Just. Beat. OSU.
I'm very easily recognized as one of the "If we went 7-5 this year, I would have been happy as hell anyways" crew. That's my disclaimer.
At this point, there's potential to go 10-2. There's a very decent chance of going 9-3. We've already determined 8-4. However, UM has not faced an OSU roster and setup like this one in decades and it's impossible to not feel like losing to Ohio State this year could be more of a letdown than the past three years combined.
I will not thump my chest and put up a billboard in Columbus of a shoe dropping alongside another. I will not buy a subscription to an OSU board just to post meaningless garbage. I will not even consider it a monumental mindblowing TALKABOUTITFORAYEAR thing. All I know is this is the biggest monkey on the back of the program. Not OSU. Not positional controversy. A losing streak to OSU.
It can be 4-2. I don't care. The first step in this program is not going to a fancy bowl game or topping Rodriguez's best season. It's snapping a streak. We've beaten all the teams we've beaten and, well, MSU and Iowa were properly stacked to beat this roster. OSU isn't. OSU is beatable. To lose to them would still allow the past 3 years to permeate, somehow differently (IMO) than the loss to MSU.
We need. to beat. OSU. This team can do it. Just please do it. Please. KTHXBI.
November 12th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
November 12th, 2011 at 7:58 PM ^
I'm all about your enthusiasm, but there is another game to play before them. Now, I'm all about losing to Nebraska if that means a win against Ohio, but I hope they don't look ahead to Ohio when playing Nebraska. Thankfully both games are at home and we are undefeated at home this season.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^
The way Nebraska's offense has been anemic and how OSU has been playing I will not be shocked or surprised if we win out and I'll be rejoycing more than the God Bacchus if we beat them both.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
How is my response considered "off topic?" I'd love to know.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
ok, this comment is REALLY offtopic
November 12th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
so is yours
November 12th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
YOU STARTED IT! IM CALLING MOM
November 12th, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
to say "Just Beat OSU" implies it is more important the game in between. that it is only practical to overlook a game, at least as a fan, is in instances such as this where that OSU game means more than the result of next week. a coaching staff would never jump the gun and step over it but i guess my point is i, to a degree, am and will have zero qualms with any outcome next weekend
November 12th, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
Good news: They aren't going to pass. 9 in box = PAIN.
Even better news: Illinois ran for nothin' gainst us.
Even way better news: They gacked it 'gainst Purdont.
The stars are aligning for us. BOOK IT.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
Purdue has beaten OSU three times.
Let's just win and end the damn streak.
November 12th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^
You are right. And the thought of that makes me sick...
But part of our "bad luck" against OSU has to do with a sweater vested cheater.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
but I think beating Nebraska next is first in my mind, though beating OSU would definitely make this season.
Let's go focus on Nebraska, since that will be a pretty huge and challenging game. There will be plenty of time to talk about how huge a game OSU is once next Sunday rolls around.
November 12th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
While I hope the players aren't overlooking Nebraska, we can do it pretty easily. It's not like we have to worry about what happens on the field or have to worry about blocking assignments.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
the nebraska game will be a good test. If we pass that, look the F out.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^
If the defense plays like it did today, we will beat their ass I'm sick of this streak, shit needs to end!!
November 12th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
We have to hope that they don't have one of their good days. If they play like they did against Wiscy, it will be tough. But if it's like today or against Miami, we should win. At least we know Hoke will have our guys fired up and ready.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
OSU beat Wisconsin (with some luck) in Columbus. OSU lost to Miami (YTM), Nebraska and Purdue on the road. OSU is pretty much like every other team in the B1G this season: great at home and not-so-great on the road.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
Seriously though, you're totally right. Two weeks. Bring it.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
if you don't live in Ohio,you can't really understand what this streak has been like. Beat Ohio
November 12th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
I have lived in Ohio all my life, so this past decade has been awful for me.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
yeah, I'm glad I don't live in Ohio...
November 12th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
You've lived in Ohio your whole life and only the past decade has been awful? I would have thought living in Ohio your whole life would mean your whole life has been awful.
ZING! ;)
November 12th, 2011 at 8:37 PM ^
Actually no, other than the losing streak, I like my life. Getting married in August (week before CFB commences, planned it that way), getting a free house from the rich Greek in-laws, and the house will be about five minutes from my office. Awesomeness.
EDIT: And my future mother-in-law is hot.
November 12th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
Why do you hate me?
November 12th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
Are you planning on banging your future MIL? What about--you know--her daughter? Not so hot, I guess?
November 12th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
An unnecessary edit.
November 12th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
than the rest of the post.
November 12th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
living in Ohio has been hell for basically 12 straight years. And what is even worse is they dont believe Tressel did anything wrong and if we do beat them this year it is cause the NCAA took their coach away. I can not take anymore, this years game means so much to me living in Akron, Ohio that a loss may break my will. These fans are completely insane they still have not realized that Purdue won today I swear.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:40 AM ^
...Aren't they about to come out with a ruling on TatGate any day now?
November 13th, 2011 at 1:33 AM ^
Sad to say, but I have been in Ohio the last 14 years of my life. It sucks ass trust me. The thing that sucks the most is I just moved here when we won the National Championship, but I didn't know anyone here because I was new to this craphole. Ever since then.....well you guys know the rest. Please kick the shit out of Nebraska and then do the same but worse to ohio.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
We need this WIN!!! Fuck TSIO.... I will trade a loss to MSU next year for a win over the Fuckeyes !!! The buck stops here
November 12th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
Really?
November 12th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
Suckeyes?
November 12th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
what you did there.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
It's gonna be hard to play the game against Nebraska with the countdown clock ticking down.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
If we play as stout against the run as we did today I think we win the game. Boom Herron will be the best back we play all year but I think we prevent him from destroying us. Mattison will come up with some crazy formations and blitzes that will confuse the shit out of Miller and he will be ineffective as a passer. It isn't out of the question that this team wins out.
November 13th, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
November 12th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
I'm worried about our running game in both the Nebraska and Ohio State games. Luckily, they have both been struggling on offense the last few weeks. I hope that continues.
And when we play OSU, there better not be an insane number of buckeye fans at the big house like 2 years ago. I realize it will be Thanksgiving weekend but, come on.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
Can we beat OSU with true Maize and Blue winged helmets sans numbers? Right now, Delaware and Princeton are the two true winged helmets in college football. Damn you Brandon.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
It was the seniors on the team that liked the numbers and requested them to stay after the UTL game...
November 12th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
There's an historical precedent for the numbers.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
The helmet numbers don't look terrible. Maybe they look a little worse, but they're at least tolerable, similar to the weird stripe on the uniforms that Adidas added in the last couple years.
Now if Michigan pulls another "Surprise! New (ugly) Jerseys!" stunt like against Michigan State, I hope there's a stronger negative reaction from the Michigan fanbase than the reaction when it was announced Michigan would play Appalachian State in 2014.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^
Is a trap game, I think we win though. Martinez is just garbage, he's a poor mans version of denard. We will crush them!! Then next will be the knockout punch for that wonderful season that team in Columbus is having.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:30 PM ^
Not so fast my friend.... Nebraska handled MSU easily mind you.
They're beatable but it ain't gonna be easy.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
I think No Joke it's Hoke said it best. Living in Ohio has been extemely difficult during this streak and Ohio State fans deserve seeing Ohio State get whipped by us on Nov. 26th.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
We all despise the Browneyes but looking past Nebraska is a bad move. UM is running the ball better and the D played pretty well. Burkhead (sp) is a beast and can exploit our D line. If our D can pressure Martinez like they did to the Illini today, that can offset the running game. UM isn't talented enough to win on talent alone. All the phases (O, D and special teams) have to be good to reach 9-10 wins. ONE GAME AT A TIME.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
Obviously for the players, we want them to focus on Nebraska. But as fans we can feel free to start looking to our biggest rivalry. I am so sick of other fans on this board telling us to focus "one game at a time." We speculate, we look ahead, that's the fun of being a fan.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:23 AM ^
Are you a current coach or playeror involved with the team's game preparation? If not, then I think it will be alright to discuss OSU or any other game in the next decade. Idiot.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
all comes down to one game. Even in those bad RR years, if we had won the last won the season would have been tolerable.