Clutch Time in the Big Ten Race
With just two more weeks of Big Ten football, the race is on. Battle lines have been drawn and a lot is on the line. No, I’m not talking about the Rose Bowl, but rather the contest to see who holds down the cellar between Michigan and Indiana.
The despised Wolverines are currently tied with Hoosiers at 1-5 in the conference. Now, technically, Michigan has a referee-aided head-to-head win over the Hoosiers, so if both teams push down the stretch, then proud Michigan Man can claim that his boys didn’t exactly finish last in the Big Ten.
That’s why we, as Buckeye fans, need to put on our Hoosier hats these last two weeks. Michigan finishes at Wisconsin and at home against the Buckeyes to end the season — most likely two more losses that will provide SS RichRod with an regression from 2-6 in his disastrous first season to 1-7 in conference in ‘09.
Indiana, for their part, have to travel to an angry Penn State this weekend before finishing at home in a rivalry game with Purdue. Danny Hope has his team playing better, but that game is clearly our best bet. Get it done, Lynch.
If Michigan finishes last in the conference, it will be hot on the heels of dropping seven-straight conference games and might, in fact, lead to a quick removal for a guy many think has at least one or two more years to get things going. You know things are precarious, when his propaganda minister for the first time openly discussed what it might take for him to warrant removal and Bill Martin’s sudden “retirement” leaves the man with perhaps one less defender in the program.
As frustrating as moments of our own season have been, it’s worth taking a look up north every once in a while to appreciate the calamity of the situation. Kind of like watching Springer when you’re having a bad day, really.
“propaganda minister”…that’s a gem, right there.
That made me think of the ol’ Iraqi Information Minister. The one who claimed American troops were dying in droves and that none had set foot in Baghdad as M1 Abrams tanks rolled right behind him. Hey, I hear he’s looking for a job. Maybe RichRod could hire him. He needs a guy who can put the right spin on things.
Cam Heyward is staying!!! Now if Thad comes back then that’s one nasty D-line we got coming back next year!
Proof have you?
Yea? Are ya sure? Tell me more…
I got the feeling that Heyward was staying I watched after the post-game interview with him Saturday. The man’s a class act.
“after I watched”
I saw someone tweet (is that the correct way to say it?) that Cam said he was saying. ozone.net has something too:
http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2009/Iowa/LuncheonNotebook.htm
still doesn’t mean a damn thing. Wasn’t beanie saying he was staying at this time last year? Things change when it goes from hypothetical to a real choice
i don’t begrudge anyone for leaving “early”. chance of millions versus career ending injury followed by a life of “what ifs”. i’lkl take the millions thanks.
http://blog.dispatch.com/buckeyesblog/
I think it’s a little premature to think he’s staying based on today’s comments. It’s easy to speak from the heart when you haven’t done much exploring on where you’ll be drafted and what that means monetarily. I hope he stays, but let’s not think this is the last word on whether or not he does. I think the Sam Bradford’s of the world are hard to overlook when it gets close to the date he must decide by. He should go after this season. His stock can’t get too much higher.
I would say in Cam’s case, he does not care about the money. His dad probably made enough loot. In addition, his pop’s early passing probably had some sort of “enjoy each moment” impact on him. If he is having fun at Ohio State and thinks they could have a special year, I would be more surprised if he left.
I hear you. I wouldn’t be shocked if he stayed. Just saying a comment in November shouldn’t be taken to the bank as set in stone. I do dispute, however, that money isn’t a factor. I don’t care how much he might have inherited from his Dad, money is factor if you are talking 20-some million. He could set up a generation of Heyward’s. Plus, some guys simply want to see how they’ll stack up at the next level since that what they wanted to be their whole life – a pro football player.
If he stays, I’d think Thad will too. That’s just my opinion on the matter. Even with just one returning the D line is going to be nasty, but both this will be one nasty defense.
I just want to say this now to get it out of the way: I Will forgo the 2010 NFL draft to return next season and help this team win.
think Buckeye fans have to seriously evaluate: do we want RichRod to stay? there is the chance he gets it going but seriously – don’t we all kinda like what we’re seeing? in that case I may cheer for a win or two to keep him in place that much longer….
okay, I wouldn’t ever cheer for scUM but I might not be THAT upset if they won a game or two.
The chances of them getting a win this season are slim to none….
Bucky just needs to give the ball to John Clay, concussed or not, that 11 girl unit scUM calls a defense cannot stop him
And playing against us, regardless of the rivalry, regardless of history, that team won’t be beating us…..not this year….not as long as DickRod is at the helm for that matter
good point but here’s a counterpoint: if it was that hard to land what seems like their 3rd or 10th choice how hard will it be next time around when the program is far worse off?
also, i always root for scUM to lose.
Cosign
I’m afraid of them getting Brian Kelly. Strange, because I was afraid of that last time, and they clearly made the wrong choice.
At any rate, I can never root for them to win. Never.
he supposedly doesn’t want to leave cincy because he has kids in school and doesn’t want to uproot them. but i’m sure for the right job he would.
but the right job is not up north.
How much different is Brian Kelley than Dick Rod other than the fact that he is not a douche? He runs a similar system. Anyway, he may not leave Cincinnati, but UC has to build the facilites th ey have promised. People keep saying he’s going to Notre Dame, but I think Notre Dame is going higher profile than him. I wouldn’t be surpised to see Notre Dame make a strong push for Urban Meyer again. It will be the perfect time for him to go too. Florida is not his dream job, Tebow is gone, and he’s going to lose a lot on Defense. These guys are ego maniacs, he’s going to want to go to Notre Dame and turn them around now. He’s won 2 championships and is in the running for a 3rd at Florida he has nothing left to prove there.
So, Michigan might be the place for Brian Kelly, But UC is intriguing to come back to. He has a lot coming b ack on D, Collaros as the QB for next year. The program is stocked up for another big run next year.
i heard stoopsie’s name thrown in for the ND job, laughable.
I think Urban would go to ND if his wife allowed the move to southbend. I heard on the radio that that’s basically a fat(no pun intended charlie) chance.
I think a name that wasn’t talked about too much 2 years ago was Jim Harbaugh. But I wonder after the war of words recently if he would give them the bird or not.
From a different perspective, I grew up in the Woody-Bo days, so I have a good bit of respect for the Michigan program, up until last year. My idea of a Perfect Season is for both OSU and UM to go into The Game undefeated, then OSU hand them their asses. Until last year. I have such a loathing for DickRod, that, despite my longstanding feelings, if UM went winless during his coaching regime, I’m fine with that.
Only once have the both come in undefeated and ranked 1 and 2. That was a great game, but I’d rather see Michigan suck for a few years to make up for the Cooper years. Make it a battle again later. DickRod is an asshole and I want to see him lose every year. Plus they screwed over a nice guy in Lloyd Car.
Agree with Ken and Disagree with Brian. If the beatdown that Tressel has put on UM hasn’t been enough to make up for the Cooper year’s, then you’ll never be satisified.
Its always better when BOTH teams are doing well, so the fact that UM stinks this year isn’t good.
TCU, Cincy and Boise St. being in the top 6 of the Coaches Poll make me want to throw up.
I’m cool with Boise and TCU (TCU does have a good college football history before getting dissed by the Big 12 after the demise of the SWC).
I’m with you on Cincitucky, however. I think I just threw up a little, in my mouth.
I feel it is better for the rivalry and the B10(so obviously us) that Michigan gets their program back to where it can compete with the best teams in the country. The B10 (although i think most conferences outside the PAC-10…mainly SEC is OVERRATED) needs 1 of it’s traditional powerhouse to “return to glory” so the Bucks don’t have to go undefeated every year to sneak into possible NC Game’s. Plus I remember what it was like to lose to them every year when our Rose Bowl/NC hopes were on the line. Seemed to hurt a little bit more than when we already had 4 losses.
I could give a shit about the conference. If Ohio State goes undefeated they get in the Championship game no matter how good the Big 10 is or not.
Disagree. If OSU was undefeated this year, they’d probably miss out due to undefeated Texas and either Florida or Alabama.
so that means I bet it hurts them more when they lose to us with more than pride on the line!!
while i understand what you’re saying i still like to kick them while they’re down.
i think they’re far more fucked than they were before they hired RRod. He’s dug the hole far deeper and if they’re lucky they’ll be out of it in 3 more years.
I know its easy to look back at it but games like 1 vs. 2 in 06 just don’t get any better. That was “The Game.”
Anyway, I’m kinda startin to feel like all this Michigan talk isn’t good for us fans, because we do have Iowa in the way before Michigan week. I’m not trying to be a naysayer or anything but lets think about the Hawkeye’s. Why don’t we hang 50+ on em, shall we? Kinda like we did with Northwestern in 07?
….and so forth
The fans talking about Michigan has no relevance to the players playing Iowa. They don’t know what everyone is saying and they will be plenty focused on Iowa Saturday. This is the Big 10 championship and the team knows that.
This is like kicking a sick puppy. Of course, since it’s Michigan, the puppy’s got rabies and it’s okay.
a pic of the “alternate” uni (it’s not a throwback folks) and all the other unis Nike created:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2968/nikeprocombatfrontpagel.jpg
it’s not an alternate, it’s part of nike’s rivalry program which is throwback based for us supposedly.
we’ve been over this a billion times already.
nice find though
Miami – the numbers are whack
TCU – Brett Michaels
VaTech – “speed numbers”
Oklahoma – they stole our stripes
Florida – other than the helmet, what change?
Texas – see above
LSU – Washington?
Us – not as bas as I thought, still hate the helmet
Mizzou – surprisingly badass
FSU -Black Helmets?? the garnet and black now?
I like OK’s better than ours. Everytime i see it it takes me a second to realize it’s OK and not us, haha
my thoughts exactly. slap some gray pants on it and we’re in business
Mizzou does have the best ones. They are sick.
hahaha…great breakdown!!
I don’t f#ckin care how bad it hurts the B10. I F#cking hate scUM and hope we beat for the next 2000 years. If that loss ever comes, it’s gpnna hurt like hell. I grew up with that feeling and never want it again. Keep DickRod as ciach.
and as coach too!
damn ipod
Amen, as much as I hate Notre Dame, I would’ve loved to have seen them beat Michigan this year. They can lose every game and I wouldn’t care. Let Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State pick up the slack for Michigan sucking.
“gonna”…damn iPod.
I am “gpnna” start a petition to keep DickRod as “ciach”
OT, but Jason:
“Happy Birthday Marine”
Suprised no one mentioned this earlier…
234 years of kickin ass.
Marines don’t die. They go to hell and regroup.
Semper Fi! from a former Marine here too… and an early Happy Veterans Day to all who served! Oh… I almost forgot… DickRod sucks…Go Bucks!
Thanks, Chief.
As I said, Ohio State beats down Iowa this Saturday, the Michigan game basically has no meaning other than it’s the Michigan game. It’s a no lose for Ohio State in my mind. It used to be Michigan beating us meant, no championship, no Rose Bowl, but this year it would mean, they lost to Michigan. I think a win against Michigan means 6 strait years, they suck etc. A loss though, doesn’t really stink that bad because who cares, they are still going to the Rose Bowl. However, if they lose to Iowa, they will destroy Michigan.
i wouldn’t go as far as saying the game is meaningless. it’s still scUM and it could be to keep them from a bowl game. I don’t think JT let’s the players forget who they’re playing and what it means.
I understand, but it definitely has less of a sting when if you win or lose you go to the Rose Bowl anyway.
Rumor has it, the MasterMinds in Ann Arbor are at work. Their solution can be found, adjacent to…Palo Alto, California.
It is – for Buckeyes – a kind of retrograde virus.
View “Formula 4″: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBqapPBfKVo