December 22nd, 2015 at 8:46 AM ^
Sounds to me like they should not really be the East Champion.
Must have gotten some lucky breaks . . .
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:00 AM ^
Any time a no. 1-6 team (about where a Big Ten East champ will be ranked) plays a no. 12-18 team (where the champ from the Big Ten West wmight be ranked), the latter tam has at least a 1/3 probability of winning the game.
So even iof the Big Ten West is weaker, still not an easy game for the Big Ten East champ.
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^
The B1G Championship is still a "Playoff" game, mismatches or not. Win and advance, lose and fall out.
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:46 AM ^
Iowa's 2015 season will be very good for the Big 10 going forward. Don't forget about Northwesterrn also ranked ahead of us (even though they shouldn't be, ahem, 38-0) and also in a NYD bowl. The conference needs a strong West division and Iowa and NW asserted themselves well this year.
It's too bad Pelini and Bielema are gone, and Delaney didn't have the brains to add Missouri when they wanted in. Historically, you would think throwing one of Iowa-Nebraska-Wisconsin at the East winner in the B1GCG would always be a good test.
December 22nd, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 7:14 PM ^
Why the downvotes, this is true. We beat MSU barring a fluke back when we had bad Jake Rudock and OSU never even showed up for the MSU game, MSU was the third best team in the east.
December 22nd, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:04 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
Replied to the wrong post. Need to start drinking, I guess.
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:13 AM ^
until we played teams that mattered. The real measure of a team is how they are regarded AFTER their big games.
December 22nd, 2015 at 12:29 AM ^
and love his background and what he seems to be about, but I believe we were already in good shape under Harbaugh, Brown is just gonna help.
December 22nd, 2015 at 12:50 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 12:53 AM ^
LB is my only concern on defense. Having road games at MSU and OSU is a bitch, but I think Sparty regresses a lot next year.
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:35 AM ^
We've been saying that for almost a decade. I'll believe it when it happens.
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:13 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 7:16 AM ^
Everyone predicted that Sparty was going to have a down year, but they just kept winning. They won every game that mattered, and made no excuses about injuries. Unlike us.
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:29 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:10 AM ^
Predicting that they regress this yeAr is folly.
I thought they might next year, and they probably will a bit with the loss of senior leadership. But dantonio has his program in place. This won't be a collapse.
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:12 AM ^
Seriously?
That's all I heard prior to them playing us. With some of your other comments I'm not sure if you are a subtle Spartan fan or just a self flagellating UM fan.
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December 22nd, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:50 AM ^
It does not matter whether Sparty regresses or not. What counts is that we stopped regressing.
I'm not worried about Sparty when we are firing on all cylinders and have a competent coaching staff.
December 22nd, 2015 at 9:16 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
I'm all for giving Sparty credit for their fortunate success, but a decade?
2005 5-6
2006 4-8
2007 7-6
2008 9-4
2009 6-7
2010 ... okay, now football begins in EL. 11-2, but don't forget the 2012 7-6.
I'm used to listening to Sparty exaggerate their football history, based on a few successful seasons, just don't want to see it spill over to Michigan fans.
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:24 AM ^
What is immediately amazing about Coach Brown, other than his solid record is that you throw a stone and can hit someone who has great things to say about him. Not just the standard "great coach and competitor blah blah blah yada yada yaday" but some serious, thoughtful comments and quotes about how wonderful of a coach and man he is.
Im really starting to like this hire. He reminds me of Coach Beilein in a way...smaller school guy with solid track record of success, as a teacher and great man....gets his break late in his career to go to a big time school and football power.
PS Bill Belichick, the greatest coach in football said good or great things to Harbaugh in recommending Coach Brown. Belichick doesnt spew BS and his recommendation is Gold.
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:21 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:10 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:49 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 7:37 AM ^
bball recruiting with football recruiting. We miss on a lot of football recruits, just doesn't make as much an impact as losing a big time bball recruit does.
December 22nd, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:39 AM ^
He might be the best D coach in the world but we need a guy who can help our guys be in a position to shut down Urbz's annoying as hell offense. Looking at this year, Urbz appeared the only of the two coaches that rose to the challenge of The Game - it was the only game we were out-classed. That needs to change. That is honestly all I care about. Sparty will remain pesky and annoying but with our rise in talent and coaching, Sparty will be a bug on the windshield soon enough. To me it's all about beating Urbz and hoping JH spoke at length with candidates about their way to do that and chose the best option.
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:54 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 5:09 AM ^
Then ended up taking the job after bullshitting around about it. Kind of a slap in the face but that's just my opinion. Right before The Game you have to go interview? Comeon man. I like what Jim said about going for the goal of getting the better guy. Slight you very much DJ!
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:33 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:36 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 9:13 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:52 AM ^
Not sure Coach JH ever meant to slight DJ but I find your politically incorrect candor refreshing Sir. While I think DJ did what he though best for him and his family Interviewing for a position in our division before The Game, then maybe trying to poach from our new staff, that does not mean I have to "appreciate" him leaving Michigan before the end of the season.
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
to give him a pass for the interview during game week of OSU (even though I felt that was disrespectful to the Michigan program and the rivalry), but the immediate attempt at poaching from Michigan staff had me thinking, "Don't let the door hit you in the @ss on the way out".
December 22nd, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^
Feel the same way GoBLUE_SemperFi. Felt the attempted poaching was over the line and a tell about how he felt about his 10.5 months at Michigan.
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:20 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 8:20 AM ^
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December 22nd, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
It appears as though he wears appropriate hats...
NB: when google image searching Don Brown, include the word coach or you get a bunch of naked lady statues.
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
Proper Headphones too! (clap clap clap)
December 22nd, 2015 at 1:55 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:12 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^
Agree with all of your and SF's points about dline injjuries being huge and OSU coming off a loss to play their best game of year in The Game. Our qb played great until hurt to keep us in the game imo. Also think that OSU's running attack is on a different level than ours was and having the best running game will always matter in The Game.
December 22nd, 2015 at 9:59 AM ^
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:06 AM ^
It was a great year, and I'm happy. But the next steps are to beat our rivals in clutch games. I can't remember the last time that happened.
Not a Spartan fan, but they did that against OSU. And OSU did it to us. We won some close games, but against the likes of Indiana. We need that next step.
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December 22nd, 2015 at 9:10 AM ^
Our guys ran out of gas in the second half against OSU, admittedly. OSU is playing at the level we want to be at.
MSU is not in that same category.
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December 22nd, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
more about the fact that they are the only team to hand OSU its two B1G defeats in the past 3 years. Winning at the SHoe this year without their starting QB was impressive. I think that they did it because its now a mature program, and had great senior leadership. They were down in alot of games but never really out.
I fully admit that they also had a 1st year Brady Hoke style of luck this year, but that happens sometimes. They could have collapsed in 3 games this year.
December 22nd, 2015 at 8:57 AM ^
Listing reasons we were outclassed does not mean we were not outclassed.
We were outclassed.
Harbaugh is doing something about that, but that's where we are right now.
We are in good hands, but in Ian Darke's voice: "There's work to be done."