Semi OT: Who do you root for: Conference or Rival?
Obviously, with the BCS era, the idea of conference superiority has reigned supreme. The Big 10's image has taken a beating in recent years while the Big 12 and SEC are considered "the primere" conferences. In the non-conference schedule, are you more likely to cheer for another Big 10 team who is a rival hoping that a significant victory will improve the image of the conference or do you root against them because they are a rival? The embodiment of this dilemma is next weekends match up between USC and Ohio State. The Big 10 cannot afford another blemish with a blowout loss of Ohio State to USC, but at the same time, its Ohio State, and any loss is a good loss. Which side are you more likely to cheer for: MSU, OSU, PSU, or Wisconsin to do well in a non-conference game, or an opponent?
September 6th, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^
I root for the conference, but never our rivals.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:30 PM ^
Dido. I also root agaist ranked teams especially if they are in the sec or the big 12. I never root for osu, nd or msu though.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
It's sweet, sweet schadenfreude whenever she misses a note.September 6th, 2009 at 7:32 PM ^
I take it on a case by case basis. I was rooting for Ohio St to be embarrassed but still win yesterday. Having to win in overtime would have been optimal but as is went was pretty good. The B10 needs OOC wins right now by everyone (looking at you Illinois).
September 7th, 2009 at 3:52 AM ^
knowing that both Iowa and Minnesota was playing in close games that they "should" be winning, I found myself jumping up and down whenever Navy scored against OSU. i think our rivals in general share this same sentiment.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^
I root for my team. Fuck rooting for teams that do nothing for me.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:33 PM ^
Except create a national perception that may put your team into a national title game?
September 6th, 2009 at 6:42 PM ^
Doesn't mean I have to root for them.
September 7th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
The Big Ten has had a crappy reputation for a few years now. That hasn't prevented OSU from going to two national title games - and PSU would have gone if they'd been undefeated last year.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:15 PM ^
Agreed. I never root for OSU, ND or MSU.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
I root only for my team.....I live in SEC country and it is amazing that SEC fans consider Georgia winning the Little League World Series a few years back somehow linked to SEC supremacy....these idiots take credit for any win no matter what...it is hard to explain. It would be like a Big Ten fan saying it is a Big Ten win if the Chicago Bulls win the NBA championship or Pittsburgs winning the Stanley Cup.
If you need to live ficariously (sp) through other teams then you need to re-examine if your a true fan. I cannot root for my rival.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
That's because SEC fans are still butt-hurt over losing the Civil War.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
"the primere" conferencesExcellent use of the SEC spelling. I root for schadenfreude. Most of the time that works as against our rivals, but it really depends on the possible story lines. And I totally switch rooting interests in the Syracuse/Minnesota game this weekend. I wanted to see 'cuse win to see rival Minnesota lose, but then when they gave up the ball in OT, I really wanted Minnesota to win so I could watch Michigan to play faster.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:56 PM ^
I take it game by game, team by team. But never for Ohio State, even when the conference needs it the most (last year's Fiesta Bowl). I agree 100% with f.a., I was hoping MN would end it quick yesterday, which they did. Only to have ESPN add 5 minutes of innocuous field and studio shots on to the end, delaying the UM game even more. Sweet.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:52 PM ^
Well I live in georgia and that's one of the biggest differences I notice in SEC country.
Friday at work everyone was calling in the radio stations saying how happy they were to see s.carolina def n.carolina for the SEC. It seems like they are more conference pride down hear. Also IMO they are aware that a stronger conference will guarantee you more quality wins for the standings. So yes I would rather see ohio state win...not only for the conference, but when we beat them later in the year it will be that more significant.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:17 PM ^
I would imagine that conference pride is big down south based on the number of S-E-C chants during College Gameday yesterday.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:54 PM ^
Yesterday, I found myself rooting for Navy but hoping the rest of the Big Ten teams would win. Given that Iowa, Minny, o$u, Wisco and IU managed to squeak out wins, it's not very encouraging for the conference. Illinois got zooked by a rebuilding Missouri team which was most surprising. I have to hope that the bucks at least show up, next weekend, in the 'shoe.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
I found myself doing the same thing. I dont think the I could root for tUOS unless it helped us in some way.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:54 PM ^
I hope OSU gets crushed! I dont care about how the Big 10 looks to outsiders. I only care about Michigan!
September 6th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^
Exactly. People in the SEC can say the Big 10 is weak, but really, Michigan's track record against SEC teams is pretty strong, so I always bring that up.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:55 PM ^
I root for the conference, usually.
Don't get me wrong, I like an embarassing OSU loss as much as the next guy.... but those teams losing big, especially OOC, just makes Michigan look not as good if we beat them and not as bad if we lose to them.
I will always root for any Big Ten team when they play Notre Dame. A ND loss is as good as schadenfreude gets.
September 6th, 2009 at 5:56 PM ^
I have two favorite teams:
1) Michigan
2) Anybody playing Ohio State
September 6th, 2009 at 6:03 PM ^
ever, ever root for osu. never.
I understand the point about Michigan looking better and whatnot, but seriously...this is osu we're talking about. Take it from an ohioan these people do not deserve even the most hesitant support from any fan base but the d-bags that already support them.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:27 PM ^
I can answer this question for OSU fans because I live in Columbus. Unfortunately, I had to watch the game in a bar yesterday because I don't have cable yet. So I went incognito wearing a red and white Oakley shirt. Let me tell you, OSU fans root against us. It was incredible to see how passionately some of the OSU fans were cheering against us. Two thoughts were going thru my head:
1. Could you take some of that energy you use to hate M and use it to like OSU?
2. You do realize it will reflect poorly on the whole conference if M loses, right...?
September 11th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
team has bad fans. Are you suggesting that since "they do it" that you should too?
September 6th, 2009 at 6:27 PM ^
Typically I pull for the Big 10, even Ohio State when playing someone else. Really, its a win-win situation. If OSU wins, yay Big 10. If they lose, you can still cackle with glee when the camera pans to some dejected buckeye fan with his face in both palms. However, just once I want to see OSU choke up what should be a gimme vs. a no-name team and balance out the universe.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:40 PM ^
Honestly I think it's gonna take more than just OOC wins by our rivals to improve the conference's appearance. I think you have to look to conference play as well. How many people want to watch Big Ten conference games when the style of play is/has always been 3 yards and a cloud of dust?
Now I understand part of teams improving their image is by winning OOC games, but if we could have some more compelling conference games I think we could see an improvement in image.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:41 PM ^
As a guy who follows and enjoys hoops as much as football, I have a split personality here.
Hoops, I always cheer for the conference. A lot more value and payoff to pull for them through the season, especially in whatever November/December other OOC games they have in the season.
Football, i dont think its as big a relevant factor as folks make it out to be vis a vis the BCS. Its seems big, but only in the rare case could it really hurt Michigan. Translastion: Navy broke my heart yesterday. That would have been a perfect match for me. I'd have my Navy sweats and hoodies in time for fall weather. And Northern Iowa almost bought me a evening of handle jacking fun while infiltrating BHGP.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:51 PM ^
It kind of depends. It's good to see the Big ten do well in bowls, but I have to say that I would have found it funny if Iowa or especially OSU lost yesterday to worse teams. However, I was disappointed to see Illinois play so poorly against Missouri.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:59 PM ^
I root for MSU, PSU, and OSU to LOSE every fucking time they put on their pads. I hope they lose in practice.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^
co-sign
September 6th, 2009 at 7:00 PM ^
I want OSU to win so we can beat a good team in November. It's far better to beat a 11-0 or 10-1 team than a 3-8 or 4-5 team.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
co-sign
September 11th, 2009 at 4:43 PM ^
From an OSU fan: I always want UM to win OOC because OSU will always have their own chance to beat them at the end of the season. I really don't mean this in an overly affronting way but rooting for your rival to lose games that realistically do not benefit your school smacks of jealousy. Your "Beat OSU" destiny is in your own hands, why cheer for it to be potentially less meaningful? You don't have to CHEER for OSU but wanting them to win for your own potential gain doesn't have to involve verbal adulation or even a smile. OSU is better served by beating an undefeated UM team and vice versa.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:08 PM ^
The conference. The conference!
If Ohio State smokes USC next week, it will be so much sweeter when we smoke Ohio State in November.
Anything else is thinking with your balls instead of your brain.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
I use my brain enough during the work week. My visceral desire is for OSU to get slaughtered every game. I don't fight that desire.
(MSU and ND I typically feel sorry for and don't mind seeing them beat a non-conference school).
(PSU is not a serious rival--I don't care what they do outside of our game with them).
September 6th, 2009 at 7:09 PM ^
Other than that, I'll root for anyone else against OOC teams.
One exception, I'll root against lil bro if they play any smaller Michigan schools.
When OSU plays USC, or any SEC school, I can't root for either team. It's pretty much impossible for me to enjoy watching those games.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:13 PM ^
There are a few teams that I just couldn't bear to root for, especially yesterday. Minnesota and Iowa come to mind. Something about Minnesota just aggravates me beyond reason, and Iowa was just making me smack my head against the wall.
Against stronger OCC teams, I usually try to root for Big 10 teams. When USC comes into Columbus next week.. boy we'll see who I like.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:52 PM ^
I can only give you one vote, but know that I pressed the mouse button with much vigor.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:17 PM ^
I root for every team on our schedule to win as many games as possible so we have a better "strength of schedule" than other OOC teams. If two teams we play are playing each other, I root for the higher of the ranked teams. It always helps rankings if you've scalped highly ranked teams - which means I've forced myself to root for OSU more than I imagined these last few years.
Also, given this philosophy, I always root for B-10 over OOC teams no matter the B-10 team in question.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:26 PM ^
I will never, ever, EVER, root for Ohio State! I don't care if every Big Ten team lost and they are our last hope! Never! They suck worse than the girl who broke up with me in 10th grade for the basketball team captain. Never, ever will I root for them! I would rather have a tooth pulled with no pain meds! I would rather have each hair on my sac pulled! I don't even think this rant comes close to saying how much I hate them. Now, they did stick up for RR when he was in trouble with the NCAA, but that still doesn't mean I am going to root for them. I hope USC pounds them again 35 - 3 like last year! GO BLUE and Bucs SUCK!
September 6th, 2009 at 7:28 PM ^
I remember reading a remark ESPN made about the Michigan Ohio State rivalry. It went something like this:
"Three times in the 90's Ohio State went into the [Michigan] game undefeated. Three times the Buckeyes lost. That is rivalry"
And this was their remark on the Michigan - Ohio State rivalry being the greatest in American sports. While it pains me to see joy in the faces of a Buckeye fan on any Saturday in the fall, it is worth it seeing them lose at the end of the year to us.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:52 PM ^
rivals.
I root for MSU against ND and OSU - but besides that all three can lose every game as far as I'm concerned.
I pretty much loathe many of the B10 teams (OSU, MSU, PSU, Wisc) - so I am typically rooting for FAIL
September 6th, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
Wouldn't call it "root", but I want the teams we play to be as highly ranked as possible.
I enjoy the pain we bring to little sister. They come into Michigan week with their breast pumped up, then they historically implode after losing to us.
As mentioned above the end of year win at OSU has the double benefit of beating a highly ranked team AND pissing in their Wheaties.
Same approach for PSU...
September 6th, 2009 at 8:02 PM ^
Hey, it'd be great for everyone to think the Big Ten is the bomb (i.e. the SEC). However, I don't want to ever find myself rooting for a prospective opponent, which last I checked is anyone but Michigan. It's bad karma.
Also, if we're going to get to the BCS championship, I want it to be on OUR accolades, otherwise it'll be second guessed forever. I.E. An undefeated or 11-1 Michigan team likely won't need the rest of the Big Ten to do squat. There's not likely to be many 12-0 or 11-1 teams to say they deserved it more.
A 10-2 team that gets in because the Big Ten is da' bomb won't make everyone else think we deserve it. They'll say we got there because of the Big Ten - just like we all do now with the SEC or Big 12.
Root for us, and only us. Let the rest fall where it may.
September 6th, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
You guys are way too emotional in your allegiances.
Apart from Michigan, I just root for teams alphabetically.
Which generally means that Vandy can SUCK IT!
September 6th, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
Unless they play Wyoming! (or probably a few FCS teams)
September 7th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
What's your policy on the Akron Zips?
September 6th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
I just root for Michigan, it's as simple as that.
September 6th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
I just root for Michigan, it's as simple as that.