Urban's Mind Games
I don't trust him.
A lot of people know that Urban Meyer has a psychology background. He was a psychology major and I've read about his motivational strategies and how good he is at getting guys "up" for big games.
I could be way off base, but in my opinion it probably plays a role in his teams seeming to perform well in big games and rivalry games. Especially at Ohio State and against Michigan (I can't explain the mind-boggling loss per year he seemed to have)
So my theory is (call me cynical), that while he has been good on TV and is obviously an amazing coach and X/O guy, he is playing mind games in regards to his comments on Michigan.
It started with the "year for what?" response when asked on TV if this was "Michigan's year". But besides that, he has been extremely complimentary of M and M's players/coaches... almost too complimentary.
He seems to make it a point to mention how good Michigan's players are and how good the staff is, and while I believe the players and staff are good, I don't trust Urban and absolutely would not put it past him to sort've gas up the team in the media as some kind of jedi mind game.
Yes, I'm that cynical, but I can't be the only one who's had these thoughts since Urb went back to TV.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
You really think what Urban Meyer says on TV impacts how Michigan plays football?
Jesus this MB has become really insightful lately.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Exactly ! Urban has no affect on Michigan's performance - ridiculous.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
Except for the 7-0 record . No effect what so ever.
September 30th, 2019 at 7:50 PM ^
Who are you? I was here first....
September 30th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Listen man, it’s just “Urban Warfare Tactics.” We all know that Urban took the job at Fox to be analyst so he could gain more access to Michigan facilities as a spy and inflict more damage upon us as he already has... Don’t worry though, Woodson gots our backs, and he’ll give us the counterintelligence ???!!!!
September 30th, 2019 at 11:09 PM ^
The thing I absolutely hate most about Michigan football..
It’s the 3rd most valuable football program in the country according to the most recent Forbes measurement (2nd biggest football fanbase in the country according to the most recent New York Times measurement). The football program alone generates almost $1B in pure profit per yr. How much of that is wasted on unnecessary scoreboard renovations, field hockey stadiums, crew workout facilities, etc?
Why penny-pinch when it comes to what actually affects the on-field product?? Why not just set the standard for assistant pay and actually be competitive nationally?
If I was Warde.. I’d at least double all of these guys’ salaries.. and put together the most dominant MW/NE recruiting team of all-time..
HC: Brent Venables (Clemson). Best DC in the game. Best recruiter there is in the state of Missouri.
OC/WR: Tony Elliott (Clemson). Best OC in the game.
DC/LB: Brent Pry (Penn St.). Best recruiter there is in the state of VA.
Co-OC/PGC/QB: Kevin Wilson (Ohio St.). Co-best recruiter there is in the state of OH.
RGC/RB: Charles Huff (Alabama). Co-best recruiter there is in the state of MD.
Asc.HC/WR&TE: Terrence Samuel (Michigan St.) Best recruiter there is in the state of MI.
OL: Greg Studrawa (Ohio St.). One of the best recruiters there is in the state of OH.. and of OL nationally.
RGC/DT: Sean Spencer (Penn St.). Co-best recruiter there is in the state of MD.
Ast.HC/DE: Larry Johnson (Ohio St.). Co-best recruiter there is in the state of OH.
PGC/CB: Terry Smith (Penn St.). Best recruiter there is in the state of PA.
STC/S: Chris Partridge (Michigan). Best recruiter there is in the state of NJ.
RC: Kerry Coombs (TEN Titans). Best recruiter maybe there’s ever been in the state of OH.
^ That staff altogether makes less than $20M per yr.. estimating high. And you’d for sure take over the Big Ten.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:03 AM ^
Well he’s in your head.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
He could be trolling the Buckeye fan base.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
This seems like a stretch. And if the team is allowing Meyer to get in their heads they all need some therapy.
That said, there isn't anything else going on today so I'm willing to discuss it.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
Paranoid much? No one needs to play mindgames if you're already playing them on yourself.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
Fuck that amoral bastard. I don't watch Fox's studio coverage because he and USC twins both just piss me off.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^
I like imagining this statement in Wilford Brimley's voice.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
I like Matt Leinart. He just seems like a good dude. Rob Stone should just stick with soccer and Bush adds zero value. Urban is good, but he is Urban, so therefore he blows by default.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
Jesus, please make the obsession with Urban stop. Fuck him.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
You have psychological issues
September 30th, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
Without a doubt.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
Urban's comments have no influence on our team/coaching.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
So he says M is really good to make his unblemished record look even better.
It's similar to how Pete Finebaum picked M to make the playoff. If they do magically make it, he's right and if not he can have a few segments on how M failed blah blah blah Harbaugh blah blah blah.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
I think this is the best explanation. It's about inflating his own ego. Why else would he be on TV? It's not like the money is worth anything to him and he technically already has a job at OSU.
Also, all those bright studio lights can't be good for someone who suffers from chronic Saturday migraines…
September 30th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
Mind games are why he beat UM? Well, he may be a better game day coach than JH, but I don't think mind games are the primary reason he beat UM 7 consecutive times. I'd say talent is number one. He recruits at a higher level and has more in state talent. OSU has been more talented ever year. That's the primary reason he wins.
But, he's also is less rigid than JH, meaning he is better at keeping his talent around and working with them whereas I get the impression with JH it's his way or the highway, which probably turns off some kids, which may be why he have had so many transfers. I also think Meyer hates UM more than JH hates OSU, which is why he's always uber prepared for UM. He focuses on UM all year long. And, I think he he is better at seeing the big picture. The most important thing to Meyer is winning. I get the impression JH values things like playing hard, preparing, practicing hard, etc. more than actually winning the game. JH won't sacrifice his personal moral code to win games, whereas Urban's only moral code is to win games. If that means giving star players preferential treatment, chewing out assistant coaches, allowing less than ethical things go on behind the scenes, he's ultimately OK with it so long as he still wins games.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
I disagree on your point about hating UM more. Before he was hired by OSU it was believed he would accept any of the Michigan, OSU, or Notre Dame jobs that came available. OSU got there first.
Meyer has expressed respect for UM before and it is very possible he feels that way now that the mouth breathers are off his back. Jim played at Michigan. He hates OSU as much as anyone.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
I don't think beating OSU is any more important to Jim than any other game. It is to Meyer. He won't even say the word Michigan.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
1. There is no way to prove that.
2. You don't think that everybody on Michigan doesn't want to beat OSU more than anyone else any year? This is almost all the coaches and players hear on TV, from the fans and alumni for 365 days out of the year. I find that Michigan players and coaches don't care about OSU more than anyone else way more unbelievable than the latter. I think you might have an argument that OSU prepares more for us than we do them. But that is more of a factor of OSU being a better program, so they can prepare less for other opponents and spend that extra time on Michigan. Whereas we have to take every opponent more seriously than OSU.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
There is no way to prove that.
7-0 or 0-7 is a good place to start. Gold pants, UM tackling dummies, countdown clocks, not saying the word Michigan, etc. are all evidence of a culture at OSU that reveres beating UM above all else. Anytime to hear JH talk about the rivalry he talks about competition. Any time you hear Urban talk it about he talks about beating UM. Here are Urban's words...
How do you respect a rivalry? You work it every day. You don’t shoot your mouth off. If I ever hear, whatever’s going on, I hear a player take a shot verbally at them - that’s a problem. How do you show respect for a rivalry? You work it every fucking day. Not by tee shirts. Not by bullshit.
When I see people giggle about how we don’t wear blue in here - I don’t laugh about that. We don’t have blue pens in here. That’s not funny. This is Nike vs. Adidas, this is Coke vs. Pepsi, this is Ohio State vs the Team Up North. This is our livelihood.
So if you're new to the program - welcome to the program. Understand where you’re at. This is not a game. This is not silly. This is a way of life. There’s a bunch of former players in the back that lived it. As you move up, you live it. This is who you are.
You never lose to those pricks. Ever. Ever. And you work it every day. And I don’t give a shit if you’re from California or Texas or whatever, as soon as you say you’re a Buckeye this is part of your life for the rest of your life - and you don’t lose to those pricks. You beat them every day. Every day.
This will always be a player’s program. What you guys did in that game, to put a beating on that team like they’ve never had a beating before in the history of that program - very good program, by the way - you notice how we talk about them, right? Is that a good program up there? Great program. Good players up there? Great players. Great coaches? Great coaches.
That’s the way you respect a rivalry. Then you outwork them and then you kick that ass like it’s never been kicked before. And that’s what you did.
JH does not talk about OSU like that. Meyer and the OSU culture cares more. It's not hard to tell.
September 30th, 2019 at 8:09 PM ^
Exactly right. Even the damn newscasters here in Central Ohio won't say "Michigan." It's an obsession. Many of just the everyday normal fans will break out their hari-kari knifes at the thought of losing to us. Wonder why they've dominated over the last couple of decades ?
September 30th, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
That is just pandering from someone who knows his fanbase.
September 30th, 2019 at 7:37 PM ^
MGkolem, he wasn’t pandering to his fan base, that was a team meeting transcript.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
Most OSU guys that breathe through their noses have a healthy respect for Michigan and the rivalry. Hell, during the RR/Hoke years Chris Speilman was more upset at the state of the program than I was.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
Oh yeah. He’s trolling Michigan on TV, for sure. Very effectively.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
I enjoy listening to the guy he not only knows his stuff but has a good style of presenting. Being polite and gracious is how people should be...it's shocking because our culture has gotten away from it and its rare to see it on display
September 30th, 2019 at 10:21 AM ^
Agreed. I don't like the man, but he's an excellent commentator.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:10 AM ^
The Urban Meyer thing on this Board is getting weird now.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
Agree, he's GONE ! the only HC that affects UM football is Harbaugh.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
I can’t wait until we stop posting threads here about this guy.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:14 AM ^
This post makes me sad for our fan base. JFC.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
The Moon landing was a hoax. It’s a fact.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
The mind games have had an adverse effect on his mind as well. Or so he tells us....hmmm....
September 30th, 2019 at 10:16 AM ^
You do know that Urban Meyer isn't the head coach of Ohio State anymore, right?
September 30th, 2019 at 11:06 AM ^
I would think maybe, just maybe, we start concentrating on Day instead of dirt bag Meyer who is long gone.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
TBH, by looking at the rankings and scores of their games, I couldn't tell.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
Did anybody correct the whole mind-boggling, mind-bottling thing yet? Wouldn’t be a thread without it.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
it bottles the mind
September 30th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
Crissakes. The tri-annual hot take thread was better than this shit.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
I trust him completely. I trust that he's going to coach again somewhere, recruit well, I trust he'll win a lot of games, likely win another NC, run a shady program, and I trust he'll "retire" juuuuuust before he'd need to resign in disgrace, for the 3rd time.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
He's in your head. In that case i guess you are right.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
Do you legitimately believe anyone at Michigan listens to Urban Meyer and gives a shit about what he says? This guy threw a massive hissy fit that he had to apologize for keeping a serial abuser on his staff. He's a piece of shit and the fact he's talking up Michigan likely isn't some deep mental games he's running as much as he's a liar and an opportunist and he'll say whatever he can to get attention.
I really wished he wasn't given so much air time anywhere; it astounds me that we live in a world where this sack of shit is paid millions of dollars AFTER stepping down from his last million-dollar job because, again, he's a callous asshole.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
I just wish when Meyer was ribbing him during the Wisconsin coverage, Woodson would've said, "I know your game at Purdue last year had to feel worse than this though.
Woodson is someone who could do that.
They're supposed to be impartial. If Woodson has to take it on the chin for his school, Meyer should too...for a game he was actually the coach for, as recently as last freaking year.
September 30th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
I think it's more that he has an agenda of making Ohio State look better, which in turn makes him look better. Nothing less, nothing more. I haven't watched enough of him to figure out if he's a half-way decent commenter/analyst.
Remember Lou Holtz, though? He always had an agenda, generally puffing up Notre Dame and later on his son Skip. He'd also try to knock down Notre Dame's rivals, including Michigan and Southern Cal. It got in the way of useful analysis and was a big part of the reason he was never a good analyst.
Does this affect Michigan at all? Nope.
(Also, I had no idea Skip Holtz was still coaching.)
September 30th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
Jesus fucking christ. Member for one week, five days - can we PLEASE put both a time as well as points threshold for thread creation? The stupid ones, I mean the really, REALLY stupid threads (like this one) are almost universally created by somebody who just joined and is sure the rest of the community wants to hear their oh, so precious and important thoughts.
Putting a time limit (say six months for example) would knock down the shit-post creation dramatically as people would either learn this isnt MLive or they'd get bored waiting and would go back to MLive.