Thankful for this

Submitted by Keebs on November 23rd, 2021 at 9:10 PM

Sports are dumb and meaningless in the grand scheme of things, and we here at mgoblog are more keenly aware of this than most. That said, one of the great joys of life to me is tailgating for football games, especially big and meaningful games, with stakes and hopes associated with them. Yeah this team will probably lose on Saturday, but I'm thankful that here we are at the end of the season and The Game is a top-5 matchup with a Big 10 title game berth and a playoff spot on the table. I'm thankful we aren't shopping around for coaches, or stuck in the muck like USC, Texas, Florida, and other blue bloods are currently. And I'm thankful that mgoblog, which I've read since my freshman year at Michigan back in 2008, is here and providing some of the best content on the internet, despite all the struggles of the past 15 years of Michigan fandom. Like Seth said in the UFR, we know what our fate most likely is on Saturday, but damn it if we all don't deserve to enjoy the ride, whatever comes through those gates. 

In the words of Frodo Baggins, "I'm glad to be with you, MGoBlog, here at the end of all things".

crg

November 24th, 2021 at 7:44 AM ^

The movie(s) had a few scenes where the drama/action was better than the book, but usually Jackson tried to spice things up too much and ended up spoiling the story more than helping it.

The first movie was the first time I had seen the story itself and immediately consumed the books prior to the release of the second movie.  My assessment of the two (books vs movies) is that the film franchise is still good/great standalone but still doesn't do justice to the books.  The movies are almost 100% action & drama but the books include, for lack of a better summary word, culture.  They are written from the perspective of a historian telling a history who also happens to be bard of great prowess.  There are "slow" parts in the book that are still great reads... Jackson's work doesn't do "slow" very well (although the Shire scenes are almost right there).

Joined: 04/30/2015

MGoPoints: 75054

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

November 24th, 2021 at 9:33 AM ^

In fairness to Jackson, those are already really long movies and trying to do "slow" would have turned a trilogy into an eight-season HBO special.  This being before Game of Thrones, that kind of thing really didn't exist and the only big-budget avenue toward adapting LotR was on the big screen.

Almost no movie adaptation can ever do justice to its book, if by "do justice" we mean include everything.  However IMO, Peter Jackson's LotR is nothing less than the finest trilogy of movies ever made, and yes that includes The Godfather, because he largely managed to satisfy both diehard LotR fans (and if Star Wars fans are picky they have nothing on a truly dedicated LotR geek) and casual moviegoers.  They would put hours of work into the finest detail on screen that might show up for two seconds in the background while Gandalf is talking.  The sets, score, acting, props, and film techniques are all first-rate, A+ stuff.  IMO the fact that they didn't spend 10 minutes watching Pippin and Bergil troop around Minas Tirith discussing the finer points of Gondor culture, takes away from the movie not at all.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 41586

Eng1980

November 24th, 2021 at 7:43 AM ^

Well . . . gosh I hate to go here . . . karma and all . . . but it looks like two plays makes the difference statistically.   We stop them once and they fail to stop us once more than expected and we win.  So statistically it is more like OSU is expected to win 3 out of 5 or 3 out of 4.  (Unless the Big 10 refs dictate a holding and PI environment that handcuffs M but not O.)

Joined: 04/28/2016

MGoPoints: 11970

R. J. MacReady

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:33 PM ^

I (Hutchinson) am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun.  Go back to the shadow OSU.  You shall not pass!

Joined: 12/02/2014

MGoPoints: 14347

The Homie J

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:34 PM ^

Yeah this team will probably lose on Saturday

Agreed with everything except this.  This team is different.  They might lose.  They might win.  Word from the program is that we finally spent all year prepping for The Game, whether it was simply thinking about them during the Beat Ohio drill or actually dissecting scheme and film every week.

You wanna write them off before kickoff, that's your prerogative. But I believe this team has the will and desire to get the job done.  LFG

Joined: 01/11/2018

MGoPoints: 17408

BrutusBuckeye

November 24th, 2021 at 5:37 AM ^

How is this team any different than the #4 ranked Michigan squad from 2018 that was favored 4.5 points over Ohio State?

Hope that a team can win is one thing, but faith that it will actually happen is entirely different.

Honestly, I see a variation of your statement made by Michigan fans every year.  Until Michigan proves it can win The Game, why should anyone believe that Michigan's odds of winning and losing is reflected by the mere toss of a coin?  I'll believe it when I see it.

Joined: 03/13/2021

MGoPoints: -44

Mike Damone

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:41 PM ^

Well stated! 

I hope that there are no reasons for the Asinine Pessimists on this blog to make an appearance later this weekend.  But if things dont go as desired - truly hope they are just a few vocal a-holes. Because this has been a great and unexpected season, regardless of Saturday's outcome.

With that said - let's kick some Buckeye ass!  Go Blue!

 

Joined: 09/02/2017

MGoPoints: 24155

DNP-CD

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:48 PM ^

Well said. Was thinking the same thing today. Nobody thought 10 wins and possibly more this year. There’s finally a lot to look forward to. If you’d have told everyone we’d be in this position coming into the season we ALL would’ve gladly taken it. 

Joined: 10/13/2021

MGoPoints: 27

aiglick

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:48 PM ^

Just putting this here that the last time it was a top 5 matchup between OSU and Michigan was at the Horseshoe in 2016. That game went two overtimes with the result being 30-27. Not saying we will win this year but agree with many that we have a decent shot this year. I’m hoping the coaches have the game plan of their lives and the players execute. No silly penalties. No turnovers. Catch with your hands. Make the right read. If the play isn’t there live to see another down. Feed off the energy of what will hopefully be a lively Michigan crowd. This game could be different the one that finally turns the tide. Just have to get over the hump once.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 21521

grumbler

November 23rd, 2021 at 10:04 PM ^

And I still get pissed off every time the green slime guys show up and make all the sacrifices moot.  They could single-handedly eliminate every orc and bad guy attacking Minas Tirith even if the Rohirrim had stayed in their beds that morning.  Jackson couldn't resist trying to show that he could tell the story better than Tolkien.

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 14112

3PG

November 24th, 2021 at 12:04 AM ^

I'll take it one step further. Why didn't they just get the eagles help to destroy the ring? The eagles had to make the round trip to Mount Doom anyway. They could've come up with this plan at the fellowship gathering well before Sauron had his forces ready. The eagles could drop Frodo off at Mount Doom, let him toss the ring in the lava, pick him back up and BOOM! Sauron is toast, Middle Earth is saved, movie done in an hour and a half.

Joined: 12/19/2014

MGoPoints: 1228

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

November 24th, 2021 at 9:20 AM ^

An old question, but it wouldn't have worked.  Sauron had an air force too, ya know.  Nazgul on big nasty dragon things.  Not to mention the many other ways Sauron could've put a stop to that scheme.  Huge masses of orcs with arrows.  Conjuring up a storm (which he definitively could do.)  Big army sitting at the gates of the Cracks of Doom. 

Plus Sauron couldn't easily see the Ring being carried through all the terrain and obstacles on the way to Mordor, but when Frodo is on Weathertop and the Eye has a clear shot at him, Sauron sees Frodo with the Ring within seconds.  A force of eagles making a beeline for Mount Doom with the Ring in hand would be spotted in about five nanoseconds.  You'd have the Eye shining a big laser beam at you for hours.  The plan to destroy the Ring absolutely required sneaking around, not flying in with a huge neon sign that says "WE'RE DESTROYING THIS RING."

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 41586

GoBlueInAlabama

November 23rd, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^

I have told myself a thousand times that Michigan will not win this game.  I have thought about almost every ‘if they…’ scenario, and every time I come back to the fact that OSU is just a better team and more talented team.

But the best team doesn’t always win.  If they play 10 times OSU probably wins 8 of 10.  BUT this year’s team is exactly that, a TEAM.  A group of guys that play with a togetherness I have not seen from Michigan in a long time (maybe the 2016 team and well before that).  The self leadership of this group seems off the charts.  The captains of this year’s team should be commended for an exceptional job leading by example.

harbaugh and this staff have put this team in a position to win each and every week.  
They don’t have to win a best of seven series.  Hell, they don’t even have to win 4 quarters.  The only thing that matters now is being ahead when the clock reads 4th quarter :00.
Just one win on November 27.

Go Blue

Joined: 08/20/2017

MGoPoints: 1464

AlbanyBlue

November 23rd, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^

I like this post.

I'm so thankful for this site. It has given me a great deal of enjoyment over the past 10+ years despite the team's struggles. Thanks to all of you that have provided humor, perspective, and interesting discussions.

I'm thankful that we've has an excellent season and have something important to play for on Saturday. I'm thankful for our players, men of excellent ability and good character. I'm thankful for the coaches who have taken a step forward this year. I'm thankful for the staff and AD that support the team. 

I'm thankful that Michigan football is meaningful again.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 22052

tybert

November 23rd, 2021 at 11:15 PM ^

Consider also Washington and LSU which didn't look to be coach shopping so soon.

JH has righted the ship - we'll see if it is enough on Saturday - I'll be there with my college roommate grads of UM engineering in mid 80s. 

Campbell is a good coach at ISU but nor 6-5. It's not so easy to have 18-22 year olds ready each game. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8453