UM/ND: Who needs it more?

ELLIPSIS'D!

I think we do. RR has been put through the ringer since he's been here.  He needs as many wins to shut the media up.  It is also a good chance to put himself in a positive light versus Kelly who the media loves right now.

I need it more!  Win for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

The goal is to win all the games on the schedule.  Being happy with a loss to ND is assinine.  We need it more because we want it more. 31-21 M.

If RR loses, it's because the system doesn't work. If BK loses, then it's because it is a rebuilding year.

If we beat ND, there is a good chance we start 6-0 and the pressure of getting to a bowl game is off of the players' shoulders. I say that we need every game more than our opponent until we get to 6 wins.

We need it more.

We do, but I don't think we need nearly as much as last week's game.  It's more a great opportunity for us than a pressure-packed day.

But Rich needs it more. Get rolling, get a win vs. a rival, win a big road game, and show his system is more in place by year 3 than the coach in year 1. The season isn't a wreck if we lose, but ND has nothing to lose but hype. It's year 1, and any problems he has he can blame on the previous guy. ND is expected to win at home, but all they really have to lose by losing is historical standing and losing the home field in the back and forth of trying to still an extra all time win by getting it at the other guy's place.

In his third year, Rich Rodriguez is under more pressure to produce a winning season. Michigan could still go over .500 without beating the Irish, so a loss in South Bend wouldn’t be disastrous by any means. Nevertheless, Winning Right Now is more crucial to Rodriguez’s future than Kelly’s.

In the eyes of the media, local and nationl, RR definitely needs it more. But who cares about that anyway, not me. Who WANTS it more?  Michigan. Thats why we will win.

Yea but that show was clear that they had no knowledge of Michigan's personnel outside of DR and clearly had no knowledge of our personnel for the previous two years.  Not much football knowledge was exibited in that show.  It was a rather sad display...little to no preparation.

Our coach is on the "hot seat" Our fan base is over blowing ever roster move. Our QB can't throw ... Our D is horrible.... I can go on and on with the media crap about our team. Buy as we say... To hell with Notre dame!

Michigan needs this game alot more than ND.  We need every game alot more than any of the opponents we will face this year just for the simple reason, by winning the media will shut the f*ck up. 

We definitely need the win more than ND. How many recruits have you read about saying they'll wait to see how the ND season goes before they think about giving a commitment? None. How many Michigan recruits have said they'll wait to see how the season goes before they commit? A ton. We need this to get in on, or stay on some quality recruits. Rich knows exactly the type of player he wants, right now he just can't get them all. 

When recruits begin to see the real fruits of Barwis' labor we will be in on every 4-5* player in the nation who isn't afraid of snow. Our O-line was impressive. They opened holes I could run through,  and UConn couldn't stop Martin. The thing of it is that UConn is actually a much better team than they looked like last Saturday. They are going to beat a lot of teams.

Of course we need the win....because a 13-0 season sounds much better than 12-1 :)

Who cares what ND needs? God isn't a welfare case manager deciding to award one or the other team the win because they "need it more."

But, to answer your question directly, I believe Michigan, and more specifically, RR, needs it more. Reasons have been given above, but here they are, along with a few others:

• RR is in year three, and is expected to produce.
• Kelly is in year one, and is given a free pass.
• It shuts up the media hounds, Freep and otherwise, after Michigan.
• It builds confidence for both Denard and our young defense.
• It is part of the foundation for a strong recruiting year for Michigan.
• It sets Michigan up for a 7 - 5 record at a minimum, putting us in a bowl game, with the attendant extra practice and publicity.
• It takes pressure off, so that the team can play aggressively to win in the harder five games (OSU, PSU, Wisc., Iowa, MSU,) and  realistically end up at 8 - 4. This record leads to a better bowl, and literally no questions about RR. (I've heard some suggest that 7 - 5 isn't enough, but I haven't heard anyone question whether 8 - 4 is enough to take RR off the "hot seat.")

(lopsided score, turnovers, giving tons of big plays, special teams horrors) would be killer. No way Michigan can do this early in the season after 08 and 09.  I don't think it will happen, though.  Play well and still lose to ND would not be good, but it would probably keep the wolves at bay until the Big Ten schedule starts. Beating 2 of the 3 rivals this year will go a long way with the fan base. Beating 3? Get'r done.

ND can probably afford to lose this and not suffer much. Kelly gets a two-year honeymoon at least, doesn't he?  I don't think he'll need it, though. He'll have them going soon. Maybe this year. Next year for sure. 

(lopsided score, turnovers, giving tons of big plays, special teams horrors) would be killer. No way Michigan can do this early in the season after 08 and 09.  I don't think it will happen, though.  Play well and still lose to ND would not be good, but it would probably keep the wolves at bay until the Big Ten schedule starts. Beating 2 of the 3 rivals this year will go a long way with the fan base. Beating 3? Get'r done.

ND can probably afford to lose this and not suffer much. Kelly gets a two-year honeymoon at least, doesn't he?  I don't think he'll need it, though. He'll have them going soon. Maybe this year. Next year for sure. 

Why does ND need this game? Most people knowledgeable about their program aren't expecting a great season. Do you think people will want to fire BK after 2 games?

It sure seems like we have the better more experienced talent in this game. We are stronger on both lines. Plus the guys are fully comfortable with what the coaches are teaching in year 3.

We are expected to drop the ball to them a few times like we did for everyone else last year. Plus we have stunk on the road. Otherwise we would be favored.

We are the better team and we have more to lose because you shouldn't lose to teams that you are better than.

But need?

I figure the  players got the need and desire thing handled. There is no way any group of guys could want or need wins more than this group. They have been through a lot. 

we need it more for all the reason above and the fact that I am a Michigan fan.

You know, I think ND is being given far too much credit.  I think its far more likely that we beat a Big East contender soundly and ND beat a bottom 3 Big Ten team than we beat a Big East cellar dweller and ND beat the dark horse for the Big Ten title.  We looked far better playing what in all likelihood was a superior team.  I have no reason to feel that ND would even beat UConn.  ND has 3 new starters on an oline, an unproven qb, and a defense we shredded last year.  Their offense in no way should be better than last year and I think our offense is likely improved (although Forcier did look like a machine against ND last year).  Furthermore, if the weather is crap due to the tropical moisture remnants, that plays in our favor being a run oriented team more often than not.

We will win this game double digit style....