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This is the correct question…

This is the correct question to be evaluated.  There's a reason M is the first team to win it all with only a couple of 5-stars.

Thanks for this Alex.  You…

Thanks for this Alex.  You succinctly sum up what I (and likely so many others) are feeling.  Especially on point was your section at the end when discussing the pain and scars from years prior, and how this year was the culmination of a 3-year journey to a pinnacle that many of us (raises hand) thought was completely unrealistic.  A fantastic journey, indeed.  Go Blue and thanks again for all of your work!

If it's an OSU slappy…

If it's an OSU slappy complaining, you need to make sure to use all caps... i.e. "yes M won but they CLEATED!"

In addition to all of the…

In addition to all of the nice things said about the community that Brian and his team have built here, I must acknowledge that this site is the thing that has helped prevent me from jumping off of the proverbial cliff during many dark times over the past 10+ years (Rich Rod years, Hoke Minnesota, 2016 OSU, SignGate).  Many thanks to all, Go Blue!

I have a subset of OSU Fan …

I have a subset of OSU Fan #2 people here at work (lots of OSU alums).  I wish I could have a Venn diagram that showed the amount of overlap between OSU Fan #2 types described on 11W and people who are flat-earthers.  The reticent nature of both groups to be willing to discuss facts have some real parallels.

You don't think that - just…

You don't think that - just maybe - after essentially getting "de-pantsed" in their own house last year and having "OSU is as soft as warm butter" be the defacto narrative over the past 12 months might serve as a burning motivation for them to show up differently in 2-weeks?  I would think that would affect anyone with that caliber of talent.

Until I see that they're not showing up, I'm expecting to get OSU's absolute best shot that we've seen over the past 2 years.  Living in C'bus might be skewing my perception, but the general feel is that this year's game is to prove - once and for all - that they're not the crumbly pie crust everyone has made them out to be, largely as a result of the loss to M the past 2 years.

For me, it's gotta' be Chris…

For me, it's gotta' be Chris Cornell's version of "Imagine", performed on the Howard Stern show.  He took that song to another place.  His cover of "Nothing Compares 2U" is also better than Sinead's, IMHO.

For me, this would be up…

For me, this would be up there with the '95 win.  I still put '97 on top because of what it meant. '96 is #2 because it was at the Shoe.  '03 was a great day, but I expected them to win that game. '95 was a true shocker. OSU was a monster that year - I mean, they had the Heisman winner on that team. I literally went into that game with zero hope, resigned to what would likely happen.  Couldn't believe it.

If a miracle were to occur Saturday, it would be vying for my #3 spot but it would FEEL like #1 because of how long it has been since it last happened.

Man, I must be a harsh judge..

...because after today, I found myself wondering about the collective talent level at the skill position. During the game, I wondered aloud, "I don't think DPJ is ever going to be an elite receiver". My fellow UM friends didn't disagree. Perry didn't produce this year. Crawford has been a non factor now for 2 years.  That means that all of our hope is essentially in the Tarik Black basket.

I realize that WR results don't happen in a vacuum; QB issues are noted. I'm hoping this is all going to work out, but I just don't think we've not been given alot of data points that would suggest a positive trend is forthcoming, or even that high hopes are warranted.

Go Blue.

This x1000.

If only I could convince myself that "finding a QB" would be the magic bullet that yields results... alas, I don't believe that is the case at all.  We don't have elite talent or depth on the OL and we have absolutely zero gamebreakers at the skill positions on that offense. I realize I'm probably in the minority but I've been underwhelmed with the WR crew all year. The RB crew has been gritty, but there are no superstars back there.

At this point, I'll support whoever the "best" QB is coming out of fall camp and hope that Harbaugh can start extracting more results out of the kids we do have, ala Dantonio.

Go Blue.

Oh my goodness...

...watching the YouTube link you provided just sent me into a rabbit-hole of videos with kids being surprised Christmas morning with game systems... and has also turned me into a laughing / crying mess.  Is there any greater thing than seeing our kids that excited on Christmas morning?

My key takeaway

.. on this is that we need to dramatically improve our OL recruiting!

"Here's a quarter..."

"Here's a quarter... go downtown, and have a RAT gnaw that thing off your face!"

So awesome -

I’m totally flooding in memories of A2 right now.  The other day one of my close friends was talking about Steve Everitt breaking his jaw during the ’91 ND game.  I always remembered the Daily had a picture of him, Monday after the game, getting hauled off the field on a stretcher. So, I went to the website and did a search for the Monday after the M v ND game in ’91, with keyword “Everitt”… Boom.  I just read the whole page again – I’d forgotten that he lost teeth on the play too.  By Thursday of that following week, I saw him eating beef at the training table.  Crazy how just seeing the paper takes me right back to that time in my life.  Go Blue!

https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754878/194

 

Thank you x1000...

I've had nothing but months of "Hur hur, Harbaugh eats boogers.." from my local Ogre State University friends.  This is just the salvo I needed to send out to all of them today!  Go Blue!

Thanks so much!! Go Blue!

And Happy holidays!

More helpful solicitations: Luck or Rivers at QB?

I feel like everytime I start Rivers, Luck outperfoms on the bench.  So, my gut is saying Luck - but Rivers is facing the freakin' **Browns**, which makes me think Rivers.  Thoughts / opinions when these are my options?

Raise...

I'll see your Borges and Nussmeier, and raise you two Mike DeBord's, a/k/a De"Bored"!

Coombs...

Coombs' known value is as a monster in recruiting. OSU's brand is as strong as anyone's right now so the effect won't be huge, but I'll take anything I can get if it means they (OSU) will have to take a step backwards - even if it's only in some small way.

Meal issues...

Something must not be quite right with Dantonio's meal.  He looks very dissatisfied.  I'm guessing that the dinner roll might be stale.

.

.

.

OK, I can't hold the laughter in anymore.  Dantonio has got the patent on the the Perma-Scowl (TM).  Don't like the guy much, but respect what he's done with that program and the guy can obviously coach.  Love this picture - thanks for sharing!!

That post

caused me to actually laugh out loud... Thanks, I needed that!

Ahh... if only...

Jim could send it into the B1G offices as a sack full of $10,000 worth of pennies, sent to Delaney's attention.

Loved this post -

Thanks for taking the time to both write it and share it.  Perspective almost always, invariably, helps me tough through rough spots.

Go Blue.

Echoing others...

I'm commenting only to echo the reviews / experiences of others... all in all, another positive experience with mostly all positive interactions.  Didn't hear any 'F' bombs directed to me. The fans were cordial before the game and afterwards.

I will also reiterate what commenter 'baughhumbug' noted:  specifically, that I think OSU fans were nervous about the outcome, but still consider it a pretty much foregone conclusion that they will beat Michigan when it's all said and done.  One young man shook my hand and wished me luck before the game, which I returned in kind... then moments later said, "I apologize for what's about to happen to your team".

The fans were dour throughout most of the game - as Michigan's D continued to control their offense.  Some of my joy during the game was listening to a late 50 / early 60 year old woman behind me complaining after M shut down almost all of their offensive plays.  I must have heard her exclaim "This is bullshit" about 50 separate times yesterday; the real coup de grace was after Mike Webber missed a play and she was yelling to "get him out of there if he can't do anything and put someone in who will"... Nothing more pleasing that listening to a loudmouthed know-it-all venting her suggestions that are ridiculous. And yet, even during that time frame of the second half when they were still down by 10, I heard OSU fans making their plans to rush the field if OSU managed to win. So - even though M was controlling the game, it was like they just knew... or better yet - they just *expected* that the worm was going to turn and the day would still be theirs.

Yesterday was my 28th consecutive version of the game.  So, I've been to more than my share... as well as watched my share as a young kid.  Yesterday's game is the hardest loss I've had to swallow in all of my years of watching Michigan - from the times I was at the game or the games I watched on TV as I kid.  I was alive back in '72 and '74, but was a toddler then.  I can only imagine that yesterday's loss ranks up there with those two games in terms of the "bitter pill to swallow" index:

  • The '72 game featured two infamous goal line stands by OSU enroute to a 14-11 loss... the second of which you can hear an infamous call by Ufer proclaiming that he was clearly into the endzone but that Woody had the refs in his back pockets and nobody had the guts to make the right call for fear of Woody... I cannot find a link for listening, but the general transcript goes something like this: "Franklin hands off to Banks and it's a touchdown Michigan! Hey, wait a.... Aren't they gonna raise their hands? He was into the end zone! It's just like 1954: I can see Dave Hill taking the hand-off from Lou Baldacci at the same end of the field and he went in...and they claimed he didn't then—and he didn't now, 18 years later! God darn it! What do you gotta do down here to score a touchdown...? Ohhh, I can't believe it! Oh, that's the rottenest deal I've ever seen in football!"

  • And tthe '74 game which featured multiple FG missses by Lantry enroute to a 12-10 loss - one of which you can find M alums/fans who *still* believe that the FG was *good*... including ol' Ufe'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ps9mgimSVw

I was too little to see and appreciate those, but loving to study the history of the rivalry I can now fully appreciate the anguish they must have induced.

Today has been a day of licking my wounds, reading the words of you fine folks and trying to process everything that happened yesterday.  That one hurt.  My first thought after the game was that my "soul dong" ((TM) thanks Brian..) can't take it.  After the game, I was bitter and frustrated and - quite frankly - sick and tired of playing "the good fan" like I have after losses in '04, and '06... and '12 for that matter.  Hopefully, we can draw a good bowl, face a really good team and beat them to close out this season on a high note.  I will miss this senior class greatly - they've been the chief people who've put in the work to help right the ship.  I can only hope that there are brighter days ahead in this rivalry.

Go Blue.

Thanks for this...

... I needed it.

Go blue

My interpretation...

... of the comment was that it wasn't meant as a literal comparison to the OSU result (i.e. where we gave up 40+ points vs. last night's 12), but a "red flag" of systemic issues where even when we knew the runs were coming (especially in the 2nd half), we couldn't stop it due to the aforementioned issues with missed tackles, etc.  Then again - I didn't write it, so I could be totally wrong, just throwing it out there that it might not just be a case of chicken little saying the sky is falling.

I will say this: neither of the next 2 teams are going to NOT attack the exposed weaknesses that we're all looking at in the mirror today.  It was after the Indiana game last year that I had grave doubts about our ability to hang with OSU.  I find myself questioning whether we're still in the same predicament a year later heading into the final stretch.

I've got full faith in our coaching staff - and there's nobody I'd rather have leading our team. But by the same token, I don't know that the sorts of issues we're seeing are the kinds of things that can get easily fixed in the last 2 weeks of the season.  Let's hope, "God willing and the creek don't rise".

Go Blue

I'm where you're at bluewoody...

I do not believe this bodes well for future predictors vs. the Great Satan in the Snakepit in 2 weeks.

Go Blue

Do it!

I'll not even speak of what we're all hoping might happen in Columbus later this month... but let me tell you - there is NOTHING like experiencing it in their stadium.  The '90, '96 and '00 games are among my favorite personal memories from the series.

Agree 100%

It is *night and day* different today versus what it was even 10 years ago.  Even in '06, I had absolutely no issues - of course with Bo passing the night before, there was almost a modicum of respect prior to the game.  Everyone was just excited about such a marquee matchup.  The buildup to that game was tremendous.

Some experiences to share

First, a quick note about my level of experience in the Shoe... this Nov 26 will mark my 28th consecutive attendance at "The Game", going back to my freshman year at Michigan.  So I've got 13 versions of the game in Columbus under my belt ranging from the 90's, when the shoe was on the other foot through the recent time period, where - well... you know.

My opinion to you is that you should do it.  I sat in Block O for the '96 game - gleefully watching women OSU fans' tears washing away Rose Bowl "cheek tattoo stickers".  In '98, sat in the senior section for students and In 2000, I actually bought an OSU student's season tickets just to have the Michigan game.  Pawned off the rest of the season to OSU friends and used the M tickets in November.  I sat in south stands and everything was fine.  All you have to do is not be the guy who is wildly cheering if M is doing well and they won't really bother you much. About the worst thing that happened to me in 2000 was a drunk OSU girl turned around to my wife after OSU scored and said, "How you like that, Michigan bitch?!".  We just laughed it off and I made a joke out of the comment.  If you sluff it off, you'll be fine.  When Henson faked the handoff to Thomas and went end around to seal the deal, I was screaming inside but silent outside.  Just sat there smiling.

I will also tell you that their dominance over M has healed alot of old wounds.  In '14, the fans were downright friendly... still in somewhat of a condescending way.

I cannot recommend more highly for you to just do it.  Watching the Game with your daughter, in Columbus... there are a finite number of times in a persons life to create truly remarkable memories together.  This is one of them.  Seize the moment!  Go Blue!

Always OSU...

I always go to the OSU in Columbus.

Assuming I can score a ticket this year again, 2016 will be my 28th **consecutive** edition of seeing "The Game".

Getting old to have been to that many in a row!

Go Blue!

M's Matchup of Next Week

Am I the only one actually worried about Indiana next week?  I realize, "It's Indiana... wah-wahhh".... But the Hoosiers have given OSU, MSU and Iowa all they could handle in games this year.

Given that it's late in the year, chances for Indiana to have a signature win are getting few. I'm hoping the defense comes ready to play, because I think we'll have our hands full too.  These next two weeks are going to be sneaky ones to get through, especially since OSU will likely be favored to beat MSU. Crazy to think we may still control our own fate!

Go Blue!

This, exactly..

I posted below, but your post more succinctly and accurately summarizes what my thoughts are.  If we stick with DG for the balance of the year, I also think we'll need a shift like you suggested:  ""screw it Brady....we need to just go back to the full spread like I did at U of W".

A thought on DG's regression...

I don't know if the sands of time have caused my memory to cloud or not, but... when I think back to 2013 - or even 2012 - DG, I remember a fast athlete.  Maybe not Denard fast, but fast enough that you knew he could run well.  Fast enough to be viable to run a spread style offense.

This year, I feel like he not only looks slower on footspeed, but almost all aspects of his game seem slower... or maybe indecisive is a better word.

I can't help but wonder if this is at least partly the result of the staff trying to turn him into a classic drop back QB, which has left him no longer just reacting... but now always thinking about what he should be doing.  Afraid to make a mistake, which then becomes exactly what happens.  The extreme analogy is that we're trying to turn him into a John Navarre style QB.

I think it makes sense that when you take a good athlete and make him think all the time instead of react, it will slow them down.  There are times when I see him drop back, look around and I think "Just run!", but he doesn't - then the pocket collapses and he gets sacked.  It's hard for me to fathom that this is the same athletic QB we all saw at the '13 ND game, or the '13 OSU game for that matter.  He doesn't even look like the same guy... and I wonder if all the talk about his propensity to make bad decisions has become a self fulfilling prophecy.

I also wonder whether or not that there could be any issues after the broken foot injury from last year - whether it healed at 100%, because his footspeed doesn't seem what it used to be.  I think he would struggle to be a true spread / option QB right now.

Just curious if anyone else has had similar thoughts.

Lack of choices?

I understand your point- I really do... I recall telling fellow UM friends and alums "I'd rather have a proven coach who knows nothing of UM than a guy who loves UM but 'had that one year where he almost won the MAC' coaching".

But - really - who else were our choices?  If you're remembering that we had a full array of other proven, elite coaches that would have come to UM with the right amount of bankroll, I suggest that your memory may be experiencing a bit of revisionist history.  The only other choice that I recall having a chance with was Miles...  and I recall this because I was excited about the possibility, but remember vividly being in the minority because the prevailing sentiment at the time (at least on this mgoblog site) seemed to be, "Well, yeah Miles... but we don't want that guy... he's a potential trainwreck".

Maybe I'm the one with the failing memory, but I followed the whole coaching search thing pretty closely too - and I can't think of one proven commodity that we had a real chance at landing outside of Miles.

If anything, I think I've learned that any coaching change - outside of a proven commodity - is a 50-50 crap shoot.  And the number of "proven commodity" coaches is a small, finite group (like - 6 or less). The Buckeyes lucked out because they landed one of that small group.  But heck, even Brian Kelly was a crap shoot... and it wasn't that long ago that my fellow ND alums were wondering aloud whether the job was too big for him.

I wished for better, to be sure.  But unless we have a proven commodity that we know would come here - any coaching change is just going to be another 50-50 crap shoot.

actual LOL...

Thank you for the morning chuckle and little bit of levity mgoblue98... I needed that this morning!

Nice to see the guys haven't stopped bustin' their butts...

... happy for the win.  Looking at the gif though - were we set?  I'm looking specifically at the top of the screen at the right most player who is on the line of scrimmage.  Hard to tell from a gif, but I think we may have gotten away with one there.  Nevertheless, it was an amazing effort and execution just to get M in the position to have the chance.

Go Blue!

Thank you for the actual LOL!

I really needed that today - well done!

For Borges

I would just love to ask Borges:  "Al, I don't know how familiar you are with math, but wondered if you knew that 9 > both 6 and 7??"

Agree with you to a large degree

I've told the Buckeye folks around me that it's different in Michigan - it's different in Ann Arbor.  They bristle at the idea of it, and then share some 3rd time removed horror story about how someones car got keyed back in the day.  Without having seen the other side, they can't imagine that we really *don't* take the hate thing to the same level.  Again - painting with a broad brush and agree with your comment on the fact that doing so cannot be 100% accurate.

I have though gotten to know some 'good Buckeyes' and having lived down here in the snakepit for over 10 years, realize that we do have threads of commonality between us - and that's something that I didn't believe before I lived here.

To be honest - it was a bit more enjoyable when I was younger and could color every OSU fan as a belt buckle wearing, skoal chewing, funyun eating hillbilly who loved to drape themselves in scarlet and talk of pushing out-of-gas-cars across state lines and trying to go for 3 in late November.  I mean - that first trip to Columbus... they had *BILLBOARDS* out with "Screw the Blue" and an alternate version of "The Victors".  Hell, I don't think anyone of my friends even *knew* their song, much less created a different version of it!  And I was born & raised in Ohio.  Columbus was truly was like an inverse image of Ann Arbor.  Very much a negative.

Again - I know I can't speak for all people or all viewpoints.. only what my experience has been, how I've seen them change or how my own perceptions have changed.  Maybe it's just a maturation thing on my part.  I do believe the current wining streak has taken some of the nastiness out of them.  But I do agree that hating Michigan is still a thing that they pride themselves on.  As is often the case, the loudest ones usually set the biggest impression.

Ha!  No it wasn't - good

Ha!  No it wasn't - good catch!

The atmosphere at Ohio Stadium has changed over recent yrs..

I'm now working on a streak where I've been to 24 straight UM-OSU tilts (this November will be #25... God, I'm getting old).  Painting with a broad brush, OSU still has an inordinate number of ogre-like fans, but my opinion is also that the atmosphere *has* shifted over the past 5-10 years.  Full disclosure - I do live in Columbus now, so maybe my judgement is clouded.  I'd like to think that having lived in both AA and Cbus, that I have a very balanced viewpoint.

When I went to my first game in C-bus in 1990 - it was literally a "What planet am I on?" moment.. the whole thing with people getting up in your face, screaming, threatening death - basically treated like a sub-human piece of garbage.  After the '96 upset, I saw a UM fan walking back to the car get attacked (=tackled, kicked and beaten) before his co-hort ogre fans pulled him off and said, "It's over, just forget it".

The arrival of Tre$$el, and the subsequent winning, was probably the salve that healed the wound for OSU fans.  There was still strong dislike in '02-'04, but it was different.  The long period of waiting for the shoe to be on the other foot was at hand (if I recall correctly, from 1980-2000, OSU only won 5 times).  By the time the '06 #1-#2 game happened, it was like they'd finally made the transformation - UM was the yin to their yang in "The Game", and by this point, Lloyd was an admirable but totally benign foe.

We won't even get into the RichRod years - as many might guess, their smug attitudes shifted into ones of almost more pity.  Which, of course, just made everything worse as a UM alum and fan.

Last year, I had multiple fans after the game stop, wish us well, and ask if we'd been treated well during the visit.  OSU has put forth a large effort in the whole "Best Fans in the Land" thing - I think some of that was the negative press they received with the Texas and USC games.  From my perspective, they've made strides - but again, winning cures alot of ails.  They've got the one of the best coaches in the country, they're poised to have the upper hand in the rivalry for probably at least another 3-4 years, and I do not sense that any OSU fans really believe that Hoke has the goods.  Life is good for OSU fans right now, as much as it pains me to say that.

On the flip side of the coin, I've also seen a shift at *our* home games.  Starting to see hints of things in Ann Arbor that I used to only see at OSU.  But that's another post entirely.

Go Blue!

one data point..

Back in the 90's, when times were much better for us in "the rivalry", I know that my lifelong best friend and I - both raised in Ohio, but long time M supporters and alums - used to tweak our friends / families / alums who were OSU fans or alums by saying this.  That is, back when M was routinely winning, we used to *LOVE* to say, "You guys aren't even our biggest rival!  It's (insert ND or MSU)!".... Not that either of us really believed that, or thought that.  But when we'd say it, it would invariably drive said OSU fan into a blind rage, about which we would cackle in delight.

I'm sure we weren't the only M people doing this to OSU folks.  So, maybe it was a little of that too.  Plus the Moeller thing in '94.

Go Blue - beat the Ogre Tech Buckeyes!

Thanks misopogon - a question

Appreciated your reviews and thoughts...   They've definitely made me want to get the book to read the details and help crystalize my own thoughts about the RR era.  I went to pick up the book from Barnes & Noble but it's currently back ordered.

I've got an almost tangential question from your posting - Do you really believe that the OSU game this year is at least a 50-50 proposition?  For me, I believe that it's the first time in a long time that it will be non-zero, but 50%?  Just curious why you think our chances are that high?

Like I said - tangent to the main thrust of your post.  Thanks for all the review work and sumary on the book.

Thks for the memories

Thanks to Brian for recognizing and WH for the video... memories of Vada, the '89 team and my frosh year at UM.  For a minute, I was back in the Taylor House lounge watching that UCLA game on TV.  What great memories of a great chapter of life and a great era for UM.

RIP Vada - may God's blessings be on your surviving family.

Was thinking the collision

Was thinking the collision was with Todd Plate after Plate had intercepted OSU?!?  Or am I misremembering?  I recall that the Plate collision was on a pick (he had 2 that day), and that we waited around forever for the player to move.

the truth

Mgrowold speaks the truth... heck, I didn't even know about Herbstreit selling his house until my fellow UM alum who lives in Austin TX called me and told me.  Why?  Because it's not been on *any* of the news media here in Cowtown that I've seen.  Around here, you're either 100% zealot Buckeye or you're an enemy.  Very little in-between.

OSU disparity..

...Brian - not sure where you get that the Cowshoe is "considerably smaller than Michigan Stadium"... they're not that far apart.

Also - in addition to OSU tickets costing more, the "PSL's", if you will, at OSU are WAY more than what we pay. Friends of mine with season OSU tickets have to join the Presidents Club... they pay a HEFTY fee each year just for the priviledge. UM is coming up to speed with our "Seat Donation", but the dollar figures are still WAY behind the Jones'. I sit in the end zone and I don't pay $0.01 for my season. People between the 30's at UM pay - what, $500/year? The President's Club is like 4x that, IIRC.

And all of this is not even to speak of the whole luxury boxes / suites. That's just additional gravy on the biscuit.

OSU is ahead of us in cash because the OSU fanbase pays more to have the priviledge of having tickets. Simple as that.

Go Blue!

OL and DL guys...

I see no way that Kruse, Hankins or Easterly get an offer. Afterall, I have a hard time seeing them being able to play the slot. I never thought I'd be so sick of hearing about UM's recruiting for a position as I am the slot receiver. How many slot receivers does one team need? It *feels* like we're shooting for around 35... Go blue!

My $0.02..

Here are my $0.02... you can take them for what they're worth. To calibrate you, I've been to every UM vs. OSU game since '89. This past year was my 20th (what a forgettable milestone).

My advice is to wait. I only ever pay ridiculous prices in Columbus. Games in Ann Arbor are rarely ever a hot commodity (from my perspective). To give you some real examples of what I paid:

Columbus:
2002 (OSU's NC year): $250 each
2004: $225 each
2006: $650 each (obvious outlier with the #1/#2 hype)
2008: $225 each

Those prices were all so I could have tickets in hand before the game. With the exception of '02 and '06, there are always a good supply of tickets on game day.

Ann Arbor:
I will caveat and say that I have season tickets, but every year we load up the van and bring people with us who don't have tickets. This is what creates my impression that "the Game" in Ann Arbor is a different animal than it is in Columbus. All prices below were what guys in my group paid looking at scalpers around the stadium.

1997: bought tickets on gameday from scalper $20 over face!
1999: $75 each
2001: bought for face!
2003: $125 each
2005: $120 each
2007: $100 each

I think in general tickets are more pricey in good years vs. bad, although the data doesn't totally suggest that ('97?). I've also seen ticket prices in Ann Arbor shift over the past 10 years. Not Columbus price crazy, but different than what they were in early 90's when I'd sometimes have 20 tickets for all my OSU friends and never pay more than face.

I can't imagine paying those ridiculous Stubhub prices - especially for a game in Ann Arbor. My opinion is that I'd AT LEAST wait until the season starts. See how UM is doing. I can't see how we'll be much better than 6-5 heading into that game. The ONLY way you pay crazy prices is for the '06 "once in a lifetime" experience. That's not happening this year. If I were you, I'd wait and get tickets at the game. They will be there and you won't pay a fortune.

If you absolutely MUST have tickets in hand before the game, then you're probably stuck. I'd check other avenues as well (e.g. craigslist, etc.). I think stubhub prices are worse, but that's painting with a broad brush.

BTW - if I read your post correctly, I think we share the same birthday! What a birthday present that was last year, huh? Not much for me to cheer about in that one.

Good luck and Go Blue!