The Motivation Myth?

Submitted by The Reeve on

Living in Ohio as I do (thank you for your sympathy) and working frequently at Ohio State University Hospitals (thank you for your sympathy), I perhaps have a glimpse into the psychology of OSU fans that some of you do not (which is good for your intestinal health). I can tell you from the 183 texts I received cussing me out for costing OSU a victory (this was the first time I openly rooted for OSU in my life), that these troglodytes are trying to rally. Having purged themselves with calls for OSU staff to be fired (not excluding Urban Meyer, seriously), they believe there is one silver lining in this cloud: the team will be motivated more than ever to beat TTUN.

There is a thread in 11 Warriors entitled: 

WITHOUT THIS LOSS, TOSU WOULD OF HAVE A HARDER TIME BEATING TTUN

I call hogwash. I admit to having this thought flash through my head, but I think this is a prevalent myth in the minds of nervous fans, and rarely true.

Yeah i'm beyond disappointed about this loss like all of you guys are but, I think this loss should really light a fire under everyone's asses. We've been talking about how this team has lacked motivation and hasn't had a chip on their shoulder for the entire season. Now we got adversity and doubters who last year was the main fuel for our run. Yesterday our guys seemingly had nothing to play for and played not to lose. Against TTUN, are guys will be angry and very much doubted going into AA.

Occassionally, teams will rise up for a fired Earle Bruce or tragic Jerry Kill, but I think that people conflate such "motivating" events with the reality that those teams were good enough to play the game they did without the motivation. It didn't help us with Bo in 2006 (I was at that game), it didn't help VT yesterday win one for Beamer.

Ultimately, it comes down to match-ups, X and Os, talent and execution. This isn't some brilliant observation, I admit; I only make it because OSU, unlike what is said in the fool's post above, WAS motivated to win yesterday and had EVERYTHING to play for, but they had structural problems that prevented them from winning: average receivers, a QB that needs them to be open, a defense with SOME vulnerabilities, and a team that played absolutely no one during the season, which created a false paradigm that they were above having to give all the effort. This was confirmed in the post-game immature Elliott and Jones meltdowns. Michigan has as good a D line and a better secondary that MSU. The same structural challenges will confront OSU no matter how much more they want to win (which, is that even possible?). Our inferior LB may present an opporunity for them, yes. But will OSU motivate their way to inflicting the bad defeats seen in the RR era? No.

And jinxes aren't real, either.

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ghost

November 22nd, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^

OSU's motivation is gone.  There playoff chances are shot.  They are fighting with the coaching staff.  Look what happened to LSU when the season caved in.  This isn't in say Utah or UCLA or even a school like Iowa where 11-1 is some kind of accomplishment.  When you win the national title the prior year the next season is championship or bust especially when your return what OSU did.

Joined: 09/02/2011

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I dumped the Dope

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^

Their top two or 3 goals, be in the CFB playoff, Win the B1G title, win the division, all got wiped as the kick went thru the uprights.  There's a pride game, and a bowl game, which they are guaranteed to play.

The division I saw, postgame comments, was not of a team, more of a group of talented athletes who play largely for themselves and their own interests.  Whatever the status of Jones, Elliott will eventually be, using the media forum to advertise "their last game" squarely points at their desire for individual capital gains (financially and emotional) and not about what they can do for their team.

The best thing, in my opinion, however, would be to treat them like a wounded animal, and dispatch them professionally by breaking their will to win, the best way I know how, is by getting up 3-4 TDs in the first half.

Joined: 09/22/2013

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aiglick

November 22nd, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^

That would be awesome. Just beat them to a pulp after all the losses we have suffered to them these past 10 years. It would be quite cathartic.

However, until that actually happens I will continue to believe The Game next week will be a close contest with either team having a chance late.

Regardless, any win against them will be sweet and 10-2 in any season is pretty special.

Joined: 11/27/2010

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michiganman001

November 22nd, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^

I dont think they are motivated, they acted like their entire season was over yesterday, and guys are thinking about the nfl and not the game next week. Kind of stupid when they are still in contention, but hey I'll take it. I hope we win 56-0. 

Joined: 01/03/2015

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Double-D

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^

They really have not played well this year and this loss could really suck the wind out of them. Zeke's comments make me wonder if that is not the tip of the iceberg and if they might be fractured in th lockerroom. It was stunning to hear him publicly throw the coaches under the bus. My guess is our guys smell blood in the water.

Joined: 12/21/2013

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Oh Deer

November 22nd, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^

I'm not sure why people are assuming OSU will have the same game plan next week  that they had yesterday. The weather was a HUGE factor in the awful play yesterday. Granted, they still should have done some other things, but the weather impacted what they would have done. I assume a much more wide open offense against UM next week.

Joined: 01/29/2013

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The Reeve

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^

Partially true, I think, but not completely. When things got desperate, did they choose not to run the wide-open offense type of plays because of the weather? I don't think so. I think their offense is predicated on panicked over-reaction to the zone read/power running game opening up the pass...REALLY opening up the pass. But they lack the receivers this year (they have one) and good assignment football can contain JT and Cardale. Doesn't mean we'll be good at assignment run defense (Indiana?), but they have to establish the same thing next week.

Joined: 09/26/2013

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991GT3

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^

Weather had as much to do with the outcome as the teams. Personally I would have loved OSU to blow out MSU and come into AA yawing. Now they will be playing to make a point to the nation. The MSU lose is an outlier/aberration. OSU has many potential NFL players and they will be ready for Michigan.

"MIchigan should have beaten MSU and look  at what we did to Michigan."

Concerned.

Joined: 12/14/2013

MGoPoints: 1133

The Reeve

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^

Yes, but major scheme changes don't work mid-season. It's like Brian's "position change" metric as a measure of worry at a particular position. Think UM/Purdue during RR's tenure with the switch the 3-3-5.

I know you mean subtler changes, but Urban's offensive scheme is predicated on accomplishing what they could not accomplish yesterday. To change that completely? I think that leads to as many issues as it does successes.

Joined: 09/26/2013

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evenyoubrutus

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^

1 Urban is not Woody. Elliott is the one who spoke out. We don't know how many on the team are thinking that. 2 I distinctly remember thinking that we were going to blow out Oregon after we lost to App State, because the players were gonna be oh so mad bro. This is message board fanboi logic. Nothing more.

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178158

UMxWolverines

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^

I don't think they know how to handle it. They've never played MSU before Michigan before and I'm sure they didn't expect to lose. In 1998 they played them in early in November so they did get their perfect season ruined but they weren't out of the national title race. They feel like their season is lost now because it was playoffs or bust. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

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UMForLife

November 22nd, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^

Not so sure about McDowell. He had a decent year. We will see what he does next year.

My doubt comes from what they have done against really weak offenses. A big play here and there makes some DL look like monsters, when they really are not. I am not saying McDowell is not a great player, but you are comparing one player to all of M's DL. That is what irks me.

Joined: 11/04/2013

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kb

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^

No logic whatsoever. They say Harbaugh will not last five years here and that Meyer will be at OSU decades, when the real job hopper is actually Meyer - he hasn't stayed more than five years at a school.

Joined: 10/31/2009

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SHub'68

November 22nd, 2015 at 3:10 PM ^

The Only Thing yesterday's result did is tarnish the implications of The Game, not the intensity both teams will bring.

As for OSU's motivation to prepare for and bring it next Saturday, assuming implications have any bearing on this at all, they would still have been there if they had won.  Their loss only changes the narrative, which is mostly for us fans and the talking-heads, anyways.

And, if your program is pathetic enough to constantly need it, you can spin the narrative of just about any game into motivation.  Just watch Sparty; every time they win against anybody who counts, it's because they were 'disrespected' somehow.

Joined: 09/29/2010

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SF Wolverine

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^

I just don't think this group of Buckeyes gives a shit.  We haven't been very good for a while, so there is no immediate recollection.  And, they come in not to "play school' or play in The Game, but to get their tats, cars, and NFL contracts.  That's what Urb's sells, and that's where his players' heads are.  Can't turn a switch now and change it.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24866

Jevablue

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^

Angry or Hungry?  I heard a coach say one time, I don't want my guys angry, I want them hungry.  The lion doesn't hunt the wildebeast because he's mad at it, he's hungry.

Sure OSU might be angry, but I don't think they have played hungry all year. Harbs and M are thirsty (only way to get that bad taste out is to rinse it with a win, or such) and hungry.  

I like our chances, going to be tough, but sorry 11W, losing does not make you better at winning.

Joined: 11/05/2011

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jblaze

November 22nd, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

If OSU squeezed my MSU yesterday, then the game next week would essentially have been to be in the CFB Playoff (the biggest stage of all). That's motivation.

Also, the Twitter meltdowns of the OSU players is further proof they wanted to win.

Joined: 08/29/2008

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