Will Club Force return the team to glory?We're counting down the weeks until kickoff by profiling a different Big Ten team each week. We decided to switch up the order to reflect 11W's predicted finish for the upcoming season, which can be found here and we'll also reach out to fellow bloggers for their inside opinion on important matters.
This week we take a look at the Michigan Wolverines, who will be looking to start a new streak of consecutive winning seasons, after their stellar 3-9 season in RichRod's 2008 debut.
Most of us Ohio State fans know all about the troubles up north, so there is no need to rehash them in this post. Plus if I would come across too negative, I am on vacation and won't have the ability to monitor the harsh, improper comments that are sure to come our way from the Michigan faithful.
COACHING: I won't say RR is on the hot seat, as I think he will get at least 3 years to work his system into place, but he may have the most pressure on him in all of college football. Another troublesome season will not sit well with the Wolverine Nation.
We invited our buddy Dave from Maize and Brew over this week to help us out and I asked him what areas of improvement need to be shown early on, to give Michigan fans hope that this season will be different.
Is it fair to say "everything"? We kinda sucked last year. I'm pretty sure you noticed en route to delivering a 42-7 butt whuppin on us last year. But it's a new year, new personnel, experienced personnel, yadda yadda yadda. I think the most important area of improvement has to be the Michigan defense. If you want to nitpick, and pick the biggest position problem area(s) you could say safety play. But honestly, defensive line play, linebacker play and corner play would follow in short order. Everyone harped on the offense not being able to score points last year or that they constantly hung the defense out to dry. That's not backed up by the facts. Though I can't find the link, the average starting position for Michigan opponents was one of the highest in the country. So as a general rule, the defense was playing on a short field. Even so, Michigan was ninth in Big Ten total defense and still gave up a staggering 367 yards a game despite playing on a short field. If you're looking for an indictment of Michigan's defensive play in an easily digestible package, look no further than the Purdue game. It still makes me nauseous. (urp)... For Michigan to have any hope, especially early on, the defense has to be able to make some key stops early in games. Against Utah, Michigan gave up a pile of early points and yards. Against Penn State, Michigan was solid until the second half. Against Illinois... well, they just sucked. There was no consistency at all, and teams just rolled up yards on our D. Sure, the big play definitely stuck a knife in the side of the team last year, but really, it was already on life support when the stabbing occurred. The long and short of it is as follows. 1) Safeties have to play better. Since '07 safety play has been atrocious. Better angles, better understanding of their positions, better decision making. Without that, Michigan's sunk. 2) the line and linebackers have to get pressure and play their positions. Too many times last season the line did nothing and the linebackers got swallowed up. None of that can happen this year if Michigan's going to be any good.
OFFENSE: UM returns 10 starters on offense, but also will more than likely be starting a freshman QB. Coming out of spring ball, Calista Forcier, an early enrollee, had the inside track over fellow freshman Denard Robinson, who will get the chance to show his goods once fall camp opens. Nick Sheridan started 4 games last year, but broke his leg in the spring and probably won't get a chance to start again this season, after completing just 46% of his passes last season.
If Michigan can keep all their backs healthy, they could have some serious depth and should see a ton of improvement from this position. Senior Brandon Minor is poised to finally have a breakout season, after leading the team with 533 yards last year. Michael Shaw got a chance to show his stuff at tailback late in the season and responded with 129 yards in the last 3. He missed spring due to sports hernia surgery, but should be ready to battle for the backup spot when camp opens.
Seniors Carlos Brown and Kevin Grady, could provide some depth, but neither one has done much in their first 3 years. If none of the above guys work out, RichRod brought in 3 freshman tailbacks; Fitzgerald Toussaint, Teric Jones and Vincent Smith. All were 3-star recruits by Scout and while Smith may be the least rated coming out of high school, he is one player that Maize and Brew thinks might have a chance to surprise on offense.
One player is diminutive Freshman RB Vincent Smith - (youtubin')...Regardless of whether the Michigan defenders would have trouble tackling their grandmother, that's pretty goddamn impressive.
The wideouts should also be improved, as 6 of the top 8 return from last year. Sophomore Martavious Odoms and senior Greg Mathews combined for 84 catches and 852 yards, but only Mathews saw the endzone, twice. Sophomore Darryl Stonum will also add a threat to the offense and is another player that Dave thinks will make a much larger impact than he did last year.
Stonum's Michigan's deep threat. Great size and speed, and seems to be Tate Forcier's favorite target. I think he could be something special.
The line retunrs all 5 starters and 7 players who had at least 4+ starts. This unit will be lead by All-Conference candidate, Stephen Schilling, who has started 24 games in the last 2 years and has the potential to be the best left guards in the B10. Surprisingly, the line only gave up 22 sacks last year, the lowest at UM since the 2002 season, but with a freshman QB back there, they will have to improve tremendously if the Wolverines are going to be able to move the ball this season.
All in all, the pieces are in place for RichRod's system to take some necessary steps towards being a force at Michigan, but it still has to be proven that his system can work in a more physical conference. Michigan scored more than 30 points (42 in a loss at Purdue) only once last year and failed to score more than 20 in half their games.
DEFENSE: As Dave pointed out above, last year was a failed season by Scott Schafer, so RR brought in former Syracuse HC Greg Robinson, who in his career has been DC for 2 Super Bowl winning teams (Denver) and a dominant Texas team in 2004, amongst others. He inherits just 5 returning starters off a team that allowed 29 points a game and a 57.8 completion percentage to opposing QB's.
If there is any good news, 5 of the top 8 tacklers return, including linebacker leaders Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton, who combined for 174 stops last year and 11.5 TFL. Stevie Brown, who recorded 64 tackles himself also returns as the new hybrid S/LB.
Along the line, Brandon Graham returns for his senior season, after registering 10 sacks and 10 TFL's in 2008. Robinson implemented a 3-4 scheme in the spring to help offset the lack of depth up front. Graham should be joined by a couple of sophomores, Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. Martin has the chance to be really good and could garner some post season B10 awards. You can also add DT William Campbell to the mix, a player that Buckeye fans may have to watch come November 21.
Campbell is going to be a beast at Defensive Tackle, a position of great need for Michigan, and is almost a lock guarantee to see a lot of playing time with just Mike Martin (who is awesome) and Renaldo Sagesse (who is Canadian) in front of him. Very explosive and strong, surprisingly seems to get penetration on passing plays but stand his ground on running plays. Can eat up two defenders in the way Terrence Taylor occasionally would.
In the secondary, junior corner Donovan Warren will man one side, while rising star Boubacar Cissoko (also on Doc's upcoming defender's list) replaces the departed Morgan Trent. At the safety position, both starters will be new, though they both got some experience last year. Sophomore Michael Williams and junior Troy Woolfolk should have the edge at starting, but as Dave points out, don't sleep on Justin Turner, who could see time as the nickel and eventually become much more.
Justin Turner will see plenty of playing time this year in Michigan's Nickle defenses (CB) and probably as a safety. Turner was one of five Army All Americans, and easily the most impressive. Good in tight coverage and has great wheels. I think he's going to be a legit All American candidate in three years.
KEY GAME: September 12, Notre Dame in Ann Arbor. I know this maybe a little early for a key game to an entire season, but the Irish whooped UM last year, causing 6 Wolverine turnovers, while jumping out to a 21-0 lead 5 minutes into the game. The Irish are supposed to be a top 10 team and an upset over them could get the RichRod express rolling, but another performance similar to last year and the boo-birds are sure to come out early and often. The key game easily could have been their opener against Western Michigan, as the Wolverines have lost 2 straight season openers.
BEST-CASE: For this, we go back to the local expert.
Absolute best case? 9-3. That's a every break goes our way, no one gets hurt, everyone plays well, no screw ups, etc. prediction. Realistically? 7-5 with an outside (waaay outside) shot at 8 wins. There's a lot to be positive about, even after last year, but there's still a lot of work to be done. I think the offense will be leaps and bounds better, but the defense is going to take two to three years to get back to being dominant again. You can't change schemes 3 times in three years and not have problems. The program is definitely still in transition, but the schedule is somewhat manageable this season. I think Michigan can realistically go 3-1, and maybe even 4-0, in it's non-confrence non-conference slate. But 2-2 drops them to an outside chance to reach 7 wins and likely 6 wins. Someone once cursed me by saying "may you live in interesting times." I am. And this season will certainly be interesting for Wolverines fans.
WORST-CASE: Honestly, I am not convinced this offense is going to work in the Big Ten and I am still not sold on RichRod's overall style. Michigan opens up with 4 home games and their other 2 OOC games are against Eastern Michigan and Delaware State. They go on the road to face MSU, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, with home games against Indiana, Purdue, Penn State and of course the might Buckeyes. Let's say UM goes 3-1 in the OOC slate and I'll give them wins against IU and PU, but all 4 road games are losable and so are the PSU and OSU games. If RR can't get his system going on offense and the new 3-4 scheme doesn't work, this team could slip to 5-7 and miss a bowl game for the second consecutive year, after appearing in 33 straight.
Comments
michiscUM sucks.....there, it was going to be said eventually, might as well get it out early.
Ski's Prediction: 6-6
Blowout losses to PSU & the 'might' Buckeyes LOL
You know what? F Michigan.
I know some people want them to rise up and rep the B11, provide us a quality rival, etc. F that. The longer they stay down, the longer the are horrible and we own them, the happier I am.
Never forget the dark days of John Harold Cooper.
Thank you Buckeye Chief. F m.
Amen!
I met a MGoBlow fan over the weekend I was quite entertained by his faith in his faith in Bich Rod. And I quite enjoyed filling him with lines about how the Big Ten needs them and Ohio State needs them. He was too dumb to catch my patronizing tone. Then the dumb scUM had the nerve to say that he didn't like Tressel because Tress couldn't "win the big one." My only response was that we've like only one the last five "big ones." And ended it right there. Done. I was trying to be nice, but..
I said it early on, and I am going to keep saying it... Dick Rod has pissed everyone off, defections continue, that system wont work in the Big-11 (proves big least is a step down) and he is gone after next season (maybe after this season). Les Miles is the coach in waiting and he wont make the same mistakes he did in 2007--- contract in place early, i's dotted, t's crossed... hello Mr. Miles, goodbye DickRod.
I don't understand this "that offense won't work in the Big Ten" meme, other than lazy writing.
The top 2 offenses in the league last year were Penn State and Illinois - both ran a spread. Penn State also led the Big Ten in scoring offense.
In 2007, Purdue led the league in both scoring (Indiana - Indiana! - was #3) and total (Northwestern #2, Illinois #3) offense.
I could go on and on. Let's not forget that, of the top offenses in the nation last year, the first one that wasn't spread-based was USC at #11. In the national championship game, spread-offense Florida beat spread-offense Oklahoma.
The evidence - you know, the stuff that actually, like, counts - categorically shows that your argument is stupid - yet you still advance it. Why? I'm not saying that Rich Rodriguez is going to start owning the Big Ten left and right, but if you think he can't, at least give a valid, non-stupid reason.
I'm not going to say that his system won't work in the Big 10, but I do think his system was made to look way better because of the Big East. People can say what they want about the Big 10 but the Big East just isn't good. They have had seasons where UC, or Lousiville or West Virginia was good, but overall the conference just stinks in football.
With that said, I think Dick Rod just happened to be the best coach in a bad conference. Also, people may disagree with me here, but when a guy is the teams 2nd or 3rd option for coach, bad things usually end up hapening. This could be the "bad" coach before they bring in the real deal. I've seen it many times before in basketball. Ask North Carolina and Kentucky.
I agree, it's not like the spread hasn't worked in the Big 10. My argument is that I'm just not convinced he's a great coach. I think he was made to look better because of the Big East.
What about the Big Ten compares all that favorably with the Big East? You keep saying "the Big East sucks and that's why Rodriguez was successful there" but, uh, the Big Ten isn't exactly world beaters here. Besides, how do you explain his success at Clemson (as an OC), Tulane (as an OC), or Glenville State (NAIA)? And I know you're going to say "NAIA doesn't count" but uh, didn't your coach come from 1-aa?
Like Tim, I'm not advancing the notion that he's going to start winning titles every single year, but to say that you're "not convinced he's a great coach" is, again, to ignore all evidence given to you; at every stop he's had he's been a "great coach."
That Vincent Smith does look pretty impressive. Looking forward to his transfer to OSU at the end of the year.
I'm sorry, but I don't think the Big East Compares at all to the Big 10. One year Louisville was really good, Rutgers was fair and UC/South Florida have come on lately, but it's not like every year they've had 4 or 5 really good teams. I'm not saying that the Big 10 has set the world on fire, but at the top whether it was Ohio State and Michigan 3 years ago being 1 and 2 or PSU ane OSu being in the top 10, they were better, and the middle teams like Iowa, MSU, and Wisconsin, typically are.
Anyway, hey may have had success elsewhere, but how many ACC championships did Clemson have when he was coordinator, and Tulane he may have had success, I don'tk now if he was their coach the year they went undefeated or not, but once again, it was Tulane.
Certainly before Tressel came to Ohio State he hadn't dominated Division I football at a power house, but he made the school he was at a powerhouse winning championships. I could be wrong, but I just don't get a sense that Rodriquez is going to be a great fit up there.
The one most important stat in all of football is turnover margin. I believe scUM was -10 in this department last year. Being that it may be impossible to repeat this accomplishment, I'd say scUM will improve their W/L record by default.
The Big East is not as good as the b11. The caliber of athlete is not the same, check recruiting, and defense is not the main emphasis. This allows fantastic athletes like Pat white to become great. Pat White would be an above avg. receiver in the B11. rich Rod must also find a qb to run his offense like White in order to be sucksessful. Go blow.
http://www.nationalchamps.net/...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
Rich Rod looks average when you have 2-3 quality teams in conference (Miami, Va Tech). World beater without them. Just saying.
And every scUM fan who says they would rather have him than Les Miles is lying to themselves.
I have a lot of respect for Pat White, I can't knock him. He's beat GA and Oklahoma in Bowl games and went 4-0. I think he would've done alright as a QB in the B11.
Tim,
I realize you recently earned a promotion -- congratulations. But does that promotion mean you must take on the antagonizing and crotchety front of your hippie mentor?
Lazy? Stupid? I can't speak for Corey, the author of this article, but let's take a look at some of the other offenses you mentioned (national rank in parens):
2008 Penn State
Rushing: 205.85 (17th)
Passing: 243.08 (37th)
2008 Illinois
Rushing: 169.50 (38th)
Passing: 269.33 (20th)
2007 Purdue
Rushing: 128.77 (89th)
Passing: 307.15 (12th)
2007 Northwestern
Rushing: 119.75 (97th)
Passing: 307.92 (11th)
Now, let's take a look at the WVU offense in 2006 and 2007:
2007 West Virginia
Rushing: 297.23 yds/game (3rd)
Passing: 159.00 yds/game (114th)
2006 West Virginia
Rushing: 303.00 yds/game (2nd)
Passing: 158.38 yds/game (100th)
Surely all spread offenses must be the same right? All spreads feature the same run/pass balance, right?
the might buckeyes FTW!
Well Antoine Randle El was very successful in the Big 10, but he never won anything either. I'm not knocking Pat White at all and Steve Slayton was a great running back to be sure. But a team that runs that ball on every play no matter how the disguise it will be stopped in the big 10. Minnesota a few years back with Maroni and the other great running back, I can't remember his name, were just an average team overall.
so right again, Chief!
Rodriguez made the WVU Offense work with a QB who wasn't a passer. He's run the same offense differently (more pass happy) with passing QB's (Shaun King, Woody Dantzler). Thank you, Tim, for calling folks out for being very, very lazy critics. The mantra is: low character, gimmick offense, and "Big Least". Ask for any of these to be substantiated and you get "42-7", "3-9", or "5 in a row". Fact is, Rodriguez and Michigan both have good track records of success in major college football. Last season was a debacle with a team in transition. Period. If buckeye homers are honest and objective (???), they know that Michigan is likely to be back near the top of the conference very soon and in the national title hunt shortly thereafter. There is simply no convincing evidence to support otherwise...
I think you are over utilizing the term "spread". Oklahoma's "spread" and RR's "spread" are two totally different things. Just because an offense includes non-standard formations and multiple WR's/RB's in a variety of roles does not mean they run a true "spread" offense. The "spread option" and the "Air-raid" (TT, OU) are not the same thing. The spread option is basically running a speed or triple option out of spread sets. Northwestern has run variations of the spread option offense for years in the B11 and it has for the most part (in light of their recruiting) been successful. The question, I believe, is whether or not the true spread option, as RR runs, will "work", in this case, bring UM to elite status. The one primary thing to the SO success is the trigger man (Pat freaking White) and to a lesser extent, the options themselves. See Oregon minus Dennis Dixon (or UM last year for that matter) as an example of sans apt trigger-man run SO's. Forcier strikes me, from what little we have seen, as a Northwestern type of SO QB, not a bad thing. Having said that, I see Devin Gardner as the perfect trigger man for his original SO offense. Where does that leave RR with Forcier? I see it leaving him with a Evanston-esque bastardization of the spread option, again not necessarily a bad thing. Will it be good enough for UM faithful? That is what I personally am not so sure about. I suppose it is semantics of whether or not "his offense" will work soon enough rather than work at all. So, if Forcier ISN'T a Pat White-type talent running the spread option, UM either waits for Garnder or changes the offense to a NUish mix but it is going to work to some extent regardless. That doesn't mean he keeps his job through the 2010 season.
"If buckeye homers are honest and objective (???), they know that Michigan is likely to be back near the top of the conference very soon and in the national title hunt shortly thereafter. There is simply no convincing evidence to support otherwise…" I consider myself objective but I would ask you to do the same. What "convincing evidence" do you have that UM will be in the MNC hunt so soon? How soon is "very soon"? I am not saying he is a bad coach or a product of the Big East but "convincing evidence" would be him winning at Michigan THIS season. Not a B11 title but 8-9 wins would prove it to me. Would 7-5 this year REALLY put all of your nerves to rest?
thank you for clarifying my point... I could not agree more.
Had LiC gone to Michigan, he probably would have been injured by now. Dick Rodspread would have relied way too heavily on LiC's QB running ability.
i dunno guys, i'm kind of on the fence about this one. as much as i can't stand dick rod, he has a proven track record of success over the course of his career, and michigan will be better this year. we'll still take then to the woodshed in november, but 2010 might be tough.
secondly, i don't really buy the "this offense won't work in the Big 10" line. that's what they said about b-ball on grass and joe tiller, and he made huge strides with that program. there's nothing wrong with the option as long as you have the personnel to run it, and i think at some point big 10 fans are going to need to start to realize that having big dudes matched off against small shifty dudes isn't always a recipe for success.
apples to oranges, dick rod's teams at WV were nothing like that minnesota team, and i guess we'll see what happens with your running the ball analysis when navy comes to town. i hope you're right.
I can't honestly be terrfied of Navy. I saw where peopel are predicting it to be a close game and that the buckeyes are going to struggle, but I just don't see it.
In short, yes, I would be encouraged by a 7-win season. This is a very young team with a likely two FR platoon at QB. The skill players will continue to mature in the system around experience on the line. Gardner comes in next year, hopefully redshirts, and away we go... Michigan contends for the Big 10 in 2010 and the MNC by 2012. Glad you;re one of the "objective" bucks. No "convincing" evidence besides track record of the coaching staff and Michigan program. Certainly none for the kind of nonsense bandied around on these rival blogs.
Why can't we hope for them to do for us what we did for them in the 90's. Provide a quality win over a ranked team 95% of the time. I would love it even more to play them every year with them in the top 10 only to beat them every year. Right now it's like me kicking the crap out of my 12 year old brother, it's always fun but making him cry all the time gets old.
I think any system can work if you bring in the right personnel and athletes, but it isn't like he's locked down top 5 classes the last 2 years either. I'd say Ohio State and Penn State have stayed quite a way ahead of them in Recruiting, and Michigan State is starting to pick up the big recruits from their state.
That being said, Michigan is Michigan, and they'll get recruits because of it. I don't think that's a reason to say aww by 2010 they'll be dominating again because Rodriquez won at West Virginia everywhere esle, or because his system has worked at West Virginia. There's a team in South Bend who for 15 years has said we are Notre Dame, we'll get the recruits because of that and we'll be back on top.
In 2010, we will probably be preseason number 1 (or at least top 3) with Pryor and the Brew Crew being Juniors. Even a settled scUM team won't be able to stop the Juggernaut.
The other RB at Minnesota was none other than Marion Barber.
Thank you for the clarification I knew it was a big name.
Too dumb? Maybe he was just trying to be a nice guy. You are also forgetting just how bad of a school Osu is. Especially when compared to Michigan.
Keep losing those bowl games guys.
Go Blue.
If buckeye homers are honest and objective (???), they know that Michigan is likely to be back near the top of the conference very soon and in the national title hunt shortly thereafter.
you are insufferable. nothing you say ever makes sense and is always self-contradicting.
you are a michigan homer, you are no more objective and honest than any other homer. only your arrogance convinces you otherwise.
Michigan will be EXTREMELY lucky to beat Ohio State again before 2013 and either way, DICKrod will be long gone by then.
Hey, scUM fans, I have the perfect coach in mind for you to replace DICKrod with...
His name is Jim Bollman and he's awesome...you should definitely hire him in 2011 or 2012!
"I think any system can work if you bring in the right personnel and athletes, but it isn’t like he’s locked down top 5 classes the last 2 years either. I’d say Ohio State and Penn State have stayed quite a way ahead of them in Recruiting, and Michigan State is starting to pick up the big recruits from their state."
Hasn't Michigan ranked higher than Penn State, and much, much higher than Michigan State over the past few years in every recruiting ranking out there? And Michigan State may be getting some in-state talent, but the top players in Michigan have still committed to Michigan.
everybody...captain dipshit of the day award right there
I guess I was wrong about PSU with recruiting, just when they come on here you'd think they have a top 5 class every year. I still think my point was valid though. It's not as if Michigan has brought in classes full of 5 star recruits, and to be fair, he hasn't had a lot of time there. I do think it's significant though, that in their own stat Michigan State has become a threat recruiting at home. Each year they grab a few more players that would have been Wolverines previously. Also, other teams have started to grab recruits from the region, and this will hurt others like OSU as well. At any rate, Michigan has not landed the Texas, Florida and OSU type of recruiting classes and I'm not sure that one or two pieces a year are going to help them that much. That's my whole point. I mean not that 5 stars mean the world, but imagine how good Michigan would be if they landed Pryor. I believe that he woulldve made a huge difference for that team. Can anyone say they hae that confidence in the 2 freshman starters they'll have out there this year? I don't know.
Hear, Hear!
Enjoy the Motor City Bowl this year Richie. You DEF. earned it!
Love Always,
Lloyd
What's wrong with hippies?
It's better to lose them than to not make it at all.
How'd those Rose Bowls work out for you?
2008 recruiting class rankings: http://recruiting.scout.com/a....
Michigan = 6th
2010 rankings thus far (which, I know, don't mean anything 'till the ink's dry, but to get a ballpark figure)
http://rivals100.rivals.com/te...
Michigan = 9 (OSU is 13, BTW)
By no means do I expect Michigan to be ahead of OSU in 2010, but we'll still be in the ballpark of "elite" recruiting schools, even after a 3-9 season. He'll be able to get all the recruits he needs to be successful. If we're not at least in competition for a New-Years bowl by the 2010 season, then I'll be extremely worried as to his viability as a head coach. All evidence supports that we won't be in that position.
Damn you are a clever guy. You really stuck it to that Blow fan huh? Haha we've like only one the last five games. HAHAHA what the hell was that. First off, one is spelled won. Second off you can't like only won the last five games. You either won the last five games or you didn't. Thank you and goodnight.
To me Michigan is like that one douchebag who is 40 and still hanging out at the frat parties thinking he's bad ass. He'll run his mouth still, he'll have stories of the good old days, but when he gets to talking too much trash he gets his ass beat. And every time he gets it beat it's a little bit more satisfying.
I wish it wasnt true, but scUM will be fine.
The day OSU gets a new offensive coordinator is THE day. While the offensive problems may not be because of Bollman, just someone different would be nice.
Case and point. Ohio st fans get so defensive when you make fun of their football team because they have nothing else. On the other hand, while we defend our team at michigan, it doesn't ruin our day when we get heckled because in the end we have an education that can actually be used in the job market.
Oh sorry, Pardon my arrogance.
So does it suck to be bad at football right now? Yes. However, I will always wear my maize and blue proud knowing that I went to an elite academic university.
"The university of Ohio st" -TP
hahaha that's when I knew he would fit right in.
you're from michigan and your bragging about your job market?
You don't have any room to talk. All I see is Ohio plates running around SEC country. Ohio's economy is just as bad. Iball put up a picutre of you in place of TP. I just want to see the loneliest most pathetic man in the world.
HA!
Beauford,
Your first example shows Um 6th and OSU 4th, 2010 rankings, from one service BTW, have Um 9 and osu 13. Although UM has nearly twice the recruits osu has, 11 of which are only 3 star BTW, um is still only 4 spots ahead of OSU. Not sure if you realize quantity of recruits helps your ranking. Also not sure if you realize not every school has the same amount of scholly's to hand out every year. So basically your recruiting argument is a bunch of hot air.
I think the real numbers to look at are draft picks, I'll let you do the research on that one, get back to me and let me know what you come up with.
Thanks D-Bag! Insufferable huh? Online thesaurus or did you ask your granny? Lack of objectivity is believing you're still elite nationally after being embarassed by the real elite in three other conferences. It's also believing your coach is a saint despite endless player arrests and ties to mafia rainmakers. And, perhaps the best example is placing the hopes and dreams of an entire state on the outcome of a college football game. So, thanks for the scolding. I'll continue to be happy as an objective Michigan fan with perspective enough to know that life doesn't revolve around the performance of 20-year-old kids. Was that "self-contradicting"?
While I appreciate Dave's input to this forum, your ridiculous "you will pump my gas one day" meme is absurd and tired. I won't pardon your arrogance because one day you should know that it will bite you in the ass. Michigan is a great school but don't act like it is MIT (26th USN last I checked). Don't forget you are the second banana to Northwestern in our conference. Most UM undergrad kids I work with rarely bring up their school's status because they have been around the professional world long enough to know someone always went somewhere better. Enjoy your tiny world where undergrad degrees mean everything.
don't feed the trolls. don't feed the trolls. don't feed the trolls. don't feed the trolls. don't feed the trolls.
i feel like i should be called out back by the proprietors of this site to perform my penance. will writing "don't fee the trolls" 100 times be sufficient, sirs?
can't let this one go...
"And, perhaps the best example is placing the hopes and dreams of an entire state on the outcome of a college football game."
haha. you live in michigan. how are the hopes and dreams up there?
Pump my gas….flip my burger…mow my lawn. Tomato Tamato.
For a second I thought about your point. Then I checked my paycheck.
Thanks for your opinion though, and thanks for getting defensive.
Excellent response.
MUCH too small, and I mean that.
you go to bed at 3:54 p.m? i feel sorry for you. oh, im just nitpicking, which you are clearly an expert. this is a freakin' blog, sir. making fun of someone for grammatical errors is pointless. like they are going to learn their lesson of the day from you. the same goes for illogical comments. i don't respond to morons because it would in turn be moronical to assume that they won't make the same mistake again...but i just couldn't resist because of your moniker.
Can't think about Michigan right now, all I can see if Penn State getting their teeth kicked in by USC in the Rose Bowl on ESPNU. Seems familiar.
Yeah, and they keep pulling out that old tired argument of "Michigan has won more games in the series blah blah blah".
To that, I have two responses.
1) Leave it to a Michigan fan to harken back to the days back in nineteen-ott-eight, when a strapping yound lad named Phineaus Q. Rosenblatt scampered for over 80 lenghts in a single match. He had the ladies blushin' in their bloomers, he did.
2) Michigan leads the overall series 57-42-6. And while Wolverine fans are overly proud of that stat, they still fail to notice that the number 57 has not changed in over 2,000 days.
"you’re from michigan and your bragging about your job market?"
Comment of the year. Hands down.
Things I learned while arguing with SEC fans....it's like watching the special olympics.
It's fun, you get a good feeling about yourself, but in the end, you still know that you're dealing with the retarded.
WTF do you got to do with anything even remotely having to do with "The Game." I know you Southerners got an inferiority complex because you are late to the show, and cannot stack up to the tradition rich football of the Big Ten. But FOR TEBOW'S SAKE have some class and dignity. Whatever happenned to Southern Class, Pride or Hospitality? So just go. SEC. Do you even have a team? Let me guess you're probably a Tennesse fan. Guess what? We hate Florida more than you do these days? How's that for something backwards? How you fair against Florida lately? How about them green apples? QUIT HIDING YOUR TEAM'S INFERIORITY BEHIND THE ACCOMPLISHMENT'S OF TWO TEAMS IN YOUR CONFERENCE! BE GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I'm going to learn my lesson from you? Here this will make my response a lot easier. like they are going to learn their lesson of the day from you. the same goes for illogical comments. i don’t respond to morons because it would in turn be moronical to assume that they won’t make the same mistake again…but i just couldn’t resist because of your moniker.
Works both ways. Who's the moron again? That's right I one!!!
Actually that is not a good enough come back for me, because I can't sit here and steal your statement knowing moronical isn't even a word. I think the word you are looking for is moronic. Good god get it together man. Google is right there for you on the web. Try using it one time.
The reason I use the SEC name is simply because it infuriates you all. Cause we have PRIDE in our conference and we will chant a little SEC. SEC will now be known as JiC referring to Tebow. Meaning, Jordan in Cleats. Oh and another thing, tradition is a term used for has-beens. Hell the Pittsburgh Pirates have tradition. The Cincinnati Reds have tradition. The Cleveland Browns have tradition. I think you can figure out where I'm going with this, but here it is for you. These teams suck, but they have tradition. F tradition it doesn't mean a damn thing today. I will be gone once all you Ohioans figure out how to stabilize your economy and stop moving to SEC country.
No one's moving to Alabama or Tennessee
True. I watched it as well. Even tho it was familiar, it didn't make it any less fun to watch.....
"Who's the moron again? That's right I one!!!"
Either you forgot a verb ("That's right, I am one!"), or you can't spell "won." I prefer the former interpretation.
Hey moronical moron why don't you read all the posts before butting in with your two cents. I used "one" instead of "won" as a jab at one of your fellow buckeye fans. You got me good though there anonymous. How about you come up with a name instead of hiding behind your veil of anonymity.
Tim,
Thanks for the kind words, it is just my personal opinion, I expect UM fans to disagree with it. I'll consider your argument if RichRod leads your team to anything better than 7-5 record.
Remember, Tressel won a National title in his 2nd year, he didn't need a minimum of 3 seasons to get "his type of players" to fit his system and become successful.
http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry...
There's actually scientific proof to back it up this time.
Nuff said.
Go ahead take pride in your conference. I take pride in mine.
But your school you still have not named it.
Nor are they moving to the economic powerhouses of Louisiana, Arkansas or Mississippi.
Haven't they declared Georgis a third world country yet? Who was dumb enough to give Atlanta water anyways?
SEC,
Im pretty sure SEC fans would be embarrassed of the lame shit you post on this board. If I were you I would shut down the computer before your mom catches you on it after your bedtime.
Here is why I don't consider Rich Rod to be a great coach.
1. He has one offense. Period. While a coach like Tressel can adjust his offense to fit any type of player he has, (which allows him to get the best players out there) Rod has to get specific players to meet his needs. He is either unwilling or unable to show offensive flexibility, thus he either sinks or swims with the players he is able to recruit.
2. He has a had a tremendous amount of defections.
Every time a new coach comes in, there will be current players who have trouble with the new way of doing things. Rod's issues were compounded by bringing in a very radical system, in both offensive scheme and the way he ran prctice. Maybe the players were getting soft under Carr. I have no idea; I never attended their practice. However, many of the players who defected Rod cited his abusive language and approach to practice as one of the reasons to leave.
I personally don't believe Rod will last at Michigan. There players he NEEDS are the same kind of players everyone wants, and right now there isn't enough incentive to play for Michigan if other more prominate programs want you instead.
Couldn't agree more my friend, well put.
IIRC, Ohio State has led the series since 1951, 30-26-2.
Back in the old days, the forward pass was a trick play, everyone on the team looked the same (no huge 300 pound linemen), a 17-0 score might be considered a blowout, and they wore leather helmets. It was a different game.
I seem to remember reading a newspaper article when I was a kid that before 1930 or so, TSUN fielded an actual team while the Ohio State "football club" simply played whoever showed up without practicing, thus explaining Fichigan's early dominance.
Exactly. This is the same problem UK had with basketball head coach Billie Gillespie, among the other problems. You know what happened there...
Why choose 1951 as your basis for statistical comparisons in head to head competition? I'll choose 1940 and say the record since then is 33-32-4 in favor of Michigan. This cycle can continue and continue until you hit the total win/loss record for both teams. The only game I see as relevant is the upcoming game. The sting has been way way gone since last years loss (if there was a sting at all, knowing how bad UM sucked going into that game). If you want to take it back in the record books, in my eyes the only games that are relevant in are those that I had a chance to watch. Beating Ohio State in 1897 doesn't have any meaning to me just as beating OSU in 1980 doesn't have any meaning to me. The only thing that matters is that last game of the season every year.
Penn St is now the second best team in the b10. we should all get used to it. I don't see how michigan can pull out of this that quickly. They should win 5 or 6 games and miss a bowl again.
They literally can't miss a bowl game if they win 6 games.
With a good amount of talent and little change to the scheme he won a National Title. Cooper may have not been able to coach but everyone knows he could recruit. To assume the atomsphere in Michigan was the same as OSU during Rich Rod's first season to Tressel's first does not make sense.