Help me settle an argument
I was arguing with my brother over the fact that I honestly want to beat Sparty more than tOSU this upcoming season. I actually feel that if I had to pick between beating Sparty or tOSU I would still pick Sparty. I was proclaimed a heretic by my brother as he would pick beating tOSU over any team any year. I never thought I would feel this way, and never have, but I honestly have more disdain for Sparty right now. So, am I wrong?
February 24th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
Nope always OSU. We have plenty over Sparty - we don't have that much over OSU. A win would be devastating to their fan base - a win against a most likely mediocre MSU team will be nothing more than that. Hence their little brother status.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^
I understand your thought process. In the last two years the natural order of your world has been turned upside down. Beating Sparty would restore the natural order. OSU is a competitive rivalry and while losing to them is more painful, it is not outside of expectations. Good Michigan teams have lost to Ohio State. Bad Michigan teams occasionally lose to Sparty.
You want to beat Sparty because it would make things normal again. Beating OSU would provide more joy, beating Sparty would make things normal. I personally would prefer outright joy, but given the times, I understand your desire for normal.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^
Beating Sparty will be good from a local perspective, but they will always be an afterthought. OSU is the prize and true measuring stick for success.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
Very true. I know it's been said here before, but as a UM fan growing up in Chicago, there was nothing sweeter than beating ND. To this day, I still hate the Irish more than any other team.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
same idea, grew up outside chicago, and by far the best U of M game I attended was beating ND this past fall.
Now i live in East Lansing (found a job here) and this past year has been hell all around.
No matter the two, I'd be happy with 2 out of 3 wins (MSU, ND, OSU)
That said, lets just go for a clean sweep and beat the crap out of all three.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^
Nothing's better than beating OSU especially at their place.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
This is how I look at it:
Losing to MSU at home would be worse than losing to OSU on the road, but beating OSU on the road would mean a lot more than beating MSU at home. Three straight losses to MSU would suck just because of how unbearable it is to listen to the Sparties already. If I could only pick one game to win, though, it'd be to end the losing streak to OSU. At this point a loss to OSU is easier to deal with than one to MSU (for me anyways), but a win over OSU in the 'Shoe would do more for our program I think.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
A loss to MSU is horrifying, win and basically I feel relief. At this point a loss to OSU is expected and a win is pure bliss, I party 'till Chirstmas.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
I'd rather beat State this year as well. Gotta keep lil bro in check.
We also need to put those Purdouche bags back in their place.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^
Living in Indiana, I have been getting a mouthful of Purdue smack two seasons running, I really hated losing to them this year as it seemed we outplayed them then lost on some trickery (if I remember right). I want to make the Purdon't you dare beat us again for the next 10yrs.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
Yep, they basically beat us on a surprise onside kick. I also remember someone posting t-shirts that the Purdue fanbase made that said "Michigan is our Bitchigan (Bitch Again)" or something like that. Seriously? I really want to punch them in the fucking mouth this year.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
I guarantee you the coaching staff feels the same way.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:56 AM ^
To seek glory(beat OSU) or avoid embarassment(MSU). I'd love to have them both, but if I had to pick one...I guess the last two years have been about all the embarassment I can take.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:56 AM ^
The thing is, beating OSU was normal for years. We shouldn't equate losing to them as normal. The past 7 years have been below normal.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
Normal yes, but it was still a competitive series. Beating Sparty should be a birthright.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
to kick them both to the curb. But I would love to beat Sparty in the Big House and give Dantonio and MSU a slap in the face.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
Dantonio might use his disintegrator ray gun on you!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
would have been better in MS paint but still +1
February 24th, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^
It's his penchant for wearing Michigan apparel!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
my wife got me one of those for Christmas, it is very warm.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^
For the program it's better to beat OSU. Both UM and OSU are nationally recognized and the benefits of beating OSU on recruiting, donations and BigTen status are much greater than a victory over MSU.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
Id rather Michigan be 1-11 and beat OSU this year than be 11-1 and lose to them again. Seeing us lose to them has been too painful.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^
if we lost every game leading up to the OSU game, my head would probably explode and wouldn't even get to see the victory
February 24th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
That reminds me of State fans who always used to say something similar.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^
...Terrelle Pryor this year. That joker will be wishing he had come to Michigan (although I wouldn't take him now). Go Blue!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^
Everybody murders, hates bats, you know.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
by a long shot. Losing to them should never be become a norm. Even though losing to msu would allow the freep to continue rabbling about how UM is losing the state, sometimes you gotta let your little brother back into it before you crush them.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
hypothetically, a winning record by a slim margin (i.e. 6-6+bowl win, or 7-5 and a bowl game) might require victories over both if not including ND to keep the pitchforks and torches at bay.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
I would like to crush MSU this year. Since OSU is far better than MSU, I can actually live (ie scrape myself up off the floor and still have a decent Saturday night) after an OSU loss. But that MSU bullshit would just wreck my weekend.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
I'm a little biased because I went to school in Ohio and had to deal with OSU jackals constantly. There's only enough room in my heart for so much hate. And it's all for them. All other schools are mild dislike.
February 24th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
On a national respect level - beat OSU
On a local (state of Michigan) respect level - beat MSU
On a "I personally know 300 Sparties and only 1 Buckeye" level - beat MSU
On a UM football tradition and history level - beat OSU
On the fact that I'll be at the home game and not at the away game - beat MSU
On a win with the most impact on momentum for 2011 - beat OSU
On a win that will most impact momentum for 2010 - beat MSU
On ending the more embarrassing losing streak - beat OSU
Final answer - I'm not sure.
February 24th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
Final answer - I'm not sure.both