So...the Orange Bowl, huh?

Submitted by I Like Burgers on

So Michigan ain't making the playoff.  How do we feel about playing Florida State in the Orange Bowl?  Or Clemson on the off chance they lose to Va. Tech?

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Lionsfan

December 3rd, 2016 at 9:26 PM ^

If you think National Championships during the 70's and 80's were "mythical" then I wonder what you say about National Championships at the start of the 20th century, when the game was basically rugby with slightly different rules.

Joined: 06/03/2011

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SHub'68

December 3rd, 2016 at 4:03 AM ^

is skewed to the last 10 years. While I understand this, you do realize this is Michigan, right? This year has played out exactly like every single year we have had a good team since 1948. One or two games, one or two plays, short. We are SUPPOSED to only lose at most two games every year, with an occasional shot at a National Title every year like Alabama and Ohio fucking State. We are SUPPOSED to be disappointed with two losses and missing a chance at the playoffs. This isn't fucking Michigan State. Perhaps you are too young to understand this, but I simply refuse to operate using the Dave Brandon and Rich Rod years as a measuring stick. It's called having high expectations. It's how you become great. Everyone in the organization, including those of us who just watch, expecting excellence every time we do anything. That is Michigan.

Joined: 09/29/2010

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smwilliams

December 3rd, 2016 at 7:09 AM ^

While I get what you're saying, making the argument that Michigan is SUPPOSED to be like Alabama and Ohio State while simultaneously claiming that Michigan is ALWAYS one or two plays short and ALWAYS loses a couple of games would mean that Michigan is indeed that latter team and not Alabama and Ohio State.

 

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RedGreene

December 3rd, 2016 at 10:22 AM ^

I agree with most of your post WD but telling people "I'm sure we'll find another person to fill that seat on gamedays" sounds like something Dave Brandon would have said.

Joined: 07/02/2009

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The Fan in Fargo

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:25 AM ^

With better talent at all of the position groups that are meant for his defense. It wont be a new defense either obviously. This defense was/is experienced and very good yes but I would'nt give it so much of the raw/special talent label. Lewis, Pep and maybe Taco are your true raw talents that are leaving. The rest of them I respectfully claim have their more talented replacements in the waiting.

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jmblue

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:00 AM ^

Take those three games out and Michigan averaged 32.8 points per game in its other nine games, which still would be one of our highest scoring averages in the last 20 years.

This offense punched above its weight most of the season.  If it looked ordinary against Wisconsin and OSU, two top-10 national defenses, well yeah, that's to be expected.  Iowa is the only real clunker in my book.   

 

 

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Ghost of Fritz…

December 3rd, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

will be dominant when the OL becomes dominant. 

The OL fell just a little short against strong defensive opponents.

And the margin from pretty good (which it actually was) to great was not that big for the o-line this year. 

Pre-season people hoped the o-line would take another step forward from 2015 production.  In fact the o-line did exactly that. 

But it still was just a shade short of the level needed to take over games in the 4th against the better defenses. 

Again, close on the o-line prospects in the recruiting board.  Do that the Michigan will be in the playoff conversation every November for years to come.

 

 

Joined: 10/04/2014

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AngryAlum

December 3rd, 2016 at 1:15 AM ^

This is a little misleading because we had huge amounts of points scored in blow out games.  If our offense was really that good.. if we just ground out a few (just maybe even 2?) first downs in the fourth quarter of the iowa game or ohio state game... we win both of those games

Joined: 10/31/2010

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bcnihao

December 3rd, 2016 at 8:16 AM ^

"This is a little misleading because we had huge amounts of points scored in blow out games."  But isn't that true for blowout games in every year?  If you're going to discount points scored in blowouts, then you have to do it across all of the years that youre comparing.

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DairyQueen

December 3rd, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^

unfortunately, "averages" in college football are only mild correlates. Specifically when the disparity of competition is so dramatic with 128 FBS teams.

You've got 12 data points, and the difference between a 35th ranked defensive opponent and 6th ranked defensive opponent is miles wide, not to mention when you collect a quarter of the stats against teams in the 50s, 70s, 90s, etc.

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DairyQueen

December 3rd, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^

unfortunately, "averages" in college football are only mild correlates. Specifically when the disparity of competition is so dramatic with 128 FBS teams.

You've got 12 data points, and the difference between a 35th ranked defensive opponent and 6th ranked defensive opponent is miles wide, not to mention when you collect a quarter of the stats against teams in the 50s, 70s, 90s, etc.

Joined: 04/20/2014

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rainingmaize

December 3rd, 2016 at 2:11 AM ^

I don't give a shit that everyone is complaining that we had a down year. Could we have been better, yes. But the fact that we are complaining that making the New Year's 6 a bad year makes me happy. Two years ago we couldn't beat Rutgers despite having a veteran senior QB, NFL WR, and a very good defense. This still isn't a Harbaugh recruited team, and despite playing a loaded schedule with a first year QB, we made a New Year's 6 bowl most likely. God damn everyone, quite acting so bleak.

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LS And Play

December 3rd, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^

Sorry to be a downer, but I could not care less about the Orange Bowl. It feels like Michigan football has not won a game they've absolutely had to have since 2003. I was 10. It's just so frustrating. Not just Colorado getting smoked today but the last 3 weeks of the season. 

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DHughes5218

December 3rd, 2016 at 12:27 AM ^

I don't think taking over  6 - 7 team with a bowl ban is a "perfect situation", but the Big Ten (Michigan in particular) being down certainly helped. Recruiting is the reason Alabama is at the top every year. If you want to win four out of seven national championships, you'll need to win a few recruiting national championships and we are not there yet. We are doing well enough to be in the mix but Alabama is in a league of their own right now, program-wise. Ohio State isn't there yet, but they are getting close. 

I read this somewhere today...Current number of 2017 5 star recruits: OSU 6 - The rest of the Big Ten 1. I believe Iowa has the one. 

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