Thank You James Madison

Submitted by kman23 on

Thank you James Madison for your amazing victory at Va Tech today. No longer will THE HORROR be considered the single biggest upset in college football history. You have now attached Va Tech/JMU game, doubling the all time most embarrassing games to 2. Sure Va Tech is coming off just 6 days of rest but you holding Tyrod Taylor 210 total yards and 16 points makes Michigan's offense look competent in THE HORROR. What ever happened to Beamer's amazing defenses? They got run over by Boise and followed that up by allowing JMU to score on a 77 yard pass and have their unathletic slow QB run for 2 TDs (7 and 12 yards) in the 2nd half.

Thank you for also making Boise State look like nothing special. I really hate teams that play 1-2 hard games a year and expect a BCS bowl. Now, VA Tech can't be considered a big win. Boise, just join the Big 12 already and try and beat some real teams besides TCU.

Also.... does anyone else feel slightly better after UCONN destroyed Texas Southern 62-3. I'm watching a replay of the game now and man does UCONN's offense and defense look 10x better than last week.  UCONN's O-line is creating huge holes even when Texas Southern sends 6-7 guys. UCONN's RB just gashed the defense for 45 yards. Wow. Makes Michigan's defensive play seem even better. UCONN's defense has also stopped Texas Southern twice, TWICE, on 3rd and long. Either they were really nervous playing in the Big House and were just off or our defense is better than I thought. Yes, I know it's Texas Southern, but UCONN has easily moved the ball down the field twice and put up 10 points in 1/2 of the 1st quarter. 7 minutes and nearly 150 total yards.

Comments

MBAgoblue

September 12th, 2010 at 12:35 AM ^

thank you india
thank you terror
thank you disillusionment
thank you frailty
thank you consequence
thank you thank you silence

But... appy st. is still bigger than VT. the shock value of that loss may never be repeated.

Joined: 07/09/2008

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Brodie

September 12th, 2010 at 3:48 AM ^

Yep. The meh reaction to this upset is the proof... there's been nary a mention that a ranked team lost to an FCS opponent largely because we've seen it before and the shock was so extreme that it will never quite be on that level again. I'd go so far as to say The Horror has made it somewhat okay to lose to FCS teams. It's become the new losing to a MAC team.

Joined: 11/19/2008

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cjm

September 12th, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^

Nothing makes The Horror any easier.  Okay a national cahmpionship would go a long way.

I also watched the UConn game a little and was shocked at how good they looked (and of course I understand it was against Texas Southern.)

Joined: 11/17/2008

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TSWC

September 12th, 2010 at 12:51 AM ^

I dont have anything against Boise State, but I was a little annoyed with all the people claiming that last week's win over VT was some major statement. It was on paper, but it was very clear to me that VT was not playing well at all. Their loss today shows that they aren't playing even close to well. Maybe they'll turn it around, but right now VT is not a good football team.

Joined: 09/08/2009

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UMAmaizinBlue

September 12th, 2010 at 12:52 AM ^

But VaTech's defense was still decimated by graduation. Only 2 of their starting defensemen had more than 5 starts under their belts coming into this season. Sure, VaTech has had very stellar defenses in the last 5 or 6 years, but this is not going to be one of those years.

Joined: 09/23/2009

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STW P. Brabbs

September 12th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^

3-9 is the lowest of low points.  Even on a week by week basis, our loss to OSU in 2008 that put us at 3-9 was lower than the Appy State game, even if it was less shocking because we'd been building toward it all year. 

What's lower than resigning yourself to getting your ass kicked by OSU to end up with the worst season in Michigan history?

Joined: 08/27/2008

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MGoPacquiao

September 12th, 2010 at 4:00 AM ^

I understand not wanting to see BSU in the national championship game, but they do try to get marquee non-conference games and generally do well on the big stage.  Brian has written on here about their AD openly campaigning to play an away game against any national power (with no home game in return).  It doesn't seem like switching to the MWC is going to be that much a step up, especially with Utah leaving, but I doubt they were involved in serious discussion for the expanding Pac10 either.

Joined: 12/13/2008

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Alaska Hokie

September 12th, 2010 at 6:05 AM ^

I feel less bad with this than I did with the Horror, because I know VT is a much better team than the loss to JMU showed. The fact that they hung with BSU and could have beaten the Broncos if one of several plays had gone differently shows that.

With the Horror, you came to realize that the loss wasn't something out of kilter -- that the team really was that bad. That's what made it hurt so much more. VT can run the table in the ACC -- losses by Georgia Tech, Miami, FSU, et al. demonstrate that it's going to be another wacky year in that conference.

VT can still go to a BCS game, but you knew after the Horror that Michigan's season wasn't going anywhere. Here, there's still an entire conference season to be played, and the ACC's struggles overall show that it's a wide-open conference.

Joined: 07/11/2008

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Rasmus

September 12th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^

[AP rankings] Sure, they got stunned in the opener by an Appalachian State team that would go on to win the FCS championship, after also winning it in 2005 and 2006. [Side note: they played UMass in the 2006 FCS championship.] We'll see, but I doubt James Madison is anything close to that level this year -- they were 6-5 last year. 

Otherwise the 2007 Wolverines lost to an Oregon team that climbed to #2 before Dixon got hurt in week 13 (he's currently the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers), #22 Wisconsin (climbed to #18 after beating Michigan), and #5 Ohio State (climbed to #1 after beating Michigan). They beat ND 38-0, Penn State, Michigan State, #13 Illinois, and #9 Florida.

They finished the season at #18.

Joined: 07/02/2009

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lexus larry

September 12th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^

The article I googled last night to read up on the debacle the ACC endured yesterday mentioned the VaTech loss in the context of 'this loss mirrors the last time an FCS team beat a ranked team' was indeed our HORROR.

Joined: 01/22/2009

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MGoShoe

September 12th, 2010 at 9:15 AM ^

...James Madison for being the mastermind behind the Constitution of the United States and for his tireless service on behalf of our nation as member of the Continental Congress, Secretary of State, and two-term POTUS. 

Tourism plug.  Go see Montpelier next time you're in Virginia.  The house has been restored to its 1820 configuration and is a great visit for all history buffs. 

Joined: 04/23/2009

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MGoTarHeel

September 12th, 2010 at 9:28 AM ^

While not a bigger loss on the national stage or anything (VT doesn't have quite the national profile, nor were they ranked #5), I will say that for Virginia Tech fans this loss may have actually hurt more.

JMU is less than 3 hours away. Most of these students have friends that go there who had come to the game just looking to get drunk and watch the ritual slaughter. The previous meetings between these two teams? VT wins by a combined 92-0! The place was flooded with jMU fans, most of whom were going to be around for the whoooole weekend just to rub it in. Heck, Drew (the QB from the Dukes who went all Terrelle Pryor on the Hokies) was my girlfriend's high school QB!

So while I would never deign to say that The Horror was anything less than what it was, I would say that right now it is much more painful to be a Hokie.

Joined: 09/03/2009

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markusr2007

September 12th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^

But if we are all intellectually honest with ourselves there is no way JMU's win at Va Tech overshadows or lessens the shock value of what Jerry Moore's Appalachian State team did to one of the most talented Michigan teams in recent memory - the Lloyd Carr/Ron English and Mike Debord Michigan team of 2007. 

I get where you're coming from, and I kind of want to be there with you.  It's a more comforting place.  But what you're suggesting is silly.

Just be happy that Michigan has somehow turned the tables since then.  Today the Wolverines have their own model and version of Armanti Edwards to give people a coronary.

Joined: 10/21/2008

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Hail2Victors

September 12th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^

After two big wins and two not so exciting games coming up, hopefully the coaches can use the JMU upset as a teaching moment.   Denard is so amazing but I also worry about the long term wear and tear on him.   Hopefully UM can blow out the UMass, BG and IU in first half so we can see more of Tate and Devin in the coming weeks in the second halves so they too can get some live game reps. 

Nonetheless, I just can't get over Denard.   He is Mr. Cool.   He is so fun to watch.

Joined: 09/01/2009

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maiznbob

September 12th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^

your impartial opinion. Please don't ever support your statements with fact! Michigan is not quite ready to seat themselves behind #1 Alabama or #2 Ohio State. If they win their remaining games, there's no doubt that they will replace Boise State and Ohio state in the top three. Right now I am more than pleased with their first two wins. OTH Chris Peterson is doing a heck of a job with the players that he's able to recruit. With one or two additional undefeated seasons he should be a high-paid NFL HC. I'm going to save this just in case someone says I'm nuts.

Joined: 01/24/2010

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nmajali

September 12th, 2010 at 5:12 PM ^

To be honest, after the decrease of scholarships for the bigger leagues, these schools have started getting bette quality players and they are full of surprises... they actually scare the shit out of me... no need for a tune up game, play 2 MAC schools instead!! Lets just be hopeful and hope no resting happens in these games!!

Joined: 08/19/2010

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318wolverine2007

September 12th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^

Actually they do.  They change the rule back a few years ago to where one FCS win per year can count towards bowl eligibility, provided that FCS school offers at least 90% of its 63 scholarships over a 2 year period.

That being said, nothing will ever replace losing to App. State, and UConn's performance didn't prove much.  Texas Southern is an FCS team, and not a good one at that.  Virtually any BCS conference team would beat them by 50+.

Joined: 09/12/2010

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Magnum P.I.

September 12th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^

While it certainly is an <ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!!!> big upset when an FCS team beats a ranked opponent, it's not as far-fetched as most media types would like us to think. There's enough well-coached talent sprinkled throughout all the ranks of Division I football that these things will happen more and more often. It's just too bad that we had to be first <LEADERS AND BEST!!!>. 

Joined: 07/16/2009

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Space Coyote

September 12th, 2010 at 5:49 PM ^

...has been said in reply to this diary, except for the fact that this shouldn't be a diary.  I'm fine with this as a board topic, but this really doesn't belong as a diary, sorry.  Diaries are typically something that could go up on the front page, or are a series of longer posts, or bring something completely new to the forefront.  This is not that.

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