This Game is Emphasized

Submitted by wildbackdunesman on October 19th, 2018 at 5:38 PM

I've heard people question if UofM emphasizes the rivalry with MSU.

Take this anecdotal evidence for what it is worth, but I have a coworker whose son is childhood friends with a player on the team (he doesn't see the field).  However, she said that the player told her family that: (A) the team is more motivated for tomorrow's game than he has ever seen for any game before and (B) tomorrow's game has been emphasized clearly by the staff.

Take it for what it is worth, but if we lose I doubt it will be for a lack of effort, heart, and emphasis.

Chaco

October 19th, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^

When I think about the 3 games under Harbaugh:

- 2015: disaster end but I felt like for the first time in awhile we were just as physical if not more and had slowly grabbed control of the game by the end except for yeah we know...

- 2016: revenge game and again felt like we had the better prep and talent and execution

- 2017: well we had QB issues but hung around and tried to tough out a win but were undermined by JOKs struggles 

 

so I think we have been really motivated against MSU each year.  Hopefully that remains true tomorrow and we impose our will and win with cruelty.

Ajcoss

October 19th, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^

Tomorrow is huge for our road woes. The two worst games were ND and NW. We haven’t even played another where we blew out a Neb or Maryland. Reality is this team has looked awful in Q1 in all road games this year. If this team is serious about winning big 10 and possible CFP, that needs to stop tomorrow. 

evenyoubrutus

October 19th, 2018 at 5:59 PM ^

It is not hard for a team with Michigan's talent to game plan for michigan state. The question is will we try to attack their weaknesses or simply try to do what we do and beat ourselves. I have no idea what is going to happen

Eye of the Tiger

October 19th, 2018 at 6:00 PM ^

I’ve never thought it was a question of emphasis, but of attitude. MSU often plays like they have nothing to lose, while we play like we have everything to lose. 

If we are focused and loose, we win. If we are tense and full of self-doubt, bad things could happen. 

B1G Winning

October 19th, 2018 at 7:59 PM ^

I can say that I watched both teams get off their respective busses before the game last year at the Big House.

MSU was clearly the more fired up team coming off the bus, egging on the Michigan crowd and welcoming the jeers.  Even Dantonio was smirking and waving his hand as if to encourage louder “boos”.

This carried over to the warm-up. With MSU jumping, and dancing around and pumping each other up in between drill reps.  Didn’t quite see that same intensity from the Wolverines before the game started.  I even mentioned to my wife, “Dantonio and his boys came to play tonight.”  They sure did.

JTGoBlue

October 19th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^

Going to be a spankin’. I can feel it. Previous years, always a little trepidation, however logically thinking a win. This year, no butterflies. I plan to sit back, enjoy a beverage or two, a bowl of chili, and smile through a comfortable win.

UM Fan from Sydney

October 19th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^

Any UM who doesn’t take MSU as a serious rival is kidding himself/herself. I understand not respecting MSU, but they are a rival. The second most important one, of course. We are their national title game every year. Why would anyone not want to beat their ass every year and take them seriously. It’s fun ruining their season. Beating UM is all they look forward to.

crg

October 20th, 2018 at 4:45 AM ^

It's all about context - anyone who's been closely following UM football for more than the past 10 years knows that that state game was more of an in-state thing (bragging rights against relatives/neighbors/etc) than national relevance or even winning the Big Ten - mainly since state was never really a power.  They've had some success the past few years, but much of that was benefiting from circumstances beyond their control that - which are changing once again in ways that will not favor them in the coming years.

switch26

October 19th, 2018 at 7:45 PM ^

Not sure i believe this..

My coworker is a huge msu fan, and he has some family that works in the athletic department for MSU.  They also use to play as walkons at MSU so they stay well connected with the football program.

He mentioned that Scott was looking at serious damage in his knee and may struggle to ever play again.  So not really sure what truth is what..

Jamezz23

October 19th, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^

We let them off the hook a few years ago, a few garbage touchdowns made it look closer. If we get up big I want deep shots often, going for 2 for no reason at all. We need this as fans lol. But I’d take a hard fought W too haha

Sam1863

October 19th, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^

I want them killed right in the face.

I want them beaten so badly that all you can hear is the wailing of their women and children.

Then I want their field plowed and sown with salt so that nothing will ever grow there again.

 

A beating right out of the Iliad - I don't think that's too much to ask.

MGB

October 19th, 2018 at 6:18 PM ^

I’ve been wrong before, but I just can’t envision us losing this game. The team really came into their own during that Wisconsin game. The rest of the way this is going to be the Harbaugh team we’ve dreamed of since the day he was hired.