Eleven Warriors

I want nothing more than to beat the best they have and ruin seasons for them, so an Alabama loss doesn't bother me at all. That's not to say that wins by the Appy States of the world aren't met with frivolity and lulz.

I want michigan to dominate, be undefeated, then roll into columbus 1 vs. 2 and the bucks and urban dominate michigan and brady joke.  AP National Champs? i dig 

Go Michigan.  

Makes it look better when we beat them at the end of the year, and makes the B1G look better as a conference.  I'd like to see the B1G get the same kind of love that the SEC does in the polls, and the only way to turn that around is by seeing our conference beat the best.

I am very torn on this subject.  While I always love seeing TTUN lose, I do realize the BIG needs to beat as many SEC schools as possible to improve the perception of the conference. 

I just kind of watch.  I really enjoy watchin Michigan be sad.  In a perfect world, they would lose every game and still be undefeated when they play us, but that cannot happen.  I guess i hope that if they are bad, they are really bad, and if they are going to be good, then really good.  I dont think a loss to Bama means either one, but a win is great for the B1G so ill be politely rooting against Alabama.

@ BTAlbert25 I wish I didn't care what the national perception of the B1G is, but unfortunately, our sport's reliance on polls (even going into a playoff, if there's at-large berths at stake) has made it necessary to do so.  Being in a weak conference means that OSU's title hopes are dashed every year after a single loss, but this has everything to do with national perception.  Because the SEC is the nation's strongest conference, their champions are always considered amongst the nation's elite, and frequently compete for national championships with 1 or 2 losses.

I have no doubt that Urban Meyer can run the B1G, but I would prefer the luxury that national perception affords the SEC.  The only way to improve ours is to beat the best, and even if it's our most bitter rival, I'll root for that.  

While I hate UM just as much as the next OSU fan, I really reserve my hate for Michigan week. Don't get me wrong, it made my day when UM lost to App State and Toledo at home but with the way conference strength now plays into the national perception of that league's teams, you almost have to root for Michigan, and all other B10 teams, to win(except against us of course). Whether you want to admit it or not, when UM was down it hurt the overall strength of the B10 both on the field and in the eyes of the the average fan. We need schools like UM, PSU, and Wisc to do well so that are we challenged and used to playing top notch competition come bowl season. If the other flagship school in the B10 is bad, then it reflects poorly on the league as a whole. Those that say they only care if OSU wins really need to look at the big picture. If OSU continually wins in a terrible conference we will not be prepared to play battle tested teams for the SEC.

UM being successful is also important for the rivalry as it has lost some luster in the past few years. As a fan, I love that this is looked at as the best rivalry in sports but if your rival is always 4-8 what does that say? Plus I would love nothing more than to ruin their successful seasons much like they did to OSU in the 90's.

Theres no way I would want UM to run the table until they play us. If they were undefeated going into the last week, they would still have a huge shot at winning the B1G championship and would probably be a lock to go to a BCS bowl, regardless if they win or lose at the shoe. No thanks on that scenario. I live in Michigan, and if they beat Alabama, thats all I will hear for the entire season. RTR

Maybe it's due to the lack of Michigan relevance lately or the numerous NCG losses to SEC, but I think I'd rather Michigan beat Alabama than the other way around. I won't be too upset if Michigan loses . . . but the SEC needs to lose some big OOC games and bowl games. We can still beat Michigan but we won't have a shot at any SEC team next season.

2 words: Roll Tide.

Alabama versus Michigan?  Lemme think about that.

Okay I thought about it.

Seriously, it would be all too facile for me to protesteth too much and say, "Aww come on, I'd root for OSU to beat a-n-y-b-o-d-y from the SEC, a-n-y-t-i-m-e."  And indeed that is true.  I would instantly, instinctively, automatically root for the Buckeyes over just about anybody.  (In truth it takes me about 2 series to get into the flow when I do that, and for some reason it is harder for me to do it when you guys are wearing home Scarlet as opposed to your road Whites; not sure why that is.)

But as I say, that is essentially facile; because just a little over a year ago, I took some actual pleasure in a closely analagous situation; watching (well, it was mostly unwatchable) Alabama gang-rape Sparty, 49-7, in the 2011 Capital One Bowl.  And if that game were played again, I'd honestly hope for the same outcome.  So I'm no B1G-Angel, with Holy Conference loyalties.  The historical differences are clear enough, at least to me.  Mark Dantonio is a dick; Jim Tressel never was.  Pat Narduzzi and his guys are thugs; OSU has no corollary.  There are Rivals; then there are Enemies.

So if a few of you guys are jazzed about seeing a rival get beaten, I'm not going to get all uppity; it is your privilege as right-thinking Americans.  When sportswriters asked Denard about the dirty play and the Spartan personal fouls in Michigan's last loss in East Lansing, the terminally-good-natured Denard smiled and said, "It's football; it's a dirty game."

I always say that I want Ohio State and Michigan to be undefeated every year going into the OSU/UM game.  So yea, I hope they beat Bama.

I'm never surprised when I hear people say they want Michigan to lose every game.  I have friends/relatives who say the same thing all the time.  I am curious to know what satisfaction these people would get out of beating a winless Michigan squad.  It was funny watching RichRod's teams dicktrip around the field the first time through, but after that I was ready for Michigan to be one of the elite teams again.  A rivalry isn't fun when one side dominates.

f em both; i am down in FLA and the SEC has their own official bread. SMH.

I am with buck u got to go B1G just to help change the perception of us.

It's a weird college footbal place that I live in here in NKY.  UC, UK, IU, and UofL were never good.  It seemed as though Notre Dame and Michigan were wildly popular in this area.  Bama was big too because Shaun Alexander played high school football about 5 minutes from my house and everyone watched Shaun Alexander dominate around here.  

At any rate, being in the minority as a Buckeye fan I'd take a beating(verbally) every November.  Kids at my school, their parents, they older brothers etc, would always give me a hard time non stop.  So ever since those days, I have ALWAYS wanted to see them lose.  Called it the horrible memories of a scarred college football childhood.  Old wounds don't heal easily.  I don't care about the good of the B1G, there are other 11 other programs who can carry that torch.  Plus, there are teams from the B1G I just don't ever want to see win.  Penn State and Michigan top that list.  I'm just never going to be a fan who cares about conference pride or what's good for the B1G. 

There are teams that players, coaches, and fans associated with the university have always just ticked me off.  Even at a young age.  Florida(yes even Urban ticked me off) was such a school, Michigan is definitely on that list as well.  

wasnt sure where to put this..but since its SEC related...

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/14/gamecocks-to-appear-before-ncaas-coi-this-weekend/

I would never cheer for tsun! A victory would help their recruiting and i don't want to ever see that! Not to mention that i despise them with every fiber of my being! I don't give two shits about the rest of the conference and their national perception! All i care about is tOSU handling their business.

I don't activly root for any team other than the good guys unless it helps us (for example in the polls). I don't root for or against TSUN. That helps me either way, if they lose I can be happy (especially if it's App. St) and if they win, well it just means they will be higher ranked when we inevitably crush their dreams at the end of the season.

I like when they win (not against us of course). The reason behind my logic? Not because I root for them and actively defend them if someone says something bad in the bar, but because for every 'W' that traffic barrel, brady joke gets just makes me hate scUM that much more. With every win they get, the more I want to beat the sh*t out of them, on the field of course. So then when THE GAME rolls around, My hatred is at full capacity. But the thing is, I have not had to deal with  scUM win going into the offseason for a long time. I may take my offseason anger out on my co-workers....

Family & friends aside, my love for Buckeyes first, my hate for tsun second and whoever plays tsun third. Go bama

The Buckeyes have to beat the sec and no team in the B1G, especially tsun, can change the Buckeyes record against the sec except the Buckeyes.

By reading the comments, I can tell that my opinion on scUM is different.

Not only do I want them to get destroyed by Alabama, but I then hope they get upset by Air Force, UMASS, and then ND, etc. I couldn't be happier if scUM started next season, and every season, 0-4. I hope I'm making myself clear on this issue. I want scUM to lose so much, and with such a high rate of frequency, that the program itself comes to reside in the proverbial gutter. In 50 years, I want to have to explain to my grandson that, "Yes, at one point in time, Michigan was a decent program. Hell, they were even our considered our biggest rival". IF, in the future, Michigan is so bad that my grandson is unable to be convinced, well, that's more than OK by me.

DUBJAY I understand what your saying and i thought about that but relized the only way the national perception for the Buckeyes will ever get better is if they sign a huge contract with ESPN or beat the SEC head to head. because big deal if tsun beats bama and Buckeyes beat tsun it will still come down to the Buckeyes having to beat the Elite teams outside of the conf. As far as playing in a weak conf it works fine for USC. 

I think the national perception of the Buckeyes has changed since Urban Meyer has been named the head coach. The only way for the other teams in the  B1G to get reconition is to do like the SEC and bring in the high dollar coach's and attract better recruits, I like Pat Fitzgerald and some of the other coach's in the B!G but i dont think they'll have championship caliber teams

I hate Michigan, but at least I respect them.  I can only say one of those things about Nick Saban.

That being said it doesn't matter because Alabama is going to obliterate Michigan.  Even with virtually no returning starters on defense, they are still going to destroy Denard.  Combine that with Alabama's NFL offensive line and it's going to be a long day for Michigan fans.

Not so well said ThirdLeg. You can claim that you want UM to lose every game but the truth is the rivalry means jack shit if both teams aren't powerhouses year in & year out. Of course you want UM to beat Bama. If they do - it makes the The Game more credible. If they win & come in undefeated then we win The Game...that would make the bowl-less year all worth it. Sort of. There is a very VERY slim chance at an AP concensus NC by winning every game and winning big. Beating a team that beat Bama could only help the cause. Plus does anyone really want to see Alabama win another game against the B1G??? Really??? You want to see Nick Saban win??? Damn.

I love the tradition of The Game. Yes you hate M'!##*!n, I do too. but if they played like IU every year what would it mean? You need them to be good in order to hate them.

Just my 2 cents -

But how can we stand the thought of seeing that goofy looking scUM QB doing the spoon to mouth motion again when they score or just seem to think they're something special? I do not want to see that again if possible, anywhere, anyway.

We can say that "Its all about us and how we feel about ohio state. I hope scUM loses every game, as long as we win, that is all I want, I do not care about outside perception."

Well, until the current system changes (which it is might possibly change), outside perception is a major point in determining who plays for the NC. Computer rankings, 'Expert' Rankings, etc, are better than an actual playoff system right now  /sarcasm.

The rest of the B1G shitting the bed does NOT help tOSU. we can go 12-0, playing a relatively tough/pesky OOC schedules, but if we win all conference games, and other B1G teams go .500 at best, that will make tOSU look like a team that fluffs its OOC games and relies on cupcake in conference teams.

No matter how much one thinks that "As long as we win and everyone else loses we will be fine", IMO, that is far from the truth. We need the good teams to do even better. I am not 'rooting' for michigan. Best believe i stay away from anything and everything scUM, but I will be damned to say that I will support an SEC win over a B1G team. Hell no.

Edit: remember, just an opinion. not bashing anyones thought process

I dont give a DAMN about the national perception of the B1G, I hate TSUN with a PASSION!! I will NEVER root for TSUN. EVER!!! If OSU loses a game, the only thing that can make me feel a fraction of a bit better is if bichigan gets blown out that week too!! Screw Blue!!!! If OSU handles their business and WINS their bowl games we wont have anything to worry about. Like someone else said USC plays in a worse conference than we do and whenever they go undefeated they play in the NC!

I want 'Bama to roll AACC bye 100 points.  I hate that school up north.  Let me repeat myself.  I HATE TSUN.  PERIOD.  I'm with Louie on this.  I want to try to explain to my grandchildren that once AACC was a feared foe, but they now suck worse than Indiana.

2012 is a year we have no bowl game B1G championship game.  If AACC comes in undefeated and we roll them bye 50 they still go to the B1G CG.  Their classless fans will make an excuse about the game not meaning anything and they took that week off.  Fuck them.  Lose to bama and need to win coming in to Cbus for a place in the B1G CG.  Then get blown out by the Urbanator and send them to a meaningless bowl game.

Their fans are classless asshats and have their chests all puffed out after one season and one win against us.  Arrogance thy name is Wolverine Fan.  Three years of shitting the bed hasn't given them any humility.  they need to be embarrassed by Saban and blown out by Wiscy and Us.

I don't root for AACC to win for anything, no matter what.

Poison Nuts, the most satysfing Michigan game ever was when that shit house they have up there had more scarlet than maize and blue in the stands. Michigan sucked and that was fine.  I'm ok with having a generation of shitty Michigan teams.  Michigan loves to count all the wins they have against the Buckeyes 100 year ago when the program was in its infancy and not great.  Let them have 20 years or so like that where the Buckeyes win 19 games That'd be fine.  Then we can go back to trading punches every other year. Plus, we still haven't evened the score from the Cooper days.  maybe if we get to that point it'll be ok if Michigan gets better.  

BT - believe me we are on the same team here at the end of the day. I have a strong disdain for that team. I too HATE the constant bragging about the overall record. My point is I would rather they beat Alabama. A strong UM makes a strong rivalry. Did I enjoy them sucking for a while? Yes I did. Do I want them to take out the pride of the SEC? Yes I do. I understand the arrogance they have toward us, which is all the more reason I want us to beat them at their best.

@biggy but how lame does it look when the toughest kid kicks the crap out of the smallest, weakest kid in school?

I want TSUN to lose to Alabama in heartbreaking fashion- in the last few seconds. To be awash in the "what ifs". I want them to be able to almost taste it-but ultimately taste bitterness as they come close but not quite. Enough so that the talking heads give them credit for being able to hang with Alabama, but ulimately coming just short. I'm tired of their woofing. However, if they play Wisconsin, I hope they kick the snot out of Bret and his bratwurst boys. And of course, ultimately, I want TSUN to get squished like a bug by OSU. Yes, that would work for me.

Doc- I'd have no problem sharing a beer, or a case, with you. Your words were beautiful, and I'm sure they touched Woody's soul. 

@ Poinson Nuts- We're going to have to agtee to disagree. If scUM was no longer considered a powerhouse, I'd be happy. You're looking at the rivalry at too small of a picture. If scUm looses with a high rate of frequency to the point that they become irrelevant, look at what that would say about the two programs in terms of the big picture. Two programs who battled it out for so long have gone their separate ways-- one keeps reaching higher highs and one keeps reaching lower lows. I'm MORE than fine if the future perception of the two programs doesn't see them as equals in any size/shape/ or form. What I'm basically saying, is that if there is a football documentary in 50 years that focuses on "What Went Wrong With Michigan Football" I'd TiVo the shit out of it. 

Also, you said, "Plus does anyone really want to see Alabama win another game against the B1G??? Really??? You want to see Nick Saban win???" --- I could care less. There's only 1 program I care about, and it's THE Ohio State University. Alabama has a very good football team. If the SEC & ESPN is content to circle jerk each other, fine. College football is cyclical and I already believe the time for a National Champion outside of the SEC is very close at hand! Go Bucks! 2013 Baby!

"You need {Michigan} to be good in order to hate them." SMH- No, Poison Nuts, no I don't. The mere fact that they are who they are is all I need. F*** that school up North. 

Just my 2 cents -

I'll be cheering for the meteor, but for TSUN, although I'd say there's <10% they pull it out.

@Poison Nuts - Well said sir, I'm a little more than half your age and I completely agree with you.  I may not be married to a Michigan fan, but having plenty of Michigan-loving friends, I enjoy the anticipation of The Game.  Not to say I didn't enjoy Michigan sucking it up during the RichRod era, but it took something out of The Game.  Suddenly, I  was the one telling the UM fans that Wisconsin was our big rival right now.  But you know what?  Wisconsin will never be The Game, they're the rival of the moment--like Iowa before, bound to fall back into obscurity after a few years.

A rivalry isn't really a rivalry if one team sucks--think about it, does the Little Brown Jug mean anything anymore?  It's the oldest trophy game in college football, but no one cares because one of the teams is absolute garbage.  Sure, back when Minnesota was a national power it was probably a serious rivalry--but now, who cares?  How do we feel about the team formerly known as the Fighting Zookers when we face off for the Illibuck?  I don't ever want to see The Game reduced to that, even if that means pulling for my most despised rival.  Sure, their fans are arrogant, so are ours.  There's good and bad ones in both fanbases.  But, for every bit of cockiness they display during the regular season, I'll cherish it that much more when they lose.  I'll hate them for every game they win, and I'll laugh maniacally for every upset they suffer--but, very rarely in sports has a rivalry survived over a century with consistently elite competitors.  That's something to celebrate--and more than that, it's something to cherish; once (maybe twice now) a year we play our mortal enemy in these hallowed temples of Columbus and Ann Arbor...I'd personally prefer it that both teams enter on similar terms.

It makes it that much more gratifying when we curb-stomp them into oblivion.

Good point Dubjay, fixed haha.

Living outside of Dayton my entire life, the best rivalry in all of sports is that much more passionate for me.  I felt I had to comment on this thread only because I have found myself in similar situations where the rational fan in me was supposed to root for OSU, but my heart never let me.  Like many of you, every Saturday I watch two games (or listen...and I must admit that Paul Kiels (SP?) is a fantastic commentator, but cannot stand his partner); I watch my Wolverines and I watch the Buckeye game, hoping for you to lose.  There is nothing worse than experiencing a Michigan loss and OSU win on the same Saturday, and nothing better than the exact opposite.

Now, with the divisions, both Buckeyes and Wolverines will be rooting for one another to help gain leverage in our respective divisions.  Case in point, I tried to tell myself we needed OSU to beat Nebraska and MSU, and Florida in the bowl game.  They failed on all accounts, but I was ok with the consolation prize of our biggest rival putting an L up.  So while I'll always enjoy playing spoiler at the end of the season, I have no problem with OSU losing 7 or 8 every year.

I can see both points of view for the Alabama game.  If it were reversed, I'd be rooting OSU to lose, SEC or otherwise.

Dear Hail - Welcome! Here you are at Eleven Warriors...an Ohio State site so good that even fans of ttun are signing up just to throw in their two cents on the forum posts. I understand though - must be pretty boring on whatever fan sites you might visit. I don't know for sure as I don't bother checking those sites out let alone actually registering so that I can comment. I'm not surprised - history shows your kind need us Ohioans pretty badly in order to succeed....A short list includes Brady Hoke, Desmond, Charles Woodson (thats both your Heisman winners) and of course Bo Schembechler - Woody's greatest coaching creation. Yes indeedy all great "Michigan Men" seem to hail from the great state of Ohio! And now you prefer our websites too. As I said I understand & I can't blame you one bit. Thanks for your input. The fact that you view the rivalry the way you do confirms that my view of the rivalry is actually the correct one. Looking foward to the next installation of The Game more than ever before.

Edit - @Hail - Your born & raised in Ohio? Oh damn thats so fucking sad. I do hope you find your way out of Ohio as soon as you can. Like the man below said - Detroit is just fantastic. I hear there's a real renaissance taking place. Please go check it out!

Hail... did you really just come on an OSU fan site just to be a Richard nickname?

Where you from UpNorthBuckeye?

Born in which state?

@upnorthbuckeye I have to disagree, I spent my high school years living in Michigan (originally from CBUS) and although the rivalry is only with the university, the state itself is so disgusting you can't help but hate it too. The only redeeming value is the great camping and fishing "up north" but any other part of that state where you have to deal with the natives really is a sickening experience. I have a lot of friends who are undergrads at Michigan, but there was no way in hell I was picking Ann Arbor over Columbus. Ohio till I die.

I'm sure there aren't too many Mich grads who are hardcore tOSU fans but I'm fine being in that .001%. As long as we can all agree that the Buckeyes are the only team that matter, I say we're in good company

@ Hodge - very eloquently put. I nearly asked Hail this same type of question but I figured it would be like reasoning with a new-born so I went another way with my comment.

I don't really mind UM fans...I married one! I also know all Ohioans can't/won't be Buckeye fans but still, I'm always thoroughly disgusted when when a native Ohioan chooses to be a UM fan...it's like someone choosing to take a swim in sewage when there's a perfectly good pool nearby.

@NC--Good sir, I reserve my good will for all who post here.  My best friend and roommate is a Columbus-born Michigan fan.  I've gotten pretty used to discourse, heated discussions, and outright arguments.  I've had the whole argument a thousand times over asking why Ohio kids don't worship the Scarlet and Gray, drives me crazy--but I begrudgingly deal with it.

@Poison--Dude, I feel your pain.  I've been a die hard Bengals fan since the day I was born, and I've been dating a Steelers fan for the last three years.  Unlike OSU and UM, those teams play twice a year.

Not that any of you care, but the majority of my family is from up north, East Lansing to be precise.  My family is split about 60/40 Michigan and MSU.  I have three brothers; 2 like Michigan, one likes MSU.  No one in my family has every like OSU.  I always grew up rooting for Michigan, but I'd say it was about seventh grade when it was cemented in my soul.  The day that Tim Biakabutuka rushed for 313 yds against then undefeated OSU.  Not to mention we were the dominate team when I was going through school, so it was great winning 10/12 with one tie when it came to bragging rights.

@ Hodge

I'm not sure.  Maybe if it got to the point where there was really no logical chance that OSU could beat us for several consecutive years, I'd be pulling for them to regain strength to put the rivalry back in it's place.  The first RichRod year was so pathetic.  The second year I think Tressel just toyed with us, letting us think it might be close.  The third year we thought a banged up Denard might be able to make something happen, only to get embarassed.  The thing is, OSU was so good, on defense especially, that we could've lost all those games with a normal Michigan squad.  They were really like David and Goliath, and that's what hurt the rivalry, not OSU winning the four years before that.  The '06 game was truly a spectacle.  I think it would've gone to the home team no matter what.  It truly was a great edition of The Game, if not the best, and that's hard to say since we lost.

I've been to Ohio Stadium to see a game vs Purdue---I broke my promise to my gf and her OSU alum parents that I wouldn't root against OSU.  In fact, ever girl I've ever dated (including my wife) was an OSU fan.  I've partied at OSU and had some of the best nights of my life (after the initial gagging and bantering).  So, even though I'm definitely a Buckeye hater, it's like they say.  Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.  I've learned that there are decent fans of our rivals out there and that educated conversations can be had.  I enjoy that better than the conversations that go: Tressell era, Cooper era, Woody/Bo, Overall Record...App State.