Michigan gets its own countdown clocks
Apparently Hoke and staff have installed countdown clocks for MSU and OSU. I'm not really sure how to feel about the MSU clock but the OSU one is fine by me. Anything to have that constant reminder there can't hurt one bit. Here is the link which is vague but says something about it in the responses.
http://michigan.rivals.com/forum.asp?style=1&sid=883&fid=338&pid=142485…
(It's a little ways down under New addition to Schembechler Hall and the info is behind a paywall)
February 17th, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^
they needed a clock for msu to know when they get to put a beat down on little sister.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
Who's little sister?
February 17th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
our (Michigan's) little sister aka msu. I figured calling them "little brother" is cruel to all the little brothers out there.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
I like to call them Michigan State University but that's just me..
February 17th, 2011 at 7:35 PM ^
I like to call them douchy fuggen twatwaffles, but that's just me...
February 17th, 2011 at 7:25 PM ^
Never woulda guessed...
February 17th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
and Bo. What's your point TIMMAAY?
February 17th, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^
...see below.
February 18th, 2011 at 3:33 AM ^
And coach Hoke
February 19th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
February 18th, 2011 at 9:07 AM ^
Litle sister has beaten us three years in a row. I think we should probably hold off on the trite nicknames until we actually change that.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
The first rule of business in 2011.
February 17th, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^
Seriously people. We're better than this.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:18 PM ^
We were better than this
February 18th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
I guess you guys are some of the new MGoHipsters prowling the boards these days, with the post-modernist attitude and the contempt for how shallow and trite our internet message board has gotten lately. Bongos and knit hats optional.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^
Nice find. They don't really reference it except in for two lines so good job. I am against the MSU clock. They seem so inferior except for the last three years that I don't think they deserve the respect of a clock. OSU certainly deserves the respect of one and maybe something on top of that.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
I'd understand your feelings if it was any other Big Ten team in the conference. And even though we think of them as an afterthought compared to OSU, we do share a state and a fanbase with them. We battle each year for in-state recruits, so it damn well deserves its own clock.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^
an OSU clock does not bother me.. but an MSU clock..really?
February 17th, 2011 at 7:17 PM ^
Uh, yeah. The little brother must be put in his place.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
It's okay as long as the clock is taken down when order is restored and the Spartans are beaten soundly this fall.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:36 PM ^
are absolutely correct.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
Paysites lose again. They're not very good at hiding their "premium info". This is exactly why I don't waste money on them anymore. Clocks are good motivators. That is all.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
February 17th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
February 17th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
February 17th, 2011 at 7:10 PM ^
I've been trying to wave this red flag about the whole "that school down south" thing and it ain't been workin'.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^
OK, you've warned us. Now what?
February 18th, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
I was hoping for "stop saying 'that school down south' or 'tsio'" but if I can perhaps just raise awareness of the problem - why, if even just one person is a little more conscious of their.....no, fuck that. Stop it, it's no different than Sparty's "little sister" chant.
February 18th, 2011 at 8:30 AM ^
Good to see Michigan Arrogance is alive and kickin'! Haven't the past three seasons of having our asses kicked on a regular basis taught UM fans some humility?
Wasn't one of the complaints (some) UM fans leveled against RR was that he didn't put enough emphasis on honoring the importance of rivalry games? Hoke is taking action to re-affirm UM's commitment to the importance of "The Game" and the in-state battle with MSU. I'm not sure why this is perceived as a bad thing.
February 18th, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^
don't you think that the coaching staff of the winningest program in the NCAA could come up with something of their own? Maybe use something relevant and unique from the University of Michigan's history and heritage?
Motivation - I don't think that "emphasizing" rivalries did Rodriguez in. Just because he lost those game doesn't mean he did emphasize them, or didn't get the rivalries. It was a progressive lack of defense through his reign that did him in.
I also don't think that "countdown" clocks or referring to Michigan as "the school up north" as Woody Hayes did provided MSU or OSU with any additional motivation or resulted in any added wins. And I think that to copy them the way Hoke has is lame.
People were afraid that we've become Notre Dame. They are wrong. We have shot right past the Irish... it now seems that we are Michigan State.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^
February 17th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
I don't see a problem with either right now. Preferably we could be arrogant about all our games, but at this point, this team needs a fire under them.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^
We haven't beaten either team in quite a while, so I'm cool with some added motivation, but it's most useful as media catnip.
February 17th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
Is it better to ride on confidence earned in the past or have a chip on your shoulder from the recognition of recent failure? I lean toward the latter, at least re: the OSU clock.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:07 PM ^
Anybody else getting the feel that all this seems forced just to appease 60yr old dudes yelling to sit down and front and saying this is how Bo did it?
I love Brady's enthusiasm, but I just get the feeling he's reading from an "old blue" handbook and not being himself. He reminds me of Les Miles in that when you watch his interviews he seems like he is playing a role.
As long as the papers keep giving us positive press I guess it'll be fine for me, but I look forward to the day when Hoke does not have to defend Michigan's honor or prove himself worthy of the position by spouting Michiganisms with every interview and can just be himself.
February 18th, 2011 at 7:37 AM ^
I liked the things he's said since his very first presser but I think you hit the nail on the head. It hasn't always seemed 100% "genuine".
February 17th, 2011 at 7:08 PM ^
I am fine with OSU clock. The MSU one I have a problem with, I just hope it is a 1 year thing to show the importance of winning rivalry games.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
That MSU doesn't deserve a clock. It has a clock to the Michigan game b/c Dantonio copied Tressel's move at OSU. The media eats it up and young recruits read what the media writes. Funny that we don't have one for Notre Dame though. I think we have more a rivalry with ND than MSU, but whatever.
Anyway, Hoke's just playing the game IMO.
Plus Michigan probably has a lower % of MI and OH natives on its roster now than before Rodriguez's years as HC. Hence Hoke emphasized those games early on in his program to those who may not have grown up around it.
This isn't necessariy a bad move for now. What matters is the result on the field.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
We had one in high school located in the entrance to or weight room that ran all year. During the summer it counted down to our first game, then every game after that since the most important game was always the next one. I always liked it since every day you came in to do work you noticed that it was one less day until game time.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
This is kind of my feeling on it. Not to say that rivalry games aren't important but they aren't the only games you play in a year. For me playing in any sport growing up, the most important game was the next one on the schedule.
No problem with a clock and I'd even be in favour of leaving the OSU one up but I'd have the clock counting down to Western right now.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:32 PM ^
To quote Hoke...
"Its. The. Most. Important. Game. On. That. Schedule." (while pounding fist)
February 17th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
I can see where folks are of the "lord this is a cheezy gimmick that must stop" variety. OTOH, after the stretch we've had, you've gotta let the new regime instill some urgency.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
You also are correct.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
... the people that feel these tacticts are below us have an inflated sense of self and are holding onto a time that no longer exists except in their imaginations.
I am all for trying new things... except coaching with stuffed animals. That's just plain weird.
EDIT: just realized that my signature sums up my attitude well... with the stuffed animal caveat, however.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
Totally agree...and to take it even further, that "time" where we didn't resort to these type of "tactics" never existed in the first place. Coaches, including our beloved Bo Schembechler, use motivational tactics of all shapes and sizes and have since the beginning of time.
These type of arguments could be used to say that OSU was lame for handing out gold pants for beating some team from Michigan that they always beat...
Don't forget we're talking about 18-22 year olds here....not the fans/alums in their 30s and 40s who think this stuff is now lame.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
I would rather us come up with our own motivational tactics than copy Michigan State
February 17th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
It's not like MSU invented countdown clocks...
I can agree that it's a little tacky, but so are 99% of team building motivational tools to outsiders. I'm sure the players buy into it and the focus it puts on those rivalry games....and that is all that's important.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:15 PM ^
So what's the difference between this and the "State Champions" sign/banner that is put up in the locker room if we beat State? They are both motivational tools focused on winning / placing importance on an obvious rivalry game. Add in Paul Bunyon while we're at it.
Whether people would like to admit it or not, the MSU game is very important regardless of how good they are or recent streaks, etc.
February 17th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
I've been a Michigan fan my entire life, and I didn't even know the "Paul Bunyan Trophy" existed until MSU fans made such a big deal of it in 2008.
The MSU game is important, but now that we've got the instate media back on our side, I think it becomes less important. Now that we're back to competing with Sparty for pro-style recruits, they know their days are numbered.
February 17th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
Haven't the last few years revealed how important that game is though? It's important to us as UofM fans for that game to be un-important....paradoxically making it important.
Chew on that.
I agree though. The status quo shall return when people take ugly ass Paul Bunyan for granted sitting in Schembechler Hall year after year after year after....