Would a basketball national championship be just as satisfying as a football national championship?
Irrespective of how we might feel about the state and direction of our football program, few would disagree that the basketball program has given us more to celebrate in the past few years and is closer to the top of the mountain than its gridiron counterpart. This season is shaping up to be special and it looks like there's no limit to what this team can achieve if it's firing on all cylinders.
And yet, Michigan has always been perceived, internally and externally, as a football-first school. So my question for my fellow MGoBloggers is this: would you find a basketball national championship as satisfying as a football national championship?
I consider the NCAA Tournament to be the most exciting event in all of American sports, and as a lifelong Michigan fan who came of age in the late 80's and early 90's during the Steve Fisher/Fab Five era, I personally would find it every bit as satisfying. Having said that, historically I've followed college football more closely than college basketball. But I'm curious about what the board thinks. What say you?
December 6th, 2018 at 2:37 PM ^
I like 'em both!
Having said that, when I think back on '89 and '97, '97 was different and better. Some of that has to do with the nature of the two teams. '89 hoops was great, but I'm not sure they were a surefire champion. Basically, it didn't dawn on me that they were championship caliber until they beat UNC in Sweet 16 (?). 2nd week of tournament was the first time I began to think national championship is in view. And so, I enjoyed the championship process for really only about 10 days.
In contrast, the football championship was a many week process. I remember not expecting a whole lot (just another 8-4), then realizing very quickly the team was really much better than expected -- especially the defense. And then the Iowa game, and thinking wow we're vulnerable but maybe fate is on our side? And then I can't quite remember the order, but Judgement Day was such a high (expect for DT) and then the salty Wisconsin game, which was tough but really never in doubt. I remember thinking, this could REALLY happen.
Then the awesome OSU game, and then I was just absolutely convinced we would embarrass WSU. But they turned out to be legit! A very nervous halftime as my expectations for Rose Bowl changed from a coronation to this is a contest! And then Griese to Streets and whoo! and Griese to Tuman! oh Yeah!
So yeah, the football championship was just awesome and a multi week process and there ain't much better.
Please note that a big part of this was that it was pre-tournament era in football. That was part of what made the process so great. It's a major caution signal for those who propose tournament enlargement.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
Perhaps more so. They have been one win short 4 times (!) since 1989. The football team has been nowhere close recently. And I would love to see it for Coach Beilein. I don't think there's a coach in the country that deserves it more.
December 7th, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
Here's the difference between basketball and football. We look at the trips to the final game of the tournament, and say, "We were just one game away", but in football, we've been one game away multiple times and we somehow conclude that those teams weren't even close to the title. Football has been a hair's breadth from national championships at least a dozen times since '64 - when a one point loss to Purdue cost us the title, up to, quite frankly, two of the last three years. I detest the idea that football has degenerated to, in Norm McDonald's immortal routine, Acapulco cliff diving: you're either Grand Champion, or Stuff on a Rock.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
Yes but only if Michigan beats Duke in the title game.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
To 30% of the fanbase: yes. To 70% of the fanbase: no.
More people are college football fans.
1. college football
2. boxing
3. college basketball
December 6th, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
Boxing? Are you a time-traveler from the 1950s?
December 6th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
No, but it would be close.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:40 PM ^
Hell no.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
Typically not but Beilein is such a class act so long as he's coaching the team it might be more satisfying because I want to see him get the full credit he deserves.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
This is like asking whether it would be more satisfying to have "relations" with a Playboy model or a Maxim model. Both would be incredibly satisfying. Football is king, especially at Michigan. The tourney is the premiere annual NCAA event. We're not a blue blood program, and we probably never will be ... but doesn't that make a potential championship sweeter? If Indiana wins the Rose Bowl, don't you think that would be "satisfying" for them? Tomato, tamahto.
Once you hit a level of "extreme satisfaction," which either a basketball or football national championship would induce, you're in rarified air. I've been a Michigan sports fan since '83. I've seen only two(!) national championships, not including hockey. If basketball won a Monday night tourney game, I'd probably punch out any delta-bravo Michigan fan that was acting like Eeyore.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
No just because we know JB is capable of getting us there. If football won it'd be a huge redemption for Harbaugh. Id cry either way honestly.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^
I don’t like to compare. It sometimes can diminish one thing unfairly ~ said someone, somewhere.
Both would be pure joy and elation.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^
Absolutely. You win it all in one of the big two sports and that is huge.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^
It would be extremely satisfying to see Beilein win it all and have that crowning achievement to his career. What he's accomplished in bringing Michigan to the top (and the way he's done it) would make it something to savor.
Football is rising and it may take longer but I feel the same way about the direction of the program.
After looking at the last couple of decades for both programs, I'm just thankful they are both now within striking distance.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:51 PM ^
Yes, somehow I've become more of a Michigan basketball fan than a Mich/igan football fan over the years. Beilein is an incredible coach and the NCAA tournament is the best.
While it's incredibly difficult to win a championship in football, I think its much more difficult in basketball. The champ has to make it through an entire season, conference postseason and then a 64 team national tournament to win. The talent is more evenly distributed among the top teams than it is in football and there is a lot of variation that teams have to overcome to win a tournament title.
Football is more of an exclusive cartel of programs that are selected to compete for national championship. I would argue that in any given year, you might have 10-12 basketball teams that could legitimately contend for a title (a group that can be crashed by the likes of Loyola-Chi and Butler who came close), football is a much tighter club (why UCF doesn't get a chance). It is even more restrictive now that Alabama has been so dominant. While I would argue Michigan is usually a member of this elite group in football, they typically underperform (and certainly in the prime Carr years 98-04) and rarely take advantage of its position.
I feel like Michigan has a greater advantage in football and the basketball team would have to overcome more to win a national championship. Does that make sense? Or am I nuts and thinking too much?
December 6th, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^
While it's incredibly difficult to win a championship in football, I think its much more difficult in basketball. The champ has to make it through an entire season, conference postseason and then a 64 team national tournament to win.
Well, you have to play all those games but you only have to go undefeated in the last six of them. In theory you could be a meh team all season and turn it on in March (although that rarely actually happens). In football you have to be the equivalent of a #1 seed to win it all, so I'd say it's tougher.
I like 'em both though. The CBB regular season isn't quite up to the football season but March Madness is incredible.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
Absolutely, 10000%.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
No wonder home games aren't sold out for basketball. An astounding yes to the question.
December 6th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
No.
Basketball title would be 2nd best. But football is #1.
Also, I live in Alabama, so shutting up these damn Bama fans would be doubly sweet.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:38 PM ^
Is it me, or do Georgia fans seem to talk more shit than Bama fans?
December 6th, 2018 at 4:09 PM ^
No - Not even close. The bandwagon on bama is immense and terrible. Still not as bad as osu
December 6th, 2018 at 2:57 PM ^
For the fan base? No.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
No, not even close.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
For me no not even close. I follow basketball and root for them, but it does not effect me if they lose like it does for football. I am a cubs fan I literally cried like a little girl when they won, and I would do the same if we beat ohio for one, and if they won a championship in football I would do the same. If basketball won I would be happy, but no where near if it happened in football.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
At least as much, perhaps more so. I’d rather not choose between the two.
I’m going to enjoy this basketball season though I suspect this won’t be the last fun season given the recruiting and coaching.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
Yes. Even with basketball factories Duke and Kentucky, Michigan still has a better chance to win in basketball. Football program will never get over the hump and will still struggle with OSU even with Meyer gone. Harbaugh is out of time. Lose to OSU at home next season and that could be it.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
Close, but no cigar.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:03 PM ^
Don't know.
We haven't been in the BCS where a definitive champion is crowned in a final game.
Being at the Rose Bowl was terrific but there was the Nebraska BS was in the background.
In '89, all the other competitors were knocked out, and the semi win over Illinois' Dream Team and Rumeal sinking Seton Hall were two of the most satisfying wins I have ever witnessed at any UM event.
I would be VERY emotionally involved if Beilein would win it all, especially over a rat like Coach K.
In football we just have to beat OSU. If we ever won a NC I would likely stroke out....
December 6th, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^
No, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be awesome.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^
2.5 basketball championships = 1 football championship
December 6th, 2018 at 3:07 PM ^
Absolutely not. Football is king with me. Basketball is something to pass the time between bowl game and spring football. Like euchre or pinochle.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
If given the choice, I would take football over basketball. But not by that much. Plus it would be so cool to see Coach B get a title after 40 years as a head coach. He certainly deserves it. So while I might prefer football, I think basketball would be just as satisfying.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
Yes. Yes I would.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:09 PM ^
Michigan has come so close so many times in the NCAA Tournament since I started following Michigan basketball in the Cazzie years. We've made it to the finals 7 times since 64, winning once, and lost to the eventual champion in earlier games 3 times. I would be pretty excited about a NCAA tournament title.
As for football, I just refuse to buy into the BCS and playoff bs the past twenty years. I think it is just and artificial construct to make the networks more money that really doesn't have anything to do with the history of college football. I'd rather to back to automatic bowl bids tied into the conferences (without the stupid conference championship games) and let people argue about who had the best team once the bowls are done.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
Good point about a basketball championship also having a redemptive aspect to it, given that we've come so close so many times.
On your point about the college football postseason: I also felt that way during the BCS era. I preferred the pre-alliance system of conference tie-ins and pure voting to a worst-of-both-worlds system like the BCS. But I think the CFP got it right. It decides the champion on the field without devaluing the regular season. I would oppose expanding the CFP to 8 teams.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
Hell nah. It's not even in the same universe.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:13 PM ^
Absolutely not. But it would be awesome.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
More satisfying, be ause of the nature of March Madness.
I'm pretty meh about college football's postseason. I just care about beating Ohio State.
Admittedly, part of my ambivalence regarding the CFP is due to seeing Alabama vs. Clemson so much.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
There is nothing better than the NCAA tournament in March. I think both would be equally as exciting, which is saying a lot, because watching Michigan trek through 6 games in a 3 week span in March is about as good as it gets.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
While I'm football first by a mile, in this era MBB championship would be as special purely because of Coach B and what it would mean to him and the type of players he recruits.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
I'm sorry, I thought this was America.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:18 PM ^
10 Basketball National Titles would not be as satisfying as 1 football championship.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^
I am a no as well. Love Michigan basketball and how Beilein runs the program but Michigan Football is #1 in my heart.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
Not unless we beat Dook in the title game...it would be close, though.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
Yes, and I would even say that a hockey Natty would almost be just as satisfying.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
No. Football his a long history at Michigan and its separate from basketball. I'd love a BBball championship, but won't slake my thirst for a championship in football. I'd settle for a B1G championship in football given how long its been since we had one of those.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^
Probably not for me, football has been a bigger part of my fandom for much longer, but damn I'd feel so good for Beilein that it would be close at this point. Dude definitely deserves one.
December 6th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Nope. This is Michigan fer fuck's sake.