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Maize and blue fans. Have we got a team this year or what? Well, we do have the best college football player in the nation. We also have a very young and inexperienced offensive line that is playing surprisingly well. The quarterback looks pretty smart, and even though he has cement feet, he can throw the ball and take a hit. No Biakabutuka, but we have a freshman from Lousiana who can really run. Punting should have been a problem for us, but we have a walk-on kicking better than our tendered punters usually do. We have one thing going against us big time though -- the toughest schedule in the NCAA. Comments? How badly are we going to beat Notre Dame tomorrow?
34 responses total.
This item is beyond heresy.
Well, 2 of the supposedly tough teams on this nasty schedule turned out to not be so tough this year: Colorado has been struggling, though winning, and Notre Dame has been struggling and losing. The Irish played well against UM, and exposed some weaknesses that the Wolverines better plug pronto. Let's hope that they can rebound with a big effort on the road against a weak Indiana team.
Colorado had an impressive 20-19 win in the final seconds against national power Wyoming yesterday. Notre Dame is 1-3. Baylor was never expected to be a tough game. Michigan had no tougher of a schedule in the pre-Big Ten season than Michigan State! (-: The Big Ten is unquestionably the toughest conference in the NCAA this year. I don't think there's a realistic chance that any team can pass through it without a loss, and since a 12-0 record is required for a real chance at the national championship, this means U-M, MSU, Penn State, Ohio State all have not got a chance among them for an NCAA championship again this year. It is definitely a shame.
I would like to see Colorado do well, since we beat them, but not at the expense of calling Wyoming a national power. Sheesh, they are a WAC team. There is a reason that Wyoming is not listed in the top 25. The WAC is not very competitive. The Big ten had Wisconsin drop out of the rankings this week, but Purdue replaced them, as they are now ranked 23. That's 6 big ten teams in the top 25. Can someone win the big 10 without a loss? The odds are against it, but not overwhelmingly so. It is disctinctly possible. I'd say two teams still have a legitimate shot at it.
Of course State fans want to believe that the big-10 winner will not be undefeated. That gives them a glimmer of hope. However, while that may very well happen, I can't imagine that the winner will be MSU. Don't get me wrong. MSU has a very good team this year. They are ranked 15 nationally as of this week, in my opinion are not overrated. If Michigan would make the fatal mistake of not taking them seriously, they could upset them this week. They won't though. However, MSU is also thoroughly untested. Only one team that they beat has a winning record this year, and that is WMU. They are a MAC team. . MSU still has to beat Michigan, OSU and PSU to go to the Rose bowl. Not a rosy picture for MSU ;-) Do I really swallow the contention that U-M and MSU pre-season schedules are equivalent? Let's see: UM played Notre Dame, Colorado, and Baylor MSU played Notre Dame, Western, and Memphis It's closer than I expected because of Colorado's disappointing season, but they play in the Big 8(12). Compare them with Western? Fooey. Sorry, you Western Michigan and Memphis fans, but this doesn't wash.
Baylor wasn't strong competition, either. Colorado was overrated. Still, Michigan *tried* to play stronger teams. Not that it matters, in the race for poll rankings. Nebraska plays a couple of hard games every year. Once again, they're ranked #1, over a much more deserving Penn State. If either Penn State or Michigan remains undefeated at the end of the season, that team will deserve the #1 ranking. It may not get it, though, and will lose it anyway after the bowl games. I think Michigan will be helped a lot by MSU's loss to Northwestern. I think State will be demoralized by the loss. The articles in the Lansing State Journal about the game made the players sound very upbeat, but I think the players were lying and the sportswriters were letting themselves be deceived. MSU hasn't cracked the top 10 in years. With a win, they might have done it this week. With the loss, they've just shown they're vulnerable. The line is 1.5 points in favor of Michigan. I think it won't be all that close. Michigan 30, Michigan State 16.
The score was 23-7 in a game that the media generally referred to as a blowout. I think it was anything but. The game was in doubt going into the fourth quarter. I was still biting my nails at that point. Michigan won because MSU could not find a way to score on that defense. The 7 points were scored on a special-teams flukey fake-field-goal play. These points could have mattered a great deal if MSU could have found a way to score another TD. They didn't. When that didn't happen, they started to take chances. You take a chance every time you put the ball in the air against the M defense. MSU found this out, experiencing 6 interceptions. Woodson is on one side, and Marcus ray on the other. Woodson is amazing, but Ray is not chopped liver. MSU is a good team, that will probably not be able to beat PSU or OSU, but they still deserve to go to a bowl game. I hope they do upset one or both of those two, but I also hope it won't matter to Michigan. Minnesota is coming to town to try to obtain the Brown Jug this weekend. They are a surprising team, having almost upset PSU, and causing Penn State to lose their #1 spot. I predict that Michigan will not look past them, but will be ready to dole out more of the same defense that wins games. The Gophers will go home empty handed methinks.
I stand by my position that Baylor was not much, but was more than Memphis, and that Colorado did not live up to its billing, but was still a stronger team than WMU. It's all subjective, I guess, but I do believe this. Yeah, Michigan's non-conference opponents have not been what we had hoped for, this year.
Two scores I'd haved taped up in the Michigan locker room this week: Purdue 9, Michigan 3 (1996) PSU 16, Minnesota 15
U-M was not emptionally up for the Minnesota game. They played well despite that. I have no doubt that as we approach what is likely to be the most difficult challenge of the regular season schedule, that they will be very emotional and very ready. I am psyched about the game this week in Happy Valley. This is their first chance to convince the doubters that U-M is the best in the big 10. They will not be favored. Everyone is worried about the U-M offense, but I predict they will come through this week. Look for them to get the ground game rolling. Can Woodson stop Jurevicius? Good question. I think not unless the line can pressure McQueary. I think they will, though, and M will win. I am not denying bias, of course. Have you noticied that Penn State fans are avoiding this item in droves.
Penn State is favored by 1.5 points, I believe. I think U-M is going to win by a couple of touchdowns. Penn State has really not impressed me against such competition as Minnesota and Northwestern. If they beat U-M, they'll be playing much higher, compared with the level they've been playing at in recent games, than U-M will have to play in order to win the game.
Just checking in at halftime here. It is 24-0, which is a bigger margin than
even I, the most optimistic of UM football fans, had expected. More
significantly, the Wolverines dominated the entire first half on both sides
of the ball. THey looked awesome.
Now please be aware that Penn State has a great football program. This team
will come back to p[ay Michigan a tough second half. Michigan's job right now
is to come out and win the second half. I think they can do it.
Of note: at the moment Nebraska is trailing the Missouri Tigers. Perhaps the
fact that they don't play any really tough teams will out. Go Tigers.
G O B L U E
(Rose Bowl Bound)
We came! We saw! We kicked Penn State's ass! Michigan 34, Penn State 8
yeah, yeah. next item.
You gotta problem with that, Jim? Butt they kicked. All over the stadium. How well did they really play? Well enough to vault past Florida State and Nebraska, both of which one, and one of which played pretty well. In the other poll they are still #2, but if you look closely at that poll, you'll see that it is only by a smidgeon. I really thought Penn State would have given them more of a fight. I have real doubts about them now. OK - time toomove on to next week. Travel to Camp Randall Stadium. Will they kick butt again? Well, the badgers have played a patsy schedule. They beat only one decent team, Iowa. That surprised me. Are they for real? I doubt it. They have VERY BIG lineman on offense. Check out the size!! Dane will be back to run against Michigan. Maybe our linebackers are quick enough to run around those trees and do some damage. U-M's offense has gelled. There should be no stopping us.It will be noisy up there, though, so I hope they practice hearing the snap count in noise. I have no worries that they will have a letdown. These guys are amazing that way. One game at a time. We'll be back in a week to talk about OSU. I'm looking forward to that too, when the time is right.
Michigan is behind in one poll by a small margin, and ahead in the other by a small margin. They're effectively tied with Florida State. If both Michigan and OSU win this week, and Michigan wins against the Buyckeyes, they'll be the clear #1 at the end of the regular season. Ohio State is now ranked #4. At that time, they will play in the Rose Bowl against UCLA (assuming they don't lose another game; they've already dropped 2) who will be ranked about #8. Florida State will play Nebraska, and the winner of that game will be voted #1 in both polls. If they tie, and U-M wins the Rose Bowl, U-M might be ranked #1 in the country. The chance of Michigan remaining undefeated, including in the Rose Bowl, *and* FSU and Nebraska tying in their bowl game, seems pretty tiny to me. Although the win at Penn State did convince me they are the best team in the country, they won't get a national championship this year.
This is the HOCKEY conference. And I'm supposed to be impressed by football? HAH! Bring on some Hockey, please!!!
I wouldn't say that Nebraska didn't play well. Their offense pulled them through quite nicely. Their defense obviously gave up a lot of points. And they were extremely lucky to get their last TD in regulation. They were playing a hot but unranked team. Put all that together, and you saw the unusual case of a winning #1 team dropped from #1 (all the way to #3 in this case). Meanwhile, *if* Michigan is ranked #1 in the final regular season poll (which will mean they're undefeated), and they win the Rose Bowl, I don't see how they could be dropped from #1 regardless of the outcome of the #2 vs. #3 game. Such game, BTW, can't end in a tie - I'm certain that bowl games will be no different from regular season games, which now have overtime.
What Kevin said. Michigan has control of its destiny. Just keep winning and they will be there in the #1 position at the end of the season. So, Hype week is coming to an end. We are all tired of hype about the game, and hype about the players, and hype about what the players said, and hype about the series and Coopers record against UM, and hype about M being number one so the tables are now turned from last year, hype about what scenario(s) are required for ISU to get to the Rose Bowl if they beat M, and hype about anything else there has been hype about that I forgot. There has been enough hype to go around many times over. The game is coming. Finally. You know, the part where they actually decide who wins, rather than the talking. Well, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I was there in 1969 and saw M beat OSU 24-12 in Bo's first season, and that game became part of Michigan's great history. I really remember that game almost 30 years later. OSU had a great team that year. The best in the country, but we wanted to beat them because of the 50-14 score the previous year, and we did. I am figuring that this game has the potential to be one of the truly great games ever played in college football. I hope to look back on it 30 years from now, and remember it fondly, saying "I was there". I don't think OSU has as good a team as they did in 1969, but they still have a really good team. Good enough to beat Michigan if our guys falter. I don't think they will. Regardless of who wins, it is going to be great football that is played in the big house later today (noon). GO BLUE! From the archives, I leave you here with Michigan words to the OSU fight song, for your cheering pleasure. Sing it loud and often. It doesn't matter that Woody is no longer with us, we still humble him whenever Michigan beats OSU. Besides, "John Cooper" has the wrong meter, and doesn't rhyme. ----- Devastate Ohio State, and humble Woody Hayes. They raise a lot of cattle in Columbus, send them out to graze. (rah rah rah) Send them to their ivory towers. Send them crawling into the showers. DOWN WITH OHIO STATE! They're a know-nothing party school. </hype>
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just thank the lord you are going to Pasedena and not going to Miami to play Nebraskqa in the orange bowl...Nebraska would kill ya... of course next year the rose will be part of the coalition and Michigan wont be able to bea tup some inferior pac 10 team and claim to be national champsions without playing thebest team.
One might say that Nebraska should count themselves as lucky. I think the winner of the Alliance matchup will wind up #1 after the bowl games are done. Nebraska has a chance to be national champions. Considering their play over the past couple of weeks, with squeaker wins over inferior competition like Colorado (while stupidly trying to run up the score) and Missouri (a game they won by sheer luck), they'd have to be considered as serious underdogs in a contest with Michigan. They should be considered as underdogs to Tennessee or Florida State, for that matter.
Richard is idiotic as usual - Washington State is hardly inferior to anyone at 10-1. Why would the alliance bowl winner be #1 if #1 Michigan wins its game? Won't happen. This is the year the Big 10 & Rose Bowl get to stick it to the alliance as revenge for Penn State going 12-0 and getting nothing.
nope, Michigan wont be #1 even if they win the rose bowl,because they arent going tobe playing the number 2, number 3, or possibly even the #4 or #5 team. If Nebraska is #2 and beats a #3 Tennesee, you can bet they willbe voted national champions because they beat a higher ranked team in their bowl.
Well Richard you are entitled to your opinion of course, but it's not based on any statements of reality. Do you ever watch any sports television, such as ESPN's SportsCenter, or read any newspapers or magazines. Most informed people on the inside of this disagree with you.
'Twas the night before Rose Bowl
By M. Jayne Kelly
Adapted from Twas the Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Rose Bowl, and all through the state,
Not a creature was sleeping; the fans were up late.
The car flags were hung on the windows with care,
And "Go Blue" banners flew everywhere.
The children were giggling all tucked in their beds,
While visions of roses danced in their heads.
And Mamma in her maize, and I in my blue,
Were busy in the kitchen, we had so much to do.
When all of a sudden, I heard such a clatter,
I sprang from my seat to see what was the matter.
I ran to the window and opened the sash,
And saw thousands of people in a 50-yard dash.
They were fans-all decked out in their blue and their maize,
It was some sort of Rose Bowl pre-game craze.
In the front of the crowd was a merry old man,
And I knew in a moment, he was one special fan.
The crowd came to a halt and they all gathered round,
The leader in front with a belly so round.
His proud twinkling eyes showed a hint of a tear
As he guided the crowd in a Wolverine cheer.
"Now Woodson! Now Griese!
Now Howard, Mayes and Vinson!
On Marcus! On Tuman!
On Dhani and Jansen!
To the end of the field, just keep moving that ball!
Now push away! Push away!
Push away all!"
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old guy,
And I laughed when I saw him, then I let out a sigh.
A wink in his eye and the twist of his head,
Assured me that he knew we had nothing to dread.
Then he spoke not a word, as he passed through the crowd,
Giving blue and gold trinkets to the fans so proud.
And tucked deep in his sack, where no one could see,
Was a special gift for Chuck, the Heisman Trophy.
His cheeks were the color of a victory rose,
As he placed his finger aside his cherry red nose.
Then he raised his other hand and he looked toward the West,
And he shouted to our team,
"You're the Victors and the BEST"
Richard, you are hopeless, of course. No one will ever know whether Michigan would have beaten Nebraska or anyone else in the alliacnce, for the simple reason that they won't play the game. In my opinion, Michigan is better than all of them. You're entitled to yours. I watched Tennessee, and they are not the quality competition that Nebraska should have hoped to get . FSU would make a better opponent in my opinion. In fact, IMO, FSU is a far better team than Tennessee. So I expect to see Nebraska roll, and then whine when they finish the season at number 2. That's what I expect. I could be wrong. We'll see. Do they have a compaint if that happens? Well I certainly don't think so. They played a patsy schedule all year. Who did Nebraska beat that was a really strong team? Michigan will have its work cut out for them. WSU is underrated in my opinion, but partly they are rated as low as they are because their defense is weak. Michigan should be able to exploit that, but will have to score a lot, because thsi is one game that I doubt the M defense will be able to keep the points against below 10. Leaf's numbers are very comparable to Peyton Manning's. He has more and better receivers to work with, too. If Michigan wins, the national champioship is assured, regardless of anything that happens in any other game. Take that to the bank, Richard.
A top high school football prospect was making his visits to several colleges. He went to Nebraska, and while he was in Coach Osborne's office he noticed a shiny red telephone. He asked Tom what the phone was for. Osborne replied that it was a direct line to God. He asked Tom if he could use it. Osborne replied "Yes, but it will cost you $100 a minute." The recruit replied that he could not afford that. His next visit was to Florida State. He noticed a bright gold telephone in Coach Bowden's office. Again he asked what it was for. Coach Bowden replied that it was a direct link to God. Again he asked if he could use it. Coach Bowden replied that he could but it would cost him $50 a minute. Again the recruit replied that he could not afford that. His next visit was to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. Sure enough there was a maize & blue telephone on Coach Carr's desk. He asked Lloyd what the phone was for, and of course Lloyd told him it was a direct link to God. He asked Lloyd if he could use it. Lloyd said "Sure, but it will cost you 15 cents." The recruit asked why it was so cheap. Lloyd replied "It's a local call."
....But though the prospect thought fifteen cents was a really good deal, he realizes that calls add up, even at that price, so he tells Coach Carr he'll think about it. His next visit was to South Bend, IND and Notre Dame. The Notre Dame coach didnt have a phone on his desk. "What?!" the prospect gasped, "you have no direct link to God?" "We dont need any direct link to God" the coach responded, "He's here every Saturday, He has season tickets...after all, we're NOTRE DAME....Mary would never let Him hear the end of it if He rooted for Michigan"
He must have sold his tickets this year. College football news. Curtis Enis will not be playing in the bowl game against Florida, neither will Joe Jurevicius. Penn State is in trouble.
If you wanted hype for the Rose bowl, read the newspaper, or watch it on TV. There have been a handful of stories each day in each medium, and it is thankfully mostly behind us now. In 15 hours, the game will begin. When it is over, we will see whether U-M can claim the national championship after 50 years. It will be decided on the field, and not here on a conferencing system. We will get to talk about it afterwards, though, and that's part of the fun. I'll be back.
Michigan won the Rose Bowl 21-16 in a game that was exciting until the last second. Especially the last second. I read some whining in the newspapers that the last second went by too fast. Well, of course it didn't go by too fast for M fans, but you have to remember that after a 1st down stoppage (which that was) the clock starts when the ball is put in play, not when it is snapped. The offense has to set for a full second in order to avoid being called for an illegal snap. I think the clock was legit. I also think that they missed an obvious offensive pass interference call several plays earlier on a long pass from Leaf which Woodson would have intercepted if he hadn't been knocked down illegally. No call. Hmm. These things happen, they're supposed to even themselves out. I never trusted that theory. Fortunately, M didn't lose the game on such an obvious blown call by the refs. The game by rights should not have been so exciting there at the end, though. Leaf was trying to go 80 yards in the last 30 seconds. After tonights Orange Bowl, depending on the results and depending even more on the results of the voting, we will find out who the various media types think ought to win the National Championship. that poll will be released Saturday morning. M fans will be rooting for Tennessee, of course, because if Nebraska doesn't win, there won't be any controversy. If Nebraska does win, I don't see any way to avoid a lot of whining from one place or the other. There wasn't any doubt that Brian Griese was the Rose Bowl MVP, with two perfect 50+ yard bombs to Streets and a 23 yard TD pass to Tuman. I was not shocked that he threw those long passes successfully. Apparently everyone else was. Some newspaper writer wrote that Carol Burnett (Grand Marshall) tossed the coin farther than Griese was supposed to be able to. Well, she did make quite a long toss, but my point is that no one gave Griese the credit he deserves. He truly played in the shadow of Ryan Leaf. Woodson was his usual incredible self. How high was he off the ground when he made that interception in the end zone? There are some nice pictures on the CNNSI web site. Here's a quote: Black (running back for WSU) claimed that if he had been able to play the whole game, WSU would have won. I think that's bullsh*t. No one has run on Michigan all year, so why should he be any different?
There has to be a better way to select the National Champion. Leaving it to media types and coaches is no way to run a railroad. I think there should be a final bowl among the teams with the best records, and let the winner of that bowl be the National Champion.
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