Here's hoping Dantonio gets well soon.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
I will now stop bitching about the 100 MSU threads per day, at least until next Saturday night, when the GameDay crew, live in Ann Arbor, talks about how big of a win that was for the Wolverines.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
I hope you don't leave without checking back.
You seem pretty confident. I admit being less so then I was 5 hours ago.
You're a veteran. Love to get your thoughts on why you see a Michigan win. I hope for a win. I believe in this team. But I am less certain on the football tangibles right now.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
Drunken post game posts like that are as close as positive as I can get. Really, I think Michigan loses next week, but in order to keep a positive vibe right after the win, I'll say just about anything. I'm generally the board pessimist of the mods. I predicted 5-7. Right now, I'm still tettering around 6-6, maybe 7-5.
Michigan will score quite a bit, but MSU's defense will be the first decent to good defense we've faced all year. Another game with that wide of a TOP won't help our defense either.
But maybe RR and GERG will have a new wrinkle next week to make up for some of that. Maybe they won't. Either way, I'll be watching as close as I can. I'm confident in all aspects of the offense, and I can only hope that's enough.
EDIT: I've also been high on MSU for a while. While many of the Kool-Aid drinkers around here will dismiss them as slappies, I think that's dismissing them too lightly. They have a respectable D, especially when compared to ours, and a conservative-minimize-the-negative offense. It's worked for them.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:35 PM ^
You are letting me down. lol
I really agree with what you are saying. The other thought is that it is a rivalry game and we could use some of that energy that MSU seems to bring to it every year. Bring out the little extra in the guys.
One thing I like about this team way more than last year is it seems to really want vengence for the losing. A general group togetherness towards winning that maybe wasn't there the prior two years. That can take teams places sooner than their talent allows.
Since it is a struggle to find tangible advantages, better to deal in the very intangible.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
Since it is a struggle to find tangible advantages, better to deal in the very intangible.
Agreed with the first part. But yeah, I think realism has it's place. A win would be great, but losing to them isn't a big deal in my mind. Then again, I view OSU as the bigger game on the schedule and don't have to deal with Sparties that run their mouth no matter what happens.
/another-reason-to-live-in-texas
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 PM ^
The reality about our team is that it has the capability of shocking a team into doing things it might not normally do. Say we nail a couple big plays on them like we did today and gash their confidence; then their offense starts pressing trying to keep up and we make a play or two there because they are out of sync. Our energy level increases and we make a couple more plays. Downhill it rolls like an avalanche.
You could have a UCONN type result again. Our confidence raises us up and smothers the opponent for the most part. Not out of this world impossible to envision. Even with the questions about our defense.
Against more talented teams, it is just harder to do. Not impossible.
Maybe the issue creating the uneasiness isn't MSU or any other opponent as much as it MIchigan. We're 5-0 but for most of these guys and the fans of recent seasons, we don't have that swagger that comes with knowing with certainty how we stack up with better teams..... I admit I don't.
Despite the days events and how it seemed: This team as it sits is plenty talented enough and brings enough heart to mask some issues and blow MSU off the field next week. No doubt about it.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
I admit being less so then I was 5 hours ago.
Why? Didn't we just beat an undefeated Big 10 team?
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^
We did what I thought we'd do. Almost word for word.
MSU showed a little more on that offensive line than I imagined. I am honestly still very uncertain we can dominate with our O line against a team with really good linebackers. We haven't really been tested yet in that way.
There is a big difference from what we went against today.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^
I'm with Nate here. I believe in our football team but if I were a betting man I'd be taking MSU with the spread next week. Whether or not we still win the game is up to the defense.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:21 PM ^
Are we favored in Vegas Oracle?
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
I'm not really sure how anyone is real confident about beating MSU right now. But whatever.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 PM ^
If he's in the stadium, he'll have another heart attack.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:46 PM ^
....for a lot of the second half.
MSU looked better than I thought they would against a quality team today, and Michigan didn't look as good as I thought they would. But I still think Michigan will have a lot of energy and motivation next week. I think that will keep MSU's bigs from pushing them around, and that should be enough to win.
It will just be a lot closer than I thought it would be going into the season.
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
I'm not going to post a "we're going to get beat" post either. Not today. Too happy with the win. And A win is a win. We'll take it. I do think we get at least 7 wins. Purdue is a win. No QB, no one who can stop Denard/Tate/Devin. We should win that one. I also think we win one of MSU or Illinois. I think Illinois had their season game today against OSU and UM/MSU is never predictable. One of those should be our 7th win.
I don't know if we can pick one off from Iowa or PSU or Wisconsin but it wouldn't surprise me. That would be 8 and a solid bowl and a renewal for RR. But dang, we need a defense...
October 2nd, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^
Plus we were on the road and that is a whole different challenge in the Big Ten. Look at Ohio State today.
Good teams often look worse and lesser teams look better than they are when you are at their place.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:21 PM ^
get denard massages, hot water bottles, whatever it takes to have him feeling as close to 100% as he can at this point of the season, and pray when the defense takes the field.
do those things, and it should be very exciting next saturday.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^
Spartan fan here. Looking forward to an incredibly spirited game. I have a feeling that if Coach D is on the sidelines you will greet him with applause. After tailgating before and after the U-Conn game openly as a Spartan fan I have nothing but respect for Michigan fans. Some of the nicest people I've met.
Good luck next week but not too much luck.
October 2nd, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
...are nasty things. My wife has one that caused her leg to swell beyond recognition. He'll no doubt be on coumadin -- a blood thinner that is actually identical to rat poison -- for many months. Depending on the degree of swelling and location of the clot, he may be off his feet for a while.