Random Thought - By Their Own Logic, We're the Winningest Program
A lot of college football fans (*cough* Ohio State *cough*) claim that we are not the winningest program because:
(1) Games that happened before other major programs were created shouldn't count.
(2) We have been overtaken by winning percentage, which is the better indicator.
Taking those two claims at their face, I looked at our records from 1879-1889 (the years before Ohio State was established). Our record during that time was 19-9. Decent, but not great.
If we take out those wins and losses, our overall record is 957-343. That puts us at a 73.6% win percentage, which.....will you look at that, puts us ahead of Ohio State at 73.1%
Should we still celebrate in 24 wins when we're the first to reach 1,000? Hell yeah. But I like that, by their own logic, Ohio State football is behind us. And I thought I'd share my brief trip down the rabbit hole with all of you.
There is a good bit of nuance in your argument here. OSU fans - and in general, people who procreate with immediate family members - do not "do" nuance...
OSU fans... do not "do" nuance...
Except for the family members named Nuance.
But they do do doo-doo?
Here's your fatal flaw ... talking to Ohio State fans.
Unsurprisingly, as "fans" their intent is to devalue what you like best, while overvaluing what they like best. It's what fanatics do.
My recommendation... stop "taking out wins and losses" that Michigan earned. They're games played. They're wins. They're losses. Why give any of that back? Especially because the only way Ohio State has a "claim" is if Michigan voluntarily cedes away earned wins.
Then, stop talking to Ohio State fans. In my experience, it yields very little.
You're not wrong, but as a lawyer, my mentality is to find holes in adversarial arguments, including by turning their own logic against them.
This post is basically the equivalent of a brief that says "Even if the opposing party is correct about such and such facts / law -- which they are not -- their argument is still without merit because...."
East Coast, Esq. drops the mike
That's going to be my new username.
EDIT: Does anybody know how to change one's username?
EDIT2: Still don't know how to change my username, but thank you to Seth for changing it!
Find a lawyer and have the lawyer send MGoBlog a letter demanding the change in name.
Not a lawyer, but I have seen a few episodes of Matlock.
That said, and we all have varying degrees of time and patience for nonsense - mine is just low, I've always been of the mindset, never accept a statement based on a bad premise.
If the logic of the adversary's argument requires you to suspend belief, it's not much of an argument. And really, if their argument almost exclusively hinges on my willingness to suspend belief to swing reality in their favor, the only argument to be made is between me and myself. Do I want to do that?
Statement: If you don't count wins before X date, then Ohio State is the winningest program in College Football.
Statement: Based on total wins and losses, Michigan is the winningest program in College Football.
I'm kinda good with just accepting the latter factual statement on its own merits. Everything else is a mental hurdle that isn't necessary.
This seems random?
Posted in response to a single commenter on some thread yesterday that claimed Michigan fans should not feel superior because of nuance in the counting stats of all time wins and percentages. I suspect OP felt a little insecure this morning...
oHIO doesn’t want to admit that they can’t stop thinking about us. Despite all contrary banter they do not feel secure when we win. But so goes rivalries in sport.
fuck AN ohio state
thanks for coming to my ted talk
the end
Thats Megan THEE Buckeye to you.
Odd post. Just look at the indisputable facts (forgive me for being a broken record with these truths):
We have osu beat in wins, head-to-head wins, B1G championships, and national championships. To their credit, I think they may have more recruiting trophies.
I'm curious what a recruiting trophy looks like. Does it look like an 18 year old boy? Or, since these kids are in high school, should it be (gasp!) younger?
I like to think it looks like Terrelle Pryor. Terrelle Pryor, post-tattoo fiasco.
Yep. I would not have posted this if there was anything interesting going on.
If your memory only goes back about 27–42 weeks or so ...
oh, we still win, nm.
EastCoast, this is some MSU level Little Brother shit. Just stop it. Just be proud of our team.
let's not forget OSU is a community so small minded they trademarked a definite article
Enjoy it while it lasts. Simple fact is Ohio State is the only major program in a talent rich state, and they will be passing us in virtually every category unless something significant (better sustained recruiting) happens. If I had my way, Cincinnati would join the Big Ten before any other options just to give Ohio State a heavy dose of the same dilution we enjoy from annoying little brother.
Maybe I'm suppose to care about such things being old and all that but true confession, I really don't. Michigan history for me starts where I can remember watching games so 1968 and Ron Johnson. Everything before that doesn't really matter to me because i wasnt a part of it - either as a fan, a student or an alumni. Everything from that point is now memories - some good, some not so good. But the run from 68 to about 2004 was pretty damn good for anyone who supports Michigan.
All I really give two shits about anymore is the current team and how THEY are doing. All the rest is sound and fury signifying nothing.
You can either brag about ALL the wins or you can brag about LAST YEAR'S wins. Anything else is arbitrary.
If Ohio State fans want to talk the all-time record, Michigan is better. They can't cut out some years just because they sucked.
If Ohio State fans want to talk trash about any shorter time...they're SOL because 42-27.
There are exactly 2 things i give a shit less about than what an ohio state fan thinks....... and those two things are what other ohio state fans think.
I see some numbers, such as 73.6% and 73.1% and 24 wins away from 1000. And 2 claims.
Interesting. It seems like all the numbers I need to make 42 - 27 are in there.
This is next level shit.