the split SEC and B1G fan bases…
…it should attract the B12 fan bases who find themselves without any conference games until much later.
My guess is that it splits the majority of the audience with the UGa-Sparty match up.
Proud proponent of the 52 team Uber Conference
Maybe it’s the first bowl game where the two involved teams have no idea what the hell is happening after their seasons end?
FTFY
“Kraft Fight ineptitude Coaching Bowl
"Hey Jay, what time is it?"
"9:30"
"AND IU STILL SUCKS!"
by Boiler Bandsman on Dec 30, 2011 1:46 AM CST up reply actions
Kraft Fight Employment Bowl?
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
by Pariahwulfen on Dec 30, 2011 10:22 AM CST up reply actions
I didn’t write this season off, I thought Ohio State had a real shot at 8-9 wins/competing for a spot in the conference championship. Purdue ended any such wishful thinking, but even with an up and down schedule, I saw a lot of things I liked from our younger guys. This was still an important season to me.
Its for this reason
that a good record for TSIO next year isn’t ALL going to be due to Urban renewal. There’s talent on that team, no doubt.
’scuse me…gotta go rinse my mouth out.
by GoWings2008 on Dec 29, 2011 2:23 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Take a good look at this congress
An Ohio State and Michigan fan, coming together and compromising when they need to.
I won't lie....
My comment is just as much for tactical reasons. Yes, Meyer is a good coach, but I just am cautioning the fanbase in C-bus not to put him on too high of a pedestal just yet. I think he’ll have his growing pains as well.
Eh, for a Michigan fan
He’s an all right guy. Happy New Year Sharpie!!
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
Awwww man!
How much crap did WE take when Hoke was hired? Plenty. I thought I was being rather PC about it…
We were givin' you crap by the pound
and Hoke is no Calista Flockhart
You win with people (not named Joe Bauserman)
No way am I picking Oregon. Count me as one of the 1/4 who believes the Badgers wins this one by 2 scores.
Ha! I wish, there'd be more to do there than Cleveland.
Everyone’s so ready to crown the Pac-12, but Oregon’s done nothing in Bowl games under Kelly, granted they made it close with Auburn, but that was Auburn’s game to lose. Stanford isn’t much outside of Luck, USC is easily the best team in that conference. The Big 10 is second best in my opinion, if Wisconsin doesn’t control this game, I’ll be shocked. It’s the most explosive Badger team in any recent memory.
I mean, yeah, but
Wisconsin’s secondary is decent and the LB’s are decent.
Decent doesn’t get it done versus the slashing runs and passes of Oregon. They’re going to have to play out of their minds.
Do a nice contrast to that OSU-Oregon game two years ago and you’ll see the bucks were sporting one of the better defenses to play B1G football since OTE started.
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Dec 29, 2011 2:49 PM CST up reply actions
granted, but if it comes down to a shoot out, I like the power that comes with the speed of Wisconsin over Oregon. Wisconsin can give up 30 points to Oregon and still win this game comfortably, I truly believe that. I don’t expect it to be a defensive game whatsoever, and if that’s the case, I like Russell Wilson, Montee Ball and that Oline over Darron Thomas, LaMichael James, and their Oline 100x out of 100.
Fortunately, the Ducks' passing game is less explosive this year
Unfortunately, they’ve more than made up for it with improvements in the running game.
The Oregon O-line is incredible – go watch the tutorials on FishDuck.com. Their ability to get outside and seal the corner on the outside zone read play is probably my biggest worry because it reminds me of what Sparty did to our defense.
I am kind of hoping that our defensive strategy is creative: like suicidally creative: like kicking onside, every time, to steal a few possessions (esp. since it’s not much worse than the field position we usually give up on kickoffs); or sending the backside DE (the guy Oregon’s option reads) to attack the mesh and disrupt the Ducks’ timing.
I just don’t like our chances if we play conservative defense.
by brooks.wesley on Dec 29, 2011 3:26 PM CST up reply actions
Unfortunately, the DL is garbage
Even thought the LB’s are decent, they’re the run stuffing type. I don’t think Wisky can compete with the speed to the edge.
I forsee Oregons DL standing up to the Wisky OL more than I see Wisky’s DL standing up to the Oregon OL. Thus, more FGs or punts for Wisky, more scoring opportunities for Oregon.
Plus, Chyrst is calling the game, so you know he’ll go away from the run if it’s working.
That game might challenge Baylor-Washington for absurdly high scoring.
Oregon’s defense is not prepared to deal with the bulldozers that are the Wisconsin offensive line. Wisconsin’s defense is not going to stop Oregon either.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
Might be my green colored glasses...
Based on the two games played this year, MSU is at least 1A as the best in the conference. We’re going up against the team that is probably 3 or 4th best in the SEC (LSU/Bama, Ark, UGA). A convincing win would quiet some of those SEC demon tremors we’ve (the B1G) suffered these past couple of years.
Quite frankly anything but a convincing win and the SEC homer/apologists will be all over how good the SEC still is.
If a team that got thumped in their CG appearance can hang with the B1G rep who lost by inches.
No pressure there.
Not even a blowout MSU win will shut up the SEC homers.
Only thing that will quiet them down is another invasion…
https://twitter.com/#!/SpartanKC
While that is somewhat true, I'm more concerned with the media/voting types.
Beat UGA and with the defense we’re bringing back (worthy is 50/50 as of today) we’re looking at a Top 10 preseason ranking.
Lose to UGA and we’re looking at Top 25 (maybe).
Doesn't matter how important this is to the B1G...
…I don’t cheer for Wisconsin. Period. Best I can do is wish them a gut-punch close loss. That way they have a season of snakebites to celebrate and the MSM will still run with their meme, but it won’t have a blowout loss to back it.
by GoAUpher on Dec 29, 2011 2:51 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
That's the B1G attitude I heard about :D
Seriously, though, conference solidarity is a tough thing. I get that. I always rooted for Missouri, Colorado (you know, when they went to bowls), K-State, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. to get demolished because I was trained that you hate your enemies… or something like that. Still, we all need to come together for a little while and get some wins. Last year was a nightmare, and Nebraska’s lame duck appearance at the Holiday didn’t help things. So repeat with me “TEN AND OH OR BUST!” It’s fun…
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Author @ Off Tackle Empire
by KennardHusker on Dec 29, 2011 3:17 PM CST up reply actions
I have no problem cheering for other B1G teams
#10and0orbust!
by TheHumbleBuckeye on Dec 29, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
Oh don't get me wrong...
…Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan State, and Penn State, and Ohio State get my support. I don’t hate Michigan much right now so they do too. REDACTED already got my support (though how does one support a black hole?). But Iowa and Wisconsin will not.
#8and2orbust!
Screw that.
8-2 or bust. I’ll cheer for most of the B1G, but Michigan and Ohio State can’t lose badly enough for me. (Granted, it would require the return of Bauser for Florida to be capable of scoring more than 14 points.)
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
Suddenly
I feel like being a big UGA fan…
by GoWings2008 on Dec 30, 2011 11:41 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I say that I always root for all the B1G teams...
but in my heart I know it’s not true. If I flip on a game and see one of the rival teams losing my gut reaction is always going to be “Hey, that’s great” and I have to tell myself that it’s not for the good of the conference. However it’s definitely easier to show B1G solidarity when Minnesota remains in the Queso Bowl.
I don't always root for Big Ten teams
But I do always root against Notre Dame. That’s close enough, right?
This really hurt last night
I hate, hate FSU. But there I was, rooting for the Seminoles to kick ND’s ass. Stupid bowls.
This is at least the third article I've read
that mentions Penn State being in transition, but not that Houston is as well. I get that losing Joe is a heck of a lot bigger than losing Sumlin (obvs as well with the off the field issues), but Penn State has played 3 games already under the coach that’s coaching them for the bowl. Houston hasn’t played any.
Fire Dan Snyder
Houston sucks
They are a gimmicky CUSA Run n Shoot team that hasn’t played a real defense all year.
Yeah, can’t wait to see that Run n Shoot turn into the chuck n duck. If Penn State loses to Houston, I’ll be very surprised.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
by Ted Glover on Dec 29, 2011 11:19 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
To be the most important bowl for the B10
The arguments can’t depend on how the other games go. WI making up for the TCU loss is also a non-factor. OSU won the Rose bowl 2 years ago, so there is no drought there. Clearly there are only 4 real choices:
1. Rose – It’s most important bowl in general, and it could undo the speed versus power argument. On the other hand, OR has no track record of big game success and WI is not the B10’s most important team for national perception. WI is a major underdog, so even a close loss might not hurt much.
2. Sugar – It’s a BCS game, and that’s what the nation focuses on. MI’s lack of recent success really hurt the perception of the B10, so a BCS win for them would be huge. In addition, a loss to the ACC runner up would kill their reputation, especially since VT got crushed by Clemson twice. On the other hand, it would only be a BCS win over the ACC which is almost a given based on ACC history. MI is expected to win, so an upset could really hurt.
3. Capital One – B10#3 vs SEC #3. Both division winners that lost their CCG. MSU was a near tie for the B10 title while UGA got crushed by LSU. SEC losses are what hurt the B10’s rep, so only beating them can really help. MSU can redeem their reputation after last year’s embarrassment. On the other hand, it isn’t a BCS game and MSU also isn’t the perception leader for the B10. UGA is expected to win, so a close loss or better might be OK.
4. Outback – This is another B110/SEC games, and a lesser one based on the teams. However, NE has a clean slate in national perception versus the SEC. For them to start off with a win would give a boost to the whole conference and disprove the SEC speed issue. NE is major brand, so their wins matter more than for some other teams. On the other hand, this is a match up of fourth place teams at best.
Based on all the factors, I’d say the Sugar is slightly more important. A win for MI is bigger for the B10 than a win for WI. A loss to the ACC runner up is much worse than a loss to the P12 champ. MI is expected to win and WI is expected to lose, so being upset by VT would be a worse loss.
I like your thinking
with regards to the Sugar and the Capital One Bowl, and I’ll add this to the mix….a loss by Michigan will do a lot of damage, due to its the ACC…not considering ‘rankings’ of course. The impact of the loss will only fulfill the current theories of the B1G, but moreso Michigan.
HOWEVA, a victory by MSU I think will have just as big of a positive impact, maybe more, than a UM loss. My thinking is that the current perception of the ESS EEE SEE is a stronger conference is damaged by a loss to the team that was embarassed last year, and a team that, as you said, isn’t the perceived leader of the B10.
I think the MSU win upside is as big as the UM loss downside…
And it will be a double shot of goodness
if MSU beats Georgia and Mark Richt really does take the PSU job right after the game.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
Wound't THAT be glorious
Fuck you, SEC.
by GoWings2008 on Dec 30, 2011 8:15 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
A MSU win would be big
But a MI win would set up the hype for MI/AL next year. That’s a lot of free publicity. And, as we both noted, losing to the ACC runner up would be a crushing blow.
Yeah
I didn’t really think about the implications for next year…very good point. No doubt, if UM does well in their OOC schedule next year, they’ll really have earned some respect. No slouches in those first three games…
I thought it was
AL, AF, ND…then UMass. I could be wrong….
Okay, 3 of 4 no slouches. No EMU or WMU either.
Fair enough
It takes guts to start off with AL in Dallas, and AF has all kinds of trap game potential.
Doesn't UMass count as a bye week?
And really, how good is ND? If MI can beat AL, then the other 3 games should be easy wins although AF and ND are good enough to upset a flat MI.
Not to mention MI gets PU and IL to open B10 play. That’s basically AL and then 7 weeks to prepare for MSU.
Let me say this about that
Yes, UMass can be a coast game, but the way things are working in the NCAA nowadays you can’t afford not to be ready each and every week. So, I hope that UM can get out to an early lead in that one and play 2nd string in the second half.
ND is a rivalry game, so regardless of their reputation, UM cannot afford to have an off week against them. I wished that damn T’eo would have left for the NFL, but Floyd is graduating. They get such good talent each year, its hard to predict if they’ll ever have a break out season amidst their years of 7-5 and 8-4 records.
The rest of UMs conf schedule is somewhat tough with away games at Neb and OSU. So, next year I think that if UM ends the season 9-3, I’ll think that was a decent year, considering the thinning problem on the DL. Losing Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen will hurt a lot.
It looks like a 5 game schedule
Plus you know at least one other game team will sneak up on you (it happens to everybody). AL, @NE, @OSU, @ND and vs MSU are all losable, so anywhere from 6-6 to 12-0 is possible. I’d say 9-3 is a realistic expectation. That should put them in the running for the division title, with the MI/MSU game being the key.
Agree on all points
UM/MSU is defintely the key, esp if they both finish with identical records, the winner of that game gets the nod.
You have the Cap1 and Outback backwards.
Outback is MSU-UGA, Cap1 is Neb-USCe.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
It's the Sugar Bowl, hands down
And it pains me to say that. Look, it was OSU and to a lesser extent Michigan that caused the B1G reputation to go in to the shitter, largely on 5 games:
OSU: Florida and LSU title games, and at USC in 2008.
UM: Rose Bowl after 2006 against USC, App St 07.
And as much as I hate to come off sounding like an arrogant ass, it’s going to have to be Michigan and OSU that make it right. The Bucks started to repair some damage with back to back BCS wins, but that was clouded by Tatgate. Hopefully next year, they’ll pick back up where they left off in 2010.
A Wisconsin win in the Rose Bowl will help, but until UM can start winning BCS games, the B1G will have a bad perception nationally.
And I say all that to say that a win against an average Va Tech team is expected, and a loss will be very damaging to the conference. So, Michigan, kick Va Tech’s ass, okay?
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go wash my mouth out with soap and self impose a two day ban over at 11 Warriors.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
Ted-
Those self imposed sanctions are very noble. You have nothing to worry about, the NCAA won’t be adding on any additional penalties either.
You win with people (not named Joe Bauserman)
Go back to hosting Family Feud, Steve Harvey
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
by Ted Glover on Dec 30, 2011 8:06 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Let us not forget Oregon absolutely crushing UM in the Big House
That game, to me, really showed that the old guard had to adjust to keep up with the new guard.
Oh yeah, that was a thumpin', wasn't it?
But I think App St did more damage than Oregon did, by far. Oregon was a BCS school, and Dennis Dixon was being touted as The Next Big Thing, if I remember correctly.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
Perception of the Big 10, yes
Appy State hurt the worst. But the Oregon game (39-7, BTW), IMO, had a deeper impact on Michigan, and probably football in general.
Agreed
It was this line of thinking, I suppose, that was initially behind RRods hiring. The Big Ten back then seemed to be lagging in the speed department, so Martin was going to hire someone who could coach the team to keep up with the new guard, as you put it. I think we’re seeing now the proper mix of the two schools of thought and the need for coaches who can find ways to use players skills and not just force the round peg into a square hole.
Heh heh….hole….
Solid point
So lemme ask this question: Why does no one talk about the thumping Michigan put on Florida in the Capital One Bowl at the end of the year? That’s the one thing that pisses me off about this ‘conference perception’ BS—the B1G is rightfully hammered for losing games they shouldn’t, or getting embarrassed on a national stage like OSU did in ‘06 and ’07, but the B1G really isn’t given credit for quality wins—like OSU’s Rose and SUgar Bowl wins, and UM against Florida.
It’s just frustrating.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
by Ted Glover on Dec 30, 2011 8:23 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
You: Preaching - Me: Choir
Couldn’t agree more. Its convenient to remind UM folks about losing to App State, as funny as everyone finds it, but also conveniently forget that UM beat Florida in between two championship seasons, AND the year that Reverand Tim won the Heisman, if my memory serves. Up until Miss St last year, UM had a very good record against the SEC, but they usually find some excuse why it didn’t really count. OSU Rose Bowl another great example…
It's the SEC - logic does not apply
Every loss is explainable, every win is a titanic achievement. Every B10 win is explainable as some freak occurrence, every B10 loss is held up as proof that the B10 can never compete with the SEC.
This applies across the landscape
Most conference defending/attacking is from the standpoint of ’we’re better than you because of some random non-comparable stat’ and as you noted, most of the people engaging in such ridiculous arguments are SEC peoples… which is annoying. I remember that Michigan beatdown of Florida, and I remember thinking that the B1G was for real. I also remember that nobody cared because the SEC was still dominating on the bigger stage. Until somebody dethrones the SEC as National Title winner (and even then because they’ll logic it away as chance), we have to put up with this crap.
Always check the words with the red squiggly line. They mean you probably screwed up.
Author @ Off Tackle Empire
Next step, Twitter... @KennardHusker
by KennardHusker on Dec 30, 2011 8:54 AM CST up reply actions
HELL YA BROTHER!
S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!
You win with people (not named Joe Bauserman)
by BuckeyeSki on Dec 30, 2011 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
See: ESPN
Or, Fuck ESPN for a better reference
Some guy at Penn State Hershey just discovered a virus that eats cancer. Where were the CNN trucks for that? Now Someone at PSU found something that could cure Leukemia. Coverage? None. THON will probably break $10 mil this year. Put that on "Outside the Lines" you sanctimonious pricks!
by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Dec 30, 2011 9:10 AM CST up reply actions
Hate to say it, but blame OSU
It’s always the top of the icket. Getting stomped by another 2 loss SEC team didn’t help.
The B1G's best defense vs the Mid Majors best offense? That's a good story line
Now, Rob Bolden vs a mid tier C-USA defense? Whoever stumbles over themselves less than the other side will win.
Some guy at Penn State Hershey just discovered a virus that eats cancer. Where were the CNN trucks for that? Now Someone at PSU found something that could cure Leukemia. Coverage? None. THON will probably break $10 mil this year. Put that on "Outside the Lines" you sanctimonious pricks!
by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Dec 30, 2011 9:09 AM CST reply actions
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