We are going to be kicking ourselves in the ass at the end of this year
I know it is would have, could have, should have, but due to my geographical coverage, I had the Wisky-IA game instead of UM and am just shaking my head. After watching those two roll around on each other for 60 minutes, I still cannot believe I was seeing the probable Big 10 champion and BCS rep look so impressive. I have never apologized for the Big 10, but man this would have been a good year to make any sort of run due to the strength of the conference. I think we will look back at MSU and IA as just terrible loses (would never have said that at the beginning of the year). If we could have controlled one of three variables of 1) turnovers, 2) Molk line disruption or 3) safety play, we should have won both games. Having all three blow up at once cost us.
It is probably sour grapes, but I just think if we could stop beating ourselves, we could beat anyone in this conference this year on any given Saturday. We just can't seem to pull it all together all at once. This could have been a great time to sneak in a conference run even with our inexperience.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:54 PM ^
"If 'ifs" were Fifths, we'd all be drunk."
October 17th, 2009 at 5:52 PM ^
That is just the team we are right now. Sure it would be great to be a deep, experienced team. We just aren't. In a year or two, watch out baby.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:52 PM ^
I am just glad that this early in the year we are in a position to have to only win one (possibly two) more games to be bowl eligible. It is frustrating to have killed ourselves in those two games but in relation to where we were this time last year I am ecstatic!
October 17th, 2009 at 5:52 PM ^
If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts we'd all be a bowl of granola.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:56 PM ^
Hold on. If Iowa is the likely BCS rep, then why would we look back on that game as a "terrible loss?" A missed opportunity, yes, but hardly an embarassment.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:57 PM ^
State owned Michigan for 3 quarters plus. They had no business winning that game. Honestly, Michigan is not all that great this year. Sure they could win those games. But by no means is this team flat out better than Michigan State or Iowa.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^
You could say the same thing about the IU and ND games if you really wanted to break down the season.
With a young team, road wins are real tough to come by.
5-2 is all good in my book with hopefully a 6th W coming at about 7pm next Saturday!
October 17th, 2009 at 5:59 PM ^
Yes, I feel like I am kicking myself every time I think about those 2 games. But, realistically we are doing better (I think) than projected maybe not record wise but probably performance wise and I don't see the Big Ten getting that much tougher from a Michigan perspective. Especially, with us continuing to get better. I truly believe we should be 6-0 right now, but I am going to ride this one out. Who knows with the big ten the way it is, we could potentially win out, Iowa could lose a couple and we could be representing the Big Ten in the BCS... Wishful thinking yes, but you never know. Go Blue!
October 17th, 2009 at 5:59 PM ^
and as fans I think we should heed his words. We should always look forward. We have a golden opportunity this next Saturday to start the back end of the season with a bang. Besides, we are only through 3 games in the Big Ten schedule. We could still be the BCS rep (kind of unlikely, but you never know).
October 17th, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
Kicking myself in the ass sounds like more work than I'd like. I'd rather just sit there and eat Christmas cookies.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
We make these ones that are orange-flavored and dipped in chocolate. And then there are the sugar cookies we frost ... mmmmm.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:06 PM ^
5-2, I'll take it.
Would I love to have a successful 4th QTR 2 point conversion at MSU? YES.
Would I love to have Denard check down to underneath crossing route instead of INT at Iowa, followed by a successful FG at Iowa? YES.
About 3-4 more plays, and a total of 4 points, and we could be 7-0. I get your point, but I am pleased with the progress and this team is exceeding expectations, so far. Next Week, a victory would be huge.
GO BLUE
October 17th, 2009 at 6:03 PM ^
If everything goes right, sure, Michigan is 7-0. If a few more things go wrong, Michigan is 3-4. I'll take 5-2 with solid play.
While I always want Michigan to have a record I can be 'proud' of, I really just want a team that I can be proud I can say I'm a fan of. Yes, that means winning, but it mainly means playing hard and never giving up (and staying out of trouble and getting decent grades).
October 17th, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^
HAHA for the avatar.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
MSU is kicking itself in the ass over Central and ND, Ohio State is kicking itself in the ass over USC and Purdue, Purdue is kicking itself in the ass...
As the great Steve Fisher use to say: "shoulda woulda coulda"
October 17th, 2009 at 6:06 PM ^
We beat Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State?! Sweet!
October 17th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^
If the Queen had balls, she'd be king.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:28 PM ^
To be read aloud:
"Balls!", said the Queen, "If I had two I'd be the KIng." And the King laughed because he had two.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:12 PM ^
At the ends of this season, I will be pleased. The improvements, and proving all the nay-sayer's wrong about this team will be enough for me. What a great time to be a Wolverine. The season finale is yet to come. Be patince.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:47 PM ^
The team is making the progress they need to make. They win the games they are suppose to win - right???
Where are we?
5-2
A (good) chance to play in a (good) bowl game
Young talent developing
A chance to finish in the top 3 in the Big Ten
Works for me now - next year should be even better
October 17th, 2009 at 6:49 PM ^
You make some good points, but youth is youth. They will make other bumbles this year. As we are 5-2, look back at the ND game and the Indiana game we could easily be 3-4. I'll take 5-2. I still think we'll be 7-5 with losses to PSU and OSU. I sure hope I am wrong.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:53 PM ^
We are going to be kicking ourselves in the ass in 2008 when we look back at that App State game and go MAN WE SHOULDA WON THAT!
Thank God we still have Lloyd Carr as our coach and don't have to deal with a coaching search.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:55 PM ^
This is it! This is the answer. It says here... that a bolt of lightning is going to strike the clock tower at precisely 10:04pm, next Saturday night! If... If we could somehow... *harness* this lightning... *channel* it... into the flux capacitor... it just might work. Next Saturday night, we're sending you back to the future TO MAKE SURE DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING THE IOWA GAME LOSS DOES NOT HAPPEN!
October 17th, 2009 at 7:08 PM ^
Most people had this team at 6-6 or 7-5 before the season started. I had them at 9-3, but I am an optimist. Almost nobody expected this team to compete for anything more than a decent bowl at this stage of their growth pattern.
UM has a chance to "overachieve" this year. We'll see what happens down the road.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:22 PM ^
If we beat ohio state, I won't be kicking my own ass.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
I am amazed by how quickly people forget 3-9.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:32 PM ^
Truth
October 17th, 2009 at 7:30 PM ^
Yup, we let two get away. But the ND win could have just as easily gone the other way.
Frankly, my take of the Big Ten is that the conference basically is semi-inept. If Iowa is the best we have, we are in trouble - no wonder the rest of the country is bad mouthing us. There is not a balanced team in the conference which is impressive on both sides of the ball.
I'm still figuring us for eight.
Go Blue!
October 17th, 2009 at 8:06 PM ^
Despite the heartbreaking way that our losses came about, I'm loving 5-2. If we can TCOB against Purdue and Illinois; snag one from PSU, Wisco, or the Bucks; and exhibit some solid play in a bowl game, I'll consider this year a raging success.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:19 PM ^
if we win out and go 10-2. Damn that would be a bitch...
October 17th, 2009 at 8:49 PM ^
This 5-2 team (woot!) could be 3-4 as easily as it could be 7-0. I thought we would be 7-5 this year and I will be exceedingly pleased if we hit 8-4. This team is young and exciting and will be in every game this year.
Lets enjoy the roller coaster ride and forget last seasons ineptitude...although I still watch the Rilo Kiley video before every game.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
Not to be douche. Even though I am. You are also 2 plays from being 3-4.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:30 PM ^
Thank God you were here to make the same point that two other people already made, only in a douchier way. Now go away.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:47 PM ^
I'm sorry for the Seniors, but as close as we have been, we could have lost to ND ( and Indiana w/o too many changes in the historical record.)
If Purdue can do that to OSU (they are not to be over looked) the Big 10 could be won by a 2 loss team.
Graham has his eyes on the prize.