Could Bama 2012 eclipse ohio 2011
We all know that the most pandemonium inducing, all out nuts with awesomeness moment last year was the UTL victory, which was of course the greatest single Michigan moment any of us has ever witnessed. However, I don't think it was really the BEST moment from last season. After all, we've been kicking ND's tail pretty well recently, with several of the games featuring ND style Yakety Sax. Had we LOST to ND, it would've been very sad that we lost our first night game in Michigan stadium. It also would've been our first loss in four years, the first year of Brady Hoke's tenure, and not a lasting pain. It would'e been a very "can't win them all" loss.
Conversely, though The Game 2011 certianly had a dramatic ending, it's drama did not even sniff UTL's level. There were several palys that made everyone's heart skip, but there was no one single, "It's this or it's nothing" play. Despite that, The Game 2011 was undoubtedly the best moment of the 2011 season. No other game had me pacing holes in my floor for the last quarter. No other game had my father visibly bemused at my nerves and consternation. And when we won, well, King Kong ain't adust mite compared to the Mutant Space Monkey that climbed off every true fan's back at that moment. A loss there would've crossed the line from soul dong punching to soul eunuch making. I would've wilted and died right there in the middle of the living room, leaving only a baren, dust gray talk hinting that once there had been a beautiful fan in bloom there. I may have honestly convinced myself that we would never win The Game again.
But win we did.
So now I ask you,do you think Bama, or any other game of the 2012 season can possibly eclipse that moment? Beating the defending National Championship to open the season would be huge, huge, but again, I think it would fall into the category of "Can't win them all", should the good guys lose.
Or how about MSU? It's been a while now. But after last year's loss, I realized something. I just didn't care as much as I do about OSU, and maybe even the bowl game. Oh, it sucked to lose, but I didn't lose any sleep over it. It's Sparty! They will ALWAYS be little brother. Maybe OSU? Go 1-0 against the new regime?
So what game, if any this season, do you think can bring that same sense of jubilation?
August 13th, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
Trite as always.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:27 PM ^
I don't think so, simply because it's so early in the season, it's non-conference and non-rivalry, and it's at Jerryworld.
It's a big matchup for sure, but to me it's already lost some of the pagentry.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
I will be very happy when Michigan beats bama in a couple weeks. But I won't be as happy as I was (relieved!) when Michigan beat Ohio last November. It will be great but I will be too concerned with the rest of the schedule... and too concerned that a big win will make the players' heads too big (though I think the coaching staff is good about not letting that happen).
As for MSU, I will be annoyed when Michigan beats them this year... annoyed because it should have happened twice in the past 4 years instead of zero. It'll be like rimming out a bunch of free throws and finally swishing one. It doesn't make you very happy because damn, it's a free throw. :0)
August 13th, 2012 at 10:30 PM ^
As much as I hate sparty, nothing is more gratifying than beating ohio. Especially in Columbus.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 2:17 AM ^
beating urban in his first wolverine-buckeye game would be best this year, followed by alabama, then msu. agree, a loss to bama is no big deal, but a win would over shadow all regular season games except the last one.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
Getting the MSU monkey off our backs almost makes it a bigger game for me, but I think the long-term significance of an Ohio State win makes it bigger.
If we lose to Michigan State, it's going to be really annoying because of the streak, but in the long run I'm just not that worried about Dantonio. We're going to once again be consistently better sooner or later. I'd like it to be sooner, but I strongly believe it's just a matter of time before Michigan is hands-down the better team.
With Hoke and Meyer, it's going to be a really good rivalry, and each win is going to be treasured for years. We're all proud that Bo got the best of Woody, but one game would have flipped that 5-4-1 record in the other direction. I feel with Meyer it's more like that--if we want to win this era, we're going to need every game we can get.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the MSU should take priority not because of the 0-4 record but because of the divisions. We WANT to beat OSU every year but we NEED to beat MSU every year.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
I think Bama might have a bigger post-game celebration, purely because the game will be watched by the students on the field in the Big House. With everyone already down there, if we win it'll be crazy.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:34 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
I'm sure that if we just forfeited the ND game this year out of pity, the Domers wouldn't mind.
Their dongs could use a break.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:36 PM ^
This is excellent. You're so used to losing to MSU, it doesn't even faze you anymore. Don't mind me cackling with glee over here.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
Meet the new boss...
Same as the old boss.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
I sure hope the new boss is the same as the old boss, since the old boss never beat us.
Oh, and where have I heard this before? Oh, that's right, 2008. When Rich Rod was going to hang a hundred on ol Sparty and make sure Lil Bro stayed in his place.
http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/sparty-no.html
Glad that worked out.
Edit: Oh god, I can't resist, I'm laughing too hard at this stuff. Look at how condescension just oozes from Brian as he describes MSU's recruiting. It might almost be May 2012, eh? How'd that class of 2008 turn out for you, Big Bro? Since our class had "no ability to play football", I'm sure they went 0-4 against that star studded class of yours. Right? Right?
August 14th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
So much so that you will troll Michigan boards talking up your team. This same team so universally respected that they didn't even get invited to a BCS bowl last year...indeed, passed over for that team from Ann Arbor.
Even in your greatest moment of success...still the little brother.
Now, you go on with your coach "identifying talent" but don't forget every one of those 4 and 5 star players from the state who went to Michigan this year had a Sparty offer. The Caleb Benenoch situation should be instructive about your future.
New Boss//Old Boss
August 14th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
Besides the factual inaccuracies (3 losses meant we were ineligible for your "BCS" bowl, which also happened to be the lowest rated "BCS" bowl of all time and was cited as one of the primary catalysts for the death of the BCS, not all the players had MSU offers, etc.), I'm not sure what the point of your post is. Indeed, you seem to be mindlessly repeating the same thing you did four years ago, except the names are Brady Hoke instead of Rich Rodriguez, and Denard is going to win the Heisman instead of Sam McGuffie.
Only Michigan fans would judge success of a program by arbitrary boardroom decisions based on money, rather than on results on the football field. If being the "little brother" means we keep beating you while you keep getting better preseason rankings and May recruiting championships...well, I'm ok with that.
Oh, and your Bobby Williams / JLS era wins over us don't count, because we were "down". Have a nice day!
August 14th, 2012 at 5:55 PM ^
If so, please explain your many Big 10/IG championships over the past 20 years...or your many Rose Bowl appearances? How about that 1997 Sparty National title? 42 B1G championships?
Face it, the idea of bringing up "on field" Sparty accomplishment (aside from a four year outlier) is impossible. Hell, even with M down you still couldn't achieve even a modicum of national success (despite your recruiting strategy...okay, I kid...except the Benenoch part...that is real. Has Sparty even been Top 5 in the last 20 years? Who would remember anyway?
You are no different than the rest Little Brother. It wasn't the Williams era when you were 'down'...it was always.
New Boss//Old Boss
August 13th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^
As big as beating OSU was last season, the significance was in large part a function of the drought we had experienced in the years prior. The game did not have national or conference title implications, the Ohio team we beat was relatively mediocre, and everyone knew that they were about to hire a new coach.
There are any number of scenarios I could envision for this year that would beat that, including (but not limited to) beating Ohio in Columbus. And winning over Alabama may be one of them, depending upon the results of the rest of the year.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:44 PM ^
I think to michigan fans OSU will always be the bigger game, but unless Urban has an amazing first year Bama will have a much bigger national spotlight. Considering that, and the fact that we are the underdogs, a win against Bama would mean much more in terms of national perception than one against OSU would.
I would still take a loss against Bama and a win against OSU though, of course.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:55 PM ^
Yes, this is a double post. Yes, it was unintentional. But really, you'd watch it twice anyways, so what's the difference?
August 13th, 2012 at 10:55 PM ^
you posted it twice.
I recommend watching them both at the same time for maximum effect.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:00 PM ^
Otherwise I never would have know the earth-shattering importance of having their speeeeeeeeeeed rushers in there. Darius Fleming and Steve Filer coming off the edge.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:41 PM ^
There are many worse things to double post. This deserves a pass.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:10 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
Seeing as we already beat OSU last year, a win against UMASS is technically less likely to occur.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
We all know that the most pandemonium inducing, all out nuts with awesomeness moment last year was the UTL victory, which was of course the greatest single Michigan moment any of us has ever witnessed.
Wrong, unless you've never seen a Rose Bowl victory that secured a national title.
Or a victory over Ohio.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:54 PM ^
Yes.
I will confess that watching UTL gave me strong pangs of longing to be present in person, despite the vicious commute that would be required immediately after. So I was not there.
But I have a hard time believing it was actually better than beating OSU in '97. Not that it wasn't great, but UM-OSU '97 is the best thing I've ever been to in sports.
August 14th, 2012 at 12:14 AM ^
I was at both. But I was 12 at the '97 game. I remember everyone going apeshit when Woodson did his Woodson thing, and I remember staying the latest I had ever stayed at a Michigan game post-victory. But there weren't a ton of people still there while I was.
UTL, on the other hand, was chaos. I have never been to a sporting event that was so emotional and, rightfully, capped by karaoke time for 30 minutes after the game. It was a stadium full of people with a ton of energy, no desire to move and not completely understanding why a football game just gave them one of the biggest euphorias of their life. I hugged random strangers, a lot, and so did everybody else. Everyone was too happy and noisy to really even rip on the ND fans, except maybe laughing so more and saying "I don't know WTF happened, but that sucks for you guys".
I feel the stadium experience was hands down better for UTL than '97, but from home, I have no idea.
August 14th, 2012 at 1:36 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 1:45 AM ^
I will readily concede that UTL was probably a better atmosphere; it was at night and the acoustics and capacity have improved significantly since '97. Though '97 was extremely loud. I've been to Texas A&M, and to LSU at night, though, so I've seen some pretty live crowds to compare it with.
'97 wasn't just great for the crowd, though, and I think we all know why.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^
Me and some of my friends want to go to the Ohio game in columbus this year...My question is this: will ticket prices rise or fall the closer it gets to the game? As in, should we buy now, or will we get better seats for the same price as it gets closer to the game? I appreciate any help i receive!
August 14th, 2012 at 8:39 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 12:14 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 12:52 AM ^
There, I said it, so now it won't come true.
August 14th, 2012 at 1:53 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 12:47 AM ^
Michigan hasn't won in Columbus since Drew Henson was the QB. Did you really forget which game on the schedule is the most important? Obvious answer is obvious.
August 14th, 2012 at 2:23 AM ^
as always hoke is right. "it's almost personal." the buckeye game it is.
August 14th, 2012 at 2:46 AM ^
Brady Hoke is a man among boys, and he knows it.
August 14th, 2012 at 3:36 AM ^
I'm not sure how this will be accepted by the MgoCommunity but, here it goes. UTL and the Ohio wins last year where both great, very exciting wins. A win against Alabama in 2012 would be so much more. As a team and as a fanbase we've took our share of lumps this past decade, I'm not going to get into specifics. It goes so much deeper than than B1G rivalries and beatinga run down ND squad.
A win against Alabama would mean a true return to glory not only for Michigan football but, also the Big Ten as a conference. It's going to be played on a major stage as big if not bigger than the UTL game. Think of it this way , if we started the season off by playing MSU or Ohio and won we'ld be like yea i knew we could do it. If we beat Alabama it would shock alot of people, U of M fans or not. instead of thinking about a B1G Championship We'ld start thinking possible national championship.
We're going to win this game guys and a lot of people are going to be changing their tune about this team. Have faith in these players and the coaching staff!
Believe
August 14th, 2012 at 4:38 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 6:36 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 7:10 AM ^
Ending that seven game streak (even though the streak was illegitimate) was priority one for Michigan Football. Plus, Ohio is our biggest rival, and The Game is always at the end of the season.
There is no way the first game of the year can match the intensity of The Game. I don't care who it is against.
Do I want Blue to win? Yes.
Will it be extra exciting to see them beat an SEC school? Yes.
Will there still be at least 11 games left this season? YES
August 14th, 2012 at 8:12 AM ^
Lets compare these games to the chores on your honey-do list:
Alabama game: Like cleaning out the garage, it would be great to do but not the end of the world if you don't.
Ohio: Like painting the deck, a lot of work, but when its done it looks great and is something to enjoy for the rest of the year.
MSU: Pretty much the same as cleaning up after the dogs. No glory, but its something that needs to be done.
August 14th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
The Game is always the most meaningful contest of the year. This year breaking the bad streak against Little Brother is also important. An overlooked game of importance is the Nebraska game. I remember when PSU joined the conference. They had been an elite program and UM began beating them year in and year out. UM got inside the heads of those in the PSU program and all we did is win. This is our first trip to Nebraska as division rivals. A win there could demoralize Nebraska and set a nice precedent for the future. Beat the Huskers this year and they will question their ability to beat Michigan.
August 14th, 2012 at 1:19 PM ^
Depends on the manner in which the Alabama game ends. If there are 3 TD's scored in the last 1:45 of the game, and Michigan wins on a Denard Robinson 50 yd+ Hail Mary pass to Roundtree, or anyone for that matter, then I think the Alabama game would eclipse UTL.