Dear V-tech fans:
You were not robbed in this game. The "touchdown", in fact, was not a touchdown. Upon review, the football made contact with the ground and was loosey-goosey. No there was no politicking on part of the refs. The refs got the right call on the review. Read the rule book.
As for the argument that "we should have won because we dominated Michigan", well, first of all, should've, would've, could've. You lost because, as John Madden would say, "usually the team that scores the most points wins the game" and you did not score more points than us.
And second of all, as for being more dominant than us, well, that is not entirely true. While your rushing D was pretty darn on the whole game, your passing D folded and gave up two HUGE-GINORMOUS-MAMMOTH TDs to Jr. Also, let's be frank, even though your offense had more yards than ours, I would not call the performance of your offense exactly dominant. Following the first TD made by Jr. (the score being 7-6) you were pretty much playing catch-up the rest of the game. Our D, especially in the red zone, played pretty well. Factor in the fumble, the sacks, the interception by Clark, yup, you did not dominate this game.
Again, your rushing D was solid but, overall, you need to stop whining and recognize that you lost fair and square.
Warmest regards and Go Blue!!!
Yours truly,
A very happy Michigan fan =)
January 4th, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^
You should post this in a VT blog as well and then share the link here. It could get very entertaining.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
You have the wrong school - its not Michigan players that would be working at McDonald's if it weren't for their football scholarship. You are thinking of Michigan STATE players. Also, you're a complete a--hole and sore loser.
(He stated that Michigan players sounded like idiots during the post-game celebration and that they would be working in McDonalds if they didn't have football scholarships. You stay classy, Tech fans!)
January 4th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
associating them with working at a fast-food restuarant is always very sad in my book. Those people work hard, get unneccessary crap from customers, and are not paid very much.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:59 AM ^
Many of us started by working fast food. Many of the people with whom we worked were quality individuals that had been dealt a bad hand in life or simply made bad decisions. I am thankful that there are people working at McDonald's, because I still enjoy McMuffins as much as I did when I worked there.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
Is that what they call the female employees?
January 4th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
the rimshot.
January 4th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^
I think the stat is that 1 out of all 9 American adults have worked at fast food at some point in their life... wrong industry to make fun of, as it provides so many jobs for so many people. And they do work hard.
January 4th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
Even worse than working fast food, if they didn't get offered a scholarship to go to Michigan, they could be playing for VT right now.
/BOOMROASTED
January 4th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
Let's be honest here. The two touchdowns to Hemingway were both into decent double coverage. One required the ball to go through a Tech defender's hands and fall in to the lap of Hemingway while the two defenders collided, and the other was a miraculous pass into the back of the endzone.
If VT didn't dominate the game, they sure dominated about 58 minutes of it.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
was definitely risky, but Hemingway's second TD was an amazingly well thrown ball. Robinson threw away from the defender, to Hemingway's back shoulder, and it was just high enough that if Junior didn't catch it--it would have gone out of bounds. Fantastic throw and catch.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
looked to be one of Denards "Oh well either we get it or it gets intercepted and equals a punt" moments. Really had nothing to lose at that point in the game. It was 3rd and long and an interception at that spot in the field would have made VT go 80 yards for a score. Has Denard made bad decisions this year? Yes, but sometimes his turnovers end up being the same as if we punted on 4th down anyway.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
Exactly
January 4th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
Additionally, part of that is on the defender who gambled when he went for the ball rather than playing the man and trying to knock the ball loose. That happens a lot. When it does, it usually means the receiver is running free past the DB.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
The second catch was one on one and a textbook height-matchup endzone jump ball.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
Yeah, it was one on one. I did say it was a miraculous throw.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
and I saw Tech get into the Red Zone and come away with a FG or nothing time and again. I saw Michigan's defense rise to the ocassion once on a fourth down and another time on a fake punt.
Statistics lie. They dominated nothing. They failed to capitalize on their opportunities, they had turnovers and stupid penalties. To say they dominated anything or deserved anything more than team 132 is complete horsebleep
January 4th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
but we know that that OFTEN fails to equate with victory. The more I consider the game, the less I feel we need to apologize, especially given what we managed despite being shut down and Molk's injury. Think how different the complexion of the game might have been with a health Molk in and the opening sequence performed satisfactorily: an early seven on the board and it's, arguably, quite a different affair.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
There's a saying that doesn't matter what kind of cat you have, if it can catch mouse it's a good cat. So if you can score more points than the opponent you're the better team, I mean the final score is what really everyone is seeing. I personally believe both Defenses played well, problems are Michigan couldn't run the ball and VT couln't capture TDs in the redzone. I gave a lot credits to VT's Defense, kept Denard from getting lose, but the INT, Fumble, failed 4th down opportunities really hurt them in the end. There's nothing to say regarding that VT TD call cause Refs ruled it's a TD at first, but then they reviewed and overturned it. I hope they play again in the near future. Congrats to both teams for playing their hearts out, there's no real loser in there.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
No, don't post it on a VT blog or fan page. That would be douchey. That is something I would expect from someone else's fan base, not ours. Team 132 has been a class act. Lets not ruin it.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^
Posting this on a VT fan page would put our fan base in a bad light and the OP's decision not to suggests he knows so himself. Why, then, post it here?
January 4th, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
Not to be contrarian, but I have found the Virgina Tech fans I have met this weekend to be a generally very likable group of people.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
I think any team is going to have a mix of fans who are rational, irrational, homers and realists. The Virginia Tech fans I know are all upstanding individuals. Would I be angry if my team lost a game due to errors, circumstance, bad decisions and just plain bad luck? Sure. I always am. Would it smart for a few days? Sure. Is it necessary to fuel their anger by being douchey about it? No. It makes me feel no better about it.
People have loved to hate Michigan for a long time and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. I remember being taunted by classmates when Webber called the errant timeout. They weren't even Carolina fans, but they felt the need to taunt. Let's just keep our heads high, admit that the game wasn't pretty and look forward to Team 133. With all of the amazing talent that is returning and all of the promising recruits that have decided to become Michigan Men, this should be a fun season.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
January 4th, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
Bottom line is Michigan came away with a victory. Did we deserve it based on our game play will be questioned by many I am sure. Each team had their chances to take control of the game and both stumbled. An ugly win is always better then any kind of a loss.
If VT needs to stop whining then personally I don't think we have much to gloat about either.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
Gloat? Hell, I almost feel apologetic.
I certainly know how I would feel if Michigan lost a game where they more than doubled their opponents yardage and nearly doubled their first down totals.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
2002 vs. Ohio State.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
Michigan scored more points. The end.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
The way I define a catch, it was one. But it a world where Calvin Johnson gets a TD called back after 2.3 seconds holding the damn thing with full control, I'm not surprised it was overturned. The rule is pretty much bullshit.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
The rule is that the ground cannot aid in catching the ball. The ball is allowed to touch the ground on a catch as long as receiver has secure possession. The V-Tech receiver had it in one hand, which made it less secure, and the ball did wiggle when it came in contact with the ground. I don't know, I guess some people could see it the other way, that he did have firm possession of the football. Regardless, they had like 5 opportunities to punch it into the end-zone and couldn't.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm not sure you actually read what I wrote. I'm saying that by the rules it makes sense that it was reversed, but in my book, a little wiggle is okay if you've got your hand under it. I'd sure as shit be pissed if that call was against us - and as a lions fan, I've had dozens of opportunities to experience it over the past two years.
On the other hand, this shot makes it look like he didn't quite get under it:
January 4th, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^
The reverse angle made it even more clear. The point of the ball went through his hands and made contact with the ground. It appeared to help him make the catch. Also, he was very close to the sideline when attempting to make the catch, so maybe they also considered that since the ball moved when it hit the ground he didn't get possession before going out of bounds.
Either way, 23>20. Yay.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
We won and that's all that matters to me. Wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever watched but we won...........
On a side note....I hate MSU fans who called this game the "splenda bowl".....Maybe it was just the assholes I hang around with but it was annoying. Just because they got stuck in the "bloomin onion" bowl does not require them to continue and hate on us.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
I kind of go back and forth on the call, but I think it was a coin flip.
That said, EVERY TEAM IN EVERY GAME can basically complain about calls like this, us included. It wasn't like it was the last play...they could have redeemed themselves and didn't. That is the way the game is played, for good or bad.
As for posting this in their blog...meh. We won...better to act like winners.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
Umm, no. going to the red zone 5 times and coming away with only field goals is not dominant. As I said, one dimension of their team was dominant, their rushing-D, but that is about it. Throwing interceptions, not being to punch it in five times, fumbling, not being able to kick a field goal, not dominant. Michigan was not dominant either, albeit the red zone D was, but they put more points on the board. I am tired of people making excuses for V-Tech. That shows a bit of disrespect to 132 and the effort they put in, imo.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
Respecting what Michigan did does not mean you have to disrespect VT.
January 4th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^
No excuses for VT. They lost the ball game and missed on big plays that would have won the game, but when you say only one aspect of their team was dominant, I call bullshit.
Michigan's passing offense managed 117 yards on 9 completions. 45 of those yards came on a fluke.
VT ran 24 more plays.
VT yards per play: 5.0, Michigan: 3.5
Michigan had one drive that went for more than 35 yards, and that one was sustained by a roughing the kicker penalty and was finished with the aforementioned TD reception. Michigan had two drives that went for more than 23 yards, VT had seven.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
We understand. Our recent Hall of Fame coach Schembechler had a bowl record similiar to yours under Beamer and we always seemed to find ways to lose. From Charles White scoring a touchdown without the ball in a Rose Bowl to a previous Sugar Bowl loss where we lost 9-7 to Auburn while beating the living crap out of some future pro halfback named Bo.......
Better luck next year, keep the faith, support your team, your school, and your coaches and better things will come!
January 4th, 2012 at 10:05 PM ^
For now 'til eternity, Michigan will be listed as the 2012 Sugar Bowl winners. That's enough for me.
VT fans should be proud of a great effort by their team, as well as of the class exhibited by their coach and players afterwards.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
Is this really necessary? I agree don't post this on a VT blog. We won the game and that's it. Don't be an ass and post this somewhere else. I personally think this should be deleted by the mods.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
This guy sucks.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
All of the VT fans we've met have been very nice and friendly. We've been on the losing end of some epic games -was here in New Orleans for Webber's TO - so know how the VT fan base is feeling. Most Michigan fans I saw were clearly ecstatic and celebrating but also treating VT fans with compassion and good grace. Each school has it's outliers (not all UM fans were as classy as we'd like, either.) Overall VT was good to deal with.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
You can actually say this to Virginia Tech fans by posting it on a Virginia Tech message board.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
You could avoid being Damefan1 and just shut up about it. Being classy doesn't evoke a response, but knowing that you were classy should make you feel pretty good about yourself.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
If you read my other comments on this thread you will see I'd prefer this to be posted neither here nor there. The comment you replied to meant to draw attention to the oddness of addressing Virginia Tech fans on a Michigan fan site.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
Unless you're going to post what a couple of the commenters above point out: We've been through it too, and what our team has gone through has made them stronger and this victory more meaningful, whether or not it was the best game they've ever played. VT players were impressive, they had some bad breaks, and mistakes, and things didn't go their way. M has had the same, and more. I only hope the adversity (one of Team 132's favorite words) VT experienced here will lead to growth and maturity for them too, and their future triumphs will be all the sweeter. When they play someone else.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
People define "dominant" in different terms. Here are some of the key stats and you can decide for yourself (sorry about fomatting!):
UM VT
First downs 12 22
3rd Down Efficiency 4-13 6-15
Rushes-Yards 30-56 48-163
Passing Yards 128 214
Punts 5 1
Penalties - Yards 4-26 7-68
Time of Possession 23:10 36:50
January 4th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^
turn that punt from 1 by them to 2 and it's a completely different game, and that was a conscious decision they controlled, not the refs.
January 4th, 2012 at 12:03 PM ^
Turnovers, points.