GO BLUE! Beat the Bucknuts!
Asking an OSU fan to play nice is just as useless as asking him to count to 21 without taking off his socks and pants.
My dad's side of the family lives in Cleveland. His brother's a fellow Michigan alum; my cousin and I love watching Notre Dame get pasted. Not a single Buckeye fan in the clan, I tell ya.
I'm placing a large portion of my monthly salary into a family kitty (not kitten) so, perhaps one day, we can welcome them, with open arms, as refugees from that bubbling cesspool rivaled only by the River Styx.
96-2 Michigan. Rivas lines up at fullback for the first series. Troy Smith loses bowel control, and Tressel puts in Zwick as the punt returner since Ginn's been sawed in half by a group of confused Browns fans.
Hebrstreit was just asked on his ESPN chat something about why Lloyd Carr stormed out of the meeting w/ ABC on Monday? Anybody hear anything about this?
Ouck Fhio State.
Dang...it doesn't quite work.
Maurice Clarett never pardoned Nixon, nor did he launch Chevy Chase on an undeserved career.
The thing about Carr appearing to be pissed off after the meeting with TV people was reported (but without any details) on mlive earlier in the week.
And in keeping with the openness of the thread: OSu is TEH GAYNESS
tOuck$ Fhio$ $tate.
Fixed that for ya. See, the dollar signs stand for MONEY... CHEATIN' MONEY... FROM BOO$TER$... FOR CHEATIN'. The lower-case "t" is for "TONS MORE CHEATIN' BOOSTER MONEY".
Wow, I often find it hilarious when Michigan fans criticize Ohio State fans for lack of class. Anyhow, this will be a great game and an entertaining one. One for the history books.
Go Bucks
You stay classy Ann Arbor.
Charlie Weis should teach you a lesson in "irony", Darren.
Go Blue. Beat the $uckeyes.
Mich wins 34-24!
Paul-
Not bad, could use more EXCLAMATION POINTS though...
MISHIGAN IS THE SUXORZ!!!!!1!!11!
On the Carr/ABC incident... here's a more recent article. More details, but still only random speculation on what caused the incident.
http://www.theotherpaper.com/
TOP...coverstory.html
re: lack of class:
evidence of "class" disparity comes from fact that michigan fans are unable to wear michigan gear in columbus. 365 days of the year. OSU fans literally can't handle a sports rivalry.
Open thread already? It's only Thursday! This is going to get all blowed up.
Oh man, Darren, do you know what I think is hilarious? Seriously, do you? Well, probably you don’t but I’m just a loquacious geek so I’ll tell you. Yeah, usually no one cares what I say and mostly just want me to shut up then they wish I wasn’t so friggin’ big so they could just tell me to shut up. Anyway, Darren, what’s really hilarious is you—MAN. Dude, that shit is some serious teh funny! Like the way you say, “stay classy” which I’m pretty sure is from that movie with that guy from SNL and that hot chick from… That 70s Show. Brah, she gives me a serious boner. Except that cat didn’t say Ann Arbor he said San Francisco or something.
Anyway, we should, like, meet up at the game. I’ll be the one standing next to the pile of empty beer cans. Lemme guess, you’ll wear yore “Ann Arbor is a whore” T with that super gay buckeye necklace? And we won’t even worry who’s classy because we both will be standing in a campus wide puddle of urine. Brah, some of that urine will probably be your girlfriend’s. I’ll say, “hey, I’m standing in your girl friend's pee!” and that’ll be how you know me.
EEKS, please don’t mention Charlie Weis. ND nation will have to unleash the internet hounds to wonder at how ‘hilarious’ it is we are obsessed with ND. And they’ve got to concentrate on Army this week. Between you and me, I just can’t get it out of my head how Quinn’s ass stuck up in the air when Crable was jamming his grill into the turf. But I’d rather not have them know that.
Columbus is a serial killer and rapist.
And a random Notre Dame shot already. Very exciting.
As Mike said, this is going to get real ugly real fast, but at least I know where the fun will be after the game Saturday, no matter who wins.
Well, we're finally here, we're within 48 hours until game time. I can't quite bring myself to wish you guys good luck, but here's hoping for an injury-free, clean, well-officiated (In light of some of this year's events), fun game.
I'm driving from Atlanta to DC just to watch with my buddies from college.
Anyone I watch with at home might tell me "relax its just a game" and I'd have to smash them in the face.
Pantsed McPantsy Pants,
Not a bad effort but if you want any type of 133t credibility, you're going to have to use "TEH" instead of "THE".
Nitpicky, I know, but absolutely necessary in those circles.
UM - 27
O$U - 23
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z...m1w8nHClA&
eurl=
There's water marks on it cause I was too lazy to go back and fix them. Otherwise, enjoy teh sacks!
Live Schembechler - 47
Evil - 21
Maurice Clarett was sitting in remedial English. The professor asks, "What comes after the sentence?"
His answer, "The appeal."
I actually took Friday off of work to prepare. I'm not even leaving Ann Arbor for TEH GAME!1, just slowly marinating in the suspense and excitement.
"Wow, I often find it hilarious when Michigan fans criticize Ohio State fans for lack of class."
You know, so do I! Which is why I've been doing it on my blog all week.
Go Blue!
UM 27 OSU 17
We run at will.
We occasionally strike deep.
They cannot run, but have a couple Smith-dancing drives. More often than not, we stuff them with our D. 3 sacks and very good highlights.
YOW!
Ann Arbor? Lumbergh fucked her.
Degree of difficulty for "Ann Arbor is a person joke"... cleared.
Must put in my two centesimi here: even if the score is close the game will not be. I don't think they will beat us. Not this time.
P.S. The next time you get the urge to diss Columbus, just remember that that's where Rahsaan Roland Kirk was from. If you don't know who Rahsaan was, get his music and listen. If you don't care, there is probably nothing he can tell you that will make any difference.
May the team who plays 60 minutes of better ball win.
GO BLUE
Defense...Defense...Kittens...Defense...Kittens...
AngryDefense
...Kittens...Defense...
Angry Kittens...
Go Blue!!!!
Angry Angry Kittens...Go Blue.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K2_rW...related&
search=
Shameless self-promotion.
I put together a collection of Breaston's senior year highlights, stolen from Mgoblog and IBlogForCookies.
YouTube - Breaston -- Herbstreit, Eat Crow
(Sorry for the occasionally poor video quality and repetitive music)
markh100, I like the video, but where in the hell did you come up with that music? It sounds like a third-grade classroom each picking a different instrument on a synthesizer.
That's basically what it was. It was a spur of the moment thing - I decided to put together the video, and thought putting together my own rendition of Hail to the Victors was a good idea.
I agree tubas, violins, pianos and trombones don't go well together, but it was the best I could come up with in about an hour of work.
The song isn't representative of the quality of my work. I plan on putting together a full Breaston highlight package after the bowl game, so hopefully I can do justice to the fight song. Some of my recent work:
http://myspace.com/markheimonen
Cautious optimism is the best I can muster, but I feel better than I did Notre Dame week. I do not want a rematch, no matter what...but: A Michigan loss would be a "better loss" in BCS world than would be an OSU loss (they are home/favored). Thus, if/when OSU loses, they should fall further than we should fall if we lose. Get it? Go Blue!
There is nothing I could possibly say that would add to the magnitude of this game, so....
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must work in a strange kind of environment because the discussion of the game was in full force and with the exception of 1 guy out of 7 who weighed in with an opinion, they felt this is going to be a very close or an OSU loss.
And I work in Columbus.
Concerns are with Jamario O'Neal blowing assigments, and Boone not being effective due to injury...Boone not healthy = very bad news for OSUs offense in this game so sayeth these folks, because his substitute has been very Zirbelish in pass protection and not a good run blocker either. If this is true it could "Ding are Done" for OSU.
They are not too concerned with the M offense, they don't believe Manningham is healthy. I do.
Optimistic about this being a close game that M can win.
M. Sweet and pure.
Michigan fans...hahahaha
;-)
per rematch: not in favor. Christmas only comes but once a year...
what say BCS #1 v #4 & #2 v #3? won't be done but there's some logic to it in that #2 could have a shot at the MNC
Just got back from AA... tried to pick up some good karma and bring it back with me to Columbus. Went and sat in/walked around the stadium.. was way cool to be in the empty stadium and I could hear two things: 1.) MMB going through their Led Zepplin repertoire... Kashmir mostly, with some Stairway; 2.) OSU fight song blaring at HIGH volume coming from the practice field. I walked to the bridge to the south to try and get a look, but couldn't... walked down the train tracks to look through the fence, but couldn't very well and didn't want to get yelled at.
Campus is abuzz! I am enjoying the anticipation.... Regardless of outcome, after the game Saturday - it's basically basketball season.
On another topic - anyone download the 73, 97 and 02 games from iTunes? I did and am watching the 73 game right now. I'm in the second quarter and it's 3-0. Man, what a HARD hitting game this was...
Go Blue!
Just looking through my pictures from 02, I have several nice ones, my favorite is a perry run play, he's still in the backfield, the hole is HUGE, the closest osu player is the safety about 10 yards downfield! I hope for a repeat of that performance saturday. If that BS hold wasnt called on baas, then the BE bomb would have been good, and it would have been even more lopsided imho.
I hope to see that same agressive (offensively speaking) playcalling, as wan in 02 (c'mon DeBoard give TM a call!) such as the breaston option play. I was in the student corner, very close to the field and when they lined up, I was like holy #$&@, stevie b's bout to run one in!
Rambling a bit, just trying to get the positive vibes out there!
GO BLUE! Beat OSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's 11:10 pm. I am besides myself. I go from cautious optimism to pessimism. I go from confidence to a lack thereof. It's Thursday night and I can't wait anymore. I think I'm going to go throw up now.
i really don't see myself doing anything but pulling a cartman and pacing up and down my dorm hallway yelling "COME ON!"
but i feel.... anticipation. not dread.
maybe i should go try and finish my political theory paper.
Can someone post a link to the various pictures of our hits on qb's this season? I'm thinking particularly of the ones with Branch and Morieli flat on his back and the hits that Brady Quinn took plus any other applicable pics.
Thanks,
Eric
Mirror Lake is the most out-of-control experience of my life. I am surprised I survived.
Can someone post a link to the various pictures of our hits on qb's this season?
-----------------------
Sure. First thing Sunday morning.
1:30 a.m EST. The DC Wolverine nation is preparing to roll to c-bus tomorrow morning, and i can't sleep a wink.
i've never wanted anything more than i want to win this game Saturday. Words need to be invented to convey the enormity of the situation. This must be what it felt like on the eve of the Normandy invasion. It is D-Day. For Wolverines, this is our generation's calling. Quite simply, it's the most important event since God talked to Moses.
What's this game about? Good vs evil. Allies vs. Axis. Gabriel's angels vs Satan's spawn. Class vs. Classlessness. Integrity vs. deceit. Character vs. Treachery. The enlightened vs. the Luddites.
And what's riding on the outcome? Oh, nothing but the Constitution, the bill of rights and the future of the free world.
If there is any justice left in this world, the swift and brave conquering heroes will smote the mongrel hordes of the Buckeye snakepit.
To quote Ufer quoting Bo before the '69 game: Gentlemen, you are prepared to beat Ohio State, you can beat Ohio State and YOU WILL BEAT OHIO STATE.
And so as we depart for the prision without bars that is Columbus, Ohio, i'll paraphrase Jack Burton from Big Trouble in Little China: "Sit tight. Hold the Fort. Keep the home fires burning. If i'm not back by Monday, call the President."
GO BLUE!!!!
BEAT tO$U!!!!!
Onward to glory.
I also work here in Columbus and have an avid Buckeye customer base.
Well they ask me, So who do you really think is going to win? when I say Big Blue they are quite surprised.
just yesterday, one of them gave me Michigan and 14 for a dollar. he wanted to bet much more but I'm not a betting man, but dude 14 points!
I gave another guy OSu and 2 for a quarter with the exception, if Michigan wins by more he owes me 50 cents!
Buckeye nation is quite positive they are going to blow Michigan away, oh please can we have another Timmy Biakatapuka (please don't harrass on sp)
Anyway, I hope and pray that these Buckeye fans will have the sense to be cordial and friendly and no one gets hurt, that's the last thing this rivalry needs.'
Saturday will be like Christmas, waiting for the family to arrive, HURRY UP and get here!
GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!
I love these bets....a dollar, a quarter. How 'bout a bet for another serving of gruel?
Good luck this weekend, guys. As an ND grad I don't have a lot of love for UM, but I do really respect the program and fans. Contrast that with the experience of living in Columbus (ugh), where I just can't respect OSU. I'd love to see the Wolverines lay a whipping on the Buckeyes like laid on Notre Dame!
"...like they (UM) laid on Notre Dame."
good luck blue. i really like your chances alot in this one. i think you have the better defense by far. of course, troy smith is a big x-factor but i'm looking forward to seeing what pressure does to him. hopefully, Darth Tresselious and his minions are crying saturday night.
Anonymous, please don't ever use the term "Big Blue" again unless you are talking about IBM.
I am UMICH, class of '97, living abroad and MUST WATCH THIS GAME via internet. What's the best site to use? Please help.
Buckeyes = Pwned
GO BLUE!!
Dumbest thing I've seen written about the game thus far:
Neil Milbert
Statistically, Michigan looks good, but Ohio State looks better on both offense and defense. In a key comparative score, the Buckeyes beat Penn State by 22 at home, while the Wolverines won by seven on the road. Ohio State has the home-field advantage, and that's huge.
OHIO STATE 21 MICHIGAN 17
This is from the Chicago Tribune. They have four others who weighed in and made a lot more sense...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sp...i-sportsnew-
hed
Good luck, Blue. Most Penn State fans agree you guys are going to win.
Let me just say my interaction with the several Michigan fans that came to Happy Valley definitely improved my opinion about most Michigan fans. You'll always have a few assholes, but you were much better behaved and polite as a group than the Ohio State fans that came to town in 2005. So I'm hoping the good guys win.
I'm starting to think that sportswriters should be allowed (or even required) to say "No Prediction" if they haven't really followed these teams.
markh100-
Awesome highlight reel. There is nothing I love watching more than clips of Stevie B., but that music is horrid. I had to stop watching because of the music. Make another highlight reel with the real fight song. Thanks for the work though.
Hey Funky - are you putting anything up today? I told myself I'd split for the day once your preview was up, but I just realized you might not do one, and there is no way I'm hanging around work until end of day. Are you putting something together or no?
Cheers!
I thought I'd get shit done at work today.
I thought wrong.
I'm completely useless right now. I just wanna read every word written about this game all day. Work can wait...this game can't.
Preview is coming.
Michigan by 7
-David Harris crooshes silly bug running back repeatedly
-Alan Branch makes at least one absurdly athletic tackle of Smith that makes your jaw drop at how a landmass can move that fast
-Manningham takes one deep
-Hart is Hart
-Smith makes at least one "How did he do that?" on a broken play
-Pittman has nightmares about the numbers 56, 80, and 45
Sweeeeet. Thanks Brian!
Brian: Check your E-mail ASAP.
Anyone have an update on Bo? He was rushed to the hospital again while taping his show. No clue what's going on...
@Nick,
You should have known better and took the day off, like I did. Of course, I still have errands and housework to attend to, but what am I doing?
Yeah.
re: Bo. It's on the radio now, but there's no more info than Brian has posted here.
I'm lucky for this much, Dave...I'm kinda not heavily supervised, which means I can get away with a day wasted without too many repercussions.
I still may check out early though, so I can get a couple NCAA 07 games in before I go to a BU hockey game.
It feels like the kind of day that requires at least one game of NCAA though.
http://www.uscho.com/news/
id,131...ANov162006.html
good reads....re: OSU fans
re: Bo...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sp...i-sportstop-
hed
Former Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler collapsed Friday during the taping of a television show and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.
The coaching legend fell ill at the studios at WXYZ-TV in Southfield, the station said. Schembechler also was hospitalized Oct. 20 after falling ill at the same location.
Messages seeking comment were left with the University of Michigan, at Schembechler's office and at Providence Hospital, where WXYZ said Schembechler was transported.
Schembechler met with the media earlier this week to discuss Saturday's game between the second-ranked Wolverines and No. 1 Ohio State.
During the news conference, the 77-year-old discussed the device that was implanted to regulate his heartbeat after he was hospitalized last month.
He said the device covered about half his chest and that doctors still were making adjustments to it.
Schembechler said he did not plan to attend the game in Columbus, Ohio, and that he doesn't attend road games anymore.
Schembechler had a heart attack on the eve of his first Rose Bowl in 1970 and another one in 1987. He has had two quadruple heart bypass operations.
The seven-time Big Ten coach of the year compiled a 194-48-5 record at Michigan from 1969-89. Schembechler's record in 26 years of coaching was 234-64-8.
The game does not seem as big anymore.
I'm speechless.
I work with a former player who played under Bo. I went to tell him, he hadn't heard yet. He was devastated. Incredibly sad day.
God bless you Bo.
yea, this is bad shit. All the hype for this game seems silly now. What a man.
The name refers to the one year I attended the game; a contest best remembered for a botched QB play that led to a safety, a great punt, and the saga of UM missing helmets. Owing in part to filial piety, I'm a huge OSU fan and have been following every game this season via internet despite the seven-hour time difference. Yes, I've followed virtually all of UM's games, particularly ND and WIS. Admittedly, as a younger person my anger at the Maize and Blue ran high (not abnormally so, but still) as UM embarrassed (1993), smashed (1995), stunned (1996), pounced on (1997), and swamped (2003) excellent Buckeye teams. One considers the prominent role of a player from Fremont in several of those games. Yet, a progression of life, friendships with various UM alums, and a sense that the rivalry doesn't matter as much as the real world, has enlightened my perspective. Yes, 4-1 helps :) Nonetheless, I favor Michigan's odds in this one, for these reasons:
1) The spread is too high
2) OSU has not won three straight in the rivalry since '63
3) OSU has not won three straight at home in the rivalry since '74
4) No OSU QB has defeated UM three times since Tippy, pre-WWII
5) Every time OSU has the opportunity to take the #1 spot in the rivalry, UM rises to thwart the effort, last example: 2003
5) THIS TEAM IS UM's BEST EVER
Consider that if WIS and ND finish without further blemish (with ND not playing in Glendale), OSU wins the Rose Bowl, and UM wins the BCS championship--UM will finish as the most clutch college football team in the three-and-a-half decades of comparable play.
CLUTCH, a formula, awards points to D-1 teams based on their performance on the road and in neutral sites (neutral sites receive half as much; BIG 6 conferences opponents, plus, as always, ND), with a bonus for beating otherwise undefeated teams (.05, irrespective of location). A team receives .01 for winning any road game, .02 for winning a road game at an otherwise .700 opponent, .03 for winning a road game at an otherwise .800 opponent, and a whopping .08 for beating an otherwise unbeaten team at their house. If WIS doesn't lose again, Michigan still receives .05, if ND doesn't lose again, UM gets another .08. Should UM beat OSU and should the Buckeyes win the Rose Bowl, UM gets ANOTHER .08. These three games alone render a CLUTCH score of .210, already besting '71 Nebraska (and outpacing ND '88, MIA '87, etc) for the top score in at least the modern era when schedules are more standardized. One can add in their road wins over MIN, PSU, and IU. Of course, the system is quite fickle, both USC '05 and OSU '06 were on course before their former opponents cracked. FLA '96 went from .08 for beating the Vols at Neyland to a .03 when UT lost to... Memphis. The system is fickle. Interestingly enough, no team since '99 FSU (.065 from beating VT) has made the Top 25.
OSU '96 rated higher than OSU '02, on the strength of key road wins at South Bend and Iowa City
I wanted to stop by to let you know I enjoyed our debate on CSTV.com.
When asked the question, "Which school has the greater tradition," I found myself at something of a loss. The very first thing that came to mind was that there would be no Ohio State tradition without University of Michigan.
It also made me realize how the rest of the college football world fails to understand how tomorrow's game is the greatest rivalry in all of college sports.
I was glad to see that as we look across that historic field, we can both agree on one thing.
Heartfelt Buckeye sympathy. Bo was one of the great ones. He is at the top of the lists as one who made this THE GREATEST RIVALRY IN SPORTS.
God Bless you BO. God luck UM, Let's hope for a clean, hard fought, well played game, just like Bo (and Woody) would have wanted it. I'm sure they will be side by side looking down, watching this game together.
@Brian:
Just saw your entry in battleoftheblogs. Wow, I'd be surprised if you don't make it doing this for a living.
I am thinking about Bob Ufer greeting Bo at the pearly gates of football Valhalla. Yost and Crisler will show Bo the best vantage point to smile down at the maize and blue during the titanic battle of November 18, 2006. Titanic describes OSU, Battle describes Meechigan!
tough to discuss the game now. keep thinking of bo and his family.
the team, the team, the team. i'd love to see this team walk off that field with a victory.
Much thanks goes out to all gracious visitors here, especially Buckeyes. Suddenly all that childish trash talk I was engaging in earlier seems a little . . . childish. It's a big game, but at the end of the day, it's just a GAME.
But the show must go on...
May the best team win.
I am impressed with how the vast, vast majority of Bucknuts have handled the news of Bo with class and dignity. Perhaps they are changing, perhaps they are not as bad sports as before. I actually believe they will be on better behavior tomorrow, perhaps I'm just naive. Regardless, I'll be watching at home. GO BLUE!
My God, how does a 44 year old man hyperventilate at the thought of a football game? I just spent 20 minutes laying out my gear for the trip down to Baghdad, Ohio tomorrow.
yes, call him all night. don't let him sleep tonight!!!
AHHH I HAVE BEEN AWAKE SIONCE 4:30 AHHH
It is here.
\The next time you get the urge to diss Columbus, just remember that that's where Rahsaan Roland Kirk was from.//
It's also where Rascal Flatts are from; feel free to return to your regularly scheduled Columbus bashing at your leisure.
I've got something I need to say: Jim Tressel's statement that Coach Schembechler "will always be both a Buckeye and a Wolverine" has really gotten on my nerves. It's absolutely disingenuous and if I had any doubt about Tressel's lack of class before I certainly don't now. Let us remember our icon as being truly our own; we shouldn't have to share him, and for Tressel to bring that up on the day of Coach's passing just strikes me as being extremely petty.
Possibly I'm just hypersensitive with the events over the last 24 hours...but it pissed me off and I needed to share that with someone.
As for the game? I agree with the poster Jim; 27-17 to UM is the score I've been seeing in the lead-up, too.
Thoughts from those in Minneapolis since we played both teams:
-Ohio State fans are A-Holes
-Most think Ohio State wins
-Most want Michigan to win
Much respect for Bo
Is there a game today?
It is ON! It is ON! 3 hrs to game. I didnt get any sleep last night. I woke up after having a dream of 3 Angry Michigan players chasing Troy Smith back about 25 yds into the endzone for a safety. I am jacked up.
Here's to coming out and punching them in the face just like Bo would've wanted. This game is going to be EPIC.
GO BLUE!
If anyone cares, I just got a text message from Brian that he managed to find a ticket to the game.
Just FYI.
i can't even watch football this morning im so excited, im watching liverpool boro just waiting, it doesnt really even make sense to me. Come On MICHIGAN!!!!!!
For what it's worth, here is an outsider's perspective:
http://www.dawgsports.com/story/...11/18/144245/
45
Go Blue!
\For what it's worth, here is an outsider's perspective//
In keeping with that theme (and since I live in the Atlanta area), this column from the AJC's Steve Hummer made the front page of the print edition. Not the front page of the sports section, but THE front page:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/conten.../17/
1118bo.html
In a likely non-related issue, does anyone know why Notre Dame is wearing their green jerseys against ARMY today? They did observe a moment of silence for Coach Schembechler before their game started, so it could be a "no one wears blue today but Michigan" theme (I would hope that's the reason), but needing the extra inspiration to play the weakest service academy seems like a punk's approach to me.
Let's go Blue!
Is anyone here? Great opening drive so far. That was a TD.
!!!!!!!!
Touchdown!
now bring the D!
Phew.
First big third down play to OSU. That was a golden opportunity to keep the momentum. OSU has only run once and they will make mistakes in their passing game if they keep throwing exclusively.
Big stop here, boys.. hold 'em to 3.
He was way the hell too open.
What's up with that 15 yard cushion on third down?
Deboerd must keep the pressure on. He called a great first drive, and if we have to slug them td for td deboerd will have to keep that open game plan.
dam it. 7-7 already,
LETS GO BLUE
Great catch, Breaston!
No traitorous hands!!! Yes!
This field is a joke.
These guys get their plays off really, really fast. Scary.
So far, so good, i think. Keeping their yards per play way down. Bound to have drops or batted balls stop some drives if we can keep them dinking and dunking.
Would love to have that deep ball to mario back.
Manningham is looking mighty good...but osu's passing like they've got 13 men on the field...too many open receivers.
And the fair catch inside the 20? Don
t care for that at all...Stevie had some room to run.
Well, that sucked.
Oh, God...
I really, really hope that the missed bomb to Manningham isn't like the missed bomb to Braylon in the Rose Bowl a few years back.
How big is Henne missing a wide open Mario now?
that wasn't good. isn't wells supposed to be good like next year?
Use your head, Chad.
Anyone else just lose their HD picture?
Need a big defensive play SO freakin' badly...
How many UM players fell on the turf on that play?
We r f*cked.
Holy crap
Leon Hall does not look good.
Come on, O-line!
Touchdown!
!!!
Thank God...now we need the D to step up and stop 'em.
Badly...very badly do we need this to happen. A muffed kickoff and defensive recovery would be particularly nice. An uncharacteristic mistake is called for.
Gotta stop biting on these fake handoffs.
This is unbelievable. They're always open, and they catch everything.
FREAKIN' COVER SOMEBODY!!!!!
Who let Jim Herrmann in the building today?
This is just plain poor defensive planning. I hate to say it, but we need to be on those receivers. If we keep giving them that kind of seperation and soft zone, we're hosed.
It's clear that Tressel's offensive gameplan is designed to exploit the weak secondary pressure by flooding one side of the field and going for the quick pass.
Cut it out, English. Man up and jam those receivers or die trying. Seriously.
That kills us. OSU gets the ball after half.
Now is the time to prove your worthiness to be Carr's successor .. Come on!
\OSU gets the ball after half.//
Exactly...I don't know if we can adjust, either. At this point I'm just glad we were able to get across the field to the locker room with the earth opening up and swallowing our team.
I'm just glad Troy Smith won't be back next year.
Really, I feel sick as hell watching this.
Hold on while I cry myself to sleep.
All year to come up for a defensive gameplan for Troy Smith and the spread and this is the best English and staff could do. Pathetic.
Good call Matt, if we don't get our DB's up on the line, we're gonna get picked apart all game. They're just running off people deep and hitting the underneath patterns, with absolutely no coverage.
I don't understand the ultra-passive coverage. Obviously we don't wanna get beat deep, but we're just giving them first down after first down after first down...
Get the DB's up on the recievers or we're gonna lose big.
I have a tough tme blaming enlgish, we apparently just dont have the personnel in the secondary. And even when pressured smith has been hanging in and making plays.
Only hope seems to be finding different ways to blitz and pressure smith and hoping it gets there in time.
How can you put Graham on Gonzalez in the slot? That is more or less giving them a first down whenever they want it.
You gotta believe. Show some faith. This is not over. The run was bad luck, otherwise it would only be 7. The D is going to adjust. Let's hustle and fight back. We're gonna do it.
GO BLUE!
Thanks JC, I'm needing a pep talk right now. Four chances. Four TDs. Damn.
This is total "fool me once, shame on you..." with these 10-15 yard passes. That gameplan should have been scrapped 2 TD's ago.
Also, from the AP re: Bo's memorial plans...
"The public is invited to attend a viewing at St. Andrews
Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, according
to the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, which is handling arrangements."
"On Tuesday, "A Celebration of Bo's Life" will begin at 1 p.m.
at Michigan Stadium, the school said."
3 and out. Now let's score!
Most beautiful 3-and-out I've seen since ND...
Need to convert this...failure to convert on 3rd-and-shorts has killed us so far, too...
Oh yeah, 3 great runs by Mike Hart.
TD Hart!
Hallelujah!
Halitosis!
Halle Berry!
I heart hart.
The D has to bring something, the last three and out was a drop and an unforced error from smith.
But we are back!
Yeah, Defense? Remember the guys who went 11-0? Need you bac...NOW!
needthestopneedthestopneedthestopneedthestopneedth
estopneedthestopneedthestopneedthestopneedthestop.
..
3rd downs have been killing us. Let's get this one right, fellas. Bring it!
Nice pressure up the middle a bad throw! More of tha please! PLEASE
INT!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-YES!!!!!!!
WOOOOOoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
Ohhhh, things are looking good in half number twoooooo!!!!!!
Blast it, the slant that was working so well on the first drive...why shelve it now?
But 28-24 is a helluva lot better than where we were at halftime. Come on, D...another 3-and-out is called for. English expects.
Tough break again with hart slipping on that first down run, he had a big hole.
KEEP BRINGING THE D!
GO BLUE!
Sweet Jaysus...that hit out of bounds did us NO freakin' favors.
How many late hit calls have we had this year? This is ridiculous.
Good lord.
Color me underwhelmed with our tackling today.
Troy Smith has just proven himself to be human, with that turnover, I guess his tears don't cure cancer after all.
RUN DEFENSE NEEDS TO GET THEIR HEAD OF THEIR ASSES.
Guess that wasn't even tackling. Thought a couple guys had hands on him. Guess not.
Dammit.
WTF on the two run scores?
Charles Stewart is worthless.
I didnt get a good look at the number on replay but i think we have to bring back yards after mundy on that one.
The safety plays seems very bad today.
If you'd've told me earlier this week that Michigan would have 24 points halfway through the 3rd quarter of this game I'd start booking travel plans to Arizona for Elvis's Birthday.
No way I'd've suspected our defense would be getting housed this badly.
This f*cking turf is KILLING us.
the turf at the horse 'poo sucks!!!!!!
dam turf gave out on 4th down
See, 4th-and-10 means you need TEN yards to make the first down and keep the ball. Anything less than that doesn't get it done, so let's to get AT LEAST 10 yards on the play, mm-kay, thanks!
Quality stop by the D. PLEEEEEEASE SCORE!
WE need a TD on this drive.
Also the fact that musburger said that tressel was the best OC he's seen in years us laughable. Ever hear of Norm Chow musburger?
GO BLUE!!!!!
Thank you, D...let that be the stop that truly changes this...
3rd and 2 convert DAMN YOU!!
should have ran the damn ball
Henne has been a real liability today. Not that he called that dumbass play, but he's had a bunch of bad, bad passes.
Seriously, the slant plays from the first drive? USE 'EM!!!!!
This team is disappointing me today. Does my legacy mean so little to them?
Mike Hart's been the only one who's earned his letter today.
Maybe this is a question for tomorrow, but... A ton of people on this board have been defending the boring UM run-run-run offense all year long by arguing that we were saving our big plays for this game.
Where exactly are these big surprise plays?
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-YES!!!!!!!!!!
huge break must score a TD
BO JUST PULLED SOME STRINGS ON THAT ONE! UM BALL!
!!!!!!
Now punch it in!!
GO BLUE!!
Okay, now I think I've got this all figured out...but if we score, like, 10 points this last quarter and Troy Smith gets pulled a'la Vladislav Tretiak in Lake Placid in 1980 and osu doesn't score anymore...I'm pretty sure we win this game.
+2 in turnovers and hart has a buck thirty, crazy that we are losing.
Worthless!
TD BREASTON! Now go for 2, because we can't go for 3.
\...but if we score, like, 10 points this last quarter...//
35-24 is of course an 11-point deficit.
The spoils of a public education in the state of Georgia qualifies me for THE dumbest post in this entire thread.
I apologize.
Indisputable my f**king ass.
Screwed in the @$$ by the refs.
Mike Hart to the rescue, twice more if needed.
TD HART! Now go for 2!
god bless mike hart.
we need the d to step up again
That's the second freakin td they've denied Michigan!!! Bitches...
OSU just burned their 2nd T.O. Nice.
Burn those timeouts, Tressel...you won't be needing them later on, after all.
?????
Why the hell take the XP there? Is Lloyd that scared of OSU's run D?
lloyd just tricked mcsweatervest into burning a TO.
this i like.
I don't understand that one...it's reasons like that why people tend to question Coach Carr's decisions late in games.
Bo, wherever you are, don't let that decision by Lloyd come back to bite us...
I've said this several times today, but we need a defensive stop here. Huge huge huge huge huge possesion for OSU.
Timeouts in the college game mean marginally more than they used to with the new clock rules, but since the clock stops for every first down I don't think they're as important as they are in, say, the NFL...I still think going for 2 would've been the right call. We need a TD either way.
Come on D!
Sh!t.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE-YES!!!!!!!
YES!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Troy Smith!
Holy crap are we getting lucky. I'm not a religious man, but I'd like to think Bo is to thank for this.
New Math's traitorous hands!
I'd've felt a lot better if Mario had caught that 1st down pass...PLEASE convert this 3rd down...
Chad...Rick Leach wants his jersey back.
Field position is in our favor...the defense HAS to respond...I know it's not fair to keep requesting turnovers each osu series, but...well, there's a lot about life that isn't fair.
D needs to hold them here.
Why do I think if Lloyd didn't call that T.O. there was gonna be a deep bomb for a TD?
My stomach hurts.
tackling has been brutal today
is this 1924 did osu just run a statue of liberty play?
Statue of Liberty and no tackling.
Again, boys, huge 3rd down. Stop them now.
D@mmit...the story of this game is not UM getting gashed for big plays, though it sure as he77 doesn't help...they can convert on 3rd down and we can't.
I hope that one hurt, Troy.
And now they've got another 3rd down.
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-lay of game...thank you.
must stop them on 3rd and 15.
After 31 years, I've learned to fear 3rd and long against our D
garbage call
FUCK!
Come on...please not another...FVCK!!!!!!!!!
bail out call
We freakin' HAD 'em. The refs absolutely jobbed us.
Dumbest play of the year.
Seriously, that might have just handed them the game. I'm beyond enraged right now.
Come on, D...rise up, for Bo's sake. A TD puts it away, we need just one more play here, pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...
Nope.
foot was on the endline
Gee, a defender on the turf. Shocking.
Unbelievable. This is worse than the Rose Bowl against Texas in '05.
I hate to admit it, but that was a right call in the helmet-to-helmet part. Not a late hit, but referees ARE gonna call that on a QB.
I hate to admit it, but that was a right call in the helmet-to-helmet part. Not a late hit, but referees ARE gonna call that on a QB.
I may never forgive Crable for that.
And that is THE dumbest freakin' song from the '60's, you bunch of SEC-rejects.
lets get a td here to make this a game
These refs are killing us.
And late in the game all of a sudden all the calls go osu's way. So much for "letting them play", eh, ABC?
Hate to do this, but if we lose the ball, I'm turning the TV off. Refuse to watch OSU celebrate.
Yeah, there was NO "letting them play" on that holding!!! Where was the holding call against the O$U line?
Oh, and I'm spending the rest of the night cursing Crable's name.
for the love of bo covert this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hurry so they don't review that!
\I'm spending the rest of the night cursing Crable's name.//
Yeah, but it took a team effort on defense to suck this badly. Crable will be remembered for the dumbest play of the night, but they'd already put 35 points on the board by then. No way we should score 31 and lose.
Ecker!
Now, do we have any chance at an onside kick?
So, Lloyd..gonna kick this one, too?
Seriously. Without that stupid call, we win this game.
Win or lose, the way this team played in the second half, I walk away from this thinking UM is the better team.
F*CK THE CLOCK RULES!
Game over. TV off. Great 2nd half. Defense lost this one in the first half, and of course Crable.
Still a great season. Go Blue.
Too conservative AGAIN...
Time to innovate...
Goodbye Lloyd
Don't care whether we get a rematch or not. My #1 priority for the rest of this season is having the best team available to play and beat OSU. 2 titles in this decade would kill me, even though the first one should have been stripped along with Clarett's eligibility.
"I walk away from this thinking UM is the better team."
Demented.
\Seriously. Without that stupid call, we win this game.//
It was the difference maker. However, you have to suspect that osu's defense would play more agressively against us on the last drive.
I'll come out and say it right now. No other team in the country is capable of giving the team that beat us the game they got tonight. I wasn't in favor of it before, but frankly I think anything less than a rematch on a neutral site will be the correct way to settle the MNC this year.
I'm very disappointed, but God bless you boys. I am incredibly proud of you.
>Goodbye Lloyd<
How I wish that could be the case. He ain't going anywhere unless he punches a cop or gets in bed with a gambling ring.
Holy shit. This was incredible game. Dissapointing loss, but still think that Michigan is the better team. Close loss. We are proud of you. That took a hell out of me.
Switching to Pistons
-_-^
hell lets win the rose bowl.
go blue we must beat these bastards next year
REMATCH in neutral site with a decent field!!!!
I know that OSU is an ag school, but it's 2006, get fieldturf if you can't keep the playing surface together.
\you have to suspect that osu's defense would play more agressively against us on the last drive.//
...if we had stopped osu on the Crable/referee-aided drive, I meant to say.
Wow. My daughter's here, so there was no drinking today and I did a good job not throwing things, screaming at the TV, or swearing profusely. I do feel totally gutted, though. Worst 48 hour stretch in my lifetime as a Michigan fan.
Anybody watched USC this year? How do they match up with OSU? As I said, the goal now is to keep OSU from a title.
We aren't going to beat Ohio State until Carr grows a spine, gets more aggressive on the offense, develops a "step on your throat" killer instinct, and turns his misplaced energy/aggressiveness from the refs to the actual game.
>I do feel totally gutted, though. Worst 48 hour stretch in my lifetime as a Michigan fan.<
This is a close one for me. As an attendee of the Colorado game in 94, that might have been the biggest body blow I've ever taken as a UM fan.
I have a new respect for Willis Barringer. The Crable personal foul didn't kill us; those two long runs did.
Crable's play was stupid, but the final drive is defensed completely differently if the lead is at stake. Sorry, while the play was dumb, the nation's top running defense did not show up today.
OSU helped us with turnovers. They deserved to win the game.
I like how a guy named "anonymous," attacks Coach Carr for not having a spine. I don't believe he is the one making the offensive calls, anyway. Doesn't Coach DeBord do that?
we got outcoached. that's it. where were the playbooks we were supposed to be hiding for this game?
im still proud of our team. no question one of the best games ive seen. and chad did a great job given the plays he was given.
Perhaps I don't want to identify myself for other reasons? I'll defend my post, however.
Carr sets the tone for everything that this program does.
Calling crap running plays after turnovers, and not going for the endzone to at least spark some fear... poor, and that's the coach's call...
Yelling at the refs... poor showing
Can you honestly say that the attitude that each team takes doesn't come from the head coach? Of course it does, and that translates itself into weak playcalling, and a general defeatist attitude?
Good Game!!!!!!
I'm extremely proud of Michigan. It could have gone either way at the end, but the best team did win. I don't want a rematch, and I want OSU to win the national title. I still think this team is special and will cheer my ass off in the Rose Bowl. They gave me everything I could ask for in that game other than a win. There is nothing to complain about. OSU was just better this year. Michigan was aggressive but not stupid. You can question the play calling, but it wasn't bad on offense. Defense, I was not at all happy with the zone coverage the first half. I'm disappointed, but not upset.
GO BLUE!
I don't want to see a rematch.
We had our shot. Couldn't stop them.
Say what you will, but Ohio State has a great football team this year. It wasn't coaching or refs that lsot that game. We did not tackle or cover well.
Congrats to the buckeyes. Please don't kill anyone tonight in c-bus.
I really don't see too much whining here.
OSU picked up 106 yards and 2 TDs on 2 runs by Wells and Pittman.
So much for that 'vaunted' run defense.
They exploited our 3rd cornerbacks and our safeties. Barringer was a serious factor and, sadly, so was the turf. I don't want to say it, but I think a rematch makes a lot of sense. I don't know. Maybe I'm making excuses. It just hurts a lot and I know the offense scored 39 points. It's difficult to fault much else. And it's definitely difficult to think anyone else deserves a shot at OSU.
I hate them so much. Whatever happened to karma? How can one team's fanbase exhibit such hubris and still come out on top. I don't have anything to say but "fuck". I'm sick of this bullshit.
Barringer gone hurt us. Crable hurt us. Turf really, really hurt us.
Go Cal tonight, go USC next week. Go someone who will beat Arkansas, go Arkansas then and beat Florida and go West Virginia.
I am now going to get shit-faced drunka and putting a bullet in my brain
I wish I hadn't sworn. I'm just really sad.
Agree with you, Andy. I hope few couches are burning and that Brian gets out safely. This seems contradictory: I believe we are the second best team in the country. However, I don't believe in the re-match. That is unfair to Ohio State and every coach and player who put everything on the line in this game. We had our shot. But, man, I sure with we coulda pulled it off. Very proud of Hart, Henne, and Carr.
Not sure which hurts more - missing that bomb to Manningham early or letting OSU score at the end of the 1st half. Not the first time we did that this year, just the first time it came back to haunt us.
No rematch.
Turf? Come on. OSU made big plays when they needed them.
You're all class, Cal, going on the opponent's message board and talking shit. We've been pretty level-headed here, and no one has denied that OSU played a good game. Yet you still feel the need to be a dick. Classless.
Hard to say anything bad about Debord or being conservative when we put up 39 points. +3 turnovers, big day out of hart and we lose, has to be simply hats off to troy smith. As good as hart was smith was clearly the best player on the field.
Hate to single anyone out but not only did crable make that bone headed helmet to helmet hit, but also should have made the tackle in the backfield on one of those long runs.
The Barringer injury didnt help either as safety play, especially on those long runs was horrid all game.
I can understand why some are against a rematch, especially if USC and/or Rutgers run the table, but that was a great game and doing it again would yield another great game i think.
Would have liked to see us on D risk giving up the play big by going man earlier in the first half but i think we played pretty well and am proud of our guys. Troy Smith and that offense is special and as great as our D is they were just better.
Congrats you bastards... you gave us every chance to win.
New things I learned:
1. Troy Smith is kinda good
2. Willis Barringer is underrated
3. Turf sucks.
4. Where's the D?
5. No such thing as karma
6. Any OSU fan who immediately gets on a MIchigan blog to talk smack is the biggest piece of human feces I know.
Yeah, that's exactly where Id be now if we had pulled it off.
While I kinda think a rematch would be intriging, I really don't think we deserve it.
Nice game OSU, I hate you even more, but that wasn't the same Michigan team there today
I personally wouldn't mind a rematch. It happens all the time in other sports. Duke can beat UNC in the ACC championship and then turn around and lose to them a week or two later in the NCAA tournament. The Ravens can beat the Steelers twice in the regular season and then lose to them in the playoffs (not that the Steelers will make it this year).
So, yeah, a rematch isn't all that awful. If they're the best two teams, then so be it. That said, it's not real likely.
The only one in the car with the police, Cal, are all the OSU fans tonight.
What kind of loser are you?
11-1 is nothing to be ashamed of. I am still damn proud to be a Michigan fan.
Last time I checked, OSU played on the same turf as UM. Michigan's defense lost this game for them, pure and simple.
michigan's d - the most overrated unit in the country?
I mean it all it took was for them to play a decent offense that could actually block, and they got torched!
Anonymous:
Agreed, but from a UM fan perspective it appeared that the turf actually had a bigger effect on UM. OSU easily could have had turf problems too, but it just seemed like every time I looked there was a UM guy on the ground.
Osu is a great team and they earned the win. I just don't think there's another team in the country that can give them a better game than Michigan did tonight. By all rights they should've totally thrashed us. As it is we scored 39 points and lost at their joint.
No sour grapes here...congrats to osu and Tressel, they definitely were the better team and coach today.
There's just no way after watching that game from start to finish that I believe any other team in the country can match up as well against osu as Michigan. If they finished the whippin' they started in the first half and blew us out like I thought they were going to I say let USC or Arkansas or Florida (or even Rutgers or Notre Dame) have a shot at 'em if they warrant it.
But no, putting up 39 points at the 'shoe and losing by 3 doesn't convince me that we don't deserve another crack at them. If the game was at Ann Arbor I feel we win by the same margin and I couldn't really begrudge bucks fans who say that home field was the only reason for the difference.
SoJ:
We get it. Congrats. Now please stop the space-wasting gloating posts.
Osu fans = new york yankees fans. Just the worst, really.
proud of the team, clearly thee second best in the country. I'd like a rematch but what ever, let's go win the Rose Bowl and finish up #2 and we'll make a run next year
Gve JT credit
He is one hell of a coach
He found our weaknesses on both O and D and explotied them
On ST he wouldnt let Breaston beat him so he kicked OB. maybe gave up 5 - 10 yards per kick but never let momemtum shift
i wish our coachs coached like him
sorry - after watching M for s2 year up close and personal i see that way
next year.. who knows - i hope long and crable return.. that is key
Tackle recruiting is even more important. hoepfully Schillng can step in. Ruben hurt us today and mitchell didnt do too well either in protecting henne
No excuses.............Played your guts out and you lost. Absolutely nothing wrong with losing a hard fight.......
Observations
1. Ron English got exposed
2. Your front 7 is magnificent
3. Allan Branch number 1 pick. Jeezus where did you guys find that dude??
4. Mario was faking big time last week
5. What happened to the tight ends
6. Hart runs kind of funny
7. Lamar Woodley ok, nothing spectacular
8. Allan Branch/Harris will be in the nfl fo sho
9. YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAA
AAAAAAa
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
> Osu fans = new york yankees fans. Just the worst, really. <
Tell me about it. I hated the Yankees before I moved to New York, and hate them even more after living among their fans for 10 years now.
Truth be told, though, Giants fans might be worse. If only because they play during snow season, and can put batteries in snowballs.
I am Allan Branch believer.............Jeezus..
Tivo'd the game. Watched the Crable hit about 20 times in slow motion. He hit Troy Smith just after the ball was released in bounds. Helmet to Helmet happended after his hands hit Smith's chest. Helmet to helmet is legal if incidental. In another half second, it would have been a late hit, but it wasn't. It would have been fourth down and OSu would have had to turn the ball over. I do not blame Crable because it was a legal hit. Refs cost us the game. And I am a sore loser about it.
We got beat, I admit it...I don't think our defense is overrated, but I don't think they were prepared to play today.
Troy Smith is still just as awesome as he was the past two years and Jim Tressel is ten times the Evil Genius Steve Spurrier ever was.
And there still isn't another team in the country who can give osu the game they had to play in order to beat Michigan's pro-style offense at the 'shoe today.
Anyone who thinks UM's defense is overrated, please check yourself: Michigan's stodgy, conservative offense just put 39 points on the #1 scoring defense in the country.
That police officer joke was dumb-ass. Go away, Cal.
I knew it would not take long for that jack-ass jorel to show up. I am sick of the so called condolonces about Bo ending up with the he was from ohio bullshit. Who cares where he was from? Only people from Ohio. For once, Jorel, show some class & go away. Nobody likes you.
We lost, I accept that and I am not whining. But, if the Buckeyes are sick of us complaining about them then maybe they should stay off the Michigan sports blogs talking their smack.
Good game guys. You guys gave a challenge and yeah, Branch is a beast. As far as complaining about Crable's hit call, I think it was a good call. However, even if you wanna say it was a bad call, what was that 'roughing the center' call? The biggest game in the Century and they pull that out of their pocket? I've never even seen that ever in my life and haven't talked to anyone who has.
Anyways, I appreciate you Blue fans who show class and hope you get it back from most of us. Good game and good luck.
By the way: I STILL hate M*ch*g*n:-) but wow this rivalry is fun since Tressel came home!
The Crable penalty may have been legit. And it certainly cost Michigan the game. And I do not think Ohio St. gets that call at Ann Arbor.
Comments by SoJ and Cal et al is the reason why I hate OSU and their fans with every fiber of my being. Classless.
Close game. Loved watching it, hated to lose it, but thought it was really a spectacular show. All credit to Smith and OSU for the first half, but I think U-M won the second half. Without the call (and the turf (very, very arguably)), it's a different score. Really could have gone either way.
If it had gone the way the halftime score had suggested, I'd be anti-rematch, but with a score that close, I think we deserve to play in the title game as much as anyone in the country.
To Cal, SoJ and Terry Bowden -- you've got a lot of people congratulating you and you're gloating. Poor sportsmanship. Your team played extraordinarily well and earned the win - now show some class.
Close game. Loved watching it, hated to lose it, but thought it was really a spectacular show. All credit to Smith and OSU for the first half, but I think U-M won the second half. Without the call (and the turf (very, very arguably)), it's a different score. Really could have gone either way.
If it had gone the way the halftime score had suggested, I'd be anti-rematch, but with a score that close, I think we deserve to play in the title game as much as anyone in the country.
To Cal, SoJ and Terry Bowden -- you've got a lot of people congratulating you and you're gloating. Poor sportsmanship. Your team played extraordinarily well and earned the win - now show some class.
\...what was that 'roughing the center' call? The biggest game in the Century and they pull that out of their pocket? I've never even seen that ever in my life and haven't talked to anyone who has.//
Apparently the rule is that the center can't be hit or engaged if his head isn't up after snapping the ball. I have no idea if this only applies to long snaps from the punt formation or if it can be called on any play involving a center snap.
I've never heard of it either.
It's days like this that I really miss John Cooper.
Anyone notice how Herbstriet was anti-rematch the entire season, and up until Michigan starting mounting a comeback? Then once Michigan showed they might be able to pull out the win, he casually mentioned how great the game was, and that he wouldn't necessarily be against it? He should not be allowed to be doing Buckeye games.
Did the center call affect the game? No. Ohio St. got the ball anyway and scored. The Crable roughing call, at that stage of the game, was just enormous. And I do think any Michigan fan can argue, after seeing it on replay, that it was a call. It is just unfortunate that the refs decided to make such a call at such a crucial point in the game. It was like a sucker punch. We had it. Out of FG range...and a potential game winning drive in front of us. And then that.
awesome game. i do not want a rematch, the odds of osu winning twice seem quite low. this century is making up for the infinite pain of the cooper years.
If this game proves Michigan's defense was overrated and exposed, it also means Ohio State's Defense was exposed. Most analyists rated the two as equal before the game: Michigan having the better d-line and 1/2 of the linebacking core, and Ohio State the other 1/2 of linebackers and secondary. No defense was exposed, and no defense was overrated. I witnessed two balanced offenses, with OSU being innovative and calling their plays in a way no team could slow. Their big running plays would doubtfully happen in a rematch, nor would their turnovers in a probabalistic sense. It was a great game, and Michigan was barely beat. They were not torched. It was an outstanding game on both sides.
Few, few Michigan fans want a rematch. The problem lies in the subjectivity this year, as after watching a season of college football, I don't think any team could have given OSU a better game than Michigan did today. There are no one loss teams that have clearly demonstrated their worthiness to be number 2; Michigan does lead the pack from an observational standpoint. The "rematch" sentiments aren't favored by Michigan alumni except they don't feel any other team has the resume (possibly Florida if they win out) to be considered number 2 above UM. In an objective sense, they would be right.
The turf WAS A PROBLEM!! It was UNACCEPTABLE! UM fans should not place blame on it, but they would be the first to admit our turf sucked a couple seasons ago. No top team should host such poor facilities. It did influence Michigan more than OSU, and while no one should cite is as a reason for the loss, shame on OSU for having such a crappy field. The number 1 team should have better facilities.
I've seen that "hitting the center" call made a few times this year. It's just on long snaps, since a regular center normally keeps his head up when snapping.
My uncle was the longtime president of the OSU alumni association back in the 90s. He has an undergrad from Michigan and a masters from Ohio State so I know a little bit of the inside with the turf. From what I have been told, Ohio State is very proud of its agricultural tradition. There is a refusal among some to go with fieldturf because of that pride in the "ag school." The reality of the situation is that grass does not work that well in cold, wet climates like in the midwest. No question, Ohio State won the game, fair and square. (I wish there had been no helmet contact on that 4th down!!!)
So yes, I would like a rematch at a neutral site, in a place with a field in good condition.
I really don't care if we have a rematch or not. If it happens, it happens. Michigan and OSU are by far the top 2 teams in the nation, but the time of this game in the season won't probably allow a rematch to happen.
I don't want to see a rematch really, but if it does happen I'll be more than happy with it. Let's just go to Pasadena and bring home a win.
Hell of a game to both teams. While USC has the raw talent to beat OSU, it's clear as day that tOSU/UM are head and shoulders above the rest. I know us ND fans we were supposed to root for a UM blowout win so we could maybe weasel into the MNC game, but quite frankly, I'm glad that nonsense has been put to rest. The college football fan in me demands to see a rematch in Glendale.
Great game to both teams. Ewww.
Just got home from the game and a few observations:
1) The two best teams in the nation were on that field tonight.
2) Mike Hart is nasty...Carr should've just rode him for 60 minutes. I can't figure out why he felt the need to go anywhere else.
3) There were collectively, more athletes on that turf tonight than I've ever seen in all my years of watching college football.
4) If USC drops a game, we will and probably should see a rematch (although as an OSU fan, the thought of playing that team on a neutral field frightens me a bit).
5) Troy Smith will win the Heisman and is only the second OSU QB in history to go 3-0 against UM.
As to trash talking about OSU fans, I can only say that I sat in front of Four guys from UM and all of them had only positive things to say about their experience today. A few quotes from them:
"Do your fans stand up all game, every game?"
"I wish I were an ear doctor...I'd have a bunch of business after this game."
"I can't believe how loud this place gets."
We had a great time giving one another a good natured ribbing, and I didn't see a single fan giving them a hard time. The reality is that Columbus is a city of over a million people and you are bound to have your share of A@#holes, but far and away, the C-bus is full of true college football fanatics.
I'm sorry for the UM family's loss...I remember it all too well when we lost Woody.
Mighty Glad to be a Buckeye!
See you in the Desert!
God I love beating Michigan. Great game. Bo and Woody, however, are turning over in their graves (or soon to be graves).
Well, just got home from the game. I'll give credit to the OSU fans, many shook my hand before the game, and I only saw a few "F_ck Michigan" T-shirts today. There was one drunk, belligerent idiot that happened to sit right next to me, but overall, it was a very civil atmosphere. I'm very proud of this team. I didn't enjoy the game very much, as I'm sick as hell and shivered uncontrollably all day, but I'm very proud of this team. Both teams, in fact.
the only way a rematch should happen is if usc, florida, arkansas, notre dame all end up with 2 losses.
Tacopants?
Comments:
I became a little worried when I heard Lloyd on the pregame "Lloyd Carr Show" say that the key to the game was to not allow the "big play". That told to worry about the prevent D. I had reason to worry. When they went away from that in the 2nd half, we did much better.
I, too, agree that Crable's helmet to helmet was a bad call. Completely unintentional as Smith was throwing on the run. Had Smith been standing still in the pocket, maybe. That tackle on any player would have not been called.
We should not have gone away from the run in the 1st half.
The two long TD runs killed us. Wells should have been tackled in the backfield. Too many missed tackles today.
The field was unacceptable. Playing at Michigan Stadium we would have won.
Tressel sent the bomb-sniffing dogs in again today. I agree with Bo -something should be done.
Aside from those gripes, it was a great game. A bit frustrating at times, but I didn't feel all that down at half time. I knew they could come back.
Why did Musburger sound as if he had lost a child when Michigan was within 4 points and had the momentum. Sheesh, a neutral announcer would get all excited at the good game in front of him. He woke up and became far more animated when Tosu came back to life.
Bob Davie actually said on the Pittman TD "Well this helps tOSU get back into this game". ???????
more bomb sniffing today? are you serious?
UM should say we are not coming down to the snakepit in 2008 unless they fix the field first. They are bush-league.
I have read about a billion posts crying about the helmet to helmet. I find it interesting that all of the UM fans are blaming that ONE call on the game and yet you forget about the bogus 15 yard call that gave the blue 15 yards and a 1st down in the first half...yes, the roughing the center call. I have been watching football for over 30 years and have never seen this call. You want to talk crap about the officials...well they gave you one there. Did you take advantage? NO! You can’t have it both ways. The officials didn’t loose the game, the UM football team did that. You keep saying how bad the OSU fans are, but you guys are a bunch of cry babies. Bottom line: OSU is the better team. Get over it. We did in the 90's.
"Get over it. We did in the 90's."
You did? Oh yeah, by not counting those years.
And the roughing the center call is on the books, and while rare, I have seen it called.
Congrats on the win and the season, your staff and players found a way to expose what I still think is a pretty damn fine defense.
Bad calls for both teams. Roughing the center? WTF. Interference on 4th down on UM's final drive. How about +3 turnover ratio including a gift on the 9 yard line. Don't blame the refs or the field. Give some credit to tOSU's offense, 520 yards of total offense, 202 on the ground, and 6 TD's. Michigan showed a lot of heart today but I believe the better team won.
\OSU is the better team.//
\you were bested by a superior team.//
>
Yes. Today in Columbus both of these statements are true.
\go win the rose bowl.//
>
But if OSU really is as superior as they truly believe they are, they certainly won't mind giving puny ol' inferior Michigan another shot on a neutral field under optimum conditions.
Unless they're...you know, scared, or something.
helluva ballgame folks. pee wee turf, but we were both subject to the tread. unreal exploitation of both defenses. I, for one, am proud of the men that battled today.
dammit. 3 years running. dammit!
Buckfan,
Good comments. Congrats on your team's great win.
Cal,
Go burn a couch.
Center interference is a legit rule...I was called for it in a high school game last season, and special teams coaches should let their players know that it does exist. I'm sure this was a young gun who thought nothing of pushing Booth over. Nonetheless, we should stop bitching about all the calls...even though the helmet-to-helmet is a stupid rule, Crable's hit definitely falls within the range of hits that the rule itself covers. The fact of the matter is, the game was decided on the field today and the officials didn't throw it off; that's something we should glad for. Letting Troy throw for 300+ again, now that's another matter...I'm mad about all this hand-wringing over the officials and none over how bad Sears was today. Smith is great, no doubt about it, but it certainly helps to have a great group of wideouts (being covered by linebackers and poor corners) to throw to.
\ >I do feel totally gutted, though. Worst 48 hour stretch in my lifetime as a Michigan fan.<
This is a close one for me. As an attendee of the Colorado game in 94, that might have been the biggest body blow I've ever taken as a UM fan.//
Yeah, I was saying "48 hours" to make sure I took into account Coach Schembechler's passing. There have seen some serious stomach punch losses I've seen since 1976 (including the CU game...Kordell Stewart never had a better game than that one thereafter and Ty Law never had one worse), but coming the day after Bo's death makes this one the worst.
wow, guys this was a tight game, i had a headache by the end of the game, everytime we were ahead by 2 TD or so, daaamn michigan always came back... amazing game, i hate michigan, but what a game, these are the 2 best teams in the nation, NO DOUBT, wow can't believe, lets see how things turn out, but i believe a 1 loss big 10 team is still better than a 1 los pac10 or any other conference....
if my buckeyes wud have lost by 3 points, wud it be fair to c UM and USC play...NOOOO
anyways good ame blue, but u know what OHIO STATE is a better team, and Jim Tressel ALWAYS out coaches Loyd Carr, so i dont understand the whining some of the wolverines do...
GO BUCKEYES
It's not whining. It is discussing the game & getting frustrations out. Nobody is denying that OSU played really well & made big plays. Nobody. If OSU would have lost the buckeyes would be venting their thoughts too.
Not so sure I would call that three-point margin on the road as Carr being "out-coached" by Tressel. Outplayed? Possibly (really, just Smith - who I'll say deserves the Heisman). OSU won the game. Congrats, but be careful with the rhetoric.
Umm... wow. The turf didn't look that bad to me today, so I don't know what you're so upset about. Especially since bad turf would hurt our style of offense way more than the "hand it off to the best tailback in the Big Ten" run it up the middle stuff.
A little info on the OSU field: we've had problems with it all year. We like real grass, we want real grass. This was the field's third year, which is about as long as we keep a field. The problem this year was all the rain in September and October... and November. Also, the field at the start of the season suffered from a blight. So we replaced at a cost of about $150,000 before the Bowling Green game (7 Oct). That field also did not hold up, so we replaced it again immediately after Minnesota (28 Oct).
Say what you will about OSU's Ag school, but they went all out to have a good field.
I think everything has been said, but I really want to see a rematch, although I think if Michigan wins it should be a split NC, giving the other half to tOSU.
I kind of think the poor turf help the offensive explosion in the game. Much harder on the defense when the footing is unsure, reacting to a move being harder than actually making the move. A better surface would have made for better tackling and coverage FOR BOTH SIDES. Any thoughts on the field upping the scroing output for both sides?
But again, a great game, troy smith was the difference, a worthy heisman winner.
Great game, Michigan. As a Buckeye, there's nothing better than a hard-fought game vs. Michigan, won or lost, and that's what we all got tonight. I hope your fans in Columbus got treated better than in the past. Good luck in the Rose Bowl (I hope).
Cal, Jorel, etc.: Shut the hell up.
Steve: "as a neutral observer"
Yes, you sound real neutral(eyes rolling).
OSU's offense is really really really good. Not much more to say than that. Not sure what team in the country can match up against that pretty dangerous quartet of receivers.
If you would have told me this morning that we would score 39 points, I would have kissed you and booked my tickets for Arizona. Brutal.
Yes, the dogs were called out again. It was a "for the record" comment on the Michigan pre-game show. And it would have pissed me off had we won just as much as it pisses me off now.
Also, the PI call was also legit. No question as far as the commentators were concerned. They faulted Tosu defender for having his back to the ball.
And IIRC, back to ball + touching the receiver's hands = PI
Apparently the PF on the Center is a legit rule. That you or I have never heard of it (and I haven't) doens't mean it doesn't exist.
But to compare that to what is a judgment call on the helmet to helmet is silly. Really, what player doesn't lead with his helmet when making a tackle???
For the record, I don't want a rematch, but I'd take it. And I do think this was a GREAT game. And it is proof positive that the Michigan vs. Ohio State football game is the best rivalry in all of college sports with the exception of Calvin vs. Hope. ;)
Go Blow!!!, why don't you go and blow someplace else "neutral observer" steve. THis is our blog, we do what we do here, you go have your blowing in our team's blog.
We had our chances and we blew it. The first half offensive playing calling left a lot to be desired, we had like three or four drives where we just kept punting.
And samething on those turnovers. God dammit we should have scored TDs on all of them. And WTF was Carr thinking when he punted the ball on fourth and one, it was mid field, whatever.
Where the $%^& was play action on first and ten after those turnovers.
1 and 5, i don't know man, it just doesn't look good.I don't know if we deserve a rematch. Have to say that i expected a lot more from this D. Those long TD runs should not have happened against the best run D in the nation. Granted they had us spread out and stuff. Crable had that $%^#er Wells for a loss but didn't make the stop.
A really disappointing day!!
Brad,
I think that you misunderstood what I meant. I don't say "ag school" as a pejorative term. OSU really is an "ag school" and an excellent one at that. (Just like Iowa, Illinois- Champaign, MSU, Penn State) Guess which fine out-of-state "ag school" helped Michigan when there was prescription athletic turf in Ann Arbor? We should be thankful. Real grass helped us win that game against Penn State in '02; Larry Johnson was headed straight for the end zone when a clod the size of a bushel basket gave way. The field mad a game saving tackle!
When PAT was the big thing my cousin thought about going to OSU. http://hcs.osu.edu/turf/
He ended up going to MSU because in-state tuition was so much cheaper. Unfortunately for him, the PAT industry dried up when fieldturf came out.
I've seen amazing grass fields out west. Real grass doesn't seem to work so well in cold, wet climates. Ohio has a cold, wet climate. If it weren't for the vested interest that the university has in grass, I think there would be fieldturf in the horseshoe.
\troy smith was the difference, a worthy heisman winner.//
Too right...give him his statue and get him the he77 off to the NFL A.S.A.P. Had enough of this guy for several lifetimes.
Yes, the field sucked. I am sure both teams would agree. Nobody is saying that is what would have saved the game for UM (although it would have made some not so good plays good). Let's quit arguing over the grass. I can appreciate the ag school argument blah blah, but a football field is for football, not furthering your agricultural background. GET FIELD TURF!
Whatever. I'm so proud of the team. I thought they play well enough to win.
BUT, OSU is the better team. We can blame the playcalling and whatever else, but the better team won. They more than deserve the victory. Good luck to the Buckeyes in the BCS game.
On that note, I don't think we deserve a rematch. UNLESS, Cal>USC>ND and LSU>Arkansas>Florida. But of course the first part of that equation did not happen, so I don't think we deserve a rematch.
I think USC or Florida will give the Buckeyes the best matchup. I'd rather see OSU-Florida and USC-Michigan (OR OSU-USC and Michigan-Arkansas) than a rematch.
I don't want to see OSU-ND ... Hell no! .. Anything but that: OSU-WV, OSU-Lousville, OSU-Boise State, OSU-Wisconsin .. I'll take any of those before OSU-ND.
Go Blue! God bless Bo! Condolences again to Bo's family and the Michigan football family.
:: sigh ::
I'm just really, really sad right now. If those players put the same amount of emotion and heart into that game that I did as a mere observer...then I think they all deserve a handshake, a strong pat on the back, and the benefit of the doubt that they played the best they possibly could.
That said, I feel like hell, probably the worst I've felt since I started giving Michigan my undivided loyalty (and tuition dollars). I now know how it must have felt to be an Ohio State fan during the '90s, except for the fact that I don't have to explain why my alma mater's town smells like donkey urine and burnt upholstery.
I furrowed my brow a bit when Mike Hart's postgame interview was shown. He deserved to win this game. But unfortunately, so did Ohio State. Something had to give. We've been through this before.
So, not much has changed. I still believe that Lloyd Carr is one of my heroes as a man, that this is one of the greatest Michigan teams in history, and I'm damn proud to cheer those boys on every Saturday alongside my fellow alums, fans, and friends. And that's something that not even the most belligerent Buckeye fan can take away from me.
Go Blue.
Rematch . . .
I love the national championship game. I want to see a good game. I want to see the best game possible. I think that OSU will pound USC or ND.
Don't consign me to a boring Jan 8th.
Home field advantage, the obvious Heisman winner, and the margin is 3. Why not try it at a neutral site? USC plays against OSU like they did against Oregon State and they will lose by 30. . . . Maybe I'll tune in for the Dr. Pepper halftime throw.
As for Smith, his arm is awesome. Even though he is short I think he will do well in the nfl.
Yes, we quickly forget week 10 when Zook's Mighty Orange Warriors took it to the wire against Troy-Boy.
Steve, trying to compare team performance between an off week and rivalry games has the same effect as the pick-up lines you obviously tried to use in the Columbus bars tonight: irrelevant and laughable.
I was at the game and the better team won. If it were not for two freak fumbles by Smith, the game would not have been close.
Anyone who complains about the offense or Debord is an idiot. 400 yards of offense and 39 points is all you could ask for.
The blitz packages - necessary given Smith killing us - cost us on those two long runs. The OSU offense is the best college football has seen in 25 years.
Congrats, OSU. The fans were class, too. Treated with respect at the game.
No rematch. That is for losers.
Hey buckeyes, if you don't like what you are reading than go away. Nobody is forcing you to read a MICHIGAN football blog.
Get life.
Steve,
What would be your prediction for OSU v. Wisconsin?
Great game Michigan fans! I hope your experience in Columbus this year is/was much better than 2002.
As for the game, I only have a few comments.
1. I really didn't expect as much scoring as we saw today - very exciting to watch.
2. The officiating was not the best. I saw a lot of holding by whoever was matched up against Gholston (50). The "roughing the center" was crazy - I've never even heard of that before. The PI was legit - but I thought it was a pretty cheap call.
3. Troy Smith is unbelieveable!! What a stud. He absolutely picked apart the defense in the first half - Michigan had absolutely no answer for the Ohio State offense in the first half, and really in the whole game.
4. Turnovers...The UNFORCED turnovers really kept this from being a very convincing victory. The only thing that stopped OSU was OSU. Period. 500+ total yards and six TDs tells the story.
5. Coaching. JT and his staff simply out coached Michigan. It is that simple.
6. Field conditions were pretty bad, but they were equally bad for both teams - hopefully we'll have field turf next year.
7. MIKE HART - Shut the hell up. For him to say he wasn't impressed with Ohio State, that a rematch would have a totally different outcome, and that Michigan blew it today was not very becoming of a Michigan man.
8. NO REMATCH. I just don't see how anyone could want a rematch - there's something to be said for having to wait 365 days for a rematch.
You guys have a great team and I hope you represent the Big 10 well in the bowl game; great season and great rival.
Go Bucks!!!!!
Good game, Blue. We have a lot of respect for your team and fans. Hopefully Michigan goes to the Rose and beats Cal or USC. Our hate of you is borne out of admiration.
Good game, and good luck in your bowl.
Well, Steve, you contradict yourself. If tOSU torched Michigan, then Michigan did not BARELY beat Ball State as you claim in your previous post. They doubly torched them by 6 TD's. Oh, by the way, the pundits and media did raise their eyebrows after that game, significantly. Michigan did not drop in the polls but ???'s were all over the place. If WVU would have won that week, Michigan would have dropped.
As for today, did you watch the game? The 15 yard personal foul penalty against OSU did not lead to a touchdown, it led to a punt later in the possession.
The score was 28-21 before any turnovers in the middle of the 3rd quarter; the game certainly was close at that point, so to claim a 3-TD victory means you believe Michigan would not have scored again the remainder of the game if not for the turnovers. Except they did score a TD not off of turnovers making it at most a 2-TD game.
Regardless, the turnovers pretty much cancel in a probabalistic sense the two big OSU running plays, not because Michigan's run defense would dwarf OSU's attack, but those same runs would probably go for -1 and 8 yards. If the turnovers are an abberation, so are those big plays.
I watched the game at a UM bar with 250 Michigan alumni/fans. The Ohio State bar drew probably 300+ NEXT DOOR. After the game many of them came to gloat; they all felt, however, that the game was close. None of them felt their victory was closer to a 3-TD game. They felt it was close and that they barely won. Them barely winning doesn't mean they felt Michigan was better and they were lucky to win, but they felt that they barely won, the difference being (1) Troy Smith and (2) Tressel. If they felt OSU won by 3 TD's, they would have expressed that sentiment very vocally. They did not. I was surprised how gracious they were.
Ohio State was the better team today. They are a shred better than Michigan, and as Ohio State fans (and many Michigan fans) will tell you, it is only because they are better coached.
While I agree that there should not be a rematch, I also don't believe that any team deserves to be ranked above UM but OSU. How can they work it so that we still keep the #2 ranking, but go to the Rose Bowl?
m@ - I share your sentiments. It's been a very special season - I'm proud of the players, coaches, and especially Lloyd - but losing Bo feels like losing a grandfather. Losing in C-bus just adds a little more salt to the wound. Hart's comments were a little awkward, but we can all sympathize because we're all feeling that mixture of letdown mixed with extreme grief. And on that subject, no one - especially Lloyd and the players - have had the time and space to properly grieve Bo's passing and move on. This has to be a very tough night for them, because they have nothing but time now to reflect.
gjgerson,
Such a nice, rational, impartial recollection of game you have.
Meeechigan Dan,
No Disrespect . . .
Except for a freak roughing call, OSU probably loses. (Crable is a VERY powerful man. If he had honestly been out to "get" Smith, Smith would be going to New York to pick up his trophy wearing headgear.) I don't want to be bored on Jan 8th.
We could do the unbeatens, but I have this crazy idea that OSU v. Boise would be lopsided. :) OSU will probably get a cakewalk in January. In a rematch, OSU would be favored again, but I believe that an OSU vs. Michigan rematch has the best chance to be a great game. What can I say? I like good football.
ColoradoBlue,
Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to take anything away from Michigan, you guys played a great game.
I am proud as hell of Mike Hart, for both his onfield play and his fire in the press room. That's exactly how he should feel, that's how every single player on this Michigan team should feel, especially the defense, every single minute of every day all the way to whatever bowl we end up in, I want so much pent up rage flowing through this team that our bowl opponent, OSU or otherwise, get's hit so hard they have no idea what rampaging beast just hit them, this was the big one, the biggest game in any of these players lives, and the team didn't show up until the second half, that's unacceptable...
I don't believe Hart's comments should be given too much weight...if you interview a young man immediately after what has to have been an even more emotionally draining experience for him (than it was for us), he's probably going to be more likely to say something that he wouldn't say if given some more time afterward to cool down and compose himself.
Having said that, I'd be willing to bet he's probably channeling more than a little bit of disappointment over the performance of his own defense rather than that of osu's.
\I just don't see how anyone could want a rematch - there's something to be said for having to wait 365 days for a rematch.//
Ohio state is the best team in the country. The way the NCAA is set up for football, they have to beat the second-best team in the country in the Fiesta Bowl to be able to claim that title "officially". Michigan is the second-best team in the country; no one really denies that, and no one thinks any other team in the country would have given a better account of themselves than did Michigan in Columbus today. Ergo, the rematch. Who knows, maybe osu wins again.
Fuck. Fucky fuck fuck.
I was at the game (first time in the Horseshoe), and here are my observations:
1. The atmosphere in the 'Shoe is impressive. We could take some lessons at the Big House about maintaining a noise level. For the most part, the fans were decent (my buddy and I were called pussy, faggot, and senile old men -- the last being the most upsetting).
2. Except for the first drive in first half and the first drive in the 2nd half, we never seemed in sync offensively. And, obviously, our defense was on its heals all game.
3. The posts about OSU winning by 3 TDs, but for unforced turnovers are ridiculous. First, the interception was, I believe, caused by a tip so it wasn't unforced. Second, staying in the shotgun is a high risk strategy, which is often going to lead to more turnovers. Finally, if you take back all your turnovers, do we get Henne's overthrow of Manningham (wide open for a TD) in first qtr back, and all the dropped passes. At least one of those is a TD, and who knows about the drives affected by drops.
4. Smith was amazing and won the Heisman today, but I suspect that whatever our shortcomings were defensively he's not likely to complete 80 percent of his passes in the 1st half if these teams play again.
My point is this. OSU outplayed us and deserved to win.
That would be true even if we'd recovered the onside kick and won on a last second TD. But the game was still close. There were penalties, turnovers and missed opportunities on both sides that could have turned the game.
Michigan is most definatly the second best team in the country...No other conference plays football like the Big 10 does...that game was a very good game, but out of it i got a winner...Ohio State won the game and i don't see how anyone on either side can complain. Mike Hart had words to say but thats why we are America, freedom of speech.
I am having trouble fathoming this "rematch". It would be a great game and I had a great time even watching it. Nonetheless, the BCS was supposed to be implimented to create the best match-ups in the fairest ways, and settle it one the field to avoid shared national chamionships; like 1997 UM and Nebraska. The BCS Championship Game was implimented to pit #1 vs. #2. Obviously #1 and #2 have already played, and the score was settled on the field. As a fan of college football, it would be a shame to see the rematch for a few reasons:
1. What if UM won? Would they share?
2. Since tOSU already won the game, why wouldn't you let someone else try and take down the only major-coference undefeated team remaining?
3. Everyone always bitches about this, including me, but how can you be national champions when you aren't conference champions? (Thats why lowly Notre Dame should grow some berries and atleast join the Big East, untill then they are farting mediocre football into a BCS seat, maybe one un-deserving)
Too many question have only shadows of answers in this scenario for it to ever make sense to me. Thats why I think Michigan should not be allowed to participate in the Nat. Championship game. I know it would be a good game, but it already was. Lloyd Carr "We lost to the better team today" in the press conference. tOSU should be challenged by a different school than one they've played. I know UM fans would love this, but what if UM won today and ended up playing Notre Dame? How fair would that be? UM already handed Notre Dame thier ass. It's a mute-point. The rematch should not be a question. It was already decided.
And the Crable call, was a fair call, could have not been called, but was, and sometimes you have to overcome the officials as well. What about the 4th and 16 pass intreference call on Jemario O'Neal when we did not even make contact and knocked the ball down with his hand? You can't say face-gaurding, there is no rule in college about that. And on Woodley's interception, there could have easily been interference called on the tip. I am a nuetral observer, I just think complaining about one call is not right. There are ALWAYS calls that could go both ways. The O'Neal interference would have taken 7 points from UM and tOSU has the ball again. So the "what if"'s and "coulda, shoulda, woulda" shit really is not argueable because of how many plays there really are in the college game. Even with the new clock rules. =)
As an ND fan, here is how I feel. I dont care about rematches or any of that crap, the two best teams should play each other for the championship and those two best teams are
Ohio State and Michigan
I dont care if SC beats ND by 40 next week, OSU and Michigan are the two best and should be playing each other again in January on a neutral field.
Ask the people in Vegas what home field is worth and they say 3-5 points. That tells me all I need to know about these two teams. They are evenly matched and are the best two teams in the country.
I think all of the rematch speculation got started with the initial BCS rankings were Auburn was fourth after losing to Arkansas and the eventual talk about Notre Dame sneaking in. Fans want the best game and that means different things to different people. Other one-loss teams may provide a decent game and an intriguing matchup, but none are impressive. I hope Florida wins out; for all the talk of Arkansas being a different team than when USC crushed them...that is entirely based on them upsetting Auburn. They may be good but their toughest games have not been played. The only reason anyone is talking about a rematch is at this point in time, what other top 5 team do people feel will matchup as closely with OSU? None stands out. I prefer a Rose Bowl to a rematch absolutely because it will be a more compelling matchup for UM. For the national title, on the other hand, not so much.
Hart's comments should not be given much weight. He was disappointed in his own defense's play, particularly in the first half, and let's be honest: Bo's death probably didn't set in until after the game, and the players are emotional about it. Some of that pain was being expressed.
Jason,
I understand you are a ND fan and i sympathize. tOSU and UM are the best two teams in the country. But make them play again? Since they are the best two teams in the country, it is in this order:
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
It was settled, UM didn't win the Big 10 and a second chance does college football no justice. Put the best in one conference against the best in another. Even if the 2nd place team in one conference is better than the 1st place team of another, the 2nd place team is NOT better than the first place team in theirs, conferences have different strengths, and UM has deserved their vacation to Pasadena. Even if USC or Florida do not challenge tOSU, UM had thier chance.
Cody-
Some good points, but if I take your logic to its conclusion, how can we deny **unbeaten** Boise State the opportunity to play Ohio State? I don't want a bad game for the national title!!!
I remember when the whole fairness thing was the mantra when I was a kid back in '84. An unbeaten BYU claimed the national championship a by squeaking by a 6-5 Michigan. Everybody knew that BYU was not the best team around, but they couldn't get past the **unbeaten** record. If we KNOW that Michigan is the second best team, why shouldn't we have a rematch?
Several hours later and that empty feeling at the bottom of my stomach still hasn't gone away. That said, I don't feel as bad right now as I have in years past, something about Bo dying and the game not really sinking in yet. Just two thoughts:
1) I've seen the roughing the center called before, but it's very rare. A big part of the reason that it's rare is that it's such a cut-and-dried rule. If you line up over the center and knock him over, you're going to get a penalty. Just because a young OSU player did something that most football players know not to do doesn't make the refs poor for calling it.
2) Michigan's lack of depth at the corner finally came back to haunt them. I have a sneaking suspicion that Chris Graham covering the slot man on a key play says more about our nickle and dime backs than it does about English's mental health.
I asked myself tonight the following question, "Would I go back in time and switch Lloyd Carr and Jim Tressel if it meant that Michigan would have been 4-1 in the last five years?" This made me realize that Lloyd Carr is a huge part of why I obsess over this team and I wouldn't trade him for all the wins in the world. This team is the kind of representation of my University that makes me proud to be an alum and a fan. Win or lose, Go Blue.
Rematch arguements. I personally don't want a rematch, and any Michigan fan worth his salt wouldn't want one either. You get your rematch in 365 days. Further, should USC beat ND it's a mute point.
Compare USC's total body of work to Michigan's or anyone else's. If they beat ND they should get the nod. Outside of beating ND and playing us really tough on the road, there is nothing else on Michigan's resume comparable to USC's. Out of conference, USC has beaten Nebraska and Arkansas, add ND to the list and you have to say that USC's wins are better than Michigan's wins.
I thought we all agreed that NO non conference champion should get to play for the NC.
The only reason this is getting any kind of hype is because ABC wants the ratings - if they want this game they will push for it as hard as they can.
SoJ,
Let's talk about class, Kirk Barton style:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/c..._pat&
id=2667714
Nothing like celebrating a Big Ten title by badmouthing a potential opponent...although I can't believe I'm actually defending Notre Dame here.
I think a rematch is inevitable. I don't see the Coaches poll punishing Michigan much, nor the computers.
As a Buckeye fan, I'm fairly confident a rematch would go our way as well, altough I think Carr would start ramming Hart down our throats in the rematch, use him to set up the pass, and basically adjust to what OSU showed in this game.
That said, the three turnovers were may well have kept the game closer than it otherwise would have been...not because Michigan got a lot out of them, but because the took the ball out of the hands of the Ohio State offense, who scored 42 points anyway against a Michigan defense that has been outstanding all year. Hence, I don't see Michigan or anyone beating us if the TO differential is 0.
The arguments over a rematch aren't really considering the whole picture.
I'll admit that I'm torn. The Michigan fan in me doesn't want one. The college football fan in me does. Allow me to elaborate.
I think we can all agree that Michigan fans are sick over the thought of Notre Dame playing in the national title game. The argument against them playing against us or against OSU was/is if you're going to reward ND despite the BEATDOWN they got at home, then why even regular season games? They'd lose their meaning. But to compare a Michigan-ND or OSU-ND matchup to a Michigan-OSU rematch is like comparing apples to oranges. We lost a close game, on the road, and I'm pretty sure that most people here (Michigan, OSU, ND, and all other fans) can agree that using our eyes Michigan is clearly the second best team in the country.
The point of the BCS Title game is to find out who the best team is. I'm not sure that if this game was played today, in Glendale, that OSU would have won. I know that might not be a terribly popular opinion, but I was actually there. I don't think there's ALL that much difference between these 2 teams. I don't think that our defense is likely to repeat that pathetic first half performance, and I don't think OSU is likely to repeat their bout of fumblitis allowing us to hang around. I'm not trying to take anything away from them. They played a great game and they had the best player on the field. But the purpose of this whole thing (the season) is to find out who the best team in the country is. I THINK OSU is the best team, but I don't know for sure. The only way to find out is to play this one again on a neutral field. I think we'd all be sick of OSU played USC or Florida and pummeled them like we all think they would, and we crushed the other half of that combo in the Rose Bowl (I know, I know, a lot of it's and's and but's).
But all that said, the same argument I made about ND holds true. If you're not going to consider the regular season games why play them? Why give the loser of this one a rematch when we all knew what the ramifications of this game were going to be. If you're going by the idea of #1 playing #2, then this one has to get replayed, period. If you're going to actually consider the regular season, then USC or Florida or Arkansas should get its shot. I think for the sake of preserving the rivalry and the sanctity of the regular season, there shouldn't be a rematch. But in reality it might the best thing for college football. Am I crazy, or does any of this make sense?
(apologies in advance for any typos or awkward syntax, but I just completed a 3 day 5 state trip that included about 7 hours of sleep)
Also, one other point that I'm surprised nobody is making.
Re: the OSU fumbles, I think that people just writing them off as a fluke weren't really paying attention. They happened right as we ramped up the pressure, tightened up the game, and started actually playing some damn defense. Were the fumbles fluky in nature? Yes, without question. Did the fact that Michigan was starting to get pressure affect the snap/timing/Smith? Yes, absolutely.
So let's not completely write them off as a fluke and give SOME credit (however marginal) to the defense for stepping it up a bit.
Just returned home from "Hell" and figured I would crawl on here to see what some of you have to say. First off, congrats to the Team. It was a great effort, and as usual they made Michigan proud. Marvelous season, NO ONE else in the country can say that their only loss came by 3 points to the number 1 team on the road. NO ONE. That stadium was rocking- great job by the osu fans.
I would also just like to comment that this was my fourth trip down to the horseshoe. There is no where to even begin to compare the behavior of the OSU fans and the respect they showed for us visitors this time compared to previous visits. It was unbelieveable how many Buckeyes shared kind and encouraging words with me. Of course there were the usual slack jawed idiots, but they were MUCH fewer and far between. And the respect they showed for Bo was great to see as well. Numerous Bucks came up to me asking where I had received the yellow Bo tribute paper/pin, and I gladly passed out my extras to them before the game (I grabbed a stack on the way out of the UM tailgate). So hats off to the vast majority of Buckeye fans.
As for rematch talk most Bucks I talked to on the way out (and at various stops on the way home) are all for a rematch. That to me says something.
I'm physically and emotionally drained, but I would have to say that when I read the SoJ post from 2:01am only one thought came to my head. Why are you on a Michigan blog at 2:01am the night that your team won and epic battle?? Perhaps the answer to that question is better left unknown.
SOJ - Can't blame you for not wanting a rematch. OSU might lose at a neutral site. It should be OSU vs. **unbeaten** Boise with a zero percent chance of rain for the buckeyes. ;)
The AD will keep soaking the taxpayers of Ohio by splurging on new grass. The university is a highly ranked "ag school" and fieldturf would be heresy.
gjgerson-
USC looked fabulous against Oregon State. I think Ohio State would crosscut shred them.
Re: the OSU fumbles, I think that people just writing them off as a fluke weren't really paying attention. They happened right as we ramped up the pressure, tightened up the game, and started actually playing some damn defense./
Well, considering that no one had touched Datish (obviously) when he made those bad snaps, then your theory only holds true if we accept that he made the bad snaps because the UM defense was in his head. And I'm definitely not buying that, especially with the condition the field was in.
Son of Jorel: "Count me as one who thinks Mike Harts a real fucking dickhead. He lost and he needs to accept that shit with class..."
Re-read those two sentences, if your feeble little mind is actually able to handle both input and output. I'm an unabashed fan of the Michigan program and I don't agree with Hart's post-game statements. The best anyone can do for him is make mediocre excuses. But for you, the least classy "fan" this particular forum bears witness to, to claim the moral high ground is beyond laughable. You're a disgrace to your school.
When I left the thousand-strong game-watch here in LA, I was pretty convinced that a rematch was a near-impossibility. Having watched a solid night's worth of TV recaps, I'm surprised by how generous the press has been to Michigan -- they seem to think a re-match is more likely than I expected.
As an LA resident, though, I can't complain much -- if USC loses to ND, UM's re-match hopes become very, very good (with an extremely interesting SC-UM Rose Bowl as the worst-case). And if SC wins, I get to go to another Rose Bowl. This loss hurts, but nothing like last year's...
Oh, and to anyone who's turning against Carr because of this -- wow. The guy turns a 7-5 team into the #2 team in the country (and almost edges out the win) and you already want to run him out of town? What do you think Bo would think of that?
Nothing like celebrating a Big Ten title by badmouthing a potential opponent...although I can't believe I'm actually defending Notre Dame here.
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I can't either. I thought that was the one common thing we all shared in common is total absolute hatred for all things ND??????
I want a rematch, but I know it's not good for the game. I said before the game I didn't think it would be good and I still don't. The helmet to helmet call was a good one and I knew it would be flaged as soon as I saw it. One play didn't make that game and it was a good call. I kept telling myself that the field was a reason for mistakes but I knew if OSU was losing it would be just as good a reason as it was for us, so fuck that. It rained earlier in the week and you could tell because it was muddy not because it was freshly sodded. Hats off to OSU, well executed, you bent but didn't break and that was against the second best team in the nation. You deserve a shot in the NC and as much as I hate OSU I respect the way you played today. Herbstreit said it best, that this is always one of the cleanest games because of the respect that the players have for one another. Thank God Troy Smith is a Senior, you guys will miss him. Congratulations and let's keep Bo in all of our hearts.
Kevin,
I'm not saying anybody touched Datish, but the fumbles occurred after we had made some significant defensive adjustments. We were blitzing more and we were in different coverage schemes. I'm saying that to not give ANY credit to what the Michigan D was doing is completely ignorant and viewing the game through a scarlet and grey lense. I'm not here claiming that we caused the fumbles because we're like the greatest thing since 2005 USC, but I am saying that you have to give SOME "however marginal" credit to our D. I think that anybody with a basic understand of football and the ability to view it somewhat objectively should be able to see my point. I'm not claiming that OSU wasn't the better team today or didn't play the better game, because I'm not. I'm just pointing out some areas where I see flaws in what's coming to be the conventional wisdom around these parts.
And one other thing: if you're going to use the field conditions as an excuse, why didn't Michigan have trouble with the shotgun snaps? I mean, OSU ran the shotgun all year and had problems today, Michigan ran the shotgun about once this decade before today and managed to get every snap off cleanly. So, I dunno, I'm not buying it.
Also, I echo what kmd03 has to say. The Buckeye fans I encountered were quite classy, and about 75% of them congratulated us on our effort and assured us they'd see us in 6 weeks. I actually think it's to the point where they empathize with us over being 1-5, they were there, they know how it feels, and I think to an extent many of them just can't bring themselves to twist the knife because they know how sickening it is to be on the wrong end of that record. Anyways, I wanted to thank the OSU fans who were gracious both before and after the game.
wow, what a disappointing game. Where was our defense in the first half? Not showing up for most of 30 minutes is horrible. English should have made adjustments sooner--certainly we were capable of playing them better as the 2nd half showed.
Our offense played very well.
I can't believe we lost to these guys AGAIN. 1-5 are you fucking kidding me!? thats pathetic. And when's the next time we beat them? When its not Carr vs. Tresell--because he just seems to out coach Lloyd every time (in 03 we were just much better). Lloyd is a good coach, just not against Tressell and the team that matters most.
My feelings will probably change as emotion wears off and perpsective come in, but I am so fucking pissed off and disappointed right now. This game mattered so much more than the Rose Bowl--how can I look forward to it now?
I really feel bad for the players, Crable must be distraught. But our defense needed to show up all game and they didnt.
Wow, its crazy how much a football game can affect you. This took so much out of me, would have been the greatest day and now I'm so damn sad...
did they riot, btw?
Off Tackle Tom: Great Post
Son Of Jorel: Do you remember when your football career ended? High School or College? It is the worst feeling ever. You are so mad and frustrated that everything you worked for is over and you came up short. You don't want to accept initially. You want to pretend it didn't happen or it wasn't real. Now magnify that by 100% and you probably have what Hart felt like. Three straight loses to OSU and a NC probably out of the picture. He is hurting, let it slide, we all know he is a great kid and very emotional. I can't imagine what he is going through so just back off him and give him a little time before you rip him. Remember, we criticize him for something we can't even fathom at being capable of doing. We sit at our computers like a bunch of nerds, telling people how to do things that we have absolutely no capabilities of accomplishing. I think we all need to remember that, we can't do what they do, so let's not jump down their throats when they make a mistake or lose a game. They're the reason we cheer in the first place.
>> Sinner: You're a disgrace to your school.
> Son of Jorel:
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like I said dude is rude and that shit wasn't cool.
What are you laughing at? I'll say it again - you're a disgrace to your school. The more you laugh, the worse the disgrace. I'll say it again, because your little mind seems to have such a hard time with, well, anything. Hart was emotional and said things that were inappropriate -- but you're the one who called him "a dick." Which he very clearly isn't.
And if you want to throw stones, take a look at your translucent walls. I saw some of Troy Smith's post-game interview as well, and he was quoted as saying (paraphrased): "The better team won." I'm not saying it's worse than Hart - and I actually have a lot of respect for Smith - but the unwritten rule is that you thank your teammates and coaches (and God, maybe), you compliment your opponent and you say you're happy to have walked away with a victory ... not to rub their noses in it. Smith fucked up, Hart fucked up, life goes on.
UM does not deserve a rematch. UM deserves to play for the national title as the #2 team in the country. The second sentence outweighs the first.
RESUMES:
USC = ARK, NEB, ND(?)
UM = ND, WIS
ARK = AUB, LSU(?), FLA(?)
FLA = LSU, TEN, ARK(?)
If ARK wins SEC title game and USC clobbers ND, advantage USC, Pac-10 is a stronger league this year than Big 10--ratings back it up.
LOSSES:
USC: @ ORE ST
UM: @ OSU
FLA: @ AUB
ARK: v. USC
Advantage UM, no question. ARK got hammered by a similar opponent in quality, but excuses (McFadden hobbled, new QB, first game of the season) are just that, excuses. USC's loss, albeit turnover-inspired, is awful and not befitting that of a championship team, injuries aside.
If ARK wins their next two games by double-digits, to finish unbeaten in the SEC and on a lengthy winning streak... flip a coin.
If they don't, and I don't believe they will, Michigan deserves selection to the MNC.
Huge OSU fans, such as this writer, just have to get over the fact that satisfaction might only last 51 days, instead of 365.
ARK because they would gain more by beating FLA (likely still in Top 6 even with second loss) than FLA would beating ARK (out of Top 10 with second loss)
Real reason to celebrate: Bye Bye Troy. We'll miss you!
Other than that, depression rules.
OffTackleTom:
This made me realize that Lloyd Carr is a huge part of why I obsess over this team and I wouldn't trade him for all the wins in the world.
My sentiments exactly, but it wouldn't hurt to win sometimes.
Having slept (and not having a nightmare) over it, I can honestly say that I think a rematch would be close. In fact, these two teams can play 100 times and the score will be close each time. I'm still of the belief that OSU is better, but it's close.
We lost to a better team. No rematch. Please.
On the defense: The defense seemed to be deflated at the end of the first half, but they came back more motivated and played a much better game in the second half. I gotta give English (and Carr) props for that. Crable made some mistakes, but it's understandable given the circumstances (biggest game ever in the history of the rivalry, Bo's passing, etc.) Don't be too hard on him.
On the field: Yeah, it sucked, but it did not affect the game as far as the final score is concerned.
On Mike Hart: I can feel his pain. Mike Hart is a confident guy, and he doesn't back down from challeges. OSU fans may think he's a dick, I think he's just being honest. (Just like Kirk Barton.) What's wrong with players being honest? Do you prefer to hear everything sugarcoated? Where's the fun in that?
My lasting memory of this game is Mike Hart pushing #3 at the end of his TD run. That's Mike Hart trying to fire up his team (and it almost worked). We'll get 'em next time, Mike.
No rematch. We march into Pasadena and swarm and sting and savage. We go into next year just as we did this year: one game at a time. No living for The Game, let OSU do that: they will lose along the way. We need recruiting, and we need to build on what we have put together this year. Michigan needs to turn out this kind of D every single year. It must be how we are defined. Chad Henne is a fine college QB, but he is not a difference-maker. Defense no longer wins championships; QBs like Leinhard, Young and Smith do. Let's just get the best recruits we can and build a dynasty. Let OSU win the title. From the second week on January on, I want them to lose and lose badly.
Part of college football life is that you have to be WAY better to win a mostly evenly matched conference game on the road. Refs are human, and it is a FACT that they get intimidated by the home atmosphere. For instance - it is hard to understand why there was no pick call on tOSU's first TD, and no offensive interference on their last TD (and numerous other calls and non-calls [roughing the center???? that has all the despicable signs of a "makeup call" - yes, yes, I know it wasn't a direct response to another bad call, but do try to think of the game as a whole, OK?]) until you realize that we have intimidated, amateur, part-timers calling college football games.
So, "homer" refereeing simply cannot be properly seen as the reason a visiting team loses - it is an expected part of the game, even of The Game. "Get over it!"
It seems bizarre to call out the OC when we score 39 points, but Chad and Mike and our boys scored most of these points IN SPITE of DeBord! C'mon - he has his fondest dreams come true, the ground game is established: running Hart to the LEFT behind Long is working better than we could ever have expected,, so what calls does that DDDS-er send in? Runs to the RIGHT!!! Heck, I really believe they should let Henne call his own plays - he couldn't do any worse.
Oh, jeez, I hate this! Losing in Columbus hurts so much. I'm proud of our BOYS. What a wonderful year they have had.
perhaps the two best teams in the country played yesterday and, though it was close, i don't believe there should be a rematch. the buckeyes led by 14 on two occasions and turned the ball over 3 times in the second half, keeping michigan in it. michigan may very well be the second best team in the country, but a rematch punishes ohio state. we know how difficult it is to beat a team twice. if the buckeyes were to lose a rematch, why would that mean um gets the championship when they'd be 1-1 in head to head? this is why the big ten doesn't feel the need to play a conference championship. that and the fact that, between us fans of um and osu, it generally occurs in columbus or ann arbor around this time.
go win the rose bowl and root for the bucks against a team that probably won't give them as much of a game as you did.
Ooops, I hit "publish" before I was through with my rant.
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It is a very good point, whoever made it above - sorry, I can't find it now to qoute it exactly - but tOSU ought to be ashamed that they provided such an awful field. You'd think an Ag school would do better.
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It is quite clear that they are a VERY good team, and they deserve not to have to beat us again to win the MNC. I watched the U$C/Cal game last night, and either of US would beat either of them handily (although the Trojans are actually pretty good.) I hate it that tOSU will win the MNC, but we didn't beat them, and to paraphrase Stallone: "Ain't gonna be no rematch!" "Don' want one!"
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I just read on the WWL that Henne is strongly considering turning pro after this year. Anybody know anything about this?
I'm not bothered about any other call in the game except the Crable hit, though I think there were a few bad calls for both teams. Particularly the "roughing the center" and the non-call on the pick in the endzone against OSU (even the announcers caught that one).
With respect to the Crable hit, the call should not have been made. I think it can certainly be argued whether it was legal or not. It looked as though he did not lead with his helmet and the contact was incidental. However, because to the timing of the call, it had a huge effect on the outcome of the game. What's worse, the actual hit didn't have any effect on Smith's pass (although it wasn't late) and Smith wasn't hurt.
Hats off to Smith though, he deserves the Heisman and OSU definitely deserves to go to AZ. Michigan does too, IMO over USC, ARK, FL and certainly ND.
Penn State fan here: Great game by two tremendous teams. They are the two best teams in the country and college football fans deserve a rematch.
Replay of the game is on ESPN Classic.
Great game guys, no rematch however. No Michigan fan worth his salt wants a rematch - we didn't get rematches in the 90's when you guys ruined our NC hopes. Deep down inside, you guys know that if you won that you wouldn't want a rematch. I'm doing my best to bite my tongue in regards to Mike Hart - he gets a pass due to the circumstances. It was not only what he said, it was the way he said it. He could've done a better job of lobbying for a rematch.
Great season guys, great rivalry, great game, RIP Bo, see you guys in 365 in the Big House....oh snap, it just hit me, Troy Smith gradutes and will not be there. Back to Krenzel/Tresselball...lol.
Go Bucks!
Oh yeah, sorry about the field conditions, we've had to deal with that crap all year. Next time you're in town we'll have field turf.
The camera pans to the crowd after the first touchdown and there is a Buckeye fan surrounded by Michigan fans and they are just jobbing the guy, screaming at the back of his head...pretty hilarious. Got I love this rivarly.
While yesterday was upsetting as a Wolverine fan, I am fine with what happened knowing the following...
This game was not Big Ten football the way that Bo and Woody conceived it. The Troy Smith-type offense is a gimmick cooked-up by Jim Tressel 3 years ago because Ohio State could not beat Michigan with a run-based offense. Michigan and Lloyd Carr have stayed true to the Pro-style-pocket QB, establish-the-run philosophy that Bo and Woody invented. This is why Jim Tressel is an infidel. Additionally, he turned his back to Maurice Clarett something that Lloyd Carr and Michigan would never do to a player if in trouble.
This is what makes me proud of Michigan and Lloyd Carr in spite of the loss. Troy Smith was the deciding factor and Ohio State will not be able to count an athlete like Troy Smith being at the QB spot every year. It is a freak occurrence, maybe once in every 10 years in even the best programs (e.g. Charles Woodson, Reggie Bush, etc.).
I guess the 9 new starters this year showed their inexperience; although I thought they played pretty good considering just how good the Michigan offense is and the bad positions that the turnover put them in.
Manningham is a freak, what a great receiver.
Overall the biggest shock to me was that the Michigan defense gave up 42 points and over 500 yards of offense, and we had to earn every bit of it, no short fields, no turnovers, no kick returns, just straight up drives. That was shocking.
Great Game - Classic - see you in 365!
cpdz,
You can't live in the past forever; I don't see anything wrong with the OSU offense, and if I remember correctly, we beat you guys in 2002 without the spread offense. Tressel puts his guys in the the best schemes to win and he adapts his game plan to the talent he has, which I think is why he is a better coach.
Another note on the field; some people said it was "obviously muddy" as somebody who was on the field, that is just not the case. It was not muddy, but it definitely gave more than I would like as a bandsman, but really, I was surprised how good it actually was. Unfortunately we'll probably have FieldTurf(R) next year. Tressel wants it so we'll have the Ohio HS Championships in the 'Shoe... that might hurt your recruiting a bit. :)
On the Notre Dame business. I understand Barton's sentiment. It is how I feel. We beat them last year with essentially the same team. Screw those guys, they don't deserve to share the field with Ohio State or Michigan.
Let's be totally honest here, OSU completely dominated the first half going up 28-14 at the half and Michigan had absolutely no answer for the OSU offense. Everyone knew our 9 new starters on defense would be suspect and that they would yield some yardage.
In the second half, you guys made some great adjustments and disrupted the offense a little. But make no mistake about it, the only thing that stopped OSU all day was OSU; the turnovers were huge.
when it was 21-7at 6:11 in the 2nd quarter I thought for sure it was going to be a rout, hats off to you guys for not packing it in and continuing to fight and battle back.
As I have said before a couple of times, great game.
That game was not nearly as close as the score indicated. It was like ND-OSU Fiesta Bowl last year: if Zbikowski's fumble return had counted, it would have been a tie game late in the 4th despite the fact that OSU had been dominating ND all day. UM was outmatched yesterday, and it was fairly clear. As an ND fan, though, I am NOT saying ND should be ahead of Michigan in the chase for 2nd. That would not be fair. They should, though, not be ahead of USC, Florida, or Arkansas.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I think the turnovers in this game helped make it a lot closer than it should've been, much like the turnovers and freak plays Michigan had against ND.
I didn't know our starting center was playing with a broken hand - those two bum snaps were huge.
gjgerson,
Study your history. Michigan owned Ohio State in the John Cooper years.
The past is what makes Big Ten football great. This is why it is frequently considered a heavyweight conference, if not the elite conference year in and year out. That philosophy breeds better pro talent, which in turn generates better recruiting. Ask yourself, how is Mike Vick working out in the pros? Troy Smith isn't going to make it, this is why he will not be selected high in the draft despite winning the Heisman...b/c the NFL recognizes that the Mike Vick style doesn't work. Then ask yourself, how is Tom Brady working out in the pros? Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl. Tressel is not innovative, he was desperate and got gimmicky. Enough said.
Bo and Woody would object to the OSU offense, they would not consider it Big Ten football.
Today, I am proud of my Wolverines. They endured the finest half of offensive college football ever seen to claw back into the game of games. After that game, I was proud. Sad, but proud. I truly expected that such a war would elevate the rivalry for a moment in time, and I would see Buckeye fan shake his head in wonder and extend his hand, saying, “Great game. What a battle!”
No, except for the occasional outlier, I was regaled with “You suck!” and “F*#k Michigan!” and “Tressel owns you!”
During the game there almost emerged a small sampling of class as they saw how a fan should behave; a Michigan fan doesn’t boo the opposing band, but applauds them; a Michigan fan acknowledges a great offense and a great coach and a great quarterback. But the tentative handshakes and mumbled, “Good game” was a delicate façade only held in place by the nerve-wracking victory. By the time the achievement sank in, “Ann Arbor is a whore!” soon bubbled up. Beneath that veneer of civility at the end of the game lurked a city-burning monster ready to break laws and teeth over a “roughing the center” call.
The root of it all is that Buckeye fan hates – HATES – the University of Michigan with a visceral burning that endures no matter what the outcome, what the effort on the field. To spit and throw crap and put profane T-shirts on infants is a natural expression of that hate. Michigan is incapable in their eyes of ever drawing a single worthwhile breath. Only Buckeye fan would seriously send me e-mails Friday saying: “What do you call it when a Michigan coach dies? A good start.”
Such classless hatred, even see on their blogs, defines the trash that is Buckeye fan. They wonder why the sports media gives them no respect as a team. It’s not the team, stupid, it’s the utter worthlessness of its fans. Who could possibly embrace such people?
What is ironic is that the Ohio State program itself exudes class. Tressel is class, and his players follow suit. The band is class. The traditions – Script Ohio, the songs, the history – are all classy. The only thing entirely devoid of class is the trash that is their fans.
I apologize to those Buckeye fans who are good people and classy themselves. There are many. Unfortunately, they are outnumbered.
Keep your Buckeyes. It is sad that winning program performs for losers.
I could give a sh** about the NFL. As Bo said, this is the only team you will ever play for, you will never play for another team, you'll play for a contract, an advertising deal, etc., but you will never ever play for a team again. I couldn't care less about the NFL and the overpaid, overrated players. But since you brought up the NFL, didn't we put 9 guys into the NFL last year, and don't we annually put top talent in the NFL?? Okay, so you've got Brady to hang your hat on, big deal, and do you really think he won all of those superbowls on his own?
Bo and Woddy probably won't care about the NFL now as much as they did back then.
I heard the overall experience in Columbus was much better this year in Columbus. I hope that was the case. As bitter as the rivalry is and as big as it is, there is bound to be some highlights and lowlights, hopefully the highlights have started to out weight lowlights in terms of class and the fans. I love the banter and I love the rivalry, but I hate to see a lack of class by either side.
The helmet-to-helmet "controversy" is overrated. We were gifted with two unforced turnovers and a heads-up play by Branch got a rare INT from Smith.
I am absolutely livid that we could not capitalize on those mistakes. Better tackling would have made all the difference. Don't complain about a penalty or the field... we f***ing blew it. I need a drink.
Brad, I don't see anyone from the Michigan band complaining about the 'give' in the turf...
heh heh. ;)
gjgerson,
What you, and buckeyes in general, don't seem to get is that yes Bo and Woody do care about what their players do after they leave school...whether that be the NFL, job, coaching, or life in general. They want them to make their schools proud.
Tressel's gimmick is based upon the exploitation of ungodly athletic skills that few possess. Troy Smith will be eaten alive in the NFL and in life because we all know that such skills do not last.
Bo, Woody and Lloyd's philosophy is based upon hard work, consistency and character. These are lasting attributes.
I not saying that a Buckeye hasn't made it before, I am saying that Troy Smith will not. Then what is he going to do after the 1 skill he had won't carry him anymore? His OSU degree certainly won't get him anywhere, if he even ends up getting one, and Tressel could care less b/c he can't win games for him anymore (Right, Maurice?)
cpdz,
The more I think about your comments the more irritated I am getting; you make it sound like Ohio State is running a Hawaii style offense; in watching the replay, both of the big runs by Wells and Pittman were from the I formation, nothing fancy. I just don't see what's wrong with a spread offense???
The more and more I listen to you, the more and more it is starting to sound like excuses.
Both offenses were much better than advertised. Thank goodness Troy Smith is out of eligibility. He's a heck of a player and deserves the Heisman. His offensive line was also better than expected.
Both defenses were worse than advertised. Paging Ronald Johnson ... Lloyd really needs to recruit some better DBs -- not just corners, either, the safety play was ESPECIALLY atrocious. Guys taking horrible angles, tripping over each other, missing tackles, etc. And there was way too much Chris Graham. Ugh.
Nice defensive adjustments in the 2nd half, but it was too little, too late. OSU on offense in the 1st half was an absolute clinic.
Michigan really needed a touchdown after the Branch INT. If they do that and tie it up, I think things unfold differently. More points after the fumbles would have been nice, too. A couple drives there with frustrating play calling.
The field conditions were a factor, but you sure can't blame the result on the field. Were tOSU guys wearing different cleats or something? It was certainly frustrating to see Michigan DBs keep falling down in the end zone, leaving Hall and Robiskie open for easy pitch and catch TDs.
I think the call on Crable was legit. Bad time for a penalty, but you can't put the result solely on that play.
With the clock rules, I have no idea why the announcers didn't just say "game over" when Michigan didn't recover the onside kick. Or, for that matter, why Tressel didn't just take a knee -- they didn't need that first down.
Even as a Michigan fan, I think ABC overdid the salue to Bo.
A fantastic game, even with the result. I have mixed feelings about a rematch, but mostly think it's not going to happen and that's OK. USC isn't great, but after watching them beat Cal, I think they'll give tOSU as good a game as anybody. I don't think either SEC team is strong enough this year. There is no way Notre Dame gets in.
Last thought: I wonder if the result here will influence Jake Long, Alan Branch and some of other NFL-caliber juniors to come back for one more crack at the sweater vest?
Face it:
Tom Brady wins because he has always bought into the team concept taught at Michigan.
Troy Smith wins because his coach exploits his freak athletic talent that few have at the collegiate level.
Good luck in the Pros and in life, Troy. You will need it.
Dude, get a grip. Troy is one of the great stories in football and in life; you don't know what that guy has been through in his life. He's grown a lot and I have no doubt whatsoever that he will succeed in life, career, and sports. He's a leader, he has class, and there is no doubt about his work-ethic. He is no Mike Vick by the way, he is a pocket passer who can throw on the run just as good in the pocket.
By the way, Mike Vick is set for life with his millions. Troy will be too.
Right, because Troy Smith isn't going to be God Emperor of Ohio no matter what happens in the NFL. That guy could nail every married woman in the state and be hailed as a hero seeding the next generation of Buckeye warrior-poets. Dude... just let it go.
cpdz: stop posting flamebait.
Let's just agree to disagree - You think Tressel is a sellout and I think he makes the most of what he's got. I think if we had a better defense he would opt to go to a more "tradional" offensive scheme. You should know, he prefers to play Tresselball and hang his hat on defense and special teams; it just so happens we have the offensive weapons this year. I guess if you have a Ferrari and Mustang in the garage you should leave the Ferrari in the garage and drive the Mustang.
Either way, the offensive scheme has absolutely no bearing on whether or not a team is taught discipline and the belief in the "team" concept.
Basically what you are saying is that because OSU spreads the ball around and has a Ferrari to drive that they don't believe in the team concept.
Doesn't make sense to me.
Drew Henson finished his degree at UM while playing minor league basebell- case in point.
Arrington- of course people make mistakes, but the point is that I have confidence the Michigan Family will take care of him. The same cannot be said of the Ohio State family, and their 'screwed the next pooch that walks through the door' philosophy.
To clarify:
What I am saying is Tressel doesn't take care of the family.
Bo, Woody and Carr took care of the family.
That is all
Sad day for the Big Ten
hey DP, your sweeping characterization of the buckeye fan's blinding hatred of michigan sounds quite similar to what i've seen expressed from michigan fans toward ND on this blog.
claiming one group of fans is better than another seems pretty untenable--aren't the same claims of "we're better" that you are making precisely why so many here hate ND?
all us fans have that unseemly overly-emotional side to us, but it's ultimately just a game played by a bunch of kids for our (and their) enjoyment. it seems any fan who gets caught up in the emotion enough to make such broad, prejudicial statements about a group of individual people who happen to root for a certain team might ought take a step or two back to recall that this is just a game played for our entertainment. its a shame to see its disappointments lead to the such spiteful extremes.
not to metion it really just sounds like sour grapes.
Yeah, it's a sad day for the big ten when the two best team in the country are head and shoulders above the rest of the country and possibly playing each other in a rematch.
A truly sad day indeed - I think I'll go cry a river about the two best teams in the country being OSU and Michigan - Woody and Bo would be sick over this, truly sick.
I'm proud of the effort from Michigan.
cpdz-
Tressel is brilliant man with a great game play. The only problem with Smith is that he is short. (an overstated 6'1") Imagine if you could take the passing accuracy of Smith and combine it with the physique of Vince Young?
I understand that OSU fans want a coronation. I just think a rematch has the best potential for a great game. I don't think that college football is served best by a blowout.
What happens if Notre Dame beats USC in the Catholic bowl and plays OSU? Lets say that in the championship game Notre Dame, pushed forward by the passionate cheering of Laura Quinn and the luck of the Irish, wins a crazy game with passes bouncing off chests and refs doin' it Sun Belt style. If Michigan happens to pound its opponent in the Rose Bowl ( I can dream, right?), who will be number 1? The voters will probably remember the beating that Michigan gave Notre Dame.
Holy crap what a great game.
I think we are all disappointed in the defense, I am thinking for whatever reason they played their worse game at the absolute worst time. Bad angles, missed tackles all over the place.
The field was atrocious, I saw a divit come up when a punt hit the turf for crissakes. But both teams had to play on it, so that one is a wash.
I knew d-secondary depth was weak this year and OSU had plenty of receivers, but I believed the D-Line would put pressure on Smith and with a few exceptions they really didn't. That was the key to the game. M needs a speed upgrade back there for sure, I think the time for Steve Brown to get a starting nod at safety may be next fall. Hall - very disappointing effort yesterday, he didn't make any plays, missed some tackles too - very un-Hall like. Hall will need a strong bowl game to lift his draft status back up.
Rumors I heard before the game from a person I feel is pretty damn reliable were that Boone missed time not mainly due to an injury but because he tested positive for "something" and Pittman will be going pro after this year, largely due to grades.
The Crable call - was the right call. I don't think it was intentional, but helmet to helmet at that velocity has to be called.
The pick play to Robiskie for the first TD - I didn't see it, I was slamming a shot back at the bar.
The roughing the center call appeared to be B.S.
The PI late on OSU was a good call. Grabbing the hand and never looking back for the ball is going to get a flag there just about every time.
Rematch - I just don't know. I would just as soon let Florida or USC take their shot at OSU.
One for the ages and Go Blue.
After watching the game for a second time I really believe that the 3 turnovers and the PI on 4th and 16 with less than 3 minutes left were the differnce in this being a closely scored game and a 10-17 point victory.
Still depressed nearly a day later. OSU was clearly the better team. If a genie gave you ONE of three stats the day before:
1) Mike Hart rushes for 3TDs
2) Offense scores 39 pts
3) We are +3 in turnovers
Admit it, 90% of us would go place a monster wager on the game.
Tressel's coaching staff has killed us every year - they know exactly what to exploit. Ironically, it was English's much hyped defense that let us down. We couldn't adjust fast enough in the first half and that's where the game was lost. I thought our offense and playcalling was great.
I'm still proud of the team, they battled and fought back, but I still think we'd lose in a rematch.
As for the field, yeah it sucked. But I didn't see their players slipping and sliding all over the place on critical plays. (How many 3rd downs did Manningham slip on? At least 2 TDs were Trent or some other poor DB slipping - ugh) If anyone is to blame, it's our equipment manager who selected the cleats!
The only Michigan fan I see around here that's "crying" is cdpz, I don't really think there's been any shortage of giving credit where it's due. So chill out man.
I want to say one thing, on the Crable hit. I will fully recognize that it was a helmet to helmet hit, and that by the rules it's a penalty because the rules are in place to protect the QB. But the rule as it stands now has driven me crazy for years, not just in college but the NFL. It wasn't like Crable was trying to take Smith's head off with a cheap hit, it was incidental because they were playing fast and out of the pocket. It's a shame that a flukey hit like that (no matter how legit the call) effects the outcome of the game. I'd feel the same way if OSU had been nailed with that call, but will admit that I'd probably saying things like "it's about time we got a call!" I think an easy fix is to elminiate penalties on helmet to helmet hits to the QB when he's out of the pocket as Smith was.
Also, I don't understand all the OSU fans being completely dismissive of the turnovers. Look, we can all piss and moan all we want, but the fact remains YOU TURNED IT OVER, I know that we didn't win the game in spite of that. You can't argue that they wouldn't happen again, and thus would blow us out. I don't think that you're likely to break off 3 HUGE TD runs on us again, so why can't we dismiss that? I also don't think that you're likely to put up like 340 yards in one half against us again. But the fact remains that all those things DID happen, and DID contribute to the outcome of the game. So put a damn sock in it, please.
But I want to say, I'm not whining and crying. OSU won that game fair and square. They were the better team last night. I have a lot of respect for their team, and was treated nicely by the fans. I actually had a blast at the game.
Amen, Jerry Green.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs...RTS08/
611190321
JasonBuckeye-
OSU won fair and square. I think that Michigan is the second best team in the country. Typically, "homefield advantage" is considered to be worth between 3 and 7 points. I didn't have the privilege of attending, but it seemed that the Buckeye fans did a great job at providing that homefield noise factor.
Why not a rematch in a neutral site with a field in excellent condition? I think it would be the best possible game on Jan 8th. OSU might very well win again.
Yes, the field affected both teams. I believe that a top notch program should have excellent facilities. I think that JT would agree with me. Unfortunately, the politics at OSU are such that a change to fieldturf is unlikely. Sooner or later, that grass will cost OSU a game. Maybe that will be the impetus for the change.
Regarding the comments that ESPN/ABC are doing whatever it takes to get the matchup they want by endorsing Michigan...the BCS games except the Rose Bowl are on FOX this year. ABC will draw higher ratings with Michigan vs. whovever (except Boise State) for the Rose Bowl than the national championship game. It would be bad for them to have a rematch.
So no, they are not trying to manipulate a rematch with their punditry.
Statistics, anecdotes and bad turf aside, the larger issue here is differing philosophies.
By all means the better team won yesterday, but it was for the wrong reasons. No bitching, whining or excuses. I am not arguing that it was a bad gameplan for 3 years, it was brilliant and worked. It even forced UM to go more to the air. I am just saying that I don't believe in it. I would say the same thing about UM if it were the UM offense featuring Antonio Bass in a Troy Smith-type role.
davev....I don't want a rematch (of course)...but I think you would have a great chance....I think if USC or 1 of the SEC teams gets through with 1 loss, we will get them, However, if not, it will be you guys again no matter what I want. Iguess you earned it, but you really didn't you know...weird year. anyway, great game, my post was more for people flamining like cp. I agree you guys are #2 (and would like to see us knock of Fl, and you guys knock off USC so we can finish that way)...but my gut tell s me as much as I scream, a rematch is coming
Has anyone pointed out what a head case Troy Smith is? He played exceptionally well but as soon as he threw the interception -- which was not even his fault -- the quality of his play dropped dramatically. I was very surprised to see that.
Crable's helmet to helmet: Good Call
The pass interference: Good Call
The roughing the center: Good Call
If you have played the game or watched how QB's are protected you know that it was the right call. The Safety did not make a play on the ball and interfered with the WR's ability to make a catch. One of the first things you are taught when you are on punt return is to not touch the center, dumb play by a young OSU player. THe PI and center roughing didn't hurt the outcome for you guys so I wouldn't complain. UM fans, the Helmet to helmet was an excellent call and we all know it.
1. Troy Smith has already recieved his bacholors
2. Troy Smith is the next Donovan Mcnabb...he will be just fine in the NFL....no one reads a D like him, he gets everyone involved, and he is very athletic with a strong arm....believe what you want, but he is going rd. 1....and he is going to be real good I think
Well the bucks won the game, great gameplan and an awesome game by Smith, wonderful game preperation by JT.
The worrying aspect is that JT seems to gameplan much better than LC and that whatever changes LC is making is a lettle too late in the day.
We were the better team in 04 but they nailed us. Last year the roles were reversed and yet let lost. It just goes to prove that in a big game against equal foes LC's plans have been quite inadequate to say the least.
ND was different because they still are a step behind us in talent.YOu can say that Smith is the greatest QB ever to play football for the bucks but where was our gameplan to contain him, we almost did nothing to stop him excpet on a few plays. I guess our D is better than 190 some yards on ground and 300+ yards in air.
I don't know, either we are in a stretch in this rivalry where the bucks are with their best coach ever and that we are going to get beat or our coaching is still not up there. BOth cases are not good.
Great season, hope the seniors win the Rose bowl or whereever we are going and go out with a just reward for their efforts. They deserve it for being 11-1.
Go Blue!
Finally a decent post from cpdz; I can respect your opinion. I thought the defensive play was a little lack luster on both sides, but I have to admit the offenses were fun to watch. I have absolutely no problem with the spread attack and throwing the ball; the day I start having a problem is the day we start to see a Hawaii style offense, which will never happen. OSU has an unbelievable receiving corps and an absolute stud quarterback; that being the case you've got to throw the ball. Ironically, it might have been the 178 yards the Michigan defense gave up on the ground that was the undoing.
It would be a pity if we get beat in the bowl game and the seniors go out without ever tasting bowl success.
Bowl games. Personally, I don't want to see a rematch, for obvious reasons, it tarnishes the rivalry, who wants to play a conference foe in a bowl game, no team that doesn't win their conference should get a shot at the NC, and most importantly, I would rather see OSU, Mich, and Wisky all go play the best teams from other conferences and win, thus represting the Big Ten.
This is the 27 UM/OSU game I can remember seeing. Now we can try to breakdown what happened, what could have been done differently. But really, you can't gameplan for Troy Smith. They tried, they hit him hard, over and over again. He got up and made plays. We'll probably never see a player like him in another 27 years. The offense put up 39 points. The effort was there, the gameplan was good. UM even got some turnovers. Bottom line is this, Tressel is 2-1 against UM. The Navarre debacle was his first win. The last three were not Tressel. They were Troy Smith. Any other QB in DI plays that game, UM wins. Same for the last couple of years. Glad to see him go. We can quibble about the small stuff, UM put up a great effort, they fell a little short.
Here are the resumes for who is fighting for #2 in the BCS:
11-1,wins over #19 (#19 now), #21(now unranked), #17 (#22 now), assuming a win over #6, lost to unranked team by 3 away
11-1, wins over #2 (#6 now), unranked at the time(now #8), lost to #1 by 3 away
12-1, wins over #13 (now #21),#9 (now #8), assuming win over #5, lost to #11 (now #13) away
12-1, wins over #2 (now #13), #13 (now #21), assuming wins over #9 and #4, lost to #6 (now #2) at home
11-1 wins over unranked (now #15) #19 (now unranked), assuming win over #4, lost to #11 (now #3) at home.
The way I see it, Michigan has probably the second weakest resume of wins (other than ND), but losing to #1 away by 3 is by far the "best" loss. USC has a bunch of wins over teams in the teens, but has by far the "worst" loss - you can't lose to an unranked team and play for the NC. The potential SEC champ has played the toughest schedule, has more good wins and have reasonably "good" losses,though both were at home.
Who deserves a trip to Glendale,assuming they all have one-loss? 1) SEC champ (Arkansas ahead of Florida). 2) Michigan, 3) USC 4) ND
I'm sick of USC and wouldn't mind having a shot at them in Pasadena if Ark or Fla win out.
Go Blue
Also, is anyone else just a little disappointed that Columbus didn't burn down last night?
To cpdz:
Another UM fan telling you to quit your bleating. You're embarassing the rest of us. The Voice of God has already come down and spoken to you in the thread. Take the hint.
As for all this OSU bs about how Michigan was gifted by the turnovers, that's just ridiculous. If you get to say that you would normally have not given up the turnovers, then I get to to say we would never have missed the two tackles on run plays (meaning Michigan wins by 11). Or if you get to claim that your exceptional first half was proof of your dominance, I can argue that our 25-11 "win" in the second half was equally dominant - it's not like you guys were shutting down the office at that point. It's lunacy. The fact is that it was an incredibly tight game of two very closely-matched teams and I think it could have gone either way.
Still depressed nearly a day later. OSU was clearly the better team. If a genie gave you ONE of three stats the day before:
To Chris C., who said:
> 1) Mike Hart rushes for 3TDs
> 2) Offense scores 39 pts
> 3) We are +3 in turnovers
>
> Admit it, 90% of us would go place a monster wager on the game.
You would have won that wager. The spread, if I recall, was Michigan +7.
@Brian: I know you don't like to moderate this thread, but I have a feeling the noise is starting to dominate the signal.
I'm sure M can stop the spread offense, but the defense did not have a good game plan (plus there are blown assignments and missed tackles). Saying that OSU won because they did not play a "pure" Big Ten game is bullshit.
And, OSU fans can stop bitching about how UM fans are bitching now. You guys bitched a lot in 96. "We are the better team; we lost because our best cover corner (ever) slipped." Yeah, sure.
I don't mind UM fans complaining about the defensive gameplan, missed offensive opportunities, etc. But no complaining about the officiating, please. The refs did not blow this game; the two long runs did. The Buckeyes won this one fair and square, but it was close.
Three turnovers: Yeah, the center has a broken hand, so what? Willis Barringer got hurt during the game, and Michigan had to use Chris Graham as (basically) a safety and gave up at least two TDs because of blown secondary assignments. The two teams are NOT separated by more than one TDs. Still, no rematch. Please. I will be embarassed to see a rematch if at least one of USC, Florida, or Arkansas is undefeated. No telling what I'm going to do if OSU has to play ND. (Well, actually I'll be laughing so hard I may die. What a great joke that would be.)
re: rematch
the goal of the bcs is to pit the top 2 teams in the championship game. clearly those 2 teams are osu and um. you can what-if all day about the particulars of the game, but at the end of the day it was a 3-point margin of victory, which as many have pointed out here is a number that the wiseguys would normally attribute to home field advantage. bottom line, these teams are as evenly matched as they come and a rematch on a neutral field could go either way.
however ...
one of the great appeals for this game was that it served as a de-facto semi-final for the NC -- as close as we're going to get to a playoff that so many have clamored for in d-1a college football. one of the realities of a playoff system is that the better team doesn't always win. any tigers fans in the house truly believe that the cardinals were the best team in baseball this year? probably not, but the fact is that they won, and to the victor go the spoils. after a day of pondering, my feelings on a rematch scenario are similar. um might be more deserving than any other team to oppose osu in glendale ... just as osu might have been more deserving than any other team had the outcome been reversed. however in a playoff-type setting, you get your shot and have to live with the results. um had their chance, played their guts out, and came up short. in my mind, that's where the story should end.
Screw a rematch. I'd rather see Michigan win the Rose, the Bucks win the Fiesta, and all that money and pretty hardware come home to the heart of Big Ten country where it belongs.
Go Bucks.
"No telling what I'm going to do if OSU has to play ND. (Well, actually I'll be laughing so hard I may die. What a great joke that would be.)"
No kidding. Do you think we could top the 617 we put up on them last season? Probably not, since CHARLIE WEIS WILL DOMINATE ANYONE IF HE HAS 6 WEEKS TO GAMEPLAN HE'S THE BEST COACH OF ALL TIME WOOO BEAT ARMY.
Not sure if anyone posted it yet or if we're supposed to assume that everyone's already seen it, but here's this week's Coaches' Poll courtesy of espn.com:
Week 13 USA Today Poll
1. Ohio State (63) 12-0 1,575
2. USC 9-1 1,444
3. Michigan 11-1 1,428
4. Florida 10-1 1,407
5. Arkansas 10-1 1,302
6. Notre Dame 10-1 1,285
A great place to find out everything you ever wanted to know about DETROIT AND MICHIGAN
Wow, how about them writers? .. Michigan is still #2 in the AP Poll (No #1 vote this week though.*)
1. Ohio State (65) 12-0 1,625
2. Michigan 11-1 1,502
3. USC 9-1 1,493
4. Florida 10-1 1,451
5. Arkansas 10-1 1,365
6. Notre Dame 10-1 1,307
* Just kidding, Buckeye fans.
Sinner- point is I don't think Jim Tressel is doing Troy Smith any favors by featuring him in a superstar-based offense. Superstar college QBs don't make it in the NFL, old reliable does. All the OSU fans opinions aside, I know he doesn't have it...NFL scouts know he doesn't have it...and that will show on draft day. Tressels gimmick worked here, but next year it is back to the drawing board sans Smith.
The only thing to be embarassed about was all the throwing that went on yesterday. I don't blame Lloyd or Debord, they had to do it to compete.
My gosh, let it go. Jim Tressel is doing Troy Smith a giant favor. He'll be remembered as the best Buckeye QB ever. There's a reason why he wasn't recruited heavily coming out of high school: he's not a great conventional QB recruit. If you are embarassed seeing a coach squeezing every ounce of ability from his best player, I don't know what else to say.
Oh stop all of the damned whining and crying...Ohio State was the better team. It ain't the coaches fault, it wasn't the play calling and there wasn't any critical/pivitol moment where you can say...see, that guy or that thing is the blame...Michigan, a very good team, was beaten by an even better team. That's all there is to it.
(I don't think OSU should have to face them in a rematch but if they did I'd put my money on Michigan second time around)
cpdz:
>> I don't think Jim Tressel is doing Troy Smith any favors by featuring him in a superstar-based offense. Superstar college QBs don't make it in the NFL, old reliable does.
Yeah, featuring a superstar in a superstar-based offense is a terrible idea. The guy single-handedly destroyed us. I am extremely happy your blithering idiocy has no bearing on the coaching decisions of the Michigan staff.
Asst. Coach: "Lloyd, this Manningham fella sure can run and catch!"
Lloyd Carr: "Well, better not throw to him, then! We wouldn't want to make him a superstar and, you know, actually win!"
You're a joke. Let it go.
Okay, Buckeye fans, I plead with you. Stop responding to cpdz. I think that if you've read the comment thread, then you understand that his comments DO NOT ECHO the comments of most UM fans. You know, I think we get it that SoJ doesn't echo the OSU fan base, this guy is clearly our SoJ (without the ridiculous spelling errors). So let him fade away, please, I'm getting dumber by reading all this. Stop acting like he's representing the whole fan base, he's whining and being a sore loser and we all recognize that. He's probably 105 years old and hates the forward pass, ect ect.
Matt K - For what it's worth, and in case it's not clear, I'm a U-M alum and fan. Just want to make sure that's clear. That said, I agree with you. OSU fans, ignore cpdz. There's pretty much a consensus about cpdz - hell, even Brian has told him to shut up.
Matt K - For what it's worth, and in case it's not clear, I'm a U-M alum and fan. Just want to make sure that's clear. That said, I agree with you. OSU fans, ignore cpdz. There's pretty much a consensus about cpdz - hell, even Brian has told him to shut up.
A great place to find out everything you ever wanted to know about DETROIT AND MICHIGAN v
I am sure Troy will thank Tressel after his 2 year stink in the NFL is over, although I know Troy doesn't realize he is set up to fail.
Bitch, whine and quote all the stats you want, there is something larger going on here.
I know this is late in the thread but...
Jorel- It's not our common hatred for ND that we all share, it is our common hatred for YOU that we share.
Quit bitching about the jack-ass comments from Hart when Kirk Barton from OSU is making his own jack-ass statements.
OSU won, they are great, we are still a good team, Lloyd is a good guy...... enough said.
Just lamenting the death of Big Ten football as we know it.
Funny watching the comments as the game was over. Michigan was "jobbed" on a clearly helmet to helmet hit (can you say "roughing the center"?)
Ohio State had 3 turnovers or it wouldn't have been close. Like Lloyd said after the game, "we lost to a better team."
Lloyd went 5-1 against Ohio State to start his career, with a national title, and has won 10 straight games this season, yet many of you still want him fired. Too funny.
No rematch. You had your chance.
Go Bucks!
WE NEED ROJO!!!
Does anyone know where I can learn more about Detroit and Michigan?
It's pathetic to remind anyone claiming Meatchicken was set back by the field conditions that Ohio State played on the same field, but apparently it needs to be done.
On behalf of all Ohio State fans, I apologize for not knowing Meatchicken needed such pristine conditions to put on an adequate performance.
What will be next year's excuse? Meatchicken ran out of Massengil in the locker room?
A great place to find out everything you ever wanted to know about DETROIT AND MICHIGAN ,,'[
I just don't think you guys realize the consequences of your actions. You bitch on this site all season about 'DeBord needs to pass more' and 'I am sick of Michigan run-run-pass-kick 4 down philosophy', but the Big Ten has been very successful at developing great players through Bo-Woody grind it out football.
Brian - although your analysis is nothing short of brilliant, you are just as guilty as the rest of them for yesterdays slugfest.
"COME SEE THE INCREDIBLE "FORWARD PASS"! MARVEL AT THE FAR EASTERN WONDER!"
What happened to the good old days of 40-50 rush attempts, 300 yard games, and torn jerseys with the names 'Biakabutuka', 'George', and 'Dayne' on them.
BRUTUS: Don't worry, we'll share our list of potential excuses with your team (and its fanbase) after they lose next year's game at the Schem.
We're officially #2 in the BCS. I know it won't hold if USC beats Notre Dame, and that would be right. But looking at the numbers, a ND win over USC should probably gaurantee the rematch. Holy shit. This is going to be a stressful month, and it's f-ing going to cost me more money on the bowl trip because I can't book my damn tickets for another 3 weeks.
Ok, what the fuck... Michigan is still #2 in the BCS. On the front page of ESPN:
"Can you say Michigan-Ohio State II? The Wolverines, despite Saturday's 42-39 loss in Columbus, remained No. 2 in the latest BCS standings -- a mere .075 ahead of No. 3 USC."
I don't know what to say. I wouldn't mind Michigan getting another shot at Ohio State, but it'd just salt our wounds even more if we don't figure out how to stop Troy Smith. And the argument that another team deserves a shot at Ohio State is very much true. But at the same time, you can't really say that Michigan isn't the #2 team in the nation. It depends on what USC shows in the next couple of weeks..
I don't know what to think. If I wanted this to happen, I would root for Notre Dame to beat USC.. but that's anathema to me. Because as much as I don't really like Pete Carroll, I think Notre Dame is an overhyped team. But if their win means that USC doesn't challenge Michigan for #2, then I would be for it as no voter in his own mind would put Notre Dame over Michigan. Florida could do it if they shut out Florida State and come up with a convincing win over Arkansas. But at this point, are they really the second best team in the nation?
I have no idea whether Michigan deserves a second shot at Ohio State. My first instinct is to say, we had our shot and we came up short. And if we win, well... we're 1-1 against Ohio State this year, the BCS will implode because it was designed partly to prevent the Florida-Florida State matchups that happened in 1996, and we'd probably have to split yet another NC... which is exactly what the BCS means to prevent. And if we come up short TWICE against Troy Smith State, I don't know if I could handle it. So right now I want to say NO to the rematch, but if it does happen in a freak occurence sort of way, pencil me in.
Could I have a bigger headache over all of this?
Could football rule my life more?
The answer seems to be no, but I am sure the headache will remain and I will continue to accomplish nothing until mid January.
First of all...my hats off to Michigan. The Wolverines truly are the #2 team in the nation. Rematch? Interesting thought...but out of our hands. My utmost respect to a game that had to be one of the grandest ever played. There were no losers here. Our rivalry only sealed in concrete the fact that the Big Ten is the best conference, and for now, OSU and MICHIGAN are the two best teams in college football. EITHER OSU or MICHIGAN would utterly destroy whatever other team would make the NC. Find pride in that, Bluebloods...this Buckeye fan has found a new attitude toward this rivalry...RESPECT.
Scarletblooder-
Why can't the rest of your buckeye fans be more like you? Thanks.
js wrote:
"BRUTUS: Don't worry, we'll share our list of potential excuses with your team (and its fanbase) after they lose next year's game at the Schem."
js must mean 'just shittin' because it's not going to happen. Tressel and his staff has Carr and his staff scrutinized, analyzed, dissected and BEAT.
Nah ... now I'm just shittin. MU had a better running game and more turnovers to capitalize on. But they got outplayed and out manuevered by Team Tressel. It just wasn't going to happen for MU this year. Next year, who knows? - but DAMN IT, DON'T CALL THE FIELD CONDITIONS AS A FACTOR IN MU'S LOSS - Ohio State had the exact same conditions to cope with. If you still insist field conditions were a factor than it's just another example of how OSU was better prepared.
I have the utmost respect for the Michigan program, what it stands for, and the vast majority of the fans. We are truly blessed to be a part of this rivalry, and especially in this era.
I've said it all along, I don't want to see a rematch because I really think that if USC beats ND convincingly that they deserve a shot. They've played a legit schedule OOC and only lost one game by 2-3 points. If they finish out strong and are playing their best ball at the end of their season, they deserve a shot.
cpdz,
You really need to take your beef up with SEC schools and the west coast offense. Tressel is not to fault for the sudden emergence of the spread offense - he didn't invent it. The South started it, whether they want to admit it or not. Say what you want, but the day Bear Bryant and Alabama got whipped by USC because they had faster black athelete was the day football in the south changed.
Brutus, we are UofM not MU, i don't know how the $#%& you came up with that or what stupid explanation you have for that. Also, you guys won period, and you are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings, enough said.
I am nobody to tell you what you have to do with your time, but please for god's sake post if you anything meaningful, else move on. This is our blog and we will do what we please, we don't need you to tell us what to do.
I just wanted to say thanks to Brian the rest of the guys here for all of your hard work and passion for Michigan - although I am a Buckeye to the bone, I enjoy visiting the site and keep up with the enemy.
Chill C.
I'm not telling you what to do. I'm not saying what you want to hear either.
I know what you want to hear: 'MU was robbed!' or 'Those dirty cheatin' buckeyes bribed the refs and stole the game!' or something like that.
MU lost. Don't fear the truth - embrace it. If Meatchicken swallows its pride and takes a good honest look at why they lost, their outlook for next year could only be better.
Brutus- say whatever you want, but when you say "MU" you might be referring to Missouri, Miami, or Montana, for all I know. The University of Michigan is not MU.
He says "MU" and I immediately think one of two things. 1) Media Union, because I'm a fantastic nerd and that's where I've spent most of my time in Ann Arbor, or 2) Michigan State for Moo U.
Neither of those things is really relevant, but I'm trying to avoid having to go to the MU, so I post these thoughts here.
If this asshole calls us "MU" one more time.....
'If this asshole calls us "MU" one more time..... NoNon | 11.19.06 - 6:13 pm | #'
... you'll do what? Yes, to be sooooooooooooo technical - MU could be Missouri, Miami, or Montana etc. Oh please forgive me.
Get a life you pathetic losers. See ya' next year!
BTW: This one's for you NoNon
OSU 42 MU 39
"Media Union" LOL MATT
I'm with Matt. I HATE North Campus.
Also, when people say Tosu has a better team, I think that's debatable. What we do know, however, is that Troy (who I don't understand why he looked like he was about to cry after the INT--what kind of leader gets down on his own team/doesn't stay optimistic?) was the difference maker, and does deserve the Heisman.
gjgerson,
that's great and all, but we are losing what makes the Big Ten and this rivalry great and I blame Tressel. I don't want a rematch solely on the basis of not wanting to watch another gunslinging shootout. Call me stubborn, old school or whatever...it just seems outright wrong.
I would like to think we develop talent in the Big Ten, not exploit it.
Brian,
If there is a rematch do you think English will stick with Graham on the slot and that soft zone. Or put some heat and play man or a tight zone. I'm sure we'll get it all on UFR but just wanted to maybe get your thoughts on the coverge and possible coverage if there is a rematch.
So what exactly did Mike Hart say? I saw on ESPN that he said the game would be different in a rematch. Wondering what everyone is so pissy about. Anyone have a link?
How do the BCS numbers look as far as USC/FLorida are concerned? It seems like if they both pick up quality wins (USC against ND and Florida in a conference championship) and strength of schedule boosts in the computer rankings they would take the lead in the BCS even if the voting stays the same. Though I would guess the voting margins get slimmer if anything as the weeks wear on and USC and Florida win out. Although if they lose (or at least USC loses) then the rematch seems pretty possible.
However, the benefit of a rematch for Michigan seems pretty slim to me.
Best case: we win, and win a somewhat tainted championship, and we go 50/50 with tOSU. Though it would make an awesome awesome story.
Worst case: we become the only team to ever lose to OSU twice in one season. ouch.
I fail to see how anyone can still argue Michigan is the better team. tOSU spotted them 10 points with turnovers (and no, the defense didn't force Datish to chuck the snap over Smith's head) and the refs spotted them at least 7 on the 2 very shady PI calls that led to touchdowns instead of a punt and turnover on downs, respectively.
Michigan was in control of this game for exactly 1 drive -- the first one of the game. Much like last year, Michigan was dominated thouroughly but managed to stick around due to Buckeye mistakes.
Who's the pathetic loser on Michigan blogs, messing up our schools name, (MU is not University of Michigan) then telling ME to get technical?
I'll tell you what, Brutus, if the University of Ohio State is truly the better team, then prove it on a neutral field in Glendale. What a fuck.
Has anyone thought of a Michigan-ND rematch if USC wins next Saturday?
Yeap. Get ready for it. I'm hoping for another FBD. Go Blue.
no offense, NoNon, but we just proved that we were the better team by playing your team and beating them. if you need a neutral field to determine who's better, what's the point of having any home games at all?
hell, in that case, let's just have every college football game played at a giant complex in canada with like 75 perfectly maintained fields with no fans to ensure total fairness.
basically, your team had it's shot at us and lost. no rematches just because you came close.
Haw. Guys get over it! We lost. Buckeyes won.
They had a special athlete at QB who made plays when they needed to irrespective of our consistent D-Line pressure. They tweaked their offense that took advantage of the only (relative) achilles heel of our Defense - Good corners.
I am proud of the defense. Proud of the way they played this year. I am sad... but Proud.
'I'll tell you what, Brutus, if the University of Ohio State is truly the better team, then prove it on a neutral field in Glendale. What a fuck. NoNon | 11.19.06 - 7:37 pm | #'
Would a neutral field in Glendale make a difference NoNon? Y'all would just have other pathetic excuses:
The grass was too wet ...
The grass was too dry ...
The sun was too bright ...
The sun was too dark ... (tee hee)
The refs were pulling for OSU ...
If it weren't for that one play then Meatchicken would have won ...
Troy Smith must have been cheating ...
Jim Tressel was wearing x-ray glasses and was reading the Meatchicken playbook ...
Mike Hart had IBS and wasn't at his best ...
Crable's applying a chainsaw to Troy Smith's helmet wasn't really a foul and it changed the whole tempo of the game...
The maid service at La Quinta Inn didn't leave mints on the pillows ...
The list could go on and on and on; much like pathetic bastards like you who will squirm and lie and deny - anything to avoid the ugly truth that you lost THE BIG GAME.
Meatchicken doesn't deserve another shot at OSU. It's time for another team in another conference to have their chance.
What an immature loser...everyone on this blog have done nothing but give OSU credit for their win - we have not made excuses, just observations that would have been nice if they had gone the other way.
And why not a rematch? Why would you not want to beat us twice? Scared of what would happen on a neutral field? A true #1 wouldn't be.
Grow the fuck up and stay off our post - we don't make excuses.
We gave you credit. Nice game, well played, now suck a cock and stay off our post. Geeze
I don't hear too many UM fans saying they should have a rematch. That is not up to us or you. It is out of everyones hands. So, to think we are whining for a rematch on neutral ground is crazy. But, homefield advantage is just that... an advantage. NOBODY is saying that is WHY osu won. A factor, maybe just like there are many other factors in a game.
I have heard many, many, many congrats to OSU. What more do you guys want?
Re: Hart, here's the link. I don't understand the uproar that's been caused. Mike is right. If there was a rematch it would be a different game. Why? Because our defense is probably not going to give up 2 long rushing TDs, and OSU isn't going to hand us 2 TOs (remember, the INT was caused by Michigan pressure). You can whine and moan about him being a sore loser and showing a lack of class and blah blah blah blah, but the fact of the matter is, he's telling the truth. He never guaranteed a Michigan victory, he just guaranteed "it would be a different game."
Re: Graham, from what I observed at the game, our first half game plan seemed to be predicated on being able to pressure with 4 or 5, and hope to capitalize on Smith mistakes if pressured and/or have availible men to contain scrambles. The second half we went away from that mixing blitzes and coverages quite effectively. I observed that for much of the second half we mixed and matched Hall and Trent in man coverage on Ginn and Gonzalez pretty consistently. In a rematch, I would seriously doubt we'd go back to using a linebacker to cover the slot reciever unless that was a matchup that favored us (like Graham or Harris or Burgess on a TE). But those are just my observations from the game, and I haven't watched a replay, so certainly UFR will tell the whole story.
And to GoBucksarglebargle, I don't disagree with you at all. But I think a person's stance on a rematch is based on one of two philosophies. The first of which being to value the regular season and the results of the games that have already been played, thus giving somebody else a shot at beating OSU. I think most people who have been commenting tend to take this stance. The second stance is that the purpose of the BCS and the National Title game is to put the best two teams on a neutral field and see who's the better team. Nobody will argue that Michigan isn't the second best team in the country, because they are. And I don't think there's conculsive proof that OSU would beat us on a neutral field. All the OSU fans want to say that they gifted us 2 TOs, but by that same standard, we gifted them 2 long TD runs. You guys can't have it both ways. The turnovers and the long runs happened and very much impacted the end result. You can't cherry pick and try to remove plays to prove your point, it doesn't work like that.
I actually believe in both of the positions I outlined above, and am sort of wrestling with the whole thing. I'm not in favor of a rematch because I don't want to travel down the slippery slope of not recognizing the outcomes of games that have already been played. But by the same token, I really believe that we're the second best team. So it's a weird situation. My only real interest in the whole thing is to see the BCS embarassed because I think it's a sham.
(Note: I'm not really interested in a big long playoff,
its amazing how many people have never heard of the roughing the center penalty before.
you know why its never called? no one is stupid enough to hit the center before he puts his head up. haven't you noticed how alot of long snappers are among one of the first people downfield on punt coverage?
errr... I got cutoff. Sorry about the length of the post.
My remaining point was about favoring a "plus one" format that would go a long ways toward eliminating the controversy that's going to exist at the end of this season (and in 2003).
"And why not a rematch? Why would you not want to beat us twice? Scared of what would happen on a neutral field? A true #1 wouldn't be."
oh, don't feed me that crap. a true #1 would want to prove itself against as many top flight teams as possible to show how dominant it is, not play the same team twice.
i don't buy into the argument that OSU and michigan are far and away better than everybody else; that kind of mentality almost handed miami the 2002 season BCS trophy... until we played the game. USC, arkansas, and florida have all shown that they've got some tough teams. let them prove it, instead of trying to take a mulligan on your loss.
like the-ozone.com said "Why should Ohio State have to beat Michigan twice for a national championship and Michigan only have to beat us once? They shouldn't. They can't be part of the equation."
"All the OSU fans want to say that they gifted us 2 TOs, but by that same standard, we gifted them 2 long TD runs. You guys can't have it both ways."
except we aren't having it both ways. two of the turnovers were caused entirely because of our error, not because of anything you did. the long runs that you gave up were a result of both teams. they carry more weight than a flukey bad snap.
I disagree vehemently. I'm not trying to tell you that OSU didn't play the better game or didn't deserve to win, because they did and they did. I'm saying that our failure to tackle Wells 2 yards deep on that huge run is as big of a mistake on our part as Datish's bad snap. They both resulted in points. They were both equally costly mistakes. If we were to play this game over 100 times, in the next 99, I think Wells gets stopped in the backfield and Datish doesn't eff up the snap. I have no way to prove what I just said, but you can't prove otherwise, so just cut it the fuck out, man. It's like everytime we made a mistake it was because of OSU's greatness and when OSU made a mistake it was because of its own ineptitude. That's having it both ways.
flukey bad snap a result, in large part, of that bush league football field.
pass the hat and get a new field.
Sorry, that was me above, for some reason it didn't re-enter my info when I commented.
And nobody's trying to take a mulligan. About 1% of the fans on this board are calling for a rematch because of the very reasons you outlined above. Stop trying to put words in our collective mouth. I'm starting to get really fucking frustrated with your bullshit because we're doing the right thing in collectively congratulating you and recognizing you as the better team yesterday. You just keep hammering us over things we're not actually saying. If you're gonna keep it up you should just go fuck yourself and save us all the time.
After years in the South, I had forgotten what true assholes the "fans" of The State University of Ohio at Columbus are. Guys, you won. You have a stud quarterback. Now will you go back to burning things?
Birmingham Bill~Speaking of the South the Bucks just signed a Troy Smith clone outta Georgia that coulda rocked your world if you had gotten off your arse an done some real recruiting. He's even a tougher "stud" than Smith.
There is a subtle difference between discussing a game (and trying to figure out why Michigan lost) and whining about the outcome. This is apparently just a little to subtle for OSU flamers.
The field did play a factor as it hurt Michigan more than it did OSU. The question is why and what can be learned so it doesn't happen again.
OSU busted two huge runs that cost Michigan the game. What happened that caused the breakdown.
Whining would be, "OMG, the field was terrible and OSU should have to forfeit because it was so unfair that their Ag department is a joke and WHAA WHAAAAAA WHAAAAAAA."
Like I said, subtle.
I'm also somewhat interested in the dilemma that the Coaches' Poll voters must be facing. Is the point of the poll to rank teams in terms of quality, in which case Michigan should undoubtedly be #2. Or should they be trying to select a team for the BCS Championship, in which case Michigan probably should be behind USC or Florida? Any thoughts?
I have a lot of admiration for UM's program, but not when they whine like Fighting Irish sissy-boys. All this braying about the personal foul on Crable is disgusting. I have never seen a personal foul call on a hit on a center; you got three turnovers, we got none; you got away with a 15-yard facemask penalty on Ginn; face facts, Blue: if we're playing the what-if game, what if OSU had not turned the ball over? BLOWOUT!!
I know I shouldn't ask, but "meatchicken"? What the fuck is that supposed to be?
Mike Hart, by the way, is right, the chance of the game unfolding like that way were tiny:
-Two giant rushing TD runs against Michigan
-Two highly improbable fumbles in OSU territory
-Some weird (though mostly correct) calls going either way at critical points
-A lot of bad tackling on both sides
So yeah, I bet it would be a really different game - and if you think you know who would win, you're wrong.
And of course Hart, after just coming off of a tough loss, wants another shot- wouldn't you? I'm sure now he's put it a little more into perspective and is thinking, no, maybe we don't deserve one. Not such a big deal.
Anyway, great game, and if we do have to play UM again, then screw it, bring it on. I happen to think we're better.
Go Buckeyes!
Not to feed the trolls, but does anybody know who exactly Meatchicken is supposed to be and why he is called that?
My guess is that "meatchicken" is supposed to be a clever(?) version of Michigan, except it's not particularly clever.
Bill in Birmingham:
Things were properly sane and joyous in C-Bus last night. I had a few beers with UM fans, as a matter of fact. Property was safe, commerce was hopping. Feel free to resume drinking out of your Ball jar and beating your wife upside her head. Thank you for your insipid comments. You may now resume following your increasingly-lackluster Bama team.
'I know I shouldn't ask, but "meatchicken"? What the fuck is that supposed to be? Dave | Homepage | 11.19.06 - 10:00 pm | #'
'Not to feed the trolls, but does anybody know who exactly Meatchicken is supposed to be and why he is called that? ruds | 11.19.06 - 10:02 pm | #'
You know what I mean. Don't feign stupidity. Please tell me you're feigning stupidity.
Yep, Spence, "properly sane" in C-Bus last night. It was a "pretty mild" night in the opinion of the police department with only dozens of fires, and 40 arrests.
I'm amazed at what passes for "properly sane" and "pretty mild" down there.
Seth,
Funny, but I didn't see you there.Were you there? Didn't think so. I was there, and it was very tame. Did I miss something? I guess you think instead of celebrating our biggest win in five years, we should be weeping for Bo. Or are the reports of 40 arrests at the biggest OSU-UM game unbelievably terriffiying for you? You're a fucking sissy.
I have been surfing the Buckeye blogs and have found two Buckeye fans.
The first is cool. Talking about a great game with a great rival that will go down in history.
The second, more common version of Buckfan is a bizarre bundle of joy, anger, inadequacy and a weird determination to transform the game into a blowout. Let's call this animal Brutal Buckeye. Sigmund Freud would have donated his time for a look inside Brutal Buckeye.
First, they are happy they won. Second the are angry that Michigan is still considered a good team and that people keep talking about a rematch. They are angry that anyone thinks the game was close. Then Brutal Buckeye loses it...these are actual quotes from fans at Buckeye Commentary:
"Michigan finished +3 in turnovers (two of them completely unforced) and was the beneficiary of 2 or 3 hilariously iffy penalties that led to points."
"...michigan was only in the game thanks to 3 turnovers."
"Is there any way we would ever turn the ball over three times in one half again? Two completely unforce errors with the fumbles and a tipped ball for an interception and they turned that into exactly 3 points. If they hadn't won the turnover battle 3 to 0 we cruise by 14 to 17."
"Can UM ever hope to get such a lopsided percentage of the close calls to go their way again?"
"WE WOULDN'T GIVE THEM THREE TURNOVERS WHICH MEANS WE'D BEAT THEM BY 28 OR MORE!"
"None of the turnovers were forced. If we were to rematch, Michigan would be lucky to relive such an uncharacteristic occurance."
Even that hack of a blog says the same thing: "We gift wrapped 2 unforced fumbles, and Michigan enjoyed a 3 to 0 turnover edge and still lost."
When leaving the stadium, I heard more than a couple people pissed - really pissed! - about some of the calls made during the game. Is that bizarre? Today, I would be so delighted that Michigan won I wouldn't care what happened.
Buckeye fan realizes they put up their best offensive performance ever on their home turf and eeked out a victory. One bounce on that onside kick and they probably lose.
I am not saying they were not the better team; they were. It is curious, though, that Brutal Buckeye needs badly for people to think this win was a blowout.
"Yep, Spence, "properly sane" in C-Bus last night. It was a "pretty mild" night in the opinion of the police department with only dozens of fires, and 40 arrests.
I'm amazed at what passes for "properly sane" and "pretty mild" down there."
There were over 200,000 people on campus yesterday, with estimtes going as high as half a million. I really don't think that 40 arrests could be classified as anything other than "mild," considering. Also, where did you get the fire count? Seriously, I haven't heard anything one way or another, I'd just like to know.
A Great place to find out anything about MICHIGAN AND DETROIT .,
I'm guessing that Seth looks like Bob Denver and is wearing a Buckstache T-shirt.
gobucks09: there was an article on espn.com....here is the link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/ne...tory?
id=2668167
The police said it was a "mild night" and the article says there were roughly "40 fires" set mostly on cars and furniture, although some were set pre-game.
And Spence: Am I a fucking sissy? I don't think so. I've been to some big wins before in several different sports, and I've yet to understand the rationale behind lighting things on fire, and breaking stuff in celebration. What ever happened to going out, getting shitfaced, and passing out? What is this fascination with rioting in celebration? Where you may have been standing may have been tame, but I'm commenting on something I read on ESPN (see above link), which said there were 40 arrests and fires.
If not feeling compelled to light things on fire after my team wins something makes me a sissy, then I guess you can call me a sissy.
By all accounts, it was quiet on campus. There was nothing in the paper about rioting on campus. Police in Ann Arbor, however, did respond to multiple calls from Seth and found him quivering in his closet, asking for protection from the "big, bad drunken Buckeye fans."
That was a hell of a game for both teams. I wasn't expecting a high scoring game like that. I was trying not to have a coronary in the final moments of the game. Michigan and Ohio State put everything they had in the game. Good job Michigan and Sorry for the loss of Bo.
There were about 400,000 people near campus yesterday, and 40 arrests. Wowee.
It was a great game, played on grass the way football is supposed to be played. Rematch? Being an avid OSU fan, no. Michigan is one great Team, but they did not win the Big 10. they lost to OSU. If there is a rematch and OSU looses they will have the same record and will have both beaten each other...Co-Champions would be fair. Let's face it, the BCS system doesn't work. Michigan has next year to settle the score, they had their shot this year. This rivalry is what football is about! You have to love it!
Seth and Spece,
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
You two make this totally miserable for ALL readers.
Interesting Spence...considering I'm in New York City, I wonder why I would have called the Ann Arbor Police Department.
And since even commenting about an arrest makes one a sissy, I have a feeling you'll be needing my representation soon enough, since I'm an attorney. I'll send you my card.
Yeah, congratulations about the whole "only" 40 arrests thing. You know how many arrests there would have been here?
...Zero. Way to go Buckeyes. You had fewer arrests than State might have had.
Allright cs, I'll shutup. Not my intention to continue this pissing match.
Why is a sports blog wasting space talking about arrests? Did these 'arrests' have any putcome of the game? Sour grapes!!!!
What is quite funny about all of this is how many Bucks are here in a MIchigan blog trying to hammer it in to Michigan guys that their team lost to OSU. And the best part is that they goout of the way to prove to us that it wasn't as close at the score actually seems to suggest.
Instead of enjoying a truly amazing victory by their team, which has resulted in an outright Big 10 champsionship and heisman for their QB who came up with an extraordinary performance, these guys want to come here and gloat. Bunch of sad mother#$%^ers
For all the bucks that have written something sensible, thanks for stopping by, great win and goodluck in the NC game. For all those who have written crap, #$%^ off.
Fellow wolverines, lets please ignore all the assholes that post nonsense.
Hey, guys. Just wanted to say I hate all of you. Thanks.
Brian, I'm sorry, but I think the people who asked me about my Worst State Ever shirt were Buckeye fans in disguise. My apologies for the excessive trafficking on here now...
The bowl situation could be up in the air for quite a while. I'm not so sure that USC - UCLA won't be a good one.
cs
Please don't tell me to shut up. Not nice.
I have a problem with this because I go out of my way to be pleasant to visiting fans. It is a point of emphasis with me. OSU has such a horrible reputation that I treat visiting fans as well as I can. I'm sorry that we have had this conversation, but it bugs me. I really try to treat visiting fans as if I am at their place, and then OSU fans are generally insulted. Some of us don't get credit for that. Fine. I go out of my way to sort of interview fans, and ask them if they were treated well, and if they were not, I personally apologize. I have personally apologized to about 25 Michigan fans in the last 24 hours. As a fan of OSU football, it is incredibly embarrassing to me. Most people here are not assholes and it distresses me to hear people say "Everyone in Columbus is an asshole."
The worst place, for me, is Wisconsin. But I don't cry. It's college football. We, as OSU fans, have been treated badly everywhere. That is just the way it is. I've been to UM four times, and have felt the sting of the hate. No problem.
This is a sore spot for me. Sorry to everyone I assaulted. Sorry, Seth.
I go out of my way to be buds with all B10 fans at the games.. But I've been abused at every venue, and that is a fact. It is across the board, and OSU is working on it.
Michigan is a great team and has some great players. Mike Hart is a great back and maybe a little upset about the loss. I can appreciate his frustration over losing but regardless when the team had its opportunity to take care of business it didn't. Michigan should represent the Big Ten well in the Rose Bowl and move on. To be rewarded for losing the most important game of their lives does not mean they should get another opportunity to do it again.
Still hurtin a full 24 hrs later. A few thoughts.
1. English really disappointed me with his strategy in the first half. i couldn't help feeling that OSU was going to score every time they touched the ball. i think all UM fans knew that our secondary was not up to the task before the game, but we didn't realize it was this bad. i'm not sure why OSU didn't bring out the same offensive strategy in 2nd half
2. Crable with a few bad plays. Gawd, he should've tackled Wells on his long TD run. His personal foul...definitely deserved it. Why would he do that? Why?
3. I'm sick of being in these games on the losing side. Anyone remember UM v. Texas a few years ago? Yea, great game to watch but we lost. I can't handle it any more.
4. People talk about the 3 OSU to's making the game closer than it should've been. Well, how bout UM giving up two 50 yd. TD runs...ummm, that's not typically going to happen. (Anyone see the ref get in the way of a UM player on that second TD run? Not saying our defender would've gotten Pittman, but it may of been close) Also, how bout semi-trick play for long TD pass to Ginn? Yea, you're not going to see that every day. So, in all I'd say it was odd on both sides of the ball.
5. Hall was mildly disappointing.
6. Hart was impressive. Wish we could've used him more.
7. Henne played a very very good game. Made a few dumb plays, but a few very good ones.
8. Arrington - very solid. Manningham - didn't show up like he could have.
9. i'm not giving up on Lloyd yet. I think Tressel owes much of his record vs. UM to Mr. Troy Smith. We'll see what happens next year.
10. some definite bad calls on both sides of the ball. didn't think it was PI on UM's last drive / roughing center was correct call / couple very bad spots by refs
11. field was ridiculous. yea, both teams played on it, but remember that OSU has played on it all year long. you sorta learn how to run on a field when you're used to it. i saw a lot more Michigan players slip than OSU guys.
12. rematch? i dunno. honestly, could you handle losing to OSU twice in the same year?
Jezus Christ...I gave Michigan props for playing a good game. I gave my respects for Bo and what he brought from Ohio to your state and you bastards still fucking trashed me. My only gripe is with the people bashing
1. The Ohio fans--Yeah were excited about OSU because we care and yeah some people do dumb shit but thats life and its a free country. Don't lecture about couch fires when you have a holiday called "Devils Night" and burn empty buildings all across Detroit.
2. Did Troy win Tressel a 2002 Natl Championship against the greatest team evar???
3. Its silly to go back and forth and butterfly effect the outcomes of the game. The plays were either made or not made and the outcome can't be changed so we should all accept this and move on with life. You guys impressed me and you fought hard like all Michigan teams do and thats what makes the rivalry so fucking special. 363 days to saddle back up and gain some redemption.....Good luck in the Rose Bowl (USC ain't losing to ND) and can't wait to see you in AA 2007
Wow! 550 posts. That must be a record.
Good to hear that fan interaction at the game was mostly respectful.
As for the game itself, I agree that OSU was a little better overall, but I don't want to hear all this talk about how UM caught a bunch of breaks that kept it close. The interception was about as forced as it could be . . . Smith was flushed, threw into double-coverage, the ball was tipped by a defender and then picked off.
OSU's next two turnovers may have been unforced, but they led to seven points . . . the same amount that OSU scored after Crable's unforced error (the helmet-to-helmet penalty) that kept the OSU drive alive.
And of course, OSU caught a break by playing the game at home, and on a day when two of UM's starting defenders (Burgess and Barringer) were hobbled. Their replacements, Graham and Mundy, struggled mightily.
I think these are the two best teams in the country. It would be nice to get to play OSU at a neutral site, with a healthy defense and Manningham up to game shape (he was seriously winded in the second half). If not . . . oh well, it's been a great season regardless.
P.S. I really, really hope OSU installs FieldTurf by the time we come back in 2008. There's a reason so many northern schools went to artificial turf back in the '60s and '70s - grass just doesn't grow well in this climate in late fall. FieldTurf is an awesome product. It's time for OSU to make the switch.
The grass usually holds up well for the season. This is the first time evar that it sucked balls. You guys have no idea what it would of looked like if they never replaced it two weeks ago. Omg, mud bowl!!!
Urban Meyer talking major shit about Michigan. So it has begun!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal..../611200328/
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Brian .. did you emerge unscathed from Columbus? No new posts/comments. Mzone folks had a bad experience apparently.
lmao:
"how bout semi-trick play for long TD pass to Ginn? Yea, you're not going to see that every day."
totally! i can't believe tressel would stoop to bust out a razzle-dazzle gimmick like the rube goldberg-esque freak show known as "play-action" on second-and-short.
Brian:
I have to say since I started reading your blog, I am becoming more of a Michigan fan. Sorry to see that they lost. I was really looking forward to another "Space, bitches!" post. Also, I noticed that you haven't posted since the game which is unheard of. Are you alright?
Wow, was that just an informative, relevant post from Son of Jorel?
After reading that, I have a lot less respect for Urban Meyer. I hope that he gets beat by Arkansas and smoked in the Citrus Bowl by Wisconsin.
If Michigan wanted to get to Glendale (and I'm not sure that they do) Lloyd Carr won't campaign for it and that puts them at a serious disadvantage with Meyer and Carroll in the mix. I'd still take the classy coach though.
Spence,
Congrats on your team's win. Your last post was good. I'm now going to beat my wife even though I am no Alabama fan.