What is "Good Enough" for you this season???

Submitted by James Burrill Angell on
Had three different conversations today with various Michigan fans and in one form or another the discussion came to what record/what specific victories would you find acceptable/be good enough to satisfy you from this season. Sure we all want 12-0 with lopsided wins over our biggest rivals. So, now being realistic, what would satisfy you? Again, what is good enough in all of your eyes for the 2009 edition of Michigan football?
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lunchboxthegoat

August 25th, 2009 at 3:05 AM ^

It pisses me off that people AGAIN (2nd thread I am witness to that this has happened in) seem to think its acceptable to lose 10 games so long as "TEH O$U IS ONE." That is a loser mentality. This is MSU mentality. This is mental midget mentality. I will take 11 and 1 every single year if it means we never beat osu again. Yea, they're a rival but for god's sake that game is not the be all end all of our program. When we were good did you people say the same thing? "We can bomb out on this season so long as we beat OSU." Give me WINS and lots of them. If OSU/ND/MSU are included great, but I'm not going to say I'll exchange a respectable win total for a rivalry win. They don't count them as 2, kids. PROGRESS. 99 times out of 100 if you go 11-1 and your only loss is OSU or MSU or ND no one is going to say "sorry you can't go to the MNC game because you didn't beat your rival."

Joined: 10/07/2008

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Seth

August 25th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^

In general, lunchbox, I would agree. Of course, beating Ohio State is worth multiple losses to me. Case in point: which felt better, 2003 or 2006? 2003 had two close losses, while 2006 was perfect until that 1 v. 2 matchup. For me, 2003 is a much more beloved team, even with the "WHO'S THE FUCKING MORON WHO CAME UP WITH THE ROLLOUT PUNTS?" losses to Iowa and Oregon. The difference, they beat Ohio State. I'd rather have that game than two of any other, even if the other two are MSU and Notre Dame. Except I'm not expecting big things from this year's Michigan team. I think 7-6 and a low bowl is the expectation. I think a few injuries can derail us, especially if they come at corner, linebacker, or defensive line. I don't trust our safeties. We have two true freshman battling with His Noodliness for the starting QB spot. Everyone is very young. So if it's a difference of, say, 8-5, with a loss to a state university in Ohio, or 6-7 and the season ends with a major black eye for the Buckeyes, I take Option B. The streak needs to end. Beating Ohio State, in the game they care about more than any other, would be a statement. It would be Game 1 of "The RR Era Has Now Arrived." It would be the platform from which a surprising return to Pasadena and a Top 5 finish in 2010 could be launched. It would allow me to respond to every loudmouth RR hater, "hey, he took a bad team and beat Ohio State." Next year, I really have one goal: beat Ohio (the university that is a state university -- wait, aren't they all state universities?). And every other team too. But I really really really want Ohio (a state university of...how does one differentiate, really?).

Joined: 10/14/2008

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lunchboxthegoat

August 25th, 2009 at 7:07 PM ^

It makes sense and I'm not going to blast anyone for giving a differential of 1 loss vs and osu win. That's fair. I think this team's ceiling is 7-5/8-4 if some pieces fall into place. If you would take 7-5 with a win over OSU versus 8-4 w/o I can live with that...it just seems like I see so much of the "So long as we beat 2 of 3 or ND, MSU, OSU, I don't care." That's asinine. I want as many wins as possible. If we go 9-3 this year and those are our three losses, I'm not going to be upset AT ALL. 2003 was better than 2006 until the collapse in the RB. the point really was stop falling into the "we just have to beat our rivals" mentality. This is MSU mentality. Rivals are a part of sports, they're not the reason for sports.

Joined: 10/07/2008

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