Michigan going for 2 was the right call
I contend that it was the right call to go for 2 against Rutgers when up 27-0.
When kicking extra points, Rutgers was overloading our right side. They lined 7 up on our right, but would then pull an 8th man lined up on our left to try and create havoc and holes on our right. Additionally another player lined up on our left would swing way around the end.
In essence they were hitting our right with 8 men and only had 2 men to cover a large section just to the left of our center and their man swinging around our left flank.
Rutgers by overloading our right side to that extent had been inviting us to try an easy run. We had to do it, to keep them honest on special teams. We couldn't risk them blocking a kick.
Plus, they scheduled their New Jersey satellite camp the same day as ours with Ohio State.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^
Those bastards from Bye will give us more of a game next week.
Beat bye.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
fact: noone has ever won a game with bye on schedule
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October 9th, 2016 at 4:42 PM ^
That's depressing. I prefer the fact no one has ever lost a game with bye on the schedule.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
I don't know. Rutgers might lose to Bye this year.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^
The band is already learning Bye's fight song, NSync's "Bye Bye Bye."
October 9th, 2016 at 4:56 PM ^
That's a reach
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October 9th, 2016 at 5:08 PM ^
I don't buy it.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
it's fine by me
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October 9th, 2016 at 5:50 PM ^
Bi is OK these days.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:31 PM ^
What does that say about Iowa?
October 10th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
It says Iowa should ask Ferentz for a refund from his latest contract extension...
October 9th, 2016 at 7:23 PM ^
I've never seen noone listed on the schedule...
October 10th, 2016 at 7:09 AM ^
Who says we NEED to schdule a team to beat them? I propose that we have the team just show up at someone elses game, take the field, and win. Doesn't matter who: NW, ND, EMU, pee-wee football... just beat someone. Playing no one is the worst option - just like missing out on bowl season.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:42 PM ^
MGoWife/Girlfriend/Hooker Day is a always a very special time of the year to stop and reflect on those we hold close to our hearts.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
John Lee Hooker:
October 10th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
John Lee Hooker, peforming live, outside the Soul Food Cafe with Jake and Elwood Blues in attendance. Go Blue(s)!
October 9th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^
I thought this was also a fair way for Harbaugh to signal to Ash that he better keep his players engaged in the second half because Michigan was not going to let up.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^
After seeing the replay a few times, I think I can see what kind of alignment would let this succeed. Rutgers was overloading one side of the line and coming after the kicker.
Basically, my interpretation was that this was Harbaugh saying to Ash, "Hey. Stop trying to block my extra points."
October 9th, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
It seems like my neighbor wanted Harbaugh to call a time out and then send this message over to Ash under a white flag of truce:
Your honorable Ash,
I am aware, but not fully aware that you may be stacking the right side of our line on PATs, which has the impact of you sending 8 players against 4 or 5 of ours. This could get our players injured or a kick blocked and returned. We apologize for putting you into a situation where you were forced into making such a decision. We plead for you to dictate terms on your conditions so that you will no longer be compelled to terrorize our line.
Your Obedient Servant,
-Coach Patty Cakes
October 9th, 2016 at 6:15 PM ^
Most important thing is it keeps future opponents on toes, looking at film, and wondering what comes next.
Just one more thing to prepare for.
Good call by Harbaugh...
October 9th, 2016 at 8:46 PM ^
of great rivalries. I say "we went for two because they wouldn't let us go for three".
October 9th, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
Because they can
October 9th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
they couldn't go for 3!
October 9th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^
so...so...Woodyesque!
October 9th, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
the object of the game is to SCORE...Isnt it?
October 9th, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
When else are you going to test out a play? Harbaugh is playing chess, Rutgers was playing checkers
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October 9th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^
Too complicated for Rutgers. They were playing Candy Land.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:48 PM ^
tic tac toe
October 9th, 2016 at 5:50 PM ^
Rutgers was playing 52 Pickup, and losing.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:57 PM ^
Yeah, or 78 Beatdown, and finally winning.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
And they still always lose.
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October 9th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^
I think you're giving them too much credit. Rutgers was playing Red Hands, also known as the Hand Slap Game.
October 10th, 2016 at 8:10 AM ^
War. Rutgers was playing War.
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October 9th, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
i had no problem with it, but I knew a few people on this very board had a problem with Urban going for 2 early in games last year.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
those people on this board who had a problem with it, don't understand what it takes to win, either.
October 9th, 2016 at 6:34 PM ^
you will soon be posting along with them.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
Take what the defense (or special teams) gives you.
And take some more.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
Very nice observation. Interestingly, the NFL banned overloading one side a few years ago and John Harbaugh was one of the biggest advocates for it. It was getting offensive lineman hurt more than kicks were being blocked. No doubt that's what Jim saw.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^
+5 Insightful. That's awesome info, and I think it's likely the brothers discussed it.
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October 9th, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
Explains why he uses this here, rather than saving it for a key moment in a close game. This forces subsequent teams to balance their lines.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^
Makes me wonder how often those two contact eachother to bounce strategies off of eachother. I'd love to hear that conversation.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^
The year before Bo arrived, we trailed 48-14 late in Columbus. Ohio scores, Hayes goes for two. Makes it. 50-14 final. When Woody was asked why, he said "because I could". Get over it Rutgers. Get better players, coach me up, or go back to FCS level ball.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:42 PM ^
Pretty sure it was "because I couldn't go for three!"
Come on mang.
Can't wait to see what the team has in store for MSU in EL in 3 weeks.
October 9th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
And there's the fact that the score was actually 50-14, OSU went for two because the kicker didn't get on the field, they realized it in the huddle, and just ran a random pass play to not pick up the penalty. And the conversion failed--the pass was overthrown.
It's gotten so mythologized over the years that even the people involved remember it incorrectly. There's some speculation that Woody never even said the famous line about it.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:04 PM ^
There was an earlier game (1961? '62?) which Woody also won by a bunch and went for a late 2-point conversion. Some say he actually gave the "I couldn't go for three!" line after that game, and that it's been misremembered as being from '68.
Alternatively, that quote could have just been made up.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:15 PM ^
'61.
That was the year the Ohio State faculty senate turned down the Rose Bowl invitation, and Minnesota went two years in a row while the Pac-8 and the Big 10 continued to play without a Rose Bowl contract in effect.
Only two OSU players were kept off the field by injuries in 1961. That year was an encapsulation of Woody's best and worst tendencies.