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TheVictors
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Last year, with thoughts of superhot Brunettes on his Mind, Michigan Wolverines kicker Brendan Gibbons nailed the game-winner at home against Michigan State and thousands (yours truly, his wife and friends included) stormed the field at Michigan Stadium in celebration of the CFB All-time Record in Wins, Program Win Number #900.
But this Saturday’s game will not be played in Ann Arbor and the Michigan State Spartans are coming off a very impressive road ass-whipping of the Illinois Illini, (42–3). BCS Rankings rank Michigan and Michigan State next to one another at 21 and 22, so the winner on Saturday will not only gain a huge advantage in terms of Conference standing, but in BCS ranking as well. And as has been discussed, the Line for the game seems to have swung away from most pre-season predictions and shows State as the favorite, at MSU -4.5 in early action.
And despite the Spartan offensive outburst in Champaign-Urbana, the mantra of the Spartan program under the perma-scowling D’Antonio has been Defense ….or as it was called in Columbus, “Tressel Ball” …while the strength of the Michigan squad would seem to be on the Offensive side of the ball this year.
Will it be the team that dominated Noter Dame or the team that lost to Penn State and almost did the same against Akron and UConn? For the Michigan offense, this game comes down to Devin Gardner. Turnovers, coupled with odd play-calling, has resulted in a very “bi-polar” Michigan team -- at times the offense can seem unstoppable, while in other games, seems completely vanilla.
Say what you will about the running backs and whether or not Jeremy Gallon’s Big Ten Record-Setting performance last week puts him in the same conversation as AC, Andre Rison, Desmond or other legendary B10 WRs and realize that this game is entirely in DG’s hands and his ability to withstand Spartan pressure and/or create plays with his feet.
Because Michigan isn’t supposed to lose to State on a regular basis and ….Bo... Lloyd, even Fritz “Winged Helmet” Crisler knew this. Maybe going (1-4) in the past six years (6-4 in the past decade) against “little brother” has the team believing the coaches’ hyperbole about getting back to “Michigan Football” and all its exaggerated lore. ….. Maybe scoring 65% of the points in the all-time series record means nothing in face of the recent trend for Michigan to score fewer points but ... a win is a win and a loss is a loss.
…So if Brady Hoke is in fact, by right of birth or otherwise, a member of the House of Schembechler, he needs to win this game on the road and show something we haven’t seen.
If this Michigan team has truly begun the transition to being what Hoke and his staff has been selling, this is the game to demonstrate that because it’s on the road and against a physical rival that owned Rich Rod and his finesse “basketball on grass” nonsense that we are supposed to have graduated beyond.
Meanwhile... Michigan State has shown over the past many years this game means much more than any other game on the schedule……
This isn’t just about touchdowns and field goals; this game is about every C+ and every B- you ever got in high school that pushed you further away from getting into Michigan… This game is about every Michigan recruiter who was at your high school game to watch “that 4* guy” on the other team, instead of you. This game is about “Righting a Wrong” that goes something like (68-32-5) or …..losing twice for every time you win, going back to 1902’s (119-0) loss in Ann Arbor.
I know; games that happened way back when, and when including them in the record book sucks for you …. that you don’t think they should count……… but seriously; One-Hundred and Nineteen to Zero…..?!
No wonder you hate us so much!!!
…………….as for the condition of my lawn, I think we should winterize and blowout the sprinklers. What do you think?!
So post your predictions and provide some supportive analysis, but save the Woofing and Barking for the other 3-or-so threads already created for that …..it’s Rivalry Week ...FERGODSAKES!!!! GO BLUE!!!!
~Vic
But this Saturday’s game will not be played in Ann Arbor and the Michigan State Spartans are coming off a very impressive road ass-whipping of the Illinois Illini, (42–3). BCS Rankings rank Michigan and Michigan State next to one another at 21 and 22, so the winner on Saturday will not only gain a huge advantage in terms of Conference standing, but in BCS ranking as well. And as has been discussed, the Line for the game seems to have swung away from most pre-season predictions and shows State as the favorite, at MSU -4.5 in early action.
And despite the Spartan offensive outburst in Champaign-Urbana, the mantra of the Spartan program under the perma-scowling D’Antonio has been Defense ….or as it was called in Columbus, “Tressel Ball” …while the strength of the Michigan squad would seem to be on the Offensive side of the ball this year.
Will it be the team that dominated Noter Dame or the team that lost to Penn State and almost did the same against Akron and UConn? For the Michigan offense, this game comes down to Devin Gardner. Turnovers, coupled with odd play-calling, has resulted in a very “bi-polar” Michigan team -- at times the offense can seem unstoppable, while in other games, seems completely vanilla.
Say what you will about the running backs and whether or not Jeremy Gallon’s Big Ten Record-Setting performance last week puts him in the same conversation as AC, Andre Rison, Desmond or other legendary B10 WRs and realize that this game is entirely in DG’s hands and his ability to withstand Spartan pressure and/or create plays with his feet.
Because Michigan isn’t supposed to lose to State on a regular basis and ….Bo... Lloyd, even Fritz “Winged Helmet” Crisler knew this. Maybe going (1-4) in the past six years (6-4 in the past decade) against “little brother” has the team believing the coaches’ hyperbole about getting back to “Michigan Football” and all its exaggerated lore. ….. Maybe scoring 65% of the points in the all-time series record means nothing in face of the recent trend for Michigan to score fewer points but ... a win is a win and a loss is a loss.
…So if Brady Hoke is in fact, by right of birth or otherwise, a member of the House of Schembechler, he needs to win this game on the road and show something we haven’t seen.
If this Michigan team has truly begun the transition to being what Hoke and his staff has been selling, this is the game to demonstrate that because it’s on the road and against a physical rival that owned Rich Rod and his finesse “basketball on grass” nonsense that we are supposed to have graduated beyond.
Meanwhile... Michigan State has shown over the past many years this game means much more than any other game on the schedule……
This isn’t just about touchdowns and field goals; this game is about every C+ and every B- you ever got in high school that pushed you further away from getting into Michigan… This game is about every Michigan recruiter who was at your high school game to watch “that 4* guy” on the other team, instead of you. This game is about “Righting a Wrong” that goes something like (68-32-5) or …..losing twice for every time you win, going back to 1902’s (119-0) loss in Ann Arbor.
I know; games that happened way back when, and when including them in the record book sucks for you …. that you don’t think they should count……… but seriously; One-Hundred and Nineteen to Zero…..?!
No wonder you hate us so much!!!
…………….as for the condition of my lawn, I think we should winterize and blowout the sprinklers. What do you think?!
So post your predictions and provide some supportive analysis, but save the Woofing and Barking for the other 3-or-so threads already created for that …..it’s Rivalry Week ...FERGODSAKES!!!! GO BLUE!!!!
~Vic
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