Better to be 5-6 vs. 6-5 at this point?

Submitted by Section 37 on

After the Deleware St. game I'm positive that R-Rod was looking ahead at the remaining games and putting a W next to Purdue and Illinois making us bowl eligible. While it would have been nice to have 6 or 7 wins going into the OSU game do you think the game plan changes this week now that we are playing for a bowl bid plus it's OSU? If their record was 6-5 would the game plan be any different? I'm not insinuating that if they were 6-5
they would be happy to play a close game and lose but there is so much at stake this Saturday that the game plan has to be different than if we were 6-5 correct?

Tater

November 18th, 2009 at 9:32 AM ^

I would rather see them bowl eligible now, but the dynamic of UM fighting to extend their season while OSU has already accomplished everything they are going to does set up quite well for an upset.

Section 37

November 18th, 2009 at 9:35 AM ^

Maybe I didn't phrase this correctly. Would there more motivation to beat OSU and finish say 7-6 or is there more motivation to finish 6-6, beat OSU, and go to a bowl?

umichman

November 18th, 2009 at 9:49 AM ^

Motivation to beat OSU is independent of record (ability may be another story). Did you listen to BG or the other players talk about beating OSU? BG said "If you can't get jacked up for this one, I don't know where you've been".

BigBum

November 18th, 2009 at 9:37 AM ^

No, I'm pretty confident most individuals would prefer to have more wins (6) than less wins (5) at any point in the season.

Just sayin'.

Also, I think you would always have to prepare to "do whatever it takes" to beat your rival...or anybody really...no?

The King of Belch

November 18th, 2009 at 9:42 AM ^

It's yet another angle to rationalize, and the guy probably stayed up all night trying to think of something like this to post first thing in the morning.

But I really can't envision any scenario where you say, "Damn, glad we're under 500, now we'll REALLY be fired up for Ohio State!"

As they say, if you NEED a reason to be fired up for games like this, perhaps coal mining is the profession for you.

MaizeandBlue14

November 18th, 2009 at 9:43 AM ^

I don't think there is added motivation. How much motivation do you need to go and face your most hated rival? This is the greatest rivalry in sports and the team should always be playing its hardest in this game. I would agree that there is more pressure in this situation to break even and be bowl eligible but the motivation should not be lacking for the team.

crum

November 18th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^

I never knew a coach that put in a game plan according to their record. You game plan to beat your opponent.

More desperation because we are 5-6, maybe, but for the love of beer, you don't game plan according to your record.

hailtothevictors08

November 18th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^

we should try to go 5-6 every season just to make sure we have that little extra motivation for the O$U game

Were you cheering for Wisconsin?

This might honestly be the dumbest question I've ever heard.

And since you clearly anidiot and still don't know my awnser

FUCK NO

03 Blue 07

November 18th, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^

This just gives fuel to the fire of people like KOB who think all of us who don't want RR fired tomorrow are morons. The answer is no. What the hell kind of rationalization is this? Others have already dealt with how asinine this logic is.

Also, this brings me to another question: is there currently an age limit to post on here? As in, this is the kind of point an 11-year-old would make. Christ. /facepalm.

MichMike86

November 18th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^

Hmmm....ability to play in a bowl game or have to beat our rival (who is favored by 13?) to make a bowl? JHC!