What is "Good Enough" for you this season???
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?
August 24th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
7-5. And beating MSU.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
This thread has potential win overload.
Anything from 0-13 wins would be acceptable. I'd be willing to accept more if the NCAA would allow it.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
I assume its bad. Anyway, its more than records, its about specific games. To me good enough would be 7-5 BUT I'd take 2-10 if those two wins are over MSU and OSU.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:54 PM ^
Potential win being people making ridiculous statements that are totally baseless. Case in point: if Michigan goes 3-9, you can't not accept it. It would have happened. Nothing you think or say can erase that.
This eventually turns into a shouting match between several of the more vocal commenters over what it means to "accept" things with certain WLA members saying "if you can't accept it you're not living within the realm of reality" type arguments while those who made the comments try to defend themselves through non-rational (different than irrational) logic. They defend that they are infuriated by this record, which still means they accept the record as it started their anger.
It will then turn into a bunch of name calling and negbanging, and it quite possibly will invoke Goodwin's law.
Like this one: http://mgoblog.com/content/we-shouldnt-have-wait-3-years
August 24th, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
and a sort of psychological/sociological perspective on the posters of this board. Truly interesting. Hopefully this will all stay towards people expressing their hopes for the season......OK, maybe some Marxist/Socialist/Calvinist rantings from one of the WLA guys. I still love those guys.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^
13 wins would be good enough for me.
12 wins would be slightly less good.
11 wins would be even less good.
0 wins would be the least good.
But I think I'm forced to accept the number of wins that the team actually accumulates. Stupid NCAA, and stupider math.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:24 AM ^
Once you get past the mind-flexing and actually consider the question--pondering questions like this is, after all, what fans do in between games--I think looking for 5 wins or less means you're expecting zero improvement and suffering, to recycle a phrase, Battered Wolverine Syndrome.
This is not just me trying to be optimistic. Think about it. The team was B-R-U-T-A-L last year. Lack of talent, lack of experience, poor execution (QB play, blocking, tackling, etc,) injuries, fumblitis, purported in-fighting amongst the coaching staff, lack of commitment in some cases, and maybe even a lack of caring in others. If we're not better in every single one of those categories, except injuries as those are not coachable, then we have a bad coaching staff.
I, for one, am taking it for granted that Coach Rodriguez and his staff have made the necessary adjustments over the course of the last 9-10 months to win the 5 games we're favored in: WMU, EMU, Indiana, Del. St., Purdue-all at home. I mean no disrespect to any of those teams but we have more talent than them and better coaching. There's absolutely no reason to think shouldn't find a way to win those games.
The other seven games are what I'm looking to for proof that we're going in the right direction. I'd be pissed to go 0-6 against the major rivals out of the gate with RR so I need at least 1 win out of the ND-MSU-OSU group. As for the other games 1-3 would be aiight though still lacking for me, but I have to say I'll take it. That's only 2-5 against the teams that are on our level, depleted as it is. Still tough to swallow but I'll feel OK about it.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
a Barry Sanders.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:49 PM ^
...we drop another L on him.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:23 PM ^
I'd rather see Tressel pulling a John Cooper for the next ten years or so.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
I know that our depth on D is thin and we're starting a freshman QB, but anything less than 7 wins would be a disappointment in my eyes.
On the other hand, 6 wins, with 2 (or 3!) of those against rivals, would be just fine with me.
[I can dream, can't I?]
August 24th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^
I think "good enough" for me is whatever these kids are capable of.
And I think they are capable of surprising the hell out of a lot of people.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:51 PM ^
7-5 with wins over ND and MSU,
Eastern, Western, Indiana, Purdue
Edit: Delaware State too
August 24th, 2009 at 10:07 PM ^
And 8-5 after the bowl win
August 24th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
Ballsy to predict a bowl win when you have ZERO idea who we would play.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
Considering it was a reply to a post stating "Good Enough" would be a 7-5record... my response was my "good enough" is 7-5 but with a bowl win.
Give me a victory over OSU and I'll take 8-5 with a bowl loss
August 24th, 2009 at 9:55 PM ^
My standards have not slipped because of the coaching change, lack of depth, etc. I will be disappointed if we do not finish 1st or 2nd in the big ten.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
As much as I would love to finish 1st or 2nd in the Big 10, I realize that we still need to gain a little more experience in certain positions in order to fully compete for the title. Realistically, I think we will be 7-5 this year. A winning record and a trip to a fairly decent bowl game would be good enough, as well as a win against MSU and ND.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
I am a little more pessimistic than most. We should be able to get 6, but I can see us winning as few as 5.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:59 PM ^
I wasn't including the potential bowl game in those predictions: 6-6, but as bad as 5-7.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:02 PM ^
I'm in the same boat as a pessimist. Having not seen any real games thus far, I think we will probably be 5-7. Sixth win is very possible, around the 50-50 range. I may get on the 7 band wagon if they upset ND in convincing fashion, I don't think that's a very high percentage.
I'm normally overly pessimistic about this, though.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
Optimistic predictions should not automatically equate to positive MGoPoints. If you want a variety of opinions on the board, don't hate on someone just because their opinion happens to differ from yours. No Sugarcoat.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
For me, it's not giving away games this year. If they get beat, they get beat. I just don't want to see them give away games on a silver platter, like the ND game last season.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:28 PM ^
How can you spot a team 21 points in the 1st quarter and expect to win. Good call Chester. How many games didn't we give away last year due to inexperience and turnovers. I expect the RR 1st year to 2nd year turnaround to continue at Michigan. (Fingers crossed)
August 24th, 2009 at 10:41 PM ^
exactly, we had the purdue game under control at the beginning of the game and then gave it away. The main problem I saw last year was the team played well at times, but they didn't play consistent football. Take the Wisconsin game for example: First half, we had 5 turnovers and 0 points. Second half, I don't have to remind you guys how it played out. The same thing happened with the Penn State and Purdue games, except we came out of the gun running and after the first quarter or so, we slowed down and gave up our lead.
As long as the team plays well for four consistent quarters, I will be happy with the performance.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:03 PM ^
Yes, lofty, but I think it can happen. This offense will be explosive or at least more explosive than we are expecting. I firmly believe this. I will not pull a diclemag "told you so", but I stand behind my prediction. GO BLUE!
August 25th, 2009 at 12:04 AM ^
8-5 after a bowl win would be good enough. However, I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised with how well Denard has done so far. I wouldn't be surprised if this team is rolling by October, just in time for the meat of the schedule. I'm optimistic a 9-4 or 10-3 season is possible.
Edit: For those of you who negged me... I said 8-5 would be good enough, with a best case of 10-3. If my optimism is correct, and we're rolling with Shoelace and Tate by October, please tell me which of these games you see us losing:
Sept. 5 - WMU
Sept. 12 - ND
Sept. 19 - EMU
Sept. 26 - Indiana
Oct. 3 - @ MSU
Oct. 10 @ Iowa
Oct. 17 - Del. St.
Oct. 24 - PSU
Oct. 31 - @ Illinois
Nov. 7 - Purdue
Nov. 14 - @ Wisconsin
Nov. 21 - OSU
August 24th, 2009 at 10:17 PM ^
It depends. All I want is an exciting saturday every week. Now, that may not need to include football, so a poor performance here or there by the football team is acceptable. All I want is for the team to work it's ass off and keep me watching the game. Whatever win total I get from that is fine with me.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:12 PM ^
you mus be a big pussy smokin too mych green and snortin youre crack rock. 13-0 HERE WE GO!
August 24th, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^
Whatever they do will have to be good enough. It's not like I can wave a magic wand and change anything.
I fully expect them to win at least eight, though, with an upside of ten.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
I would say at least 7-5 and we must have a win against MSU, ND or OSU - at LEAST. We cannot go 0-3 vs. our rivals 2 years in a row, I'm not sure that has ever happened.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
It hasn't. Just last year and 1987. We haven't been playing ND that long. If you replace ND with Minnesota (at least before we started playing ND so regularly), it might have happened again but I doubt it.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:44 PM ^
7-5 and keep improving on the record each year..
August 24th, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
That is all.
Seriously, if we were 4 -8 or 5-7 or 6-6 w/ a win vs. OSU, I would WAY take that over an 8-4 or even 9-3 record, but with losses to OSU, ND, PSU, MSU.
I also echo that regardless of win total, I want a year where the team learns, builds the foundation, and is really ready to rock in 2010.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
6-6. i figure we were 3-9 last year and should be better this year. The defense may be worse, but they shouldn't have to play as much. saying that, we were in it until the end with msu last year, lost on a trick play to purdue, didn't get "up" for toledo (for some unknown reason and lost by a field goal to utah. That *could* have been 7 wins, but we should have lost to wisconsin. That would have been 6 wins last year. I think we'll be better, but with a tougher schedule.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:59 PM ^
No loses to a MAC squad and an offense that is not a disgrace. Don't want to jinx it with wins/losses.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:03 PM ^
I want to convince myself that they will be able to play with anyone, that our RBs are awesome, our Oline massively improved, our WRs finally on the right page, 2 awesome TEs, and QB play will be at least adequate.
I want to believe that our Dline won't suffer a major drop off, that Herron will be solid, that the LBs will improve like Mouton showed at the end of the year, that Cissoko and a healthy Warren will play well, that Stevie Brown will live up to the hype finally, and that our Mike Williams will bring the hammer while Woolfolk is swift and deadly.
But I'm not Fox Mulder, so 5-7 is what I expect. As long as they play hard, don't quit, and hold onto the ball I'll be ok with whatever happens.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:05 PM ^
Not.
Good.
Enough.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:20 PM ^
What's good enough? Marked improvement, development of players, execution, 100% every practice, being "Michigan Men", excelling in the classroom, and becoming good players and good people.
Seriously.
The wins will follow.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:30 PM ^
Anything under 7 wins to be would be a disappointment. I want a bowl game. We have the talent, and now we have two very capable QB's (screw you Sheridan). Let's go out and do it.
7-5
August 24th, 2009 at 11:37 PM ^
This year 6-6
Next Year 9-3
Year after that 12-0
August 25th, 2009 at 12:00 AM ^
21-0 in 2014! Damn that's gonna be a sweet year.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:14 AM ^
21-1. We go 18-0 during the regular season and then lose in the semifinals of the 256 team playoff. Devin Gardner wins his 3rd heisman as a redshirt senior.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
Well I would say 9-3...but then where are those three loses coming from.
I'm guessing one maybe MSU...Hell NO I ain't going for that.
Ok...10-2,but then there are those two loses...say PSU and osu.
I can handle losing to Joe Pa but never to sweater Mccheaty
11-1 My bias is clouding my judgment.I must be a fan.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:03 AM ^
than in game 1.
(OK, and a bowl game.)
August 25th, 2009 at 12:14 AM ^
Assuming WMU kicks off, a solid catch. Assuming UM kicks off, forcing a 3 and out on WMU's opening drive. Everything from there is gravy.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:17 AM ^
bowl game
August 25th, 2009 at 2:35 AM ^
I can live with a winning season, regardless of whether we go 6-6 and win a bowl or 7-5 and lose. A (likely) freshman QB combined with lacking depth at several positions doesn't guarantee much, especially if we have injury problems.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:36 AM ^
anything else i would be a bit disappointed with
August 25th, 2009 at 2:42 AM ^
with loses to Eastern, Indiana, and Delaware St.
With a Bowl win.
And I would go on a month bender. Maybe a tri-state drinking spree.