Let's not repeat the mistake of 2006 . . . we need to lobby our case, HARD.
In 2006 after #2 Michigan lost to #1 Ohio State in a nail-biter, Lloyd gracefully stepped away and let the pundits and talking heads make of it what they will.
Meanwhile, Urban Meyer *ahem* dubiously lobbied long and loudly for Florida to be included in the BCS championship game. It worked, and Florida got to take advantage of an opportunity that could have been ours.
Let’s not make that same mistake a decade later.
We have a voice now due to the internet and social media, and we have a coach that will stand up for us.
All that Zapruder analysis of a single game changing call by mere inches, and Harbaugh’s call-out of obvious referee bias . . . plus the self-evident results of a 2 OT game in Columbus OH are starting to sink in to the broader media: Michigan and Ohio State are two absolutely evenly matched teams.
CFP #2A and #2B.
If the CFP committee thinks that Ohio State is one of the 4 best teams, then they have to think that Michigan is one of the 4 best teams. If Ohio State goes, we go. Both of us go or neither of us goes.
This truth is starting to take hold in the media at large after they have had some time to absorb the full results of The Game. And you know that the CFP committee is paying attention. When even guys like Pat Forde start to make the case for Michigan in the CFP, you know you have a compelling case.
It’s time to make that case.
This is an internet call to arms. Get on your soapbox and preach long and loudly: If Ohio State is one of the top 4 teams, then it is self-evident that Michigan is one of the top 4 teams.
CFP #2A and #2B.
If Ohio State goes, Michigan goes. Both of us go, or neither of us goes.
You know all that energy we as a fanbase always use to win all those “best uniforms” and “best fight song” contests? Now it’s time to use that energy for something that actually matters.
We have a compelling story to tell, and it’s time to tell it. Tell it to anyone and everyone, by all media available. Unlike 2006, we and our coach have a voice now, and people are listening.
It may ultimately work out, it may not. But a decade later, we won’t repeat the same mistake of the past by sitting quietly on our hands while other programs out-hustle us.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
Wisconsin loses and Washington loses, we will be the 4th seed in the playoff. Two things: 1) We beat Penn State by 100; 2) The NCAA and the CFP would take too much negative press for Penn State being in the CFP after the early lifting of sanctions. Half of the press leading up to the playoff would be retreads of the Sandusky/Paterno stuff and that is not the press that they want.
If Wisconson wins they are in and they should be. Lost heartbreakers to Michigan and Ohio State and win the conference? Yeah, they would be in.
November 28th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^
does winning the conference mean when neither of the top 2 teams in the conference are in the title game? Wisconsin is in the title game solely on what...geographical location? UM or OSU would have clinched their division 2 weeks ago. Michigan has 3 top 10 wins to Wisc 0, and a head to head win. How could you put Wisc in over UM?
November 28th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
1) They only lost to us by 7 on the road, 2) They will have won the conference as it is currently constructed, 3) They have an athletic directlor on the committee who absolutely will not stay silent even if he does not speak on the issue directly, and 4) They have not had a child molestation scandal in the last 5 years and have not paid tribute to a key player in said scandal in the last calendar year.
I strongly believe that consideration #4 is a real thing. Does the CPF want to be discussing that for a month?
November 28th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 28th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
Need Colorado to win Saturday!
November 28th, 2016 at 10:24 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 28th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^
They should win twice, just to remove all doubt.
Take no chances.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 28th, 2016 at 10:24 AM ^
Keep it simple. Our case for the playoff comes down to two things:
1) We only have a case if Colorado wins the Pac 12. If Washington wins, let's look forward to a great bowl game.
2) If Colorado wins, the committee will be faced choosing between two teames (Colorado and either of the possible Big Ten champs) who have two losses (like Michigan) and both lost to Michigan in the regular season.
In that scenario, I think we should be pissed if we don't make it and we should be lobbying the internets hard!
November 28th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
Exactly.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 11:15 AM ^
The lesson learned from 2006 is this: "You don't get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate." Just like it says in the airplane magazine ads.
Who cares who is more "deserving"? What matters is what the committee decides. If they decide that Ohio State is one of the 4 best teams, then Michigan is one of the 4 best teams by that exact same logic.
Is it "fair" to the Big Ten winner? No, but it's not about what's fair. It's about what the committee decides.
No point in being shy about getting evedence out there to help influence their decision in our direction. Somebody has to be picked and somebody has to stay home. We might as well be the ones picked.
What's the difference if Wisc / PSU is pissed or we're pissed?
November 28th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^
What the fuck was "dubious" about Meyer's lobbying? And make up your mind - was Carr's refusal to lobby "graceful" or a "mistake"?
November 28th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^
Long shot, but I really do believe that we have a chance.
Alabama and OSU are locks. After that, it gets fuzzy. If Washington and Clemson lose, I think we would be in. We would have beaten BOTH teams playing in the B1G Championship game (one of which we beat badly). We would have also beaten the PAC Champion. And, our loss to OSU - the concensus #2 in the country - was in double overtime. In that scenerio, I could see the playoffs being Bama, OSU, Michigan and either the Big Ten winner, Colorado or even Oklahoma.
Things get a bit harder assuming that Clemson wins. They would lock in a third spot, and it would be between us, Colorado (PAC champ), Oklahoma, and the B10 Champ. I could see us not getting chosen there.
What is going in our favor is potential ratings. The NCAA is amongst the most blatant batch of $$ whores ever. The Game this year - played at NOON!!! - was the highest rated CFB game of the season, and it wasn't even close. A rematch, after all of the controversy about "the spot" might just be too much to pass up.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
In your scenario where it is between us, Colorado, Oklahoma, and the Big 10 Champ we have an argument still. We beat Colorado and the Big 10 Champ head to head, and Oklahoma got smoked by Ohio State who we lost to in 2OT on their field.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
it's a no-brainer. We have a better resume than all those teams.
If you are actually trying to pick the 4 best teams, you would not pick any of those teams over us. Nobody would.
And realistically, you would not pick Washington either.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^
Agree, let's whine and moan about a 50-50 call that didn't go our way. Instead of putting steal in our spines and moving on to a gret bowl game and devloping our young talent, let's cry about refs.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^
GTFO with that bullshit. Not everyone is crying about refs and please learn to fucking spell. It's steel not steal.
November 28th, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^
The refs screwing up one less call is likely enough for us to escape. This isn't grasping at straws in the face of a 30 point loss. This is home cooking stealing the game from us
November 28th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
If Washington and Clemson both win then I'm fully in the "only conference champions should be in the CFP" camp to keep osu out.
HOWEVA,
If one or both lose then I am fully in the "the 4 best teams should get in irregardlessly and without regard" camp to get us in.
We shall see which it will be come Saturday night.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
the goal is to have the 4 best teams in the country play in the playoff, not the most deserving. Can't have it both ways depending on this Saturday.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
This^
That is exactly my point in this thread. You can't have it both ways.
If you are going for "deserving" and rewarding conference champions, that's perfectly fine. it's a perfectly legit point of view.
But if you are going for 4 best - and you are picking non-division winner Ohio State - then you need to pick Michigan for the exact same reason.
Saturday showed one thing conclusively: Michigan = Ohio State.
CFP #2A and #2B.
We are attached to Ohio State like a barnacle. If they go, we go. If you want to reward conference winners instead, then neither of us should go.
November 28th, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
I have a sinking feeling that there will be one spot left, and OSU will be selected on account of having one fewer loss and the head-to-head "victory."
In other words, I worry that there will be a compromise between most deserving and best. I definitely agree that there aren't four better teams in college football this year than Michigan. My list is exactly one team long, as it appears yours is.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
I do think that we as a fanbase have some ability to move the needle here, even if only a bit, by getting the conversation going - and keeping it going - on all of the various interwebs. I am not really on social media, but for those who are, we really need to get something catchly like #TheGameRematch trending bigtime. We have one of the largest and most fervent alumni fanbases in the country - let's make this happen!
November 28th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
And it appears that the media and the CFP committee itself based on some possible inside knowledge by UMbig11, are trending in this direction.
They are right at a tipping point. Every little bit will help to push them over to our side.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 28th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^
#MICHIGAN CFP2B
November 28th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^
I said thin in another thread but along with beating the drum for inclusion in the final four Jim also needs to call out the B1G for the selection of that particular officiating crew on Saturday. The average person has no idea of their background and their ties to OSU so as of now, Harbaugh just looks like he's bitching cause we lost.
This morning I was discussing the game with at least six OSU fans and not one had any idea that the refs had any tie to OSU at all. None. And if they dont I'm pretty sure most people out there dont as well.
Harbaugh needs to lead his presser today with "I want to know who selected the officials for our game Saturday and based on what criteria." The world needs to know the deck was stacked against us from the jump.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
This is the critical issue going forward for the conference, and for Michigan. Jim can play a role as constructive as Bo did in the early 1970s.
Back then, the conference had an idiotic "Rose Bowl only" policy on post-season play, which cost the 1970, '72, '73, and '74 teams—which lost a total of 3 games between them in four years—a chance to play in another major bowl. It was Bo's advocacy—and yes, bitching—to finally persuade the conference to pull its head out of its ass.
In 2016, a conference that had almost $450 million dollars in revenue for the 2015 fiscal year is still using the archaic system of employing part-time referees and game officials whose selection criteria is far less than transparent, and in the UM-OSU situation, easily faulted for the appearance of favoritism. It's well past time to change this. The players who are literally putting their health on the line deserve better from the conference. Considering that TV revenues are dramatically increasing, the notion that the money isn't available is horseshit.
And Harbaugh cannot be the only Michigan person advocating for change, either. This is a time for Warde Manuel to step up and be an advocate as well. It's what Don Canham would have done.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
I'm ready to change my profile picture and wear a ribbon!
November 28th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
SIAP... Why the Big Ten title game is another example of college football's disorganization
Via Dan Wetzel/Yahoo.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
Michigan is also at 10-2 – with two excruciatingly close road losses – and boast head-to-head victories over both Penn State and Wisconsin (plus Colorado in non-league play). As such, the Wolverines actually have a better résumé for the selection committee than whoever actually wins the Big Ten.
This is a statement that nobody was making on Saturday. Momentum is going our way.
IT'S HAPPENING!
November 28th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
And it's because of you
November 28th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
If it happens it will be because of us. All of us.
The Team, The Team, The Team.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:01 AM ^
The divisions really need to be reshuffed. Delany won't do it because he is clueless...but for the sake of competitive balance Michigan or Ohio should move to the other division.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 28th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 28th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
In a system that is based on people's votes, this is a lesson I hope we have learned by now.
There is no virtue in "staying above the fray". In college football, lobbying is part of the game itself. It just is. Who cares if we like it or not?
We need to be as good at it as we are at blocking punts.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
We made our case on Saturday and it wasn't a good enough one.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
Except that it was.
November 28th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
It just sucks that Penn State is the division champ.
On the other hand, crushing them 49-10 is a good look for Michigan.
Michigan made PSU look like a HS team. It was utter domination.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
If we hadn't crapped our pants in Iowa City, a one-loss Michigan team would have had a plausible argument for inclusion even after the loss in Columbus.
But we did crap our pants, and the string of events that's now required for us to squeak into the playoffs is so long as to be unlikely in the extreme.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
The Iowa game is going to screw us. If we were 11-1 with our only loss being to OSU the way it happened then we would also be a lock to the playoffs too.
If Wisconsin wins the B1G then the comittee will probably treat OSU as the "de-facto" Big Ten champ since they beat Wisconsin on the road. Heck if Wisconsin wins they could end up in the playoff ahead of Michigan by virtue of being the Big Ten champs.
All being said and done I expect Michigan to be anywhere from 5th to 7th after the conference championship games in the CFP poll.
If you want something to root for, Michigan is still alive with the likeliest scenario being Colorado beats Washington, and PSU beats Wisconsin. Then Michigan will have beaten the Pac 12 champ and blown out the big ten champion. In that scenario I could see the comittee having us at 4 and PSU/Colorado at 5/6. PSU vs Colorado would make the Rose Bowl happy to have the big ten and pac 12 champion represented.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^
1) Bama
.
.
.
2) OSU, UM
.
.
.
3) USC
4) Clemson, Washington, Wisconsin
Bama is pretty obvious, undefeated and seems to have very few weaknesses, despite playing a very mediocre schedule.
UM and OSU are essentially even, but clearly seem a step down from Bama
USC is playing some of the best football in the country right now and has talent everywhere. Obviously can't put a 3 loss non-conference winner in, but in a real playoff I don't think anyone would want to play them right now.
Clemson, Washington, and Wisconsin are all good teams but don't seem elite anywhere, outside of Clemson with Watson at QB, and maybe an argument can be made for Wisconsin's overall defens.
Comepletely unbiasedly, UM - with a 100% healthy Speight - poses the best challenge to Alabama on a neutral field. I think their D-line eventually wrecks our O-line, causing our defense to be on the field for way to long, and they win by 10-14 points.
OSU will get eaten alive by Bama since they can't throw downfield.
The rest of the field is really a step down.
November 28th, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^
If I recall correctly, I think we lost to both Iowa and Ohio State and came out #3 in our own division. There is no reason Michigan should be in the playoff. The team had a chance and blew it. It sucks, but it's reality.
Let's face it, if this was another fan base in a similar situation we'd be making fun of them about as hard as possible. Let's apply the same rules to ourselves.
If they hadn't've blown it against Iowa I'd be on board, but they blew it against Iowa so here we all are.
November 28th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
Clemson blew it against Pitt at home and they are still in it. And they don't have an Ohio State type game on their resume.
Every team vying for that 4th spot has some holes. Ours are no worse than anybody else's.
We showed on Saturday what level of team we are. A 1 point loss on the road at night at top 25 Iowa does nothing to "disqualify" us.
We have as legit a case as anybody else in contention for the 4th spot.
November 29th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
Let's see what happens next week, as of right now Michigan is #3 in it's own division and is up against division and conference champions. I just don't see it and nor do I think Michigan really has the right case.
The loss to Iowa and Ohio State do disqualify Michigan as those losses dropped Michigan to third place in its own division. There's just no way I see a path to the playoffs out of that.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^