This Game is Emphasized
I've heard people question if UofM emphasizes the rivalry with MSU.
Take this anecdotal evidence for what it is worth, but I have a coworker whose son is childhood friends with a player on the team (he doesn't see the field). However, she said that the player told her family that: (A) the team is more motivated for tomorrow's game than he has ever seen for any game before and (B) tomorrow's game has been emphasized clearly by the staff.
Take it for what it is worth, but if we lose I doubt it will be for a lack of effort, heart, and emphasis.
October 19th, 2018 at 5:41 PM ^
This team developed some serious swagger after that Wisconsin game. I would be very surprised if we see a letup tomorrow.
October 19th, 2018 at 5:41 PM ^
Counter Strike or it didn't happen.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
It's happening. (tm)
October 19th, 2018 at 5:46 PM ^
I hope Mork cries.
October 19th, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^
If that happens...an angel will get his winged helmet.
October 19th, 2018 at 11:44 PM ^
Or vice versa but only somewhat similar, every time baby bro wins, a baby seal dies somewhere in the world. That's all the motivation I would need. Hopefully it hasn't happened at Sea World with the stands packed.
October 19th, 2018 at 5:51 PM ^
I hope that’s true. Gosh I hope that’s true!
October 19th, 2018 at 6:01 PM ^
It’s true - you read it in the interweb
October 19th, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^
When I think about the 3 games under Harbaugh:
- 2015: disaster end but I felt like for the first time in awhile we were just as physical if not more and had slowly grabbed control of the game by the end except for yeah we know...
- 2016: revenge game and again felt like we had the better prep and talent and execution
- 2017: well we had QB issues but hung around and tried to tough out a win but were undermined by JOKs struggles
so I think we have been really motivated against MSU each year. Hopefully that remains true tomorrow and we impose our will and win with cruelty.
October 19th, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^
Tomorrow is huge for our road woes. The two worst games were ND and NW. We haven’t even played another where we blew out a Neb or Maryland. Reality is this team has looked awful in Q1 in all road games this year. If this team is serious about winning big 10 and possible CFP, that needs to stop tomorrow.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:29 PM ^
Yes. For the love of God, Can the D not have some of those drives where they look like shit and play passive ?
October 19th, 2018 at 5:59 PM ^
It is not hard for a team with Michigan's talent to game plan for michigan state. The question is will we try to attack their weaknesses or simply try to do what we do and beat ourselves. I have no idea what is going to happen
October 20th, 2018 at 2:22 AM ^
Probably a bit of both right? The coaches see the tape they know their weaknesses but they've also invested a lot of time and focus on mastering certain things too.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:00 PM ^
I’ve never thought it was a question of emphasis, but of attitude. MSU often plays like they have nothing to lose, while we play like we have everything to lose.
If we are focused and loose, we win. If we are tense and full of self-doubt, bad things could happen.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^
Just play the fucking game and take what they give. Franklin showed exactly how to not sit on a lead.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:59 PM ^
I can say that I watched both teams get off their respective busses before the game last year at the Big House.
MSU was clearly the more fired up team coming off the bus, egging on the Michigan crowd and welcoming the jeers. Even Dantonio was smirking and waving his hand as if to encourage louder “boos”.
This carried over to the warm-up. With MSU jumping, and dancing around and pumping each other up in between drill reps. Didn’t quite see that same intensity from the Wolverines before the game started. I even mentioned to my wife, “Dantonio and his boys came to play tonight.” They sure did.
October 19th, 2018 at 8:07 PM ^
And yet, last year we drove 70 yards for a FG to open the game, then forced a three-and-out, then started moving the ball again when Isaac fumbled.
I think the 5-0 turnover margin had far more to do with the outcome than anything else.
October 19th, 2018 at 8:14 PM ^
Even more than the dancing??
October 19th, 2018 at 8:24 PM ^
Depends on the dance. Waltz, nah. The Charleston? That's tough.
October 19th, 2018 at 9:32 PM ^
Sorry, there are no points for winning pre-game.
October 19th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
Dennis Norfleet, current owner/operator/dance instructor of Swag Moves, begs to differ.
October 19th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
Did the Spartans really come to play that day though? I’m sure their plan was to have 34 total yards in the second half. Being better at walking off the bus will win you zero games
October 19th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
Going to be a spankin’. I can feel it. Previous years, always a little trepidation, however logically thinking a win. This year, no butterflies. I plan to sit back, enjoy a beverage or two, a bowl of chili, and smile through a comfortable win.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
I think MSU plays their best game of the year. Hopefully Michigan does too. If so we win. If not, it could be an uncomfortable game to watch, though we still probably win.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:47 PM ^
Chili - an underrated game day offering.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
October 20th, 2018 at 4:45 AM ^
It's all about context - anyone who's been closely following UM football for more than the past 10 years knows that that state game was more of an in-state thing (bragging rights against relatives/neighbors/etc) than national relevance or even winning the Big Ten - mainly since state was never really a power. They've had some success the past few years, but much of that was benefiting from circumstances beyond their control that - which are changing once again in ways that will not favor them in the coming years.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:09 PM ^
In not so surprising news
LJ Scott is good to go tomorrow
https://thespun.com/big-ten/michigan-state/star-rb-cleared-for-michigan-michigan-state-game
that is if that site is reliable.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:20 PM ^
Of course he is...Mork has been resting him the entire year just to play this game
October 19th, 2018 at 6:25 PM ^
This just cites a tweet which cites the original tweet which is not from a reputable account, and that account is the only place reporting this. So, I'd say wait and see at best here.
Also, who cares if he plays? He's gotten worse every year at MSU and he has major fumble issues.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^
I agree. His press clippings are way better than the reality. I don't think LJ Scott will be a factor either way. Just bringing what I saw here, which again, might not even be reliable.
October 19th, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
He looked like the real deal as a freshman.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
Not even remotely surprising. I’m betting Dantonio intentionally “benched” him just to make sure he was ready and fully healthy for this game. Even at the possible expense of other games.
Whatever. Bring him on. Dantonio just better make sure he doesn’t drive to the stadium.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:22 PM ^
He’s supposedly been cleared to play at least since their last game. Sparty will be a tough out regardless.
Good thing Harbaugh has rested some of our guys.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:45 PM ^
Not sure i believe this..
My coworker is a huge msu fan, and he has some family that works in the athletic department for MSU. They also use to play as walkons at MSU so they stay well connected with the football program.
He mentioned that Scott was looking at serious damage in his knee and may struggle to ever play again. So not really sure what truth is what..
October 19th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
Not guaranteed to play if he has to drive to the stadium.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^
We let them off the hook a few years ago, a few garbage touchdowns made it look closer. If we get up big I want deep shots often, going for 2 for no reason at all. We need this as fans lol. But I’d take a hard fought W too haha
October 19th, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^
Agreed. If there's blood in the water I want Harbaugh to pile on. Hang 50 on those little shitbirds.
October 19th, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
I want them killed right in the face.
I want them beaten so badly that all you can hear is the wailing of their women and children.
Then I want their field plowed and sown with salt so that nothing will ever grow there again.
A beating right out of the Iliad - I don't think that's too much to ask.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
I hope part of the motivation is that any wind and rain is to our advantage. That we *want* to get our hands dirty and push them around in a slopfest.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:18 PM ^
I’ve been wrong before, but I just can’t envision us losing this game. The team really came into their own during that Wisconsin game. The rest of the way this is going to be the Harbaugh team we’ve dreamed of since the day he was hired.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:40 PM ^
Sure hope you're right, MGB. I think the guys need to come out of the tunnel focused and ready for bear right from the get go GO BLUE! !
October 19th, 2018 at 6:23 PM ^
I firmly believe that we are beginning a return to the phase in which Michigan wins 75% of its games against MSU. Raback it Comrades.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
75%?
F that.
I want it to be 85% like it was under Schembechler. He went 17-3 against Sparty. And of this 3 losses happened in year 1 (1969). About that game, Schembechler said he didn't understand how important that game was until after the loss so he emphasized it going forward which is clear in his record.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:58 PM ^
Actually he was 17-4. He lost in 1969, 1978, 1984 and '87. He did go 17-3 after his first year though.
October 19th, 2018 at 6:27 PM ^
if the team brings that to the field, there is no way we lose
October 19th, 2018 at 6:31 PM ^
Sadly, Michigan's effort, heart, and emphasis on this game has recently been trumped by dumb luck.
Time to exorcise some demons tomorrow- Go Blue!
October 19th, 2018 at 6:56 PM ^
Fuck luck, 2015 & 2017 Michigan was out coached and out played when it mattered most. Just were.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:00 PM ^
Neither coach made O'Neill fumble the snap. Shit happens.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
And no coach coached him what to do should he muff the snap and no coach had a max protect on. Middle school coaches would have anticipated MSU bringing the house to block the punt. But no Michigan coach did.