Perspective from the rivalries of peer programs
I know all of us could benefit from some perspective in the aftermath of yet another gut-wrenching loss to our biggest rival. The threads about genuine tragedies people have experienced are definitely helpful in terms of stepping outside the football universe for a moment and regaining perspective on life in general, but to maintain perspective upon returning the football universe, consider the following:
- USC lost 11 straght to Notre Dame from 1983 to 1993 and 8 straight to UCLA from 1991 to 1998. Their winless streak against ND had run to 13 by 1995 (tie in '94 followed by another loss in '95). Between 1983 and 2001, USC's record against ND was 3-15-1. No one remembered that when USC started racking up championships and Heisman Trophy winners under Pete Carroll.
- Alabama lost 6 straight to Auburn from 2002 to 2007. No one remembers that now that Saban has built a dynasty there.
- Florida State lost 6 straight to Florida from 2004 to 2009. No one remembered that when Florida State won the NC in 2013.
- Texas lost 5 straight to Oklahoma from 2000 to 2004 . No one remembered that when Texas won the NC in 2005.
- Miami lost 5 straight to Florida State from 1995 to 1999. No one remembered that when Miami won the NC in 2001.
- Tennessee lost 5 straight to Florida from 1993 to 1997. No one remembered that when Tennessee won the NC in 1998.
Not to mention the fact that we owned impressive winning streaks of our own against both of our major rivals before they recently flipped the script. My point is that rivalries are cyclical, and the data proves that long stretches of futility don't affect a blueblood program's ability to win championships. Better yet, given that we're coached by one of the best in the business, we're well-positioned to not only flip the script but to start competing for championships in the immediate future. It won't take us as long to claw our way back as it did USC. This was a tough loss, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic for the future. GO BLUE.
EDIT: I see that people hate the term "natty". Edited. But I stand by the rest.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
this cycle sucks. last time michigan won back to back years against ohio state, timtebro was 9. woof
November 28th, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
This cycle has sucked Major Dong, gone on far too long, had so many things happen that were wrong - Howeva...
the quarter century preceeding Tressel going to osu we were 17-7-1 vs osu. That's not too bad, my friends!
Add in that stretch we absolutely broke their hearts on a couple of those, when they came in undefeated or very highly ranked at least.
SO, as an answer I'd just say that over these past 16 games (can it REALLY be 16 years now?!) I believe the only times they knocked us out of anything significant were '06 & '16 - and the complete story on '16 has not yet been written! Lots of football left to be played before the CFP and Bowls are decided...
Just sayin' - trying to find some salve for my aching heart!
November 28th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
Too GD long a cylce indeed. OP seems intent to mollify only those who actually think this will never end. That is a tiny minority of UM fanatics and even smaller for MGoFanatics. Most of us know it will end, that it is cylical, but FFS it should have ended Saturday!! It just feels like it will never end.
I have seen Bo and Woody's 10 year war. I loved the Cooper 90's, but even with all that perspective, I'm still pissed and crushed and need this to tip back again soon. Neither our own cyclical history nor certainly not that of other teams can assuage my bitterness. Victory is the only tonic.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^
We have no peer programs.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:01 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:03 PM ^
Perhaps not, but as the OP's chart shows, we have company getting our asses kicked by a major rival on a long term basis.
Or, you could have pulled out Harvard's all time record vs Yale to see if either of them should be on that list with us? Cal-Stanford?
November 29th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
Slippery Rock!!
Well, more like a younger buddy...but still...
November 28th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
some people will not be happy with your use of "natty". Godspeed friend.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
Sadly, this was our best chance at beating them in god knows how many years to come. UGH. They were supposed to be young. We were the veteran team.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^
Chris, they were pretty young, and we were more seasoned, no "supposed to be" in there.
And the fact of the matter is we were Damn well cheated out of our W by some ohio slappy refs.
Not that we couldn't have/shouldn't have done better ourselves, but we did ENOUGH to overcome anything they threw at us except 2 penalties for 6 total yards. We had NO answer for that!
November 28th, 2016 at 4:13 PM ^
This narrative is so overplayed. Here is a list of OSU starters with at least three years in the program:
Brown, Samuel, Jones, Eiflein, Barrett, Baugh, Price, Hubbard, Hill, Lewis, McMillan, Worley, Conley, Hooker, Webb, Lattimore, Johnston, Durbin.
That is not an inexperienced team.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^
Not to mention Devin Asiasi. Typically, incoming freshman TEs struggle with blocking, but Asiasi is one of our best blockers outside of the OL. The only reason he didn't get more plays is because Jake Butt is the best TE in the country. Expect Asiasi to have a breakout season next year.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
I admire the optimism and perspective. It's the 362 days between now and then that suck balls.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
thank you.
Freakin Urban Meyer 5-0 against us...fucking puke session
November 28th, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^
Lloyd Carr beat that mercernary prick Urban in his last game when Tebow was his QB. Probably the closest example in 12 years or so of coaching for that asshole to have gotten a QB to take a snap in the pros, btw.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
you both got me...i meant as OSU coach.
Thanks for the correction
November 28th, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^
Carr lost his first 2 games against OSU and then won 5 of 6.
Note: I can't seem to recall how his final 5 games went. /s
November 28th, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
He didn't lose his first two games against OSU. In fact, he won his first three (1995, 1996, and 1997).
November 28th, 2016 at 5:43 PM ^
RR and Harbaugh are the only 2 Michigan coaches to start 0-2 against OSU. Saw that stat somewhere on ESPN.
I want to go puke now.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^
Navy has beaten Army 14 consecutive years. Last Army win, 2001.
Go Navy!! Beat Army!!
November 28th, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^
Never knew until this day that umbig11 is Lee Corso!
You seem far more plugged in on these M boards than you do on Game Day, coach!
November 29th, 2016 at 7:00 AM ^
The structural advantages in that rivalry are so great I don't really see it as a cycle.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
In case you're unaware, everything you listed was like 5-10 years. This shit is getting ready to go on 2 decades.
Not to mention next year would be a major upset considering OSU is returning almost everyone. This was supposed to be the year.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^
Dred the word natty
November 28th, 2016 at 5:24 PM ^
If you want to expand the window a bit, USC went 13 years without beating ND (tie in 1994 followed by another loss in 1995). If you want to expand it further, in the 19 years between 1983 and 2001, USC's record against ND was 3-15-1.
November 29th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
This was supposed to be, and should have been the year, but they don't return as much as everyone thinks next year. They are a young team, but as mentioned above, the majority of their key players have been in the program for at least three years. They will inevitably lose some to the draft. Realistically, they will likely lose almost their whole secondary and linebackers, along with their two best OL and Samuel. They do have Barrett and Weber coming back, but we also have a more experienced Speight, Higdon, and Evans coming back.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^
Cooper went 2-10-1 against us from 1988-2000. This particularly resonates with me since it's about when I was accepted into Michigan, matriculated there and was a young working punk who ate drank and slept college football. I was one of those 'kids' who couldn't believe this was ever a rivalry (in the other direction) during a time when I was much more impressionable.
The tide has turned but I have no doubt it will turn back in a more favorable direction. Age has given me the benefit of perspective at least.
November 28th, 2016 at 7:32 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 8:35 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^
Not true. Tennessee still has a putrid record against Florida since the early 90s. 7-20 since 1990. People still remember that.
Texas still has a putrid record against OU since Bob Stoops got there. 7-11. People still remember that.
Either we're going to turn this bitch around and start winning some games against them and some Big Ten titles or we're going to be known as 2nd bests like those two are.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^
You do realize that we're coached by someone who: 1) took over a 1-11 dumpster fire and inverted its record within four years, and 2) took over an NFL team that hadn't been to the playoffs in nine years and immediately coached them to three NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl, right? When Harbaugh was hired, did you expect that he would have Michigan ranked in the top three in late November during his second season? Do you think things won't improve when Harbaugh brings the level of QB and offensive line play (the two units that remain mediocre and were the absolute worst among a plethora of bad units under Hoke) to the levels he had at Stanford (with access to better talent than he had at Stanford)?
November 28th, 2016 at 8:41 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^
Funny that when Nebraska did break through and beat Oklahoma in '78 they turned right around and lost to Mizzou in the next game and wound up with a rematch in the Orange Bowl that the Sooners won.
November 28th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^
once Urban leaves!! This is just another kick in the dick.
It sucks that the last time Michigan won in Columbus I was 14 years old...I'm 30 now. How's that for perspective?!
November 28th, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 4:12 PM ^
You want perspective?!
Last time we won in Cbus I was still in my 30s and now I'm about to turn 56!
Now quit yer cryin, ya baby!
November 28th, 2016 at 3:59 PM ^
Well you gave it your best shot but my soul is inconsolable at the moment. Post this again next week and it just might penetrate the darkness.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
the rivalry with Ohio State was streaky...the only time in recent memory when the it was more or less even was the Earle Bruce era.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:01 PM ^
You know who remembers those losing streaks? The fans of the teams participating in them.
November 28th, 2016 at 4:03 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:05 PM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 4:05 PM ^
natty