tOSU/Michigan week

[M Club]

While your D is spectacular tOSU's D is the best in the only category that really matters--scoring D. While we give up the yards and may let you control the ball for a period of time, we are also quite good at keeping points off the board. We have only given up more than 10 pts twice--first game of the season and at Iowa. Henne and Hart better be smart with the ball.

umich has given up 49 points to the six common opponents they share with osu; osu's given up 43. a point a game is a lot to hang yr hat on, especially when iowa is the second-best offense you've had to face. all those yards and time of possession issues you say yr d has plays right into umich's style of offense.

[Screw_Michigan]

I like Ohio State's chances in this game. I think that it will be a low scoring game that is decided on who makes the fewest errors. In such a game, I like the team with the best special teams and kicking game. Ohio State has Ted Ginn, Jr. to return punts and kickoffs, and the best punter in college football IMHO. And Lloyd is not a big game coach.

1995 - Lost to Texas A&M in bowl game
1996 - Lost to Alabama in bowl game
1997 - Fluke (but still managed to nearly swallow a chicken bone against Washington State in the bowl game)
1998 - Lost to Ohio State and Notre Dame
1999 - Lost to lowly Michigan State in boring in-state rivalry game
2000 - Gave up 54 points to Northwestern in a game watched by an equal number of fans
2001 - Lost to Ohio State and to Tennessee in bowl game
2002 - Lost to Notre Dame and Ohio State
2003 - Lost to two PAC-10 schools, including USC in a bowl game
2004 - Lost to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas in a bowl game (what's new?)
2005 - Lost to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska in a bowl game

the post. scU-M also lost to MSU in 01.

scU-M opens up +6.5. I'll take OSU to win, but not cover. and rack whoever mentioned breaston, i thought he left school with his performance this season.

[Sky]

umich has given up 49 points to the six common opponents they share with osu; osu's given up 43. a point a game is a lot to hang yr hat on

Are you serious? Did you really just make that point? Cause if OSU lets up one less point than you do, that is fine with me. Thanks for proving my point.

[montinelevin]

As a Pac 10 guy, and full of Russian prozac... I'm sure my view is a bit obscured.

I see Ohio State as the better overall team, yet after seeing the Michigan defense (which could be the best in the country)

This is what makes it a very intriguing matchup.

My brain says Ohio State... but that Michigan defense says, Michigan.

I can't wait for this midwest meltdown!

[M Club]

And Lloyd is not a big game coach.

definitely not a big game coach. i mean, he's been hc in 22 games against top ten opponents and only won 16 of them. and it's perfectly reasonable to illustrate yr point about big game coach by hand picking a few losses from a twelve-year span.

[M Club]

umich has given up 49 points to the six common opponents they share with osu; osu's given up 43. a point a game is a lot to hang yr hat on

Are you serious? Did you really just make that point? Cause if OSU lets up one less point than you do, that is fine with me. Thanks for proving my point.

proved yr point? i'm confused. has umich given up one more point to osu than osu to umich? there's no appreciable difference in the "only category that really matters" was the point i made. you can have yr bend don't break..

[Sky]

I don't really think I need to explain this (even to a Michigan grad) but here it goes. I think the most important defensive statistic is points allowed. If you allow a team to rack up 400 yards but only get 10 pts, that is pretty good. Rush defense, pass defense, etc. are all good and well. But games are decided by points, not yards allowed. You decided to point out that OSU has allowed 6 less points to 6 common opponents.

Now follow me here Shirley, this is a tricky one. 6 games divided by 6 pts equals one point per game. So if OSU keeps up this trend and allows one less pt in their next game when compared to how many pts UM allows, that is OK with me (I.e. that would be like OSu 24 - UM 23). I know one point is a lot to hang my hat on but since the score is the only thing that matters when it comes to who won a game, I will take OSU's advantage, how ever slight it may be.

And did you know, Texas is the 3rd best scoring team in the nation? I think they only got 7 pts against a very young and inexperienced OSU D.

[M Club]

if we're expounding on what we consider common sense, i'll explain my reasoning to you: umich gives up 8 points/game to common opponents; osu gives up 7. that one-point difference isn't even worth mentioning except to point out umich limits scoring opportunities by limiting yards, and our 8 points/game is far more sustainable than yr 7.

If you allow a team to rack up 400 yards but only get 10 pts...

i'm just pointing out yr team is playing with fire.

[Sky]

if we're expounding on what we consider common sense, i'll explain my reasoning to you: umich gives up 8 points/game to common opponents; osu gives up 7. that one-point difference isn't even worth mentioning except to point out umich limits scoring opportunities by limiting yards, and our 8 points/game is far more sustainable than yr 7.

Hmmm, lets see. That doesn't make any sense at all. Maybe if you wanted to make this argument in the beginning of the season I could see it but tOSU's D has done it all year long. To say that 7 is less sustainable than 8 is idiotic after 11 games have been played. It isn't like we got lucky in a couple of games, we did this all season and we have one more game where we will do it again.

[M Club]

actually, i'm only talking about six games in which umich and osu had common opponents. and sustainability makes perfect sense when you consider umich has a much better offense than the six teams osu would let get to the 20 before deciding they wanted to play defense.

[Qbert]

HUH?

tOSU 7pts allowed
scUM 8pts allowed

HUH?

...btw...who the hell cares?

11-0 vs. 11-0

stats, trends, and tendencies...don't matter 'cuz its THE GAME!!!!!

remember....Tressel KNOWS that this IS "THE Game..."

what will Lloyd Cooper do?

[Sky]

While your point is absurd since OSU still less points than UM, how about looking at OSU vs the #3 scoring offense in the nation. Just to clarify, are you saying your offense is better than Texas? Or are you just revolving around six common opponents where our D still did a better job at keeping points off the board? If you are pinning your hopes to this you are in a sad situation my friend.

[Husker4ever]

I took a vacation day to watch this game...and I had to put in for it 6 weeks ago. Can't wait.

[M Club]

While your point is absurd since OSU still less points than UM, how about looking at OSU vs the #3 scoring offense in the nation. Just to clarify, are you saying your offense is better than Texas? Or are you just revolving around six common opponents where our D still did a better job at keeping points off the board? If you are pinning your hopes to this you are in a sad situation my friend.

no, i'm pinning my hopes to the fact i think we'll beat you by at least 10 points. i could go with "you fucking suck" arguments if you'd prefer.

[Sky]

Thanks man, glad we will have you on board for the game. I love it when other fans get interested.

[buckeye_in_sc]

MICHIGAN FUCKING SUCKS...

there better (but you couldn't expect anything less from me!

[WolverineSteve]

I took a vacation day to watch this game...and I had to put in for it 6 weeks ago. Can't wait.

Rack!!

I put in for "Religious observation".

[Sky]

"Religious observation".

RACK, it is a disease. How much work am I getting done this week...none.

[Shoalzie]

I like Ohio State's chances in this game. I think that it will be a low scoring game that is decided on who makes the fewest errors. In such a game, I like the team with the best special teams and kicking game. Ohio State has Ted Ginn, Jr. to return punts and kickoffs, and the best punter in college football IMHO. And Lloyd is not a big game coach.

1995 - Lost to Texas A&M in bowl game
1996 - Lost to Alabama in bowl game
1997 - Fluke (but still managed to nearly swallow a chicken bone against Washington State in the bowl game)
1998 - Lost to Ohio State and Notre Dame
1999 - Lost to lowly Michigan State in boring in-state rivalry game
2000 - Gave up 54 points to Northwestern in a game watched by an equal number of fans
2001 - Lost to Ohio State and to Tennessee in bowl game
2002 - Lost to Notre Dame and Ohio State
2003 - Lost to two PAC-10 schools, including USC in a bowl game
2004 - Lost to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas in a bowl game (what's new?)
2005 - Lost to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska in a bowl game

Your national title was very much disputed with the interfence call in the end zone during overtime and you had that crazy and contraversial Clarett guy on your roster and you pulled repeated close games out of your ass (including a 14-9 win in Columbus against Michigan)...just sayin'.

Kill Lloyd all you want but I'd rather have his "lack of success" intstead of that sad little green guys up in East Lansing. The guy has won 3/4 of his games...not too many coaches in college football can say they've/they're doing that. Considering the rich history of Michigan's program, a .750 winning percentage from a coach is tied for 8th best but he's 3rd all-time in wins. The only thing I'll beat him up about is his record against Tressel...he dominated Cooper and the Buckeyes until they came to their senses and made a change. This is the biggest Ohio State game Lloyd has been involved in and I think this game may truly define his legacy at Michigan...even moreso than 1997 when his team was the best team on the field in every game. This game, he's got arguably the best team in the nation but the team on the other side is just as good or better than them and he's playing in enemy territory. He wins this game, it'll be the biggest win of his career at Michigan...I'd like to see anyone dispute. I think he won't look at this as a game to define his legacy but I'd hope he has enough pride to not get in the way of his talented team and let them win it for him.

[M Club]

"Religious observation".

RACK, it is a disease. How much work am I getting done this week...none.

the game's technically been my excuse for not looking for work since i've been stateside. i'm not about the red tape interfering with my fb travel plans, or at least the red tape at a jobby job. the red tape at umich, on the other hand, pulled my field pass, no doubt to pacify some raging alum who donates $100,000 yearly to the backup db leased car fund.

good read from the dtw free press about what should be riding on THE GAME:

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? ... 40388/1054

[Sky]

Your national title was very much disputed with the interfence call in the end zone during overtime and you had that crazy and contraversial Clarett guy on your roster and you pulled repeated close games out of your ass (including a 14-9 win in Columbus against Michigan)...just sayin'.

WTF? Are you really referencing our 2002 NC season? If you want to debate that PI call let me just say this: the call was close and could have gone either way. It was not an OU vs. Oregon type bad call by any stretch of the imagination. However, I will admit it was close and was probably a 50/50 call. Regardless, if the refs had called either of the two holding calls in OSU's last drive during regulation, they would have run out the clock and the game would not have even gone to overtime, period.

But really, debating our close wins. Lets just look at your "NC" season in 1997:
UM 21 Notre Dame 14 in Ann Arbor, MI
UM 28 Iowa 24 in Ann Arbor, MI
UM 20 Ohio St. 14 in Ann Arbor, MI
UM 21 Washington St. 16 in the Rose Bowl

But really, does that matter this year, no? The only point that was being made was as of late, Lloyd Cooper has been suspect during big games. Tressel hasn't been perfect but pretty good.

[M Club]

88's point spanned the whole of carr's career. as of late, shaky, but overall, pretty fooken good. it's obviously seasons like this that will skew a coach's legacy (see bob stoops).

[Sky]

good read from the dtw free press about what should be riding on THE GAME:

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? ... 40388/1054

That was a good article, some high quality quotes:

And the most amazing part is that neither team has a true weakness. In this game, there are only degrees of strength.

Here is the problem with a rematch: Suppose Michigan goes to Columbus and wins by a touchdown. And then the teams meet again at a neutral site in January, and OSU beats U-M by a field goal.Why would Ohio State deserve the national championship? There would be only one logical reason: Michigan's victory would simply be a regular-season win, while Ohio State's would come in the more important "postseason."

In other words, it would turn college football into the NFL. I like the NFL. But as far as I'm concerned, the NFL is Starbucks. It is everywhere. It tastes the same wherever you go. The NFL is a pleasant, repeatable experience. Most NFL regular-season games don't mean much, and only a few are truly memorable, but we slurp them up anyway.

In college football, you win that day or you rue it for a year. People complain that college football doesn't have a playoff, but in college football, the whole season is a playoff. This is the only sport where the championship is on the line every week.

[M Club]

here's a quality point from another article in the free press:

ABC will use its usual Saturday night crew of Brent Musburger, Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit for the 3:30 p.m. game between U-M and OSU.

thank god for radio.

[L45B]

Here is the problem with a rematch: Suppose Michigan goes to Columbus and wins by a touchdown. And then the teams meet again at a neutral site in January, and OSU beats U-M by a field goal.Why would Ohio State deserve the national championship? There would be only one logical reason: Michigan's victory would simply be a regular-season win, while Ohio State's would come in the more important "postseason."

In other words, it would turn college football into the NFL. I like the NFL. But as far as I'm concerned, the NFL is Starbucks. It is everywhere. It tastes the same wherever you go. The NFL is a pleasant, repeatable experience. Most NFL regular-season games don't mean much, and only a few are truly memorable, but we slurp them up anyway.

In college football, you win that day or you rue it for a year. People complain that college football doesn't have a playoff, but in college football, the whole season is a playoff. This is the only sport where the championship is on the line every week.

Don't let Terry or M-Go-Light read that.

[Jobocky]

I took a vacation day to watch this game

They have adjusted the starting times for the high school football state playoffs this weekend in Ohio, due to this game.

[BlindRef]

A reset from earlier this year:

[video width=425 height=350]http://www.youtube.com/v/kkwiBWVryIw[/video]

[BlindRef]

If there is any doubt about how fucked up things are in Columbus:

A letter to Michigan's Students:

We are sure that you are excited about this Saturday's football game versus Ohio State, and the possibility of capturing the Big Ten conference title and playing for the national championship.

For those of you traveling to Columbus, we invite you to kick off your Saturday by joining the Alumni Association, Michigan Student Assembly, Division of Student Affairs and other Michigan fans at a fun-filled True Blue Away-Game tailgate. You and your fellow fans can enjoy food, music, large-screen TVs and a variety of arcade games and activities before the game. The cost of student tickets is free with a valid U-M student ID. The tailgate is being held at the Fawcett Center, which is approximately 1/2 mile northwest of Ohio Stadium. The tailgate entrance will be located inside the Fawcett Center. There will be signs posted inside directing you to the Alumni Room and patio. Game-day parking is $10 per car.

We know that it can be uncomfortable being in an opposing team's environment, especially when the stakes are so high. We would like to offer a few suggestions in order to help you stay safe and have a positive experience this weekend:

--Try carpooling to the game; if possible, drive a car with non- Michigan license plates.
--Keep your Michigan gear to a minimum, or wait until you are inside the stadium to display it.
--Stay with a group.
--Know and obey the laws regarding alcohol use.
--If you are of legal age to drink, use alcohol in moderation. Stay in the blue.
--Stay low-key; don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
--If verbally harassed by opposing fans, don't take the bait.
--Avoid High Street in Columbus.

If at any time you feel unsafe, you should call 9-1-1 for assistance. U-M campus police also will be available in Columbus to support our fans. You may call them with non-emergency concerns at (734) 216-****.

We look forward to a tremendous game on Saturday. Let's help the Wolverines win with spirit and class.

Go Blue!

Sue Eklund, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
Steve Grafton, President, Alumni Association
Nicole Stallings, MSA President

Yes, its true, we are sending our own cops to Columbus.

[L45B]

That's not the version I saw:

We are sure that you are excited about this Saturday's football game versus Ohio State, and the possibility of capturing the Big Ten conference title and playing for the national championship.

For those of you traveling to Columbus, we invite you to kick off your Saturday by joining the Alumni Association, Michigan Student Assembly, Division of Student Affairs and other Michigan fans at a fun-filled True Blue Away-Game tailgate. You and your fellow fans can enjoy food, music, large-screen TVs and a variety of arcade games and activities before the game. The cost of student tickets is free with a valid U-M student ID. The tailgate is being held at the Fawcett Center, which is approximately 1/2 mile northwest of Ohio Stadium. The tailgate entrance will be located inside the Fawcett Center. There will be signs posted inside directing you to the Alumni Room and patio. Game-day parking is $10 per car.

We know that it can be uncomfortable being in an opposing team's environment, especially when the stakes are so high. We would like to offer a few suggestions in order to help you stay safe and have a positive experience this weekend:

--Try carpooling to the game; if possible, drive a car with non- Michigan license plates.
--Keep your Michigan gear to a minimum, or wait until you are inside the stadium to display it.
--Stay with a group.
--Know and obey the laws regarding alcohol use.
--If you are of legal age to drink, use alcohol in moderation. Stay in the blue.
--Stay low-key; don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
--If verbally harassed by opposing fans, don't take the bait.
--Avoid High Street in Columbus.

If at any time you feel unsafe, you should call 9-1-1 for assistance. U-M campus police also will be available in Columbus to support our fans. You may call them with non-emergency concerns at (734) 216-****.

To all U-M players and coaches:

--Avoid Ohio Stadium at all costs. If you do not, you are likely to receive a severe beating.

Nervously,

Sue Eklund, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
Steve Grafton, President, Alumni Association
Nicole Stallings, MSA President

[Shoalzie]

Your national title was very much disputed with the interfence call in the end zone during overtime and you had that crazy and contraversial Clarett guy on your roster and you pulled repeated close games out of your ass (including a 14-9 win in Columbus against Michigan)...just sayin'.

WTF? Are you really referencing our 2002 NC season? If you want to debate that PI call let me just say this: the call was close and could have gone either way. It was not an OU vs. Oregon type bad call by any stretch of the imagination. However, I will admit it was close and was probably a 50/50 call. Regardless, if the refs had called either of the two holding calls in OSU's last drive during regulation, they would have run out the clock and the game would not have even gone to overtime, period.

But really, debating our close wins. Lets just look at your "NC" season in 1997:
UM 21 Notre Dame 14 in Ann Arbor, MI
UM 28 Iowa 24 in Ann Arbor, MI
UM 20 Ohio St. 14 in Ann Arbor, MI
UM 21 Washington St. 16 in the Rose Bowl

But really, does that matter this year, no? The only point that was being made was as of late, Lloyd Cooper has been suspect during big games. Tressel hasn't been perfect but pretty good.

My whole thing is that this is the biggest game of the series Tressel has been involved in...it isn't just huge for Carr. I don't think either team would like to lose "the biggest big game" in recent memory. The way I look at this game...Ohio State is supposed to win it because they're at home, they've dominated the head-to-head recently, they've been #1 all year, they're favored by Vegas and they've got the Heisman front-runner. Michigan is kind of flying under the radar in this game...they're just as good as Ohio State but they are the decided underdog according to the media. To go into The 'Shoe and beat the #1 and unbeaten hated rival would be the biggest win of Carr's career...bigger than any win in 1997.

[Sky]

Well that is a good point. This will be the biggest game for Tressel as well.

[L45B]

^^I would probably agree, but an argument could be made for the '03 Fiesta Bowl vs. Miami. Unless you are limiting it to The Game itself, then yes this is the biggest for both coaches.

[Sky]

Yeah, I hesitated saying that as the NC game really proved Tressel could prepare his team for any game. It was so dramatic that I view it as one of the top 5 games I have ever seen OSU play in. Here is what it comes down to, if tOSU has a weakness in this game, I don't think it really matters. Tressel always has a way to prepare his team for any situation. If we can't beat you here, we will beat you there.

[peter dragon]

Twas the night before game time,
And all round the shoe,
Not a creature was sleeping,
They were screaming Beat Blue.
The banners were hung by the lamp posts with care
In hopes that St.Troy would find Ginn through the air.
Drunken and crazy and burning their beds,
While visions of kick off danced through their heads.
When all of the sudden there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the keg to see what was the matter.
When there in the sky, in a Coupe DeVille sleigh,
Was Woody Hayes decked out in scarlet and gray.
He looked on the crowd that was gathered around,
And said that he heard that a game was in town.
I came here to watch it, and wish you good luck.
Though it's not like you need it, cause Michigan Sucks!

[peter dragon]

http://buckeyefansonly.com/notsun/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b2OiLln3mU

[BlindRef]

They had the '69 game on the other day, this only seems appropriate:

Do you remember when Woody Hayes came to Ann Arbor with a team that was billed as the Dream Team of the 1960’s? Heralded as one of the greatest teams in the 100 year history of intercollegiate football? Riding a 22 game winning streak? No Michigan man will ever forget that."

That was Saturday November 22, 1969,
The day Ohio came to bury Michigan,
all wrapped in maize and blue,
The words were said, the prayers were read, and everybody cried,
But when they closed the coffin, there was someone else inside.

Oh the Buckeyes came to bury the Wolverines,
but Michigan wasn’t dead.
And when the game was over,
it was someone else instead!
22 Michigan Wolverines put on the gloves of grey,
and as Revelli played ‘The Victors’
buried Woody Hayes away!”

[WolverineSteve]

Scroll down to the two videos. It looks like the second one is intended for the ABC pre-game.

http://dp33.blogspot.com/

[Sky]

Hmm, that second one sounds like a high school announcer made the script and then read it in his stuttering "sentences don't make sense" approach.

I liked the first one which is like here at Youtube

[Shawn Marion]

Hmm, that second one sounds like a high school announcer made the script and then read it in his stuttering "sentences don't make sense" approach.

I liked the first one which is like here at Youtube

Pretty sure the dude also says that the Desmond Howard punt return vaulted UM to the National Championship...

[Nolesy]

The last time FSU played either one of those circl jerking big 10 teams the Noles kicked thier ass.

Regards, Pacedog#1