First of all, let me open the comments section as a forum for Michigan fans to whine about the turf. Since three of them were already whining to me within 10 minutes of the end of the game, surely this must be a sore spot. I know I shouldn't be letting the secret out, but the Ohio State players were given maps of the field telling them where the good spots on the turf were. Antonio Pittman took clay court tennis lessons from Rafael Nadal to learn how to slide, stay upright, and change direction, a skill he put to good use late in the game to pick up a few extra yards and a first down.
Second, props to Troy Smith for saving us all hours of debate as to who should win the Heisman. If he's not the unanimous choice, then someone who runs political elections in Chicago or New Orleans must be handling the Heisman balloting.
Third, thank goodness Notre Dame now has to be out of the conversation. If everybody else loses and ND wins out, I can't see any way you can take ND over UM when UM lost by three on the road to the clear #1 and ND got shellacked at home by the Wolverines. I want UM to lose one game every year (maybe two this year), but I want ND to lose them all every year. I hate and respect Michigan. I disdain ND.
And finally, I haven't wanted a rematch all week. I thought this one should be for all the marbles, but after seeing it I'm more convinced than ever that somebody else needs to prove they deserve a shot--Rutgers, Arkansas, Florida, or USC. Unless one of these teams does something spectacular in their remaining games (not just wins, but big blowout wins), then UM and THE Ohio State University need to line it up again in 50 days. I don't like it, but the best two teams need to play.
And besides, I'd love to start spelling LLWLLLoyd Carr's name with one more L and make it LLWLLLLoyd Carr.
19 comments:
Man, you are brutal.
Actually, I can't believe it was only a 3-point game. It could've been worse. I mean, if you told me we'd have 3 second half turnovers and still be up by 11 with under 3 minutes to play, well...okay, I'd have believed you. But imagine if we had played the second half as clean as the first!
As for ND, my thoughts are changing. We'd beat them to a pulp, and that would be a lot of fun. I think I can pull for them now, if only to embarrass them later. No?
And you're right: #10 wins the Heisman going away...and without pulling the ridiculous pose that Desmond did years ago.
Here's the good news, Michigan fans: you only have 2-3 more decades of losing to the country's best and classiest coach. :D
"O-H!"
"I-O!"
I am somewhat alarmed that we let them score 39 points. Too many turnovers. I hope ND beats USC and Florida loses to Arkansas in the SEC championship game. I want to see a rematch!
PS, Do you think you worshiped because you enjoyed singing "Carmen Ohio"? :)
It was a great game. I agree that there should be a rematch. It surprised me when so many of the guys covering the games said that they were clearly the two best teams in the country...but UM shouldn't be playing on 1/8. If they are the second best team (and losing by 3 to #1 on the road makes a pretty good case) then they should get that shot. As much as I hate to say it, I also agree that TS should win the Heisman this year. I must, however disagree about the class comment by Chris. No one runs a completely "clean" program in D1 football and The Sweater Vest is far from running a "clean" program but that's a topic for another day. They won, proving that they deserve the #1 spot, until we get another chance on 1/8.
Two additions:
1: I believe this is the first time a team has ever beaten #2 twice in the same regular season. Bring on the third.
2. Gotta admit USC has played a decent non-conference schedule: Arkansas, Nebraska, and ND.
P.S. How 'bout them Bearcats.
Make that four Michigan fans complaining about the turf. And one of them wasn't a pastor.
First off, as a Michigan fan...the turf had nothing to do with it and I think its ridiculous to whine about that. Its ridiculous to whine about anything. We had our shots and didn't capitalize. OSU made some key plays when we didn't. The turnover deep in OSU territory where we only got a field goal, the dropped Manningham pass where he was wide open, the Crable personal foul at the end of the game was no doubt the biggest.
What is ridiculous is to make a statement like this,
"But imagine if we had played the second half as clean as the first!"
I'm sorry...did you forget that you were not playing this game in a vacuum? You were actually playing against another team and perhaps they had something to do with the three turnovers and the lesser performance in the 2nd half. I know its a tough concept to grasp.
As far as Tressel being the classiest coach...its a fact that the number of OSU players in trouble with the law has gone up since Tressel has been at OSU...
Thanks, nwill, for putting a stop to the whining.
BTW, Michigan's halftime adjustment that made the OSU center flub two snaps was brilliant.
"O-H!"
If USC wins out, they should be number 2 and face Ohio St. That would be a good game.
Here is one (semi) Michigan fan who does not want to see a rematch.
I don't want to see Michigan play OSU again until after Troy Smith graduates.
Can you hear all of the die-hard Michigan fans complain about how Lloyd needs to be fired for losing to Tressel twice in a year?
Props to OSU for an amazing first half TS had what 240 yards of offense in the first alone. I was surprised to see MI come back and at least make it close in the second.
Who knows Michigan might have still won if the highly vaunted run defense could figure out how to stop the backs from running straight up the middle...twice! Or Chad Henne could figure out how not to overthrow wide open receivers.
As for the turf, I wouldn't be surprised if the OSU players did have a map, and special cleats that did not slip in the turf.
As for who should play OSU, I think that the winner of Arkensas and Flordia will be the best team (besides MI) left and a worthy opponent (both USC and ND are frauds this year merely the product of hype).
-RC
Kids, play nice now.
But then I gotta admit the Arrington line was pretty funny.
Just wanted all you OSU fans to know that my earlier comment is indeed factual...sorry Greg...its not that ridiculous...
Here is a quote from an article I found...
"Yet the search of court records shows there have been more problems over Tressel's first three seasons than Cooper's final three years."
Here is the link if you don't trust me...
http://www.centralohio.com/ohiostate/stories/20040506/football/367099.html
RC (who posted anonymously), did you really say:
As for who should play OSU, I think that the winner of Arkensas and Flordia will be the best team (besides MI) left and a worthy opponent (both USC and ND are frauds this year merely the product of hype).
USC a fraud? Hmmmm, they beat Arkansas by 31 at their house, they beat Nebraska, who is going to be #2 in the Big 12 by 18 in L.A., and if they beat ND and UCLA they will have played and beaten a much tougher nonconference schedule than Michigan. The only team that would have an argument at all assuming they both win out is Florida.
Michigan cannot go because they didn't win their own conference. If Florida, Arkansas, or USC (who, by the way, would be the only truly proven conference champion, having played EVERY other team in their conference)win their conference and finish with only one loss, Michigan is out. Period. The only way Michigan can get in is if Arkansas loses to LSU but beats Florida (both would have two losses) AND USC loses to either ND or UCLA. Then it comes down to Michigan and ND, and I agree that Michigan wins out.
But PLEASE may the Sovereign Lord of the universe, in His Providence, spare us from another UM-OSU game.
"Fight on for ol' SC,
Our men fight on to victory..."
In Him,
Jeff
Well played, Greg. Your vast knowledge amazes me continuously.
This is kind of a silly conversation...sorry to Chris and Greg if I came on to strong in the beginning...I'm out...
Well it looks as if a rematch might be in order after all.
I guess USC was a bit fraudulent after all jeff.
RC
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