What will be the narrative when we beat Penn St
Will they give us credit, or will they just call Penn St over-rated? I honestly don't care, because we will still have work to do, but after this weekend, the talking heads making excuses for Clemson just astonishes me. We lost to a rival with a back up QB, after only giving up 14pts, and they lost to Syracuse giving up 27pts with what we keep hearing is the best defensive line in football. Their starting QB played most of the 1st half and they replaced him with a 4 star dual threat QB, but they still get credit for losing the game. I think we take this game this weekend. I'm nervous as hell, but I'm nervous no matter who we play.
October 17th, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^
White out that is. And indeed, while miracle may be too far, huge upset would be accurate. Watching JOK, I literally cannot see us getting even close to a win.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
I can see us getting within striking distance if:
1) O'Korn doesn't turn the ball over. Luckily that didn't happen against IU, even though it very well could have.
2) If the OL can build on what it did on Saturday and create some running lanes for Higdon. Just enough to keep the chains moving and end some drives with some successful kicks.
3) The defense maintains the status quo. Brown has spent his career building defenses around being able to shut the spread down. There's one thing I'm not worried about on Saturday, and that's the defense showing up. PSU clearly has the better team right now, but Michigan has the best unit.
If these three things can happen, and maybe a lucky break or two, Michigan can put itself in position in the 4th quarter to steal a win. Unlikely? Sure. If I were a betting man, I'd bet Michigan loses. But I'm giving them at least a puncher's chance. An elite defense will keep you in these kinds of games, and crazy shit happens all the time in CFB. See last week's games.
October 17th, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
Depends on how we win, but either way, if it does happen the story will be that this is Michigan's biggest win in a long, long time. When was the last time Michigan beat a top-5 opponent? I honestly don't know. I think the basketball team has more wins over top-5 opponents in the last 3-4 years than the football team has had in the last 20 years.
But if they do manage to win, this is what else you'll probably hear:
-Don Brown is the best coordinator in the country (he may be already).
-Where does Penn State's season go from here, especially now that they'd be walking into a buzzsaw in Columbus the following week, and would be meeting up with another very good defensive team on the road vs. MSU at the end of the year? If they lose this week, it's not inconceivable for them to go 9-3.
-Assuming Michigan can win out (a VERY big if), it sets up for another possible winner-take-all game against OSU in November. But I believe MSU will have to trip up twice in the East for that to happen. Which is possible because they still have to play PSU and OSU.
October 17th, 2017 at 8:57 AM ^
I think the last time we beat a top 5 opponent, it came against #3 OSU in 2003 on our way to the B1G Championship with Navarre as QB.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^
That is depressing for a program of Michigan's stature. MSU, PSU, OSU, Iowa, Illinois, I'm assuming Wisconsin in there somewhere, and possibly Nebraska, they've all had top-5 wins sometime in the last 10 years (I think Illinois beat #1 OSU in '07).
In many cases, they had top-5 wins just last year.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
Penn State was also ranked pretty high when we beat them in 2005 and 2007 I believe.
But yes that 2003 OSU game was glorious. I was there and rushed the field and everything seemed right in the world.
October 17th, 2017 at 12:36 PM ^
I think Penn State was ranked 7. We've had a few top-10 wins in recent years, but it's definitely been a while since we've had a top-5 win.
Even a win over #2 ND in '06 feels somewhat hollow. For as sure as the sun will rise in the East and set in the West, something almost as certain to happen is ND being overrated every single year.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
for John Navarre right now. Ironic since he was not a well liked QB, but he seems jordan-esque now
October 17th, 2017 at 10:39 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^
Sure, they beat Penn St., but now they face Rutgers. Can this team really step it up where it counts against their biggest rival?
October 17th, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
Crap.
October 17th, 2017 at 8:55 AM ^
Double crap.
October 17th, 2017 at 8:59 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 8:59 AM ^
Okorn plays a solid but unspectacular game. Oline grinds out a key first down with 3 minutes left to ice game. Michigan D rises to occasion giving up less than 250 yards and on 2 for 13 on 3rd downs to PSU. PSU seem flat after bye week and had trouble getting Barkley in space. Devin bush blanketed Barkley and a key interception return for TD by Lavert Hill. Franklin says after game that Michigan is not a rival.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:23 AM ^
That would be nice... All Michigan needs is JOK to manage the game.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^
So... uhh... If JOK is tossing it around for 300 yards, why is Peters getting the only TD? Wouldn't he be planted on the bench watching a 300 yard game play out?
October 17th, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 9:08 AM ^
How about "if" we when not "when" we win. I want Michigan to win as much as anybody and really dont care for Penn state either. In saying that i will give credit where credit is due and Penn stae is a well balanced team on both sides of the ball. Its also no secret that our offense has some struggles and yet to find an identity. I keep hoping like rest of you that that a switch will flip and the offense will begin to fire on all cyliders but in reallity it will be a progession overtime.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
Did you watch the game last year? That's the same PSU team. The same one that went for a FG down 35 to nothing.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^
Why isn't anyone talking about MSU resurrecting from 3-9. I am having nightmares of them winning the division. Almost like PTSD, but more frustration that they keep getting good QB play (last year shitty - agreed) and we have been in the wilderness for so long with vague answers about our young QBs. Like when are we going to get our playmaker QBs?
That out of the system. Media narrative is limited due to lackluster offense. If we continue to run the ball at a good clip it'll change for the better.
Who cares. Beat PSU.
October 17th, 2017 at 9:46 AM ^
MSU had crappy QB play last year because Lewerke was a new starter. This year, he comes in with experience - and is playing better because of it. And maybe, just maybe, he was recruited to a P5 school because he had some raw talent, maybe more than O'Korn (or even Speight, given his recruit rank)? I don't know where Lewerke was as a recruit, but it was probably slightly better than the JOK range (which made him a G5 recruit), and some kids just work out better than others.
Who cares about MSU? Great, they won. Good for them. They suck now, and will suck going forward. Michigan's offense has seen steady improvement the last two weeks - lets hope we see more improvement this week. If we do, coupled with DB's defense, Michigan has a good chance to beat PSU.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
If we were to play those yahoos again in good weather conditions, i'll take michigan. I just want decent QB play finally that can hold up to tough defenses. Its been so long I don't even remember how it looks like (Henne and Navarre years and a few DG games such as his heroic OSU game)
October 17th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^
I honestly do not know what the narrative would be if we win this game - right now, the predictive analytics are rather in Penn State's favor. I can only guess that the narrative would be that something suddenly clicked or that PSU just didn't play up to popular expectations. You know, the normal narratives in those situations where all you need to do is change out teams to get a version of a standard canned headline.
That being said, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Could we play the game first maybe?
October 17th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
You must be new here?
October 17th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
They had wins over No. 13 Auburn, No. 14 Louisville (road night game), and No. 12 VA Tech (road night game).
The Louisville win looks less impressive, but their resume is lightyears ahead of ours.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
We prefer women, not little boys.
Too soon?
October 17th, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^
Don't think ESPN will let that on go through.
October 17th, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^
How exactly do they police all those signs?
Do they have some kind of "sign bouncer" that walks around and takes away the signs they don't like?
So who was the sign bouncer who missed the "Lee Corso is a Penis" sign?
October 17th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
that there is Bama at #1, and roughly 24 other teams tied for a distant #2.
October 17th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
Unfortunately, there's no Clemson this year to stop the Alabama juggernaut.
Chalk up another one for Satan.
October 17th, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^
That would not be wrong.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
5 field goals from 50+.
15-14 we win.
We don't attempt a pass more than 5 yards down the field until a play action for 40 yards in the fourth quarter to Gentry.
I figure if I make enough crazy predictions, one may be right. So long as they all have us winning.
October 17th, 2017 at 4:17 PM ^
Just let him kick it as soon as we take possession on offense.
How do we know he can't make an 80 yarder?
October 17th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
You create the script your season becomes by the way you play out your schedule. And the harshest critics of this program are found in the fan base. If this team plays to its strength on defense and takes advantage of whatever scoring chances it gets on Saturday night, then we should be OK.
We all know what the challenge is at this point. And that challenge will be there every week regardless of the opponent. Take care of the football and perform your assignments and good things will happen. Don't, and they won't.
The final post script will be based on outcome with performance credited based on content of character demonstrated. And that's how it ought to be judged when you play a marquee game. Everyone will be watching.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
I hope Im wrong, but I was taken aback by OKorns smallness when in an interview after the Purdue game, he made it all about sticking it to his old coach Tony Levine and how important it was to beat him. To me, I'd think he'd be a man and say, if saying anything at all, that, yeah, I deserved to be benched at Houston, and have improved since. To me, it seemed smallball, and petty, and doesn't bode well, and seems mentally weak. Bo's players would have never responded like that. Again, I hope I am wrong here.
October 17th, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
Not wierd at all.... after the game, I am watching his interview, and was expecting a standard victory response rooted in humility, and its always been here at Michigan. Instead he gets asked a question and takes the bait, and showed where his head was, rather, than where it should be. Tony Levine and his benching is meaningless, and he deserved the benching... he should have said as such, if he were mature...instead it seemed petty, small, and irrelevant.
October 17th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^
October 17th, 2017 at 11:59 AM ^
Right... for it is all about mental toughness at the QB spot... any weakness and it is reflected in play, that is for sure... and he was talking about something totally irrelevant, and not only that, he was quite immature about it. We need a mentally tough QB, and I hope I he proves my concern wrong.
October 17th, 2017 at 2:55 PM ^
He also made some gesture to Levine during the game and got scolded for it. He's immature.
October 17th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
THE TEAM THE TEAM THE TEAM> little boys
You have a lot of confidence. I think the OL and O'korn have to play the best they've played all year to win this game. We know the defense is good. I think it will honestly be a toss up game.
October 17th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
If we go into happy valley and beat #2 penn st. WHO CARES WHAT ANYONE SAYS!!!
There will be rejoicing and partying for all Michigan fans!!!
GO BLUE!!!
October 17th, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
The thought of embarassing #2 Penn State at home in white out conditions in prime time is rather delicous to think about.