Anxiety Levels are High Going into The Game for both UM and OSU fans (poll results)

Submitted by SpikeFan2016 on

Like most of you, I have been unable to focus on much else besides The Game this week; while perusing various OSU and UM websites, I found two interesting polls (one conducted by each fanbase) to detail anxiety levels for The Game. The scales/questions were not identical, but it's interesting to see responses from both sides of this great rivalry given both polls had large sample sizes. 


First, the enemies (http://www.elevenwarriors.com/polls/2016/11/nervousness-for-the-game). Eleven Warriors conducted a poll measuring "Nervousness for The Game" (3,208 respondents)

  • 32% of Buckeye fans say they are "Extremely" nervous
  • 49% of Buckeye fans describe themselves as "Moderately" nervous 
  • 13% of Buckeye fans are "A Little" nervous. 
  • Only 5% of Buckeye fans say they are not nervous. 

Maize n Brew's poll had 2,732 responses; the question asked about "Confidence" instead of nerves. You can still vote at the following link: (http://www.maizenbrew.com/2016/11/21/13625024/michigan-wolverines-ohio-state-buckeyes-so-how-confident-do-you-feel-about-the-game)

  • 3% of Michigan fans say they are "Very Confident"
  • 7% describe themselves as "Confident" 
  • 45% of Wolverine fans describe themselves as "Optimistic"
  • 25% of UM fans are "Definitely Getting Worried"
  • 17% of us are "Very Worried"
  • 2% of Michigan fans are so hopeless they are having an "Existential Crisis"

Overall, Michigan fans seem more nervous/less confident on the aggregate which makes sense given recent history, home field disadvantage and that we have the most significant injury of either side going into The Game. However, both fan bases are definitely on edge, given over 70% of Buckeye fans are at least moderately nervous.

We are finally back to the way things should be for this great rivalry: tensions and stakes high for both sides. 

TIMMMAAY

November 22nd, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^

This type of comment is exactly why other fanbases say that Michigan fans live in the past. That is a true stat, but the modern era is what really matters when it comes right down to it.

They have absolutely owned us for the last 15 years, and cherry picking stats won't change that. Winning is the only thing that will change it.

Wolverine Devotee

November 22nd, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^

Stop buying into the spin from these other fanbases that don't matter.

Who cares what they think? They aren't Michigan fans so naturally they're going to detract from what is not theirs. Jealousy does that.




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uncle leo

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^

All-time record is meaningless. Michigan was winning games in the 20s and 30s against Albion and Cumberbatch High School. 

What matters is modern-day context. And Michigan's been a doormat to OSU in my adult life. Has to change. Pointing to the overall record is just a crutch to make us feel better about how this team has performed recently.

uncle leo

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^

Where do you get that at all? If anything, it's being a complete sap to not admit the team's been getting their ass kicked against their main rival in the 2000s and then respond with the classic, "All-time record, suck it buckeyes!"

No one gives a shit about the 40s. Period. 

And somehow connecting my dismissal of the dark ages Michigan teams to implying that I'm ignoring the success of 2016?? Wow. Someone needs a drink.

ak47

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^

Nobody is wallowing, they are choosing to not compare uncomprable things. Football in 1915 bears zero resemblance to football now, so just like it would be stupid to compare total number of points scored between this years team and 1902 and when touchdowns were worth 5 points it is also stupid to compare wins from 2016 to wins in 1902.

bronxblue

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^

And they have the #2 team, an elite offense, and a defense that is only a bit worse than UM's.  And they have home-field advantage.  And their QB isn't a guy making his second start in 2 years, the first start being a pretty abysmal performance.

Listen, we're all UM fans here, but in the 35 years I've been on this earth, OSU is 18-15-1 against UM, and even that's backloaded a bit thanks to 90s.  There are recruits today who have seen UM beat OSU a handful of times.  It does matter, and it's on Harbaugh and co. to reverse that trend.  But blind homerism wrapped up in optimism is just as annoying as any "wallowing" you see around here.

The Barwis Effect

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^

You can make your point (which I agree with BTW) without deriding U-M's all-time schedule. True enough, U-M counts victories against Albion, Grand Rapids HS, etc. in their win totals. I think you would find that any program that was around back at the turn of the 20th century has games that look absolutely ridiculous by today's standards. The facts are, however, that U-M has the most wins, as well as having the greatest winning percentage; two records that were achieved while playing college football's historically toughest schedule: http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/rankings/all_time_team_sched_rankings…




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BlueKoj

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:28 PM ^

All-time records do matter, and Sparty and bucknuts like to say they don't. However, most fans do put more emphasis on the modern era, records in their lifetime/fandom. You know how bragging rights go. Its fine if you only care what you think and not rival fans, but I do like having discussions about recent wins more than those from Yost and Oosterbaan. Those CFB fans without a dog in the fight usually do talk about recent history and the modern era.

More importantly, recruits often care more for the immediate context. To those ends, UM needs to start beating OH again. 

Steves_Wolverines

November 22nd, 2016 at 1:51 PM ^

Michigan is 5-13 against OSU (not including 2010) starting when I was old enough to understand football, and being able to brag about Michigan's success at school. 

Our total margin of victory in the 5 wins is 45. OSU's total margin of victory in their last 2 wins is 43. 

I'm sick of us losing, sick of us looking like a high school team against them, and sick of this "rivalry" being so one-sided that the national perception of this game is nothing more than an ordinary conference game.

Last year, we had a chance to do something special, and we got absolutely destroyed by OSU at home. If we get a similar result this year, Harbaugh's hype will have run out of steam, and he'll be facing a ruthless assault from all angles until he finally beats Urban Meyer and Ohio State. 

Steves_Wolverines

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^

So if Michigan loses 42-13, you won't say we were overhyped this year?

I think there would be merit to that discussion if we are a no show, and our #1 defense gets steam rolled by OSU. 

In my lifetime, I've only seen 5 wins. My optimism is very low anytime we play OSU. I'm deathly afraid of getting embarrassed again. A close loss won't feel any better. We need a win, for sake of the program, for Harbaugh, and for the fanbase. 

 

MontuckyYooper

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^

You watched this defense all season and you're worried about getting blown out? I don't see it.

We have a healthy Glasgow, Taco, Hurst and Wormley. Gedeon and McCray are huge upgrades at LB. we may get beat but I don't see us getting blown out. The defense will keep us in the game. JOK just needs to hit a few throws early and I like our chances.

Wolfman

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^

There was a time when I got way to jacked for any Michigan game so OSU week was a mothr fucker for me. I now only allow myselff 5 o 10 mins of being pissed after a loss and if it's obvious, I am good by game's end. With that said, you have no reason to be embarrassed. You are not playing in the game and the vast majority of us never have or ever will. Cheer your ass off. Be happy with victory, and feel bad after a loss. Simply don't let it linger or feel embarrassment over a situation in which you have no control. 

With that said, realize who's in charge for us and if we're at the point where the personnel is relatively close as to talent and maximizing production, you will never have to be embarrassed again if that's your feelings after a defeat. This program is back on solid footing and believe me, regardless of what some smack talker might lay down, they all have respect for Harbaugh and Michigan football. To not would be setting themselves up for a very painful fall because it will happen and sooner rather than later. 

Steves_Wolverines

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^

My mentality is nervous. Can I not be nervous about going into The Shoe against a team I've only seen Michigan beat 5 times that I can remember?

I'm always on your side WD, but if you can't see merit to the thought of a possible outcome where we lose 42-13, and the media calls into question if Harbaugh can get us over the OSU hurdle, then I don't know what to tell you.

Winning this game would be equivalent to when we beat Washington State in 1997. 

This is our Championship game. 

UM Fan from Sydney

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^

OK, I'm with you on that, but having a stretch like OSU has had over UM since 2001 is just insane. Both programs are considered elite and in the modern era of football, yet we have two wins over them since 2001. That is pretty pathetic. I know we have had some bad teams in there, but bad teams find ways to upset their chief rival every now and then.

SpikeFan2016

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^

They are 13-2 against us in the last 15 games. 

 

We were 12-3 against them immediately before that, that means we are only one game back in 30 years. Still was a rivalry in 2001, still is a rivalry in 2016.