Um1994

October 22nd, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^

I'm with you.  Same with beating a top-10 (or 15) team on the road.  Do it once and break the curse.  Psychology plays a role with athletes.  Maybe the kids play tight in big games on the road because they are expecting the same thing many of us are.  Waiting for that shot to the jaw...then when it comes from a big play, a fumble, or interception, their fears are confirmed.  Get that win and it may come easier next time.

cbutter

October 22nd, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^

I don't have to listen to Valenti, this board does it all the time. Iowa was supposed to be a big game, until it wasn't. MSU last year was a big game, until it wasn't. Wisconsin 2016 was a big game, until it wasn't. BYU 2015. Northwestern 2015. The list goes on and on. 

The only game that anyone will consider a big game is Ohio State. Had Michigan won that game last year, however, people would have pointed to the fact that OSU lost to Purdue and had dog fights with Maryland and Nebraska. 

RXwolverine

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^

A win on Saturday can keep the team together and focused on the rest of the season. I don’t know what to make of this game tbh. Notre dame has looked flawless some weeks and looked like horseshit others. I really hope we pull this one out

Drew Henson's Backup

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^

Harbaugh writing notes: "Go...on...4th...down."

Gattis writing notes: "Throw...downfield...to...talented...receivers."

yossarians tree

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^

That was a great call (by Gary Moeller, I believe?). I don't know why we don't see that play more often. You got a defense heavy in the box and biting hard on 4th and short. Get a playmaker isolated one-on-one and do the old down-out-and-up. 

If this team needs to find an offensive identity, I'll suggest one. Be aggressive! Have fun! Our head coach is not Kirk Ferentz. It is not Paul Chryst. It's Jim Fucking Harbaugh!

Ty Butterfield

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^

The record against teams ranked in the top 10 is beyond depressing. You would think at some point Michigan would get a lucky bounce or figure out a way to win one of these games. Seems to defy logic and statistics.

smwilliams

October 22nd, 2019 at 6:35 PM ^

I mean, it’s not like they’ve been setup for success. They’ve lost either bowl games, road games, the 2015 MSU game which was unfair, and OSU. 
 

The one home game against a non-OSU top 10 team was the 2016 Wisconsin game (again, excluding, 2015 MSU). They tripled their yardage and won by 7 because they missed 3 FGs.

DB33

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^

That has seemed to be the mantra of this team.  Get to a sluggish start.  And so far this season it has hurt them in the big games.  This is another game that they cannot afford to start slow.  Need to throw that first punch and play with a lead in a big game!!

Mongo

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^

Commentary on ND this season is not nearly as strong as last year - why not and then, also, why are they rated #8 with a loss to a disappointing Georgia ?  Some folks are saying ND is over-rated this year ... thoughts ?

mcpasty

October 23rd, 2019 at 7:15 PM ^

Georgia is overrated?  Michigan couldn't even beat a bunch of hayseeds on the road; in fact your bung got caved in.

How about Mich?  Your D-line is avg at best; linebackers outside of Mcgrone took 3 steps back with Bush leaving. 

You got your army 2OT win though.

mGrowOld

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^

I was at that game where "the catch" took place and will always remember it.  But what is never talked about is how bat-shit crazy of a play call that really was.  Moeller had Ricky Powers going for over 170 yards that day and it was 4th and less than a yard from the ND 25 and he dialed up a deep end zone fade to Desmond. 

Good results always trump logic and reason, especially with the benefit of hindsight,  but man that call was nuts.  

saveferris

October 22nd, 2019 at 3:20 PM ^

I was a Junior at the time and my buddies and I were all surprised that we were passing up attempting the 42 yard field goal, but then Grbac threw the fade route.  As fans who grew up watching Bo play it pretty conservative, we were flabbergasted that a Michigan coach would take such a risk.

After 4 straight losses to the Irish, I sat in Michigan Stadium for like 45 minutes after the game ended just smiling and soaking in the win.  Great day.

Don

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^

In our last 10 games in A2, we're 8-2 against ND. The two ND victories were in 2005 and 1993. 

Bizarrely, neither RR or Hoke lost to ND at home.

1974

October 22nd, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^

Funny, that was a great win over a good ND team. Michigan also beat a good Iowa team.

What I remember most, though, are the big losses to Florida State (at home, natch) and Washington in the Rose Bowl.

I guess that makes me a typical Michigan fan.

OSUtopia

October 22nd, 2019 at 6:48 PM ^

This is a "big game" Saturday. One of the top games of the CFB season. After getting back from OSU/UW, I look forward to watching it. 

I think UM fans should be really excited about it. If UM continues its play from the PSU game, mid-2Q thru 4Q, it will win on Saturday. And I believe the nation will certainly notice. UM's ranking will improve and I would bet UM goes into 11/30 at 9-2 and a good shot to win.

Does UM turn the corner on Saturday?