Rumors for 12th Game?
Has anyone heard any rumors or buzz on which team will be added to the Oct. 17 open date?
The athletic department approached Delaware (D-II) about coming to Ann Arbor, but were refused. As more time passes in the off season I suspect the chances fade for a lower level D-I school and the closer we get to a D-II opponent. Ugh.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:51 AM ^
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh. is it pathetic that i don't ever, evvvvvvvvveeer want us to play another D-II school?
December 24th, 2008 at 12:02 PM ^
Absolutely rational. You get no credit when you win, and there's always the chance of Teh Horror II.
To me the Toledo loss was much worse than the Horror, but in 15 years Toledo will be forgotten; Appy State is with us forever.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:12 PM ^
How is Toledo worse? That game happened in our first losing season in 30+ years, after our starting QB got hurt. We ended up 3-9 with a coach who brought in a brand new system.On the other hand, we lost to an FCS team, gave up 34 points, had the game-winning field goal blocked, had all kinds of returning starters (including the top pick in each of the first two rounds, plus M's all-time leading rusher), and finished 9-4.As you said, people will forget Toledo in 15 years, but they'll remember Appalachian State. Fair or not, people were calling the Appalachian State loss possibly the biggest upset in college football history. They didn't call Toledo that. And if Toledo was worse, wouldn't that mean that we'd have probably the TWO BIGGEST LOSSES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY...IN CONSECUTIVE SEASONS?
The Toledo loss sucked, but it's really not that big of a deal.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:21 PM ^
If FCS was ranked with FBS, App. St. would have been in the top 25 last year. I don't know if Toledo was in the top 100 this year.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:26 PM ^
This is a giant leap that I cannot support. I don't think you can project an FCS team into the top 25 when they played only one game against an FBS team and barely won the game.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:55 PM ^
Magnus, I really would like to know how you came to be such a tool.
Before he wrote anything, he wrote, "To me . . ."
Those aren't fighting words. For any number of reasons, he could see the Toledo loss as worse than the App. State game. Why do you act so unbelievably offended whenever someone doesn't have the exact same opinion as you?
Anyway, the Toledo loss isn't IN MY OPINION (Magnus, this means I don't want to deal with your bs please don't flame me) worse than the App. State game, but it sucked almost as much because it completely sucked what little hope was left that came after the win against Wisconsin.
December 24th, 2008 at 4:15 PM ^
Believe it or not, I was actually ASKING the question, "Why is the Toledo loss worse?" Sometimes when people ask questions, they're looking for answers. Surprise!I thought maybe he lives in Toledo, maybe everyone in his family went to Toledo but he went to Michigan and he got shit for it, maybe he had a football-related reason, etc.
After I asked the question, I gave my opinion on the matter.So to answer YOUR question, I wasn't "unbelievably offended." As you can see, I responded in a way that revolved COMPLETELY around football.
You, however, took the liberty of calling me a tool, so I think it's funny that you're taking me to task for improper behavior.
December 24th, 2008 at 5:42 PM ^
I'm sorry for hurting your feelings, but your notions of an answer involves proving to everyone else that you know more than they do about football, even when the question involves nothing other than personal opinion. You should realize that "Which loss was worse?" is prompting a discussion, not a definite answer. But no, you feel the need to rush in and save the day with your gloriously superior judgment.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:13 PM ^
My opinion isn't superior to anyone's, except in my mind.
You think your opinion about me is superior to my opinion about me; otherwise, you wouldn't believe it. So yes, I do think the things I say are correct, but that doesn't mean I can't be wrong.
You didn't hurt my feelings, pobopo. I was actually laughing about your comment, because it doesn't make sense.
I asked the guy why he thought the Toledo loss was worse, and then I stated why I think the Appalachian State loss was worse. I think he's incorrect, but he thinks I'm incorrect. Whatever. It's not like either of our opinions is going to change the world. It's just discussion. Chill out.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:15 PM ^
just ignore the people who think this is Mlive
December 24th, 2008 at 7:20 PM ^
I never read MLive, but it sounds like it sucks. Thanks for the warning.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:18 PM ^
wrong magnus. everyone has an opinion, and in everyones own mind, they are correct. you are wrong though, he has an opinion but its wrong. everyone has an opinion. its the wrong one.
December 26th, 2008 at 9:50 PM ^
You're right in that no one's opinion here will change the world: so why take everything you discuss so seriously? There's no reason to get so excited about someone else's opinion.
Instead of trying to prove me wrong, why not take a moment to think about why someone would call you out like this. If your arrogance doesn't allow you to acknowledge that your love for online fighting is a detriment to this board and that the way you write is extremely condescending, then I guess nothing will change.
And also, you're saying that my original comment made so little sense that you..laughed. Right. Don't try so hard next time, Magnus.
December 27th, 2008 at 4:50 AM ^
My definition of "fighting" is much different than yours. Discussing varying views on football does not constitute fighting. I view it as discussion. Many people on this board are too sensitive - "Oh, he doesn't agree with me. We're in a FIGHT!" No. We're having a discussion.
The only time other people's "opinions" bother me is when the discussions devolve into ad hominem attacks, because none of you knows anything about me.
I know why you're "calling me out like this." You have nothing better to do. I voice opinions about football; you call me a tool. And yet you think you're somehow above me. So why do YOU take my opinions seriously enough to call me a tool? You might want to read your last post and see if it applies to yourself.
December 26th, 2008 at 1:01 PM ^
i hate american public schools and overprotective mothers with the special snowflake philosophy teaching children that prefacing something with "my opinion.." or "to me..." is a blank check to say any mind numbingly stupid thing they can think of with no repercussions
opinions can be wrong. very very wrong.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:40 PM ^
I can only assume that this is directed at me. Wow.
A) The loss to Toledo was worse than the loss to App State.
B) The loss to App State was worse than the loss to Toledo.
You assert B. Me, A. Your comments suggest that these assertions are something that are -- or are not -- empirically true. How do you suggest we measure, test, and prove A & B in a way that satisfies everyone?
You can't. I can't. The only common variable is that both were Michigan football games. So, because this is a subjective measurement that cannot be broken down to measurable variables what we have here is OPINION. We will never know or be able to prove which loss was worse, ever. We can't even define what "worse" means. Deal with it.
Now that we have that out of the way, who do you think you are, you arrogant jerk? What the hell do you know about me, my schooling, or my mother? Who made you the arbiter of what is mind-numbingly stupid or otherwise?
Furthermore, why should there be any "repercussions" for an opinion stated on a fan blog? Is any of what we say or do here really important in any sense of the word? This is a blog, populated by grown men who discuss minutiae about games played by 18-22 year olds. What goddamned difference does it make if I think that the Toledo game was a worse loss, yet alone something that should incite "repercussions" delivered by YOU? What the hell does an opinion posted here have to do with the state of American education? Insane.
Get a grip. There are differences of opinion in this world which are valid. I suspect if you were to ask knowledgeable football people you would find someone who would agree with me on the merits of my arguement - but probably more that would agree with you. I'm willing to live with that. You, apparently, are not, which says more about you than it does about me or my mother.
My opinion may be completely alien to you, it may annoy you, and it may even be wrong. But because it is an opinion, and therefore not a fact that can be proven or disproven, there are no grounds for ad hominem attacks on me or anyone else. You don't like my opinion? Prove me wrong with your insighful, articulate, learned writings. But do not assume to limit my right to an opinion.
Your irrational reaction to my opinion invites speaks far more about the state of American civil society than education, mothering, or repercussions. Please respect the opinions of others, or at least have the class to keep your damn mouth shut.
December 27th, 2008 at 9:38 AM ^
I'm almost 100% positive it wasn't directed at you.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:50 PM ^
In two of the polls that rank FCS with FBS, they ended up around 35 IIRC.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:25 PM ^
Simple: Appy State was a better football team than Toledo. I agree with you that the shock of Appalachian State was unprecedented (I was there and was dazed for hours after) but it probably shouldn't have been in hindsight.Of the 120 teams in D-I in 2007, Appy State could have beaten two thirds of them, hell, they might have finished 3rd in the Big Ten that year.
Compare that to a Toledo team that finished 3-9, and 2-6 in the MAC, and had Akron put up 47 on them while we managed 10 points.
Shock value? Appalachian State. Worse loss? Toledo, no doubt.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:36 PM ^
Yes, but MICHIGAN was a horrible team in 2008, too. That logic might make sense if Michigan was projected to be the #2 team in the country again and lost to Toledo, but we weren't. We finished 3-9, too. It's like having the #100 team lose to the #105 team - big whoop. But the #2 team losing to a team not even in their class?
To make a boxing analogy, what's worse - Buster Douglas beating 46-year-old-retarded Evander Holyfield or Manny Pacquiao beating in-his-prime Evander Holyfield? The Buster Douglas thing wouldn't be a big deal, because Holyfield is retarded.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:37 PM ^
But Appy state beat a #3 ranked team that finished 9-4 with Michigan's all-time leading passer and rusher, not to mention the top pick in the draft.
Toledo beat a fellow 3-9 team with one injured QB and a walk-on QB with a single returning offensive starter.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:06 PM ^
Grand.
Valley.
State.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:25 PM ^
Cause they actually ARE DII, not DI-AA...people can't seem to tell the difference.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:27 PM ^
You are right, but I can't stand the FCS/FBS naming either
December 24th, 2008 at 1:11 PM ^
delaware = 1AA/FCS
GVSU = D2
i want to play a cupcake FCS team next year. rich rod needs as many wins as he can get
December 24th, 2008 at 1:16 PM ^
I wish we could just play Notre Dame and Michigan State every week.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:28 PM ^
As far as covering the point spread, wasn't Stanfords win over USC a bigger upset? (I could be wrong)
December 24th, 2008 at 12:31 PM ^
Probably so, and maybe a bigger upset, but certainly didn't have the shock value of App State. To the casual fan Stanford has been playing USC for decades and is expected to pull out a win every so often. No so for our loss
December 24th, 2008 at 12:39 PM ^
I couldn't agree more. The shock of losing (to APP. St.) felt like a part of me died inside.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:01 PM ^
Apparently people are more interested in App State vs. Toledo than the 12th game (or, more likely, no one knows anything about it).
Check out the new thread I just started...
December 24th, 2008 at 1:05 PM ^
I think Toledo is worse because it shows how far our program has fallen this year. You can make all the excuses you want, but if you lose to Toledo, you suck. If you lose to App State (2 time DII champ) it sucks, but it doesn't make you worse than Toledo. In absolute terms the Toledo loss is much, much worse. In perceived terms, App State will live with us longer. So I guess nobody is wrong here, but let's all agree the debate about which loss sucks worse is a debate that truly sucks to be having. Damn it.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:16 PM ^
I've heard rumblings about UConn. You'll notice we have them on the basketball schedule this year and the athletic department has set up basketball/football scheduling combos in the past.
Would be a tough matchup though, especially for the first week of the season.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:31 PM ^
Interesting, considering that UConn already has non-conference games with ND, Ohio, North Carolina, Baylor and Rhode Island scheduled. Mightoutta drop one of the away games, Ohio or Baylor to get Michigan.
However, I think the game must be in October because NCAA regulations prohibit games before labor day weekend.
December 27th, 2008 at 10:37 AM ^
They wouldn't drop Baylor, its the tail end of a home-and-home. What a novel idea, a home-and-home.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:42 PM ^
Donald Brown is back for his senior year. I don't want them on our schedule, we need as easy of an opponent as we can get for this year. The closer to Bill Snyder Kansas State-level crapitude of schedule, the better. We already have Notre Dame (not good but not terrible either) and Western (beat Illinois this year) on the schedule. Eastern is bad. We need a horrid team on there to finish the schedule.
When the team is good and RR has things rolling, then it's time to start increasing schedule difficulty again.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:51 PM ^
If true, could be that ESPN has something to do with it. They brokered the Michigan - Vandy game in 2006, for which Vandy dropped Middle Tennessee from the schedule. UConn is somewhat of the ESPN home team so it wouldn't surprise me.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:20 PM ^
Michigan's open date is October 17. They already have Western Michigan on the schedule for the first week of the season (September 5). The Division I start date is the Thursday before Labor Day. Labor Day is September 7, so the Thursday before is September 3.
Connecticut's schedule is full for next season, but looking around the Big East, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse all seem to have openings. Any of those matchups would be good in my opinion, but I think since we don't seem to be willing to play return games any more, Division I-AA will be the way things go.
December 27th, 2008 at 10:47 AM ^
The Big East hasn't released the conference schedule yet, so we don't know what open dates they may or may not have. But like you said, I highly doubt we give a home-and-home to anyone.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:35 PM ^
that THE KNOWLEDGE
will have a post up soon about the possibilities for a 12th game.
.
yes
.
and Michigan will bask in glory when it beats some tomato can
.
yes
.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:59 PM ^
Let's schedule a home and home against Concordia!
They don't have a stadium? Well, where in Concordia's home town of Ann Arbor, MI can they lease a stadium that will be able to hand the crowd?
Hmmmm, let me think.
December 26th, 2008 at 12:28 AM ^
We could play the other mountaineers...
December 27th, 2008 at 12:39 AM ^
I don't care if it's a DIII school if at the end of the season we are at least 6-6. Bowl eligibility would go a looong way in getting people to stop hating on Michigan.
We need some cupcakes to break in (still) a lot of new players and what is going to be (most likely) a different defense.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:11 PM ^
Ugh, Connecticut? Worst idea ever. That's like Utah - a pretty dangerously good team that we'd get zero credit for beating because we're supposed to because they have the football history of a potato chip. And they'd be all super-fired up for the game cause it's Michigan. And then if we lose there'd be one of two reactions:
- WHOA MAJOR MAJOR UPSET IN THE BIG HOUSE
- eh, Michigan sucks these days
Neither of which are desirable. I'm tired of lending credibility to teams like Utah and MSU just because whoa they beat Michigan for once because they caught us in a down year. UConn would be the same deal, and a win wouldn't earn us anything but the same number in the standings we could have gotten by beating Southwest Northern British Columbia State. I'm with Brian 100% on this one: find a tomato can and pay them half a million to roll over and die in the Big House so we can go bowling again.