A Request of a Divided Fanbase

Submitted by michgoblue on

As we wind down this season, it is obvious that we are a fanbase divided.  Some want to retain RR.  Some want him thrown out of town effective yesterday.  Some want GERG to stay and be given a chance to work with players who have entered puberty.  Other want him gone. 

We are not happy with the present state of our program.  And who would be?  We all remember competing for B10 Championships and Rose Bowl births, and we long for the days where "15 extra practices" didn't even factor in to our consciousness.

But, this is OSU week - to me, the greatest week of the year.  We will be facing off against our arch-rival in what is still considered by many to be the greatest rivalry game in sports.  This is a time to send nasty emails to your Buckeye friends, to entertain dreams of Denard streaking by helpless OSU defenders, to hope for what could be and to just enjoy being a college football fan.

Whever happens with RR and GERG will not be decided this week.  And after this week, there will be plenty of time for discussion on what DB should do.  Hell, if we can find a way to go out there and take down the Buckeyes, I would imagine that the discussion would become moot for all but a few fans (who would never be pleased with RR).  Greater upsets have happened.  Greater upsets have even happened in this very rivalry.

While most are expecting a loss, with our offense, anything is possible.  Plus, when a team has nothing but pride on the line, strange things can happen.  Plus, plus, RR and the players have said on more than one occasion that they practice something new for OSU every week.  I for one can't wait to see what RR pulls out for this game.  (I hear that Mike Martin will be playing QB for a play with Denard lining up atleft guard to exploit his speed - kidding, of course).

So let's table the whole coaching decision thing until next Monday.  There is a definite time for that discussion, but that time is not this week.  After this week, we will have plenty of time to analyze the situation.

Certainly not trying to tell anyone what to do.  Just my $.02.

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clarkiefromcanada

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^

I am unsure why you got negged because your comment, at least about the divisions being real and evident, is certainly reasonable. I agree with the OP that this is at least the week to shelve the Fire RR, Can GERG discussion and focus our absolute hate and vitriol toward the vest and those miscreants from Columbus.

Prior to this coaching regime there were factions as well; since we've had less success in the past few years they are just more vocal. Winning will cure everything and I think RichRod will have about one more year to produce the cure.

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 49257

Mitch Cumstein

November 22nd, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^

I just want to take a lead early.  I think that would go a long way in giving us a chance if OSU didn't just have to let their D and running game go to work the whole game.

After this week, we will have plenty of time to analyze the situation.
Hopefully we have an extra long time before our next game. Possible January bowl game with a win?

Joined: 10/02/2009

MGoPoints: 14072

nsweet

November 22nd, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^

I was thinking the exact same thing!  Lets go ahead and start with our offense if we win the toss.  I know the norm in college is to defer, but when you are putting your weakest link on the field first I think you should go with taking the ball to avoid puting your defense on as long as possible!

Joined: 11/30/2009

MGoPoints: 289

Magnum P.I.

November 22nd, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^

I like it. This week is truly what being a Michigan fan is all about.

Beat OSU, even if it means running out a 3-3-5, attempting field goals, and rubbing stuffed animals over every player. Just beat OSU.

P.S. - And offer Royce Jenkins-Stone yesterday, please

Joined: 07/16/2009

MGoPoints: 30660

jmblue

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^

I remember this old joke from the Cooper days:

Q: What's a Buckeye?

A: A nut that always cracks under pressure. 

Let's make it true again.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102802

Don

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:03 PM ^

I just reviewed our OSU history, and I'm having a hard time finding an upset of Ohio State that would rival what it would be if we pull it off next Saturday.

Given that the game is at OSU, considering OSU's strengths as a team, taking into account our injuries, considering the fact that our defense is one of the very worst in our program's history, considering our special teams ineptitude, and unfortunately considering the negativity that continues to swirl around the coaching staff, I think a victory would constitute the biggest upset in the series history.

The only game I can come up with that might rival it is the 1950 Snow Bowl at Columbus. We were 4-3-1 and unranked coming into the game, and OSU was 6-2 and ranked #8, with eventual Heisman winner Vic Janowicz.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148337

mGrowOld

November 22nd, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^

I'm surprised you picked that one Don.  I'd have gone with 1996 as a VERY similar game as the one coming up.  We were 7-3, unranked and going into Columbus to play the #1 ranked Buckeyes.  Carr was under fire for yet another mediocre year (remember when we used to get pissed over only 8 wins - ok...another day another post). And we were a HUGE underdog.

13-9 final MIchigan in a game forever remembered by Sean Spring's slip and fall on a little slant route to start the second half. 

That's the one that gives me hope.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212941

Don

November 23rd, 2010 at 8:00 AM ^

MGro, I don't think it's even close. This is the 1996 team:

All-Americans: Rod Payne, Jarrett Irons, William Carr, Charles Woodson

All-Conference: Jarret Irons, Rod Payne, David Bowens, William Carr, Damon Denson, Marcus Ray, Jerame Tuman, Charles Woodson

How many All-Americans are we going to have this year on defense, which in my opinion is the worst defense in Michigan history? As of right now, we've given up 369 points, which is the largest total ever in our history, and we still have two games to play. I realize that we have a prolific offense, but as others have pointed out here, we've displayed the alarming tendency to do squat on offense in the first half, forcing us into playing catch-up the rest of the game. Playing catch-up with this defense is a losing proposition.

Then you consider the incredible number of injuries we've suffered, and the resulting incredible number of freshmen and sophomores who've been shoved into starting roles way before they're truly ready on both sides of the ball, especially the defense.

I am not saying that this is the overall worst team ever to play Ohio State—we've played them in past years with teams that were much worse than ours this year, but they didn't win.

Plus, stuffed animals.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148337

M-Wolverine

November 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^

But those Ohio State teams were better too.  In 1996 we were 17 point dogs. It's not that far off. This year is worse, yes, but hindsight works in funny ways.  If in 2 years a lot of these young guys are good (which I'm not sure will be the case) we'll think they had more potential this year, whereas in 1996 we weren't thinking this was a team that was going to win a national championship the next year.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 23rd, 2010 at 8:48 AM ^

I don't see how you can compare this year's team to 1996.  Here are the points against for each game in 1996:  8, 13, 14,  9, 17, 20, 10, 29, 9, 29, 9, 17.  Our three losses leading up to the OSU game were by 1 point, 6 points, and 12 points.  We had already defeated a #5 ranked Colorado team on the road (a team which finished ranked #8, so it's not like they were overrated).

The 1996 team was a very good team, with a defense good enough to keep them in any game.  An upset this year would be magnitudes greater than what happened in 1996. 

Joined: 09/22/2009

MGoPoints: 5710

LatinForLiar

November 22nd, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^

Well if you find the dialogue constructive, why not allow it this week? Isn't the whole point of a sports blog to debate things like this? I thought your post was based on the premise that the negativity is misguided, shortsighted and counterproductive, and therefore should be tamped down for a week.

Joined: 11/06/2010

MGoPoints: 475

Happyshooter

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^

I didn't expect RichRod to land a national championship his first year on the team. I did expect that during year three he would field a defense with the same level of ability as a good high school football team.

Two choices here. 1. Rich Rod has failed to get good players and to hire and/or supervise a DC correctly. 2. The DC has somehow failed to meet requirements that RichRod set and for some undisclosed reason he has not been fired yet.

Either way, someone gets fired at the end of this season. They should be fired already, but as a fan I can understand that there may be good reasons for waiting til the end of the season. It can happen afterwards. Someone has failed, someone has to go.

We can rah-rah--and I will--and hope that Tate and DRob run up 100 points and beat OSU.  That doesn't change the fact that there is a serious issue on defense.

Joined: 04/11/2009

MGoPoints: 465

SFBlue

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^

Well, the fact that I do not believe in Santa Claus has never hurt Christmas for me...

Seriously though, your sentiment is spot on: it's fucking GAME WEEK, and let's remember we're all Michigan fans first.

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 15699

M-Wolverine

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^

Can't see the +/-, but I'm guessing it was more for insinuating that everyone who has been saying "support the coach whoever it is" are going to flip-flop in disgust if Rich is fired.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

doughboy

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^

I was a little apathetic going into this week after the Wisconsin game.  But listening to the guys at this afternoon's Press Conference got my blood pumping.  These guys are jacked about the opportunity in front of them this weekend - and now so am I.  Go Blue - go down to Columbus and kick some Buckeye ass.

Joined: 10/27/2009

MGoPoints: 2268

DixieWreck

November 22nd, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^

and all of their fans were spouting off to us while walking into The Big House, we were given a slim chance at beating them in The Game that year, when I was so fortunate to have been in attendance and witnessed our undersized offensive line open up gaping holes for Timmy Biakabatuka who ran all over their buckeye nuts that day!  Anything can happen!  

I truly love these kids and just hope they play their best game this weekend, if so, no doubt they can pull off a memorable team victory!

Hail, Hail ...

Joined: 07/31/2010

MGoPoints: 1866

TennBlue

November 22nd, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^

Edit your post and click the "Source" button in the upper left hand corner.  Then paste the embed code.  Click "Source" again to get back to the WYSIWIG editor.

Joined: 10/12/2010

MGoPoints: 6445

UMxWolverines

November 22nd, 2010 at 8:52 PM ^

The players are trying their hardest and none know what it feels like to beat ohio state. We're just fans! Can you imagine how the seniors feel? They deserve it and I hope to God they do. But I know this week for the next two half days of school, I'm not gonna think about Algebra II, I'll be thinking about the damn buckeyes. And while at the table on Thanksgiving, i'll be thinking about the damn buckeyes. And while the Lions are getting destroyed by the Pats, yes, I'll be thinking about the damn buckeyes.

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65433