For this reason, footballoutsiders came up with the S&P statistic, which is a combination of [S]uccess rate (a measure of consistency) and [P] points-per-play (a measure of what you called "explosiveness", very much like YPC but with the observation that some yards are more valuable than others).
I get that. I don't have a problem being the little brother to the winningest program in football history. I don't mind that our rivalry with you takes a back seat in your eyes to what is often considred the greatest rivalry in sports.
What I find tiresome, and believe to be disingenuous, is the assertion of this article that the in-state rivalry means nothing to you. It may mean nothing to Misopogon personally. I honestly doubt that, but even if it is the case, I believe he is in the minority of Michigan fans. It sure seems to mean a lot to Brady Hoke, and it means a lot to most of the Michigan fans I know personally, the ones who aren't the ultimate personification of the elitist Michigan snob stereotype.
I grew up in the mitten, and I have a great deal of respect for the University of Michigan. I root for Michigan whenever they aren't playing the Spartans, but there is no team I'd rather beat in any given year. I know the feeling isn't mutual, but I'm ok with that. There is room in the hearts of most Michigan fans for all their rivalries, even if the ivory tower types would prefer to focus on losing to OSU year after year.
I'm another life long Michigan State fan who has been a long time reader of your blog, but this post is exactly the type of thing I hope to *avoid* by reading your blog. It reads like one of the more juvenile posts on the spartantailgate.com message boards, which is no compliment.
Devoting a post, or at least a large part of one, to trying to argue that Spartan fans are like Juggalos? Is that really the most important thing you had to say?
My parents used to take me to MSU games in Ann Arbor as a kid, and the main thing I remember (besides how awesome the Big House looked in person) was drunk old men and college kids yelling, seemingly in anger, about how I should go back to East Lansing. Those drunk assholes berating young kids are no more representative of Michigan fans than the "Juggalos" are of MSU fans. I suppose you know that, which is what makes this post so frustrating. You aren't actually trying to make a point, you are just trying to insult the team who just beat you, and try to make their fans feel bad in spite of their victory. The classic playground move of trying to make yourself feel better by insulting others.
I though this blog was a paragon of Wolverine fandom, but even you resort to childish name calling in the wake of a fair beating at the hands of a good MSU team. If this is representative of the best that Wolverine fans have to offer, maybe more of them are like those drunk guys in Ann Arbor than I had previously thought.
Also, a note on the "little brother" issue. Most Spartan fans that are honest with themselves will admit that they have a sort of little brother relationship to Michigan (at least in football). It isn't the worst thing in the world to share a state with the winningest program in all of college football, and it surely makes the victory that much sweeter when we beat you. But we would argue that it is a relationship that you can no longer take for granted, and it is a position you are going to have to work hard to earn back. Next year, when we play you, there won't be a single player on our team who remembers what it's like to lose to Michigan, so don't expect them to feel like your little brother when you come to East Lansing next year.
Anyway, please, more of the excellent analysis, less of the childish name calling.
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For this reason, footballoutsiders came up with the S&P statistic, which is a combination of [S]uccess rate (a measure of consistency) and [P] points-per-play (a measure of what you called "explosiveness", very much like YPC but with the observation that some yards are more valuable than others).
More information here: http://www.rockmnation.com/2010/6/7/1504382/beyond-the-box-score-an-upd…
I think it stands to reason that both consistency and explosiveness are important, but it's pretty difficult to measure them with a single value.
I get that. I don't have a problem being the little brother to the winningest program in football history. I don't mind that our rivalry with you takes a back seat in your eyes to what is often considred the greatest rivalry in sports.
What I find tiresome, and believe to be disingenuous, is the assertion of this article that the in-state rivalry means nothing to you. It may mean nothing to Misopogon personally. I honestly doubt that, but even if it is the case, I believe he is in the minority of Michigan fans. It sure seems to mean a lot to Brady Hoke, and it means a lot to most of the Michigan fans I know personally, the ones who aren't the ultimate personification of the elitist Michigan snob stereotype.
I grew up in the mitten, and I have a great deal of respect for the University of Michigan. I root for Michigan whenever they aren't playing the Spartans, but there is no team I'd rather beat in any given year. I know the feeling isn't mutual, but I'm ok with that. There is room in the hearts of most Michigan fans for all their rivalries, even if the ivory tower types would prefer to focus on losing to OSU year after year.
A: Boise State
B: Florida State
C: South Carolina
D: Michigan State
E: Missouri
Unranked: Michigan
I'm another life long Michigan State fan who has been a long time reader of your blog, but this post is exactly the type of thing I hope to *avoid* by reading your blog. It reads like one of the more juvenile posts on the spartantailgate.com message boards, which is no compliment.
Devoting a post, or at least a large part of one, to trying to argue that Spartan fans are like Juggalos? Is that really the most important thing you had to say?
My parents used to take me to MSU games in Ann Arbor as a kid, and the main thing I remember (besides how awesome the Big House looked in person) was drunk old men and college kids yelling, seemingly in anger, about how I should go back to East Lansing. Those drunk assholes berating young kids are no more representative of Michigan fans than the "Juggalos" are of MSU fans. I suppose you know that, which is what makes this post so frustrating. You aren't actually trying to make a point, you are just trying to insult the team who just beat you, and try to make their fans feel bad in spite of their victory. The classic playground move of trying to make yourself feel better by insulting others.
I though this blog was a paragon of Wolverine fandom, but even you resort to childish name calling in the wake of a fair beating at the hands of a good MSU team. If this is representative of the best that Wolverine fans have to offer, maybe more of them are like those drunk guys in Ann Arbor than I had previously thought.
Also, a note on the "little brother" issue. Most Spartan fans that are honest with themselves will admit that they have a sort of little brother relationship to Michigan (at least in football). It isn't the worst thing in the world to share a state with the winningest program in all of college football, and it surely makes the victory that much sweeter when we beat you. But we would argue that it is a relationship that you can no longer take for granted, and it is a position you are going to have to work hard to earn back. Next year, when we play you, there won't be a single player on our team who remembers what it's like to lose to Michigan, so don't expect them to feel like your little brother when you come to East Lansing next year.
Anyway, please, more of the excellent analysis, less of the childish name calling.