UM/ND: Who needs it more?
This guy on Rome is Burning.. Petros... says UM needs this game more than ND... and ND will win b/c Brian Kelly has it all fixed and RR is the wrong kind of change.
But do we really need this game more than ND? I disagree.
We got our win we needed vs. UCONN... I think a 3-1 record in the non-conference is okay... as long as it becomes a 7 or 8 win season..
I really think ND needs this more than us.
I'm not going to explain this well... but I feel like people expect us to lose and RR to fail... and everyone is calling Kelly the new savior... if they lose to us again.. .that's not good for South Benders... or the school or the coach...
September 9th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
ELLIPSIS'D!
September 9th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^
...Kelly who the media loves right now
I hate to admit it, but I like Kelly.
That being said, I want the Wolverines to royally disrupt his honeymoon in South Bend.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
I need it more! Win for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
September 9th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
I said 3-1 non-conference would be "okay". Certainly not happy.
No one would be happy with the loss obviously, but I just happen to think a loss for ND hurts them more than a loss hurts us. I might be wrong.. my wife says I'm wrong all the time.. yet I still throw out stupid opinions.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
Don't worry, wives aren't always right. Mine doesn't think I'm funny.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
UM needs it more because they have more to lose
September 9th, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
Absolutely, losing to ND would be flat out embarrassing. :)
September 9th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
thinking... I guess there's more of media lovefest with BK than I realize.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^
It's his first year coaching a team that loses a first round draft pick at QB, Golden Tate, 4? offensive line starters, and installing a new offense off of a 6-6 year. It's a rebuilding year, media or no.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
I'm thinking more from a 3rd year vs. 1st year perspective rather than who the coach is.
September 9th, 2010 at 8:54 PM ^
We are in year 3 of the RR era. They are in year 1 of the BK (no, not Burger King...that era just ended) era. Our program definitely needs this win more. The ND fanbase won't (or shouldn't) be all over Kelly if ND drops the second game of his tenure. But we all know what the Michigan "fans" love to do to RichRod. Well put, joeyb.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
I've said it before and i'll say it again; we are 1 win away from a 6-0 start when you look at our schedule. In that respect, this win probably could mean alot more to us than to Notre Dame.
GO BLUE!!
September 9th, 2010 at 6:30 PM ^
I think we are 1 win away from a 5-0 start. If we beat ND on Saturday and then take care of business the next three weeks, I think we should beat MSU, but I don't think it's a gimme. With respect to the question posed by the OP, I think we need it more.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
I am frightened by your strange spread offenses......
Classic.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
I agree Notre Dame should have to endure what we did in our 08 season (rebuilding year)
September 9th, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
We need it more.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^
.... Charlie Weis needs it the most.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^
Are we still talking about a win here or have we moved on to pizza?
September 9th, 2010 at 6:32 PM ^
Too late... Charlie Weiss is too busy putting Burger King new york out of bussiness
September 9th, 2010 at 5:16 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
Outside of the obvious desire to get a nice win, Notre Dame should have one of the top 2-3 offenses Michigan sees this year. If the defense plays well, this could be a really nice season.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
would not be okay, if we are going to go 13-0. UNACCEPTBLE Jim.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
September 9th, 2010 at 7:03 PM ^
ND's scheme this year isn't tremendously different than last year. Clausen threw the ball all over the field and from the shotgun. That is little change in schematics from what Kelly did at Cinci he just wants to pick up the tempo. Our change on the hand was drastic.
September 9th, 2010 at 8:36 PM ^
September 9th, 2010 at 5:24 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:39 PM ^
September 9th, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^
who wants it more! I think hands down, its our guys. This team is out to prove a lot of doubters wrong this year. I thnk that most of the Notre Dame fans have been accustomed to mediocracy where as I believe that Michigan will be the most hungry Michigan team we've seen a quite a few years. Go Blue!!
September 9th, 2010 at 6:01 PM ^
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.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
Of course we need the win....because a 13-0 season sounds much better than 12-1 :)
September 9th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
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.")
September 9th, 2010 at 6:45 PM ^
Agree with all that with one exception: RR isn't off the hot seat, even with an 8-4 season. He doesn't get fired at the end of the year, but that doesn't mean he'd be back in 2012 with 100%. I realize the conditions under which UM goes 8-4 or better in 2010 and fireably bad in 2011 are 5% territory at the most (least?), but they do exist.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
(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.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
(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.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
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?
September 9th, 2010 at 6:20 PM ^
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.
September 10th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
You should check out Irish's diary about returning ND players. They are older and more highly rated than our players especially on offense. For instance, do you consider Denard more experienced that Dayne Crist. Both have started one game this year and both played sparingly last year but Crist is a red shirt junior and Denard is a true sophomore. And Crist was a 5 start while Denard was a 4 star. That comparison is similar to the rest of the roster for both teams.
They lost their starting qb and three offensive linemen, but in general, our team is neither more talented, nor more experienced. Now, I think we will have an advantage because we have been running the same system on offense for three years, but our defensive scheme has changed this year as well.
Finally, its in South Bend. I believe we can win, but I think the Irish have plenty of good reason to believe that they should be the better team on Saturday.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
we need it more for all the reason above and the fact that I am a Michigan fan.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
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....
September 9th, 2010 at 6:34 PM ^
How many times did UM put the ball on the ground last weekend in dry weather? Also recent history suggests ND is more likely playing a bottom 3 Bigten team this weekend, not last weekend
September 9th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
I can think of twice they put the ball on the ground. One of which was a "WTF are you thinking" moment on a return. Granted, I could be forgetting others.
We could do all kinds of interesting things with "recent history"... That's a stretch.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:54 PM ^
It was more than twice, with 3 forced fumbles noted in the boxscore, when I checked over during the ND game one of the announcers said UM had put the ball on the ground 5 times already. I believe that was before half time so it was probably more than 5 at the end of the game.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Grady - fumbled it out of bounds
Gallon - on the return (unforced - bad decision on a windy day)
Robinson - Bad exchange in his first ever start
September 9th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
There were 3 fumbles, no TOs.
But I wouldn't expect an Irish fan to be level-headed going into a game against their most hated rival, the Team that taught them how to play football in the first place.
All that aside, "Irish" is a welcome addition among the mgobloggers. But normally, sir, you're a bit more realistic. Spit that foam out of your mouth before saying Michigan is a bottom 3 Big Ten team.
Or wait until Saturday night. That's fine, too.