FrankMurphy

September 27th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^

Those rankings are based largely on research and grad programs, and I think it's implied that Rittenberg means undergraduate academics (which makes sense, since the campus life at most big universities is driven by the undergrads). With the exception of engineering, Northwestern is more highly regarded for undergraduate studies than U-M. 

oriental andrew

September 27th, 2010 at 5:29 PM ^

Academics: I'd give the nod to Northwestern, but only barely over Michigan.

AD: I agree with the choice for Dave Brandon.  Heck, I would've given it to Bill Martin, too.

City: I've only been to 7 Big Ten towns, and Madison isn't one of them.  Based on that, I'd have to give the nod to Ann Arbor (over Bloomington, Champaign, Evanston, Cbus, Minneapolis, and EL).  

Coach: Based on recent results AND future outlook, I grudgingly agree with Tressel.  He has the results, MNC games notwithstanding.

Facilities: I'm not too familiar with the facilities as such, but I've always heard great things about OSU's and Michigan's facilities, especially after the recent "upgrades" at UM.  I can't argue with his pick of OSU, though.

Fans: Penn State?  I guess they're coordinated and loud.  Bunch of pricks, though. 

Game Day Atmosphere:  I've only been to away games at 3 different schools, so can't really comment (Champaign, EL, Evanston).  No argument with his choice of Happy Valley.

Mascot: Sparty wins this almost by default since they banned Chief Illiniwek.  

Stadium:  No arguments here, given that Michigan could still use some work in terms of being consistently loud.  When we're loud, we're deafening.  But too many breaks in the action, so to speak.

Strength Program: Barwis has wolves.  'Nuff said. 

Tater

September 27th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^

The game is in the process of passing Tressel by.  While he has gotten the best results since he has been at OSU, I will take RR over Tressel in this era of football. Whether it is this year or next year, RR will "crack the code" against Tressel.  And when he does, a new streak will start.

Zone Left

September 27th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^

In what way has the game passed Tressel?  The streak of Big 10 titles, the great recruiting classes, or the pantsing of an elite future offense in last year's Rose Bowl?  Sorry, they're kings until someone pushes them off the mountain.

Not a Blue Fan

September 27th, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^

I agree completely. I'd take the guy who is under .500 in the conference against the guy who has won the conference 5 straight years (going on 6). I mean, this year Tressel might win a national championship and set a record for consecutive 10+ win seasons, but he's clearly on a downward slide.

On a more sane topic, I'd actually take Madison over AA, but it's close. Madison is just so beautiful with all the lakes nearby. Camp Randall can't touch Beaver Stadium in terms of being a hostile environment, though.

clarkiefromcanada

September 28th, 2010 at 1:16 AM ^

I think Tressel deserves his respect while at the same time being reasonable enough to acknowledge that there are absolute warts on that program (see Clarett, Maurice etc. etc.). Saban's no different, nor Jimmy Johnson or Dennis Erickson in his day. Anyway, I think the previous commentator was trying to indicate something closer to the current rising within the Michigan program. On offense at least this is absolutely a program at an elite level nationally and I will expect it to continue to gash Big Ten defenses. On defense we are currently a mid level MAC team. 

I'll give Tressel his due; you don't win that much because you're a bad coach. That said, the Rich Rodriguez future looks very bright indeed in AA. This can only make for better M/tUofOSU games with greater significance and that's a good thing. 

I look forward to November.

Not a Blue Fan

September 28th, 2010 at 6:38 AM ^

I actually think you've nailed it, although I have one point on which to quibble:

...etc. etc).

Yes? Go on? Or are you just going to keep trying to hang your hat on something that happened almost a decade ago, and has been (exhaustively, repeatedly) documented as "not something for which Jim Tressel was responsible."  

GunnersApe

September 28th, 2010 at 7:34 AM ^

AJ Hawk ($$ advances)

Doug Worthington DUI in the Cadillac Escalade (part of the JT free car program)

Troy Smith free spaghetti dinners

 Sweater Vest great exit from YSU and them getting the NCAA Sanctions ($$ and cars sound familiar)

http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/NCAANewsArchive/2000/division+i/infractions%2Bcase_%2Byoungstown%2Bstate%2Buniversity%2B-%2B2-28-00.html

 

ETC,ETC. that took a good 3 sec on Google.

Not a Blue Fan

September 28th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^

AJ Hawk ($$ advances)

Uh, sure.

Doug Worthington DUI in the Cadillac Escalade (part of the JT free car program)

DUI? Sure. Escalade? No. You're thinking of Grady (who played for...Michigan).

Troy Smith free spaghetti dinners

Are you implying that Troy Smith got food from meals on wheels? You could at least reference the thing he actually did (money from booster), and for which he was punished.

The rest of the Youngstown bullshit is exactly that: bullshit. It's been repeated here for years by the lower-intelligence Michigan posters who wander over from Scout. Nothing to do with Tressel (or, perhaps more accurately, exactly as much to do with Tressel as the document loss at WVU had to do with RR).

M-Dog

September 27th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^

The funny thing is that Penn State was not always Penn State.

It didn't really get intimidating on a national Death Valley eltie-level until recently.  That happened because of 3 main things:

- the building of the upper decks which trapped and echoed the noise,

- regular night games,

-  the White Out, which gave the students an identity.

In short, it is something that can be created.  Perhaps even at wine and cheese Michigan.