Rival related rant

Submitted by MGolem on
Maybe I will get slaughtered for this, I don't know, but I felt it needed to be stated if for no other reason than I cant argue with everyone who disagrees with me. Simply put, how can any Michigan fan root for MSU this weekend? I dont subscribe to the strength of conference perception argument. I dont root for MSU against anyone except OSU and possibly Notre Dame depending on who needs to lose to make Michigan look better by whatever metric I have decided to apply in my head. I dont care about the Big Ten, I care about Michigan. Rooting for MSU, OSU, or Notre Dame (except in rare examples cited above) is tantamount to treason. The fabrication that MSU is the Big Tens great hope is bullshit and I refuse to allow ESPN or any other site full of hacks to convince me otherwise. Where does ESPN (or any other site) come up with this theory??? Am I alone? Please tell me I'm not alone... Relevant ESPN link not included because, obviously.

massblue

September 4th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^

then you better hope for MSU to win.  UM is so far behind in terms of rankings that I am not sure even if we run the table, we would make it to the playoff.

MichiganG

September 4th, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^

I am on the same page as the OP, but my question is much more basic than this.  Logically, I understand that it is in Michigan's best interest for State to beat Oregon.  But, since my cheering does not have a direct impact on any of the outcomes, I don't feel compelled to cheer for State.

taistreetsmyhero

September 4th, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^

the corpse of an ebola victim if this happens.

the truth of the matter is that Michigan needs to win out to make the playoffs.

Even if MSU wins this game but loses 2-3 down the road, and we lose to MSU...we're not making the playoffs as a one loss team. 

LJ

September 4th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^

I agree with you that it's better for us if MSU wins, but if we run the table, we definitely get into the playoff, no matter what the schedule strength looks like.  Can you think of the last time an undefeated BCS conference champ finished the regular season outside of the top 4?  Hint: it's never happened, and almost certainly never will.

MGolem

September 4th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

an undefeated Michigan team being left out of the playoff no matter how many losses MSU has. To accomplish that we would have to beat ND, MSU, OSU, and whichever team comes out of the West. That should be plenty to get in. MSU being good is not good for Michigan, period. Recruiting, perception, all of it are all hurt by MSU performing well on a stage such as this.

reshp1

September 4th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^

I guess that's really it. I don't think, realistically, we're a play-off contender team. Yeah, sure, we can win every game, but it's very very unlikely that we do win all of them. Is it possible we win out and get shut out of the playoffs if MSU shits the bed in OOC play? Yeah, sure, but I'll take my chances.

On the other hand, MSU is on the verge of actually establishing themselves as a long term, nationally relevant team. Like, actually doing it instead of just talking about it for all those years. This hurts Michigan directly in recruiting, and it's another challenger in what is likely going to be a loaded Eastern Division for some time to come (PSU is going to recover pretty quickly). I want them back to their natural position in the pecking order as soon as possible. If it hurts Michigan in some tangential, 3rd degree of seperation way, in what is by all odds already an really really unlikely scenario... so be it.

TIMMMAAY

September 4th, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^

But what about a one loss Michigan team? I'm really torn on this whole scenario. I can't actively root for Sparty, just can't do it in any situation really. At the same time I recognize that it's better for our overall playoff chances if they win against Oregon, then lose to us. I think if we had one loss in that situation, we'd get into the playoffs. 

grumbler

September 4th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^

If Michigan wins the Big Ten with one loss, an MSU win here would definitely help our chances, I would think.  One-loss conference winners from the SEC and Pac 12 are in.  If FSU is a one-loss ACC winner, we lose that matchup.  Probably a one-loss Big 12 team would be in, if MSU loses the biggest B10 non-conference game of the year.  If MSU wins, and we beat MSU, I thnk we win the head-to-head against the one-loss Big 12 team.

Recruiting wise, if we beat MSU, we don't need to worry that much about them, whether they win or lose against Oregon.  If we lose to MSU, they gain as much leverage in recruiting if they've lost to Oregon as if they don't, because Sparty isn't a national recruiting power and our competition with them is local, where only the local results matter.

I can understand people wanting MSU to lose just because they dislike MSU.  I cannot for the life of me fathom how such "fans" can argue that those of us with the best interests of our school at heart are "traitors" because we reason with our heads and not our stomachs.  I have no disrespect for anyone that wants to see MSU lose.  I assume they have their reasons, even if they cannot articulate them.  I just wish that some of those people, (looking at you, OP), had the same courtesy.

Soulfire21

September 4th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^

Simply put, how can any Michigan fan root for MSU this weekend?

An MSU win elevates the perception of the Big Ten, which benefits every member of the conference. When Michigan beats MSU this year, it will look all the better.

I dont subscribe to the strength of conference perception argument.

I respect that, but the people who are deciding which teams play for a national championship do subscribe to the strength of conference argument.

Of course, I'm not "rooting for" MSU.  I don't have MSU gear, I won't be cheering them on or singing their fight song or anything like that.  I simply view it as a win-win.  If MSU wins, that's good for the conference.  If MSU loses, well, MSU loses.

SWPro

September 4th, 2014 at 6:25 PM ^

I would agree with this.

 

However I marginally prefer "Yay Big Ten" compared to "LOL MSU"

 

I think the reason for this is if the Big Ten was suddenly smashing major teams from all the other conferences it might MIGHT stop the effin retard "SEC! SEC! SEC!" chants.

uniqenam

September 4th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^

MAYBE I WILL GET SLAUGHTERED FOR THIS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT SIMPLY PUT: HOW HAS BRIAN NOT EATED THE LEMON YET??? I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE "STARTER-PERFORMANCE QUALITY-WAS-MORGAN' ARGUMENT. I DON'T ROOT FOR ANYONE TO EAT LEMONS, UNLESS IT'S THEIR FAULT FOR A POOR WAGER. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ACE EATING A LEMON, I CARE ABOUT BRIAN EATING IT. PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT ALONE.

Voltron is Handsome

September 4th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^

I have been preaching what the OP is saying for years. I NEVER root for MSU or OSU unless their actions directly affect Michigan. I also don't care about conference prestige. The only thing I care about is wins for Michigan. Our rivals being really good all the time is bad for Michigan recruiting-wise. I don't like seeing OSU and MSU win these great games and getting the attention. I want that to happen for Michigan.

Wolverine 73

September 4th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^

I think you root for MSU, because we play them and beating an undefeated MSU team would get Michigan a lot more attention than beating an MSU team that Oregon already slaughtered.  Now, if you assume we will lose to MSU, I understand how you root for them to lose to Oregon on general principles.  So have faith that the Wolverines will beat an undefeated MSU and root for them to beat Oregon.

UMxWolverines

September 4th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^

When teams from one conference consistently beat teams from the rest that is where conference preception comes from. An MSU win will help a lot. Keep in mind though it has to be consistent, as if MSU won but say OSU got upset by Virginia Tech people would still see the big ten as weak.