What's Gary Patterson's beef with Michigan?

Submitted by whidbeywolverine on January 12th, 2022 at 8:17 PM

The Coaches Poll was dissected and Gary Patterson had Michigan eighth!

I get that he once had the Horned Frogs close to the top before the playoff went from 2 teams to 4, so I'm okay with Cincinnati at #3 on his ballot, and I understand his support of the Big 12 (Baylor #4, OK State #5) but then he rubs it in with OSU AND Sparty ahead of us.  I couldn't find any axes to grind when I looked at his bio.  We're pretty solid at #3 so it doesn't really matter, but it does seem like there must be some sour grapes for this former TCU coach who was shown the door last Halloween!

NittanyFan

January 12th, 2022 at 8:38 PM ^

OSU, U-M, MSU ..... it's not incorrect to group these 3 teams as "a trio of 2 loss B1G teams that went 1-1 against each other, with all the victories coming at home."

In theory (I'm not saying I agree with this, but someone could theoretically do this), it's hard to separate the teams simply based on that.  So someone could then decide to rank them by who had the best win over someone else.  In that case, a win over Pac-12 champ Utah probably ranks ahead of a win over ACC champ Pitt probably ranks ahead of a win over Iowa. 

E.g., OSU, MSU, U-M (as Patterson ranked them).

Joined: 12/04/2012

MGoPoints: 43109

vnperk

January 12th, 2022 at 8:44 PM ^

I get what you're saying but... MSU's other loss was to Purdue.

Even then, you can't compare 56-7 to 42-27 and 37-33. Absolute drubbing should and did automatically exclude them from further consideration as a peer to the other 2. Let alone S&P+, advanced stats, etc.

If this hypotheticaly person did want to delve further into solely what happened on the field, the 37-33 is further "discounted" vs. others given the unanimously-panned fumble-six call.

Joined: 09/21/2010

MGoPoints: 348

ToledoWolverine

January 12th, 2022 at 8:48 PM ^

Love ya Nittany, but you are reaching on this one. I think it’s fairly obvious ole Gary doesn’t like us much. So the next time people are pining for the old ways and criticizing the playoff, this is 100% the reason why it sucked. All it takes is one asshat coach to lose all sense of reality and fair play to jack up the rankings and possibly the season for 120 kids because Phil Fulmer’s…..errrr Gary Patterson’s pussy hurts. Hope the douchebag never gets another power 5 job if that’s how he wants to do things. 

Joined: 10/02/2008

MGoPoints: 11939

NittanyFan

January 12th, 2022 at 8:51 PM ^

I 100% admit I'm reaching.

But ........ I guess partly because I work in the data and business analytics field ....... I've seen ALL KINDS of strange decisions being explained, under the cover of using data (!!!), over the years

I'm just presenting the sort of argument that someone could make.  That's not an argument I would make, and it's an argument I'd try to tear down, but it's also the sort of argument that I've heard various versions of over the years.

Joined: 12/04/2012

MGoPoints: 43109

bronxblue

January 12th, 2022 at 9:42 PM ^

I could see Patterson spending about 5 minutes on his list and defaulting to that breakdown but it's also why I sort of wish they got rid of the coaches poll.  It's rarely "coaches" as much as "assistant video guy" filling them out, and they're so biased toward a conference and/or against particular teams that you get weird results like this.

But yeah, I can see how if you didn't really care you'd just say "did they win their last game" and leaving it at that.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171773

CMHCFB

January 12th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^

Edit - Totally my mistake, when I saw Michigan at #8 I assumed it was the way too early 2022 poll.  2021 is over, UM is #4, being #8 is ludicrous.  

 

Michigan is losing a ton of talent, OSU fielded the youngest 2 deep they’ve had in forever, and MSU showed what they can do in the transfer portal.   The poll is forward looking, not a commentary on the 2021 season.  For what it’s worth, UM was unranked this time last year and finished 4th.  Win on Saturdays and the rest works itself out.  
 

Joined: 12/27/2018

MGoPoints: 1805