Wolverine247 Board

Coaching can't be disregarded; you're right. Attrition is the other major factor with those groups (and the reason you were able to pull 25 kids this year). On a side note, I love that Big 10 schools are going with 4-year scholarships; it just seems like the right thing to do. It's also going to limit the # of 25 man classes going forward, which in turn limits the ability of UM and tOSU to drastically out-recruit the other Big 10 schools. It's still a very classy move that all Big 10 schools should support.

The defense was much better last year, no doubt. You guys also led the nation in fumble recoveries, something that is unlikely to continue going forward. More improvement is needed, especially on the DL. That's the position that I'm going to be watching more than any other on that D; losing 3 SR starters is tough. If Mattison and Co. can get that unit playing close to their '11 level, that'd be impressive. By '13 that unit should be fine, but I think both lines are going to have rough patches in '12.

To be clear, I do NOT think that that'll be Hoke's fault. RichRod left you guys with a gaping hole in your OL classes and his ability to ID quality DTs started and ended with Mike Martin. I don't think DL struggles this year is an indictment of your coaching staff and it's a "win-only" situation; either the DL performs "meh" and the next group of guys take their lumps (which pays off in '13) or your D-staff really is an elite group and has them playing with no drop-off.

Back to the Big 2, Little 10 . . . with divisional play, the Big 10 kind of really screwed over tOSU and UM. By guaranteeing you guys play every year, it means that each team is taking a conf. loss on the last game of the season. Unless you're both 7-0 going in, there's a solid chance that an L will knock you out of the CCG. Given that it looks like the Legends is going to be much tougher than the Leaders, this would affect UM more than tOSU.

I know UM won't trade The Game for anything, but in years when Iowa and/or MSU miss tOSU, PSU and Wisky (like MSU does in '13 and '14), those 2 schools are going to be very real Big 10 CCG players without needing otherworldly teams. Toss in Nebraska, and I can see those 4 Legends schools trading CCG appearances regularly. That makes it hard for any 1 program to stay on top for long, UM included.

tOSU has pretty much been given a gift of timing; not only did they hire a high level coach, they made that big splash at the same time their 2 main division rivals (PSU and Wisky) are undergoing major changes. It wouldn't surprise me to see Ohio State be in 5 of the next 7 CCGs.

You realize that describes your L to Iowa and your W over ND?

We didn't lose to Iowa by 21 and at least we beat ND.

Care to explain your great performance against Minny? No you won just like we won against Notre Dame. Btw Rocky you may wanna look up the term "Hail Mary" a 16 yd pass into 1 on 1 coverage does not constitute as one.

IU had trouble with the gophers as well...

The word "luck" was never brought up until you mentioned it.

But overtime and luck don't...

Right, okay, let me sum it up here.

So MSU beat Wisconsin on a hail mary but even if they missed that alleged "lucky" play they still would have had a chance in overtime.

While UM beat Notre Dame on a common endzone fade route as time expired.

Therefore, it is unfair to compare these two b/c MSU won on a play that has a low success rate even though they didn't need it to win and UM won on a play with a normal success rate even though they HAD to have it to win?

1. Touche. I apologize, I had remembered thinking it was do or die, which obviously wasn't the case.
2. Again, I'm sorry. You make a good overall point; had the pass not worked, UM could have kicked a field goal to tie the game, thus sending it into overtime.

Not trying to make things up, just evidently misremembered.

Record this moment...

Love how we're in agreement and friendly on one thread while still going at it on others.

It is what it is.

Try beating MSU in the '10s before you get all uppity about BCS bowl appearances.