Today was the big day. I am sure many people are having several takes on the games today. However the game of the day was #2 Michigan vs. #1 Ohio State. In this writer’s opinion, the game ended with Ohio State still the #1 team and Michigan still the #2 team. This game, no this rivalry, embodied all that is good about college football. The teams respected each other, and each other’s abilities.
To the Ohio State Buckeyes:
You played a great game today. You showed the nation why you are the #1 team in the land. You played a hard fought, emotional game against a bitter rival. You deserve your victory and your trip to Glendale this year. You should be proud of your accomplishment this year, your Big Ten title, and your victory over a great Michigan team. You showed respect to a Michigan team feeling the loss of a beloved coach, mentor, friend, and a legend in college football. To this Michigan fan, you are more then just another opponent and rival. You are a true testament to what is great about this rivalry and about, Respect, honor, and integrity. Even though my beloved Wolverines lost this game, it could not have been to a better opponent.
To the Michigan Wolverines:
You played a great game today. You never gave up in the face of adversity or backed down from the challenge. You are true champions. Even with the loss, you honored the memory of Bo Shembechler. You stayed with it. You ARE champions. You too played an emotional game today. The losses felt by us all were enormous. College football may have lost a great man, but you proved to the nation that his spirit lives, and will continue to live in all of the future generations that attend and play at the University of Michigan. There is no shame in your loss today. What you did today will live on in the memories of all Michigan fans. Most of all though, you made Bo Shembechler a proud man. Even he knows you can’t win them all.
I don’t want to hear Michigan fans (or Ohio State fans) complaining that there were bad calls on the field. I watched the game. There were not any such bad calls. Yes, the field conditions were bad, but that’s part of the game. There are no excuses for what happened. It was a great game. What happened happened…end of story. Good teams overcome adversity and all odds to win. In the end, that did not happen for us. That is the way it happens sometimes. Congratulate the Ohio State Buckeyes and move on, there is always next year.
Michigan did nothing today to prove to me that they are still not the #2 team in the nation. The championship game should feature the two best teams in college football. The voters have a lot to consider the next few weeks. Even though a lot of people do not want a rematch, the game should be the best two teams. Even if it is a rematch, the two best teams DESERVE to play in that game. It should not be about money. It should not be about this, that, or the other. It should be about who is the best two teams. After today, I have seen nothing to change my mind that Ohio State and Michigan are STILL the two best teams in college football.
And on that note, I have one more bit of business to attend to…..how it pains me so…..
In old Ohio there's a team That's known throughout the land Eleven warriors brave and bold, Whose fame will ever stand. And when the ball goes over, Our cheers will reach the sky, Ohio Field will hear again The Buckeye Battle Cry!
Drive, Drive on down the field, Men of the scarlet and gray; Don't let them through that line, We've got to win this game today, COME ON OHIO! Smash through to victory, We cheer you as we go! Our honor defend we will fight to the end for OHIO!
Enough with the rematch!!! Tell me who has Michigan beat this year that should elevate them to be worthy of a rematch?? They have beaten Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and that's it!!!....and I don't consider Wisconsin to be a top 15 team. The Big Ten is clearly weak this year with only OSU, UM, and Wisconsin worthy of top 25 consideration.
If USC or Florida wins out, they clearly deserve a shot at the NC over Michigan.
Flordia beat a Divison 2-A school today. What did that prove? They lost to a 2 loss team. They barely squeaked out a win against South Carolina.
USC, they lost to an UNRANKED team. If you are championship material, you WIN those games. Plain and simple. The only reason they did not drop further is because they are USC. Otherwise, they would not even be in the picture.
Not counting this game, Michigan trailed a total of 17:50. That's IT. They won the games they were supposed to without falling behind and squeaking it out in the end. It does count for something...
I'm just saying right now, Michigan is still the #2 team. Maybe a team in the next two weeks will show that they deserve that spot. USC and Florida have not shown YET that they deserve the #2 spot.
There are alot of what if's out there. Reguardless, Notre Dame DOES NOT deserve to be #2. THey got HOSED by Michigan at home and under no circumstances deserve to be renked above Michigan.
If Arkansas wins out, maybe they DO deserve to be #2. I'm still a little in doubt about USC deserving to be #2 after losing to an unranked team. And I am still not convinced about Flordia. Maybe if they beat Arkansas handily, I may be swayed.
But as of right now, I still think Michigan is still the best 1 loss team. Things can change however...
I see you took the challenge. But however I disagree. Michigan put up a decent fight, yes helped by a phantom pass interference call. Herbstreit wants a rematch, that's why he sided with the refs and ALL Michigan fans on that one. I have trouble believing the defender even touched him. But oh well, no outcome on the game. Neither was the 3 turnovers. Wow, a so called high octane offense +3 on turnovers and still doesn't win? Unheard of. Well, until now.
No, sorry Michigan, you lost, and like all the other one loss teams you have to wait your turn. Back to the pack you go. You may even fall below Rutgers in the polls. Just kidding on that one. But Rutgers still is a good team even with one loss.
new standings should go like this:
1.OSU
2.USC
3.Fla.
4.ND
5.Ark
The defender made a cardnial mistake, he did not know where the ball was. If you look at the replay, the defender got Manningham's Jersey. I called BS at first on the call too. But after the replay, it was there. If the defender was even looking remotely in the direction of the ball, then I would say it was a bad call....
(After reading the rule, he did not even have to touch him, impeading his ability to catch the ball without going for the ball is pass interference. Which is what he did by stepping in front of the pass by not looking at the ball)
And honestly, you could rank ND above Michigan? After the pounding Michigan handed out at South Bend. That score was closer then the game actually was. A 42-10 score would have been more reflective of the game...
As for the not capitolizing on turnovers, Michigan did something this year no one else could, they made points off turnovers. They could have done better but they did play a good game. Both teams did.
Last edited by Psychopyro80 on November 18th at 9:59 PM.
Michigan only proved one thing, they don't deserve a rematch. They had fluke turnovers and that fluke PI call and still lost the game. It was a game between two teams who haven't played better than a decent team all year.
Psychopyro- you disprove your own point. The ONLY team that Michigan has beaten all year is ND and you basically say that ND doesn't deserve to be considered. So basically the only good team Michigan has beaten is a Wisconsin team that didn't beat a ranked team all year. If that means Michigan is obviously number two then maybe the SEC should disband and play the borderline Division 1 teams that make up the Big 10 so they don't hurt themselves by playing real teams and actually going into more than one game that could risk bringing a loss.
It was simply a game between two teams who had beaten maybe one title contender between them. That team is Texas, who probably should've lost at least 3 games in the Big 12, an extremely weak conference (probably the worst of all BCS conferences and has been since the BCS has been around).
Therefore, a fairly sloppy second half only decided who should play in the BCS title game. Michigan has no claim to number 2 unless an extreme case of all the dominoes falling occurs. Their schedule, along with Ohio State's was not much better than a Rutgers or Boise State, who both get blasted in the rankings for their weak schedule.
Ohio State needs to prove how good they are by playing the real number 2 in the country who earned the ranking by a tough schedule(USC, Arkansas, or Florida) rather than an undeserving Michigan or ND
Last edited by FloridaFlavor on November 18th at 10:52 PM.
How do I disprove myself by saying ND does not deserve a title shot. ND lost bad at home to Michigan. Notre Dame should not be ranked above Michigan. Which means Michigan should get a shot before Notre Dame. Which means Notre Dame does not deserve a shot at all.
I did not see him tug at his jersey. If the defender did, then yes, pass interference. So about that rule, which needs to be rewritten obviously so that it's not so subjective, states that a defender cannot be between the ball and the receiver unless he has his eyes on the ball? I've seen many many games, and I don't think I've seen it interpreted like that. But I see where you are coming from and I will accept it as fact.
Well, as every OSU hater has said up until last week, "it would have been a different ball game had Colt McCoy and Texas played OSU later in the season." I think the same applies to Michigan. From what I saw today, the Hiesman runner-up in Notre Dame would pick apart that defense much the same way Ohio State did Saturday.
Three turnovers on your own side of the field, and you give up 10 points. To me that's more credit to OSU's defense than Michigan's offense. But you are right, they did score the first 10 points this year on TOs
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think a rematch will happen.
Arkansas should beat Flordia. That should put them in the Title game. (The BCS works out all hunky dory until next year).
Flordia gains nothing with their win today (they may actually lose points in the computer due to strength of schedule) and even with a win in the title game would be pushed out in favor of Michigan OR USC if USC beats Notre Dame.
USC is in cruise control, though I think that loss should have hurt them more. Just about any other team would have dropped out of the top 15 with a loss like that. However they still have a tall task in Notre Dame.
To Notre Dame, there could be a lot of outcry if they jump Michigan. Whether or not the computer is accurate, Michigan did have a much better strength of schedule and beat them. And a Notre Dame win actually helps Michigan thru opponents-opponents strength of schedule.
Did USC play a rough schedule, sure. But an unranked loss has to count for something. Michigan lost to the only team that was ranked higher them.
Honestly, something needs to change. But the BCS gripes will have to wait till this is all sorted out. Unfourtanetly, the BCS will not change until those stuck up snobs at Notre Dame either join a friggin confrence, or they become ignored like the Big East...
Last edited by Psychopyro80 on November 18th at 11:45 PM.
Oh, and when I said impeading, I meant impeading. He effectively "picked" the defender by not allowing him a chance to go after the ball. Had Manningham pushed him to get to the ball, it may have been called the other way.
He basically just stopped and sat in the way without trying for the ball. You can't do that....
Thanks for clarifying an already iffy rule. I've seen balls thrown to receivers and it hit the back of the helmet of the defender not paying attention and no pass interference called. I understand what you read in the rule book. It's rarely called that way though don't you agree? Isn't it usually pass interference if the guy impeads his motion that is by holding or grabbing a jersey.
But you said he did grab his jersey. Ok. I saw his arms moving like he was feeling for him, but I missed the jersey tug.
I definitely agree that ND basically shouldn't get a shot at number two due to their embarrassing loss to Michigan. I was merely saying that Michigan's only good win came against a team that didn't really play anyone besides Michigan(until they play USC). ND didn't really prove they belong in the elite with their performance in that game, which you pointed out. I didn't really mean you disproved your point, I just meant that Michigan doesn't have any argument for a rematch besides that they only lost to the number one team, since their only other marquee matchup was that game against ND.
I also agree that the SEC winner should get the bid over any other teams. But, as you seem to be alluding to, the rankings seem to prefer the Trojans, who I don't expect to lose to ND. So it will probably end up being USC/Ohio State.
Unfortunately if ND wins, then ND would have an argument, Michigan would have an argument (beating ND), the SEC champ would have an argument, and all hell would break loose. Maybe that would be enough to make the powers that be amend the BCS system.
nomo- I hear you. It's apparently the same argument that says losing to a two loss Auburn team is embarrassing along with playing close games against SEC rivals. As long as Michigan and ND, two undeserving teams due to their weak schedules, don't play the BCS title game then I will still have some faith in the failure of a system.
Former88-I agree, it's a really iffy call and probably should have been left uncalled. Better for my pocket-book though (yea I know I said I would not bet, but 7 points, I just could not resist)...
nomo-Keep in mind that Ball State closed the score against 3rd string players. 3RD STRING! If anything it was another in a long line of BAD coaching decisions made by Lloyd Carr. However Michigan did still win that game as they were supposed to...
Florida-As to the loss to Auburn, I am not saying it is a bad loss so much as I am saying it is a bad loss in the computers. Though the computers are only 1/3 of the vote, it will swing the top 5 if the numbers are close.
Already people that understand the BCS computer model (or at least think they do) are saying that Michigan will drop no lower then 2 (maybe 3) by the computer ranking system. That could spell trouble for any one loss team trying to climb up. Remeber, the computer does not care when you lose. It only cares who you lose to and who your opponents lose to and (the worst one in my opinion) who your opponents-opponents lose to.
People may start a blogging hell when the BCS rankings come out this weekend. However, we can't forget that the BCS standings is supposed to only be interpreted at seasons end when ALL games have been played. So yes, the ND/USC game will greatly affect the rankings.
And if USC beats ND I don't see how they don't play in Glendale. That gives USC a greater strength of schedule plus a win over a common opponent over Michigan. Assuming USC wins out.
The loss to USC by ND would hurt Michigan even more.
If ND were to win, well then I think it would be one fine mess.
I just did some more looking, I see why Michigan's strength of schedule is 12 (They aregetting large points off the Vandy win), but ND's opponents combined have a losing record... I can't see why they are ranked so high.
and its no wonder USC's rank is so high. Look at the strength of schedule of the Pac-10 teams????? It seems as if every Pac-10 team is in the top 10 strength of schedule.
Humm the website with the poll has to be wrong, It says it is for the games thru the 18th but the numbers are the same as the 12th for the AP poll... They must be getting ready to put the new poll up, but have not finished yet...
Last edited by Psychopyro80 on November 19th at 2:39 AM.
Is the predictor the way the rankings are predicting at the end of the season based on the way the teams have won and loss so far? If so this is predicting an OSU/USC matchup in the big game?
Yea it looks that way. If USC were to lose to Notre Dame, it would increase the ND strength of schedule by giving their opponents a winning record (ND's opponents are just under .500).
Which in turn increases Michigans strength of schedule based off opponents-opponents.
The same happens for USC, however their rating is already based on the fact they play in the supposed toughest confrence.
so basically if USC wins out they are in the big game, if ND beats USC, Michigan is in the Big game...and the SEC champ doesn't factor in..that's how I'm reading it.
Unless Arkansas can win. It might be quality enough of a win if Michigan falls far enough in the human polls...
God the BCS is screwed up... Be interresting to see what the other computers say though. But by looking at them all for the season so far, there is not much movement between what each poll says.
Michigan probably ends up with 4 or 5 #2 rankings and 1 or 2 #3 rankings. Plus they had a huge lead being #1.. USC frobably ends up reverse of Michigan. Gonna be down to the voters on this one I think...
Ohio State is very much safe. I don't think anyone can beat them. Honestly Michigan has the best shot on a neutral field (computers actually say Michigan wins after adjustment for home field is taken away).. But I doubt it after today (well last night)..
Computers, like humans, don't put alot of stock in Divison 2A wins..
Looking over the Harris Interactive Poll though, I can't see Michigan falling past #4. They had a 400 point lead over #5 Notre Dame and a 200 point lead over #3 USC....
The coaches poll may shake out differently though....
well based on the initial polls, I don't see Michigan dropping past no. 3 in any of the major polls.
I would have guessed more that the AP poll would have moved USC to no. 2 and Michigan down to no. 3 before the USATodayCoaches would. The coaches when it's out will keep Michigan at no. 2. I really have no doubt about that.
It's gonna get messy. As a football fan do I want a rematch, no. I don't think it is right.
As a Michigan fan do I want a rematch, damn skippy I do.
As a hater of the BCS do I want a rematch, well that one gets tricky....
If Michigan and Ohio State are the 2 best teams, then the BCS did it's job like it was supposed to.
If they are not the best teams, then the BCS finally gets horrible exposure for the #### system the majority of college fans think it is.
The fate of the BCS haters ride with USC and Notre Dame. Two schools I cannot stand at all. May they play so many overtimes that they jsut decide to call it a tie.
man you really nailed the BCS with your October 28th post. I posted one that gave a scenario for the top 5 BCS teams at that time, but my thinking was different. I did say however that there could be a rematch because Michigan was no. 1 in the computer rankings
I really don't know what to think about all this now. Suddenly it has become a reality that it could happen. Honestly, nothing is going to tarnish the OSU/UM rivalry, playing for higher stakes will only make the rivalry that much better.
Both teams could have played better yesterday.
But with that in mind, I really don't see USC losing at home to ND...but that's why they play the games.
yeah man, you really had those numbers crunched. Must have been a math major!
USC is keeping pace though. It doesn't seem as if they will slip up at home. I actually thought they were out of the picture when they lost to Oregon State. But Auburn, Texas, and Louisville lost, I didn't think they would jump to no. 3 in the BCS ahead of Florida.
It all boiled down to strength of schedule, Nebraska, Arkansas rolling has helped them tremendously. But if Arkansas loses in the SEC championship game...wonder how that will affect the Trojans? And/or help Florida?
Last edited by TheFormer88Fan on November 19th at 3:57 AM.
Suprisingly a Florida win helps Michigan. Based on opponents-opponents strength of schedule. Michigan beat Vandy. Every team that Vandy plays in the SEC with a winning record actually helps them along the way.
Even though Vandy was a bad team, they are in a strong division of the SEC. Just like Notre Dame vs USC win or lose helps them. That just falls to USC winning helps USC more.
Michigans out of confrence schedule actually helped them. Possible MAC Champion (even though it is not a strong confrence) and a SEC team...
I'm so tired of the BCS. It was just a few years ago the BYU won the national championship. So when are we going to stop ranking conferences, and start saying that the teams are gaming there non-conference schedules, and make em play somebody. Most of these teams could have scheduled at least one powerhouse (and sorry that doesn't mean Texas, who plays North Texas State, and other no name state schools). Why didn't OSU play Florida? When USC beats Arkansaw or Notre Dame loses to Michigan that should be it. So the game we will never see is OSU versus Boise State. Damn guys, doesn't that scare the hell out of the major conferences, because it would shock the world if they won. I say damn the BCS, we have March Madness, we have the College World Series, why not have a playoff, or make them schedule each other? Go Boise State.
Former88 - were you watching the game with one eye? Were you wearing sunglasses? Were you one of those Michigan Haters before the game ever started? That was a GREAT football game. I wasn't going to bring it up...but since you're being a bit harsh...How about the two osu touchdowns that were scored on "PICK PLAYS"...osu's first TD and the first TD of the second half? All and all...the game was officiated well. But don't start under-valuing the Michigan team.
I for one...wonder what the outcome would have been at a neutral field. I also think that there are a lot of people that wonder that same thing.
I am a big buckeye fan and what a game it was .That being said let both teams take there props and stop ####in about the calls it was a classic me being a selfish Buckeye fan would rather play a lesser SEC team for another national title.I hat to admit it Michigan is probally the 2nd best team and if USC beats ND they will play for the TITLE .
To OSU Great Game, To My Beloved Wolverines Great Game. To the BCS-You put yourselves in this position by ranking USC at #3 in the first place. USC didn't deserve to be #3 as they barely squeeked out wins against 3 unranked teams and have a loss to an unranked team. ND well there is no question on that you put them up there because of $$$ The National Title Game should be played with the 2 best teams in College Football and right now and even as the rest of the season plays out the two top teams are as they stand today OSU and Michigan. No matter what arguments you throw out there for any of the other 1 loss teams Michigan's only loss is to OSU who is ranked #1. The polls are out there 56% of the nation wants to see a rematch why because OSU and Michigan are the two best teams PERIOD END OF STORY!
Last edited by GOBIGBLUE on November 19th at 8:01 AM.
I'm a 28 year old average guy from Las Vegas (if there is such a thing). I grew up 20 miles outside South Bend, Indiana. For the record, I am a huge Michigan and Broncos fan (imagine what I went thru as a kid).
I started writing blogs this year. I must say I enjoy sharing my opinion and reading those of others here. Hopefully I don't annoy any of you too bad. Enjoy the reading, just remember that for what it's worth, it is after all my opinion....
Also I am a huge Star Wars fan, so ignore the avatar...
