As one of the the two giant guys Dave mentioned, I was just glad to be called out for our appreciation of MGoBlog rather than the actively harming the site’s coverage by blocking Craig & Dave’s view. I tried to shrink as much as possible, but I’m bigger than either of our starting Tackles so there really is nowhere to go when packed in tight on a flat slope like that.
Not the game outcome we wanted of course. But confirming Dave’s comments, the work they do at this site meaningfully improves my experience in following Michigan football.
Looking for 3 tickets to the Fiesta Bowl to bring the family. In Scottsdale, and willing to meet in PHX metro for exchange. Will be at pep rally if that is convenient.
as an Illinois alum attending Ross B-School in 2005, my favorite Big Ten basketball blog Big Ten Wonk(aka John Gasaway, still frequently linked here in other capacities) cited Brian as the go-to Michigan blog:
quoting Wonk (and capturing the opinion of this Illinois/Ross alum perfectly):
BONUS extracurricular assignment for Wolverine fans! I read lots of blogs for this little endeavor and Brian at mgoblog is one of this reader's faves. Indefatigable, perceptive, witty, and pugnacious as all get-out when provoked, Brian might be the college sports blogosphere's Mencken if there is one.
Only problem: Brian's currently busy with some sport called "football." (The official position of all Illinois graduates like Wonk is that there is no sport known as "football.") I understand and cheerfully give Brian another seven weeks of grace. However there's another sport that mgoblog seems primed to devote a good deal of attention to even after football is finished. And (insert Vito Corleone voice here) this I will not understand.
The sport in question is college hockey and your intrepid blogger (I'm not making this up) wasn't even entirely sure there was such a sport until landing here in Minneapolis, where sweeps week programming on local TV news (I'm not making this up either) consists of behind-the-scenes investigative reporting on the Gopher hockey team. (Did I mention I miss California sometimes?)
Michigan fans, if you see Brian at a Wolverine hockey game, tell him to stick (har!) with the sport that doesn't require a machine that Wonk's only seen at Toy Story 2: Disney on Ice.
but I understand your point about Wiscconsin's playing style not leading to massive blowouts. I do think they are the second best team in the Big10 given the information we have to date, I just disagree with the original poster that they are a 1a/1b with OSU, and the suggestion that the only game either would drop would be loser of their shared game.
I think it is clear that OSU is an elite-level team and the clear favorite in the conference, but I don't understand the assumed faith in Wisconisn. Wisconsin has squeaked by one middling BCS team at home (ASU), beaten but not blown out two cupcakes (SJSU and UNLV), and clubbed one baby seal (Austin Peay).
I think it is safe to suggest they are probably somewhat better that a group of teams below them, but an upset of UW by one of those teams would not be at all surprising. OSU being beaten by anyone would be a considerable surprise (though it will probably happen at some point).
Wouldn't the simple explanation be that RR's view is not as long-term as our own? Of course I would prefer that DG keep his redshirt. But I am also 100% certain that (lacking an untimely demise) I will still be a Michigan fan in 5 years. RR has no guarantee to be here after the end of this season, let alone 5 years down the road. He needs to win now or there is no future.
Playing DG now removes any lingering doubt about the redshirt, and later in the year should Angry MIchgan QB Hating God decide to further torment us, his chosen second-best option will have had some experience from which to draw on (which will presumably be much more than the current 4+/- snaps after the next 2 weeks).
Times have changed, and there are only a few coaches that can be even relatively certain they will be around for the payoff of a short-term/long-term decision such as this. Hopefully, for our sake and his, RR will be one of them within a few years.
Recent Comments
As one of the the two giant guys Dave mentioned, I was just glad to be called out for our appreciation of MGoBlog rather than the actively harming the site’s coverage by blocking Craig & Dave’s view. I tried to shrink as much as possible, but I’m bigger than either of our starting Tackles so there really is nowhere to go when packed in tight on a flat slope like that.
Not the game outcome we wanted of course. But confirming Dave’s comments, the work they do at this site meaningfully improves my experience in following Michigan football.
Looking for 3 tickets to the Fiesta Bowl to bring the family. In Scottsdale, and willing to meet in PHX metro for exchange. Will be at pep rally if that is convenient.
email uofi17 at gmail.com
Go Blue!
as an Illinois alum attending Ross B-School in 2005, my favorite Big Ten basketball blog Big Ten Wonk (aka John Gasaway, still frequently linked here in other capacities) cited Brian as the go-to Michigan blog:
quoting Wonk (and capturing the opinion of this Illinois/Ross alum perfectly):
BONUS extracurricular assignment for Wolverine fans!
I read lots of blogs for this little endeavor and Brian at mgoblog is one of this reader's faves. Indefatigable, perceptive, witty, and pugnacious as all get-out when provoked, Brian might be the college sports blogosphere's Mencken if there is one.
Only problem: Brian's currently busy with some sport called "football." (The official position of all Illinois graduates like Wonk is that there is no sport known as "football.") I understand and cheerfully give Brian another seven weeks of grace. However there's another sport that mgoblog seems primed to devote a good deal of attention to even after football is finished. And (insert Vito Corleone voice here) this I will not understand.
The sport in question is college hockey and your intrepid blogger (I'm not making this up) wasn't even entirely sure there was such a sport until landing here in Minneapolis, where sweeps week programming on local TV news (I'm not making this up either) consists of behind-the-scenes investigative reporting on the Gopher hockey team. (Did I mention I miss California sometimes?)
Michigan fans, if you see Brian at a Wolverine hockey game, tell him to stick (har!) with the sport that doesn't require a machine that Wonk's only seen at Toy Story 2: Disney on Ice.
but I understand your point about Wiscconsin's playing style not leading to massive blowouts. I do think they are the second best team in the Big10 given the information we have to date, I just disagree with the original poster that they are a 1a/1b with OSU, and the suggestion that the only game either would drop would be loser of their shared game.
I think it is clear that OSU is an elite-level team and the clear favorite in the conference, but I don't understand the assumed faith in Wisconisn. Wisconsin has squeaked by one middling BCS team at home (ASU), beaten but not blown out two cupcakes (SJSU and UNLV), and clubbed one baby seal (Austin Peay).
I think it is safe to suggest they are probably somewhat better that a group of teams below them, but an upset of UW by one of those teams would not be at all surprising. OSU being beaten by anyone would be a considerable surprise (though it will probably happen at some point).
I see the league this way:
1. OSU
Large Gap
2. Wisconsin
3-7. UM, MSU, PSU, Iowa, NU
8-10. IU, PU, Illinois
11. Fightin' Brewsters
Wouldn't the simple explanation be that RR's view is not as long-term as our own? Of course I would prefer that DG keep his redshirt. But I am also 100% certain that (lacking an untimely demise) I will still be a Michigan fan in 5 years. RR has no guarantee to be here after the end of this season, let alone 5 years down the road. He needs to win now or there is no future.
Playing DG now removes any lingering doubt about the redshirt, and later in the year should Angry MIchgan QB Hating God decide to further torment us, his chosen second-best option will have had some experience from which to draw on (which will presumably be much more than the current 4+/- snaps after the next 2 weeks).
Times have changed, and there are only a few coaches that can be even relatively certain they will be around for the payoff of a short-term/long-term decision such as this. Hopefully, for our sake and his, RR will be one of them within a few years.