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Michigan football: max satisfaction beating lower-tier teams
Posted on 7/7/18 at 9:36 am
Posted on 7/7/18 at 9:36 am
I contend that no other program (upper-tier) gets as much satisfaction from beating the likes of Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, and the like year after year. It adds to their win total and they have overpowering long-term historical winning records over them it makes them feel so good about themselves.
I contend that now 10-2 is the perfect record that keeps Michigan fans happy and their stadium filled. There are about four games each year that Michigan fans truly care about.
Michigan State and Ohio State are the two every year and when they play Notre Dame that makes it the third. The fourth is either another decent non-conference opponent if they don't play ND, Penn State, or the other big ten team that is having a good season like when Iowa or Wisconsin have a good year. That is on average. Some years it's MSU, Ohio State, Penn State, and ND or MSU, Ohio State, Penn State and let's say Iowa.
Ideally for UM fans it's Ohio State, MSU, Notre Dame, and Penn State, but they don't always play ND and Penn State in down years is not as important as Ohio State and MSU--which do not depend on how they are doing that season.
So, Harbaugh or whoever just needs to win the 8 less important games and have a split with the four that matter each year, but he cannot go 0-2 in a one year versus Ohio State and MSU and keep fans happy. His record against MSU and Ohio State is such that he needs to start going 1-1 versus them more often than not, but given the UM fan base gets so much satisfaction by beating Purdue, Indiana, et al he's pretty safe going 10-2 or 9-3 even every year with the caveat of at least being .500 against Ohio State and MSU.
I contend that now 10-2 is the perfect record that keeps Michigan fans happy and their stadium filled. There are about four games each year that Michigan fans truly care about.
Michigan State and Ohio State are the two every year and when they play Notre Dame that makes it the third. The fourth is either another decent non-conference opponent if they don't play ND, Penn State, or the other big ten team that is having a good season like when Iowa or Wisconsin have a good year. That is on average. Some years it's MSU, Ohio State, Penn State, and ND or MSU, Ohio State, Penn State and let's say Iowa.
Ideally for UM fans it's Ohio State, MSU, Notre Dame, and Penn State, but they don't always play ND and Penn State in down years is not as important as Ohio State and MSU--which do not depend on how they are doing that season.
So, Harbaugh or whoever just needs to win the 8 less important games and have a split with the four that matter each year, but he cannot go 0-2 in a one year versus Ohio State and MSU and keep fans happy. His record against MSU and Ohio State is such that he needs to start going 1-1 versus them more often than not, but given the UM fan base gets so much satisfaction by beating Purdue, Indiana, et al he's pretty safe going 10-2 or 9-3 even every year with the caveat of at least being .500 against Ohio State and MSU.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 9:52 am to Ralph_Wiggum
I am 100% satisfied with 9-3/10-2 football after Rich Rod and Hoke. Not everyone can be Bama/OSU. The only thing I don’t like are the MSU losses. Anyway, it’s not my money, so I don’t care what they pay Harbaugh. I’m thinking this year ends up 8-4/9-3 and he leaves.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 10:07 am to Ralph_Wiggum
quote:
Ideally for UM fans it's Ohio State, MSU, Notre Dame, and Penn State, but they don't always play ND and Penn State in down years is not as important as Ohio State and MSU--which do not depend on how they are doing that season.
They're in the same division as Penn State and play every year
Posted on 7/7/18 at 10:22 am to Ralph_Wiggum
This board acts like the Big 10 is the only P5 conference that has some mediocre teams.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 12:22 pm to Ralph_Wiggum
quote:
or the other big ten team that is having a good season like when Iowa or Wisconsin have a good year. That is on average.
"Like when" You do realize that Wisconsin has 10+ wins seven of the last nine seasons, including eight Top-25 finishes, four Top-10 finishes, and seven NY6 bowls.
ETA: Wisconsin is one of eight FBS programs to win 100+ games over the last 10 years. The others are Alabama, Ohio State, Boise State, Oklahoma, Clemson, Florida State, and Oregon.
This post was edited on 7/9/18 at 9:22 pm
Posted on 7/7/18 at 12:25 pm to Ralph_Wiggum
Harbaugh has finished above exactly 1 division opponent with a winning record. 7-6 Penn State
This post was edited on 7/7/18 at 12:33 pm
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:27 pm to Ralph_Wiggum
Michigan is probably the most overrated elite program. 1 title since 1948.
Their fanbase is Aggie level of obnoxious and UT level of entitlement
Their fanbase is Aggie level of obnoxious and UT level of entitlement
This post was edited on 7/7/18 at 3:28 pm
Posted on 7/7/18 at 5:12 pm to Ralph_Wiggum
You can’t play juggernauts like Troy every week.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 5:51 pm to Ralph_Wiggum
In communist Russia, no one is better than anyone else and all games end in tie.
Michigan has great schedule because all other teams have great schedule too.
All teams are winners in communism.
Michigan has great schedule because all other teams have great schedule too.
All teams are winners in communism.
Posted on 7/8/18 at 5:14 pm to Ralph_Wiggum
Michigan has effectively decided to de-emphasize football since Lloyd Carr left.
While old habits die hard, many Ohio State fans now are more concerned about the games with Penn State or Michigan State than with old Blue, whose fans are still living off the glory days from Fielding Yost 100 years ago.
And they certainly have barely been a true OSU rival for the last decade.
Maybe Shea Patterson will change that this year, and Harbaugh can finally get a decent QB to coach. After all Harbaugh did do well at Stanford for that one last year after 2 very poor below .500 years and one mediocre year.
While old habits die hard, many Ohio State fans now are more concerned about the games with Penn State or Michigan State than with old Blue, whose fans are still living off the glory days from Fielding Yost 100 years ago.
And they certainly have barely been a true OSU rival for the last decade.
Maybe Shea Patterson will change that this year, and Harbaugh can finally get a decent QB to coach. After all Harbaugh did do well at Stanford for that one last year after 2 very poor below .500 years and one mediocre year.
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