Fiesta Bowl 09 what?
Here we are once again: decision time. Ohio State plays tomorrow, which necessitates a decision from us as supporters of not just Michigan, but also the Big Ten Conference.
999 out of 1000 situations would garner my support of an utter humiliation of that institution in any context, as the rivalry is bigger than anything else in my opinion. However, this year seems to be an extenuating circumstance in that the Big Ten has only one bowl victory, and the conference is dangerously deep in the proverbial toilet in the eyes of most.
In the midst of this third straight year of embarrassment in big games, our conference needs some material to establish its legitimacy on a national level, and a Texas loss tomorrow would be a much needed boost. I will never, never as long as I am alive, support the success of the university of ohio state. However, a loss by texas tomorrow is of utmost importance for the Big Ten.
Following yet another terrible bowl season and disintegrating conference prestige*, we as big ten supporters must hope for texas to lose tomorrow.
*I live in fear of a “very good”conference prestige rating in ncaa 2010. What will I pitch to my recruits?
January 4th, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^
i think i may have to root for OSU in this one.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^
Couldn't possibly care less about conference loyalty.
Hook em. Hard.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:26 AM ^
Amen, brother. Do they care about conference loyalty when we lose to App. State or Toledo? No, they buy those teams' gear.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:36 PM ^
should I give OSU one or two thumbs down. Normally, I support all big ten teams when it comes to bowl season. But this is a special year. Ohio State beating Texas is not going to salvage the big ten's reputation for the year so... Down with the buckeyes! I will convert all my I HATE DEM BUCKEYES energy into the legs and arm of Colt Mccoy for one game and hopefully Texas beats the snot out of Ohio State and part of me can say I helped...(laughs maniacally)
January 4th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
Conference loyalty is BS. Big Ten is down anyways, so why would any Michigan fan root for our hated rivals? OSU winning won't change perception of the Big Ten. I'm rooting for Texas all the way (which I have no choice anyways cuz the bars I'll be at tomorrow will be filled with all Longhorn fans).
January 4th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
I am not rooting for OSU to win...just Texas to lose!
January 4th, 2009 at 11:40 PM ^
Barring a miracle, Texas will win this game. It's a mismatch. So do you want to be agonizing and pulling your hair out while watching the game, or sitting back and enjoying it?
January 4th, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
I actually don't mind Texas, plus I can't hate anything more than Ohio State....Hook 'em Horns.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
Justin Boren?
January 5th, 2009 at 1:04 AM ^
Justin Boren = Ohio State
January 4th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
I'm not sure if you guys really get how pathetic most people think the Big Ten is. It's actually a bigger joke than the Big East... and that includes us.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
So? It's true - the conference did suck this year.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
There is no decision here.
Everything > OSU
It's a very simple formula.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
Hook em Horns...never root for the Fuckeyes. And since the Big East lost its 3 best programs a few years back, it will never be considered superior to the B10.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
An osu win takes us from 1-5 to 2-5...not enough to warrant anything remotely resembling support for osu. I hope they get trounced, badly. In any case, I like Colt and am looking forward to him lighting up the osu D.
Oh, btw, a humiliating defeat will hopefully put Pryor's ego back in place:
After helping Ohio State stomp Michigan State, 45-7, on Oct. 18, Pryor told reporters, "It's just like high school." --- http://myespn.go.com/blogs/bigten/0-2-1025/College-game-comes-easy-for-…
January 4th, 2009 at 11:53 PM ^
was 42-7, not 45-7.
Regardless, I would like to see Pryor and his ego come down to earth.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:03 AM ^
it was 45-7
January 5th, 2009 at 12:38 AM ^
I misread the comment, thought it said Michigan game (which was 42-7) and not Michigan State game.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:15 AM ^
It's amazing to me that Michigan fared better against the Bucknuts (on the road, no less) with absolutely no QB (or at least, much much less of a QB than the terrible Brian Hoyer).
Of course, you're really splitting hairs when saying giving up "only" 42 points is much better than 45. Still, I'll take the small victories from this season!
January 4th, 2009 at 11:49 PM ^
Amen to that, Other Brian.
I hate Texas with a passion, but there is no way I'll ever root for the Bucks.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:58 PM ^
Conference loyalty? whatever. Never root for OSU.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:02 AM ^
As always, you have to hate OSU. But..
Reading this recent ESPN recruiting article makes me sick. An interview of top recruits says they are all convinced that Florida will win the NC based on the SEC speed advantage. Many of these kids also happen to be going to the SEC. Ohio State beating Texas won't change the Big Ten's perception (I realize Texas is not in the SEC), but the overall perception of a slow, plodding big ten is bad for us. OSU beating Texas wouldn't hurt.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=380737…
The lowlights that I quote below is that they are all convinced of the SEC myth. Each one of them. Someone remind them that when Tennessee, LSU, and Auburn have down years, that means the conference has a down year. Florida still has the defense that we put up 524 yards on last year. Did they get an influx of speed in this past recruiting class?
"Jenkins: Florida will win with its speed. I don't think Oklahoma sees speed like that on a weekly basis. Since my Redskins are out, I don't know. I can't go for the Eagles or Giants because they are in the same division as the Skins.
Martin: Florida will win with speed. The Super Bowl is an easy one; I'm a huge Indianapolis Colts fan.
Patterson: Florida has the speed. The Falcons will win the Super Bowl. I'm from Georgia.
Shepard: Florida will win because of Tim Tebow's leadership and the overall speed of the SEC. The Super Bowl is too tight to call.
Te'o: Florida has a game-changer like Tim Tebow and the overall team speed. Since the 49ers can't win the Super Bowl -- that's my favorite team -- I'll go with the Baltimore Ravens. Ray Lewis is my idol; I look up to him and emulate him."
January 5th, 2009 at 11:54 PM ^
I take it back. I couldn't do it and rooted for Texas when all was said and done. The negativity surrounding the OSU program will benefit us and there was nothing they could do to change North versus south perceptions.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
Florida wins this one with speed.
But seriously, the B10 looks like garbage right now. PSU and MSU collectively shit the bed and Wisconsin and Minnesota shouldn't have been given the time of day to begin with (we beat them...). After a bizarro season where M loses 9 games, it's only fitting for the ballsiest loss of the season to come from Northwestern and the sole B10 win to come from Iowa.
What I'm getting at here is that an OSU win won't magically make the Big Ten look respectable in the bowl season, so I see no reason to get behind them.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
I hope that Texas stomps a mudhole in OSU. Then I hope they stomp it dry.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:35 AM ^
Texas winning big adds another argument for a playoff.
Go Horns!
January 5th, 2009 at 12:40 AM ^
if you root for OSU the terrorists have won.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:59 AM ^
to root for a comet to strike the statium leaving a chared crater being sprinkled with pretty sparklely dust.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:03 AM ^
I usually root for the earth to open up right under the stadium and suck both teams and their traveling die hards up like your milkshake.
That's just food for thought, though. I like Texas.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:06 AM ^
I hope osu losses by 50. Them barely winning a game will do next to nothing for the big 10's reputation. Did Michigan spanking Florida last year end the SEC is faster crap. Why do we care what SEC or Big 12 fans think anyway. osu needs to suffer, Hook em Horns!
January 5th, 2009 at 10:01 AM ^
and probably won't be until the 2010 season. Given that assumption, I could care less how our conference is viewed.
In 2 or 3 years, when we are good again, then the B10 will have OSU, PSU, M at the top and another 1 to 2 respectable teams after that.
Also, even if OSU wins, it doesn't magically elevate the rest of the conference as the B10 would only have 2 bowl wins.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:04 AM ^
I can't believe any true Michigan fan would root for our bitter rivals in a BSC game. Not only is it just wrong, but if they win a BCS game that helps their recruiting and image etc..
NEVER ROOT FOR THE BUCKEYES
January 5th, 2009 at 10:32 AM ^
Do you think any OSU fan would ever be rooting for Michigan? No way. I will root for every Big Ten team in the bowls, even Sparty and JoePa, but never OSU. I will cheer my guts out for Texas tonight. To hear any Michigan fan do otherwise makes my blood curdle.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
at this point, there's no saving any sort of respect for the big 10. 1-6 or 2-5? it makes little difference. go texas
January 5th, 2009 at 11:39 AM ^
I am for every team that is not OSU in this game. Conference loyalty is nonsense. Conference reputation will be important when we are on top and need it to be. Right now, I want OSU to be associated with nationally televised beat downs to the point that recruits are embarrassed to go there.
I am not above cheering for those bastards, but only when it helps Michigan. I don't see how this does.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:09 PM ^
"I want OSU to be associated with nationally televised beat downs to the point that recruits are embarrassed to go there."
January 5th, 2009 at 11:54 AM ^
OSU winning gets Beanie to declare for the Draft.
Also, when people think the BigTen is a shit conference, they go places like the Big12, SEC, and Pac10... or Tulsa...
January 5th, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
I think the kid's gone to the NFL regardless. And there's talk that Beaver's decision had a lot more to do with a girl in his life than conference strength.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
Give'em Hell, Give'em Hell, Make Them Eat Shit, GOOOOO HORNS!
and
Hook'em.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
Not rooting for tUoOS.
Texas is bizarro Michigan, anyway. Oklahoma is bizarro OSU.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:56 PM ^
about the buckeye fan's inferiority complex that most of them root for us. Living in Ohio, I'm constantly bombarded with the "oh, well we root for Michigan during bowl season" talk, to which I kindly respond "fuck Ohio State and the douchebag horse they rode in on."
January 6th, 2009 at 8:42 AM ^
Is it an inferiority complex or just that somehow the OSU people you meet are better adjusted people than you?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
wtf is a douchebag horse?
January 5th, 2009 at 5:42 PM ^
I'd much rather have Ohio State win a meaningless exhibition game then have us go undefeated and kept out of the title game because nobody respects our conference, which is what would have happened to Penn State.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:44 PM ^
An unbeaten PSU would have made it. There's no way TWO one-loss teams would have been voted ahead of them.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:49 AM ^
Yes there is. Clearly you're wearing maize and blue glasses, because nobody outside Big Ten country has the slightest respect for this conference.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:31 PM ^
An undefeated team from a BCS conference would not have been snubbed in favor of not one but two one-loss teams. There is no way the voters would have allowed that. If PSU had been the last undefeated BCS conference team, they would have been #1 in both polls. That's how the system functions. Whether the rest of the conference sucked is irrelevant. The ACC sucked hard during FSU's heyday in the 1990s, but that didn't cost the Noles any poll respect.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^
I am usually a Big Ten fan come bowl season. I used to have a rule that I would pull for UOS in any game other than the National Championship.
However, due to M's irrelevance this season, Dantonio's newfound depths of douchebaggery and my general hatred for UOS and their fans I couldn't care less this year. I'll take Buckeye embarrassment anywhere I can get it until M starts handing it out again. (I can't believe I've ben relegated to hater status...)
Also FWIW, my brother lives in TX and knows many people who went to the UT/M Rose Bowl as well as the UT/UOS game in C-bus. ALL of them prefer M fans to Buckeyes and ALL of them have sworn to root for M against UOS every year.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:56 PM ^
I went to a fast food place for lunch today in Tempe, and came face to face with an OSU fan. I haven't seen one in awhile, and I almost instinctively started talking garbage to him, but then realized that I was in public. Then after he ordered his food, I almost instinctively flipped his tray over, but then realized that I was in public. I proceeded to look at a Texas fan, gave him the hand sign, and yelled "Hook em Horns, baby," then immediately stared at the OSU guy. He wasn't amused.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:01 PM ^
for TomVH!!!! Good work, sir. Good work!